Carl Sagan

Having watched the full 90, I'm struck that for all our shots we didn't create any easy chances. Once Sibley slipped Hourihane through one-on-one, but the Irishman's control let him down. Another time McGoldrick should have slipped Sibley through one-on-one, but took a very selfish shot from 30 yards instead. Dobbin gets in good positions but can't shoot. Ditto Knight. Sibley had far and away our best three attempts at goal, but it's not like any of them was more than a half-chance. Even so he was unlucky not to score two.

That said, despite what looked on paper a very makeshift defence, we didn't give WBA any easy chances either. We're secure at the back from their attacks and West Brom only looked dangerous when we gave the ball away very high up the pitch. We were a little fortunate not to be punished. Better in the second half.

The game against free-scoring Peterborough will be interesting as I'd expect most of our matches to be very low scoring, the way we're set up. Maybe we'll become more dangerous once Rosenior realizes to make Sibley first name on the teamsheet? Dobbin and McGoldrick must also be pressing for a start, but I see the need for Collins, and Mendez-Laing is similar to Dobbin in terms of plenty of threat but not quite so much end product.

Knight on the left side of midfield versus Knight at right back? It's a tough one but I think he offers more than Hourihane in midfield if that's the equation later in the season. At the moment, despite Oduroh really benefiting from that game, Knight is much stronger at right back.

43 minutes ago, JoetheRam said:

Read that as we'd already drawn West Ham at home.

I'll take that tbh.

I'd love West Ham away as I've so many cockney mates who are always trying to take me to a game at the Olympic Stadium. But I want to be there in the away end.

On my hols so watched the full 90, pen and paper in hand, in order to rate.

Wildsmith 6 flapped a bit much and his distribution wasn't great, but also some decent saves.

Oduroh 7.5 will have done him the world of good. If we don't bring in a RB he'll be ready soon.

Rooney 7 great effort in a makeshift defence. Some good decisions

Forsyth 6.5 feel LB is by far his best position. In the middle his distribution's wayward, but did win headers.

Roberts 7 expected more after @angieram's comments but you see different things live. Still a strong performance.

Smith 6 Gifted a great chance to them early. Had some tidy moments. Will help his fitness.

Knight 7.5 A midfield dynamo but needs to work on his finishing.

Thompson 5.5 Looks too much of a boy against men. Not quite there.

Dobbin 7.5 Very lively first half before fading. Poor finisher, but creates threatening positions. Targeted by the opposition.

Sibley 8.5 Perhaps should be higher as he had by miles our three best attempts. And also put Hourihane clean through but the Irishman's control let him down. Great pressing and team play in the middle. The grease that makes the Derby engine run much more smoothly. First name on the team sheet. MotM

Mcgoldrick 7 Getting closer. Clever player. One disappointing long-range shot when Sibley was clean through but ignored.

Subs:

Hourihane 6.5

Collins 6

Barkhuizen 6

Bird ?6

At the game tonight. Apparently he's a West Brom fan, but also a chance to catch up with Derby mates from last season.

2 hours ago, Boycie said:

Left foot shot actually Ralph.

??? Radio Derby called it right. If you look at the Sky highlights, 1:15 in, he shoots with his right and it's tipped over the bar. I love how two-footed Sibley is, so he can go either side of a defender and shoot with either foot, even though his left is stronger.

Gorgeous George doing the Radio Derby punditry beside Ed Dawes tonight in the League Cup against West Brom. What might have been? Almost everyone thought signing him was the closest guarantee of promotion we could get. 

I remember one evening when Sam Rush was doing an event with some London Rams (he even brought free iPro with him - yes it did exist!) and he asked us the question, "Where were you when you heard George Thorne had got injured". Had it not happened, I daresay Mel Morris would now be lauded as a hero. Fate is a fickle mistress.

An hour gone and Jason Knight, playing in midfield, is the first to make way "as he'll be needed for right back duties on Saturday". According to WhoScored, Jason Knight in his proper midfield role has been our second best player on the night, only behind Sibley.

Hourihane comes on in his place.

Knight and Thompson both cynically taken out in a Derby attack. Advantage played. Madley doesn't come back for the bookings that should have followed.

Just before, sounded a great run and shot from Dobbin. Followed by great closing down by Sibley. Sounds as if both Dobbin and Sibley are the sparks for this performance allowing us to take the game to our Championship opponents, and both deserve starting berths in the league.

Great noise from the Derby fans.

George Thorne: "That's an unbelievable touch from Louie Sibley on his left and a brilliant shot on his right foot. You've got to credit the keeper for an incredible save".

HT it's 1-0 to Derby. Standing ovation from the fans at the ground.

10,538 attendance. Well done all of you.

Dobbin needed treatment after all these attacks, and had to go off the field for a while but eventually Madley let him back on.

"Poor again from Derby trying to play out from the back". Ends up with a WBA freekick 30 yards out.

More Radio Derby commentary:

Again messing about at the back, Wildsmith caught in two minds. Almost an equalizer - another WBA corner. "How many times?" they ask.

Dobbin getting rough housed by West Brom and then cleaned out in an awful tackle from Philips, no attempt to play the ball, not even a booking.

Me: I think the referee is the same Madley brother who sent Chris Martin off and didn't allow our goal in *that* key game away at Burnley. As has been said, sad (but also good) to hear George Thorne on the commo.

Commo: a great save from Wildsmith.

