Derby County: Sky Bet Championship season preview 2016/17
Tuesday 2 August 2016 10:26, UK
All the transfer news, fan opinion, predictions and odds ahead of Derby County's 2016/17 Sky Bet Championship campaign.
Last year's finish: 5th
Manager: Nigel Pearson
Title odds: 10/1 with Sky Bet
First five games: Brighton (H), Barnsley (A), Preston (A), Aston Villa (H), Burton (A)
Players In: None
Players Out: Conor Salmon (Released), Stephen Warnock (Released)
Fan's view - Ollie Wright, @derbycountyblog - http://www.derbycountyblog.com
Expectation: After the last three seasons? Expect the unexpected!
Realistically, though, Derby should at least finish in the top six. They missed a great opportunity last season, so Mel Morris has now appointed the experienced, uncompromising Nigel Pearson. Let's hope that Pearson's legendary temper holds and he can help the players find enough mental toughness to turn the stylish football we know they're capable of into the dozen or so extra points required.
Most important player: Will Hughes. He is blessed with unearthly passing ability and the team must be built around him, for as long as we're fortunate enough to have him.
Who will win the league? Newcastle United
Dark horse? Wolves
One Championship player you'd want to sign? Alan Judge
Ollie's prediction: 4th
Pearson deserves big credit for what Leicester City achieved last season - Claudio Ranieri definitely benefitted from Pearson's work. I can't wait to see how he handles Derby County - what will the 'Derby Way' be under Pearson? I think the first thing he needs to look at his chairman and tell him 'I want you to do this but don't do that'. They have a wonderful squad of players - I think he'll unite them to get them playing as a team.
Sky Bet odds
It was a case of so near yet so far again for Derby County as another good season saw them make the play-offs before being ousted by Hull in the semi-finals.
It is up to Pearson now to finally get them over the hump and they are 11/1 fourth favourites with Sky Bet to take the title. They can be backed at 3/1 to finally be promoted and are 10/1 to claim a spot in the top flight by winning the play-offs. Chris Martin banged in 15 goals in the Championship last season and he is 20/1 to be the division's top scorer this time around.
