Derby County are determined to make a big impact in the Championship next season under new manager Paul Warne. After spending too long as a “big fish in a small pond” in League One, the Rams are ready to take the second tier by storm.

Prior to their recent financial troubles that nearly resulted in the club going bust and dropping all the way down to League One, Derby were consistently in the mix for promotion to the Premier League. In the 2018/19 season, Frank Lampard had assembled an impressive squad that reached the playoff semi-finals, beating Leeds United in spectacular fashion. The Derby team that season included loanees Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori from Chelsea. However, they were ultimately unable to get past Aston Villa, who had another Chelsea player, Tammy Abraham, in their lineup, in the playoff final at Wembley.

Now under new ownership and management, Derby County are determined to recapture that level of success and challenge for a return to the top flight. With Paul Warne at the helm, the club is no longer content to simply make up the numbers in the Championship, but rather aims to be a force to be reckoned with in the division.

Here is a paraphrased version of the information about Florian Jozefzoon:

Florian Jozefzoon was another player who was part of the Derby County squad during the 2018/19 season when they reached the playoff final. At the time, he was expected to go on and become a key player for the Rams, with high hopes for his future at Pride Park.

However, Jozefzoon ultimately ended up being considered a flop for Derby County, despite the initial promise he had shown. His time at the club did not live up to the expectations that had been placed on him, and he failed to make the kind of impact that many had anticipated when he first arrived.

Instead of becoming a standout performer for Derby, Jozefzoon’s time with the club ended up being viewed as a disappointment, with him not living up to his early potential and not delivering the kind of performances that the club and its supporters had hoped for.

Florian Jozefzoon completed his move to Derby County.

Jozefzoon’s transfer to Derby County saw him struggle to meet the high expectations set for him, following his impressive performances at Brentford. The Suriname international, who had showcased his talent with seven goals and seven assists in 39 games for Brentford, failed to replicate his success after joining the Rams in a significant transfer deal.

At Brentford, Jozefzoon had developed a reputation for scoring impressive, audacious goals that would have fans on the edge of their seats. This included a stunning free-kick strike against Burton Albion that showcased his ability.

Jozefzoon’s impressive performances during the 2017/18 season at Brentford led to significant interest in his services from other clubs. Leeds United were reportedly among the teams interested in acquiring the explosive attacker, before he ultimately ended up making the move to Derby County.

Derby County ended up paying a premium price to acquire Florian Jozefzoon from Brentford, reportedly shelling out £2.75 million for the 5’8″ forward. In hindsight, Leeds United were fortunate they did not match Derby’s offer, as Jozefzoon would go on to be considered a flop during his time at Pride Park.

This type of overspending on transfers was a common occurrence during Mel Morris’ tenure as Derby County’s chairman. For example, that same transfer window, the Rams paid an initial £3 million for Jack Marriott, a former Peterborough United player, with the fee potentially rising to £5 million due to add-ons. These types of haphazard and expensive signings contributed to Derby’s financial troubles under Morris’ leadership.

 

While Florian Jozefzoon struggled to make an impact at Derby County, Jack Marriott fared better during his time with the club. Marriott managed to score 17 goals in 86 appearances for the Rams, performing more effectively than the ill-fated Jozefzoon signing.

However, Marriott’s time at Derby County was not without its issues either. Towards the end of his stay in Derbyshire, the current Wrexham player also lost his way and ended up leaving the club, unable to maintain the level of performance he had initially shown.

So while Marriott was more successful than Jozefzoon during his time at Derby, he too ultimately failed to live up to the club’s expectations in the long run, with both players ultimately departing the Rams after failing to fully establish themselves as consistent contributors.

Jozefzoon’s time at Derby

Here is a paraphrased version of the information about Florian Jozefzoon’s initial time at Derby County under Frank Lampard:

Jozefzoon, Derby’s high-profile signing, was able to successfully integrate himself into the project that Frank Lampard was leading at the club during the 2018/19 season. He made 34 appearances for Lampard that year as Derby reached the playoff final.

While Jozefzoon’s performances were not necessarily eye-catching, with only 2 goals and 1 assist to his name that season, they were steady enough that he did not immediately raise any major concerns about being a potential flop at the club.

Jozefzoon was able to settle in and contribute to Derby’s push for promotion under Lampard, even if his output was not particularly prolific. This initial period suggested he could potentially grow into a valuable player for the Rams, before his fortunes took a turn for the worse in the following seasons.

In his second season at Derby County, Florian Jozefzoon faced challenges as he struggled to secure a regular spot in the starting lineup under new manager Philip Cocu, following Frank Lampard’s departure.

Despite having a prior connection with Cocu from their time at PSV Eindhoven, Jozefzoon found himself frequently sidelined by the Dutch manager. He managed just 14 appearances during the 2019/20 season and could only muster one assist, highlighting a frustrating period in his Rams career.

This disappointing season turned out to be Jozefzoon’s final full campaign at Derby. He was subsequently loaned out to Rotherham United for the 2020/21 season before eventually departing the club permanently to join US Quevilly-Rouen Métropole in France.

The move to French club US Quevilly-Rouen Métropole did not cost them a single transfer fee, as Derby County were unable to recoup any of the £2.75 million they had initially paid to sign Jozefzoon from Brentford.

This highlights the financial missteps Derby made during this period, as they burned through significant sums of money on players like Jozefzoon who ultimately failed to live up to expectations at Pride Park.

In contrast, Derby’s more prudent approach to spending under their new management, led by Paul Warne, has allowed them to bring in players like Sonny Bradley on free transfers. These shrewd signings have gone on to become promotion heroes, exposing just how much money was wasted on underwhelming acquisitions like Jozefzoon during Derby’s previous regime.

The Jozefzoon saga serves as a cautionary tale for Derby, demonstrating the importance of making smart, cost-effective decisions in the transfer market, rather than overspending on players who struggle to make an impact. The club’s new direction under Warne appears to be a step in the right direction after the financial missteps of the past.