Wsm-ram

Credit to Accrington. At times they tried to play football rather than hoof it. But the problem was, they weren’t very good at it. In all honesty they were were pretty poor as footballers and disjointed as a team. For the first time in an age, not only were we quicker to the ball, we were more skilled, more intelligent, harder working,  just better everywhere. On another day that was an 8-0. Some say the subs didn’t do much but for me at 4-0 up that wasn’t the object. The Manager was giving players a run out and looking after some older legs at the same time. It was 4-0 when they happened and 4-0 after. Object achieved from a squad management perspective. Osula got suckered. I suspect he was retaliating, got punished according to the rules. That’s hot headed youth. We have all been there so let’s leave the lad alone.
First 60 mins we played some lovely football, McG and others with some joyful inter play, little reverse passes, cute stuff played with skill not arrogance. We looked class. Was that poor opponents or is it the real deal ? Tricky one, but the more we do it the easier it gets. Thought Barks sounded great in his interview, intelligent and reflective. In a very short time Warne has built a team spirit. Liam brought the players in and deserves a salute but Warne has taken the hand he was given and played those cards exceptionally well. 
 
Knight MOTM well deserved. I rated his engine back in Rooney days when we were against the wall and boy is it a good one. Hourihan looked much more confident and assertive than in any other game. Don’t care what others think but I feel Sibley might have found another role. He doesn’t look uncomfortable at the “wrong” end of the pitch and has some useful forays forward. Square peg maybe but the edges have chamfers and blending so they are fitting reasonably well. Dobbin is doing well just needs +5% in the confidence dept and he’ll be a winner, their LB was agricultural and there for the taking but he didn’t always capitalise. Cash and Fozzy - what can you say - is that a clean sheet club record ? Someone else said McG is a cheat code ? yep .. just lovely to watch, so clever and it isn’t just ball skills is seeing the pass. Great stuff. Ha ha and Wildsmith .. god he must have been bored but still managed to save the one half decent shot they mustered.
What a jolly afternoon chaps - don’t think we’ll catch the top two but keep this up and we will be in the play offs. We will also be the team no one will want to play. 
COYR
 

I agree and it made a massive difference with Mcgoldrick as the focal point up front. His touch and link up play takes the pressure off the whole team. 
All too often when Collins plays that role the ball doesn't stick and our play becomes fragmented and it makes us look like a hoofball team playing the percentage  game.
Some of Mcgoldricks link up play was sublime today. Accy just couldn't cope and we carved them open with ease. I feared that the scoreline could get embarrassing for them. They're probably happy to get away with just conceding 4. 
 

100% that’s the best midfield 3 in this division so don’t change it. I also thought with no Collins up top we had to play it to feet more today and let’s hope they continue with that as most teams can’t live with us when we do. ??

Great xmas results from the lads, Warne has this team working hard on/off the ball. A few teams looking over their shoulders now ?.

Assuming Bielik is off on his world tour, I'd have Shinnie back in a heartbeat. Folk have very short memories. Many thought he was POTY in his last season and had Curtis not been playing absolutely out of his skin, he might have been. We still get bullied from time to time and Shinnie does not lie down for anyone. Teak tough and better technically than some give him credit for, it's a yes from me.

Not so sure myself. Not a polished diamond but tidy enough and had real bite. Never got bullied. We need other positions first that’s true, but in certain games against the more crude opposition he’d be a real asset.

Graeme Shinnie ain’t coming home… but Lee Gregory might be ?

Just back. They came for a point and didn’t start playing till we scored. Did really well to keep getting behind them and could have been two or three up at half time. Our defensive work is excellent with the whole team helping out providing blocks and clearing headers. A lot of people want Sibley up the pitch but I thought he was very good again preventing crosses, reading the game and covering across the back. Hourihane and Bird get criticism but they are a key part of this defensive robustness for me the days of panic at the back seem a long time ago.  So pleased to see Dobbin score just reward for some excellent work. If we click up front on Monday I can see a real mauling being handed out UTR.

Shinnie had that fantastic passion when he played...could certainly use that..only 31 so hardly past it.

1Wildsmith 7.5
12Smith 6.5
3Forsyth 9
6Cashin 8.5
17Sibley 7.5
11Mendez-Laing 6.5
Osula 6
4Hourihane 6
8Bird 6
7Barkhuizen 5.5
Dobbin 6
38Knight 7.5
9Collins 6.5

Another clean sheet, point away and top 6. Shame we had no killer touch again. MoM Fozzie & Cashin. 

Main thing is not to lose to another team in and around the top 6 . Away from home a point is ok ?

I thought it was his best all-round performance for DCFC since 2020. His defensive work was faultless and he was a threat with the ball. 
Well done Louie ??

How long was he on the pitch for?
He lit up the game, absolutely sparkled. Great save from the keeper to stop him scoring.
Use the money/wages freed up from Bielik to keep this man.
Knighty must stay at Derby. #COYR

I imagine on the team bus with the rest of the lads

I think he comes across as the kind of bloke people won't mind working with/for. Everyone is different in how they react to management styles, but the most effective in my experience are those that are fair and have high-standards. I kind of think he is those.

Feared the worst going into this game, no need, whatever happens in the shootout that was an incredible performance. 
Heads held high leaving Anfield tonight, none more so than Joe Wildsmith ???

Whatever the result, they all stood up and we’re counted COYR

Fwiw, I think Curtains has a point. After going down to 10 men our tactics were as bad as our ball control. No one in our side tried to grab hold of the game, we just kept giving them cheap possession by either hoofing it, or losing control of relatively simple passes. Poor substitutions too. We got everything we deserved on that second half performance.

I'm one of the most optimistic fans you will get but I'm not going to stick my fingers in my ears and go La La La pretending all is good whilst watching that. 
That second half was shameful. 

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/birmingham-city-krystian-bielik-derby-25434768
I only partly agree with pw assessment.
Bielik is better than most of the midfielders we signed in the summer. He would improve the squad.
He's good enough to be going to the world Cup. He's picked up several man of the match awards at Birmingham.
 

Hybrid programming is the future. 
Radio Derby sport seance, presented by Derek Acorah.

Nope. The defender next to McGoldrick keeps everyone on