3/1 To Win
Midfielder Max Bird believes his own individual game has improved under the tutelage of manager Wayne Rooney and his coaching staff at Derby County this season.
The Rams’ number eight has been a consistent key performer for Rooney’s side over the course of the campaign and has only missed two league games owing to slight injuries.
His impact on the pitch has been huge as he has helped Derby to overturn a 21-point deduction in the Sky Bet Championship for entering administration and for historical breaches of profitability and sustainability rules.
Following a good run of results, the Rams now sit only five points off Reading, who occupy the position directly outside the relegation places, having played the same number of games.
And with 15 matches remaining, it’s all to play for.
Not only is Bird reaping benefits with his team-mates, but he also believes he is improving every day as a footballer under Rooney’s guidance.
The Rams’ boss has been speaking to the midfielder one-to-one on areas in which he can improve his game and those little tips have helped Bird gain those extra one percent margins which can make the difference in matches.
“I’ve got an obsession with the game and I want to get better every single time I play,” he told RamsTV. “When I was playing well at the start of the season, I wanted to take it to that next level again and that’s the place I am at now and the manager is trying to help me with that.
“The little details with the ball and without the ball, small things which you wouldn’t even think about, he’s really helping me with.
“Things like holding on to the ball a tiny bit longer and maybe looking somewhere else and playing that pass, waiting for the movement of the opponent so I can play the ball, and out of possession stuff, just moving a step one way or another can affect so much on the pitch.
“It’s stuff like that which he’s helped me with which he’s mentioned that he wouldn’t have mentioned to any other players at the minute, but I take it as a compliment.
“I’m trying to learn as much as I can off him because he’s had an unbelievable career - so I need to soak it all in.”
The midfielder found opportunities limited last season owing to the way the team was set up as the Rams chased victories for their Sky Bet Championship survival, which they ultimately held on to following a 3-3 draw against Sheffield Wednesday on the final day of the campaign at Pride Park Stadium.
Over the summer, the manager and his staff introduced a playing style which focuses on possession-based football.
It’s been something which has suited Bird’s style and brought the best out of the midfielder.
“I’ve felt good this season,” he admitted. “At the start of the season, I was enjoying it. The manager gave me a lot of confidence, telling me to play passes and things like that and I’ve just tried to carry that on as much as I can.
“There have been games where I haven’t played well and I just have to put that behind myself and keep going, keep playing and be a big part of the team.
“We have a job to do and if I can give my all to that job then I’ll be very happy.”
Derby are back on home turf this weekend as they face Peterborough United at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday 19th February (3pm kick-off).
