Tuesday 20 January 2015

Presenting Podcast

Recent years has seen a rise in the number of fan produced podcasts.

I enjoy listening to them. Obviously Derby comes top of my listening list, but I highly recommend Cottage Talk by Russ Goldman and fellow Fulham fans and also Norwich City fans own show.

It's good to keep up to date on what's going on at rival teams in our division and hear the point of view from those paying customers.

I have been a guest on Cottage Talk a few times when we have played Fulham.

I am interested in starting a new podcast in the not too distant future. This could be
A Derby one or indeed an East Midlands one with Derby, Forest, Notts, Chesterfield, Mansfield etc featured. Anyone interested please contact me via Twitter.

Sunday 18 January 2015

Derby Day Blues

Well another East Midlands Derby has come and gone and yet again proved the much used cliche 'Form goes out of the window for these games' very true indeed.

Derby sitting in second place, took on a Forest side who's form has been poor recently.

The pre match bragging off was yet again a feature on social media and banter exchanged between the two sets of supporters. 

Derby had to make at least one change with Jordon Ibe being recalled by Liverpool. Jamie Ward slotted into the wide left role.

Raul Albentosa was signed too late to be included and Stephen Warnock ruled out til next week with an ankle injury. 

That said it was a very strong looking line up and our visitors also put out a team full of experience. Wilson and Assombalonga passing fitness tests.

The first half was scrappy and Derby controlled the midfield. Will Hughes being the key man. He was the vital cog and was playing like a seasoned veteran pro.

Derby apllied most of the pressure, but had to rely on Lansbury heading into his own net from a corner to take the lead. The Forest defence was very wobbly at this stage and almost gifted Ward with an easy chance minutes later.

You did feel that they could get back into the game even at the halftime break. The long balls were posing a few problems for our defence.

Early in the game Jake Buxton was lucky not to guve away a penalty when dragging down Antonio.

At half time I felt pretty sure that we would need a second goal early after the restart.

After the break Hendrick replaced Hughes who must have been taken off after taking a knock. That would normally not be too concerning as Hendrick has turned in some great performances this season. It was however costly. The midfield lost all of its shape and our visitors took over.

Right from the restart there was only one team looking likely too score.

Our defence looking very shaky when Assombalonga pounced on a loose ball to equalise. I said then that Forest would go on to win the game. The writing was on the wall. Their players found a fifth gear and ours uncharacteristically folded.

The introduction of Darren Bent for Ward was a headscratcher. Bent is a central striker and this showed as he only touched the ball once after his arrival. You cant play him alongside Martin unless you are playing 442.

Johnny Russell ran his legs off but the away defence managed to deal with every cross. Bryson was below par and a shadow of the energetic box to box midfielder that has terrorised Forest in the past.

For our rivals, Ben Osborn looked quality in that second half. He had been well covered by Christie in the first fourty five minutes, but our right back was left exposed in the second half.

Last year it was a Forest fan, Patrick Bamford who shone for us. This season it was a Derby lad, Osborn who struck a cracking shot from thirty yards that finished us off.

All in all a very disappointing display. We need to move on and get on with the task in hand and thats automatic promotion.

At the moment we arent quite good enough. Perhaps the introduction of Raul Albentosa at centre half will steady the back four. Also, Stephen Warnock can play the all important holding role as it is that position that has been vital to us.

Eustace was a big miss yesterday. Mascarell simply isn't good enough there and George Thorne is four weeks away from returning.

No excuses though we were beaten by the better team.

Monday 12 January 2015

FA Cup / Ipswich Away

In little over a week, we have seen The Rams squeeze through to the fourth round of the FA Cup and get a very important victory against Ipswich.

The cup game with Conference side Southport was a lot tighter than anyone might imagine and it took a penalty in time added on right at the end of the game for Derby to make progress.

Full credit to Southport for putting on a good show. Despite nine changes to our starting line up, we came very close, with a far more experienced side, to being taken to a replay by a fith tier side.

On to Ipswich on Saturday, we put in a workman like performance against a side unbeaten at home and on a long unbeaten streak.

Ipswich play with a more direct style in contrast to our passing game so it was rather ironic that our winning goal came from the Route one textbook.

It wasn't the most entertainining of games, but it was three very important points for the lads against one of our rivals for automatic promotion.

Darren Bent didn't get the chance to make his Derby debut against one of his old clubs so will have to wait for the East Midlands Derby next Saturday.

Chris Martin scored his fifteenth league goal and eighteenth overall to continue his brilliant form sice joining us full time. He looks likely to pass last seasons total of twenty five goals.

Saturday next sees us host our biggest rivals from across Brian Clough Way, Nottingham Forest. Their manager Stuart Pearce coming under pressure now after a good start as boss.

On paper they have a squad as strong as any in the division, however they are struggling badly at the moment.

There can still be no place for complacency against them though. What better place for Psycho himself to defy the critics than Derby. Our lads will have to be on their guard as you can be assured that our rivals will be well up for this game despite their recent poor form.

I am hopeful that we will win, however those expecting another thrashing may be disappointed. Personally I would take a one goal win. A win is a win against Forest and is another three pints towards promotion.