So after watching bits of Benny play for the USA team via a sopcast stream I though he looked quite lively. So he's back in Derby training this morning - will he be in the team on Satdee against Brum? I think he will play some of the game, probably wide right. Thought he looked more comfortable wide right yesterday, but only saw snatches of him centre mid. C'mon You Rams!!!!!!!!!
He should play in the central. He doesn't play directly enough to play wide in the Prem, IMO. And I love him (in a heterosexual way), you will too.
he is a very cultured player. I sort of worry abut that for a bottom Prem team. How much ball control do they want, as opposed to blasting it upfield?
The game's about putting the ball in the net - if you'd watched our past 3 games (even the spurts twonking) you'd be aware that we try to play football on the floor as much as the next team - as long as the next team isn't Arsenal that is!!!
You think Lewis will start? Wow. This is as much of a must-win as you can get this early in the season. Good luck to Derby. Any word on Giles Barnes? Are they going to sell him?
I would start Lewis, if he's fit. We have no other decent left winger. But what Billy will do..... As for Barnesy, well we've said we don't need to sell (and this time it's true we don't). We can't buy the kind of quality he's got, at the minute no-one fancies signing for the relegation candidates it seems. So theoretically any money we'd get for him we can't use! I hope he stays for at least this season, he's special. Not sure when he'll be fit. Actually thinking about it, he's the antithesis of Huddlestone (they were at Derby together(ish)). He's got power, pace, ball skills, he runs at players, he can head the ball, he's not frightened of being phyical, he's got great shooting skills.....not sure he can pass a ball long? Lol!
i was actually surprised, Derby certainly just don't bang it up and hope to get some good bounces/hold up play. They play through the midfield quite often and Benny seemed to me a good fit.
He's definitely more comfortable as a center mid. The only reason he may have looked uncomfortable playing there in the second half was that he had three or four players in front of him who had hardly any professional experience in the past year, and several players around him who were playing out of position and looked a little lost. That really limited his passing options. Also he may just have been tired by the second half; it's happened to him before.
It's supposed to be Forest as SheffWedFan pointed out, the stadiums are only ten or so miles apart, but for many of us who were around in the seventies the team we most like to beat are Leeds.
Tired by the second half!? Oh boy, will Billy have him working in training. Mind you, the propensity to tiredness plus what may be a few weeks hard physical work could mean Benny's minutes are low for a few weeks.
Apropos of nothing at all, I thought I would share with everyone Benny's awesome goal against Mexico in the Gold Cup. [youtube]mcGA2W4d5_E[/youtube] It never gets old. Edit: for some reason I can't use the YOUTUBE tag. I'm an idiot. Edit: and now I can. Thanks DaPrince84.
Lloyd: A homeless guy threw poo in my eye! JD: Check the poo! Lloyd: Mine or his? JD: First him, then you!!!
i hope Derby destroys Birmingham. You know, if they win this game, I think it'll just give Derby tons of confidence going into Anfield. Screw the Scousers. With the way Wigan, Sunderland, Brum, Middlesbrough, and Bolton look, I honestly think Derby will stay up this year. Lewis isn't spectacular, but he'll be consistently mediocre in the Premier League, so at least you'll know what will be on the left wing. Benny can create scoring opportunities, except not sure who Derby has who can hit the back of the net.
Don't forget about Fulham. They had looked pretty atrocious at times, but I think they will stay up just barely. If Lewis has any amount of time to cross, he can whip in a pretty decent ball. I wonder if he will take many free kicks or corners?
I don't want to say its a 'must win', but for a side like Derby to remain up- you got to pick some easy wins somewhere. The odds are much lower vs. top 10 in table. The lack of quality depth of the squad still isn't showing its ugly face yet. As they will get used to the Prem later in season, they will also look well-worn and struggle too at times. This is a big match. They pretty much need a win. The odds are in their favor, and that will be rare this year.
Getting back to the original point of this thread, any new info on Benny being in the lineup tomorrow?