Rampant

I reckon B4 meant to say "We are coming WITH you Pompey".

He'll be well up for it you'd think.

The first of three must win games I suspect. Nine points gives us a chance of second place but anything less - even seven - and I think it'll be the playoffs. COYR

1Wildsmith.....one excellent save and one last gasp hilarious header..... 7 2Wilson.....kept knocking but got no answer..... 6.5 35Nelson.....had his hands full but solid again..... 6.5 6Cashin.....fine performance..... 7.5 17Sibley.....steady without setting the game alight..... 6.5 11Méndez-Laing.....frustrating night but never hid..... 6 12Smith.....a couple of lovely passes and tidy throughout..... 7 16Thompson.....lively when introduced..... 6.5 32Adams.....always involved and combative throughout..... 7 27Blackett-Taylor.....costly miss early on and lacked the thrust of his previous performance..... 5.5 4Hourihane..... did alright..... 6 14Washington.....couple of decent moments and looked lively but lacks composure..... 6 7Barkhuizen..... struggled to get involved..... 5.5 9Collins.....some nice touches but no chances created for him..... 6.5 10Waghorn.....was that a manbun? 6

Their stadium always makes a crowd look sparse. They aren't one of the better supported non-league clubs although I think their supporter base is slowly increasing.

Around 3,000 I believe.

Nunns go to Iceland.

For anyone feeling negative I'd argue the following. This is our second season following a significant meltdown off the pitch which resulted in obvious repercussions on it. We've consolidated and are now in a good position to return to the Championship. We have a sensible owner who genuinely loves the club and who has a desire to see the academy excel. He also isn't an egotistical and confrontational fool. The squad we have will, I suspect, be subject to much change during the summer as the restrictions end. The style of play may well turn towards something a little easier on the eye as a result. It's all about getting out of this division and recruiting well before 24/25.

Wildsmith Wilson Nelson Cashin Sibley Adams Ward Smith Thompson CBT Collins (Loach, K.Robinson, D.Robinson, Fornah, NML, Washington, Weston)

1Wildsmith....... 6.5 2Wilson............ 7 35Nelson......... 8 (MotM) 6Cashin.......... 8 17Sibley.......... 7 23Ward........... 7 10Waghorn...... 6 32Adams......... 7.5 12Smith......... 7 4Hourihane....... 6 27Blackett-Taylor....... 7 16Thompson....... 6.5 11Méndez-Laing....... 6.5 22Fornah....... 6.5 14Washington....... 6 9Collins....... 6.5

I think that is more likely.

Has that tramp with the bell had a bath yet?

Oh great. Poland through to stink the place out again in the finals.

Wildsmith Smith Nelson Cashin Elder D.Robinson Adams Thompson Wilson Washington CBT (Loach, Ward, Sibley, Hourihane, Radcliffe, Waghorn, Collins) Weston, Fapetu, Allen, K.Robinson and Cox on standby.

Cheers @CBRammette. My tangerine / orange fruit / Joe Longthorne joke which I had lined up for the Blackpool match was probably in poor taste anyway!

● Our destiny is still in our own hands ● We can't earn fewer points than we did from the Northampton game ● Blackett-Taylor looks ready to make an impact ● Collins could be back ● 30k+ crowd ● One or two from the academy may make the squad

Wildsmith Smith Nelson Cashin Elder Adams Thompson Ward Wilson CBT Collins Assuming NML, Gayle, Fozzy, Barkz etc are out and Collins is fit enough to start. I think Wilson could offer something from a central position with his direct dribbling. If not him then Sibley with Wilson/Ward vying for the position out wide.

1Wildsmith.....not much to do.....was alert to deal with an underhit header back to him..... 6.5 35Nelson.....he'll do for me..... 7 5Bradley.....never easy on the eye but, one dicey header to Wildsmith apart, was steady.....banned for next three games presumably..... 6 6Cashin.....decent as always..... 6.5 2Wilson.....impressive first half but less impactful thereafter..... 7 32Adams.....missed a glorious chance and had another goalbound effort blocked. Not brilliant but always involved..... 7 12Smith.....a better option for me than Hourihane..... 6.5 4Hourihane.....didn't warrant the full 90 minutes.....not horrendous by any means but picked on name and reputation rather than form.....too immobile..... 6 17Sibley.....deservedly booked.....mishit shot should have earned an assist but Waghorn fluffed chance..... 6 20Elder.....no better or worse than Sibley..... 6 23Ward.....would get more joy with his crosses with Gayle or Collins up top.....beaten by Monthe but wisely didn't jump in to concede a penalty..... 6 10Waghorn.....couple of decent links of play, couple of missed chances - the first being a bad one..... 5.5 16Thompson.....steady without having much impact.....gives much needed legs in the middle..... 6 27Blackett-Taylor.....quick feet, neat control, got early crosses in.....best we've seen from him and may earn a start on Friday..... 6.5 11Méndez-Laing.....couple of lovely dribbles but not quite on it still it seems.....4-3-3 vs Blackpool with him and CBT out wide and given license to run riot maybe?..... 6.5 14Washington.....looked alright but needs minutes..... 6

I thought CBT showed quick feet and positive intent when he came on. Might be time for a change in set up and a start for him against Blackpool.

