Nipped down to The Riverside this morning to see for myself the BIG Match preparations and start to get into the Derby mood.

It was sunny but absolutely blooody freezing and blowing a gale - as usual.

10:20 - got there.
10:30 - frozen stiff
10:35 - the 3 goalys saunter out with Coach Simon Smith and play passy the ball. Eventually practice their kicking spearated by 60yds or so - not very impressively.
10:45 - a track-suited BR appears with a few youngsters 7 their mums for a photo-call.
10:50 - one or two players emerge from the warmth of the changing rooms - Caldwell, Griffen, Solano. One or two reporters doing interviews with Solano and then Speed, possibly others.
11:00 - the players gradually emerge and congegate - a few playing keepy up ( badly, usual), even including a clean-shaven Marcelino. Barton is the only not wearing track-suit trousers: Cordone on the other hand is wearing the kitchen sink, plus ear-muffs.
11:05 - BR, MW, JC emerge, and immediately Paul Whinsper takes the entire squad off on a gentle jog. Do a range of stretching exercises, then some short sprints, and jog back to the main training pitch, where Bob Mick & Carver have been having a natter and a laugh.
11:20 - 10-a-side game played on 1/4 size pitch - boisterous, fast and surprisingly aggressive. Both Gallacher and Speed come off limping dramatically at different times, but no one seems particularly bothered - pros do tend to be drama queens.
11:35 - the game breaks up. Several players just wander off inside. The m/f and strikers practice first time shooting from both cormers of the PA - not very successfully, although Shola nails one or two. 11:45 - Solano & Speed practice penalties, eventually joined by Harper and Quinn
11:55 - Speed & Bassedas are the only ones left. Speed practising FK's from just outside the PA; Bassedas playing keep up with Paul Whinsper.

One thing I've noticed previously is that there is never a distinct end to these sessions, they seem to gradually fade away as one by one the players just seem to lose interest and bog off. This seems unprofessional to me.

No practising defending FK's or corners - something I find amazing considering our recent performances and the opposition tomorrow. No practising of FK routines, which I have seen them doing previously. In fact, a very low-key 55 minute session during which no one even got a sweat on.

BR was present throughout, but contributed nothing at all - just stood and watched.

No sign of YKD or Rob Lee; however, Barton looked fine, and it looks as though he will be at RB tomorrow.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2001

Answers

Not sure if this should be worrying, or if Bobby just wanted to give them an easy time so as not to tire anyone out before tomorrow. Did Solano keep his promise to stay out of goal? ;-)

Thanks for the report, Clarky! Hope you're thawed out by now.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2001

Yes, he did Ciara.

Forgot to mention, there was a rather bit of banter btween Harper, Solano and BR about which side Solano would choose for any spot kick tomorrow with Given eventually shouting to him "for f***k's sake don't hit it to same side as last week!"

Or then again, maybe he didn't say that - got to be careful, there could well be mackems lurking!!

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2001

Rob Lee was being protected so he wouldn't aggravate his injury. He's desperate to play tomorrow. You're right about Barton. He'll be RB as we need his pace clapping. Bet you sidled up to MW and tried to find YBR's selection ;-)

PS. I believe Farcelino is in for a surprise return.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2001

Yes, I pulled out all the stops this week Screach - but got nowt worthwhile, apart from double-bloody-pneumonia!
Actually, I thought I might have seen you down there!!

I was hoping to come up with something really revolutionary to blow your socks off, but no such luck.

The big doubt is clearly RL. So, what happens if he doesn't make it? Acuna? Possibly, maybe even probably. However, I noticed that WB played "LB" in the practice game, with WQ playing LW for the Stiffs. So, if RL can't play, hows about the following:

Given

Griffin/Hughes......O'Brien......Dabz......Barton

Solano......Bassedas......Speed......Quinn

Cort.......Gallacher

I kinda like it (apart from WB at LB) - this selection would enable us to play either 4-4-2, 4-5-1, or 3-5-2 depending on how the game was going. We'll see.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2001

barton's not bad at left back - cue for silly joke.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001