Rampant

Wildsmith.....one excellent save low to his right in the first half, a more routine but still decent one in the second. Questionable effort on first Oxford goal but it was fair old thundering..... 6
Nelson.....at fault for their first. Not sure if he'd prefer being part of a back four..... 5
Bradley.....doesn't have the excuse of adjusting to a new system like Cashin has as he played centrally in a back three at Luton. An ardent Hatters fan told me two weeks ago that Bradley's legs and confidence went whilst with them and it appears he's spot on. Their dip in form apparently coincided with his return to the side due to injuries..... 5
Washington.....offers energy and mobility and appears to make decent runs. Fluffed a glorious chance to rescue a point late on but was in the right place which, in this Derby side, is at least a start due to its rarity..... 6
Cashin..... totally unsuited to being one of three centre halves, a problem easily solved when one of the other two is yet to convince and the other is Sonny Bradley. Often exposed down their inside right channel. Did produce one excellent saving tackle. Should have seen red for an obvious pull back - itself an undisciplined act given he was already on a yellow..... 5.5
Ward.....only played a bit part before going off injured. Offered a faint semblance of a threat down our right but didn't produce a stellar cross. Only usually has one target in the box to aim for so crossing needs to be top-drawer..... 6
Wilson..... has a trick, isn't afraid to run at the opposition and has beautifully bright boots. Needs to add a final ball of quality more often although he did put in the best cross of the night which in itself wasn't saying much..... 6.5
Smith.....may find himself covering CM and RB from the bench before too long..... 5
Waghorn.....lovely first time finish should see him start on Saturday..... 7
Bird.....as unsuited by this set-up as Cashin. Our classiest midfielder and the one who we should play through where possible. Rarely has a striker running through to find with his passing ability. A much better player than he's being allowed to demonstrate alongside Smith and Hourihane in this current system and with no pace up front..... 6.5
Hourihane.....a couple of excellent deliveries from set pieces but simply doesn't dominate games as somebody with his supposed ability should be doing..... 5
Forsyth.....not at his best but maybe a return to CB in a back four would suit..... 5
Méndez-Laing.....at this stage last season NML was more often than not terrorising the opposition full backs. He now plays in a position where he can't do that. If we continue with three CB's and wing backs then he may as well play at RWB but then why bring in Ward and Wilson? ..... 5
Elder.....barely involved so a six by default really..... 6
Collins.....cut a frustrated figure tonight. The usual effort but, alas, the usual outcome..... 5
Thompson.....I've been banging the Thommo drum for a while. He offers a buzz around the midfield in a Shinniesta way and has greater technical ability than I think he gets credit for. Has to come in for Smith or possibly Hourihane and be given a chance to galvanise our listless midfield. Would possibly bring the best out of Bird too..... 6.5

I may as well have a shot at starting a match thread as at this rate we'll all be having multiple attempts.
Date: Saturday 19th August 1500h
Venue: Pride Park
Visitors: Fleetwood Town
Visitors Form: Not great but they'll hardly be overawed given our own. So far the Shrimpers have one point from their three league fixtures courtesy of a 1-1 opening day draw at Carlisle. Defeats at home to Cambridge (0-2) and away at Bolton (1-3) leaves them two points behind us Rams. As with ourselves, they also didn't fancy a League Cup run as they exited with a 2-3 defeat at Port Vale.
Last Season: Derby failed to score against Fleetwood in either game in 2022/23. A goalless draw in a game ruined by the wind in Lancashire was still miles better than the horror show in the return fixture at Pride Park where Derby produced about their worst performance of the season in losing 0-2. 
Notable Staff: Their owner is in jail, their manager is former Celtic man Scott Brown and they of course have ex-Ram Jack Marriott up front.
Hopes: For a return to a back four and, fitness permitting, the following starting line up. A bit of decent football on the deck would be welcome too.
                           Wildsmith
Wilson       Nelson        Cashin       Forsyth
                  Thompson      Bird
   NML               Hourihane         Washington
                           Waghorn
Will you be attending OP?: Yes, accompanied by one son and two Everton-supporting nephews. 
 
 
 

Jeez. That's not going to help. In that case I'm either sticking Smith back at RB or giving Max Bardell his first start (I think). 
                           Wildsmith
Bardell        Nelson        Cashin       Forsyth
         Rooney    Thompson   Hourihane
     NML             Waghorn         Washington
(Vickers, Smith, Elder, Robinson, Sibley, Brown, Collins)
Fozzy, Bardell and Rooney can all cover CB so Bradley's place on the bench can go to Brown. Would include Barkz if available but assuming he's not quite ready.