Grim.

Congratulations @Jourdan. Wishing you and your girl a long and happy life together.

I'm sure at least one person on here won't know that Graham Carr is actually Alan Carr's dad.

Cheers @angieram. I use it as an excuse to educate myself tbh.

My biggest takeaway from this thread is we're a poorer side minus Gayle. Going off on a tangent, all these injuries are probably just a sine of the times.

Saturday 23rd March Northampton vs Derby Sixfields Stadium (KO 1500) Parking: There is apparently parking available at the ground (NN5 5QA) for a fiver or at a place called Duston Mill (NN5 5FP). Opponents Bio: Founded in 1897, Northampton Town are well known by their nickname, 'The Cobblers', a nod to the town's historic shoe-making industry. Previously based adjacent to Northamptonshire County Cricket Club, their move in 1994 now sees them play home matches at the 7,798 capacity Sixfields Stadium. The swinging 60's was quite the decade to be a member of the Shoe Army as Northampton started the 1960/61 season in the fourth tier of the English game before three promotions and three relegations saw them back in Division 4 (ask your parents kids) in time for the 1969/70 campaign. Their one season in the top division was their only appearance at that level in their history so far. Indeed, since their relegation in 1966/67 from what is now the Championship, the Cobblers have played each of the subsequent 56 seasons in either the third or fourth tier. That run could have been broken in 1993/94 when they finished bottom of League 2 but they had a reprieve as Kidderminster Harriers' ground wasn't deemed suitable for the Football League. This season sees Town looking to consolidate a League 1 berth after their promotion from League 2 in 2022/23 and sitting in 14th place and well clear of the drop zone they have comfortably achieved their initial target. A decent run of results could see them finish in the top half as they are one of four sides on 50 points before this weekend. Opponents Gaffer & Dangermen: They are managed by an Australian, Jon Brady, who I know nothing about. Top scorers for Northampton this season are Sam Hoskins (14 goals), Kieron Bowie (eight) and Mitch Pinnock (six, plus seven assists). They also have Huddersfield loanee Tyreece Simpson and another loanee is a certain Tony Springett who played a few times for ourselves last year. Other Titbits & Links to DCFC: Notable names associated with Saturday's opponents include former managers Herbert Chapman (of Huddersfield and Arsenal fame), Tony Barton (European Cup winning manager at Villa), Chris Wilder (when he was good), Ian Atkins (coming good again at Tranmere maybe), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Aidy Boothroyd and Graham Carr (father of comedy twins Alan and Jimmy). Their most famous ex-player is probably former Liverpool and England full-back, Phil Neal. Derby links include Kevin Wilson (managed them) and those who played for both clubs include John Gregory, Ian Taylor and Marco Gabbiadini. Opponents Form: They've struggled over the past five games, picking up just two points from draws against Charlton at home and Cambridge away. They've lost two on the bounce, both without scoring, with a 1-0 defeat at home to Blackpool followed on Saturday by a 2-0 loss at Wycombe. Their league record at home is respectable overall, reading: W8-D5-L6. Rams History vs Northampton: We tempted fate against Bolton by highlighting the fact that they had never won in the league at Pride Park in 10 attempts. Lets be bold again by stating that; Derby have never lost a competitive fixture against Northampton. It's true. Six FA Cup ties (four original and two replays) and seven League matches is the sum total of the two clubs' historical matches against each other but the Rams have managed eight wins and five draws thus far. In League matches only, we currently stand at W4-D3-L0 with an away record of W2-D1-L0 on their turf. The match earlier this season at Pride Park saw Derby run out comfortable 4-0 victors in a game where we saw the best of Conor Washington and a brace by Max Bird. Likely Rams XI: We can possibly expect a change or two. Or maybe three? Assuming we maintain the back three then Warne has to decide between a recall for Sonny Bradley after illness or sticking with Fozzy. I'd be amazed if he didn't stay with Craig Maldini tbh. There are obvious doubts over those withdrawn against Bolton. Gayle is surely out and Barkhuizen and Ward are possibly struggling too. The gaffer also needs to make a decision on Hourihane as we look better with either Smith or Thompson in the middle (or both ideally for me) alongside Ebou Adams who must surely be our transfer target #1 for the summer. A return to the 18 for Conor Washington (MotM in the reverse fixture) would be welcome. Other Notable Fixtures: None. Certainly not as far as those chasing automatic promotion is concerned. We are the only one of the five involved in that battle for a top two finish to be playing so it's a perfect opportunity to apply pressure on those now playing catch up with us. Seven points with a game in hand has to seem psychologically further away for Bolton than the current four points and equal games played so hopefully we can turn that screw. COYR