Fla Ram

My first game of the season last night as been at weddings the past two weekends. Player observations:
Wildsmith - Like him but still getting used to being sweeper keeper taking a few too many risks
Odouroh - Not ready yet
Cashin - made some daft errors over playing but recovered every time. Building on last season, stand by my prediction he’ll be one of best CBs in the league this season 
Stearman - worst player on the pitch, badly needed minutes looked very rusty so hopefully will stand him in good stead.
Foz - Typical foz, know what you’re going to get solid option
Smith - Got better as game went on. Calm head. Excellent option at this level. 
Tommo - struggled until Barkhuizen and Mendez Laing came on, moved inside alongside Smith (his rightful position) and finished game well, did play important role in first goal
Sibley - Excellent. Has to start Saturday
Dobbin - first half excellent struggled when they moved Bowery to CB. Like him causes problems and works hard.
Knight - Everywhere as normal
Rooney - What a debut, a serious serious talent who could be as good as Bielik. Possibly better. 
 
Subs changed the game, Barky and Mendez-Laing class at this level, everyone is behind Collins willing him to score. He will score he’s doing all the right things.
Overall - we didn’t deserve to win last night but we made 7 changes and used it as a test for the kids and they passed with flying colours and ground out a win helped by the big guns. We could barely put an 11 out 4-5 weeks ago. Massive progress.
All the players signed seem to be the right characters. They have talent but they are all grafters. That’s vital.
Its time to get very very excited about the potential of this squad. Once it clicks we will be on fire and have the potential not only to be promoted this season but be competitive in the championship next season.
I honestly don’t know how you fit everyone in the team in midfield and attack. Good players will be left out. We desperately need a right back. 
 

Really enjoyed Martin Fisher and Jamie Ward on RD commentary - both very intelligent and entertaining football analysts / commentators. Jamie Ward clearly keeps tabs on Derby and is up with all the fans opinions & talking points. Great analysis of Louie Sibley & advocating Sibbo to start  V Barnsley. 

Well done, Derby!!
An away win can only be a good lift for the team.

Frustrated by the result as it was undeserved but encouraged by the performance.
First half we battered them & don't think being 2 or 3 up would have flattered us. We were at them down both flanks, unlike last week the left side saw plenty of action with Roberts, Hourihane & Barkhuizen linking up very well. My only criticism was a lack of bodies in the box at times, which was the reason Mendez-Laing couldn't convert from Charlton keeper's spill from I think Hourihane's shot. Quality from right side was also variable.
Turning point was Collins hitting the post just before halftime. That goes in & we're in a position to control the tempo second half & pick them off. Thought Collins was overall a lot better than last week, held the ball much better & very tenacious.
Second half they had to improve & for the first 15 mins, they were the better side. They pressed us & our passing became sloppy...good call then from Rosenior to change things with Sibley on for Smith. Thereafter we regained our threat but by then Charlton had cottoned on to the long ball in behind our narrow fullback trick, which was pretty much the move for their goal. A quick break after a slip from Hourihane & Wildsmith parries a shot to their lad to finish.
Lots of effort late on to grab an equaliser but have to say the players looked exhausted. Managed a couple of half chances but some overly intricate build up play at times (especially to generate space for a cross). The big chance was Knight's header...all of us at top of the stand thought it was in & he should really have scored.
Overall, happy with performance but we have to be more clinical when we're in charge of games. To say its a new team though, the level of cohesion at times is impressive. We go again. COYR

With 2 option for each role and 5 subs I’d love to see us return to the Mac style of winger rotation to keep the opposition guessing.

Mendez-Laing man of the match, the guys an animal that's going to put so many left backs on their arses this season.
Knight, I just feel sorry for the lad. You play him in the middle today and we're looking at a much bigger scoreline. 
Play Smith, Rammie, the tea lady at right back I don't care, just stop wasting Knight's talent. If I had hair I would be pulling it out right now.
Saying that, I did enjoy the game today, with so many signings to gel into a team I honestly don't think we could have expected much more.
Was a little surprised that Oxford fans dominated the noise levels for large parts of the game up to the goal, surprised but pleased in a way as it was a sign of normality creeping back in.
Felt like an air of we're just happy to be here, let's have a party attitude online.
Whilst I fully get it, I don't want to waste a season down here of basically happy to just exist, a free ride for the squad which in 2 seasons could all be gone on free transfers if we're still knocking about down here.
Players such as Knight and Bird are not 3rd tier players, we cannot afford to see these leave for free so it's time to get serious.

