r00fie1
Well-known member
Its probably the most important game for two of the East Midlands "Big three" this season so far:
Forest need a win to push on to ensure they book a place in the play-offs. After a good start under Steve Coopers guardianship, the Trees have suffered a number of setbacks - not least that inflicted by the MIGHTY BORO at The Riverside. Cooper has a settled squad - but both he and Trees fans are aware that star-performere Djed Spence will be on his way at the end of the season.
Young prospect Johnson is also being touted with offers in excess of £10M being thrown around the usual rags and "media"experts". Either way, the pressure is on.
The Derby "Derwent Enders" soap opera continues. Given the car crash that sits at the end of the A52 Brian Clough Way, Wayne Rooney has done a brilliant job, keeping a ramshackle group of aging cart-horses, proven performers like Tom Lawrence and youngsters - together. Without buying power, including the right to renew existing contracts - Wayne Rooney deserves a meddle.
Give him his dues - he doesnt need the money and he could have walked - but he hasnt. He`s stuck by his players and the tiny squad. They have performed miracles. Good luck to them, but it will be a different story when they come to our "Fit-and-proppa" Riverside soon.
Form goes out the window by the Trent today. Putting it straight: Forest and Derby hate the sight of each other. It intensified when Cloughie crossed the Trent many decades ago. Taking Derby from the muddy spud field of The Baseball Ground to the top of the First Division and a place in Europe! Derby fans back then were over the moon at the transformation of their anonymous East Midlands club.
Forest, for years, had also been an anonymous East Midlands team in the Football League, with the odd visit to Wembley - but were simmering mid-table when Brian and Peter arrived.
Both Cities have a proud heritage: Derby for Rolls Royce and its Engineering Works - established by The Midland Railways as its national headquarters - and was still going strong under British Railways. Derby has Bombardier - building new trains and the Nissan Plant at Burniston. Nottingham was the epicentre of world cycle- manufacture, with Raleigh Bikes and a huge supply chain of smaller engineering firms, importers and logistical support: millions of people in Nottingham began and ended their working lives at the Raleigh. John Players cigarettes were manufactured in millions in Nottingham - [employees used to get a free 200 a week!]. There was a sizable Munitions Works near the Meadows ["The Meduz"] which churned out bombs, bullets and weaponry of all sorts . Nottingham also had Coal Mines in the City or on its boundaries: Clifton, Wilford, Arnold, Gedling and Daybrook are under thirty minutes away from Nottingham [Midland] Railway Station.
Today is a day where pride, prejudice and loyalty to the colours are in the heart of both Forest and Rams fans. They are no different to any other group of supporters - Football Fans not hooligans: but these games are feisty affairs for obvious reasons. It was suggested by the Nottingham Evening Post ["The Post"] earlier this week - that if the Rams disappear down the Administrators plug-hole [thankfully, highly unlikely] this game could be the last contested for the [unofficial] "Brian Clough Trophy". Forest fans have been gloating - but thats nothing new - and Derby fans have promised to "do one" over Forest on the pitch at The City Ground.
Its live on BBC Derby FM and BBC Nottingham FM - if you live close enough. Presumably its on other platforms - but dont listen if you are sensitive to blunt language from the crowd or a supporter of purist tip-tappy football. Looking forward to it - although I cant stand either of them!
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The Championship Table [Saturday 22nd January 2022. 08:26 Hrs. BST]
Championship Fixtures:
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Stats:
Forest need a win to push on to ensure they book a place in the play-offs. After a good start under Steve Coopers guardianship, the Trees have suffered a number of setbacks - not least that inflicted by the MIGHTY BORO at The Riverside. Cooper has a settled squad - but both he and Trees fans are aware that star-performere Djed Spence will be on his way at the end of the season.
Young prospect Johnson is also being touted with offers in excess of £10M being thrown around the usual rags and "media"experts". Either way, the pressure is on.
The Derby "Derwent Enders" soap opera continues. Given the car crash that sits at the end of the A52 Brian Clough Way, Wayne Rooney has done a brilliant job, keeping a ramshackle group of aging cart-horses, proven performers like Tom Lawrence and youngsters - together. Without buying power, including the right to renew existing contracts - Wayne Rooney deserves a meddle.
Give him his dues - he doesnt need the money and he could have walked - but he hasnt. He`s stuck by his players and the tiny squad. They have performed miracles. Good luck to them, but it will be a different story when they come to our "Fit-and-proppa" Riverside soon.
Form goes out the window by the Trent today. Putting it straight: Forest and Derby hate the sight of each other. It intensified when Cloughie crossed the Trent many decades ago. Taking Derby from the muddy spud field of The Baseball Ground to the top of the First Division and a place in Europe! Derby fans back then were over the moon at the transformation of their anonymous East Midlands club.
Forest, for years, had also been an anonymous East Midlands team in the Football League, with the odd visit to Wembley - but were simmering mid-table when Brian and Peter arrived.
