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daib0

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a) Got to be play-offs. Automatics would be nice, but you have to be realistic. Get in there again, and anything can happen. I'm happy where we are at the moment. We haven't hit the heights yet but in a great position to put a run together and charge into the mix.

 

b) Not particularly. Always a long slog, one run can change everything. Norwich will be up there, fancy Wolves to be strong for the majority as well. Think Forest will get found out a bit but still expect play-off challenge there. Can't wait to go Rotherham away. Local game for us, new stadium... long time since we played them now.

 

c) Biggest change was at right back. We had Andre Wisdom on loan for most of the year and he was very solid, but didn't do as much attacking as the left back, Forsyth. We signed Cyrus Christie from Coventry in the summer and we are suddenly attacking down both flanks much more.

 

d) Not particularly. I guess our mascot dragging Brian Howard off the pitch maybe memorable to some, but I missed that game. We don't tend to do well against Reading, particularly away. Bit of a bogey side.

 

e) Expect us to win, but do expect us to make a few changes and presuming Reading do the same.

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A - Hoping we finish in the top 2 but wouldn't be disappointed with a top 6 finish once again.

 

B- I think the Championship is a lot harder this season as the 3 from League 1 look strong, the 3 relegated from the Prem spent a fair bit of money and then there's the teams like Boro, Watford and Forest who made some really good signings. As for promotion, I think Norwich will probably finish 1st and it'll be between Derby, Forest, Middlesbrough and Watford for 2nd. Definitely don't want to miss Forest at home, we should both be up in the top 6, maybe even the top 2 so the match will have huge importance.

 

C- Big signing was Thorne but he got injured a few days after finally joining. Finally got rid of Sammon and replaced him with Best who has looked decent every time he's come on. Signed Ibe on loan and he looks like a real talent, I expect him to get his first start against you in the cup so keep an eye out for him! We've also signed a fair few youngsters to improve our u21s now we're a category 1 academy. But the best signing for us is a young lad called Cyrus Christie from Coventry. We were worried when Wisdom couldn't return to us on loan and many people (including myself) didn't think Christie could fill his boots but he certainly has. He's been our player of the season so far and is keeping Ryan Shotton out the team!

 

D- Can't remember many Derby v Reading games because we hardly ever win against you!  :angry:

 

E- Derby 3-1 Reading. You haven't got Murray and you've still got quite a few players out injured I believe. Was speaking to a friend of mine who supports Reading yesterday and he said Gunter is in horrible form. So whoever plays on our left should run him ragged and that will probably be Ibe ..... I'm looking forward to watching that battle  :lol:

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A - Derby are not firing on all cylinders this season, but the signs are there that we are not far off. It would be nice to think that we could improve on last season's third place, but anywhere in the top six gives you a chance.

 

B - The Championship seems to be harder every year, and this season is no exception. Where to start on the teams that could be up there? Basically most of those that were there or thereabouts from last season, plus Norwich, Wolves, possibly even Cardiff once they find their feet in the division (allowing for Vincent Tan's unpredictability of course). I reckon Middlesbrough and Blackburn will find some consistency too, so it's probably perm 3 from about 14.

 

C - Strength in depth, although another centre half - one who is dominant in the air - might be nice. Will Hughes is a year older and is beginning to dominate on occasion, but it is to Liverpool's wonder kid Jordon Ibe that people are really looking at the moment. His 10 minute cameo away at Blackburn last week and the half hour he played against Cardiff was something to see.

 

D - The first Reading game I can remember was when Bobby Davison and Gary Micklewhite tore you apart at the Baseball Ground back in Division 3 nearly 30 years ago. Another one that instantly comes to mind was the final game of THAT season when a bunch of 11 misfits not fit to wear the shirt (I hesitate to say 'team') waved goodbye to the Premier League with a sorry 0-4 capitulation.

 

E - I can see both sides resting key players tomorrow, although that's not necessarily a given. Derby have put reasonably strong sides out in the competition so far. I have a sneaking suspicion that it could be a long night (i.e. extra time). I'll go for a 2-1 win with Mascarell grabbing a spectacular winner from a free kick.

