As the transfer window gets closer to closing there seems to be little chance of a new signing let alone a loan. At the same time cash – strapped Cardiff City have managed to sign Craig Bellamy….go figure.

Swap Shop?

A club that have escaped financial ruin more than once in recent years have added quality players like Chopra already this season and now have secured home town hero Bellamy on loan.

As Derby fans salivate over the thought of any new signing to help strengthen their belief that the club is heading in the right direction. That seems as far away as ever even though Nigel Clough maintains the club has numerous irons in the fire.

It seems at the same time those around us are showing their intention to take the league on and sign the players they need to do so. When a team like the Bluebirds are splashing the cash from a perilous financial position, it makes it even tougher for Rams fans to sit back and be told their club is in a good position yet look likely to once again be relying on loans and cut price options.

That coupled with the now weekly rumour about the future of Rob Hulse at Derby. As rumours are circulating that Hulse is also on the way to Cardiff with a possible swap deal on the cards for Ross McCormack.

It would be nice if something positive happened soon on the transfer market for Rams fans to get even just a little excited about. The closest thing to it came this week when it was revealed the amount Derby spent on agent’s fees was down…. not exactly an achievement when you don’t spend money on players

Injury Curse Continues

At the same time as no players were coming in, more were on the way out with bad news revealed on the injury front.

After his man of the match performance against Cardiff, it was revealed that Tomasz Cywka required an operation to repair a fractured cheekbone. This is a massive blow after showing off his talents in the opening two games of the new season.

He is likely to miss the Coventry game this Saturday at least and maybe another one or two. The option of a face mask similar to the one worn by Jay ‘Zombie’ McEveley last season is an option but unlikely even though

Nigel thinks Tomasz may still find a seat on the bench:

"The specialists have told us two or three weeks in an ideal world but because of numbers we might put him on the bench".

"But we don't want a situation like with Shaun Barker, who was forced to play 45 minutes at Leeds off the bench. We would not want to put Tomasz in that position."

As if Cywka was not bad news enough, another up and coming youngster Ryan Connolly will find himself on the sidelines for 6 to 9 months after it was found he requires surgery for a serious cruciate ligament injury.

A player who could have possible found his way into the first team this season had the worst possible news after the Republic of Ireland youth international picked up the injury in a pre-season friendly.

Nigel Clough was sympathetic when speaking about the youngster who will go under the knife next month:

"It's a blow for Ryan, we're really disappointed. He has our unreserved support."

Hulse and Porter are both battling to be fit to take their place in the squad for the Coventry clash having not trained this week with the squad. If one or both miss the match the Rams will need to speed up their plans for some of the team.

Nigel Clough spoke to the Derby Evening Telegraph about the possibility of young American Conor Doyle replacing Cywka in the starting line up:

"Conor could start, Johnny Metgod said the other day that the only reason we are not picking Conor is because of his lack of experience but he is never going to get it unless we pick him”.

"When is the right time to put him in? We might just have to bite the bullet and say yes, we think he is ready."

"If Rob Hulse and Chris Porter are fit, we can play them both with Porter just off Hulse, that would give us another option but Conor is in the frame."

"We are hoping both will train on Friday morning and we'll wait and see how they are. The idea is that they do work on their own today with a view to joining in Friday."

Whatever happens, as dull as things have been in the ‘exciting developments’ column one thing is for sure, if there is bad luck to be had then it will find its way to Derby.

Let’s just hope some players eventually follow it to the club as well.

Small Bites:

In other news the Rams reserves started their title defence with a disastrous 5-1 defeat. The less said about that the better.

One thing worth mentioning is Robbie Savage on Radio 5 and the 606 football phone in. Whatever you think of the Rams controversial Captain, no one could deny his performance is nothing less than entertaining.

Definitely worth a listen if you haven’t already and like the naughty boy in class as much as you sometimes try to dislike the boy…. he does have a bad habit of raising a smile and more surprisingly some good points.

Until we next bite….. C’mon Ewe Rams!!

Photo: Action Images

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