Leeds United and Derby County have forged a rivalry beyond promotion after the Spygate drama, and now the Rams have Whites fans talking again.
Unlike when Marcelo Bielsa sent a member of his coaching staff to observe Frank Lampard’s squad train from the roadside and was slapped with a £200,000 fine, the Pride Park outfit are inviting fans into their facilities to watch Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain return to action against their U23 side.
Even more unlike the Spygate drama, any supporter wishing to turn up – in the limited number of entrants being waved through – do not have to pay a single penny to gain an inside account of Derby’s behind-the-scenes secrets.
Naturally, given the role Derby played in the investigation that engulfed us earlier in the year, Whites fans saw the announcement as a great chance to take a pop at Lampard and the way the Rams operate.
Some Leeds fans even shared their desires to see Bielsa rock up with his blue bucket and clipboard in hand…
No charge, but if you’re caught watching from the roadside it will cost you £200,000.
— Jamie Collins (@LUJC83) March 7, 2019
Will the fans be suspected of spying?
— Kyle (@KB2X) March 7, 2019
Bielsa already knew all this……#MOT
— Phil Sessions (@Unitedrhinos) March 7, 2019
Someone warned cry baby Fwank??
— IAIN PLENDERLEITH (@IPLENDY65) March 7, 2019
Damn you’ve alerted them to my disguise. I’ll have to watch from the roadside now. It’d be funny if MB went, complete with blue bucket and clipboard.
— Andy H (@voicestalktome) March 7, 2019
If they have limited numbers, I would be tickled if a couple of coaches full of #lufc got there early. Once in they revealed their Leeds colours. ????
— Alan (@penderel) March 7, 2019
Has anyone told Bielsa what time Derby are training tomorrow?
— Neil Sherratt (@AbramLatic) March 7, 2019
@LUFC Recall all the spies and redirect to @dcfcofficial training ground. If Derby are training we get to again witness all the secrets to Franks amazing analysis and how that translates on the pitch ????????????????
— Daniel Sellars ???????? (@dsellars1983) March 8, 2019
It’s a trap. Lampard wants to try make 200,000k for himself
— Eddie Whelan ???????? (@EddieWhelan9) March 8, 2019
????????♂️ https://t.co/62CzeVlHn6
— The Square Ball (@TheSquareBall) March 7, 2019
For free?! No wonder Derby are in financial trouble, they used to charge £200,000 for this.
— Christopher Thomas H. Caddy (@caddyisplank) March 8, 2019
I’d love it if Bielsa just rocked up with a pair of spy glasses on!
— James (@jim_hdwk) March 8, 2019