A View From Derby Ahead Of The Big Game

Last updated : 14 September 2006 By @pnemad
So you have taken our manager, coaching staff and physio any more raids likely on Deepdale?

Not heard anything but I guess you would have to ask Billy Davies

So how has life under the dwarf been so far this season?

By dwarf I assume you mean Billy Davies. He hasn't had an auspicious start to his career at Pride Park and most of the signings either need time to gel together or are not up to the task. Billy has asked for time to get the team right but at the time of writing we are second bottom of the league, have just sold the best dead ball kicker in this league, Inigo Idiakez, to Southampton and the Rams player of the year, Tommy Smith has left for his Premiership home side Watford.

So I guess you can say it hasn't been all that good for either the new manager or the Derby County fans so far.

What is the expectancy now at Pride Park under the new board and management?

Same as it always has been, the club has the stadium, training facilities and fan base to be a Premiership side. The club has been in decline since we were relegated from the Premiership. We have had to suffer 3 years of a board that stripped the club of nearly all its assets but now the new board is looking to put things right, whether putting Billy Davies in charge was a good move, only time will tell.

Do Derby fans see this as a grudge match or just another game in the 'fight against relegation'!?

We certainly owe you one for the play-off semi final defeat but I am intrigued to see the reaction of both sets of fans this weekend. Billy was certainly not the overwhelming choice of the Rams faithful but he did have a reasonable record of getting you to the brink of the Premiership.

It is far too early to be talking about promotion or relegation and a good win on Saturday may see both clubs changing places in the league.

So out of all the cash you have had to spend who should we look out for?

Giles Barnes was a product of the Rams Academy and cost us nothing, on his day he can destroy any midfield and run the game. Arturo Lupoli is on a season long loan from Arsenal, he is expected to replace Tierry Henry in a couple of years time and has already shown he can score goals. Ryan Smith is another Arsenal youngster that we have now bought. He is quick and has good feet and can produce some telling crosses.

So has much changed since the arrival of the new found cash and employees?

Not a great deal on the pitch and the behind the scenes activity of the backroom boys will only be seen during the course of time I suspect.

Phil Brown didn't last longer and the fans were often on the back of Burley so how much time will Davies be given?

Phil Brown was an unproven manager taking charge of his first club, brought to the club by a desperate board who should have known he was taking over a club far to big for a first time appointment.

He was clearly out of his depth and a comment made by him calling the crowd a disgrace for booing his poor managerial decisions during one particular match sealed his fate.

I don't recall many times when George Burley had the crowd on his back. He was forced to leave the club after other unfortunate off-field activities and not through crowd pressure and certainly not results.

A prediction for this Saturday's game.

Derby County 1 Preston 1