All posts tagged All articles written by Joel Clyne

Derby County looked in fine shape several months into the current campaign. However, a dose of the winter wobbles has seen the Rams slide down the table at an alarming rate. With relations cooling at Pride Park, Nigel Clough now finds himself under fire. Joel Clyne examines what went wrong once the frost set in. Questions were not being asked about Nigel Clough when the team was flying through October and November and, believe me, Derby were absolutely flying. “The best I’ve seen since Jim Smith.” “The best football since George Burley.” No-one was mentioning Billy Davies, despite promotion and…

No-one likes losing a derby. Especially Derby. Nottingham Forest’s rampant rout of their local rivals caused understandable consternation among Rams supporters. Regular contributor Joel Clyne is not jumping on any bandwagons yet, though, with patience still the name of the game following similar articles throughout a promising season for Derby County. The wrist slashers were back out in force again last night after a heavy defeat to those from the other end of the A52. It’s never easy being thumped by anyone, but over recent years there has been added spice to meetings between Derby County and Nottingham Forest. The…

In July, Joel Clyne wrote a piece on Derby County building for the future and an overview of their summer signings. Now, 13 games into the new season with aspects of the division starting to take shape, Joel thought it would be a good idea to have a closer look at how the Rams are progressing. Not so many changes were made at the club last summer. So far, the biggest and most significant change has been that of the formation. Out has gone the dated and rigid 4-4-2 and in has come the more fluid 4-2-3-1. Clough has always wanted…

Ahead of the new season at Pride Park, there is a sense of realism among Derby County fans. After a disastrous Premier League campaign, now three seasons ago, and an equally inept first season back in the Championship, which was only bearable through the two fabulous wins against Nottingham Forest and the appointment of Nigel Clough, Rams supporters have come to terms with the long road back to where they feel they belong. Nigel Clough was installed as manager on 6th January 2009. It was made clear to him at the time by the club’s owners that he would be…