Ian Buxton's Bat

2 hours ago, samtheram83 said:

I've seen a lot of people talking about Paul Warne not being great bringing academy/youth team players through.

I have a friend who's lad has been at Rotherham from a very young age and has gone on to make the bench a few times (he's still only 18 I think).

He speaks very highly of Warne and said he was great with the youth teams and was often down watching them train/play.

His son was in the academy

I'd keep it but bring in the cricket approach of 1 or 2 reviews per team per half, with the captain having 10 seconds to appeal - if you 'burn' your reviews you lose them and then it's on-field ref alone......but if you are correct, you retain your reviews.

For this to work you'd need that absolute clarity on things like handball, which of course is currently part of the problem.

You could even have 'ref's call' like you have 'umpire's call' in cricket with the benefit of the doubt going to the on-field ref if something is a bit borderline.

In cricket, the teams now blame themselves for bad reviews rather than the umpires getting abuse.

But for next season, for any team that votes to keep VAR, I would deduct 2 points each time they moan about it in post match interviews. Those who vote to bin it have a free hit.

I'd also bring in retrospective 5 game bans for anyone found to have gone down feigning a head injury when there was no head contact......whoever does that can do it at their leisure after the game and enjoy themselves.

3 hours ago, Mucker1884 said:

We should have a celebratory pitch invasion after every home win. 

This forum needs more politics.

Sombreros are the next big thing.

I read this very quickly and at first thought it said celebrity pitch invasion.. with politics and sombreros - which I'd certainly encourage.

The only problem is that we have so few celebrity fans who are interested in politics that we'd have a topless Geoff Hoon with "free El Chapo" crayoned on his belly trying to outpace stewards with no grip on the soles of their shoes (is that an international steward dress code rule?)

At the risk of opening up another debate on XG..........

I actually like XG as a stat and over a season is a pretty good indicator of the chances created.

We had the lowest XG against in the division.

I think JW is a very decent keeper and I'd keep him - but the team in front of him shielded him more than any other team shielded their keeper.

14 hours ago, Highgate said:

Best dodgy decision in our favour the penalty against Rotherham in 1986, the most crucial anyway.  

Worst decision, not to give a foul when Roberts elbowed Taylor in the face in 1994...or course that injustice was compounded by Paul Williams' worst attempted clearance in Derby history one second later. Still hurts.

100% agree.

Roger Milford. Last game of his career.

Nailed on first place......all other dodgy decisions are playing for the runner up spot.

Still irks 30 years on. Probably the worst day of my life from a footballing perspective.

I think we have to retain the ball better in the Champ because we won't get it back as easily off better players and they will punish us more harshly when we do give it away.

Only two players have over 80% pass accuracy for this season and that's Nyambe and Hourihane.

I'd keep Hourihane as a squad player for that reason - and he does provide goals and assists - but I think we'll need a tweaked style of play and not just players who are better at doing what we've done.

If you look on Whoscored stats there's a reasonable trend between number of players with pass accuracy over 80% and league position for the Champ.

ATG

1Wildsmith      7.5........not a lot to do but was very assured 

35Nelson        8.......stood up to everything when we sat back after taking the lead. Terrific block at 1-0.

5Bradley         8........can't fault him for last 3 games. When he tries to win the ball rather than win fouls via daft wrestling he's a beast

23Blackett-Taylor     6.....no time. glad he got on

6Cashin          7.5......thought their 9 was the best payer on the pitch for about 60 mins and gave Cashin a tough battle. Great play to set up the move for the first goal

2Wilson           7.......quieter than usual but decent. Involved in first goal

4Hourihane       6......not a lot of time. Always tries to make things happen. Said it before but he's the world's best sub when warming up. Clearly a team man. Maybe something of a Stearman role next year?

12Smith            7.....good performance. More involved than lately in terms of dictating play

32Adams          8.5.....saying Carlisle targeted him is an understatement. Kicked from pillar to post but kept coming back for more

17Sibley           7.5......Very good game. Growing into LWB role. If he gets a pre-season in that position, will be find a better option?

20Elder            6.5......no time really but looked very athletic and attack minded when he came on. There's a possibility that he could be excellent if he has an injury-free season

8Bird                 8.......What.A.Goal.......great way to sign off and will take some replacing.

16Thompson     6......not a lot of time

9Collins             8.....excellent. Work rate is phenomenal. Lovely goal and some great link-up play

11Méndez-Laing      7.5........back to his best. Fast, direct and put in a huge shift

7Barkhuizen       6......no time

Really decent bloke.

