Looking forward to 03/04 - 08/08/2003

On a personal note, it’s not been the best of pre-seasons, although I’m now fit and raring to go. I had 90 minutes in the reserves against Eastwood Town, and not unexpectedly, I was a bit stiff. I’ve been having treatment on my back from the chiropractor and although it’s a been a bit sore, I’m not faraway from first team selection against Stoke.

The pre-season has been very promising, the boys have played very well, and the victory against Mallorca was well deserved. OK, we also did well this time last year – and the season turned out to be very disappointing. All I can say is that the club has been through the mixer, we’ve a now got a change of manager, there’s been plenty of player movement, the youngsters are now that little more experienced and the pressure isn’t quite as intense as last season. When I talk about the pressure, don’t get me wrong, we fully expect to be up there fighting for Premiership football – whether it’s a top two finish or the play-off’s. But last year other clubs raised their games when they played us, we were the big boys just down from the Premiership – and that mantle has been passed on to West Brom, West Ham, and Sunderland. To be fair, I don’t think we handled the pressure very well, but we’re all learnt – and after 18 years in the game, I also learnt lessons form last season.!

Nevertheless, looking at the competition I feel that all three teams dropping down have a good chance, although West Ham have sold a massive amount of players and Sunderland will also find it tough. Sheffield United and Forest will also do well, Paul Hart’s a very decent manager – great at nurturing young talent. I’d also watch out for Cardiff, I’ve a feeling that Sam Hamman’s team won’t be far away. I know the guy well, and they’ve strengthened since May’s play-off victory against QPR. But we can be up there, and when we face Stoke on tomorrow it can be start of season that returns Derby to where we belong.

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