Anybody else worried that we’re about to get another spanking?
I have to say that I’m fearing the worst here because after four defeats on the bounce I’ve not seen anything to suggest that there are signs of any sort of return to winning ways.
I desperately hope I’m wrong because all I want is for our club to do well and the team to win games, as I know, do you dear reader.
Today’s opponents are a more than capable Championship outfit. At the start of the season, I expected that they would be at least top six and probably challenging for the title, a bit like us.
The difference between us is that the Rams had an awful start while we had a great start but now though, since the return of Steve McLaren from left field those roles have been well and truly reversed.
TEAM NEWS
DERBY
Winger Abdoul Camara could return to the squad after a troubling hamstring injury that has restricted him to just four appearances since his summer signing.
Cyrus Christie (foot) and George Thorne (broken leg) continue their recoveries while knee problems keep Nick Blackman, Craig Forsyth and James Wilson are also on the sidelines.
NORWICH
City must do without Martin Olsson and Graham Dorrans who are both suspended.
Louis Thompson and Youssouf Mulumbu are both on the verge of a return to the squad and one of them is likely to be thrown straight back into the midfield alongside Alex Tettey.
After last week’s raft of changes, it’s difficult to predict who will keep their place. Seb Bassong’s place looks under threat after he ‘did a Seb’ but John Ruddy and Steven Naismith will both be hopeful of staying in the team.
So what should we expect?
Alex Neil said during his Friday presser that he thinks it may well be an open game that should leave the home side open to counter attacking football.
Derby will of course be fielding several ex-Canaries in their side in the form of Bradley Johnson, Jacob Butterfield and Alex Pearce with Jason Shackell likely to be a substitute.
Johnno was the subject of much talk at Wednesday night’s AGM with Alex Neil having to defend his decision to sell Johnson and replace him with Robbie Brady. Apparently he’s not good enough for the Premier League and I wouldn’t disagree with that comment. Having said that, you just know that he, and Butterfield for that matter, will have a big point to prove against their old employer.
They also have Darren Bent up front.
I think that one more defeat could make things very sticky for Alex Neil. The problem for the board though is that they have publicly nailed their colours to the mast and given Neil their total support.
That of course is also a problem for us fans that think a change is needed.
I’m fearing the worst, as I said at the top. This is a heck of a game to try to get a win and let’s be honest, only a win will lift the collective spirits. I really hope they can pull it off though and that they go on a run and gain promotion – that’s all any of us want, isn’t it?
The big problem for me is that at the moment, I feel a change is needed at the top because Alex Neil is not proving his worth and hasn’t done so for a long time.
If he suddenly turns it around and we storm to promotion then I’d be delighted because I only ever want my club to do well. I never want us to lose to put pressure on a manager to be sacked. My thoughts are irrelevant anyway because Neil is putting that sort of pressure on himself at the moment.
This game will be tough and even if we lose, I doubt the board will sack Alex. The worry for me is how long they will maintain that position, a while yet, I suspect…
OTBC
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