I felt proud to be there today. It wasn’t about the players on the pitch that have been at the club for five minutes. 
it was about the fans that ARE the club and whose ancestors have been there since the beginning. 
Great start. 

Well done Louis Sibley. Really hope that this is going to be your season!!

Sibley’s introduction made a huge difference.
That’s the thing. Decent ball carriers moves the opposition out of position more than possession football (unless you pass at the speed of a PL side).
We were slow in possession. But getting NML, Sibley and Knight running on the ball moved them out of position and created the space.
I don’t think we can have Bird, Smith and Hourihane as a midfield three. All too similar possession players. We need a runner in there.

Well I take that back ?

Alan Hinton has always been interested in and appreciative of the work I put in to preserve the history and rich heritage of the club going back a long time so it was a great surprise to hear from him that he wanted to send over his iconic match worn, signed white Hummel boots from the early 1970s.
He was one of the first to go against the grain and you had to have confidence in your ability to stand out to that extent, he did of course have ability in abundance and could ping in a cross from any angle with either foot, he was also top scorer in the Championship Winning season in 1971-72.
A real piece of our history.

Hello friends,
I hope this thread finds you all well on this warm Sunday afternoon.
As a club, we were strong supporters of the "Save Derby County" campaign as we strongly believe no fan base or community should have to face losing their football team and we were overjoyed when our friends at Clowes UK came to the rescue. Clowes UK sponsor Matlock Town including our away strip so it's fantastic to all be part of the same football family.
To celebrate the continued links, The Proctor Cars Stadium will be hosting Derby County on Friday 29th July with a 7:45pm kick off. It promises to be a fantastic evening of celebrations as the Gladiators will wear our Clowes UK away strip for the first time ever, the Clowes UK Cup will be up for grabs and they will be in attendance and we get to celebrate together the saving and hopefully thriving existence of the club you all love.
Tickets are available now via the following link - https://matlocktownfc.ktckts.com/event/mtl2223hpre3/matlock-town-v-derby-county-u-21s
We are hoping for 2300 sell out which we believe can be made possible by two fantastic fan bases. We were encouraged by Rams fans on Twitter to add a donation ticket option for those who want to help us out but are unable to attend for one reason or another.
As a community based non league team which doesn’t have a wealthy owner we rely solely on our community to fund the club whether through gate receipts, sponsorship or donations. Any donations would be greatly appreciated. 
Thank you to all who took the time to read this post and we hope to see you this coming Friday.

Yeah, also are we really saying we wouldn’t have included a gloating, anti-Leicester song if we’d won?
Some fans need a reality check.
Leicester have bragging rights for sure but these things go in cycles. 
Patience needed, not outrage.

The bindippers have always been thick as mince. An absolute non-entity for 130 years & after a fluke title, start acting like Man Utd. Their 'effort' in trying to goad us this afternoon betrays their inferiority complex.
As for the game, we predictably struggled at times against a very strong side. Although the marquee names were at Preston, that XI would walk into any top Championship side, let alone our level. Although we tried to play & at times broke on their back 4, we struggled to create & their finishing was wretched first half. That said, we scored a fantastic equaliser & should have led when Mendez-Laing had acres of time in the box to score.
Bit perplexed by some of the play in our own final 3rd, a mindset which led Onoruh to play a square ball across his own box for their 3rd. Totally on board with trying to play from deep but the philosophy has to measured as risk v reward...narrowly dodging 4 oppo players just to knock it square to Curtis 10 yards from your own goal is not worth the risk. If the opposition are trying to stop the press, mix it up by going long...with Collins, Mendez-Laing & Barkhuizen we have enough presence up the field to secure the ball and of course there will be space because of their press.
Other observations; Max Bird was superb & great ball out to Hourihane in build up to goal. Hourihane much improved from Tuesday & best game of pre-season from Barkhuizen. Korey Smith looked very bright, I like his pop passes & quick feet and he'll get better as he gets matchfit. On flip side, we simply can not play a high line with Chester & Davies at the back and whilst not his fault, bit concerned at lack of service Collins is getting. Needs addressing asap.
Overall not too disheartened. Onto Oxford & the real business. COYR

I thought we did OK. 
 
