After steadying the ship in the League the Rams sunk against Crawley. An away trip to Watford offers a chance of redemption before facing the home fans for Forest.
15/01/2011 15:00
Vicarage Rd - Watford
Watford v Derby - Historical
P 17 W 4 D 7 L 6 F 23 A 29
Last game at Vicarage Road
12/12/2009 Watford 0-1 Derby; Porter
Current Form
Watford
6/24 - P 24 W 11 D 6 L 7 F 47 A 35
Leading scorer
Graham (14lg3cp)
Derby
13/24 - P 25 W 10 D 4 L 11 F 39 A 35
Leading scorers
Commons (13)
The Rams
Humiliated in the Cup, Humiliated at the City Ground, calls for the manager the board to go and threats of not renewing a season tickets - It's safe to say the Rams are off the rails at the moment.
Why?
We know they can play. Was it just Shefki Kuqi and Frank Fielding in goal that turned the current team into possible contenders for the Premier League?
It's difficult to remember that at Burnley we were ten minutes from going second. What changed after that game?
Like all fans I have my theories but the truth is that I don't know.
Everything from the manager not being competent at this level to lack of investment by the board has been discussed and argued on the Net and doubtless in the pubs and clubs but other than an interview on BBC Radio Derby with Tom Glick, little has been said.
The interview was interesting. The club are looking to strengthen during the transfer window - but as usual it has to be right for the club. We're being linked with players again such as Ben Davies at Notts. County - but there's clearly not going to be any Barker-esque fees paid.
It was restated that Clough is the man for us. While I didn't think that Clough was the right man for the job when he was taken on, I still think we need to stick with him. Sacking a manager every 18 months is not good practice.
What Clough does need is to listen. He needs to look at the best position for players and play them there. He needs to stop playing injured players. He needs to have a plan B for when Plan A doesn't work and he needs to know what the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition are.
He doesn't seem to be getting that from his current backroom and maybe we should be thinking about strengthening there, rather than on the field?
Mick's Team:
Bywater
Brayford, Barker, Addison, Moxey
Green, Savage, Bailey
Bueno, Commons
Porter
Substitutes - Cywka, Pringle, Leacock, Davies, Deeney
Current Rams Squad
No. Position Player
1 Keeper Stephen Bywater
2 Defender John Brayford
3 Defender Gareth Roberts
4 Midfield Paul Green
5 Defender Shaun Barker (vice-captain)
6 Defender Dean Leacock
7 Striker Steve Davies
8 Midfield Robbie Savage
10 Midfield Kris Commons
11 Midfield Stephen Pearson
12 Striker Chris Porter
13 Keeper Saul Deeney
14 Defender Russell Anderson
15 Midfield David Martin
16 Midfield James Bailey
17 Defender Jake Buxton
18 Midfield Ben Pringle
19 Striker Tomasz Cywka
20 Defender Miles Addison
21 Defender Dean Moxey
23 Striker Conor Doyle
25 Defender Mark O'Brien
26 Striker Callum Ball
27 Striker Alberto Bueno (on loan from Real Valladolid)
30 Keeper Ross Atkins
35 Midfield Jeff Hendrick
36 Defender Kallum Keane
37 Midfield Ryan Connolly
38 Midfield Medi Abalimba
39 Defender Mitchell Hanson
Watford
It's all talk of takeovers at Watford at the moment. Just over a year ago the club were on the verge of Administration and looking to be in big trouble - now they are in the play off places and looking very good on the pitch.
Six straight runs and unbeaten in eight games, former Ram loanee Danny Graham is leading from the front. He's scored in each of the last 6 games.
Boss Malky Mackay is thought to be attracting interest from other clubs but Chair Julian Winter told BBC local Radio;
"We've had no interest and we don't welcome any."
"Winter revealed that the profits from last Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Hartlepool were donated to the Marie Curie Cancer charity. That's a grand gesture form a club that only a year ago had big money troubles."
"Yes, the football club last year went through a fairly well publicised bit of drama. But the donation is all relative in term of the club's overall revenue."
Current Hornets team
No. Position Player
1 Keeper Scott Loach
2 Defender Lee Hodson
4 Midfield John Eustace (captain)
5 Defender Martin Taylor
6 Defender Adrian Mariappa (vice-captain)
7 Midfield Don Cowie
8 Midfield Josh Walker
9 Striker Troy Deeney
10 Striker Danny Graham
11 Striker Will Buckley
12 Defender Lloyd Doyley
13 Keeper Rene Gilmartin
14 Midfield Ross Jenkins
15 Midfield Stephen McGinn
16 Midfield Michael Bryan
17 Defender Dale Bennett
20 Striker Marvin Sordell
23 Midfield Piero Mingoia
24 Midfield Matthew Whichelow
25 Defender Eddie Oshodi
26 Midfield Sean Murray
27 Striker Gavin Massey
28 Defender Tom Aldred
29 Defender Adam Thompson
30 Keeper Jonathan Bond
What the bookies think
Watford is favourites naturally at 5/6 on while we are at 3/1. The draw is 11/5. Kris Commons is at 7/1 as first goal scorer while Danny Graham is at 9/2.
Information for travelling fans
Driving
It's a fairly straightforward journey to Watford. Take the M1 South to J5 then take the A4008 into Watford. The ground is on the left as you near the town centre. The Train is probably the best way to travel.
Parking
There's a large car park at the Vicarage Rd Girl School and there are lots of car parks in the town.
Drinking
With the town centre being so close, there are plenty of places to drink. Watford fans aren't particularly hostile and tend to be welcoming. The Odd Fellows Bar in Fearnley Street is particularly welcoming. Note they don't sell Alcohol to visiting supporters in the ground.
Mick's prediction
My fears for last week were well founded as the Rams did not turn up. Turmoil and strife are never far away from the Rams door and it's often when it appears darkest we come rip roaring back. Hopefully we can do that this week to set us up for the Forest game.
We have shown we can be a good team - we need to have that belief again.
Watford 2-2 Derby