Knows what he’s doing.

Gets results.

Football isn’t easy on the eye.

To almost quote Meatloaf….3 out 4 ain’t bad.

Deserves a lot a credit as well for juggling all the injuries. 

15 minutes ago, Gritstone Ram said:

I’m in Vietnam waiting for a transfer to Hanoi sweating like mad because it’s about 40*C. I’m relying on this forum for updates throughout the match.

Schoolboy error I know but I thought we’d have it down up by Christmas.

We thought we’d never get autos in 96 so booked wedding ‘to be back in time for the playoffs’

Received promotion new by fax.

Watched 3 playoff defeats in the flesh. Watched playoff victory in the pub.

Today is the day…..promotion in the flesh. It’s happening.

Awake at 6 like the most excited child on Christmas Day.

It’s happening…..I’m feeling super emotional…..could well be my first tears of joy since the birth of the junior bats.

2 hours ago, CBRammette said:

Apologies if already posted. 

 

Watched his first game - never been so happy after a 5-0 or 5-1 thrashing.

Still have my "Igor says Idemo Gore" ("we're going up" in Croatian) T-shirt from the Ramtique........choices, choices....it's that or the '96 Puma promotion shirt tomorrow 🤔

I'm not a fan of pitch invasions - and I'm not being the fun police here, quite the opposite. As has been pointed out, it risks cancellation of laps of honour, presentations and a chance to actually see the players celebrate.

I'd rather watch PW start the bounce with an ecstatic squad with him than watch 22 knackered footballers run for their life towards the tunnel.

There is generally some numpty who assaults an opposing player - which is utterly cringeworthy.

It's easy to fix. EFL says non-negotiable 20 point deduction for mass pitch invasions like they apply a non-negotiable deduction for going into admin - and they just wouldn't happen.

I don't believe there is any realistic chance of a points deduction if there's a pitch invasion tomorrow but, if the EFL are genuinely concerned about player safety, they should bring in some rule for future seasons.

Scores based on what have they contributed so far, relative to their maximum potential contribution since signing......not just on how good I think they are........or what they may contribute in future.

A lot of the non-contribution is a result of injury - we could have signed Mbappe and he could have got injured after 1 game and in my book that would have made him a 1/10

Summer window:

Curtis Nelson...9/10.....couple of iffy games early on and then magnificent. Always fit
Callum Elder.....3/10......often injured.....poor in early games.....very promising in later games.....much higher hopes for next season
Joe Ward.....4/10........really like him, season badly affected by injury. Some costly pens against but coming very good before latest injury
Sonny Bradley....5/10...awful start, slow re-integration but coming good. Always fit
Josh Vickers......5/10.....good back-up. Harsh to give a 5 but he's hardly played.
Kane Wilson.....7.5/10.....completely smashed my expectations after a poor start (v Blackpool?). Always fit
Martyn Waghorn.....4/10.......10/10 v Posh away, injured then not regained any sort of form
Conor Washington....4/10.....lively, committed but big injury lay-off 
Tyrese Fornah......2/10.......probably a good player in there but clearly not PW's cup of tea so not contributed much
Elliot Embleton......1/10......almost N/A because of injury
Ryan Nyambe........4.5/10....best defensive full back in the league when not injured or at Afcon
Tyreece John-Jules....2/10......classy touches and a goal at PV but not fit enough for long enough

Winter:

Ebou Adams.....9/10.....Best new signing of the season. Always fit
Dwight Gayle.....5/10.....if he'd stayed fit I'm sure I'd have given him an 8 or 9 and we'd already be up
Corey Blackett-Taylor.....2/10.....genuinely hope he comes good and has shown glimpses of what he can do
Max Bird*.....5/10.....been injured a lot since  'coming back' on loan

Extensions:
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.....7.5/10.....A bit down on form since contract extension but still fantastic. Always fit
Eiran Cashin....9/10......Excellent. Always fit. Best signing of the season. Great player or megabucks for the club next season.
Jake Rooney.....N/A.....if he can live with the pace of the Champ (fingers crossed) he'll be a big asset. My worry is he's too slow.

1 hour ago, ram59 said:

I've been saying that this should happen for many years. It has so many advantages over the current unfair system.

It rewards every single place from third to sixth, with each place having a better chance of promotion than the place behind.

It will help reduce the likelyhood of dead rubber games where a team can rest players like last night.

It maintains the spirit and excitement of the playoffs in every game, as they're all sudden death, whereas now there is an anti climax at the end of the first legs.

