Matt Derbyshire

[The Padster]

We are not Manchester United or Real Madrid, we are an unglamorous midlands team with a couple of quid more than usual to spend.. We aren't going to be signing superstars.

Listen, do you hear that? That's the sound of 20,000 blue tinted spectacles smashing under the weight of that realisation.

Well said Babylon. But I think the taste of people like Yak and Naughton last season has led people to believe our team should be filled with such wonders permanently and until they see what cohesion and team spirit (note: not passion or 'pashun'* just unity and a belief in the team as a whole) can do for you, then well, were stuck with them.

*vile word and should be censored on this site.

[Babylon]

I'm not against low key signings and agree with your post, I'm against the perception coming from the club that we are signing 'stars'

What perception coming form them, could you find the OS articles or quotes saying these things? Or does that perception actually get built up from newspaper rumours, rumours on here etc. And of course the fact we signed a couple of premier league players last year, only one of which could even remotely be classed as a "star".

[Rocky Dennis]

Babylon, it appears you are deconstructing my post, perhaps in an effort to discredit me?

I cannot be arsed to trawl through the OS to find quotes to please you.

The club would like us to think we signing a certain caliber of player when the reality is otherwise, If you don't see that then that's up to you but they have been doing this for years!

As I have said, I am not against these players I just get fed up with the silly rumours (club endorsed or otherwise)

I'm sure there is a quote from Sven saying he has unlimited funds, do you believe this?

[Hack]

Does nobody remember QPR's low-key signings last season?

Here's the team they put out against us at Loftus Road.

01 Kenny

02 Orr

03 Hill

05 Hall

41 Shittu

04 Derry

07 Taarabt

10 Buzsaky

11 Faurlin

15 Routledge

09 Helguson

Substitutes

24 Cerny, 16 Connolly, 23 Moen, 25 Ephraim, 20 Hulse, 21 Smith, 29 Miller

Where are the Premiership stars in that team? Taarabt was a Tottenham cast-off, Kenny signed for them while still serving a drugs ban and Clint Hill signed from a Palace side that avoided relegation by the skin of its teeth. That side still got promoted though because it had Championship experience and the team worked for one another, which is exactly what we should be looking to emulate. Derbyshire has done well in the Premiership before and although he had a poor season last season, he was part of a pretty average Birmingham side that was going nowhere but down. At a club playing a division lower but with Premiership aspirations, he can do well for us. We as fans need to stop the snobbery towards so-called lesser known players such as Derbyshire, I'm pretty sure Maynard would bag more than Owen in this league for example but I know which signing would somehow bring about more excitement to some fans.

Derbyshire may have had a poor goal return during his stint at Birmingham, but what sort of return did they get from their BIG early season signing and I mean BIG Zigic. He was a very expensive Euro star. Most people would of expected YAK plus goal return. What did they get. 25 league app. 5 goals. They brought in Derbyshire because their high priced strikforce couldn't hit the target. In the end they found out they just were not a very good side in general. So to have a go at Derbyshires goal return is just not right. Jeromes return was 23 app 3 goals.

[MC Prussian]

My problem is this:

Publicly, the club are attempting to sign 'superstars' ie Given, Yak, Owen, etc, Yet the reality is our actual signings are more low key!

I don't mind Nugent and Derbyshire as such but I wish the club wouldnt bullshit us in order to boost season ticket sales!

Remember in the 90's when we signed 'England Ace' Ricky Hill?

Where did the club "publicly" state they were to sign superstars like Given or Owen?

There were advanced talks with Yakubu, which have since stalled a bit (my guess).

The thing is, and this is the major thinking error many fans are making right now, too many fans take rumours for granted.

The club itself has never made such announcements, it was some foolish fans who thought it'd be fun to toss some of the big names into the scenario to find out what mess they can create expectation-wise.

Some of the bigger culprits in this story (amongst others) are the Leicester Mercury, copying Foxestalk rumours 1:1, and BBC Radio Leicester.

And obviously there's plenty of people falling for it.

You don't need big-name signings to get your success, what you need is a functioning team, a functioning unit.

