San Fran Van Rams

Well I thought it was a good game and probably the best East Midlands Derby for a while. At last there was a bit of needle between the two teams. Love it. That said how it ended up 4 yellow cards to 1 against us is beyond me. 
 
Yes we should’ve won. We murdered them first half and we had equal chances in the second. Before Roos error there was the Roos world class save but other than that I can’t remember them creating anything else even though they had more play. Sambas made at least two good saves McKenna somehow got a toe to stretton’s shot, another awesome block stopped Fozzy being played clean through by Jozwiak, and that’s before we talk about the 3 penalties we should’ve had.
But I’m going to focus on the positives. We played some great stuff at times, we have a plan, a pattern of play, a method. They have none of that. They play on second balls and wait for mistakes and rely on individuals. We have some serious young talent in our ranks. I love the brand of football we’re trying to play and I think we will improve. Criticise Forest all you want but they don’t ship many goals yet we carved them open at times today.
23,000 today yet the atmosphere was awesome!! I’m going to enjoy this season!

There are times when you travel back from an away defeat full of gloom and despondency.  Not tonight.
I don't know whether our young players on show in Sheffield will turn into top class PL players, into top class Championship players or whether they will make a career in the lower leagues but tonight's performance brimmed with endeavour, movement, skill, hard work and commitment to the shirt.  They were more than deservedly ahead at half time and probably should have made more of a couple of good breakaways. It was one of the most encouraging halves of football that I have seen us have in several years.  Unsurprisingly they tired in the second, gave away two soft goals, could and probably should have scored at least one more, but kept their shape and the pattern of play right to the end. 
If I were the manager I would be pleased and disappointed in equal measure - pleased at the display and the experience gained, pleased that most of the first team players didn't have to feature, pleased that the style of football he is developing is starting to bear fruit; disappointed that we're not still in the cup, disappointed that we gave away a possible winning position. I would also be worried that Jack Stretton looked to have a knock.
Well done to those Rams fans there - loud, vocal and supportive support.  Well done too to Fozzy for his all round captain's performance, to Hutchinson for his first half in particular and for Louie Sibley for his goal, restraint despite some vicious fouls against him (has he got the message?) and all round MOTM performance

First game in 18 months and so my thoughts may be a bit over analytical from finally getting a right eyeful.
 
-So I was sat out the other end to our fans with some mates tonight. The biggest positive really was our fans tonight who were superb. They filled the stadium with atmosphere tonight and it’s exactly what the squad needs. I will maybe be slightly critical on one thing later, but I honestly thought they were fantastic 
-Seen people saying the first goal was Allsops ‘mistake’ and I’m not quite sure I’d go that far. The cross itself was the only bit of quality Sheff U mustered up all game and the striker got a decent header on it. Sure, it could’ve been better defended collectively as a team and maybe he could have been better positioned but I’m not gonna individually blame the keeper for that. It was a collective bad moment to me.
-My one slight criticism of our support was toward Bogle, not necessarily the booing because it put him off his game. If anything it was a genius crowd move, but I was sat at the other end hearing the ‘you’re a **** Ebosele’ chants and I thought ‘oooo that’s a bit on the nose’. Then a minute later he puts in a pearler of a cross and they are 1-1. I’m not going ott and saying it gave him a point to prove, but it felt like it gave him enough to overcome something in that moment. Again the away fans were superb, but it’s just one tiny aspect I thought at the time 
-Sibley was the best player on the pitch when he had no right to be all things considered.
-All our good play went through Jozwiak, those critical of him won’t care mention but the game changed once he went off.
-They brought on Fleck and Sharp and we brought on kids. They still created nothing aside from our error which I think says a lot.
-Slight little football crush on Stearman, he just loves football and defending.
-Forsyth deserves a bit of a mention, thought he was untroubled tonight. I’d say motm if it wasn’t for sibley
-United fans are a bit weird, both during the game and in the pub after, they are absolutely obsessed with Sharp and Wilder and can’t let go. Genuinely there was more crowd reaction for that scally kid evading stewards than anything on the pitch. Despite the win I’d be worried of the manner of that result tonight, they created so little against a second string side tipped for relegation.  A lot of the fans, and even some of the players didn’t really care until Billy Sharp was introduced
-The ref…he wasn’t great. Not necessarily in a way that he was getting decisions wrong all the time but I did think the ‘key’ decisions he tended to give them. Main example was the free kick for Sheff U when I think McDonald went for a shot and the defender got his foot their first. Just….no! Also Allsop got properly clattered with intent from one of their players and it was late. Was a booking all day if he caught on but didn’t do anything. Just those tiny little decisions that give a side some undeserved momentum in my book.
-Last one! All out young players look excellent one minute but al have that mistake in them. They aren’t developed to the standard we need just yet, they are fine and can do a job but we can only throw them in for so long before it has the opposite effect.
 