Wildsmith.....one excellent save low to his right in the first half, a more routine but still decent one in the second. Questionable effort on first Oxford goal but it was fair old thundering..... 6
Nelson.....at fault for their first. Not sure if he'd prefer being part of a back four..... 5
Bradley.....doesn't have the excuse of adjusting to a new system like Cashin has as he played centrally in a back three at Luton. An ardent Hatters fan told me two weeks ago that Bradley's legs and confidence went whilst with them and it appears he's spot on. Their dip in form apparently coincided with his return to the side due to injuries..... 5
Washington.....offers energy and mobility and appears to make decent runs. Fluffed a glorious chance to rescue a point late on but was in the right place which, in this Derby side, is at least a start due to its rarity..... 6
Cashin..... totally unsuited to being one of three centre halves, a problem easily solved when one of the other two is yet to convince and the other is Sonny Bradley. Often exposed down their inside right channel. Did produce one excellent saving tackle. Should have seen red for an obvious pull back - itself an undisciplined act given he was already on a yellow..... 5.5
Ward.....only played a bit part before going off injured. Offered a faint semblance of a threat down our right but didn't produce a stellar cross. Only usually has one target in the box to aim for so crossing needs to be top-drawer..... 6
Wilson..... has a trick, isn't afraid to run at the opposition and has beautifully bright boots. Needs to add a final ball of quality more often although he did put in the best cross of the night which in itself wasn't saying much..... 6.5
Smith.....may find himself covering CM and RB from the bench before too long..... 5
Waghorn.....lovely first time finish should see him start on Saturday..... 7
Bird.....as unsuited by this set-up as Cashin. Our classiest midfielder and the one who we should play through where possible. Rarely has a striker running through to find with his passing ability. A much better player than he's being allowed to demonstrate alongside Smith and Hourihane in this current system and with no pace up front..... 6.5
Hourihane.....a couple of excellent deliveries from set pieces but simply doesn't dominate games as somebody with his supposed ability should be doing..... 5
Forsyth.....not at his best but maybe a return to CB in a back four would suit..... 5
Méndez-Laing.....at this stage last season NML was more often than not terrorising the opposition full backs. He now plays in a position where he can't do that. If we continue with three CB's and wing backs then he may as well play at RWB but then why bring in Ward and Wilson? ..... 5
Elder.....barely involved so a six by default really..... 6
Collins.....cut a frustrated figure tonight. The usual effort but, alas, the usual outcome..... 5
Thompson.....I've been banging the Thommo drum for a while. He offers a buzz around the midfield in a Shinniesta way and has greater technical ability than I think he gets credit for. Has to come in for Smith or possibly Hourihane and be given a chance to galvanise our listless midfield. Would possibly bring the best out of Bird too..... 6.5

I may as well have a shot at starting a match thread as at this rate we'll all be having multiple attempts.
Date: Saturday 19th August 1500h
Venue: Pride Park
Visitors: Fleetwood Town
Visitors Form: Not great but they'll hardly be overawed given our own. So far the Shrimpers have one point from their three league fixtures courtesy of a 1-1 opening day draw at Carlisle. Defeats at home to Cambridge (0-2) and away at Bolton (1-3) leaves them two points behind us Rams. As with ourselves, they also didn't fancy a League Cup run as they exited with a 2-3 defeat at Port Vale.
Last Season: Derby failed to score against Fleetwood in either game in 2022/23. A goalless draw in a game ruined by the wind in Lancashire was still miles better than the horror show in the return fixture at Pride Park where Derby produced about their worst performance of the season in losing 0-2. 
Notable Staff: Their owner is in jail, their manager is former Celtic man Scott Brown and they of course have ex-Ram Jack Marriott up front.
Hopes: For a return to a back four and, fitness permitting, the following starting line up. A bit of decent football on the deck would be welcome too.
                           Wildsmith
Wilson       Nelson        Cashin       Forsyth
                  Thompson      Bird
   NML               Hourihane         Washington
                           Waghorn
Will you be attending OP?: Yes, accompanied by one son and two Everton-supporting nephews. 
 
