Raul Albentosa

[MoreThan50Years]

I sincerely hope that I'm wrong here, but is Raul starting to follow in the path of Nathan Tyson in terms of "no shows"

As far as I know, he was fit and healthy before he left his Spanish club, but since he arrived in Derby his record is to similar to Tyson's. He made a 1st half appearance against Chesterfield, but nothing since. Tyson played something like 60 odd minutes against Aston Villa in a pre season friendly, and no more was seen of him till the new year.

Tyson was always just a week or so away from returning, whereas Raul last week was fit and ready to be included the squad against Sheffield Wednesday, but he didn't even make the 18.

As I say I really hope that it's nothing more than an unfortunate co-incidence, but it does worry me.

[dcfcdavecov]

Not on a wind-up or anything having read what people tink of our CB's, but:

We don't need him, imo. We've shipped goals, yes, but we faced 6 shots on target in two games. 5 have gone in. 3 are probably Grant's fault imo.

Thorne probably won't play tomorrow, but when he's back to full fitness, the back four will be better protected.

We're going through one of those spells where everything is going in. A month a go everything was going straight at Grant.

As Bucko says, we play out of from the back. Bucko and Keogh could sit there and mop everything up, but they have the responsibility to get the attacks going too. Must be mentally draining being our CB's.

Albentosa coming in 5 or 6 games a go? Yes.

But with 14 games left, i don't want someone alien to Championship football coming in. We can't afford "settling in time".

[wristslasher_909]

Do not underestimate the time it takes for a foreign player to settle.

Mac is doing the right thing and making sure he is 100% before blooding him. Moving to a new country, especially as I understand he is completely non-english speaking, is difficult, and it makes a lot of sense to take our time with Raul.

He has only ever played in Spain. He isn't well travelled as he has come up through the Spanish lower leagues, so these are new experiences for the lad.

He has been purchased with next season in mind, but I would expect to see him have a few run-outs before the end of this campaign.

He would certainly add some much needed height to the backline. I don't believe him to be a ball playing centre half. He is no Stimac. He is Buxton with an extra five inches. Matron.

[D_D]

Not for me. His injuries aren't muscle related, we're being patient with him, and he's back in training as of last week.

As for whether or not he should play, if he's as good as we are led to believed, I wouldn't be surprised to see him come in, even if this league is alien to him. Like someone pointed out, his old club have lost every game since his departure. Coincidence? I'm not sure.

[Gloucester_Ram]

lol i think youre being a tad bit sceptical on the whole thing!
he needed to settle, then he picked up his little niggle! he hasnt been injured the whole time hes been here..!

imo, he COULD be twice the player as buxton and keogh, but does that mean he neccessarily steps straight in and we are better at the back??
buxton and keogh HAVNT been the ones at fault for all the recent goals (although alot of people would have you think they are) so who is to say he will have the same understanding with either/or?

[SlimyLimey]

Remember how long Thorne took to get in the side. I think it's all a matter of judgment on the part of Mac.

[HungaryRam]

I think we'll be seeing him on the bench very soon. Even as soon as tomorrow night, perhaps. Can see him being an invaluable option helping us to see out games before he claims a full starting berth. The signs in the build up to his signing are that he has undoubted quality.

We've had some bad experiences with injured players in recent times, hopefully there's no reason to jump the gun on this one. Maybe some time in the stands taking in championship football would have done him the world of good.

Comparing this signing to the Tyson signing is very premature though. But given our recent history of injuries the paranoia is understandable. Whether he is a Tysonesque injury plagued player or the new Stimac, it's way too early to say.

[memyselfani]

The year we went up we had the best defence in the Championship yet was ripped apart in the Prem so a central defender to add strength to our defence can never ever be a waste of time

He will take time to adjust and he will hopefully be a great signing...Did Drogba Anelka or Henry set the world alight when they arrived from abroad ????

Some people expect miracles from day one

[southernram22]

not surprising we were ripped apart with Claude Davies in the heart of defence worse central defender I have ever seen in our shirt and I have seen all since early 70s.