Whoever edits these videos needs a pat on the back, they are honestly better than some of the editing seen on large broadcasters who churn out low effort content.
Said it before and I’ll say it again, we’re kinda lucky to have RamsTV, yes there maybe streaming issues from time to time, error messages preventing buying passes, but find me a club at this level that produces the content Derby does…

Over 'ere, son. On me ledger.

Definitely feels like a bit of a siege mentality developing at the club right now and not just the coaches and players either. Might be a few less this season, but what our support may lack in numbers, they're certainly making up for with noise.
I'm still getting palpitations every time one of our players goes down, as the squad still lacks any depth, but I do feel that our starting 11 can at very least compete. I savaged Rooney end of season but will begrudgingly admit that he's got us playing a lot better now.
Soooooo..... Well done Wazza, well done the lads and well done the DCFC faithful. On we march.
COYR

Really good analysis. On Sibley, he is exciting in moments but he needs to improve his tactical awareness, positioning when the opposition have the ball and his concentration when committing himself in closing players down. Basically get better at the duller side of the game

Controlled the first half with the game going more into Boro's the second. Was very physical as Rooney expected and a draw against a fairly good Boro side isn't to be sniffed at. 
Sibley struggled a little today. Talent is there but they nullified his driving runs well. He did draw the best save of the match though and he will be in the goals this year if Rooney keeps playing him. Bird was quality again, recycling the ball and linking well between defense and attack. He's going to be an asset. 
That was Shinnies type of game. Physical. Lots of tackling. Lots of tracking back. Played well.
Morrison a class above at this level. Vision, touch, tackling, passing, positioning. All fantastic. Makes it all look so easy. Keep it up!! 
Obviously Jags and Davies played well, and Roos marshalled it well behind them with some big saves, good footwork and decent punches. Seems to be more confident this year than last.
Joz's ball carrying ability is some of the best in this league. Just needs that finishing touch in front of goal. Confidence to strike it and we've got a huge threat.
Not a classic match but I'll take a draw, plus forest lost so what's not to like.

Controlled the first half with the game going more into Boro's the second. Was very physical as Rooney expected and a draw against a fairly good Boro side isn't to be sniffed at. 
Sibley struggled a little today. Talent is there but they nullified his driving runs well. He did draw the best save of the match though and he will be in the goals this year if Rooney keeps playing him. Bird was quality again, recycling the ball and linking well between defense and attack. He's going to be an asset. 
That was Shinnies type of game. Physical. Lots of tackling. Lots of tracking back. Played well.
Morrison a class above at this level. Vision, touch, tackling, passing, positioning. All fantastic. Makes it all look so easy. Keep it up!! 
Obviously Jags and Davies played well, and Roos marshalled it well behind them with some big saves, good footwork and decent punches. Seems to be more confident this year than last.
Joz's ball carrying ability is some of the best in this league. Just needs that finishing touch in front of goal. Confidence to strike it and we've got a huge threat.
Not a classic match but I'll take a draw, plus forest lost so what's not to like.

Controlled the first half with the game going more into Boro's the second. Was very physical as Rooney expected and a draw against a fairly good Boro side isn't to be sniffed at. 
Sibley struggled a little today. Talent is there but they nullified his driving runs well. He did draw the best save of the match though and he will be in the goals this year if Rooney keeps playing him. Bird was quality again, recycling the ball and linking well between defense and attack. He's going to be an asset. 
That was Shinnies type of game. Physical. Lots of tackling. Lots of tracking back. Played well.
Morrison a class above at this level. Vision, touch, tackling, passing, positioning. All fantastic. Makes it all look so easy. Keep it up!! 
Obviously Jags and Davies played well, and Roos marshalled it well behind them with some big saves, good footwork and decent punches. Seems to be more confident this year than last.
Joz's ball carrying ability is some of the best in this league. Just needs that finishing touch in front of goal. Confidence to strike it and we've got a huge threat.
Not a classic match but I'll take a draw, plus forest lost so what's not to like.