Both Cities have a proud heritage: Derby for Rolls Royce and its Engineering Works - established by The Midland Railways as its national headquarters - and was still going strong under British Railways. Derby has Bombardier - building new trains and the Nissan Plant at Burniston. Nottingham was the epicentre of world cycle- manufacture, with Raleigh Bikes and a huge supply chain of smaller engineering firms, importers and logistical support: millions of people in Nottingham began and ended their working lives at the Raleigh. John Players cigarettes were manufactured in millions in Nottingham - [employees used to get a free 200 a week!]. There was a sizable Munitions Works near the Meadows ["The Meduz"] which churned out bombs, bullets and weaponry of all sorts . Nottingham also had Coal Mines in the City or on its boundaries: Clifton, Wilford, Arnold, Gedling and Daybrook are under thirty minutes away from Nottingham [Midland] Railway Station.
Today is a day where pride, prejudice and loyalty to the colours are in the heart of both Forest and Rams fans. They are no different to any other group of supporters - Football Fans not hooligans: but these games are feisty affairs for obvious reasons. It was suggested by the Nottingham Evening Post ["The Post"] earlier this week - that if the Rams disappear down the Administrators plug-hole [thankfully, highly unlikely] this game could be the last contested for the [unofficial] "Brian Clough Trophy". Forest fans have been gloating - but thats nothing new - and Derby fans have promised to "do one" over Forest on the pitch at The City Ground.
Its live on BBC Derby FM and BBC Nottingham FM - if you live close enough. Presumably its on other platforms - but dont listen if you are sensitive to blunt language from the crowd or a supporter of purist tip-tappy football. Looking forward to it - although I cant stand either of them!
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The Championship Table [Saturday 22nd January 2022. 08:26 Hrs. BST]
Championship Fixtures:
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Stats:
Nottingham Forest put an end to their two match dip in form (L2) and kept their outside hopes of making the Championship playoffs alive by scoring a dramatic, stoppage-time winner against Millwall last time out. Manager Steve Cooper’s comments regarding his side's poor start to the game indicates it remains an area of concern, having now scored 24 of their 33 league goals after half-time this campaign.
The City Ground hasn’t been a welcome home for the ‘Reds’ this season though, as they’ve won only 15 of their 37 points on home turf. A visit from old foes Derby County could inspire some confidence in the home dressing room however, as Forest remain unbeaten across the last nine H2H clashes (W3, D6), albeit with the last four encounters all ending 1-1!
Despite the threat of liquidation being a harsh reality, Derby are currently on a five-game league unbeaten run (W4, D1) and have miraculously lifted themselves off the foot of the table, despite their 21 point deduction at the start of the season. Rumored to be high on Everton’s shopping list, manager Wayne Rooney has instilled plenty of fight into his depleted Derby squad, with all but two of their league fixtures this season ending within a two-goal margin.
A league-high 11 draws have helped keep the points ticking over for the ‘Rams’, but the 17 points dropped after netting the match opener may cost them dearly come the end of the season. The reverse fixture this season was one such game, a result which means Derby haven’t beaten Forest in nine attempts and not at the City Ground since September 2012, failing to score in six of their nine winless visits since (D4, L5)!
Players to watch: Forest’s hero of the last game Lewis Grabban has seen eight of his 12 goals this season open the scoring for his team, while Derby captain Tom Lawrence has come alive the longer the game’s gone on, scoring four of his last five goals past the 60th minute.
Hot stat: Forest have lost more games this season when starting as a home betting favourite than they’ve won (W4, D2, L5).
[Courtesy Flashscore: https://www.flashscore.com/match/f1SvWDHj/#match-summary ]
The City Ground hasn’t been a welcome home for the ‘Reds’ this season though, as they’ve won only 15 of their 37 points on home turf. A visit from old foes Derby County could inspire some confidence in the home dressing room however, as Forest remain unbeaten across the last nine H2H clashes (W3, D6), albeit with the last four encounters all ending 1-1!
Despite the threat of liquidation being a harsh reality, Derby are currently on a five-game league unbeaten run (W4, D1) and have miraculously lifted themselves off the foot of the table, despite their 21 point deduction at the start of the season. Rumored to be high on Everton’s shopping list, manager Wayne Rooney has instilled plenty of fight into his depleted Derby squad, with all but two of their league fixtures this season ending within a two-goal margin.
A league-high 11 draws have helped keep the points ticking over for the ‘Rams’, but the 17 points dropped after netting the match opener may cost them dearly come the end of the season. The reverse fixture this season was one such game, a result which means Derby haven’t beaten Forest in nine attempts and not at the City Ground since September 2012, failing to score in six of their nine winless visits since (D4, L5)!
Players to watch: Forest’s hero of the last game Lewis Grabban has seen eight of his 12 goals this season open the scoring for his team, while Derby captain Tom Lawrence has come alive the longer the game’s gone on, scoring four of his last five goals past the 60th minute.
Hot stat: Forest have lost more games this season when starting as a home betting favourite than they’ve won (W4, D2, L5).
[Courtesy Flashscore: https://www.flashscore.com/match/f1SvWDHj/#match-summary ]
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