And my guess is we're just about to see the puzzle getting solved, piece by piece.

[Guest ttfn]

This one goes out to all the spoilt dick heads.

Bump: http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=41202

(Not including his time with Piraeus.)

39 league starts, 20 goals.

6 Fa cup starts, 6 goals.

11 league cup starts 5 goals.

Possibly the most selective statistic I've ever read on foxestalk. You've excluded the most relevant information, I.e the most recent, and also part of the reason people are saying he would be goodis that he's played champions league, a fact you're all too willing to overlook now it suits you.

Half of those goals came at league 2 level. No mention of that either.

I must re-emphasise. I think this will be a good signing for us. He is a good player. But it is underwhelming.

For those talking about the need to have a solid team unit, that has never been Sven's way.He always indulges somebody and more often than not it works

Bilo made a good point about QPR. But they would never have got out of this division without Taarabt, not in a million years.

And therein lies my point. We need players like Derbyshire. He'll probably be a hell of a lot better than the likes of Mackie who filled QPR's squad last year. But good Championship players will only get you so far. If this is the best we can afford, then great, let's go for it and best of luck to the lad. But if we're bidding for Yakubu one minute, and then signing a substitute from a relegated team the next, you'll forgive some fans being underwhelmed.

[Babylon]

Babylon, it appears you are deconstructing my post, perhaps in an effort to discredit me?

I cannot be arsed to trawl through the OS to find quotes to please you.

The club would like us to think we signing a certain caliber of player when the reality is otherwise, If you don't see that then that's up to you but they have been doing this for years!

As I have said, I am not against these players I just get fed up with the silly rumours (club endorsed or otherwise)

I'm sure there is a quote from Sven saying he has unlimited funds, do you believe this?

I'm not trying to discredit you, your last few posts do that.

You won't find any quotes because they aren't there, unless you class stringer asking Sven about a rumoured player and him saying he'd love to they want to come but it's unlikely.

Of course I don't believe there are unlimited funds, because nobody has ever said that!! There is a huge difference between "unlimited funds", and "a limit has not been set". Unfortunately the latter has been twisted to the former.

[MC Prussian]

We are trying to sign Yakubu and did sign him last season on loan. The only comment the club made about the others you mentioned was months ago, and Sven just said if the players were available and would be willing to drop down he'd love to sign them. But even then he said it was unlikely.

The club haven't "bullshitted" anyone. The only people doing that are on here, twitter etc. People need to take note of what people ACTUALLY say, rather than what it's twisted into by others. They also need to stop believing every rumour that surfaces.

We are not Manchester United or Real Madrid, we are an unglamorous midlands team with a couple of quid more than usual to spend.. We aren't going to be signing superstars.

I think people are losing a grip on reality.

Funny thing is, looking back at last October and the amount of "fans" who were sceptical about/against Sven as a person, suddenly have no problem with the guy but now slate him for not being active enough on the transfer front.

The amount of expectation (note: having appointed Sven-Göran Eriksson, former England manager, does probably play a major part in this) the upcoming season is generating is starting to become unreal.

Where do all these deluded, easily misled people come from?

I'm all excited about next season myself, but I don't go and believe a single word the local media are spouting out until it's a done deal.

[Nick]

I'm not trying to discredit you, your last few posts do that.

Lovin your work Bab's

[Babylon]

But if we're bidding for Yakubu one minute, and then signing a substitute from a relegated team the next, you'll forgive some fans being underwhelmed.

Perhaps said fans should keep their emotions in check until they know who exactly we are signing. Do they know we aren't signing them both?

So far we're just talking to Derbyshire, he might turn us down. We might decide other targets are better. We have loads of irons in fires, just because we are talking to them doesn't mean they are going to sign.

[Karljohn]

Always rated Derbyshire and certainly the sort of player that will get us out of this league, QPR went about their business quietly and Warnock shuffled his pack well when he needed to, I am personally sick and tired of hearing us linked with Given, Owen etc and couldnt give a monkeys about Yakubu, anyone who stalls on such a move thinks he's bigger than the club already, if he wants Premier League then go find it.