A team thrown together in 3 weeks holding a Premier League team (second fiddle or not they had some good talent on that pitch) and looking good in spells. 
 
Everybody around me was saying we’ll be OK in league 1 and I agree with them. 
 
Why don’t some people wait to judge after the first game next week when our “real” level opposition comes to PP. 

Max Bird great ball for our goal. 
 
Good run out. 

And blue shorts for good measure!

It is astounding that Quantuma, Triple S, the EFL and everyone else involved went along with him. Embarrassing for all of them.

Gives away too many free kicks and penalties, due to his poor technique. 
He puts his left leg in, then pulls his left leg out, in, out, in, out, shakes it all about.

Where do you think Derby will finish in the League table this season?
Following the conclusion of the season I will put all the names in the hat that guessed correctly, the winner will receive a £40 eGift voucher which can be used against selected tickets.
To enter, you must vote for 1 of the 6 options in the poll only.
Any written answers will be for discussion only and not be placed in the draw.
The poll will close at 2pm on Saturday 30th July 2022, at which point this post will be updated with all entries with a number for the draw.
The prize will be coming out of my own back pocket, this is not being run in connection with the club.
Derby County’s eGift voucher t&c’s will apply.
If a member receives a permanent ban during the season, or request their account to be closed, the entry in this competition will be invalid and removed from the draw.
Confirmed entries and draw numbers
Champions
1 Gisby, 2 Foxy Ram, 3 Kinder, 4 Parsnip, 5 IslandExile, 6 MidwalesRam, 7 Carnero, 8 TF Ram, 9 DCFC4LIFE, 10 Simon Bradley, 11 Hanny, 12 super58, 13 Gritstone Ram, 14 chewbacca, 15 Mick Brolly, 16 G-Ram, 17 EnigmaRam, 18 Needlesh, 19 The_Sheriff, 20 rustylee, 21 papa_lazarou, 22 Elgin_Ram, 23 Rammy03, 24 Outsider, 25 I am Ram, 26 StevenageRam, 27 Rammeister, 28 Donnyram, 29 w8sey, 30 YoxallRam, 31 Yani P, 32 BriggRam, 33 Sufferingfool, 34 California Ram., 35 plymouthram, 36 darren22, 37 CapeTownRam, 38 Crazy, 39 StrawHillRam, 40 Ratpackram, 41 Donegal Ram, 42 Mucker1884, 43 Magicman, 44 dcfc62, 45 SirBrian, 46 Macintosh, 47 Curtains, 48 BD1700, 49 Simo, 50 Ramzabac, 51 CapePete, 52 oldtimeram, 53 1967Ram, 54 Ramsamwidge, 55 bucktwo, 56 NottmRAM
 
Runner Up
1 Fla Ram, 2 Louby, 3 Ramifications, 4 Foreveram, 5 JRW1611, 6 Allanthediver, 7 Ambitious, 8 Alan Ramage 4 EVA, 9 SSD, 10 zaragozaram, 11 True Ram, 12 REDCAR, 13 scout’s dad, 14 hydraulic ram, 15 europia, 16 willm, 17 RodleyRam, 18 erathirea, 19 Geriatram, 20 ivo_knoflicek, 21 Addington Ram, 22 InstaRam
 
