The Rams have announced that they will release the golden glove winner. Derby County’s number one from the 2024/24 League One season, Joe Wildsmith, is one of six senior players who will be released by the Rams when their current contracts end this summer.
Wildsmith made a significant contribution to the team’s promotion-winning season. The goalkeeper preserved 20 clean sheets in the league, the most in the third division, in 40 appearances.
Following the announcement, the 28-year-old wrote on Instagram: “Thank you for everything @dcfcofficial. It’s been a whirlwind two years, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I came here to help this enormous team return to the Championship and depart.
Having completed that. What a way to go out!” Derby now has the responsibility of replacing him. They were previously linked with Rotherham United shot-stopper Viktor Johansson, who later joined Stoke City.
Derby Fan Names Joe Wildsmith replacement
Shaun Woodward, a Derby fan, believes that current Ram Josh Vickers should be the one to replace Wildsmith.
“I genuinely can’t think of anybody else to replace [Wildsmith] at the moment,” added Woodward. “I’m still stunned that he’s not with us after winning the Golden Glove last season. It’s simply a shame that things fell apart between him and Paul Warne, or whoever was handling the deal.
“Why not Vickers?” Warne clearly likes him. I believe he wanted him to be his number one at some point last season. Circumstances forced him to have a difficult year both on and off the field.
“If his head is clear, give him some playing experience in preseason, and if his form is good, remain with him. Warne clearly likes him; he’s a decent goalkeeper. I don’t believe he did anything wrong when he played; he simply didn’t play much for Derby. Give him a try and see what he’s like.
“If there’s someone truly good that jumps out on the market, that’s terrific, but there’s nobody that really makes you think that they’d help the club at
moment. So, unless we find someone better than Vickers, I’d go with him. Derby must set the correct priorities in their pursuit of the goalkeeper.
FLW’s Derby fan commentator is correct that the market for keepers at County’s current level is not ideal. As a result, they must ensure that they target those who are available and possess the necessary characteristics.
Warne is not expected to transform this squad into one like Ipswich, who came up and dominated teams – they weren’t particularly dominant in League One, let alone the Championship.
They are more likely to resemble Plymouth Argyle or Sheffield Wednesday, and they will need to sign a goalkeeper whose finest qualities are shot-stopping, reaction time, and the like.
Having a number one who thrives with the ball at their feet is unnecessary if Derby do not typically have the majority of possession, which they most likely will not.
If they want to bring in someone else to be the number one instead of Vickers, they should go for a keeper like Johansson. A goalkeeper who will save points with their hands rather than their feet.
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