How Liam Rosenior has rebuilt Derby County

After receiving a 21 point deduction last season Derby were relegated to League One and now that their ownership issue has been resolved, they have begun the summer rebuild.

We’ve taken a look at where things went wrong for Derby last season and how they have gone about rebuilding their squad this time around. 

 

Last season 

Derby knew from the off that they would be up against the odds as Wayne Rooney was working with a depleted squad and they were eventually handed a 21 point deduction. 

Throughout the 2021/22 season, Derby lost a total of 29 players and for the majority of the season they had to rely on youngsters making up the numbers. 

Had it not been for the point deduction, Derby would have finished 17th in the table on 55 points.  

Derby’s biggest strength was their home form as 72% of the points they picked up came when they played at home. 

They averaged 1.3 goals in home matches and conceded less than a goal per game. 

Away from home things were a little more tricky as they only won three matches on the road all season.  

Goals on the road were also harder to come by as they only scored 0.65 in away matches and conceded 1.35 goals per game. 

Starring players from last season such as Tom Lawrence, Malcolm Ebiowei, Ravel Morrison and Festy Ebosele have all since moved on, along with manager Wayne Rooney. 

As of writing 16 players from last season have left the club, but it’s not all doom and gloom. 

 

The summer recruitment so far 

Upon the completion of the takeover, Derby have wasted absolutely no time in strengthening their squad with players who you would associate with the second tier. 

Conor Hourihane is perhaps Derby’s most ambitious pick up so far as the former Aston Villa midfielder has been part of Championship playoff campaigns in his previous two seasons. 

The 31-year-old is a set-piece specialist and he’s certainly no stranger to League One. 

Across his previous two League One campaigns with Barnsley, Hourihane scored 23 goals and played a starring role in getting the Tykes promoted. 

These days he’s more accustomed to playing a deeper role in midfield and dictating the play. 

Last season for Sheffield United he averaged 1.8 accurate long balls per game and Derby can expect plenty of the same. 

Tom Barkhuizen has also joined on a free transfer as his contract at Preston North End came to an end. 

Barkhuizen has spent the past six seasons in the Championship and he scored 33 goals in 199 Championship appearances for Preston. 

His most prolific season came in 2019/20 where he scored nine goals and got five assists. 

The 29-year-old was best utilised as a right winger, but he is also capable of playing on the left or through the middle. 

David McGoldrick and James Collins have also joined on free transfers to give Derby some more fire power in the final third. 

Collins has a superb track record in League One as he hit 25 goals the last time he played at that level with Luton in 2018/19. 

These days David McGoldrick is more of a facilitator in the final third, rather than an out-and-out goalscorer. 

For Sheffield United last season he averaged a goal contribution every 161 minutes, which was an impressive return. 

Defensively, Derby still have some work to do although the additions of Haydon Roberts, Kwaku Oduroh and James Chester have added some depth to the position. 

The biggest task Liam Rosenior will face is getting everyone to gel in such a short space of time. 

Derby are currently being tipped as one of the favourites in League One, but they will face plenty of competition in one of the world's most competitive leagues.