In my retirement from running RamZone and with the winter having a strong hold on Norway, I've played quite a bit of the computer game Football Manager 2010 in recent weeks.

I've been playing with a friend, starting in the summer of 2009 in League One and have now worked my way up to be manager of Wolves, a top side in Premier League in 2017. But the point of this article is not to talk about what I've done but with Football Manager 2010 being by far the most realistic football simulation game in the market, it's been interesting to see how the game thinks Derby will be doing in the years ahead.

In 2010 the game has Derby ending in 16th place with 55 points, Newcastle and West Brom finishing in the top two spots and Middlesbrough winning the play-offs. Very realistic still at this point in the real world. More interestingly, and not so realistic unfortunately, the game has Nottingham Forest in bottom place and relegated back to League One.

The patience with Nigel Clough is quickly wearing thin it seems as he is sacked on December 11th 2010 and in what must be a shock to all Rams fans, Colin Todd is appointed in his place! Like last time he was Derby manager, he is unable to turn things around and Derby finish in 19th place in 2011.

In true Rams fashion they suddenly bounce back in 2012 however, finishing 4th, only losing out to Reading in the play-off final. Colin Todd must be feeling really good, finally having proved himself as a top manager at Derby and not just as a player. It doesn't work out however as a poor start to the 2012/2013 season sees him getting the sack in October.

Who's next in line as Derby manager? Ryan Giggs! It sounds like an exciting appointment but Derby aren't able to follow up their previous season and finish 14th in 2013 before it's a true disaster in 2014 when Derby are relegated to League One, just two points away from safety. Ryan Giggs being sacked halfway through the season and getting replaced with Eddie Howe.

He is quickly replaced with Peter Shirtliff the following season where Derby finish 12th in League One. In 2016 and 2017 Derby reach the play-offs under Shirtliff but there is no play-off luck for Derby in the future as they fail both times and have become rooted in League One.

Worth noting is that Tom Glick is still the club chairman in 2017, putting some weight behind the claim that he's here for the long haul. Only Dean Moxey and Paul Green of the players are still at the club in 2017 but under the club's information page there are only three people under Club Legends: Steve Bloomer, Brian Clough & Paul Green!

On a positive note, Nottingham Forest are in League Two in 2017 and their manager is sacked immediately after losing 4-1 to Derby at the City Ground in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Cup. I guess that's all we need to know about the future to stay optimistic!

Photo: Action Images

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