Venue: The iPro Stadium/Pride Park Date: Saturday, 15th August 2015 Kick Off: 3pm The first away game of the season is upon us, where Luzon and his band of merry footballers take the trip to the midlands to face a Derby side desperately seeing promotion to the promised land, having failed the last two seasons. Having surprised a few of the bookies, gamblers and fans on the opening day with a stupendous victory against QPR, and a 4 - 1 victory in the Capital One cup against League Two side Dagenham and Redbridge, Luzon should surely hope to build on this momentum and look to secure a victory against a side that has failed to register a win in their opening two matches. The Opposition Derby County have been considered a strong team in this league, over the last two seasons under Steve McClaren, ever since the departure of Nigel Clough back in 2013 (who spent four season in charge of The Rams). Having failed to secure promotion to the Premier League last season, Derby County saw the loss of Manager Steve McClaren to Newcastle United. The task for promotion has fallen to Paul Clement, a man I have to admit have very little knowledge of, except for being assistant to some big named managers in Europe and Chelsea. The Rams have failed to impress in their opening two matches, having registered a draw to Bolton away and succumbing to defeat against Portsmouth in the Capital One cup last night. In their squad list fans will notice ex-players Darren Bent and Scott Carson who might feature against us. Current Form **It is still currently early to take anything out of this Derby County | D L Charlton Athletic | W W Head-To-Head It has to be said that, over the last three seasons our record against Derby County has been rather appalling having one registered win out of seven games. Our only win came last season in an enthralling game at the Valley (around the same time last year), the scoreline being 3 - 2, goals coming from Țucudean, Buyens and Vetokele. It's quite worrying that over those seven games, Derby have managed to score fourteen goals against us, versus our five, but I'm hoping in our defenders we have enough quality to keep the likes of Chris Martin from scoring. Line Up After consulting with last seasons team wall chart, hanging on my bedroom wall and the twelve signs of the zodiac, with the moon colliding into Jupiter, it's telling me that Luzon will probably make one change from the team that started against Queens Park Rangers. This would come in the form of Karlan Ahearne-Grant being dropped to the bench in favour of Tony Watt, irrespective of what issues there are between him and Luzon. please log in to view this image Odds The odds are really stacked up against us in this fixture, I suspect that many gamblers will be backing Derby County in their accumulators. Outcome Contrary to popular belief, I think we're going to get ourselves a win here lads. We have to break our 5 - 0 losing streak at Pride Park at some time. Derby County have not started the season as well as they'd hoped, and I can foresee us frustrating them, limiting their chances and the crowd getting on their backs. They are at the disadvantage as the fans are looking at this as an easy match that they should win. The more the game goes on, we will take our chances, a smash and grab like Norwich away last season! A win doesn't have to be pretty, for us to be happy... #COYA #COYR
I'll be there. Really looking forward to it after our good start because I think we can get something. Derby still seem to be adjusting to life under Paul Clement so this may be a good time to play them.
I cannot remember the last time when the XI picked itself (fitness permitting). Or when we had decisions to make about which decent players will not even make the bench, so I guess things are looking up. Mitov (or new signing), Sarr, Bergdich, Jackson, Ceballos, and Ahearne-Grant look obvious for the bench. Who for the seventh? Holmes-Dennis, Lennon, Razor, or Charles-Cook? Even if we fail to get a result against Derby, a committed performance and some progressive football will be enough to keep the fans behind Luzon for the time being. Goal scoring is still a concern though. The two against QPR should have been saved by any competent keeper. We got lucky there.
Reza Ghoochannejhad is a player that should make the bench on Saturday. Ahearne-Grant, looked very good during the Capital One match, but very out of depth against QPR. He's a good hot prospect, and maybe giving him too much time in the first team, might damage his confidence if he's not scoring that much (and especially if you go on a winless run, the fans might not get behind the team). Think that the first goal of the QPR match (Watt), Rob Green should have saved that one. Fox's goal was superb. Looking at replays, it bounced at the right moment. I think the likes of Peter Cech, Iker Casillas or Manuel Neuer would never have been able to save, unless they had the ability to travel back in time...
Thanks. I stand corrected on Fox's goal. I would favour Razor too, but Luzon may think A-G is a better fit.
Luzon's been speaking to the press, he had the following synopsis to say: He said, “Tony felt his leg a bit, so he is a doubt,” and Igor should be fit and ready to play in a couple of weeks. We might see Reza Ghoochannejhad starting if he feels that Ahearn-Grant might be too weak against Derby County, although he seems to be a big fan of the young striker.
I do like the fact that GL seems committed to two up top away. Hope to see that remain and would be happy to see arena start. From what I've seen of Big Mac he will be better in a two than a one.
Big Mak and Reza might just work better than Big Mak and Watt, who drops a bit deeper where he can run at defenders. Watt is a doubt for Saturday so I expect Reza to come in, and this to be the only change from Holden's team, maybe Sarr will come in but I prefer Diarra.
I do. He's like the opposite of Parky, who was insistent on playing 4-5-1. Then again our only out and out striker was Deon Burton, or Akpo Sodje. If Tony Watt is injured, I would question Luzon's reason as to playing him in a cup match which we could have let someone like Gucci play 90 minutes?
I think with his style of play, Watts will get injured a lot. He is like Wilshere, who runs at defenders so they don't know if he will go past them on the left or the right. Exciting for fans, but physically risky.
Why play JBG as well? Both are vital players for us and both don't last 90 mins well. Maybe they have a metabolism which needs them to get fully stretched between weekend games?
My bet for tomorrow will be a 1-1 draw with 'Big Si' scoring for us (scoring anytime) which will return 28.8 to 1 at Willy Hill You could do a treble with Benty scoring for them (Bent to score anytime) but I have not checked his odds.
I think it will go one of two ways - a smash and grab for us, or Derby winning comfortably. Charlton double chance is 8/5, and you could build a tasty double with that 0-1 (JBG)
In recent years we expect to go to places like Derby and be under the cosh for most of the game, hoping for a smash-and-grab, or even damage limitation. GL says we have the confidence and ability to beat Derby, and if these words translate into action it will mean a new era for us. On the other hand I remember a certain Ally McLeod..................................................................
