A lad with a past though still very young. 5 foot 9 inches tall, goalscorer. Supposedly has trained with the U23s and is one for the future rather than to go straight into the first team. Left Liverpool acrimoniously and has also not settled in Fiorentina so has a bit of a bad boy reputation. Maybe he has been "poorly advised" and is a diamond in the rough etc. Clearly has a lot of talent so if he gets his head straight it could be a proper bargain. Scored plenty of goals for Liverpool's Academy.

Maybe they can send us Batistuta instead and he can play alongside Hector.

Both of those lads would still beat Clarke in a 50 yard dash.

I think Duncan would be a good buy. If he drives, Lawrence will show him the flesh spots around Derby and the lad will feel at home. What could possibly go wrong?

The Daily Telegraph reporting this as "close" and Ibe as "done".

Done but not yet dusted?

I know everyone is never fit at the same time, but if these two arrive and as seems likely we are still in the market for another centre forward Cocu will have a huge range of options for midfield and attack.

Let’s say we favours a 4-3-3. The midfield 3 can be any of Rooney, Bird, Bielik, Shinnie, Knight, Sibley, Evans and Holmes. Wide players any two of Lawrence, Jozwiak, Ibe and Whittaker. Central striker new signing, Marriott, Waghorn, Duncan and Hector-Ingram.

Or 4-2-3-1 with two holding midfielders and Lawrence, Sibley and maybe Holmes competing for the place behind the main striker. 4-4-2 with new striker alongside Marriott or Duncan and Jozwiak/Ibe on the flanks would be mouthwatering. Bird and Bielik could anchor that team.

Blimey. Suddenly we could look like a team. Too many players? If we still need to find space for the kids to come through would some need to be sold? Marriott? Holmes? Evans? Waghorn? Lawrence? Or cash in on the likes of Sibley and Bird if someone bids silly money for them?

comment by lastapostleofvidal (U1491)
posted 1 minute ago
Done but not yet dusted?

I know everyone is never fit at the same time, but if these two arrive and as seems likely we are still in the market for another centre forward Cocu will have a huge range of options for midfield and attack.

Let’s say we favours a 4-3-3. The midfield 3 can be any of Rooney, Bird, Bielik, Shinnie, Knight, Sibley, Evans and Holmes. Wide players any two of Lawrence, Jozwiak, Ibe and Whittaker. Central striker new signing, Marriott, Waghorn, Duncan and Hector-Ingram.

Or 4-2-3-1 with two holding midfielders and Lawrence, Sibley and maybe Holmes competing for the place behind the main striker. 4-4-2 with new striker alongside Marriott or Duncan and Jozwiak/Ibe on the flanks would be mouthwatering. Bird and Bielik could anchor that team.

Blimey. Suddenly we could look like a team. Too many players? If we still need to find space for the kids to come through would some need to be sold? Marriott? Holmes? Evans? Waghorn? Lawrence? Or cash in on the likes of Sibley and Bird if someone bids silly money for them?
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Evening all,

Good to see the one that speaks football wisdom for our club is doing just that.

Not a fan of the Duncan signing given how he behaved via his agent. If it is an U23 recruitment for less than Fiorentina paid then yes may well be worth a punt.

The different tactical options mentioned is indeed mouth watering. I think in this division you definitely need the option of playing two up front, if Marriott can remain injury free and play alongside Waghorn or possibly Kieran Davis that'd be interesting.

I'm also keen to see a line up of :

Jozwiak. Lawrence. Ibe.

CF

I think Keinan Davis would be good for us, he’s got the power we need. His scoring record is poor at present but nearly all of his appearances have been as sub so hard to judge too much from that. Players in any position need a consistent run in the team. Dominic Calvert-Lewis at Everton has taken a long time to develop into a very good all-round centre forward for example. Davies could have good nuisance value which we lack in that position and Rooney can teach him a bit about kicking the ball into the net. Maybe he’s not a target but I would like him.

Welcome back to Derby County Jordon Ibe

https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2020/09/winger-ibe-makes-derby-return

Looks a tad on the hefty side so some work to do on the fitness but hope he can carry on where he left off

comment by Wicklowram (U18957)
posted 11 minutes ago
Looks a tad on the hefty side so some work to do on the fitness but hope he can carry on where he left off
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Exactly what I thought, Wickers.
Welcome Jordon.

A bit of beefiness in a winger is all the rage. Haven't you seen Adoma Traore?

All these forwards coming in, does this mean we will venture out of our own half in the near future.

Every chance you would think. Jozwiak and Ibe are exactly the type of players required and what we have been lacking for a while: players whose instinct is to take on and beat their man and who have the pace and skill to do so. Our opponents will worry about their threat and may decide they need to double up on them which will create space elsewhere. Both also have an eye for goal. Good times.

I hope all this optimism is not misplaced, because i don't think Cocu will change his embedded possession game stance.

I hope Jozwiak is not badly injured. I am wondering if Ibe has been brought to offset a long lay off for the Pole.
I had a feeling that Ibe was being lined up in case the Jozwiak deal fell through last week.. When he signed the Ibe stuff went quiet then he gets injured and Ibe is in the building.
It's just a feeling.
I hope its not the case because we now have too excellent wingers who have the ability to scare any defence in the league.

Jozwiak prefers to play on the left though he can play on right. Ibe also likes to play on the left. Both are right footed.
What ever happened to getting to the bye line and swinging one in.

Went out with the ark Rameses. Inverted wingers is the thing. Jozwiak posted on Instagram earlier this week. He didn't mention his injury but the post was of the "We fight on!" variety, not the sort of thing he would be likely to say if crocked. Cocu said on Saturday that Jozwiak felt his injury was not serious.

That sounds positive Vidal.

comment by Rameses, Kom op jij Rams (U7190)
posted 1 hour, 39 minutes ago
I hope Jozwiak is not badly injured. I am wondering if Ibe has been brought to offset a long lay off for the Pole.
I had a feeling that Ibe was being lined up in case the Jozwiak deal fell through last week.. When he signed the Ibe stuff went quiet then he gets injured and Ibe is in the building.
It's just a feeling.
I hope its not the case because we now have too excellent wingers who have the ability to scare any defence in the league.
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I think his value ( 15 million when signed by Bournemouth ) may be a contributing factor too given he's available for free - in terms of squad value for the books.

We'll have to see how Ibe. He ended up being seen in a similar way to how we see Jozefzoon at his former club and by his own account his life went a bit off the rails.

Definitely a gamble, and one where if he doesn't perform that contract might end up being cut short, but we'll see.

We'll have to see how Ibe turns out, that should have been.

Duncan now signed on a 3-year deal. If we get in one more striker such as Davis I wonder whether Marriott will be made available for transfer?

Ibe will work out well ... he's a good player who needs to find his self belief.

Likewise Duncan... massively talented.

2 good signings.

Marriot is going nowhere.

Need a big CF then we'll start the season properly

Duncan is a good name for a footballer, my first favourite player was Duncan Edwards.

So we need a centre forward, we could always get Giroud on loan from our old friend Frankie.