Football Season Review

Derby were beaten in the play-off semi-finals but cannot really have too many complaints about their failure to win promotion. The Rams were simply not good enough for the Premier League and in the end fairly fortunate to make the top six after an indifferent period towards the end of the season. Gary Rowett did not have too much money to spend after inheriting a squad of high earners many of whom acquired big transfer fees. It now promises to be a summer of difficult with sales likely to balance the books and address financial fair play. The side's player of the year was Matej Vydra with 22 goals from a player that had struggled in recent seasons. But he was dropped for the latter stages of the season and only came on in the play-off semi-final, second leg. Scott Carson was another player on song with a stunning season again between the sticks. But the defence did not always look the part with criticism over Richard Keogh, who has been an integral part of the side in recent seasons. Derby lacked a certain spark all season and it was another season of what might have been following too many different ideas from a variety of recent managers.

Player of the Season: Matej Vydra