Some bite size pieces of Rams news today concerning a player not coming to the Rams, a denial regarding another while ahead of their second pre-season friendly at Macclesfield, the Derby squad got numbered!
NOakley Dokely!
After various news outlets reported yesterday that Derby were negotiating to sign their former skipper Matt Oakley, the club quickly dismissed the rumour.
Although the denial did not say that they would not be interested at all, there was a flat denial that they had shown any interest or were speaking to the Foxes or Oakley about a possible move back to Pride Park.
It seems instead that the club was just made aware of Matt’s availability which may or may not become an option for the Rams if their interest in John Eustace comes to nothing.
Reaction from Rams fans ranged from excitement to horror but there is no doubt Oakley is a solid player who likes to sit back and build a move for those in front of him.
Now the squad is bursting with young players who like to get forward, Oakley may fit the bill perfectly.
Moussi Stays A Tree!
One midfielder definitely not joining the Rams is Guy Moussi who yesterday was confirmed to have signed a new contract for the Tree’s.
After much speculation that the player may be looking for a move away from Forest when he seemed reluctant to agree to a new deal, it seems all has been resolved.
Moussi would have been a good signing but one Tree at a time may be enough for now!
Rams Players Numbered!
Our final bite today is the release of the squad numbers for the 2011/12 season.
The official site announced them today and as was the case last year, pleasingly the Rams have got them organised well before the season starts. It's always nice when getting your funky new purple away shirt printed that you know the number of your favourite player.
Numbers can reveal a lot as Bywater and Leacock don’t even get a mention, Green has lost his number 4 to Craig Bryson (with Green unlikely to see much, if any action this season due to injury) and Lee Croft has once again be handed a numeral which must show he has worked his way back into Clough’s calculations.
Robbie Savage’s number 8 is yet to find a new owner but with rumours that its previous owner may be looked at by the club – it could be claimed by someone very soon.
The Derby County Football Club official squad numbers are as follows:
1. Frank Fielding
2. John Brayford
3. Gareth Roberts
4. Craig Bryson
5. Shaun Barker
6. Jason Shackell
7. Steven Davies
9. Nathan Tyson
10. Jamie Ward
11. Chris Maguire
12. Russell Anderson
13. Adam Legzdins
14. Conor Doyle
15. Stephen Pearson
16. James Bailey
17. Jake Buxton
18. Ben Davies
19. Tomasz Cywka
21. Theo Robinson
22. Lee Croft
23. Jeff Hendrick
Expect Deano and Stephen to be shipped out and numbers ‘8’ and ‘20’ to be hanging on hooks ready for some late additions to claim very soon.
Till next we bite…