Controlled the first half with the game going more into Boro's the second. Was very physical as Rooney expected and a draw against a fairly good Boro side isn't to be sniffed at. 
Sibley struggled a little today. Talent is there but they nullified his driving runs well. He did draw the best save of the match though and he will be in the goals this year if Rooney keeps playing him. Bird was quality again, recycling the ball and linking well between defense and attack. He's going to be an asset. 
That was Shinnies type of game. Physical. Lots of tackling. Lots of tracking back. Played well.
Morrison a class above at this level. Vision, touch, tackling, passing, positioning. All fantastic. Makes it all look so easy. Keep it up!! 
Obviously Jags and Davies played well, and Roos marshalled it well behind them with some big saves, good footwork and decent punches. Seems to be more confident this year than last.
Joz's ball carrying ability is some of the best in this league. Just needs that finishing touch in front of goal. Confidence to strike it and we've got a huge threat.
Not a classic match but I'll take a draw, plus forest lost so what's not to like.

Controlled the first half with the game going more into Boro's the second. Was very physical as Rooney expected and a draw against a fairly good Boro side isn't to be sniffed at. 
Sibley struggled a little today. Talent is there but they nullified his driving runs well. He did draw the best save of the match though and he will be in the goals this year if Rooney keeps playing him. Bird was quality again, recycling the ball and linking well between defense and attack. He's going to be an asset. 
That was Shinnies type of game. Physical. Lots of tackling. Lots of tracking back. Played well.
Morrison a class above at this level. Vision, touch, tackling, passing, positioning. All fantastic. Makes it all look so easy. Keep it up!! 
Obviously Jags and Davies played well, and Roos marshalled it well behind them with some big saves, good footwork and decent punches. Seems to be more confident this year than last.
Joz's ball carrying ability is some of the best in this league. Just needs that finishing touch in front of goal. Confidence to strike it and we've got a huge threat.
Not a classic match but I'll take a draw, plus forest lost so what's not to like.

Controlled the first half with the game going more into Boro's the second. Was very physical as Rooney expected and a draw against a fairly good Boro side isn't to be sniffed at. 
Sibley struggled a little today. Talent is there but they nullified his driving runs well. He did draw the best save of the match though and he will be in the goals this year if Rooney keeps playing him. Bird was quality again, recycling the ball and linking well between defense and attack. He's going to be an asset. 
That was Shinnies type of game. Physical. Lots of tackling. Lots of tracking back. Played well.
Morrison a class above at this level. Vision, touch, tackling, passing, positioning. All fantastic. Makes it all look so easy. Keep it up!! 
Obviously Jags and Davies played well, and Roos marshalled it well behind them with some big saves, good footwork and decent punches. Seems to be more confident this year than last.
Joz's ball carrying ability is some of the best in this league. Just needs that finishing touch in front of goal. Confidence to strike it and we've got a huge threat.
Not a classic match but I'll take a draw, plus forest lost so what's not to like.

Controlled the first half with the game going more into Boro's the second. Was very physical as Rooney expected and a draw against a fairly good Boro side isn't to be sniffed at. 
Sibley struggled a little today. Talent is there but they nullified his driving runs well. He did draw the best save of the match though and he will be in the goals this year if Rooney keeps playing him. Bird was quality again, recycling the ball and linking well between defense and attack. He's going to be an asset. 
That was Shinnies type of game. Physical. Lots of tackling. Lots of tracking back. Played well.
Morrison a class above at this level. Vision, touch, tackling, passing, positioning. All fantastic. Makes it all look so easy. Keep it up!! 
Obviously Jags and Davies played well, and Roos marshalled it well behind them with some big saves, good footwork and decent punches. Seems to be more confident this year than last.
Joz's ball carrying ability is some of the best in this league. Just needs that finishing touch in front of goal. Confidence to strike it and we've got a huge threat.
Not a classic match but I'll take a draw, plus forest lost so what's not to like.

Controlled the first half with the game going more into Boro's the second. Was very physical as Rooney expected and a draw against a fairly good Boro side isn't to be sniffed at. 
Sibley struggled a little today. Talent is there but they nullified his driving runs well. He did draw the best save of the match though and he will be in the goals this year if Rooney keeps playing him. Bird was quality again, recycling the ball and linking well between defense and attack. He's going to be an asset. 
That was Shinnies type of game. Physical. Lots of tackling. Lots of tracking back. Played well.
Morrison a class above at this level. Vision, touch, tackling, passing, positioning. All fantastic. Makes it all look so easy. Keep it up!! 
Obviously Jags and Davies played well, and Roos marshalled it well behind them with some big saves, good footwork and decent punches. Seems to be more confident this year than last.
Joz's ball carrying ability is some of the best in this league. Just needs that finishing touch in front of goal. Confidence to strike it and we've got a huge threat.
Not a classic match but I'll take a draw, plus forest lost so what's not to like.

