RAMS READY FOR THE BATTLE

Season 6 gets underway tomorrow night and for Derby County, it will be the biggest test they have ever faced. Promotion to the top flight means they will travel to places such as Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and Anfield instead of Oakwell, Bramall Lane and Vicarage Road. Derby are realistic and they know that they will be battling it out near the bottom and that, this season, finishing in 17th place will be regarded as a successful season.
Derby manager Gordon 'Gino' Kinnear has had very little money to splash out in the transfer market but he feels that the players he has signed will be able to do the job they have been brought to the Ipro to do. Here is a look at the new boys:

San Miguel ADRIAN

 

San Miguel Adrian, Goalkeeper, Aged 28

 

Derby County is Adrian's 5th club since 279 started. He has failed to settle anywhere but hopes that Derby County can be the first club where he feels he can perform to the best of his ability. West Brom picked him up in Season 1 from Real Betis for just £700k but he failed to break into the first team and when West Ham offered the Baggies £4.7m, the huge profit was too good to turn down. His first two seasons at West Ham seen him play just 5 first team games but in Season 4 he made the breakthrough and played 15 games, picking up 1 man of the match award. Adrian felt that this was his chance to start pushing for a call up to Spain's international squad but he was stunned when a £4m bid from Deportivo Alaves was accepted and he was on his way to play in the Spanish lower leagues. This was a huge blow to his international chances and his form suffered. At the age of 27, Adrian felt his career was over but Kinnear knew of his ability and when he offered Alaves a deal worth £6.2m, the Spanish club accepted and Adrian was on his way back to England. Both manager and player are delighted with the deal and Adrian is ready to show what he can do. It's a huge season for the goalkeeper and he has lost just 2 goals in 4 pre season games. Kinnear feels this could be his best purchase of the year.

 

 

Alex LOPEZ

 

Alex Lopez, midfielder, Aged 27

 

 

When Kinnear looked at his midfield options he seen plenty of depth. After all, Derby's player of the year, Craig Bryson, struggled to get a place in the team after returning from injury thanks to the form of Stefan Johansen and the acquisition of Jose Recio. There were other parts of the team that needed upgraded but when Kinnear heard that Celta Vigo midfielder Alex Lopez was looking for a new challenge, he couldn't resist making an enquiry. Celta Vigo were reluctant to let the player move but realised that the player, himself, was keen on a move. The Spanish club put a £10m price tag on his head, a price that Kinnear could not afford. When Kinnear offered £6m it was immediately knocked back but after the player insisted he wanted to play in England, an improved offer of £6.3m was accepted and Lopez was on his way to the Ipro. Alex Lopez played 142 league games for Vigo, scoring 22 goals and will almost certainly be played as an attacking midfielder at Derby. His experience will be invaluable and he will chip in with a few goals. He will have to prove himself in the first few games as he will be under pressure from Craig Bryson for that AM role in the team. This looks a good signing.

Christian BRULS

Christian Bruls, midfielder, Aged 26

Christian Bruls' rise through the ranks was slower than the average player but he is now starting to show his talent. The first two seasons in 279 seen Christian struggle in the lower leagues of France before Belgian club KAA Gent gave him his chance. In Season 4, French side Stade Rennais picked him up for a fee of £3.4m and he made 30 appearances, scoring 13 goals and assisting in another 10. Kinnear was in the market for someone who could play on the left wing, someone who could supply crosses for Argentinian striker Raul Bobadilla and Bruls was the man that caught his attention. His pace seemed to cause plenty of defences problems and when Stade Rennais priced him at a bargain £4.1m, Kinnear made his move. Bruls jumped at the chance to play in England and signed a 2 year contract with the Rams. He will play wide left and Kinnear has high hopes for the Belgian.

Betanin PAULINHO

 

Betanin Paulinho, striker, Aged 29

 

There were a few heads turned when Kinnear decided to bring Brazilian striker Betanin Paulinho to the Ipro. The 29yo striker spent most of his time in Italy with AS Livorno and he was a local hero for the club. Season 1 seen him score 14 goals in 32 games in Serie B but in Season 2 a mixture of off field problems during the close season along with a loss of form seen him make just 1 appearance for Livorno, scoring 1 goal, before he was sold to Torino for £4.4m. His problems followed him to Turin and he failed to make an impression playing just 2 games without scoring. The controversy that seen him on the front page more than the back was too much for Torino and he headed back home to Livorno for a cut price £3.2m. Livorno had struggled without him and he was reinstated to the side immediately. Paulinho went on to score 10 times in 23 games as Livorno finished mid table. Season 3 seen him hit his best form and his 18 goals helped Livorno finish 3rd in Serie B although they lost out to Ternana in the play offs. In  an injury hampered Season 4 he still managed to score 11 times in 17 games but when an offer of £7.5m was made, Livorno decided to cash in. Al Arabi in Qatar was the destination but he failed to settle and when, at the end of Season 5, he was transfer listed, Kinnear made his move with a bid to the value of £6.2m securing the services of the controversial striker. The move is a gamble but with the player just turned 29, Kinnear is hopeful that he just wants to play football. This signing could make or break Derby's season.

 

 

So there you have it, the four players that Derby are pinning their hopes for survival on. Whether they are good enough is another question but Kinnear has spent his whole budget on them an will be looking for a quick return.

 

Derby have also brought in Felipe Gutierrez on loan from Newcastle United with a view to signing him permanently. He will add more depth and strength to a midfield that is overflowing with talent.

 

Felipe Gutierrez

 

Derby have also decided to enter a side into the under 21 youth league and have added 8 youths to their much acclaimed academy.