I cannot understand why this format hasn't even been trialled for one season.

I think Rugby League may use something like this but it includes all top teams - basically if you win the league you are in the final (or possibly semi?) of the knockout.  Winning the league is not as good as winning the Grand Final of the knockout, which is seen as the big prize.

As for @CBX1985's suggestion about including a team from the league above - I think this was the case when play-offs first started but it only lasted for the blink of an eye.

If you look at the pros and cons of play-offs then, assuming we go up, it's tough on Bolton who then have an equal chance of going up with maybe someone like Blackpool but......something like 9 out of the last day's 12 fixtures still have something riding on them.

4 minutes ago, Topram said:

Bit of a backlash from what he’s started tonight hopefully that’ll make him go stronger again on sat 

Ferguson’s team selection and tactics may be determined by who he would rather play in a play-off final…..us or Bolton.

If he’d rather play us then the white flag may be flying high again.

14 minutes ago, DarkFruitsRam7 said:

Merlin has Sky I think

Harvester has sky

Is there prize money for 3rd and 4th place?

Neither Bolton or Posh should be bothered about play off opponents and, unless Posh get hammered by Cheltenham, it will be a shootout for 3rd/4th.

I thought Posh were in a bit of financial bother so can’t imagine their Chairman would sanction a “can’t be arsed” approach…..if there is prize money that’s worth having.

RTV…….not a sniff of a ticket, even in 5+ category 

1Wildsmith  5.……a wonder save and then went to pot. Poor kicks could’ve been due to high wind

35Nelson 8……body on the line. Heroic.

5Bradley 8……see Nelson. And he made sure he was winning headers rather than wrestling, falling over and trying to win free kicks 

6Cashin 8….see Nelson

2Wilson 6…..not his finest game. Tried to make things happen but got caught faffing around a couple of times

7Barkhuizen 6….the man for the counter attack. Got in position A for a second but NML too knackered to pick him out

12Smith 5….23 touches in CM. Broke up play in first half, didn’t really see him in the second. 

32Adams 6…..very good and involved in the first half. Less of a factor in the second

17Sibley 8…..pass of the season…..and very good all round. Not phased by the yellow card

16Thompson 7……good ratting and gets awkward balls under control and where he wants it to be like a Prem player

8Bird 🦅  6…..OK. Good to see him back

9Collins 7.5……lived on scraps, worked his socks off, held the ball up well and linked well. Not a goal threat but no service 

11Méndez-Laing 8……almost back to great form. Never hides a massive shift for the team

10Waghorn 6…..no time

Attwell 10….faultless

Very good first half, lovely 3 points, horrible 2nd half.

Strange post match from PW. Bemoaning the fact that we had no control but didn’t really change tactics or personnel. Everything was a long hoof in the second half……orders? Panic? No options? I like Smith and he works hard to get in good defensive positions but he barely touches the ball……you have to have someone who is brave enough to get on the ball (Hourihane) and tactics to use them to get control - but you then sacrifice something else.

I’ll absolutely take 90 mins of aimless hoofball and 0-0 next Saturday…..

Thought he was terrific today. End of.

1 hour ago, ram59 said:

I think that the Derby odds are the bookies being a bit over cautious, it would be interesting to see what our odds are for not making the autos. Remember, we probably need to win one game out of two and that's not a given in this league, as both Cambridge and Carlisle have got results against top teams this season.

Tempted to put a fiver on Bolton at 14/1 and a few quid on Posh at 25/1 to at least create a decent sized sorrow-drowning beer fund.

I have faith in the team and management to get the job done but, in the back of my mind, I'm thinking that we've had fewer dire, game-changing reffing decisions than last season and unwarranted red cards and pens can still bite (Case study: Sir Curtis @ Sheff Wed).

If I were PW, I'd be making loads of noises in the press this week that officials have to be absolutely certain of things before dishing out reds and pens at this stage of the season. I'd be happy fo a no pens and no reds pact for the last two games.

If we go up I think PW will have absolutely earned a crack at the Championship.

I’ve enjoyed the season but have been critical of the style of play because I think we’ve got the squad to have got equally good or even better results in league 1 by playing more through the midfield and more on the deck.

But…..PW knows what he’s doing. Every game is a battle and we’re very rarely out of a game…..and, conversely, only very occasionally out of sight and cruising. I can only remember Stevenage away where we hadn’t got a sniff of something at the 85+ minute mark.

Against Cheltenham, the pragmatism is frustrating. Against Leeds, Notts Forest or Burnley next year, it may be just the right approach to grind enough points for mid table……and far, far less frustrating to watch.

