Comrade 86

31Vickers - 7.0 - Really good shift from Josh. I'd still prefer Joe as first choice, but perhaps these games will benefit us and keep Joe keen. 2Wilson - 7.0 - Played well again I thought. He's far better defensively than often assumed. 35Nelson - 7.5 The pick at the back, where he looked back in prime form. He's such a solid signing. 6Cashin - 6.0 - Is he carrying a niggle? He looked to be struggling almost from the outset. Entitled to a bad game though, given his imperious form this season and that goal line clearance earned him a probably generous 6.0. 20Elder - 7.0 - Is he settling down? Again looked rusty early, but he looked a lot better later in the game and I think the minutes will serve him well. 7Barkhuizen - 6.5 - Difficult season for Tom, but he's shown that a return to his best in imminent in recent games. Industrious again today. 16Thompson - 6.5 - An unselfish grafter, Liam must be close to full fitness now. Could he start in MF to provide us with much needed legs? 8Bird - 7.0 - Thought Max was decent today, but in a midfield 2 against a pacy attack, it's difficult to shine. 4Hourihane - 6.0 - Leggy and off it today after showing better consistency in recent weeks. Hopefully just a blip, but midfield remains a query for me. 11Méndez-Laing - 6.5 - Willing as always but not at his best today. CBT to provide cover and / or additional attacking threat is a big deal, as teams seem to be doubling up on Nate. 17Sibley - 6.0 - Didn't really notice him that much during the game and it's becoming frustrating that we can't get the best, or even close to it, out of the lad. I had high hopes for him this season, but I don't see him getting enough games where he wants to play to prosper. 19John-Jules - 7.0 - Added something, but not enough. I still think there's plenty in the locker though. 9Collins - 6.0 - A rare off day, he worked hard as always, but was ineffective. I suspect he'll be getting minus scores from one 'supporter' on here. WarneWatch - Feel for him a little as he's just got the team playing and now absences and injuries seem to be undoing our previously staunch defence. I do think we could have reacted quicker to their threat, but I suspect he'll feel the players have let him down a bit today. He's probably counting the minutes until Ryan Nyambe returns.

He looked ok with ball at feet, but he shat the bed every time he wriggled free. Reminds me of Alfie May minus the goals. Funny thing is, if he were Derby, he'd be getting a fearful kicking on here tonight. MagicFlan, for one, would be having kittens 😱

Didn't know that petal. Or that you are such a whiny feckin bitch either. Sorry.

It like a man. What do I win?

FFS, the word is 'performance' 😂

Nederlands ben jij? Je spelling is verdomd verschrikkelijk.

Yeah, but could he do it on a cold night at the Etihad? I'm not convinced 😬

We weren't sharp at all today. Leggy and uninspired. I'm not sure we really deserved a point, but we've lost and drawn games we should have won on balance, so I'll take the smooth with the rough. It's another point in the coffers and there's still a long, long way to go. A general thought would be that we do need to look at the midfield. I don't think (and our league position seems to confirm) that it's really the huge problem that some make out, but when we are giving up the ball easily, which we did today, it's too often our undoing. Honestly, if we can just shore up the middle of the park a little, I think we'll be fine. Interesting last 10 days or so of the window coming up. Freshen up the lads, get one or two more in and we go again, this time to the line. COYR

Chill out tinsel tits. You're meant to be on a lengthy sabbatical 😂

How many times have we scored in the last 15? Asking for a friend 😋

Sort it out you lot ffs! 😂

Slow and petrified?

Yes. I hope and dream my fears don't come true. My fear is that they will. Ah, I know this one, the answer is Jacob Butterfield.

I'm going to take a wild stab at this one....

Fair enough. If we can't match his ambitions, then he goes with my blessing and thanks for the little that's worth. Stuck by us through thick and thin when other didn't. I honestly thought he be off after straight Knight left. That said, I'd hate to see him leave, so we really do need promotion this season, don't we?

Mate, I've no idea, though I do remember Phil Gee. I thought this guy was a winger anyway, so perhaps these are signs I may be sleep deprived 😂

Just watched the video properly and he does look strong and clearly has some ability. Be interesting to know how much they want. Also, would Warne want him and Smith? I don't know near enough to hazard a guess at which of the two would be best suited to our immediate needs, but I'd assume it'd be either / or not both?

Ah, fair enough, seemed to be playing down the flanks in the video but not watched it all tbh.

Isn't this the back up to the CBT signing? Would we need both? Found some video and he looks to have some potential FWIW.

Nothing too Grimm though

Does the contract extension not suggest a while longer? Also, what he look like playing off someone like Smith? He's obviously showing something in any case, so it's a fingers crossed he stays fit and improves with games from me. I think he can. I do agree with your original point though that he's maybe not best paired with Collo, though I can't pigeon-hole him just yet on account of him being the only player to beat the Burton yeti in the air and he's about 7 foot tall. Also, Collo runs around like a nutter and there's no way he goes 50 games this season. He will crash at some point and require 2 to 3 weeks to regather his energy levels. We need cover IMO and perhaps by taking a low cost route with a potentially decent upside (TJJ) we have a bit left in the kitty to rent a proven type. I think as much as anything, what Warne seems to be trying to do is build redundancy / resilience into the squad and I'd hope TJJ can be of use in that regard at very least.

DET saying Charlton backtracked and accepted Derby's 2nd offer - £250k. That's good business if so. In any case, he looks one to get bums off seats and I'm looking forward to seeing him play. On a general note, with the players we've managed to secure on longer contracts, I reckon this has been a quietly progressive window for the club. We seem to have adopted a 'we won't sell for beans and we won't overpay either' kinda stance and I like it a lot. Whatever else happens, we'll start next year in probably our most robust financial health in years, hopefully coinciding with our first game back in the Championship. And on that note, how about that midfield fix, Mr Clowes? I reckon that might just about do it, don't you? Oh, and the big lad in on loan if there's still coins down the back of the sofa. We don't ask for much, you know! 😋

I get that not everyone likes the lad, but let's be honest here, he's barely kicked a ball in the last few years so judging him on the 287 minutes of league football he's had with is not giving him a fair crack at all.

Missing two of our preferred back four is not ideal, but I think folk may have misjudged Elder and I'd not be surprised to see his performance levels climb sharply. Yes, he did look exposed at times against Burton, but he looks to have a fair amount of technical ability for this level and he may just needs minutes. I also agree that Sibbo is a very solid 1st choice / back-up at this level and I'd probably look to start Louie and aim to give Elder 30 mins if we can. I suspect Warne will back his man though and I'd not argue with that either. In general terms, I'm more concerned about the right flank than the left, least until Nyambe heads home.