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New Faces – Derby Preview
Lee Clark will be hoping that his batch of new recruits brought in over the last few days will be able to change Blues’ woeful home fortunes against a team that is currently top scorers in the league.
Derby County
Derby lie fourth in the Championship and are top scorers with fifty-four goals. Their form hasn’t been bad of late, having taken ten out of the last eighteen possible points in the division and they have only lost one of their last seven away games. However, they have only kept two clean sheets in the last thirteen games in all competitions stretching back two months.
Jeff Hendrick is fit again and could join new recruit George Thorne who has joined on loan from the Baggies. However, defender Michael Keane has returned to Manchester United.
Blues
It could be a much changed Blues line up with no less than five players having come in since the defeat to Leicester on Tuesday. All five – Aaron Martin, Emyr Huws, Federico Macheda, Tyler Blackett and Tom Thorpe are eligible to play. However, Blues have lost Kyle Bartley and Hayden Mullins and with Paul Robinson and Mitch Hancox out again through suspension and injury respectively the defence is going to be patched up.
I think that one of Martin and Thorpe will partner Packwood in central defence with Blackett potentially coming in for Bell at left back. Huws could well partner Adeyemi in the centre of midfield and I would like to see Lee Novak drop back behind the lone striker who could be Federico Macheda – depending on if the footballing reasons keeping Nikola Zigic out are still reasons.
I’m expecting nothing from this game – Blues have so many new faces and so little experience in key positions we’re going to be going back to seeing if the team can gel. However, there is undoubted talent that has come in and maybe we might see one shine like Lingard when he came to the club.
Tags: Aaron Martin, Derby County, Emyr Huws, Federico Macheda, Tom Thorpe, Tyler Blackett
58 Responses to “New Faces – Derby Preview”
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Realy hope he plays Macheda, show zigic what a striker should be doing!
Yes replacing a players that averages one goal in three games with one that gets one in ten. How can it fail?
Is that one in ten from Macheda starting? No.
Don’t care, replacing Zigic with anyone is positive
you know nothing..stats show what winning impact he has on this team when he starts.
The thing with stats is they can be manipulated to suit, My bank balance is always in the black till I get my bank statement…
The only stats we need to worry about is Goals for/against is a +, the points are 10 points clear of 3rd from bottom, after that everything is a bonus.
KRO+DNM
1 goal in 3? Do some research!
10 goals in 91 games. do your maths
Who makes the shirts ? they have been busy this week. Are the Zigic ones being given away yet ?
Good luck newbies !
https://vine.co/v/MzgnT9W3tEb
Blimey Staffs, I hope the Newbies are as fast as you ;-)
Bet they clocked up some overtime last night.
KRO+DNM
Don’t get over excited about Macheda.i’ve read a Man U fans blog that he has done bugger all since he scored against the vile.Here’s hoping.
After Leicester’s game I would think it would be an injustice for Bell to be dropped, he looked more than comfortable with the ball and used it intelligently, especially first half with Reece Brown.
I felt that Adeyemi looked unfit as did Bartley, this may have improved during the week, Brown may well need a rest so bringing in one of the new boys wouldn’t hurt.
Speaking to people who know and seen Federico Macheda, reckon that though he doesn’t score many his movement off the ball creates chances for others which might be better for Novak as the lone striker.
As normal with Blues I shall expect the unexpected, a draw will be a good result but depending how quickly the team gels, who knows.
We need a boost all round and Derby is as good a game as any to get one.
Not been much good at predictions this season, but here goes… 1-1 draw sitting on the fence, but realistically 1-2 Derby, all we want is a good, honest 100% effort, anything above is a bonus.
KRO+DNM
Sorry Chris, Bell had a nightmare well out of hiis depth I’m afraid.
He did have a nightmare Royalblue I’m afraid , I was very suprised that Leicester really didn’t exploit him , amazed in fact . It was a baptism of fire and I’m sure he’ll benefit from it long term
I thought Bartley had a mare, but Bell linked well, it was his début and I will agree he was pushed about a bit and a little lightweight, but he wasn’t scared to get into the mix.