Then McGoldrick should play Sibley in who was clear but choses the wrong option and shoots. A bit selfish.

Radio Derby Comm. Sounds a very open game.

Started with Sibley playing Dobbin in. Then Sibley played McGoldrick in. Twice now WBA's high press has led to problems where we might have conceded. With Wildsmith so far off his line, Reach went for a lob but over the bar.

McGoldrick sent Dobbin away who did very well ending in a spell of Derby pressure.

McGoldrick just had a shot from distance, deflected for a corner.

Sibbo scores! What a finish!

Radio Derby commo tonight. 

Derby overplaying in their own penalty area, lose possession, could be punished, good save by Wildsmith, corner.

Presume it'll be:

Wildsmith

Oduroh   Rooney   Forsyth   Roberts

Smith   Thompson

Sibley     Knight    Dobbin

McGoldrick

6 hours ago, RoyMac5 said:

Practically, how would he currently even get his money back for us?

I don't believe DC would expect to. He saved us, thinking it was the right thing to do when he's a fan, sees what it means to other fans and was able to stump up the cash. I suspect he'll sell at a loss in the next 1-3 years if what he sees as a safe buyer comes forward, as it was a big outlay for him and running a football club is a loss-making exercise.

4 hours ago, Ramleicester said:

CK's 'wealth' was based around a business that was massively funded by external investors on the basis of the promise of potential growth. Alongside this was his personal crypto investments that had seen massive growth over 2020/21.

I am sure when he started out on the quest to buy a club this 'wealth' was in good shape. During the process his investments tanked very very badly and the smoke and numerous mirrors he put in place with his business investors were shattered.

Kind of what happens when 'wealth' comes fast and easy. I am sure he thought he could get it back as quick as it had disappeared and carry on but his investors pulled the rug and his personal investment instruments of choice are still in the doldrums.

Fair to say a bullet dodged. Clowes is a businessman based on a long track record and experience with a family of similar standing alongside him. CK in comparison is a PR genius who made a few lucky bets and won which made him think he was some sort of genius entrepreneur. 

He isn't.

His putting is crap too.

One of my friends who moves in these circles was chatting with an American venture capitalist who described Kirchner's wealth as "horse money". Apparently the phrase means "easily earned", perhaps through marriage or a lottery win rather than through talent and/or hard work.

On 22/08/2022 at 09:42, Wolfie20 said:

You're wrong on both counts but whatever, didn't stop it being a very exciting game to watch which was my post.

It's all about opinions. You're so right about it being a very exciting game to watch, yet so wrong on the rest ?

Can't get up to Derby on a school night, sadly.

Like the last round, it doesn't seem as if it's on RamsTV, even for those overseas.

I'm subscribed to RamsTV audio so will listen if that's all there is, but is there a legitimate way to watch the game?

2 minutes ago, Millenniumram said:

Personally I think the players in the box need to do more with deliveries put in as well. No one ever really seems to have that desire to be the one who wins the ball and puts it in the back of the net. Don’t know whether it’s a confidence thing or what, but we just seem to lack belief that we can score from a ball into the box. We almost just stand there and wait for the opposition to clear it. I want to see players making that ball theirs - it’s only when we battle stronger than the opposition that we’ll score goals. All about desire and belief.

This. The only players in the team who are desperate to score, who would run through a brick wall to get a goal, are Collins, Sibley and Cashin. And maybe Mendez-Laing. Collins is starved of service, Sibley is overlooked as a starter and Cashin's a centre half. Everyone else is static and doesn't expect to ever score. 

Our only players who regularly shoot are Collins (16), Sibley (12) and Mendez-Laing (11). Hourihane's probably next with 8.

On 21/08/2022 at 20:31, Ghost of Clough said:

With Sibley (244 minutes): 4 goals scored, 2 conceded 

Without Sibley (296 minutes): 1 goal scored, 1 conceded

In the League:

with Sibley (183 minutes) 3 goals scored, 1 conceded

without Sibley (267 minutes) 0 goals scored, 1 conceded

Indeed we do, B4. Apparently Jake Buxton is in charge of them. I started this thread showing how to be more creative in the general "Football" part of the forum: 

Saturday 20th August

2-1 down away to Stevenage, Jack Stretton came off the bench for Carlisle on 66 minutes, in a like-for-like swap with starting centre forward Omari Patrick. But the scoreline remained the same.

Krystian Bielik still isn't featuring at all for Birmingham.

7 minutes ago, PistoldPete said:

Lingard was poo when he was at Derby. He was already 22 and gave no real clue that he would play for England. Unlike Mount who was younger than Lingard but clearly already more talented. 

Absolutely. When Lingard was on the pitch it was like playing with 10 men. He was almost always the worst player in our team, but presumably we had an agreement with Man Yoo where we had to play him.

48 minutes ago, Nishfan said:

Any idea on how ticket sales are going for this one? 

Looking at the site, we've hardly sold any. Several hundred available in almost every block. A shame with what I'd consider excellent pricing. I'd guess an attendance of maybe 5000-6000 looking at this?

8 hours ago, Wolfie20 said:

Brilliant game, now 3-3

More terrible VAR decisions. Had to be a pen for the foul by Stones and it was a great decision by the ref to send Trippier off which should never have been overturned. 

9 minutes ago, Ghost of Clough said:

? I forgot about that last time too

If we're going to keep winning games in this cup, you have to keep the threads the same format, so you did exactly the right thing!