My only slight concern with going for players from League 1 like Peltier is not only are we expecting them to step up a league, but also take us to the premier league, Derbyshire has had top flight experience, but Peltier etc could be the next Tom Kennedy.

As long as we continue to seek and target players like Maynard, Derbyshire, Nugent, Danns I believe we are on the right track, Derby seem to have taken up most of the scottish contingent moving south of the border which is a relief.

[Simmsy]

To get out of this league we need good solid championship players (Nugent and the likes) as well as 1 or 2 "stars" (Taarabt for QPR would be my example.) It'll be a good mix between keeping the book balanced, giving us as good a chance as any of getting out the league and will also shut all the moaners up saying that the links are underwhelming.

This would be a good signing. End of.

[Guest ttfn]

Perhaps said fans should keep their emotions in check until they know who exactly we are signing. Do they know we aren't signing them both?

So far we're just talking to Derbyshire, he might turn us down. We might decide other targets are better. We have loads of irons in fires, just because we are talking to them doesn't mean they are going to sign.

True. As I keep saying though, I don't think this is a bad signing at all. Rather he would be better complemented by a prolific goalscorer.

And, to be fair, you never know. Some players just explode into life when starting a new season/joining a new club. You only need to look at Holt at Norwich or marlon King at Watford to see the effect that a regular run in the team.

I think part of the problem with Derbyshire (at the risk of sounding like Alan Shearer) is that nobody knows much about him. He's not played regularly in England for 2-and-a-half years, so unless you're a keen follower of domestic Greek football, nobody has much to go on.

Even at Blackburn his chances were fleeting, and I'd hazard a guess that, given Rovers' limited exposure, even then many people won't have seen enough of him to make an informed opinion, myself included.

[Babylon]

True. As I keep saying though, I don't think this is a bad signing at all. Rather he would be better complemented by a prolific goalscorer.

And, to be fair, you never know. Some players just explode into life when starting a new season/joining a new club. You only need to look at Holt at Norwich or marlon King at Watford to see the effect that a regular run in the team.

I think part of the problem with Derbyshire (at the risk of sounding like Alan Shearer) is that nobody knows much about him. He's not played regularly in England for 2-and-a-half years, so unless you're a keen follower of domestic Greek football, nobody has much to go on.

Even at Blackburn his chances were fleeting, and I'd hazard a guess that, given Rovers' limited exposure, even then many people won't have seen enough of him to make an informed opinion, myself included.

Agree completely.

[MC Prussian]

True. As I keep saying though, I don't think this is a bad signing at all. Rather he would be better complemented by a prolific goalscorer.

And, to be fair, you never know. Some players just explode into life when starting a new season/joining a new club. You only need to look at Holt at Norwich or marlon King at Watford to see the effect that a regular run in the team.

I think part of the problem with Derbyshire (at the risk of sounding like Alan Shearer) is that nobody knows much about him. He's not played regularly in England for 2-and-a-half years, so unless you're a keen follower of domestic Greek football, nobody has much to go on.

Even at Blackburn his chances were fleeting, and I'd hazard a guess that, given Rovers' limited exposure, even then many people won't have seen enough of him to make an informed opinion, myself included.

Thing is, Blackburn have never struck me as an impressive, attacking force in the Premier League. Ever since the days of Shearer, Sutton, Wilcox & Co. and the return to the Premiership in 2001/02, they've put an emphasis on a solid defense.

They haven't had a prolific scorer up front for years. Matt Derbyshire being one of the more "impressive" players they've had recently. Morten Gamst Pederson once carried almost the entire offensive power on his own two shoulders.

[Fjällräven]

Would probably do all right at this level. Don't think his fling with Europe's current prügelknabe and the terrible spell at Birmingham has changed his game much, but is he really the kind of striker we need?

I mean, the guy is basically a taller version of Martyn Waghorn. Loads of heart and tenaciousness, but definite shortcomings in terms of technical, passing and finishing abilities. He probably moves smarter than Waghorn does though.

Just can't see him making the kind of impact it takes to secure a promotion, if the intention is that he is supposed to be a regular starter.

