 Wednesday, 30th Jan 2008 08:32 “Balloons not to blame” says Sven-Goran Eriksson after Sunday’s goalmouth debacle. Derby County v Manchester City Would that we could say the same at Pride Park after our ‘shock’ exit. Some fans are only thankful we didn’t get Havant & Waterlooville or our misery would have been compounded. City come to Derby seeking their first win here in 15 attempts and their first double over us since the mid sixties. They are on a bit of a downer at the moment, having only won one in five, and face the top two in their next couple of games. A victory at Derby would be a perfect fillip. And yet there seems to be an element of doubt among City fans. On 606, the main striking partnership of Vassell and Mpenza is described as “just awful”. Trolling Manchester United fans are getting a rise from City as the early season promise of a top four finish looks to be evaporating. So far Sven hasn’t moved in the transfer window other than to let Rolando Bianch go out on loan to Lazio. He did spend £30m in the summer so it’s possible that Mr Shinawatra has told him to tighten his belt? I’ve been impressed with Eriksson’s city team as have many of the faithful. As has been said previously, this should come as no surprise to people who remember the successful club sides managed by Eriksson before he became England manager. Eighteen trophies won in Italy, Portugal and Sweden shows that Eriksson is no slouch at organising a team. What could scupper their European dream is their lack of away wins – only two on the road so far this season. Sven will be hoping to make it a hat-trick at Pride Park. Current City Squad 1 Keeper Andreas Isaksson Last 5 games West Ham 0-0 Man City Danger Men Elano is Manchester City's top scorer with seven goals. The rest of city’s goals are spread fairly evenly around the team. Second leading scorer was Bianch who ha gone out on loan as he failed to settle in England. Another player we won’t be facing is Iraqi midfielder Nashat Akram who has been refused a work permit. Michael Johnson - scorer of the only goal at Eastfields will be missing, while Micah Richards could be fit. Daniel Sturridge, nephew of Radio Derby commentator Dean may start. He scored his first goal on Sunday in the defeat by the Blunts. The Rams My first match as a Derby fan was way back in 1969. I’ve seen us win the league, I’ve seen us in Europe, and I’ve seen us in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. I’ve seen us relegated, I’ve seen us in the 3rd Division. I’ve seen us lose 7-1. When the lists of the worst ever Derby County team are posted up on the message boards I always laugh and add my own choices; Emson, Hales, Coupe, Brolly, Beck, Pickering. Last Saturday was the single worst performance I’ve ever seen from a team playing in Derby County shirts. And that includes a five aside team I used to play in. All of the above players would have improved on the team that ran out at Pride Park against Preston. What our new American owners will make of such abject surrender if they perform the same tonight I don’t know. Paul Jewell is reported to have said that “it was a good job they weren’t there and had already signed otherwise they might have changed their minds”. What is so puzzling is that we have some good players in the team. Take Claude Davis – target of much of the abuse on Saturday. He was player of the season at Preston, Sheffield United spent £2.5m on him and Billy Davis spent £3m to get him back. He’s played 47 internationals for Jamaica. Yet on Saturday, he couldn’t tackle, head or kick a ball to save his life. He seemed to lack even the basic ball skills required to get into a playground eleven. Why is that? Andy Todd. Born in Derby to a club legend so he knows what the club means to the fans. Although not as good as his father, he’s been a solid professional footballer for nearly 18 years yet on Saturday he simply didn’t look bothered. What is the reason? Pearson? Half the player he was last year. Savage? So far a waste of money. The less said about Lewis and Teale the better. Even Kenny Miller – our leading scorer, looks to be getting fed up of being asked to work miracles with long high balls and crazy passes 40 yards from gaol with his back to it. We’re going down. Relegation is all but accepted by even the most passionate of fans. Even the manager and the new board know it. That’s not an excuse to just give up on the pitch however. Why should fans buy tickets for games we aren’t going to compete in? The manager says; “I'm at a loss to explain it. I see them Monday to Friday in training and they're totally different people. They come out on a Saturday on match day and they fall apart at the first sign of adversity.” That simply isn’t good enough. Apart from anything else, how is that preparation for a promotion campaign next season? Confidence requires work now – not on the training ground in the summer. The fans don’t demand victory – but we do demand 100% effort. If we can finish the season showing that then most of us will be back next year. Without it, why should we bother? Mick’s team Price, Edworthy, Moore, Leacock, Johnson, Ghaly, Savage, Pearson, Miller, Villa, Earnshaw. What the bookies think City are favourites at 8/11 on while you can get 4/1 on a Rams victory. The draw is at 13/5. Kenny Miller is at 15/2 to score while Tito Villa is at 17/2 to break his duck. You can get 7/1 on Daniel Sturridge giving Uncle Dean a cheering quandary in the Radio Derby Commentary box. Information for travelling fans Drinking: There are very few pubs very close to the ground but if you come by train, the locale around the station is fairly inviting. The Crown and Cushion at the junction of London Rd always seems to be full of away supporters. The Brunswick is a must for any real ale fans and the Alexandra next door is my personal favourite. Fans tend to mingle in these pubs and as long as you’re not being aggressive, the atmosphere is good. The Waterfall opposite the station is okay as well. If you are driving, the Navigation Pub on London Rd opposite the parking area is your best bet. Having said all of that, there’s always the chance that the Derbyshire Police may insist that the pubs close for this game given the number of travelling fans expected. Driving: Manchester to Derby is about 80 miles. Take the M6 then head south until J16 or J15 (not much in it) then A500 to the A50 through Stoke. Follow the A50 to Derby and stay on it until the turn off for Alvaston. There will be traffic around Alvaston however if you stay on London Rd you can get to the parking areas described below. Traffic on the M6 will be the key factor in arrival times but I usually make this journey in less than two hours. Parking: It used to be at the old Wilmorten College site however that is now a building site so away fans should park at Catalyst on London Rd opposite the Navigation pub. It’s about 10-15 minutes from the ground. Don’t be tempted to park at Pride Park shopping centre unless you fancy being clamped. You can also park for a £5 at the hospital further up London Rd near the hospital and the Railway station. Another alternative is to take the Derby Ring road towards the City Centre and pass the exit for Pride Park on Brian Clough Way (A52) and head for Pentagon Island. Take the first exit and turn left and after a few hundred yards you will come to The Cattle Market Car Park. It’s about 10 minutes walk to the ground from here. Mick’s Prediction It depends on how stung the players are by the criticism and whether they have the gumption to take it out on a slightly faltering City. Over to you boys.
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