Weekend Off!

No game for the Rams this weekend as the FA Cup resumes and maybe a time to look ahead to the last 17 games of the season.

Not many fans would have dreamt that at this stage of the season that we would be in the play off picture nevermind in the running for an automatic promotion spot!

The win against QPR although not a classic was a big statement! It was probably our most important victory of the season. The players showed that they can grind out results against tough opposition. Before anyone points to the fact that Charlie Austin and Matt Phillips were missing for our visitors, they were still able to choose from a squad of experienced and expensive players.

The two key fixtures for me in the run in will be the visit to Burnley and the home match with the rivals from across Brian Clough Way, Nottingham Forest.

Burnley have a very good and well organised side. They outclassed us at the iPro and are the most impressive side to visit Derby in my opinion. We also haven't had much success or luck against them in recent years either.

The Key to their season will be keeping players like Sam Vokes, Danny Ings and Jason Shackell fit. They don't have a large squad, but so far haven't been too badly hit by injuries.

The home game with our red rivals will almost certainly be the most important and eagerly awaited clash in years. It probably the most significant game between the two in over thirty years.

Forest have invested heavily in their team this season. They haven't been as wreckless as some teams when the chequebook has been opened, but the wage bill is bound to be amongst the top few clubs in the division.

They have many million pound plus signings like Cox, Djebbour, Mackie etc and currently trail us by just one point.

They have recently lost Henry Lansbury to injury along with David Vaughan and they won't be back this season. The key to them continuing their impressive run will be Andy Reid not getting injured. He's been in form this season and is probably amongst the best midfielders in the division.

Games like these will be a real measure of how far Steve McClaren has taken Derby. Games like these are where we will need to be on top of our game and claim some some points.

Our league programme continues next Tuesday with a visit to Hillsborough where a resurgent Sheffield Wednesday await us. Three points is a must to continue our push for a top two place.

Window Closed

Now we can all concentrate on the action of the pitch instead of being distracted by the transfer window, let's have a look at our squad.

Lee Grant continues in goal with Adam Legzdins as cover. Grant has been superb at times and less convincing in other games. The signing of the highly rated Kelle Roos, indicates to me that we are looking to strengthen in this area.

Andre Wisdom has the Right Back position sewn up and if injured I'd expect a rapid recall from loan of Keiron Freeman.

Jake Buxton and Richard Keogh occupy the starting positions at the centre of defence and despite many people moaning and stating otherwise, Buxton hasn't played bad at all. Keogh has looked more like the player from last season recently too. Zak Whitbread and Mark O'Brien provide decent cover.

The left back position continues to worry me. Craig Forsyth is not a natural in the role and looks vulnerable against speedy wingers. For me this is a must fill position. 

The holding midfield role has been filled by John Eustace. His contribution has been vital in many games, but he does pick up more than his share of yellow cards and has looked tired in the last few games. George Thorne came in on loan and is a highly rated youngster. I expect Thorne to get the nod sooner rather than later.

Craig Bryson and Will Hughes must be automatic choices to start in midfield. Hughes has started to look like the promising player of last season again. Even when he has a quiet game, his passing is still good. Bryson is one of the best box to box midfielders in the country. Jeff Hendrick provides good cover. He does look to be struggling with getting match fit again though.

Moving on to the attack we are spoiled for choice. Chris Martin has been bagging goals along with Patrick Bamford. Bamford looks class! Dawkins and Ward add a threat going forward and both Johnny Russell and Conor Sammon have proven to be useful weapons from the bench.

I'm certain that a top six place us there for the taking, but to have a remote chance of automatic promotion, some work is needed in defence. Preferably a Left Back once the loan window opens.

Call Collymore

Stan Collymore the former pro now a radio broadcaster has for months now been the target of racial abuse via the social media.

Every single day you can look down his mentions and see so called football fans tweeting racist comments to him. There are often references to his past to including an incident with a Swedish TV weather girl. An incident that happened over 15 years ago.

None of these tweeters were actually present went the said incident happened and yet they are at the ready to play judge jury and executioner.

To fully understand what happened one would have to be there and know the people concerned. I can only go by what the said people have stated themselves. I read Stan's autobiography a couple of years ago. Does he ask for forgiveness? No he tries to explain a situation that got out of control.

I will never condone assaulting anyone be they a man or woman, however I will not judge someone over one incident either. The fact that he has acknowledged his own faults, faced up to them and actually sought help is a positive.

I like many others though can be labelled as a hypocrite! Yes! That's right! Whilst I was playing the game regular (I played my last ever game last year in a charity match) I never thought twice about bringing down the winger who was giving me a hard time in a game. I received 47 yellows and 6 red cards (Two straight reds) when playing in the low level of the game that I participated.

One straight red was for 'nutting' a striker and breaking his nose and another where I took a left wingers ankle in a way that Ron 'Chopper' Harris might have been accustomed to.

It was on the football field you say! It was still violence against another player and something I'm not proud of. 

I am proud to say that I can't be accused of being racist. I have Jewish ancestors and also many mixed race relations. Indeed my daughter is expecting her first child and he/she will be mixed race.

I do hold my hand up and admit that as a teenager I was homophobic to the extreme. This was cured when I was took to task by a woman and shown how ignorant and misguided my opinions were. Today, me and the wife have many gay friends.

Stan has a past, he has faced up to his problems and in my opinion is quite rightly fighting racists and homophobes. It's the clear that the right wing press have an agenda against him when the Sun has to wheel out a has been tv weather person to rake up Incident that happened 15 years ago. This the same rag that was quick to point the finger wrongly at Liverpool fans over the Hillsborough Disaster.

I hope that every single fan that has sent this abuse is delay with accordingly. There is far too much hate in society today. I hope Stan goes on to keep bringing the real footballing issues to the table too.

