Comrade 86

31Vickers 6.0 - Not doing a lot wrong, but I still favour JW. Josh looks very uncertain when required to deal with crosses and set pieces. Lucky not to allow Cheltenham to equalise with the last kick of the game. 2Wilson 5.5 - Wasted as deployed and had a rare off day too. 35Nelson 6.5 - Solid enough without being at his best 6Cashin 6.5 - See Nelson 17Sibley 6.0 - Anonymous first half, but improved after the break. Not sure where we go from here with Louie if he's not to be played where he needs to be. Annoyingly, if we do let him go we'll get peanuts given he's not even a regular starter right now 7Barkhuizen 5.0 - Scarcely noticed he was playing. One of a few who went into their shells. 4Hourihane 5.0 - Poor from the skipper. He had looked to be running into fair form even just a few games back, but he just doesn't have the legs for a midfield two and this was more reminiscent of his early season endeavours. 22Fornah 7.0 - Showed plenty determination and got around midfield quickly. I like him and I don't understand why he gets so few games. 8Bird 7.5 - Not great in a 2 (how many times do we say it) but bossed it once Fornah and Thommo added legs and targets in midfield 5Bradley 6.5 - I don't notice him anymore, so at very least he's cut out the brainfarts. In truth, he's probably better than we've seen as yet. 27Blackett-Taylor 6.0 - Willing, but this was not a great game in which to be making his debut. Understnadably a bit peripheral, there'll be better days ahead. 16Thompson 7.5 - Love Thommo, he buzzes around like Knighty, has plenty of technical ability and is no weakling either. Small and feisty, we look better when he's playing. 11Méndez-Laing 6.0 - A quiet game by Nate's lofty standards, but with mitigating circumstances. Willing, as always, but not much worked out for him. 9Collins 7.0 - Apparently still considered not good enough by some, but he'll do for me. Busy, without looking especially effective, he suddenly morphed into Zlatan to provide as sweetly struck a goal as any you'll see this season. 18 in all comps this season. Marvellous! WarneWatch - Soz, Warney but even I'm getting fed up with the 2 man mid experiment. I understand what you're trying to achieve, but not the personnel you are using. Well done on getting it fixed, but we dodged one this week. There'll be an understandable interest in the team selection vs Lincoln and I think it's time to swallow your pride and go with what's been seen to work best. Hopefully you have a few more to pick from too!

Great face for radio.

Because that's the squad number he was given. Josh is 31 😋

I think we've looked most solid with a back 4, Nyambe, Nelson, Cash and Fozzy being the incumbents, if fit. I think the intention was clearly to switch to a 3 and play with WBs, but it's rarely looked like it suited the players at hand, which I don't really understand if I'm honest.

Not going to knock Josh, as I think we are fortunate enough to have two very good keepers at this level, but Joe has the better all-round skillset for me. I worry about Josh and crosses and I think Joe also edges it in terms of distribution. Both are excellent shot-stoppers, but again, my slight leaning there would also be to Joe. If Joe's on the naughty step then we should probably get him off it and get him and Nyambe back into our defensive unit ASAP.

Agreed. And the Fornah rumour worries me too, if it's true. If Warne acquiesces and moves to 4-3-3, then surely he's not superfluous to requirements. Far from it I'd have thought. We looked a different side completely when he and Thommo came on and I'd struggle to see much logic in letting him go unless the he's is kicking off. Seemed pretty committed to my eye though, so hopefully just gossip.

I quite like the one day internationals, but some of the other stuff seems more akin to baseball. I can see it's appeal, as those guys are launching the ball astonishing distances and it's pretty spectacular, but then you look at the Ashes series for instance and the high drama that can bring and short form cricket can't compete at all.* This series could end up being another absolute belter. *Unless England win of course!

Oh dear. I thought it was just a 'need a quick break' type deal, I didn't realise it was something serious. I'm not his biggest fan (he's filled that position himself), but I'd still want to see him play. Big loss for India if that's the case and something a ruthless team might exploit.

Soz mate. Not nice to kick a dog. Have a hug instead...

No I'm not, sorry, just being flippant. I'm not surprised about the 'noisiest' fans either. We would have been back in our youth too, I suspect. I do think the booing thing is a bit silly though, but it's a personal thing I guess.

See above 😂

Ignored the rest as it's the same spiel you've rolled out dozens of times and whilst not without merit, I'd struggle to get through it all without feeling sleepy. All I would say is that the season ends in May not January.

To be honest, any kind of rage over a game of footy is properly melodramatic, but I do take your point. Some on here are fully triggered by the man's syntax, so it goes without saying that something that actually warrants criticism, will most certainly attract it.

What a test match. Brilliant from the young spinner in a cauldron of pressure. Chuffed to bit with that and it's game on for the series. Kohli to cut short his 'holiday'?

Mark Wood to provide cover for Collo anyone?

Hartley to finish it this over?

I think he's just being a bit stubborn to be honest. We did see a dramatic difference for changing to MF3 with legs and it's not the first time. If I had to level criticism, that'd be it. Even with the depleted defence, I think with a 4-3-3 we'd just outscore most teams anyway. Fingers crossed that lesson has been learned now, as if we set up with a 2 in midfield again next week, some on here will be exploding their colostomy bags in incandescent rage .

I think we'll win

Not happening bud. No chance, I'm afraid. At the start of the season, maybe, but when we're short up top and with the top 4 so tightly grouped, there is no way on earth Posh are going to effectively throw us a lifeline. I'd love to be wrong, mind!

India with 3 wickets remaining, needing 100 to win. Pure sporting theatre this and the reason test cricket so often provides levels of jeopardy and drama matched by few, if any other sports. What a belting test match, irrespective of the outcome. If this is a sign of things to come, watching these two sides battle it out over the coming weeks is going to be a real treat.

Him and Fozzy are my man crushes, two players who for me epitomise everything that is great about our club. Forget about Rooney, let's give Curtis the keys instead! Oh and a coaching position. A man of his intelligence, passion and professionalism and one who instantly commands respect without ever demanding it, he's tailor made I reckon. Anyway, thanks for the memories Curtis. There'll be plenty of Rams fans who'll be delighted to stand you a pint or two when you do hang up your boots, indeed I doubt you'll ever pay for a beer again in Derby.

Stokes with one of the most insanely sharp pieces of fielding I've seen. 6 down and India on the ropes, surely Ashwin is there last hope. Something slightly surreal about watching two England spinners befuddling an Indian team in their own back yard.

18 lucky goals 🙈