Controlled the first half with the game going more into Boro's the second. Was very physical as Rooney expected and a draw against a fairly good Boro side isn't to be sniffed at. 
Sibley struggled a little today. Talent is there but they nullified his driving runs well. He did draw the best save of the match though and he will be in the goals this year if Rooney keeps playing him. Bird was quality again, recycling the ball and linking well between defense and attack. He's going to be an asset. 
That was Shinnies type of game. Physical. Lots of tackling. Lots of tracking back. Played well.
Morrison a class above at this level. Vision, touch, tackling, passing, positioning. All fantastic. Makes it all look so easy. Keep it up!! 
Obviously Jags and Davies played well, and Roos marshalled it well behind them with some big saves, good footwork and decent punches. Seems to be more confident this year than last.
Joz's ball carrying ability is some of the best in this league. Just needs that finishing touch in front of goal. Confidence to strike it and we've got a huge threat.
Not a classic match but I'll take a draw, plus forest lost so what's not to like.

Credit to the boys and the gaffer again today. Not the result we wanted but we fought for everything and with an ounce of luck might have nicked all 3 points.
Jags and Curtis strong again today, Shinnie finding some form too. Morrison fouled every 5 seconds but remained calm. More positive than not.
Who's next?
COYR

We would have been bullied off the pitch against these during the 2nd half of last season so we're definitely seeing some progress under Rooney. Decent result ?
Edit: Just looked and we actually beat these 2-1 in February so ignore everything I've just said ?

Just got on train from Hull back to Leeds.. absolutely beaming!
Played really well all night & if thats the shape of things to come, maybe there's brighter days ahead. Played some brilliant stuff with Morrison, Jozwiak & Sibley so dangerous roaming about, giving & going, finding space & swapping wings.
Jagielka & Baldock were definitely the missing ingredients of this team...no offence to Stearman who was very solid first 2 games but Jagielka oozes class & so dependable at the back. Massive asset to this squad. And a lot of negativity about Baldock pre-signing but his style is exactly what this line up & way of playing needs. Delighted he got his goal.
MOM though...Max Bird. Absolutely top drawer. How certain folk can't see his quality is beyond me. Magnificent going in both directions tonight.
Well done Derby, well done Rooney...must be a relief to get that winless monkey off their backs finally. Onwards & upwards ?

Hardest person in the world to please …….???

Great win. Jags and Davies look very strong at the back, Bird and Joz looked completely different players and back to their best, and thought Buchanan was an improvement on Forsyth on the left.
Morrison runs the show and is a classy act. Just hope he keeps it up. Sibley struggled physically today but his driving runs are a huge threat. Him, Joz and Morrison are as good as you'll get on the ball in this division in my view. Cracking interchange between them.
The ball slows down alot with Shinnie which is a weakness in this system. Think we'll see further improvement when Bielik returns. Him and Bird in the middle may not balance though so that'll be interesting to see.
Baldock did ok and got a goal. Works in this system as he doesn't need to create or holdup much. Just run behind and be in the right spot. 
Roos also strong tonight. His drop on Huddlestones head was lucky to be called a freekick but he was solid and good with his feet again.
Gaining confidence that Rooney knows what he is doing. This team is going to grow in stature this season. Think we'll have a positive one.

Great win. Jags and Davies look very strong at the back, Bird and Joz looked completely different players and back to their best, and thought Buchanan was an improvement on Forsyth on the left.
Morrison runs the show and is a classy act. Just hope he keeps it up. Sibley struggled physically today but his driving runs are a huge threat. Him, Joz and Morrison are as good as you'll get on the ball in this division in my view. Cracking interchange between them.
The ball slows down alot with Shinnie which is a weakness in this system. Think we'll see further improvement when Bielik returns. Him and Bird in the middle may not balance though so that'll be interesting to see.
Baldock did ok and got a goal. Works in this system as he doesn't need to create or holdup much. Just run behind and be in the right spot. 
Roos also strong tonight. His drop on Huddlestones head was lucky to be called a freekick but he was solid and good with his feet again.
Gaining confidence that Rooney knows what he is doing. This team is going to grow in stature this season. Think we'll have a positive one.

To say we have the slowest central defensive pairing in the league, Hull didn’t once look to get in behind which made it comfortable for us.
Boro will be similar at the weekend with their lumps upfront. I reckon we will beat them too if we play the same way.

Brilliant away performance, limited them to very little.
Jagielka & Davies 2 Rolls Royces at the back. Best game from Bird & Jozwiak in a long time.
I am a big CKR fan but tonight has shown a more mobile front man means the whole front 4 have space.

I predicted last week that an extension would be announced.
My new prediction. Derbys accounts will be accepted, but we will be given a suspended 3 point deduction which will become active if we fail to submit accounts on time again.