With the new season just around the corner, Derby County are set to embark on their second season in Division 1. Last season exceeded all expectations with the club sitting top of the league for parts of the campaign before eventually falling out of the title race in the last third. A win and two draws in the last 6 games, however, was good enough to see them finish in a very credible 7th place and with Manchester United winning both cups, that was enough to see Derby qualify for their first European competition. So what does this season hold? We will hear from boss Gordon 'Gino' Kinnear later on but first we will look at the additions to the squad and also how the opening games of the season look.
NEW FACES
With European qualification for this season the moves in the transfer were mixed between a couple of additions for the first team and three for the European and domestic cup competitions. First of all the two additions to the first team:
FACUNDO RONCAGLIA
Facundo Roncaglia is a great addition to the Derby squad. The 28yo Argentine international cost £7.3m from Fiorentina and can play right back or in the centre of defence. With Derby leaking a lot of goals in the second half of the season, Roncaglia will be expected to shore up the back and help give goalkeeper Adrian more protection. Roncaglia has spent all of his 279 career in Italy with three different clubs and will hope to settle in England quickly as it is expected that he will be thrown straight into the side for the opening game of the season.
ALVARO ARBELOA
Veteran Spanish defender Alvaro Arbeloa is expected to bring a wealth of experience to the Derby defence. The 32yo international has spent his entire 279 career at Real Madrid but he felt that a move to England would let him experience a different type of football. He didn't come cheap and it took some negotiating before an agreement could be reached on the fee. Derby agreed to let Danish defender Frederik Sorensen and young French centre back Mederic Deher go to Real with a fee of £4m also included in the deal. It is certainly a risk by the club and they have to hope that Arbeloa can settle into the English game quickly.
There are three additions to the European and domestic cup squad. The midfield was the area that needed strengthened and all 3 can play right across the park.
ALEKSANDER CAVRIC
Aleksander Cavric cost £1.8m from Belgian side KRC Genk and will strengthen the centre of the midfield although he can pay down either side. The 21yo is believed to have a bright future and although he couldn't break through to the Genk first team, it was fully expected that he would have been given his chance in Season 7. Instead he jumped at the chance to come to England and he will be looking forward to testing himself in the Euro Shield.
TERRY ANTONIS
Terry Antonis becomes the first Australian to join Derby since 279 was founded. The midfielder has already been at 3 clubs despite only being 21. He started his career at Sydney FC before getting a taste of the English game at Bradford City. He was then snapped up by Parma in Italy before returning to Sydney FC. Glowing reports from Derby's Australian scout persuaded boss Kinnear to pay £2m for his services and he is expected to get some playing time in the cup competitions.
WILFRIED ZAHIBO
Wilfried Zahibo joined Derby for just £470,000 from Mexican side Pumas UNAM and is more a work in progress rather than a player for the cup competitions. The French midfielder played 20 times for Chesterfield over Season 5 and 6, so has experience of the English game. He will be invaluable as a back up midfielder and will be first in line if any injuries should occur.
So, that is the new additions with boss Kinnear saying he expects another couple to come in. He is also expected to try and negotiate a couple of loans to add depth to the first team squad and the cup squad but will want to talk with the managers first.
EUROPEAN COMPETITION
Derby embark on their first European mission and they have been drawn in Group I of the Euro Shield. Here are the clubs that stand in their way of the knockout stages.
TOULOUSE FC
French side Toulouse FC will provide a tough test for Derby and although they don't have any big names, they have a great team spirit and togetherness that make them a tough nut to crack. Goalkeeper Ali Ahamada is expected to go on to greater things and at just 23yo is already rated at 87. Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik is the man that holds the defence together while Toulouse will look to Martin Braithwaite to provide the goals.
TRABZONSPOR
Turkish sides are always tough opponents and Trabzonspor will be no different. The trip to Turkey will be a stern test for the Rams and many of the players will taste a hostile environment for the first time. Paraguayan striker Oscar Cardozo will be well known to Kinnear as he was an ever present in the Paraguay squad that Kinnear led to two World Cups. Mehmet Ekici is an influential player in the midfield and if Derby can stop him playing then they will have a chance.
CD CESAR VALLEJO
I am sure that every Derby fan thought, who? Well I can tell you that the Derby management said the same thing. Very little is known about the club from Peru and they could be a banana skin waiting to happen. Their star player is midfielder Rinaldo Cruzado. The 30yo local hero played 30 times last season including 4 games in the Euro Shield. They managed a 2-2 draw with US Palermo with their best result being a 3-0 win in Greece against Xanthi. An unknown quantity at the moment but by time the game comes round I am sure Derby will have done their homework
Fixtures
Fri 21 August CD Cesar Vallejo (a)
Fri 28 August Toulouse FC (h)
Fri 11 September Trabzonspor (a)
Fri 18 September CD Cesar Vallejo (h)
Fri 2 October Toulouse FC (a)
Fri 9 October Trabzonspor (h)
ENGLISH LEAGUE DIVISION 1
With the added pressures of European competition it is expected that Derby could struggle to match the success of last season. Once again Kinnear's aim is to avoid relegation and that is matched by the chairman of the club. Derby will open their season against two of the promoted clubs, Brighton and Bristol City followed by a trip to Stoke. Champions Manchester City make an early visit to the Ipro before a trip to Sheffield Wednesday.
Fixtures
Sat 8 August Brighton & Hove Albion (h)
Wed 12 August Bristol City (a)
Sat 15 August Stoke City (a)
Wed 19 August Manchester City (h)
Sat 22 August Sheffield Wednesday (a)
Wed 26 August Manchester United (h)
Derby have received a bye in the first round of both cup competitions
KINNEAR
Here are manager Gordon Kinnear's thoughts ahead of the new season
' First of all everyone at the club is excited ahead of the new season and we cant wait to get our teeth into it. European competition for the first time has everyone buzzing and we hope we can put on a good performance for us and for the game in England in general.
Realistically we know this will be a tough season. The heights of last season is now in the history books and we have to work hard if not harder to make sure we stay at the right end of the table. We could not have had a tougher start to the season than Brighton and Bristol City. Other people may look and say we have knocked it off but Brighton and Bristol City will both want to show that they deserve to be in this league and will give it 100% in trying to start with wins. Brighton remind me of ourselves last year in the way that they will be expected to struggle near the bottom but we will not be taking them lightly.
If we manage to finish mid-table and have a decent run in one of the domestic cups then I will be a happy man and so will the chairman. Euro competition is a bonus and just to be taking part is a thrill. We look forward to a highly competitive season and wish everyone the best of luck. Thank you.'
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