Derby County – one of the few teams I genuinely have time for in the Championship and enjoy the work that the club is doing. Ever since that incredible day in April 2011 Derby have always had a small place in my heart. No Norwich fan will ever forget what happened that day and for me that game was the complete footballing package – goals, tension, drama and Neil Adams going crazy in the Radio Norfolk commentary booth.
Four years later we find ourselves in a similar position- expectations of promotion and coming up against a classy Derby outfit. Steve McLaren has done a wonderful job at Derby and one any manager would be proud of. Over the last 60 games he has averaged nearly 2 points a game and turned Beccles boy Chris Martin into a world beater.
It’s all well and good being nostalgic but tomorrow’s game is a big one for Norwich, one that will show just where we lay going into the busy Christmas period. Tomorrow’s game is that mock exam that every student dreads, the one that will show his progression over the past four months. The man being tested is Neil Adams.
It’s pretty incredible how far Neil Adams has come over the past four years. Last time we played Derby he was sat in the Radio Norfolk commentary booth next to Chris Goreham overlooking the action; tomorrow he will take the hot seat at the iPro stadium to hopefully tactically outweigh McLaren.
It’s been an up and down season for Adams and our players, but the past 2 games has been nothing but positivity after a horrible spell before that. It seems Neil Adams has matured as a manager and the players are finally living up to expectation. One player who has seemingly turned a corner is Nathan Redmond. He has the quality to get into a few Premier League teams yet hasn’t proved his worth this season; that was up until Huddersfield. His performance was one of sheer quality and changed the game for the one dimensional Norwich City. It was also incredibly promising to see Adams see the problem and rectify it almost immediately, something that he has struggled with this season and has been blamed for tactical naivety.
Derby will be our toughest test this season, they ooze quality throughout the team and play some attractive football that win games. The last time we come up against real quality was Middlesbrough, we all know what a cataclysmic car crash of a performance that was, we’re in a better place now though and have hopefully learnt our lessons.
Neil Adams will almost certainly change his team tomorrow as the 4 central midfielders simply don’t have the attacking penetration that is needed. With the formation we played against Huddersfield in the first half Olsson and Whittaker were expected to play 2 roles – even the best players shouldn’t be put under that pressure. Redmond needs to start simply to provide attacking impotence that we will need to take something from this game.
Another positive is the solidification of the defence. Carlos Cuellar has come in and carried out a fantastic job, it’s incredible to see him make Neil Adams drop the talismanic figure of Michael Turner, our squad depth is supreme so it’s good to see us utilising it.
At the other end of the pitch it’s also looking much more cheerful with Gary Hooper and Cameron Jerome firing on all cylinders; it was a breath of fresh air watching them combine to tear apart the Huddersfield defence. The strike force was quickly becoming stale but the recent inclusion of Gary Hooper was an inspired move by Neil Adams which has worked wonders and should create problems against Derby who are without their defensive rock that is Jake Buxton.
Derby are a team that I have upmost respect for but come 12:15pm none of that counts, I want my team to prove a point in this league and kill off the stylish Derby County. I hope tomorrow really does ‘take the biscuit’ in the famous words of Chris Goreham.
Predicted Team:
