“In my 53 years of watching the Rams (which may count for nothing) I have never been more underwhelmed. I hope the optimists are right but if we start badly, just watch them change their tune about top six.”

Lee Grant

The Rams have been active over the summer. New arrivals have included keeper Lee Grant, who has come in from Burnley, defender Craig Forsyth from Watford for £150,000, as well as his fellow ex-Hornet, the experienced midfielder John Eustace.

In attack, long time Budgie Chris Martin and 23-year-old Johnny Russell (from Dundee United for £700,000) have also been signed and Nigel Clough has also secured six existing first-team players on longer contracts, most notably midfielders Ben Davies and Craig Bryson.

The most significant departure is that of full-back John Brayford, who has left for Cardiff in a £1.5 million deal. Keeper Frank Fielding is now with Bristol City and veteran full-back Gareth Roberts joined Bury.

“It's the defence that's our Achilles’ heel - a centre-back, and now a right-back (of good quality) and I'll have no worries whatsoever.” “I'm afraid our season rather rests on the next few days when we find out who the two new defenders are. If they are budget Charlies then we are doomed.”

“We looked like we needed someone commanding at the back who absolutely bullies a striker with both brute force and intelligence. Sir Jake (Buxton) sometimes isn't clever enough to get the better of some players.”

The timing of the arrival on loan for the season of 22-year-old Spurs right-back Adam Smith to replace Brayford has not unnerved some Rams. “He’s not proven.” “The timing just sucks.” “Selling your best player a week before the season starts and replacing him with a loanee, with no time to gel or learn the playing style, great business that!”

They have few doubts about his potential. “I don't think anyone is concerned by the quality of the signing. He looks an excellent player.” “From what I can tell we've brought in just that. He is so highly rated by a top six side that he hasn't come permanently.”

Richard Keogh

“We had an extremely dodgy defence yesterday, Keogh and Grant apart. Freeman's not ready and Bucko? Well, he turns like a 10-ton truck and his forward passing and positional play is abysmal. Forsyth needs time.”

“If we find some quality to support Keogh and Forsyth then we might just get the 0-0s and 1-0s we need away from home this season.” “The two new defenders promised could make or break our season.” Rams are keenly watching for news of their signing a new centre and right-back this week.

Rams’ major anxiety may be their defence, but they are much happier with their midfield. “I'm expecting is our midfield to be better this season. Young players have developed somewhat and have now one season playing together behind them. That should help.”

“Our midfield is quality for this division, but if things do not go well this season I can see our young midfield stars moving on.”

Will Hughes

“The major risk is that it's another season of mid-table. The likes of Will Hughes (most Rams’ prediction for player of the year next May) and Jeff Hendrick could decide next year to try their luck at a higher level and we have to start all over again.”

Rams are hopeful that Chris Martin will add some sharpness up front, and have been impressed by what they have seen from him during the pre-season.

“Martin really impressed me today (against West Brom on Saturday). I was watching him a lot and the guy is unbelievably strong. Won 90% of everything in the air and some of his touches were quality. Linked up well with Russell and he pulled off a beautiful little back heel to Sammon near the end.”

“Clough has long abandoned making predictions in this division but expects the likes of Bolton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest, the club where he made his name as a player, to figure strongly for promotion.” This quote from a weekend Telegraph interview was picked up by a few Rams.

“A bit of a masterstroke in my opinion. It puts Davies under pressure to deliver if other managers are predicting big things for a team.” “I agree. I don't think he likes Davies very much and I reckon this is just preparing the ground for when Forest start to struggle.”

Clough is admired by Rams. This next comment sums up many supporters thinking: “I've lived through his Dad, Dave Mackay, Arthur Cox and the Bald Eagle doing great things with my club. Nowt would make me happier than a bloke who was brought up and lived in Derby most of his life put us back up in the top division and keep us there with a well-run, well organised, relatively debt-free club. He knows what he's doing, he knows he's got to work for success rather than just buy it.”

Rams’ Thoughts on ITFC and the Season

Most Rams have placed us either 11th or 12th in their prediction tables, but there were three supporters prepared to put us in the play-offs. The Rams had plenty to say about us in general.

“Ipswich will be a new force under Mick McCarthy.” “They have an excellent manager, good players there, and finished strongly last year.” “I don't understand why so many people expect them to do well - Mick Mac isn't THAT good.”

