Wsm-ram

We're getting Fernando on the podcast on Tuesday to hear in full how their first ever trip to Derby went.

The background is - they DMed me in December saying they were going to the Morecambe game, and asked about how/when to get tickets.

I kept in touch with them and advised them on a couple of pubs to drink in... and then tweeted about it yesterday. Didn't expect it to get the response it did!

1Wildsmith 5.5 Could’ve had a traffic cone in goal; did drop a routine catch 1st half which was cleared away. 
12Smith 7 Solid defensively and accurate & careful passing. Inadvertently cleared a goal-bound White shot late on. 
3Forsyth 8 Another masterful shift. Some lovely forays into oppo territory and an intricate pass to unlock their defence and provide Knight’s Irish jig of a goal. 
6Cashin 8 Heads, blocks and 45 yard tracer passes all afternoon. 
15Roberts 8 Played with a great intensity and increased offensively as the game wore on.
19 Sibley 7 Came on and slotted straight back in. Drove his way through 3 Morecambe players who could only halt him by foul means.
38Knight 8.5 Perpetual high energy constantly harassing and haranguing and still at high intensity when all others have flat-lined. Oh so fast feet to tuck away past a stranded keeper for goal #5. 
22 Springett 6 Came on with the rest of the boy band to play us out in style. 
4Hourihane 7.5 Directed the traffic with neat & angled passes and arced crosses into the mixing zone. 
16Thompson 6 Part of the Fab 3 late show with energetic ball possession. 
11Mendez-Laing 7.5 Relatively average by his own high standards but still an assist and a constant menace to Morecambe.
7Barkhuizen 6 Part of the late show and on when the game was already buried.
10McGoldrick 9.5 MotM A dispatched free-kick, a routine finish and a penalty all finished with gusto & aplomb. McG is like that Classic Merc that is advanced in years but still drives sweetly with a low hum.
23 White 7.5 Very impressive debut from the bench and quickly established himself as lead singer of the boy-band trio by demanding the ball and spraying direct & fizzing passes to all corners of PP to a man. Would’ve scored with a 20 yard piler but for Smith’s inadvertent intervention. Stylish, quick and cut through Morecambe’s depleted ranks with a razor-sharp edge. I’m excited to see this chap again - Will Hughesque. 
18Dobbin 9 Unplayable. 2nd half at full tilt powering through Morecambe at will at break-neck speed. Denied a goal by a vg save from their keeper. Best game in a Ram’s shirt.
9Collins 7. Carried the hod reliably. Superb save from their GK to deny his 2nd goal having rifled home from the spot earlier. 
 
Superb 2nd half show after a proficient first half. Warne-ball now firmly encoded into the Team’s DNA and don’t expect us to fear anybody from this point on. Was worried pre-match that Bird’s absence would tell but White looks like a young diamond. I am just so enjoying this evolution and growth of the Team. Watch out League 1. 

Nobody in the division is going to want to play us at the minute.
Love it.

I noticed that he identified as a derby player in the interview and it seemed significant. Hope so. Didn't know his contract is up in the summer. Would be a really exciting signing. Tenacious, skillful, reasonably quick and strong with an eye for a forward pass. He's a great full back and could be a pacier option at centre back. I'd be so delighted to get him.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Leigh Curtis is guessing about the EFL looking favourably on us. Having see how they operate, i think that it is far more likely that they will leave the restrictions in place as long as they possibly can, for fear of other clubs complaining, regardless of how compliant we have been.

I think we all know how that will go

Pretty much every signing has made sense but I can't get my head around the fact we are pushing hard for promotion with just Collins and mcgoldrick and the latter misses as many games has he plays..

If he’d have never played for Derby before and had the same goalscoring record at another Championship side, I feel a lot more would be in favour of signing him.
He’d be a good option until the end of the season at the very least.

I think we will come to regret not bringing in another striker. We could have done with another option off the bench or from the start. I know PW likes working with a small squad and wants to protect the mentality of the team but I do think we’re a little short. 

Yeah I think we're just a striker short really.
It was evident last night. Even an injury to Mcgoldrick for 2-3 weeks and you've got Collins with no other option to bring on.
Someone like Wickham. Did well in a poor Forest Green side. 
Another option there is better than nothing.

Good old Derby and transfer windows ?
So our promotion push relys on McGoldrick staying fit or Collins rediscovering his goal scoring form.
I would have thought we would at least replace Osula.

What the glorious Bobby? Love him even more (if possible)

This is picking up more and more credibility 

And hit an incredible cross field pass in the first half that led to fantastic move. Had his best game for us last night imo. 

Very impressed last night. He ran miles and miles, gave everything. You could see he’d drained every reserve as the game ended. By no means flashy but skilled and works so hard for the team. Seems comfortable in every area of the pitch. Good player ! 

Don’t shoot the messenger but I’ve heard Lyle Taylor being mentioned again, on a permanent deal 

Would have done alright tonight I suspect - I am not expecting him to turn up here come tomorrow but we need someone decent up front with the two we have 

Striker and right back it is then.
 

Tomorrow is a chaotic day, hopefully we can find a RB, so Smith can move to midfield if Bird is out for a few weeks

Striker tomorrow you’d hope! 

Good to see. If Wildsmith were injured for a while or suspended for three league games, how confident would we be? There are always better players than we have, however well we think our players have done. Competition for places is everything. This is a strong move from the club. 

Just looked him up on Wiki (olosunde). Definitely a right back, American 24 nearly 25 years old, started his youth career at NY Red Bulls, went to Man U, then played 64 games for Rotherham before signing for Preston where doesn’t look like he’s played much. Ticks boxes and makes logical sense - cue DET saying it’s “wide of the mark” 

Makes sense with Anang recalled - a new backup for Wildsmith who can sit on the bench rather than Loach, who I do fear about ever having to come on. 
Strange that it’s a loan though - he’s out of contract at the end of the season, so why won’t Forest Green give him us permanently now? We’ll get him for free in the summer either way up, just uses a loan. Presume this means we’re looking at a striker on a permanent. 
Even more bizarre…. That TFR Football account actually got something right!

Has a look of Russel Hoult for those who remember him. He did okay for us, so fingers cross McGee will.
Welcome to Derby Luke,
Kind Regards
Gangway D (from the terrace)