Curtis sure Rams now have right blend to progress
YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE IS A GOOD MIX, SAYS DAVIES
CURTIS Davies believes a blend of youth and experience gives Derby County a “great balance”.
The 36-year-old defender certainly gives the Rams more knowhow at the back, alongside 39-yearold centre-back partner Phil Jagielka.
“We have got a lot of experienced players now in the team,” Davies told Ramstv.
“It looked like we had a lot of youngsters who we would have to blood early on but a few more experienced players have come in and they suit the way the manager wants to play.
“That blend of youth, which gives us the energy and explosiveness with the likes of Louie Sibley and players like that, alongside the experience of us older heads, gives us a great balance.
“We want to play a certain style.
You can see from both Carabao Cup games, against Salford City and Sheffield United, that whatever personnel come in, they know their role.
“We are not changing because of the personnel in the team, we are playing the same way, just different personnel have taken up their roles in the team.”
The Rams have started their Championship campaign with one win and three draws in the opening five League games.
The three draws have come at home against Huddersfield Town, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest, while the Rams won 1-0 away against Hull City.
Despite the 2-1 loss to Peterborough United in the second fixture, defender Davies believes the performances have been encouraging.
“I think over the course of last season we were adapting with what we had to stay in the division,” Davies added.
“We feel we are better than that. We have players better than that, so we approached this pre-season with a plan, a way of playing and an identity.
“I think everyone can see what we are trying to do.
“The players have reacted really well to it.
“We have had some really good performances this season by playing the way we wanted to play and I think people recognise what the coaches are doing to try and get more out of these players.”
And Davies knows there is plenty of room for improvement in the squad.
“It’s exciting and fun to be part of but we are still working on it and can still get better at it,” he said.
“We can still be more clinical but it’s a work in progress and it’s going well.”