“As for Ipswich, Mick might not be that good in the PL but his NPC record is really good. Ipswich were top six material for the remainder of the season when he took over. Not to mention he'll have one of the best CBs in the league in Berra if he can recapture his Wolves form under MM.”

“Ipswich, I just don't rate - I think they lack in so many positions and as much as I like Mick McCarthy I don't think he can do much - I have them 16th, which in fairness could mean they're 10 points away from the play-offs but I don't think they will do that well.”

Leicester City

“I have to say that at the moment my expectations are fairly limited. There are some major issues that need sorting out and until that happens I can't see us doing that well.” “We need to offload a good number of players. We spend too much money on players who don't really play.” “One kick from Wembley...it nearly worked.”

Zoumana Bakayogo

Leicester have easily been the quietest Championship team in the market this summer. They brought in left-back Zoumana Bakayogo from Tranmere, lost Jermaine Beckford to Bolton and cancelled former Ipswich loanee Richie Wellens’s contract.

Most Foxes are linking their lack of transfer activity with the impending arrival of FFP and a wage bill hangover from Sven Goran Eriksson’s days. “The following season when FFP kicks in properly is when we will reap the benefits. It might not what we want to hear, but Sven’s contracts are going to have an adverse effect for some while yet.”

Tactically, many Foxes think that manager Nigel Pearson will employ a solid 4-4-2 at home, and a counter-attacking 3-5-2 system on the road.

The most popular 3-5-2 line up is this: Kaspar Schmeichel; Liam Moore, Wes Morgan (capt), Zak Whitbread; Richie De Laet, Matty James, Andy King, Anthony Knockaert, Zoumana Bakayogo; David Nugent, Chris Wood.

Winger Lloyd Dyer, defender Sean St Ledger and forward Jeff Schlupp have also featured in some line ups, with Dyer especially popular in the 4-4-2 line up.

Paul Konchesky

Paul Konchesky divides opinion sharply. “We have a slight issue at left back. Konchesky should never wear a Leicester shirt again. Bakayogo according to Pearson is unfit.” “Anybody suggesting Konchesky at left centre-back in a 3-5-2 needs to be sent to a mental asylum.”

There was a busy thread called: “Why do some people actually dislike Pearson as manager?” “Any one taking bets to how many pages this thread will get up to?” Opinions on him are even more split.

“He is an arrogant, pig-headed, stubborn, tactically inept twat! Case closed!” “He is tactically naïve, doesn't know or even have a clue how to change a game when the opposition press us high up the pitch or outnumber us in midfield.”

Nigel Pearson

“Nigel ‘Predictable 4-4-2’ Pearson has got a lot to do this season to convince me that he has become more tactically adaptable to what is in front of him.” His detractors are weary of his brand of predictable and tactically inflexible football.

“He blames the fans when we lose and won't accept personal responsibility that's it's down to him. Comes out with the same excuses that we must work harder? We see the same substitutions all the time from the same bench?”

“A stubborn manager is what we need and not one that the players can walk all over again like Sven.” “Whenever I've questioned people over their anti-Pearson views it always comes right down to the same thing. They just don't like him. It's entirely personal.”

Most Foxes actually support Pearson, and feel that the critics should get some perspective. “They're entitled to their feelings but they've let these feelings affect their judgment of him and the situation we're in post-Sven.”

“I have no idea why people seem to dislike him either. Top half finishes every season including two playoffs and a promotion. It seems like our fans automatically think we should be a Premier League club, just doesn't happen overnight and negativity won't help at all.”

David Nugent

Having tried to sign Wes Morgan without success this summer, Forest have lately been linked with David Nugent. “My contact at Forest says they were willing to offer about £800,000. That's lower, but not much lower, than what we would accept.” “If Nugent goes we can forget any chance of promotion this season.”

“Why don't Forest change to blue and have a fox on their badge? They seem to want our entire team, or have they been playing mind games to unsettle our players?”

Foxes’ views on ITFC and the Season

“Such a tough league. Teams like Brighton and Ipswich could be handy”. There was one quiet prediction thread and one mention of us as a play-off contender.