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:yes: very good replies guys, thanks so much. The more the merrier for us, so keep 'em coming in. I'm putting them up here - http://royalsrendezvous.co.uk/topic/10179510/1 - and that's in a part where away fans can post freely without registering up (we have had several Derby fans on in the last couple of seasons), that's not meant as spam but to say fans from other clubs are fully protected by our mods, though it's almost never needed, we've got a good bunch on RR.  

 

Anyway ... I'll also let you know when we put up our Match Presentation/Thread, and the fullest respect to be shown to Derby County, assured ... 

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A] My hopes are top 2, but I think realistically we are looking at playoff places currently. Obviously we do not know where our form will take us and if we go on a run at some point we will be challenging for auto for sure. I don't see us coming below top 6 to be honest though.

 

B] Main candidates have to be Derby, Forest and Norwich with lots and lots of teams potentially challenging for promotion places. I have looked at the table and I think maybe 12-13 teams could potentially go up.

 

C] Most notable change would have to be Christie who I love watching play at the minute. I was sceptical at first but he is a great player to watch. Really attractive style of play and he should certainly be a man you look out for. As well as that, Ibe could potentially be a huge signing on loan. Only seen him for 45 minutes or so but there are certainly sparks of brillience in his play.

 

D] None spring to mind for me in particular.

 

E] I think it will be close fought. Maybe going to extra time. In all honesty I can't see it going any other way than our own in the end, but I wouldn't be too upset for you to prove me wrong.

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a) Happy enough, we've starting to play well in the last couple of games and there's a feeling things might be stating to click, beaten only once this season but we could do without too many repeats of Saturday, where we dominated possession to a ridiculous extent against Cardiff but only came away with a point.

 

b) It's pretty much the same year after year. Always hard, always a slog, the cream normally rises though. If you're up there at the end, you deserve to be.

 

c) Keeping the squad together was key and the manager has done that impressively. Thorne signing was brilliant, his nine-month-off injury the following week wasn't. Christie has been excellent as an attacking right back. Signed a few youngsters who will hopefully be knocking on the door during the season.

 

d) Beating Reading 1-0 at Elm Park in the mid 80s (I seem to remember the crowd spending the second half behind the goal taking the piss out o the keeper's ginger hair), then losing 3-2 in a thriller a couple of years later, in which my dad got so excited when Derby scored his expensive watch flew about 15 rows down the stand! Happy days. Games have been **** ever since mind.

 

e) depends on what team's are put out. Could be a classic. But I doubt it. 21,000 going though.

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A- I was very excited for this season to begin, and even though we have not played our best at times this season, we are still in very good shape at the moment.  Obviously I would love to get an auto, but with how close several teams are in terms of battling for those spots, I will be just fine if we make the playoffs by finishing third. With that being said, I do feel we have the best squad in the league when we play our game, so finishing top two is very much reachable.

 

B-I think the Championship this year has not changed all that much in terms of excitement, or ease either. The Championship is long, gritty, hard, and full of ups and downs for every squad.  At the end of the campaign, those who get promoted defintely would have earned it and deserve to go to the Prem(Well except QPR :angry: ). Looking forward to Leeds match at home as hopefully it will be first match I have attended in three years as I live in the States.

 

C-Obviously Thorne was our biggest signing but no need to talk about that :(  As others have said, this summer we took care of extending contracts, as well as bringing some quality signings such as Christie who has been a surprise but very much a welcome one, as well as bringing in promising youth players and squad depth such as Leon Best, Mascarell, and Shotton, and Whitbread. I very much love how our squad is made up. Also, Ibe looks to be a very good loan to bring in as well.

 

D-I personally have never been to a Derby/Reading match.

 

E- I think it will be a hard-fought one on both sides. I see Omar and Ibe starting for us, and i assume the Royals will start some of their younger players also. I expect us to win 2-1, but it will not be easy as it never seems to be against Reading.

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To answer the Reading fan.

Of the 3 relegated prem sides I always had Fulham to come off worse.

Which is proving correct.

They were the side which had been in the Prem the longest and therefore had more seasoned internationals and high earners to get rid of.

So they were always likely to have the most depleted squad.

Norwich have only lost a couple of players in the summer and cardiff only a handful.

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we all make wild guesses before the season starts, a lot go badly wrong -- if we really knew we'd be sitting on a luxury desert island! Now I believe Wigan and Leeds won't get into play-offs, but I'd still have Derby and Forest down for autos ...

 

 

thanks also to jagerbob, all answers very welcome ..

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