Ghost of Clough

Just 3 mins needed to go 1-0 up against the league leaders who have won every game this season.

U18s playing Man Utd. Price Perry Banks Osayande Gough Tola McAndrew Osong Allen Agustien Oguntolu Subs: Hardy, Green, Canoville, Eames, Mintus

It won't be the end, but I expect a lower L1 to try signing him and several L2 would too

Just like with us, it isn't just 1 game - Peterborough have picked up just 1 point from the last 9 and 9 points from the last 24 (we picked up 6 points from 15 during January before winning against Cheltenham). They were reliant on keeping their first team fit, but have lost their best RB (recalled by Rotherham) and Poku has been injured for a few games and will still be out for a few more. Their lack of squad depth is finally being tested for the first time this season.

I dont think the people who nominate the players watch many of the games either 😅

An interesting part of the interview was when he spoke about getting his first pro contract. We already knew that the club (academy) were close to releasing him, but he gave some detail which I hadn't heard before - there being 8 U18s to give contracts to but only enough budget originally for 6 of them (Cashin didn't make the cut). ABrown, Festy, Foster, Halwax, Stretton, McDonald, LThompson being the other 7. A decision to release Jaden Charles had already been made. I can understand why it would have been difficult to choose just 6 (I think Festy was the other on the standby list). In our U23 squad, we had also retained: Bateman, JBrown, Dixon, Mitchell-Lawson, Yates, Wilson, Cresswell, Minkley, Shonibare, Ethan Wassall, Hector-Ingram. There are a few players in this list who I would have released to ensure there was enough budget left for Cashin.

If you have Wilson on the right wing, Blacket-Taylor would be on the left wing... he isn't a CF

Imagine a George Thorne from the 13/14 season, but left footed, a year younger and not injury prone.

Did Arsenal actually come out to say it was £100m, or was that just media speculation? I've looked on the Arsenal wesbite and on their signing announcement they didn't state a fee, and didn't even bother stating "undisclosed". Is that any different to Bird's sale and the £2m fee suggested?

I wonder if any games at the weekend will get postponed? Portsmouth away at Carlisle? Bolton away at Northampton?

How have we kept it "very quiet"? We announced the sale and loan back on Feb 1st... are you expecting the club to send reminders out?

I would actually prefer his midfield partner Nohan Kenneh. He'd be decent backup for Adams in the DM role. Came through at Leeds when Bielsa was there so is used to high intensity football, and has spent all season as the DM in Shresbury's 352. 1 year left on his contract at Hibs though. Still only 20. Another midfielder I'd chaee is Herbie Kane on a free (if Barnsley don't go up). Only 25, takes the majority of Barnsley's set pieces but is also their main creative threat from open play. 6 goals and 5 assists so far this season whilst playing as an 8 in their 352. He's arguable the best all round CM in the league.

The loan wouldn't officially end until May 31st

That's typically how these nominations are chosen tbf He was also the Whoscored player of the month, so must have been doing more than just putting the ball in the net.

I got the impression is with Harry Leonard (also at Blackburn). I know they were planning to loan him out, so something must have happened to change those plans.

Chris Martin is the real PotM - 5 goals in 4 games. Since I cant vote for him, Collins is the next best option (5 goals in 6 games). Bishop and Cole only scored 3 and the others had 4 goal contributions.

I confused myself somewhere. As you say, we host Bolton on the 16th, but Peterborough also host Portsmouth.

Depends if that's the loan fee or wage contribution (or both) - it's the equivalent to just under £12k per week

March 16th is a date for the diaries - Portsmouth vs Derby and Peterborough vs Bolton. March in general has a few big games: Portsmouth play 4 of the top 8 (Oxford, Blackpool, Peterborough and Barnsley), followed by us on April 1st. Bolton currently have 4 of the top 8 (Barnsley, Oxford, Derby and Stevenage) Peterborough have just Stevenage and Portmsmouth, whislt we have just Bolton and Blackpool (followed by Portsmotuh on April 1st) Blackpool could even be out of the Playoff race by the end of the month - Oxford, Peterborough and Bolton to play in a 5 game run which also includes plus Peterbroguh in the EFL Trophy. Their last 2 games were Stevenage and Bolton (in the EFL Trophy) so there squad will be pushed to the limit. However, we hope they'll take some important points off our rivals as they cling to the playoff dream. Bolton also still have 9 of the other 11 top half sides to play by the end ofthe season. Looking at who play who and when, my prediction is: 1st: Derby 2nd: Portsmouth 3rd: Peterborough 4th: Bolton

The typical stats sites have him down as playing in that position in every game he's placed since the start of December

There are always a few factors in these games: A number of the team have only stepped up from U18 football this season - Moloney only moving up to the U21 squad in the summer, with only a handful of U18 appearances in the last 2 seasons due to injury; Thompson, Perry, Allen, McAndrew and Wheeldon stepping up just before Christmas; and I think it was Gill's and Osong's first ever U21 game. This was only Bardell's 2nd game back from injury so will be a bit rusty. It looked like Fornah failed to impose himself on the game, which is what you should expect from a senior player stepping in. It was a team which has never played as an 11 before. In fact, there may have only been 7 or 8 or them on the field together at any point in the past. Buxton would have been a team built over several seasons, getting to know each other, and signings made to improve on weaknesses. It would have also been the first time an opposing set of fans have been heckling every decision they made Fapetu, Richards, Cox, KRobinson and Gough were missing from the more regular starters, as well as Brown, Evans and Moore who are out on loan As you say, "adult football is so so different to academy football", but that doesn't mean any indivdual player isn't ready to play at that level or higher. Highlights: https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2024/02/u21-derbyshire-senior-cup-match-highlights-buxton-1-1-derby-county-4-2-on-pens

54 minutes for Portsmouth and now injured for the rest of the season. This is why you avoid injury prone players 😅

The comparison was one I drew when we first signed Fornah - both being defensive mids who don't actually play as defensive mids and both have non-existant end product. Fornah would play on the right of a midfield 2 with less defensive responsibility or the right of a 3, similar to how we would use Smith. Fornah had 2 goals and 5 assists in his 94 games in English football prior to joining us. Smith had 3 goals and 10 assists in the 5 seasons before joining us (157 games). Fornah has statistically improved across the board on last season by about 10% - as he should as a player dropping down a division and yet to reach his peak. Last season, Fornah had made just 0.6 defensive actions and aerial wins per 90 more than Smith. Not much of an overall improvement, hence the "statisically similar" statement. However, Adams (at Forest Green) made 2.5 times as many actions than Fornah. I understand there is a step up between L2 and L2, as well as a risk regarding a player missing a full season and only sporadic appearances so far this season, his defensive stats in his 1 game for us (small sample size) match his Forest Green outputs.

Lost 4-2.

1-1 after 90 mins so straight to penalties