[Cat Burger]

Possibly the most selective statistic I've ever read on foxestalk. You've excluded the most relevant information, I.e the most recent, and also part of the reason people are saying he would be goodis that he's played champions league, a fact you're all too willing to overlook now it suits you.

Half of those goals came at league 2 level. No mention of that either.

I must re-emphasise. I think this will be a good signing for us. He is a good player. But it is underwhelming.

For those talking about the need to have a solid team unit, that has never been Sven's way.He always indulges somebody and more often than not it works

Bilo made a good point about QPR. But they would never have got out of this division without Taarabt, not in a million years.

And therein lies my point. We need players like Derbyshire. He'll probably be a hell of a lot better than the likes of Mackie who filled QPR's squad last year. But good Championship players will only get you so far. If this is the best we can afford, then great, let's go for it and best of luck to the lad. But if we're bidding for Yakubu one minute, and then signing a substitute from a relegated team the next, you'll forgive some fans being underwhelmed.

Firstly, providing a soccerbase link and then providing his goal totals in the English game is COMPLETELY relevant to fans of a club playing in the ENGLISH league structure. I don't know what you're on, suggesting otherwise, his starts to goals ratio in the English games is very good. (11 in 26 apps for Olympiakos speaks for itself anyway)

Secondly, 'part of the reason people are saying he's good is because he's played Champions league, a fact you are all too willing to overlook now it suits you'

???

I beg your pardon? What people have said is not my argument. So my comment shouldn't be linked to that opinion. I was demonstrating the fact that he is good by supplying his English record, hopefully pulling some posters who want it all and want it now, back to earth. You've lumped me in with others there.

Thirdly, you want him to sign, I want him to sign. You seek to protect the damaging opinions of people who aren't living in the real world, yet attack me. Pick your battles, because you're wasting your time and energy with this one

[Callabinho]

I DUNT WANT HIN CUZ HE HAS DERBY IN HIS NAME INNIT GOTZ TO CHANGE IT TO MATT LEICESTERSHIRE!

[Bugg]

I DUNT WANT HIN CUZ HE HAS DERBY IN HIS NAME INNIT GOTZ TO CHANGE IT TO MATT LEICESTERSHIRE!

[reynard]

I'm not at all certain about this.

On the positive side he will presumably not command a transfer fee and he has in the past been a reasonable player.

However, is his a career in terminal decline? Over the years I've seen quite a lot of Greek football and the overall standard is really not that great. It is a bit like Scotalnd with a small number of big clubs who are quite good and several smaller clubs which would struggle in the championship. Friends in Athens tell me he was ok to start with but wasn't a massive hit. Basically since he last played for the under 21s in 2009 he seems to be going backwards. To me he is a gamble. He could turn his career around but equally he could be a waste of time. There's no doubt he has had some quality in the past the question is can he still do it? The evidence of the last couple of years is not convincing.

[Nick]

[21st Century Fox]

I know this is trivial but him linking up with his mate Gallagher could really up his game aswell.

[Guest ttfn]

Cat Burger:

1) Relevance is a relative, not an absolute term. I said you'd left out the most relevant info. You've now included it, thanks. Surely you'd agree that his performance in the Greek top flight in 2010 is more relevant than his record in League 2 in 2006?

2) Last time I checked, subs were allowed to score goals. I agree saying he has a 1 in 4-5 record is misleading due to the number of minutes played, but the 1 in 2 record you're suggesting is just as wrong. The link to soccerbase, whilst comprehensive, merely serves to show the selectivity of the stats you posted.

3) Fair cop on the champions league point, you never said that.

4) nobody's points on this subject are "damaging".

[AdamN]

Thirteen pages of arguing about something nobody has a fvcking clue about.

He could be the next Ryan McGivern, he could be the next Muzzy Izzet. How about giving the lad a chance to show us what he can do at this level before judging him?

[Babylon]

Thirteen pages of arguing about something nobody has a fvcking clue about.

He could be the next Ryan McGivern, he could be the next Muzzy Izzet. How about giving the lad a chance to show us what he can do at this level before judging him?

Don't be silly, you have to nail your colours to the mast now. You either love him or hate him... you choose.