I think it’s a really bad idea to have a friendly (if such a thing is possible) against Derby this season. Now, obviously as a Forest fan I don’t have much time for Derby at all, but I’m not one of those irrational vitriol-filled people who seem to lose all sense of rhyme and reason whenever any conversation crops up about them. I even have numerous people I would count as good friends who feel the urge to support them.
Also I’m not jealous of their recent achievements, well, actually, I am a bit, perhaps even quite a lot - who wouldn’t be in our shoes? I’ve seen online conversations between Forest and Derby fans on this subject that makes me cringe for the majority of both sets of fans - the Forest fans speaking of “you’re going to get tonked every week next season!” to responses of “you’re just jealous!” - it’s all rather tedious and childish if truth be told.
Of course we’re jealous - however, unlike many Forest fans I don’t begrudge them their promotion - they finished 3rd, they topped the table for ages and finished 8 points or so ahead of West Brom who they met in the playoff final. Given that the playoffs are a moneyspinning addition to make the league ‘more interesting’ and not remotely steeped in fairness, perhaps this season is a rare example of when they have been. 3rd placed Derby promoted, 3rd placed Blackpool promoted. Perhaps if we had been less negative in our last game against Crewe we might have finished third and gone up - although I doubt it!
The simple fact is, and I’ll be perfectly honest here, I don’t want to play Derby right now because I think they will beat us fairly convincingly. My stomach turns at the thought of the away end being full of Derby supporters getting a cheap trip to have (yet another) laugh at our expense - only this time in the flesh! If the boot were on the other foot I’d certainly be partaking in it, but for us to encourage such a thing by arranging this fixture would be a farce - which is why I worry that it might have some legs! Imagine a Lower Bridgford end packed with ‘Forest Wembley 2007′ t-shirt clad Derby fans watching their side stroll to victory against us.
I don’t think it will happen simply for the obvious logistical problems of needing to have a high police and security presence to prevent the almost inevitable clashes between the undesirable element amongst both our sets of supporters - whilst undoubtedly there would be a bigger crowd that for a normal preseason friendly, the cash made from this would need to be offset against the increased cost in providing sufficient safety measures - so hopefully common sense on all levels will prevail and this disaster waiting to happen will not go ahead - if it was ever going to anyway!