Play Offs
1 angleram, 2 BodminRam, 3 archram, 4 Kernow, 5 DCFC1388, 6 Big Al, 7 Ramant62, 8 Kuskus, 9 Westcumbrianram, 10 RoyMac5, 11 DublinRam, 12 48 hours, 13 CBRammette, 14 Dean (hick) Saunders, 15 Nuwtfly, 16, Rampant, 17 BramcoteRam84, 18 Black (‘n’ White) Sheep, 19 Steve How Hard?, 20 LeedsCityRam, 21 richinspain, 22 OohMartWright, 23 uttoxram75, 24 ImARam2, 25 ram.in.a.van, 26 68 Guns, 27 Old Spalding Ram, 28 JuanFloEvraTheCocu’sNesta, 29 TringRam, 30 ramtique, 31 A Ram for All Seasons, 32 Ramslad1992, 33 Ram a lamb a ding dong, 34 San Fran Van Rams, 35 sage, 36 Ram1988, 37 DesertRam, 38 mickey lewis right foot, 39 I DONT MIND, 40 BoylestoneRam, 41 hintonsboots, 42 admira, 43 Ram84, 44 Spacehorse, 45 cstand, 46 Dordogne-Ram, 47 TexasRam, 48 Lac291884, 49 Mr. P, 50 Premier ram, 51 Elwood P Dowd, 52 Woodley Ram, 53 BarrowRam, 54 DcfcMatt, 55 Hawaiian, 56 ariotofmyown, 57 SEAO, 58 Dethorn, 59 Mckram, 60 RadioactiveWaste, 61 Hoppo, 62 Olson Ram, 63 Ilsonram12, 64 CollyerDCFC, 65 kevinhectoring, 66 mozza, 67 SaffyRam, 68 Mostyn6, 69 richgee1976, 70 blue texel ram, 71 dcfc the 1 4me, 72 Papahet, 73 rainram, 74 swadieram, 75 StarterForTen, 76 Inverurie Ram, 77 ram59, 78 maydrakin, 79 Chilwellram, 80 Boycie, 81 Bill Curry, 82 Amberram, 83 MickD, 84 John Doe, 85 Keepyuppy, 86 Brammie Steve, 87 Yeoey, 88 gfs1ram, 89 RAM1966, 90 Electric Ram, 91 gravyboat, 92 timlondinium, 93 KGDCFC, 94 TimRam, 95 ramboy63, 96 Eddie, 97 DJAY, 98 Ted McMinn Football Genius, 99 Miggins, 100 Bovril, 101 Toadbelly, 102 Lurky, 103 SuffolkRam, 104 Marriot Ram99, 105 DCFC1976, 106 spondon_ram, 107 CroRam, 108 LERam, 109 DCFC Kicks, 110 Unlucky Alf, 111 r4derby, 112 taffyram, 113 BucksRam, 114 DanskRam, 115 Jourdan, 116 maxjam, 117 Edtheram, 118 Rob, 119 Termite, 120 StevoRam, 121 BathRam72, 122 Rams forever 
 
7th - 10th
1 Sussex Ram, 2 ColonelBlimp, 3 Srg, 4 Ellafella, 5 bimmerman, 6 leroyoftherovers, 7 SKHunter, 8 Pikeyram, 9 LE67, 10 Rich84, 11 AndyB, 12 Jase116, 13 Jimbo Ram, 14 LazloW, 15 JMC, 16 BOB BIGGS, 17 dingleram, 18 Rabid Ram, 19 Iniestagram, 20 Steadybreeze, 21 ramit, 22 Tamworthram, 23 FindernRam, 24 Geoff Parkstone, 25 Seth’s left foot, 26 Blondest Goat, 27 Heisenberg, 28 Grimbeard, 29 Sheff Ram, 30 hiltonram, 31 ck-, 32 dc24, 33 Carl Sagan, 34 RamuelLJackson, 35 Crewton, 36 Gaspode, 37 rynny, 38 Wolfie, 39 Animal is a Ram, 40 Patrick Rams, 41 Ken Tram, 42 RamBeaulV, 43 Phoenix, 44 johnnymw, 45 Sinistra ram rousse, 46 JamRam, 47 TaiwanRam, 48 Mrso, 49 Wolfie20, 50 silhillian, 51 sheeponacid, 52 PrideParkhead, 53 Steve Buckley’s Dog
 
11th - 20th 
1 AndyinLiverpool, 2 one_chop, 3 Norman, 4 Cisse, 5 dabber, 6 Osbaldwick, 7 Ram Logan Josh
 

I don’t like to get carried away, but a good few of our players are clearly a level above League One level.
If we start the season with midfield options of Bird, Knight, Hourihane and Bielik then that’ll be the strongest set in the league and better than a good few Championship sides too.
The wide players could be among the best too. Much may depend on whether we can get a tune from them.
We have solid centre-backs. 
I’d still like us to bolster our attacking options and fullbacks.

NML has been outstanding first half.