Rams hoping Green gets all-clear to face Swansea
DERBY County have their fingers crossed that key midfielder Paul Green will be fit to face Swansea City tonight.
Green has been struggling with groin and calf niggles since he returned in the home victory over Coventry City, his first action in two months.
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MIDDLE MAN: Derby County hope that Paul Green will get the all-clear to play tonight.
Green trained with the rest of the squad yesterday and manager Nigel Clough hopes the player will ready for the clash at the Liberty Stadium (7.45pm) against the Championship's form team.
Clough sees Green and fellow midfielders Robbie Savage and Stephen Pearson as important figures.
"I think you saw when we got Savage, Green and Pearson back in the team against Coventry, we looked more fluent than we have done for a few weeks," said Clough.
"They were used to playing together in pre-season and they are all good players as well.
"When you do get them back together in there, it makes a difference."
Striker Rob Hulse (groin) and defender Paul Connolly (foot) are fit after having injections but Miles Addison, who can play at the back or in midfield, has been suffering with a bug.
Addison will travel down to Swansea separately from the team.
Lee Hendrie misses out again.
He has not trained much this week as he looks to recover from a hamstring problem and his wife has also just given birth to a baby boy.
"Lee will train over the next few days with a view to playing in the Reserves on Tuesday," said Clough.
"If Greenie and Miles come through we could have the unusual situation of naming the same 18 we had on duty against Coventry – we haven't done that many times and certainly not this season."
Clough and his coaching staff are thinking over the formation they will use against Swansea as the Rams look to improve on the worst away record in the division. They have collected only two points from 24.
Derby went with a 4-4-2 in the last game, with Hulse and Paul Dickov up front.
"We do try and get two strikers up there as much as possible but the way we are away from home, it might not happen on Friday night, we'll see," said Clough who admits he is tempted to opt for a 4-5-1 shape against Swansea, who are unbeaten in 10.
"It is tempting," he said.
"We've got Savage, Pearson, Teale, Livermore, Green, Hughes and Croft – so we've got plenty of options there to do it.
"Jake Livermore was left out against Coventry but did very well in Holland and in training. Bryan Hughes has done well and both were unlucky not to play against Coventry.
"Sometimes a team will pick itself but this one doesn't.
"We will keep talking and thinking about it and probably talk Friday afternoon. We are not used to having these options."
10 Comments
by John Clement, Harrow
Friday, November 20 2009, 1:04PM
“Continually playing players who aren't fully fit, particularly those given cortisone injections, just makes the injuriees worse in the long run.”
by GAZ, Derby
Friday, November 20 2009, 12:20PM
“As long as we as fans give him time to learn from his mistakes then I think we have done our part.
As for the call to replay the Ireland v France match...forget it!
How many games throughout history have been won/lost based on dubious decisions?!
The only thing that riles me is that the two people in power who normally can't wait to spout their useless gobs off (Platini and Blatter) remain quiet on the issue!
Also I imagine despite scraping through by cheating France will become a seeded team for the World Cup draw. Its about time all of this seeding nonesense was removed from the game of football. If a team is good enough to win something they need to be able to beat every team put in their path.”
by Moot, Derby
Friday, November 20 2009, 11:43AM
“I hope your right about Clough succeeding WB. However at the moment I can't see much in his management that says it will improve, as you say time will tell.
Clough really should know a lot more than all of us. He's played at the highest level for Man City and Liverpool, even gaining England caps. However his management career isn't so "glamerous". I'm not saying 10 years at Burton is time wasted. I'm sure he learnt a lot.
However he has made some real school boy errors of late. And it's very worrying for the future. The fact is that, whether you like him or not he's going to be here till the end of next season at least. Unless something goes drastically wrong.
Problem is I feel the only way the club will make progress is if he learns from his mistakes. If not I see this club stagnating.”
by WB, SE
Friday, November 20 2009, 11:23AM
“Moot you are fully entitled to your opinion about tactics. On a broader front, but still relevant, I have to say that the established is not there to be observed with awe and undue respect. It ought to be there to lead and serve. As for NC he is the leader and is being paid for it - he very probably knows a lot more about football that Moot. WB, Chad, MB, Tangle etc but it is what he does with that superior knowledge that counts; to be fair to him it is far too early to judge. I have a degree of optimism - not about tonight's game - but about the long term future under NC. Let us see Derby's league position [in the Championship] in 12 month's time - that surely is when to judge the manager.”
by Moot, Derby
Friday, November 20 2009, 11:06AM
“Considering the 4-5-1 "It is tempting," he said.
Noooooooooo. Please No. Leave that wretched 4-5-1 system in the past where it belongs. Every time we have used it we have played poorly. The reason Clough chose to return to 4-4-2 was not because of personnel available but because of how badly the team were playing using the 5-4-1 formation.
However maybe I should not say anything as I was told by a Rams fan last night that Clough picks the team, not you. He know's what best for this club and everyone who matter is behind him. So people (I won't tell you what he really said) like you should just shut up.
I have to say this individual is right. Alas I know nothing. I have pumped thousands of pounds into Derby County following them home and away for the last few decades so clearly I don't deserve an opinion. Clearly playing an unfit player for 90 mins is the right thing to do.
There is a rather unpleasant feeling at this club at the moment. And it really saddens me.”
by Andy, Derby, the man who tells it how it is
Friday, November 20 2009, 10:36AM
“Thanks Web Editor”
by Web Editor, Derby Telegraph
Friday, November 20 2009, 10:29AM
“For legal reasons, we are unable to allow comments on court cases that are still proceeding”
by Andy, Derby, the man who tells it how it is
Friday, November 20 2009, 10:26AM
“Sorry nothing to do with this story, why do DET never that people comment on the really juicy stories like the Derby terrorish story?”
by Andy, Derby, the man that tells it how it is
Friday, November 20 2009, 10:23AM
“WB, I agree with your comment on the Irish/French game, but why dont FIFA have the game played again & fine/ban Terry Henry for cheating? Come on you Rams”
by WB, SE
Friday, November 20 2009, 10:00AM
“Good luck to Derby tonight. A win is not impossible but if it is to be achieved it is likely to be of the smash and grab variety. Swans sunk by Rams? Swans fury at ref? Swansea fall to sucker punch? Swansea fall to the Green Man? Either way it is likely to be 60 - 40 possession in favour of the Dutch stuff but as the French will tell you it is goals that count and referees that call them.
Which brings me onto the 'it is up to the referee nonsense'. Ethically it is not just down to the ref: it is also down to honesty from the offending player - think how much perfume he could sell by setting an example - instead of coming up out of a pile of you know what.”