John Eustace has quickly fixed glaring Derby County issue – They could be the surprise package this season
Derby County will be looking forward to the new Championship season after securing their safety on a dramatic final day of the previous campaign.
Despite their struggles, it doesn’t tell the story of how the Rams performed under John Eustace, with the ex-Blackburn chief named as Paul Warne’s successor back in February.
Under his guidance, Derby picked up 21 points from 14 games, a return that would’ve had them in the top six if extrapolated over a full season.
John Eustace has made Derby County difficult to play against
Of course, it’s a big jump to say they could be that consistent over 46 games, but it shows that the players responded to Eustace’s methods, and he deserves huge credit for the way he set the side up.
Their success in that period was built on defensive solidity, with Derby conceding 14 goals in the same number of games, although it’s worth pointing out four of those came in the first game.
In total, the Rams kept five clean sheets in that period, so they are competitive and a tough nut to crack for the opposition.
Derby County’s impressive transfer window should address their lack of goals
With those foundations in place, the next step for Eustace is to identify how Derby can improve – and it’s fair to say that everyone will know the answer.
A lack of goals was a problem for the East Midlands outfit, as they found the net just 15 times in Eustace’s 14 games, and only four teams scored fewer goals over the season.
Therefore, adding more firepower was always going to be the priority, so Derby deserve huge credit for sealing deals for Andi Weimann and Carlton Morris, with Patrick Agyemang also expected to sign in a multi-million pound transfer.
Derby fans know all about Weimann, and whilst the prospect of a 33-year-old joining on a free transfer isn’t too exciting, it does give them another threat. But, it’s the capture of Morris and the arrival of Agyemang that could really transform Eustace’s side.
Carlton Morris and Patrick Agyemang give Derby County a new threat
Firstly, Morris is proven at this level. Even though he scored just eight times last season, it was a difficult time for all connected to Luton.
Prior to that, he hit 20 as they won promotion to the Premier League in 2022/23, and followed that up with 11 in the top-flight. At 29, Morris still has a lot to offer, and if he can rediscover those levels, Derby will have a real threat on their hands.
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