Anag Ram

Well this is suddenly getting very interesting! Terrific test match and brilliant by Pope and Hartley.

Great goal today but where have the offsides come from all of a sudden? Last few games it seems he has been caught quite a few times. Unlike him. Overeager to stay further forward?

Just CBT up front would make them keep two back and it’s not as if he’s a vital defender.

Well it was a pretty awful performance but you have to give the players a bit of credit for somehow conspiring to win. Two great goals to enjoy. The first half was like kids’ football. Fifty yards between two lines of players. No idea how that was supposed to work. Early days I know but CBT looks like he wants everyone to get the ball to him without trying too hard to help them. He will need to get used to a scrap and muck in. I’m sure he’ll be fine.

What? It’s going to be a modern classic! Pep and Jurgen will be studying the footage for years.

How are the negotiations going with Mick Lynch?

Being described on Sky as some kind of national tragedy rather than a rich guy deciding he’s full.

Hourihane can’t run - I get that. What I can’t understand is why he takes the deepest midfield position. He is the most likely of our midfielders to score a goal. He should be the most advanced and thus able to hover around the edge of their box when a ball is crossed. Bird and whoever can sit deeper and play it simple like Hourihane does. They will also be quicker to support the defence, whereas once passed, Hourihane is stuffed and out of the game.

Yes, I often feel sorry for the man in possession as he looks at his options. Often a set of static players standing next to their markers. No surprise then that the option is to pass sideways or backwards, especially if you’re being harried by your opposite number. As a team we need to be a bit busier and hungrier for the ball. We’re great when given space, and giving your team mate a quick ‘out’ ball is the way to create space.

Has yours gone blunt?

Was in another thread but generally accepted as BS

Not been the same for him since he cheated on Who wants to be a millionaire 😊

Their spin bowlers turned it square. Ours?

Had a soft spot since watching Casey Jones with Nanny. However, can’t let these types get ideas above their station. Did you see what I did there? Oh my.

I think if you look at our team, we’re not far off being the best in the league on paper. Just a couple of players short of it all coming together. I don’t think Vickers is better than Wildsmith and the latter would make it into most League One starting berths. The back four isn’t first choice at the moment but you can’t say any of them are bad players. If they’re playing well, then both Bird and Hourihane have their strengths. It’s a third, strong midfield presence we need desperately. We also need a three that stays closer together as both a defensive and attacking unit. Up front, most teams would love to have NML, Collins and Blackett-Taylor. Confidence is so important and if we beat Cheltenham, hopefully it will click back into place. It’s horrible when we play badly, but we can turn it around.

Might find it difficult getting to the game as for some inexplicable reason the trains are unreliable.

Think one could add that both Portsmouth and Bolton have been poor recently. This weekend is hugely important and I hope there will be a big crowd urging Derby to victory. If the fans give up they can’t bemoan the team’s lack of effort.

Good to hear from you. Your opinion is valued. Hope you are being kind to yourself and that this year will be a good one for you.

TV Vickers - 5 gives me no confidence Wilson - 7 clever player Bradley - 5 bull in a Nelson - 6 unusually uncertain Cashin - 6 bit frenetic Elder - 6.5 recovered from a shaky start Hourihane - 4 like an American Football kicker who only does set pieces Ward 5 What has happened to him? Bird 5 Largely overrun but can’t be easy being paired with Hourihane Barkhuizen 4 only useful as an occasional goal hanger Blackett-Taylor 6 - difficult to judge Thompson 5.5 runs around like Tony Springett Sibley 5 Mediocre Méndez-Laing 6 Looks like Samson without his hair Collins 5 Back to running around aimlessly- just out of form John-Jules 5 Should have scored but so sad about his injury.

Yeah, I feel he’s pretty balanced in his interviews. I don’t like it when he builds players up and knocks them down within the same sentence but that’s just me We’re close to the top and until recently on a rich vein of form so he can’t afford to slag them off too much, lest confidence suffers. It’s not being knocked down that’s important. It’s what you do next.

I think you’re right to a degree and I don’t think Warne should be overly criticised for last night. The players however did not look like a team determined to get to the top of the league. Anyone can have an off day on which it doesn’t quite work but last night was an insipid performance, devoid of spirit. They have a chance to regroup, have a chat and show against Cheltenham that they haven’t become a bad side overnight.

It will help when Nyambe comes back and Wilson can move to RM. It hasn’t helped that Collins and NML have lost form at the same time.

We’re trying to fit too many attacking players into our starting line up. This only really leaves two traditional midfielders and they neither demand the ball or tackle aggressively. We are always going to lose the midfield battle whilst we persist with this tactic. We have to start with three midfielders who play together, i.e. they form a partnership close together where they are better placed to contest the ball and to play the ball to each other. Bird and Hourihane are often miles apart. If we can’t bring in another midfielder I fear for our position in the top six.

It’s at times like this I’m glad I don’t have a cat.