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Bill's Take: Injury Forces Us To Question Who Is The Right Rams Right Back?
Friday, 11th Nov 2016 12:30 by Bill Riordan

Last Saturday’s win at Wolves was very welcome, and it sets the Rams nicely on the long road towards the playoffs.

But it seems that supporters were not able to fully savour the win before we were told that right-back Cyrus Christie’s foot injury will keep him out for at least three months.

It seems that we are looking at mid-January at best then before he returns, but without trying to be pessimistic Christie may not be back much before the end of the season.

Long term injuries have been a never-ending problem over the last two or three years, this season alone we have already lost Craig Forsyth and George Thorne for long periods, as well as Manchester United loanee James Wilson.

In previous seasons we could have used the emergency loan system to sign a temporary replacement but this season the rules have changed: it will be the January transfer window before the club can bring in help from the outside.

What complicates matters is that whatever the Rams do, it has to work well for such an extended period; if this was for just one match, the decision would not be nearly so critical.

What will the Rams do?

My first thought was “Can Marcus Olsson play right back?” This would allow Max Lowe to continue at left back, but does not seem a realistic possibility; Olsson looks too left-sided for it to really work.

Then there was the possibility of moving either Richard Keogh or Alex Pearce to right-back and bringing in Jason Shackell. This might be a possibility but there looks to be too much of a possibility of upsetting the team’s defensive solidity for it to be worth a try.

Jamie Hanson was the substitute right back at Wolves of course, and Steve McClaren could simply continue with him in the job and see what happens. This seems like the most sensible option of those listed so far, but supporters do seem to be generally of the opinion that Hanson is not a capable right-back.

Another obvious possibility is to bring in the versatile Ikechi Anya. There is an obvious attraction in having a multi-million pound signing playing, rather than sitting on the bench.

He can play full back but it seems to me he is more of a left-sided player. Also, he is listed as being five feet five inches tall; I know not all full backs are really tall but this seems a bit short for a defender. On the other hand, of those mentioned so far, he is the only one who offers a real attacking option.

I then realized that, as I so often do in these situations, I had forgotten all about Chris Baird. Baird is full of experience, and can certainly play the position. If the need was for just one or two games, Baird would be the safe option but Baird is so pedestrian.

The Rams need to score goals, win matches, as well as defend and I cannot see the bloke — Steve McClaren — who signed Christie in the first place, being excited by the prospect of Baird taking his place.

Could the youngsters fill the gap with another Max Lowe type of player? Kyron Stabana, an eighteen year-old has played some games at right-back for the under 23s, and is considered a prospect. He could turn out to be the best answer but I am not really sure that I can see the Rams throwing in such an unproven player for an extended period like this.

We should never have moved Ryan Shotton. Okay, that was a joke…

I hate to admit it, but there does not seem to be a player who provides anything like a complete answer. I suppose if there was, he would be in the first team, either at Derby or somewhere else.

The player who looks like providing the least imperfect answer is probably Anya. Since Steve McClaren looks as though he may not be entirely convinced by Anya’s midfield contribution: he has subbed twice and most recently been an unused sub once in the last three games.

So there is my forecast, for what it is worth. My second-best guess would likely be Stabana.

Of course, there is no guarantee that whoever gets the job for the next match at home to Rotherham will keep it for the duration.

That would be too simple, wouldn’t it?




Photo: Action Images



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