 
 

Wildsmith.....one excellent save low to his right in the first half, a more routine but still decent one in the second. Questionable effort on first Oxford goal but it was fair old thundering..... 6
Nelson.....at fault for their first. Not sure if he'd prefer being part of a back four..... 5
Bradley.....doesn't have the excuse of adjusting to a new system like Cashin has as he played centrally in a back three at Luton. An ardent Hatters fan told me two weeks ago that Bradley's legs and confidence went whilst with them and it appears he's spot on. Their dip in form apparently coincided with his return to the side due to injuries..... 5
Washington.....offers energy and mobility and appears to make decent runs. Fluffed a glorious chance to rescue a point late on but was in the right place which, in this Derby side, is at least a start due to its rarity..... 6
Cashin..... totally unsuited to being one of three centre halves, a problem easily solved when one of the other two is yet to convince and the other is Sonny Bradley. Often exposed down their inside right channel. Did produce one excellent saving tackle. Should have seen red for an obvious pull back - itself an undisciplined act given he was already on a yellow..... 5.5
Ward.....only played a bit part before going off injured. Offered a faint semblance of a threat down our right but didn't produce a stellar cross. Only usually has one target in the box to aim for so crossing needs to be top-drawer..... 6
Wilson..... has a trick, isn't afraid to run at the opposition and has beautifully bright boots. Needs to add a final ball of quality more often although he did put in the best cross of the night which in itself wasn't saying much..... 6.5
Smith.....may find himself covering CM and RB from the bench before too long..... 5
Waghorn.....lovely first time finish should see him start on Saturday..... 7
Bird.....as unsuited by this set-up as Cashin. Our classiest midfielder and the one who we should play through where possible. Rarely has a striker running through to find with his passing ability. A much better player than he's being allowed to demonstrate alongside Smith and Hourihane in this current system and with no pace up front..... 6.5
Hourihane.....a couple of excellent deliveries from set pieces but simply doesn't dominate games as somebody with his supposed ability should be doing..... 5
Forsyth.....not at his best but maybe a return to CB in a back four would suit..... 5
Méndez-Laing.....at this stage last season NML was more often than not terrorising the opposition full backs. He now plays in a position where he can't do that. If we continue with three CB's and wing backs then he may as well play at RWB but then why bring in Ward and Wilson? ..... 5
Elder.....barely involved so a six by default really..... 6
Collins.....cut a frustrated figure tonight. The usual effort but, alas, the usual outcome..... 5
Thompson.....I've been banging the Thommo drum for a while. He offers a buzz around the midfield in a Shinniesta way and has greater technical ability than I think he gets credit for. Has to come in for Smith or possibly Hourihane and be given a chance to galvanise our listless midfield. Would possibly bring the best out of Bird too..... 6.5

Wildsmith.....one excellent save low to his right in the first half, a more routine but still decent one in the second. Questionable effort on first Oxford goal but it was fair old thundering..... 6
Nelson.....at fault for their first. Not sure if he'd prefer being part of a back four..... 5
Bradley.....doesn't have the excuse of adjusting to a new system like Cashin has as he played centrally in a back three at Luton. An ardent Hatters fan told me two weeks ago that Bradley's legs and confidence went whilst with them and it appears he's spot on. Their dip in form apparently coincided with his return to the side due to injuries..... 5
Washington.....offers energy and mobility and appears to make decent runs. Fluffed a glorious chance to rescue a point late on but was in the right place which, in this Derby side, is at least a start due to its rarity..... 6
Cashin..... totally unsuited to being one of three centre halves, a problem easily solved when one of the other two is yet to convince and the other is Sonny Bradley. Often exposed down their inside right channel. Did produce one excellent saving tackle. Should have seen red for an obvious pull back - itself an undisciplined act given he was already on a yellow..... 5.5
Ward.....only played a bit part before going off injured. Offered a faint semblance of a threat down our right but didn't produce a stellar cross. Only usually has one target in the box to aim for so crossing needs to be top-drawer..... 6
Wilson..... has a trick, isn't afraid to run at the opposition and has beautifully bright boots. Needs to add a final ball of quality more often although he did put in the best cross of the night which in itself wasn't saying much..... 6.5
Smith.....may find himself covering CM and RB from the bench before too long..... 5
Waghorn.....lovely first time finish should see him start on Saturday..... 7
Bird.....as unsuited by this set-up as Cashin. Our classiest midfielder and the one who we should play through where possible. Rarely has a striker running through to find with his passing ability. A much better player than he's being allowed to demonstrate alongside Smith and Hourihane in this current system and with no pace up front..... 6.5
Hourihane.....a couple of excellent deliveries from set pieces but simply doesn't dominate games as somebody with his supposed ability should be doing..... 5
Forsyth.....not at his best but maybe a return to CB in a back four would suit..... 5
Méndez-Laing.....at this stage last season NML was more often than not terrorising the opposition full backs. He now plays in a position where he can't do that. If we continue with three CB's and wing backs then he may as well play at RWB but then why bring in Ward and Wilson? ..... 5
Elder.....barely involved so a six by default really..... 6
Collins.....cut a frustrated figure tonight. The usual effort but, alas, the usual outcome..... 5
Thompson.....I've been banging the Thommo drum for a while. He offers a buzz around the midfield in a Shinniesta way and has greater technical ability than I think he gets credit for. Has to come in for Smith or possibly Hourihane and be given a chance to galvanise our listless midfield. Would possibly bring the best out of Bird too..... 6.5

