European misery does not make Derbyshire’s move a failure (From Lancashire Telegraph)

European misery does not make Derbyshire’s move a failure

6:10am Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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IF Europe had been a factor in Matt Derbyshire’s decision to leave Blackburn Rovers for Olympiakos, it need not have been so far. Red carded and defeated, last night another campaign ended almost as soon as it had begun.

Leaving behind his boyhood club was a risk. Swapping England for pretty much anywhere else is considered unconventional these days.

But, then again, a man who took amusement from baiting angry Serbs during the 2007 European Under 21 Championships is clearly not short on bravery.

As it turns out, Derbyshire’s move has been a qualified success, yet the questions started almost as soon as the final whistle had blown on his Champions League campaign.

“Should he come back?” Sky Sports presenter David Jones asked a rather confused Trevor Francis, still counting his cash from a lucrative move to Italy in the 1980s.

Derbyshire had missed Olympiakos’ involvement in the group stages because of injury this season, finally making his Champions League debut as a substitute in the home defeat to Bordeaux three weeks ago.

Handed a starting spot for the second leg in France last night, he saw a goal disallowed before two bookings resulted in his early exit from the game.

Olympiakos’ exit, 3-1 on aggregate, followed half an hour later.

Similarly, Derbyshire’s UEFA Cup campaign last season had spanned just two substitute appearances as Olympiakos were surprisingly beaten by St Etienne shortly after his arrival in Piraeus.

If that had been the full extent of his time in Greece, he would probably be booking his flight back to England today.

But, injuries aside, Derbyshire’s record has been creditable – despite having four different managers since his initial move last January.

Seventeen appearances have brought 10 goals, and he became a club hero when he scored twice in the Greek Cup final win over rivals AEK Athens.

Before last night’s match, he spoke of the lifestyle Greece was giving his children and how playing in the atmosphere of Olympiakos’ Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium was a more fulfilling experience than turning out at Ewood.

This was meant as no slight. As someone who has been to the Karaiskakis, vibrant even for a meaningless pre-season friendly, there really is no comparison – to Ewood or any other ground in England.

Yet there was also a hint that his spell in Greece may not last forever, when he suggested he was missing the competitiveness of the English league.

But, when Francis discussed Derbyshire’s options should he ever decide to come back to these shores, he spoke only of struggling Premier League sides or ambitious clubs in the Championship.

That may be the best reason why the 23-year-old opts to stick it out in Greece, having been so keen to escape life as a perennial substitute at Ewood.

Had things been different, he could have been involved when Rovers take on Burnley at Turf Moor next weekend.

Instead, he will line up for Olympiakos against Panathinaikos on Sunday. Suffice to say they’re not exactly best of friends either.

Victory will close the gap at the top of the Super League to four points, as Olympiakos bid to reach the Champions League again next season.

Derbyshire outlasted both Liverpool and Chelsea this year, and Wayne Rooney will be the only English striker to have gone further in Europe’s premier competition.

So, while the former Great Harwood Town forward’s European memories are largely unhappy ones right now, it is easy to see why he is no rush to come home.