Nottingham Forest

“I can't wait for this season to kick-off!” “We're all trying to predict starting line ups and formations and to be honest it's a nightmare. A couple more signings and God knows how Billy's going to get any kip. With these signings the squad is going to be ultra-competitive, something this club has lacked for many a year.”

Forest have brought in keeper Dorus de Vries from Wolves, defenders Eric Lichaj from Villa and Jack Hobbs (on loan) from Hull, wingers Jamie Paterson from Walsall and Djamal Abdoun (for £1.55 million) from Olympiakos, and Scottish International Jamie Mackie from QPR (for £1 million).

Jamie Mackie

They have signed Gonzalo Jara (after a loan spell at the City Ground) from West Brom. Darius Henderson and Marcus Tudgay have extended contracts, and they have tried to buy Wes Morgan and David Nugent from Leicester, bring defender Kelvin Wilson back from Celtic and midfielder Jason Holt from Hearts.

Against this, there have been but two notable departures. Lewis McGugan has left for Watford, and David McGoldrick has joined us after being away from the club for all of last season.

“It's scary how strong our squad is looking this year.” “I don't think I've ever felt as excited going into a first game of the season, so much prospect!” “It seems like Fawaz is buying the manager every shiny toy he asks for. Maybe, just maybe we'll get off to a flyer because he knows the chairman wants promotion and Premiership football even more than he does.”

Billy Davies

Allowing for the variety of options at manager Billy Davies disposal, this seems to be the most popular line up: Dorus De Vries; Eric Lichaj, Jack Hobbs, Greg Halford, Chris Cohen; Adlene Guedioura; Jamie Mackie, Henri Lansbury, Andy Reid; Darius Henderson, Simon Cox. Most fans expect a 4-1-3-2 or a 4-1-4-1 shape to the team.

To give you an idea of the depth of the squad, here is a second eleven: Karl Darlow; Gonzalo Jara, Danny Collins, Dan Harding, Jamaal Lascelles; Djamel Abdoun, Jonathan Greening, Jamie Paterson, Radoslaw Majewski; Dexter Blackstock, Matt Derbyshire.

Note that we have not found room yet for Marcus Tudgay, Martin Paterson, David Morgan, Stephen McLaughlin, Simon Gillett, Ishmael Miller and keeper Khalid Al Rasheedi.

The mood at the City Ground, putting it mildly, is buoyant, and bordering on the triumphalist. “We're going to win the league this year - BELIEVE! We finally have a chairman and manager who are working together, where the chairman is happy to spend money buying the manager’s targets, and where the manager has worked miracles on a shoestring, never mind when he's been backed.” “I am so excited now. Saturday needs to hurry up already.”

I still found this: “Still need a real goalscorer though. I fear we will still lack goals if we don't get someone like (Burnley striker Charlie) Austin. Yes we now have people in wide areas to create the chances but need someone to stick them away.”

Forest Supporters’ Thoughts on ITFC and the Season

There was some interesting discussion about our former Forest striker David McGoldrick. “Why did he get the 'McGoaldrought' tag with NFFC?” “He was absolute rubbish for us.”

David McGoldrick doing his
Tyrannosaurus impression for Forest fans

“He is playing for an excellent manager as well which will help. I like Billy but would still have preferred McCarthy as manager when we had the chance. We missed the boat big time with him sadly.”

“Ipswich looks as our reserve team - with Chambers, Ando and McGoldrick.” “Just can't see a team with Chambers, Anderson and McGoldrick playing ever making the play-offs.”

In the main prediction thread, it was a familiar pattern, with the relegated teams plus Watford and Bolton were seen as their main threats. Once again, our name popped up with just a couple of fans.

“Watch out for Ipswich. They have made some very decent Championship signings.” “I think Ipswich will be the potential dark horses. Old Mick is a decent manager at this level and he is putting together a very Mick McCarthy like team. Not pretty to watch but hard to beat.”

The best Derby Forum is Rams Talks. Leicester’s best discussion board is FoxesTalk, and the busiest Forest forum is Forest Forum.

In the sixth and penultimate part of this series, I will look at the three London representatives in the Championship, when QPR, Millwall and Charlton fall under the spotlight.