I may as well have a shot at starting a match thread as at this rate we'll all be having multiple attempts.
Date: Saturday 19th August 1500h
Venue: Pride Park
Visitors: Fleetwood Town
Visitors Form: Not great but they'll hardly be overawed given our own. So far the Shrimpers have one point from their three league fixtures courtesy of a 1-1 opening day draw at Carlisle. Defeats at home to Cambridge (0-2) and away at Bolton (1-3) leaves them two points behind us Rams. As with ourselves, they also didn't fancy a League Cup run as they exited with a 2-3 defeat at Port Vale.
Last Season: Derby failed to score against Fleetwood in either game in 2022/23. A goalless draw in a game ruined by the wind in Lancashire was still miles better than the horror show in the return fixture at Pride Park where Derby produced about their worst performance of the season in losing 0-2. 
Notable Staff: Their owner is in jail, their manager is former Celtic man Scott Brown and they of course have ex-Ram Jack Marriott up front.
Hopes: For a return to a back four and, fitness permitting, the following starting line up. A bit of decent football on the deck would be welcome too.
                           Wildsmith
Wilson       Nelson        Cashin       Forsyth
                  Thompson      Bird
   NML               Hourihane         Washington
                           Waghorn
Will you be attending OP?: Yes, accompanied by one son and two Everton-supporting nephews. 
 
 
 

The ref wasn't great but lets be honest, Collins could have had a straight red (I haven't seen it again but it didn't look good) and Cashin definitely should have had a second yellow. Throw in Bradley's yanking of their attacker (matron etc) in the box and it could have been an even bigger mess tonight.

Cheers. A positive at least.

I may as well have a shot at starting a match thread as at this rate we'll all be having multiple attempts.
Date: Saturday 19th August 1500h
Venue: Pride Park
Visitors: Fleetwood Town
Visitors Form: Not great but they'll hardly be overawed given our own. So far the Shrimpers have one point from their three league fixtures courtesy of a 1-1 opening day draw at Carlisle. Defeats at home to Cambridge (0-2) and away at Bolton (1-3) leaves them two points behind us Rams. As with ourselves, they also didn't fancy a League Cup run as they exited with a 2-3 defeat at Port Vale.
Last Season: Derby failed to score against Fleetwood in either game in 2022/23. A goalless draw in a game ruined by the wind in Lancashire was still miles better than the horror show in the return fixture at Pride Park where Derby produced about their worst performance of the season in losing 0-2. 
Notable Staff: Their owner is in jail, their manager is former Celtic man Scott Brown and they of course have ex-Ram Jack Marriott up front.
Hopes: For a return to a back four and, fitness permitting, the following starting line up. A bit of decent football on the deck would be welcome too.
                           Wildsmith
Wilson       Nelson        Cashin       Forsyth
                  Thompson      Bird
   NML               Hourihane         Washington
                           Waghorn
Will you be attending OP?: Yes, accompanied by one son and two Everton-supporting nephews. 
 
 
 

Troy Parrott on loan

Troy Parrott on loan

Troy Parrott on loan

Troy Parrott on loan

Troy Parrott on loan

Troy Parrott on loan

Troy Parrott on loan

Troy Parrott on loan

Troy Parrott on loan

Chris Martin above all of those.

Chris Martin above all of those.

Chris Martin above all of those.

Chris Martin above all of those.

Chris Martin above all of those.