Utrecht to give Derby first major workout (with video)

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Friday, August 01, 2008
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This is Derbyshire

DERBY County fans will look for pointers when Dutch side FC

Utrecht visit Pride Park Stadium tomorrow for the final

friendly of pre-season.

Niggling injuries to a number of players have interrupted

Jewell's planning for the new Championship campaign but the

manager will want to bed in much of the team he plans to send

out to face Doncaster Rovers on August 9.

New strikers Nathan Ellington and Rob Hulse started

Tuesday's victory over Rushden & Diamonds and are expected

to face Utrecht.

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Paul Green and Polish international Przemyslaw Kazmierczak

have formed the central midfield pairing in the last three

friendlies while centre-back Martin Albrechtsen has started all

the pre-season fixtures.

Alan Stubbs is now fit to partner Albrechtsen and the two

played together for almost 70 minutes at Rushden.

Asked about the team to take on Utrecht, Jewell said:

“Sometimes injuries dictate and unfortunately for quite a lot

of the pre-season we have not been able to get the whole squad

fit.

“We could probably do with another two or three weeks but

the real thing starts a week on Saturday.

“The Utrecht game will be different to the Doncaster game.

Utrecht will play a different system than most teams do in the

Championship.

“It is an important game, but it is only important as

regards to preparation towards Doncaster.

“Obviously, we want to get off to a good start but it is a

long season and one swallow won't make a summer. The most

important result is what we do over the 46 matches.”

Utrecht finished 10th in last season's Eredivisie, Dutch

football's top division.

They are managed by Wim van Hanegem who was one of the best

midfield players of his day and played for Holland in the 1974

World Cup final. He also managed Feyenoord and was assistant to

national team boss Dick Advocaat between 2002 and 2004.

Utrecht beat TOP Oss 6-2 in their most recent friendly.

Derby lost 2-0 to TOP Oss in their opening pre-season game on

July 11.

Derby defender Claude Davis could return to full training on

Monday.

Davis has not figured in any of the friendlies because of a

knee injury but the Jamaican international has been working

with the conditioning coach for the past 10 days to build his

fitness.

Jewell says Scottish midfielder Stephen Pearson is about two

weeks away from full fitness.

His proposed move to Birmingham City fell through because of

a groin injury.

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23 Comments

  • Profile image for This is Derbyshire

    by ramirez 66, banbury

    Tuesday, August 12 2008, 10:12AM

    “lets put aside the calls for pj to be gone,i think our season will be a cracker,all effort from myself and my kids will be spent supporting not moaning come on you rams.”

  • Profile image for This is Derbyshire

    by John, Derby

    Friday, August 01 2008, 2:20PM

    “* I didnt realise my first comment went through, hence the reason for a second!! :)”

  • Profile image for This is Derbyshire

    by John, Derby

    Friday, August 01 2008, 2:18PM

    “My apologies Wilf - I think, however, that 6 weeks is far more than enough to be showing some cohesion. These guys are very highly paid professional football players, it is ALL THEY DO! They dont work 9-5 Monday to Friday and then go for a kickabout, their entire life is based around playing football so considering this plus the fact that at the beginning of the season they will be playing 9-10 games in the first 6 weeks I would expect (not assume) that we have gelled, we are more than cohesive, we can make changes without too many disruptions to the flow of the game and most importantly.. WIN GAMES!! Im not demanding promotion but come on, we, according to PJ, are the best prepared team in the League! If so, the c**p PJ has spouted about needing another 2-3 weeks is a sign that he has little faith.. Keep the faith lads, we will come good, we are Derby, super Derby, super Derby, SUPER RAMS!”

  • Profile image for This is Derbyshire

    by John, Derby

    Friday, August 01 2008, 2:13PM

    “My mistake then Wilf - Apologies. For me personally, I would say it should take a little less than 6 weeks, if you look at the fixtures list we have something like 8-9 games within that time period which I think is more than sufficient. Derbys problem this season is that every team coming to PP knows what we went through last season and will have the gameplan to get ontop of us straight away and almost try to use our fans to their advantage.. However, as according to PJ, this team should bare hardly any resemblence to the one that turned out last year.. As far as im concerned, it doesnt matter what team he puts out, so long as they play with Pride for that sacred Black and White I will be cheering them on with everything that I have! Come August 9th it is a new start for us, a new start for the players, for the management and for the Board.. The players should be buzzing with anticipation, excitement and a desire to do us proud.. I for one believe they will.. C'MON THE RAMS!!”

  • Profile image for This is Derbyshire

    by Wilf, Camberley

    Friday, August 01 2008, 2:06PM

    “John I like your 14.40 blog and admire the true fan reflected by your 14.38 blog - but please bear in mind that I have not said that fans should wait until Christmas to see an improvement - all along I have said look at the tables at Christmas and make a judgement - which is not the same thing. As for cohension I suggested six weeks - not until Christmas.”

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