Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
RamBites: Riggott
RamBites: Riggott "Feels Right" & Clough Wants More!!
Saturday, 9th Jul 2011 14:36 by Daniel J Sewart

Some quick bite-size pieces of Rams news today that have caught RamZone’s eye! Chris Riggott took time out from training to talk about his return to the Rams, while Nigel Clough has plans for few more new faces.

Chris At Home In Derby

Chris Riggott has been working hard with the DCFC medical team to get himself fit and firing to be able to join in full training with the team as soon as next week.

If all goes well then a contract will be offered to the former Rams favourite - and he spoke to the DET about his joy at coming home to Pride Park:

"It feels brilliant, absolutely brilliant. It feels right. It's fantastic to be around the place and the potential of what could come of it is very exciting. I had surgery on my back in April. It was a case of decompressing the nerves around my lower back, which had been causing me a lot of problems with my legs and the back itself."

"Hopefully, that is all behind me now. The idea is to see how I get on in pre-season and play a couple of games. I don't want to tempt fate but I feel strong, I feel good and the back feels like it has improved.”

"The bottom line is if I am not fit, I am no good anywhere but I really believe the best place for me would be at Derby County. I would love to be back at this club. I have always wanted to be here, and if I am fit I'd like to think I can help Derby.”

"To get fit and run out at Pride Park in a Derby shirt again one day would probably be the best day of my career.”

 "I do not want to put a time frame on it because I don't want to put pressure on myself but I have had a torrid few years and so to play in front of the Derby fans again and to enjoy my football again would be brilliant."

"I have been asked that by fans a few times over the years and I have been honest with people and said 'yes, I would love to play here again'. I did not know at what stage it would be and I guess in hindsight I would have loved it to have been earlier."

"I have just moved house back to Derby and I feel very settled off the pitch, very happy. It feels like the jigsaw has just started to fall back into place for me."

"I had highs and lows at Middlesbrough and it was all a bit of a blur, really, I think everyone knows that me and Malcolm (Christie) did not ask to leave Derby. It was a case of being told 'we have accepted a bid from Middlesbrough, you are going to have a medical.”

"I think career-wise it was a pretty good move.  I went there knowing Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu were in my position, and they were a pretty formidable pairing. It turned out that one of them would often be out injured, so there was a spot for me in the team and it worked out well.”

"I learned a lot from Gareth and Ugo because they were at the top of their game. It was fantastic up to the UEFA Cup final but if you look at Middlesbrough, that was really when the wheels came off a little bit.”

"Steve McClaren left to take the England job and Gareth Southgate was left with a very tough job. That is when things started to get difficult for the team and for me. That is when I started to pick up the injuries."

"I am not here for the money. I am here to get fit, pull on a Rams shirt and play again.”

With Shaun Barker to miss the start of the season, if everything goes right for Chris in training - his dream return could culminate in partnering Shackell at the centre of the Rams defence on the opening day of the season.

Imagine the roar at Pride Park if that came about!

Good for you Chris – we have our fingers (and toes) crossed for you – go for it lad!

 

Clough Wants More!

Nigel Clough and Tom Glick have both stated recently that they are not done bringing in or shipping out players before the new season begins. A midfielder, left back and centre forward are the main positions being targeted for immediate attention.

Speaking to the ‘Burton Mail’, Clough made it clear that he still has more credit to spend and plans to buy, borrow or steal to get his man:

“The transfer window is open for another couple of months. In an ideal world maybe two or three, but it depends on outs as well.”

“We have a few lads in the last year of their contracts so it depends what happens with them.”

 “Ideally we don’t want to use emergency loans but in terms of standard loans, if we can get some good players in for six months or for a season-long loan, then we will certainly look at that.”

With players such as Bywater, Leacock and Croft not even mentioned when Nigel speaks about competition for their various positions, you don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to deduct they will be shipped out at the earliest opportunity.

With a little more money in the kitty from the Varney transfer and reports of growing interest in the players whom the Rams may be keen to move on, the Rams may yet add some more names to their playing roster.

In particular, the central midfield needs addressing and with reports this week that out-of-contract Forest player Guy Moussi may be on the menu – that situation may soon be rectified.

Whatever happens, the coming weeks will be interesting as the Rams will look to put the icing on a very active transfer cake they have been busily baking.

 

 

What part of the team would you like to see Clough strengthen?

Join the RamZone Forum by clicking on the link above or our Facebook page and give us your thoughts!

CLICK HERE! for RamZone's Facebook page!

   

Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.


You need to login in order to post your comments

Derby County Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© FansNetwork 2024