I have seen worse, much worse.
KRO+DNM
The wage has bill been cut further with the exit of Mullins, Elliot and Ambrose. I commend LC for trying to envigorate the squad with a clutch of youthful signings. However, his options were clearly limited to low cost alternatives. The 2 big questions now are whether he can gel this youthful squad together and whether this group is capable of getting enough wins when playing against hard nosed experienced championship teams.I think Derby will not be as good as Leicester were off the ball which will help us going forward, but, Macheda has got something to prove and this could be a really good opportunity for him.
There will be no more than 3 goals in this game.
each
We travel more in hope than expectation.
Young boys with little experience, on short term deals & no allegiance or loyalty for the club.
Hope for the best & fear the worst.
I predict 1-1, concede early and burke equalizer in the last minute.. Interested to see how clarke lines them up. Would like 4-4-2 with ziggy and Macheda upfront but i imagine it will be macheda with rusnak behind him.
KRO
Apart from the odd goal, we’ve been pretty toothless in the air this season, defences gobbling up everything we chuck in… and I think Keogh and Buxton would do the same this afternoon. So maybe it’s time we started to go around them and through them, instead of trying to go over them. I think the players that have come in will help that.
Also, remember back to the last time we loaned 3 players from the same club.
fergy has never kept rubbish at man u ..and its a good ploy to
sign players in pairs from the same club as it lessens the time
needed for the players to gel .and man city players should also
do well …derby can score goals so sitting back is futile .co come on you
bluenoses all six guns blazing .super blues
Blues win 2-1
Teamsheet out. 2 (3 if you count rusnak) upfront…. Interesting… shame im at *** work :(
KRO
Good prediction Almajir…3 each!
Just seen the time on your response Al..thought you were getting hot on the prediction front for a minute!
Any news on Tom Thorpe?
Lee Clark has said that he’ll be assessed by the Man Utd medical team over the weekend, and see what they say. They’re hoping it’s just a very badly sprained ankle, but they won’t know untill he’s been seen by the docs.
It’s such a shame that Thorpe had to leave the field so early. I hope the lad’s injury isn’t as bad as feared.
There’s never a dull moment following the Blues is there? But there’s no real shame losing by one goal and drawing 3-3 to the two best attacking sides in the division with a patched up team. I can’t think of one other side who could do any better in the circumstances. Well done on the comeback lads!
Does anyone know, if Thorpe is out for a lengthy period and has to go back to Utd, will we be allowed to bring in another centre back on an emergency loan, or will we have to manage with Packwood, Martin and Robbo?
so macheda averages a goal every 10 games until now.For us he averages a goals every 30 mins , which by my way of thinking is pretty good.
I was surprised, especially after the Swansea and Leicester games, wouldn’t say Derby were better or bigger than those.
KRO+DNM
Nice to see the BBC on the ball: I suppose the draw feels like a win:
“The victory was Birmingham’s first at home in the league since 1 October…”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25891859
After recent results I suppose a 3-3 draw, fighting comeback could be construed as a morale victory.
KRO+DNM
this was excellent draw by blues, could have caved in………. we are definately rejuvenated by the loan signing made by clark……hope thorpe okay……
Yes our home record not good by any standards……………..it appears the reality kicked in by fans
another re-building by Clark half-way through the season..
hopefully as these players settle down we can get some consistency in away and home results…
some of the news players have only had a few hours to get to know each other and go against a team who has the best away record…..make our result more remarkable really…..so well done lads….
Macheda only met the other players for the first time at 12.30pm today. Not bad huh?
just remarkable staffs :))
He was driving back to Manchester Friday night to collect his gear, then drove back down Saturday morning.
Considering only a couple trained Friday morning then thrown into the fray against the free scoring promotion hopefuls didn’t look good for Blues. Losing Thorpe was a blow but the team showed plenty of endeavour, if lacking much understanding.
It would be hard to criticise on one game, there is plenty to work on and gelling the squad will, hopefully see some excellent results. But work ethic and never-say-die attitude did us a world of good, and has to give the lads a boost.
