Ruben Zadkovich (Unattached)
Last season couldn't have gone much worse for Derby County. After living the dream and going from mid table to promoted under Billy Davies things couldn't have been much better for Derby fans but once they got to the Premiership things didn't go so well. An opening day draw with Portsmouth was an ok start but it took them until September to register a first win beating Newcastle 1-0. That proved to be their last win of the season in a record breaking disaster. Billy Davies was caked and in came Paul Jewell who changed the team around bringing in the likes of Robbie Savage to make them hard to beat. Sadly this had the opposite affect and the highlight of their season as probably losing 1-0 to Manchester United, a game they almost got a draw out of. They suffered heavy defeats at Liverpool, Chelsea
and home to Aston Villa and West Ham before a final day hammering
against Reading at least ended a sorry season.
Paul Jewell didn't mess about this summer after what he described as the worst team in Premiership history. Not great news for the players in that side when even the manager publicly admits his team are shit. He has had a monumental clearout and the end result is Derby will have a new side this year. Paul Jewell will be looking for his first competitive win on August 9th and he will be going all out to restore pride among the Derby fans who it has to be said stuck by their team in fantastic numbers last year. Jewell is no mug and as he showed at Wigan he knows how to build a Championship winning outfit. He's brought in some real quality this summer with some shrewd signings. Kris Commons on a free transfer could prove to be inspired but it's up front where they look most impressive with Nathan Ellington, Rob Hulse and Liam Dickinson all coming in. Hulse and Ellington are coming off disappointing years but they both have quality and if they stay injury free they should score goals at this level whilst Dickinson is making the step up from Stockport and has the ability to shine. Jewell will aim to make his side hard to beat and the additions of Paul Connolly, Jordan Stewart and Marin Albrechsten should given them a little more steel whilst Paul Green from Doncaster is a decent player. Much will depend on how they start this season and how quickly they get over last season. With so many new players that shouldn't be a problem but a club with such a losing habit last season will need time to turn things round. Their greatest weapon is that teams may underestimate them and I think Jewell could do for Derby what Mick McCarthy did at Sunderland after relegation and inspire them to a good season. I fancy them to do well this year and
a playoff place is achievable. PREDICTION: 5th in the Championship
I asked Derby fans on an unofficial message board for their thoughts on the new season and here is what they had to say. How do you think Derby will fare this season? Jewell has bought well in the summer so I expect us to finish in the top six Who are your players to watch out for? Nathyan Ellingtonand Rob Hulse will be key for us Is your Manager the right man for the job? I think so but he is still yet to win a game Which three teams will be promoted this season? Derby, Birmimgham and QPR Which teams will be relegated? Barnsley, Blackpool and Forest How do you think QPR will fare this season? Money can buy you out of this division and i think you'll go up through the playoffs.
Dexter Blackstock had a loan spell at Derby from Southampton and even scored against QPR duyring that spell before he signed for us in 2006. Rangers signed lee Camp on loan from Derby in 2004 and he helped us to promotion before returning on loan in 2007 to help us stay up. he signed for QPR in 2007 for £300,000 and is still fondly remebered at Pride Park. The man who signed lee Camp was John Gregory who played for and managed both QPR and Derby with varying succsess. he was relegated with Derby from the Premiership and srtruggled to get word after being sacked before doing a decent job at QPR for just over a year. Other players to have played for
both clubs include Mikkel Beck, Idigo, Idiakez, Don Masson, Gary
Micklewhite and Stevie Wicks.
Both sides seem to have done well in the away games between the two teams in recent years and you have to go back to 1990 and a Sean Saunders goal of the season winner for the last home win in this fixture. Derby were the second visitors to Loftus Road after we won promotion in 2004 and the game saw QPR fans give a great reception to lee Camp who was in goal for them that day. Derby won 2-0 and left us feeling pretty worrie3d about what lay ahead. The return game was very one sided with Idiakez tearing us apart but Simon Royce had a great game and we held on for a 0-0 draw. The following season was less successful for both sides. Rangers produced a very good performance up at Derby to claim a 2-1 win. Paul Furlong was sent off early but Gareth Ainsworth gave us the lead before Idiakez missed a penalty with just ten minutes left. Rangers broke and Kevin Gallen scored a great goal to put us 2-0 up before Dexter Blackstock made it 2-1 and a very nervy finish, The return game was less eventful, a 1-1 draw with Nygaard scoring for Rangers as Scott Donnolly got a rare chance in the first team. Derby won at Loftus Road on their last visi8t. Jimmy Smith scored a screamer to give us the lead but Billy Davies side were well organised and fought back to win 2-1. At pride Park Martin Rowlands gave QPR
the lead to win me some cash and we should have gone on to win the
game as we struggled to stay in the division. A late Darren Moore
goal gave Derby a point they didn't really deserve. Click on the match for a report of the game from this web site.
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