A Look Back at 2013

As a new year is almost upon us, it's time to look back on 2013 and wonder what 2014 may bring.

It's been quite an eventful 2013. Once again we missed out on a top six place at the end of the 2012/13 season and fans again were left with a team consolidated it's place in the second tier of English football.

Derby were pretty good at home, but couldn't quite bring home enough points on their travels. As Archie Gemmill stated In an interview in McFarlands bar, the team needed a goalscorer.

Chris Martin had come in on loan towards the end of the season, but was short of match practice. 

The summer break saw Johnny Russell join the club from Dundee United and it has to be said that he certainly looks the part. Ok, he's only got five goals so far, but he's only started a few games. His ability to control the ball and link up well with Chris Martin promises excitement.

 A few weeks ago Nigel Clough was relieved of management duties following the loss at Nottingham Forest. At the time there there was a mixed reception from fans. Some remaining loyal to Nigel, whilst others saw it as a time for change.

During the time he spent in charge, Nigel had brought back some financial stability to the club and introduced many new promising players into the team including Craig Bryson, Johnny Russell and Chris Martin. However, even though we had started an impressive run of away results, the home results had been disappointing.

It didn't take the club long to appoint former player and assistant manager Steve McClaren as Head Coach. Once again this was met with a mixed response from Rams fans. Some pointing to his unhappy period in charge of near neighbours Nottingham Forest.

He was supposed to sit out the game against Ipswich and leave Academy boss Darren Wassall in charge of first team affairs. However, we were 4-1 down at half time and he intervened and made a couple of changes. A second half fight back saw Derby snatch a 4-4 draw.

Since that game Derby have won all but three of their fixtures with McClaren in charge and only lost the one game.

There is a real 'buzz' and belief that the team could now at long last be making a challenge to return to the Premier League. I'm not one for counting chickens, but this side in my opinion is a better one that last made promotion.

Existing players have improved dramatically under Steve McClarens leadership and some great loan signings have also played a part.

Simon Dawkins was something of an unknown quality when he was brought in. A few years ago he was advised to quit the game after suffering a career threatening injury. He has added some real firepower to the attack.

Andre Wisdom has been class since his arrival from Liverpool. Normally a centre half, he has played at right back and dazzled fans with his ability. 

Michael Keane has recently come in to replace the injured Richard Keogh and shown he will be a Premier League player sooner rather than later.

These additions plus the form of the players McClaren inherited have pushed us up to second in the league table.

Chris Martin now has 15 goals and we are only halfway through the season. The best return from a front man since Steve Howard during the last promotion campaign.

Craig Bryson has also chipped in with 11 goals from midfield. More goals than most strikers have.

All in all a great end to 2013. We are well placed for a top six finish and dare I say a top two place. It's important that we keep our feet on the ground as we will lose matches just like everyone else, but it certainly looks like we have some exciting days ahead! Here's to 2014 and hopefully promotion!

Festive Quiz

1. What is the surname Steve, Barry, Darryl, Chris, Darren?

2. What do the following players have in common, Charlie George, Bobby Davison, Nigel Callaghan, Roger Davies, Archie Gemmill?

3. Who made Derby's shirt for their centenary season!

4. Who was the sponsor?

5. Who am I? Apart from Derby I've played for FC Bruges, Leicester and Chesterfield?

6. Which Yorkshire County cricketer played centre half for Derby?

7. Name the ITV skills series Derby won in the 70's? 

8. Who's transfer to Derby in the 70's was stopped by his parent club after the paperwork was found to leave a loophole to cancel it?

9. We aren't signing him because we can't afford him said Brian Clough, who then went out to promptly sign him. Who?

10. Name the legendary scout during the Clough and Taylor years who wrote a book about them?

Fit and Proper Owners

Before anyone can take over a league football team, prospective owners have to go through what is called a fit and proper owners test. This is to make sure that they are fit to run a football club. The clue is in the name of the exercise.

Despite this actions of several owners has been called into question and rightly so!

I will start with Vincent Tan who has done more to alienate himself with fans than any other owner I can remember. Starting off by scrapping the famous blue shirts that Cardiff have worn for as long as I can remember and I'm knocking on the door of my half century on this planet, and changing them to red.

A teams colours are it's history, it's identity and to do this showed a real disregard for the feelings of the fans who turn up week in and week out paying their hard earned cash to support the club.

Mr Tan doesn't stop there though. His dealings with manager Malky Mackay are now well documented and show a total lack of respect for the best manager that they have had in over fifty years. 

The Venky's at Blackburn are another example of trigger happy owners. How much longer will Gary Bowyer get to improve the side?

The total disregard of history and tradition by Hull city's owner Assem Allam who is attempting to change their name to Hull Tigers! 

The shenanigans at Coventry where SISU have them playing at Northampton, whilst the modern stadium 'The Ricoh' stands unused!

The King Power Group at Leicester appear to have calmed down lately, but they were hiring and firing regularly until a couple of years ago!

Even our neighbours in Nottingham had some early moments where a revolving door was needed in the managers office after three managers were fired within a few months.

It would appear that the fit and proper owners test simply isn't working!

I have been amongst the fans to criticise GSE at Derby, but they aren't guilty of throwing stupid money at the club and not giving managers a fair crack of the whip. Both Paul Jewell and Nigel Clough were given time. Jewell was given a funds, Clough was given time.

Nigel Clough steadied the ship and helped bring financial stability to the club with his dealings, but many thought that it was time to move on and move up a gear.

Currently challenging for an automatic promotion place and with the books in order, perhaps all of us who were quick to criticise GSE will eat humble pie at the end of the season. I'm happy to take a large portion if we are promoted. 

Paper Blog

Last weeks blog post that was on the Mansfield Chad and various other regional papers.