If we go up and PW wants to play 2 in midfield then trying to sign him is a no brainer. 
imo he’s as good around the pitch as Shinniesta and better in the air.

If he’s going to play a 3 and, heaven forbid, try to control games more or play through midfield then it’s less clear cut……but that’s not going to happen.

if we go up I’d like an Ebou flying salute T-shirt…..for me that’s the image of the season so far.

ATG

1Wildsmith 6.5…..had almost nothing to do so impossible to get a great score

35Nelson 7……untroubled defensively. Troubled their defence at set pieces 

5Bradley 7.5……good goals and solid in defence 

6Cashin 7……hands full with their 17 at times. Did very well 

2Wilson 7…..so much more of a threat from wingback. I’d have stuck with a back 4 and I’d have been wrong!

12Smith 7……hardly touched the ball and quite a few over hit passes but managed to have a very good game….how does that work?

23Fornah 6….very little time

32Adams 8…..destroyed as per….plus carried the ball with great energy today

10Waghorn 6…. Very little time

17Sibley 8…..my MOTM…..really good going forward and defensively. Better as a wing back but has done admirably in a 4

16 Tommo 7…..wouldn’t have picked him and I’d have been wrong. Team really benefitted from his high pressing 

4Hourihane 6….no time….but world’s best sub. Always cajoling and encouraging as he warms up.

9Collins 6.5…..great work rate and some good hold up play. Got very little off the ref

14Washington 6….just on long enough to miss a couple of decent chances! To be fair he worked very hard to get in position to miss them

11Méndez-Laing 7…..much better than of late. Great pressing and work rate

7Barkhuisen 7……with another CF, he’d have had 2 fantastic assists in no time on the pitch. Just the man for counter attacking 

PW got a lot right today. completely dominated Orient who were pretty toothless.

Thought the ref and linesmen were inept. No game changing mistakes but so many errors on throw-ins and corners, free kicks to Orient for next to no contact and then let their defenders pretty much assault Collins on occasions.

Completely failed to deal with our time-wasting and then only added on 4 mins. 😉

21 minutes ago, Crewton said:

McGoldrick was only missing for the first two games. He was available for all the rest. But so what? Warne lost Bird for the whole of the key month of February when results started to falter and was working with Rosenior's squad. But you should know very well that Clowes took the decision not to appoint Rosenior for reasons beyond mere results. The continual harping back to Rosenior by some posters is tedious for that very reason and no-one knows how the season would have gone with him in charge.

I swear I've never come across a situation before where an element in a clubs fanbase has moaned so much about a manager with their team in 2nd place. I'm sure some of our fans have totally lost the plot.

I think it boils down to two things....possibly three:

Whether you think the team is better than its sum parts.......that's what good managers achieve and many don't believe PW hasn't achieved that, despite us being in 2nd place.

Is the football good to watch?........I see a lot of snarking at those who are openly critical of the style of play but very few who openly think it's great.

But, I get your point. I'm not sure how it works..... but you can enjoy the season and the results without particularly enjoying the football itself. I'm sort of in that position and reasonably confident we'll hold on to 2nd place.

The other possibility is that we get very high quality football pumped into our living rooms for the rest of the week and unrealistically expect our squad to play error-free in the same manner. I find Man City quite boring to watch on occasions but the game against Real Madrid was a thriller. City made nearly 700 passes with over 90% completion and their outfield players only played 10 long balls. Last night we made 375 passes with less than 70% completion with 60 long balls by outfield players. 

Mrs Bat said to me this morning "I know we've got season tickets again and we may get promoted but I can't stand another season of this sh*t"

That's where a lot of people are I'm afraid.

2 minutes ago, YouRams said:

For it to be effective though it's got to be getting to them quicker, and part of that problem is we don't have a CM Infront of Adams and Smith that can pick that pass quick enough.

We don't HAVE a CM in front of Smith and Adams

12 minutes ago, G STAR RAM said:

If the pass had been as good as it should have been he wouldn't have even needed to think about it.

However, as the pic above shows he had enough time to do whatever he wanted if he was worried he might not get a good connection. 

Just a complete lapse of concentration or lack of confidence.

Or a right footed player, playing as an inverted winger who gets a sitter on his weaker foot?

Call me old fashioned but....next season, if we still have PW - with his get it wide and get crosses in philosophy - I'd like to see a left footed left winger and a right footed right winger a) for getting decent crosses in and b) for scoring back post sitters!