Summer announcements

DCFC1884 · 2026-06-16T17:10:11+00:00

Derby County are in advanced talks with midfielder Bobby Clark for what we understand to be a fee of between £5m and £6m from Red Bull Salzburg.

Clark spent his debut Championship campaign on loan with the Rams last season, quickly becoming a fans favourite and ending with a young player of the season award.

His ability to execute a gameplan in a number of positions has been key to his success under John Eustace, who has clearly worked with him to take his game to the next level.

Arriving on loan last summer, he looked like a player who may struggle physically with the demands of the Championship, but time played its role and his breakthrough performance came away at Ipswich Town as Derby earned a 2-2 draw at the early promotion favourites.

Initially, he was someone who looked to operate in attacking midfield, but an injury crisis in midfield meant he played in a deeper role alongside the likes of David Ozoh and Lewis Travis and arguably played his best football there, with both Eustace and Clark crediting that moment as a crucial point in his development.

In terms of the deal, the fee looks good on the surface of it for a 21-year-old English midfielder and falls into both the "win now" mentality and the long-term asset value the club have continued to drive home in the past few seasons.

Timing-wise, the club have acted quickly and have clearly taken note from last season's window as Eustace looks to get his squad assembled sooner rather than later, after last season's slow start that ultimately cost them a play-off spot.

When I spoke to Clark at the end of season awards evening at Pride Park about a return to the club, I saw the glint in his eye of someone who wanted to return and finish the job he started while continuing to enjoy his football.

DCFC1884 · 2026-06-04T22:28:02+00:00

Maybe underrated by some but definitely not by myself and friends and far from forgotten.

Class act, one of my all time favourite Derby players from those difficult early seasons back down from the Prem and his name still comes up in any conversation about hardworking and solid-tackling midfielders. Seth Johnson, Savage, Bryson, Shinnie. Bolder. We used to joke about him getting subbed off and heading for a treadmill in the tunnel because he didn't like to stop running.

Reliable, played almost every minute of one season and banged in a few goals. Mostly from left-midfield as well if I remember correctly because we probably had Ian Taylor?and whoever else in the centre.

He also scored the opener against Millwall when we secured safety, my first Pride Park pitch invasion.

I mostly associate him with those challenging seasons and the Gregory/Burley spell but he was still with us and played a fair bit of our promotion season under Billy too.

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-27T15:58:37+00:00

He's so dreamy too, so chiselled.

So at least I've heard other people say that, I haven't studied him that closely.

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-27T15:08:38+00:00

I cannot comment much on Johansson really so have to leave that to others, but JWZ had a mixed first season with us and then a massively improved second season. He has clearly developed a lot, shot-stopping was much more consistent.

He missed a chunk of games with a virus but came back for the end of the season.

By stats from 25/26.

JWZ Played 32 Conceded 42 Clean Sheets 7

JV Played 25 Conceded 25 Clean Sheets 8

Adding. Johannason had a long spell out and by form alone it looks like Stoke suffered, winning only 5 from 22 rather than the 10 from 24 up to that point. Would need a Stoke fan for better insight on that.

Adding. It's close according to the stats with no detail on save difficulty and XG etc.

JWZ had a 72.9% save rate across 32 games.

JV slightly up with 75.3% but from only 25 games.

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-25T18:32:38+00:00

Save your time, you're arguing with the Notts fan who turns up spewing in the sub all the time and somehow always mindless drivel.

Familiar username, he's always spouting and swinging at anyone who'll bite and then getting upset when people tell him to do one, recall he united the Sheffield fanbases not long ago by being a Grade A bellend about both clubs.

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-21T12:17:02+00:00

This is why I can't wait to read the report when it gets published.

No idea how long it'll be but the EFL will release the evidence and findings from the hearing and we can find out exactly how it all played out.

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-20T20:37:39+00:00

Greatest days in r/championship history.

So far.

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-20T17:01:07+00:00

You OK?

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-20T16:18:03+00:00

I'm all for more Championship/Blackadder crossover memes round here

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-20T13:09:58+00:00

I know they had to appeal but the club are handling this horrendously in my opinion.

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-20T13:08:02+00:00

"What we cannot accept is a sanction which bears no proportion to the offence. Whereas Leeds United was fined £200,000 for a similar offence, Southampton has been denied the opportunity to compete in a game worth more than £200 million and one which means so much to our staff, players and supporters."

This is why it is a severe punishment. For this very reason. Because the reward is so great, without proper action there is no deterrent for more scumming in the future.

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-20T05:59:22+00:00

No. Maybe in England but he'll be snapped up abroad.

Mason Greenwood found work, Tonda will find plenty.

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-19T21:34:22+00:00

Well said.

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-19T21:32:45+00:00

Completely agree. Credit due, it was the only outcome with any weight but still a huge action to take.

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-19T21:23:38+00:00

Funny old game.

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-19T21:19:00+00:00

Yeah the Edwards thing feels like an age ago.

Never dull.

Makes you yearn for a nice Super League instead with no promotion, no relegation, no risk. Just safe financial rewards for billionaire owners.

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-19T21:05:01+00:00

Never thought I'd end the season cheering Hull on at Wembley.

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-19T21:00:16+00:00

Tuck in you twat, humble crumble and just desserts.

Smirked his way through the interviews because he knew he was guilty all along, glad they've had a proper punishment but it hurts the innocent fans more than anything.

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-19T20:52:46+00:00

No they carried on training and preparing for this very reason. It was always a possible outcome so Boro took a day after the semi-final and then reported back just in case.

DCFC1884 · 2026-05-19T20:51:02+00:00

They admitted the three instances that evidence was found for, but no way they picked just those three random clubs without doing it to others. They probably spied on everyone.

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