Photo: Action Images

JoshTheLad added 12:17 - Jul 30 WOW, Forrest fans are pretty confident. Lets wait and see them do a "Leicester" of two years ago...
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LankHenners added 12:33 - Jul 30 There are lots of football fans in this league who think that the team they support is a "big club" that is going to be a contender for the top 6 and other supporters making similar claims are talking rubbish. It sort of makes me want to see us pummel the likes of Derby and Forest when we play them (with McGoldrick, Anderson and Chambers all scoring against Forest)!

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TractorCam added 12:57 - Jul 30 Another excellent read Harry, keep up the good work
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ORomeoZondervan added 13:44 - Jul 30 Really enjoying these Briefing Notes Harry... Forest seem to have heaps of players, I wonder how long they will be able to keep them all happy.
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TotalBlue added 14:25 - Jul 30 Harry for prime minster lol, Great read and sounds like sour grapes over McGoldrick. We have a good solid teams with no big names I think were going to upset some people this year. I think Mick is more than capable to turn this into a very good year. Just hope he can keep us in the premiership a lot of people keep saying he is fantastic in the champ then things go wrong BUT it think we are the club for him and look forward to next summer break where we are all going to be talking about the tough avoiding relegation fight(from the prem obviously)! go Mick!!!

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NW10_Tractor added 14:54 - Jul 30 Excellent Blogs Pal - keep it up. Defo wanna see the QPR trash talk as they are just down Scrubs Lane from me and their "shirts" are everywhere! - I live Harlesden and I can see a fair few Watford shirts oozing out the cracks in the pavement... and the hungover QPR premier league Wannabees still wearing their 'Cargiant' shirts with pride! .... Hornets are talking themselves into another "Great" season and QPR claiming that Arry is going to take them straight back up... can't see it happening but I await your next blog...

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gazzmac4 added 14:56 - Jul 30 Yeah that Luke Chambers is rubbish isn't he?! He was only part of a centre half partnership that helped us to 10+ clean sheets in our games after Xmas! Forest seem to have great depth but they lack a real quality striker. Something I am hoping we have stolen from them. Judging by DMcG's form in preseason I think he is an absolute steal for us! I think Leicester will be there or there abouts again but Derby and Forest will be 10/11/12 or so I reckon.

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BillBlue added 15:25 - Jul 30 Thanks again Harry, a great read. I have just joined the Player and looked at the eight videos of our history and it took me right back to the Alf & Bobby days when I was young enough to truly enjoy it. I was left wondering if Mick can be the next John Lyall, I hope so. Any body else got thoughts on this?
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DanLyles added 15:36 - Jul 30 Another great read Harry. I'm confident both Leicester and Forest will both be in the top six, the latter look really strong going forward. Cox and Henderson will be a nightmare to defend against while Lansbury, Reid and Mackie will provide plenty of ammunition and score a fair few themselves. The Forest comments about Chambers, Anderson and McGoldrick will come back to bite them in the bum though!!!

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HarryfromBath added 16:24 - Jul 30 Forest do look to be a threat, not only because of the calibre and depth of their squad, but also because they seem to have found a unity of purpose under their manager. ORomeoZondervan, I do reckon though that if Forest are getting results, their decent peripheral players will put up with short rations on the field. It would be nice to put one over them for a number of reasons, not the least of which is their attitude to our three ex-Foresters. That deflected shot defeat at the City Ground when we were down to nine players last season still rankles. BillBlue, there really may be something in that John Lyall analogy. Mick could certainly get us up and get us operating as a stable top flight team in the way that John did, no question. Many thanks again for your kind comments. NW10 - QPR really is a team like no other at the moment.

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ORomeoZondervan added 18:09 - Jul 30 Very true Harry. Have you come across anyone else from other clubs doing briefing notes in a similar style? With you and Blair Ferguson writing on TWTD, we must be more insightful than other clubs!
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JCBLUE added 20:07 - Jul 30 Another fabulous read Harry, confident we will finish above Forest & Derby.
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kiwiblue added 22:44 - Jul 30 Great article and better than many newspaper attempts when they just list ins and outs and a prediction. wigan town florest leicester watford and reading top six. def info my mother is a witch and reads the future.
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Michael11 added 22:23 - Aug 1 How cock sure are Forest fans? Sorry, but Mick had a better points tally than Davies and our squad wasn't as strong at the time too. With their arrogance and Henri Lansbury in their team, i'd love them to have a terrible season.
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