Derby supporters will arrive at The Valley on Saturday disappointed by the news that a deal for Saudi Arabian billionaire Turki Alalshikh to take over the club has been abandoned at the last moment.
The deal had been sanctioned by the EFL and the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) but Alalshikh announced on Monday that he no longer wished to pursue what would have been a controlling stake in the club and suggested that the time the deal took to be ratified was the reason behind his withdrawal.
That has been met with some scepticism by the Pride Park faithful. Radio Derby's Ed Harris commented:
"Alalshikh's statement, claiming there was "not enough time" to get the club in shape ahead of the new season, raised more questions than it answered. The Saudi billionaire, who has made his name successfully in boxing, clearly needs to elaborate on his reasoning, because it does not stack up."
Perhaps as a result of the uncertainty Derby's window shopping has been limited. They have spent £6m bringing in midfielder Bobby Clark from Red Bull Salzburg but, as he spent last season on loan at Pride Park and made 42 appearances, he doesn't bring them any new options. Irish international Sammie Szmodics, who has joined on loan from Ipswich, is also hardly a new signing as he played 13 games for Derby on loan last season. Winger Filip Bilbija and left back Charlie Taylor are however new additions. Bilbija has joined from German club FC Paderborn and former Burnley left back Taylor has signed on the expiry of his contract with Southampton. An offer to West Bromwich Albion for midfielder Alex Mowatt has been rejected this week.
Not surprisingly, events on the field have been somewhat underwhelming. In pre-season The Rams beat Alfreton and Mansfield, drew with Port Vale and Rotherham but lost to Valencia, Freiburg and Burton Albion. More disappointing was their home defeat to Lincoln (1-2) in the Carabao Cup last weekend. Clark, Szmodics, Taylor and Bilbija all played in the game and Szmodics scored a goal of the season contender, but The Imps - featuring Deji Elewere and Conor McGrandles - hung on to win. Corey Blackett-Taylor played for 64 minutes for Derby before being substituted.
If you haven’t paid much attention to preseason then it’s worth noting that Charlton have switched shape. The Addicks now play a 4321 and Derby will mirror that on Saturday. Both teams averaged under 50% possession last season and both teams dominated the ball at home when they faced up. We wouldn’t expect different this time out, although what is different is that Charlton look more comfortable on the ball. Clark and Szmodics will be the danger men and Nathaniel Chalobah and Amari’i Bell will likely be tasked with stopping them. Derby will try to get crosses into Carlton Morris so our fullbacks will need to be alert to that and Lloyd Jones will need to use his noggin of steel.
Only Kayne Ramsay and Charlie Kelman are unavailable for selection and Nathan Jones is under no illusions about how difficult the game will be:
"They have strengthened over the summer, they have an experienced manager and an experienced team and it will be a very difficult game, but it will be a Championship game so of course it is going to be difficult.”