Back on the road, car has enjoyed a service and some rest, only 96+ miles per game for home matches, will be nice to see something other than the M42.
Just heard Tony Hateley has passed away, condolences to his family and thanks for the memories, for those of us old enough to remember him. R.I.P
KRO+DNM
wow all the moaners have gone into hiding or something……..maybe they thought a beating was on the cards………..
Don’t worry they will be back, they soon came out of the woodwork after our 10 match unbeaten run.
I was here when the ten match run was going on.Why?Because i watch the games.Try commenting on the game instead of other posters.That,s all you do.
Maybe you should have read my post yesterday, but hey you just love to follow me around don’t you stalker steve.
I read Mark’s actually as they make me laugh.But strangely you’re always there.If i was stalking you i would have read your comment from yesterday wouldn’t i ?Durrr.
To be fair, even the hardened moaner would find it difficult to say anything about yesterdays game.
There were some indifferent displays even by some of our seasoned players. But the general consensus was of a team who never gave up and worked to cover each other.
On a whole I find the vast majority of Blues supporters understand the situation. Where I sit there is a group of six who moan about everything, before the Swansea game they complained it was too dark and the wind was blowing in the wrong direction. Every half time they vanish for a bovril, They arrive back late moaning about the queue, the temperature and the fact the referee started the second half early.
Yesterday the only thing they moaned about apart from the above, Derby didn’t score six.
We had seven new boys in the team, 8 if you include Will Packwood, one player only met his team mates at 12:30 before the match.
They need some time together and, more importantly, game time, then we shall reap the rewards.
KRO+DNM
I could find some things to complain about Chris. As you say,considering they’ve only just met,it was an encouraging performance. I don’t understand leaving Burke out.We kept going til the end which was good to see.Hopefully thorpe will be ok,but Martin did ok when he came on.At least the fans were together yesterday.
That was my point, it would have been easy to moan, criticise yesterdays game, sme defending was woeful, Randolph made a hash on one goal, Burke dropped to the bench, the racist chants and my bovril lid was split and leaked.
We can all find something, but yesterday was probably the first in a long time that the supporters were in harmony, both with what went on on the pitch and at aiming vocal fervour at our owners.
On the pitch things will get better, LC has bought in some fresh legs who look as if they want to do well, unlike some players at the club.
To be fair the last couple of games Burke has not had that cutting edge, so maybe LC thought a rest was in order, it worked because he came on and made an immediate impact.
And fair play to LC, because we were ineffective down the right and Caddis was looking for someone to help him.
KRO+DNM
Maybe we have a social life Mark.
it great having a team that never know’s when to stay
down…………..kro
it great having a team that never know’s when to stay
down…………..kro
Clark on the injury to Tom Thorpe…
“We’re devastated for him. He’s a terrific kid and we’re absolutely delighted to get someone of his quality. Manchester United rate him so highly and he’s been a brilliant lad. We’re hoping it’s just a badly sprained ankle but that will be assessed by Manchester United’s medical team and we’ll find out more hopefully by Monday
Read more at http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20140201-the-reaction-blues-3-derby-county-3-1333694.aspx#4DTZtd3J0EORMApR.99
I notice that miserable pratt McClaren never gave us a word of praise for the comeback. Just moaned that they had 20 shots and we only had three. Well, what does that say about your players mate? Donut!
Was he holding an umbrella ,talking in a Dutch accent and finishing sentences with “Ay up m’duck ” ?
I was pleasantly surprised by the performance yesterday.There wasn’t a lot of quality,but the commitment and effort was brilliant.hopefully things will improve as they get to know each other.Couldn’t understand why Burke didn’t start and i’ll say it again.Ziggy has to be at least on the bench.Well done to the flag bearers.You were brilliant.At last the fans were united.I think we need to be careful about some of the chants.It could be classed a rascist.Well done to the team and the fans.
I liked Brian Howard’s reaction to scoring yesterday.
Me too , always good to see demonstrative passion , even if he had his own agenda regarding Derby.