r4derby

Derby 0-2 Bolton no RGS

Derby 0-0 Reading no RGS

Bristol Rovers 1-1 Derby FRGS Méndez-Laing

Derby 0-0 Port Vale no RGS

Derby 1-2 Charlton FRGS Barkhuizen

Barnsley 3-0 Derby no RGS

Derby 1-2 Stevenage FRGS Nelson

1 hour ago, jimtastic56 said:

Whitaker is joint top scorer in the Championship and Plymouth have priced him up at £16 mill. It just shows - you have to be patient with these young lads . I hope we have a sell -on clause for Bird . 

It also has to be the right environment for some players to thrive. We nurtured Morgan over a few seasons but playing at the upper end of Champ meant his opportunities were limited. Also didn’t pull up any trees at Swansea. Plymouth has built him up and taken him to a good level, but it helps them playing him at an appropriate league 1 level. Ironically, if he had stayed he could have played well for us!

Exeter 2-0 Derby no RGS

I can see the logic of 3 at the back away from home. Less so when we’re at home. Cashin should be back. Wildsmith has the number 1 shirt back for me.

I really like Ebou Adams

Derby 0-0 Shrewsbury no RGS

Charlton 2-0 Derby no RGS

Weird start. Both teams have had a bit of pressure. Derby seem to have moments of intent, but at other times everyone is standing still, looking at each other. Can’t decide whether we’re up for it or still fatigued and lacking ideas

Derby 0-0 Cheltenham no RGS

Not been able to get across the M1 much this season, but I’m making this one. Plus, my dad has recovered enough from surgery to be at Pride Park too, so will enjoy the match regardless!

I hope Warne looks at our midfield quickly, as it’s an obvious area of weakness. We need a ball winning player in there, or a playmaker that can drive through the middle. Either of those will help!

Lincoln 1-1 Derby FRGS Barkhuizen

3 hours ago, Malty said:

Is anyone else struggling with Hourihane?

He has a lot going for him. From 16 yards out I would back him to score every time. He scored a great goal last night vs Burton and another one in December against Lincoln. 
 

He seems solid enough in our midfield and I’m sure he does the off the field stuff (whatever that is) really well. Other player speak well of him too.

But as a fan, I can’t help but feel like he’s the friend that is making-do-with-you-until-something-better-comes-along.

There are some players in the team that are bred through our academy at Derby and you know they want to play for us. There’s others that show that much commitment in games that you know they really want to play for the shirt … and then there’s Conor. I really want to like him and for him to be part of the team but I just have this nagging doubt that he’s not really one of us. 
 

It’s such a shame. Maybe his heart was at Villa all along. 
 

Sorry Conor. I feel bad, I’m just saying it as i see it. 

 

It’s something I’ve noticed for a little while. Ever since the argument with away fans in Autumn, around the time we were underperforming and the away support was very vocal. Since then, I’ve thought Hourihane has been more reserved, like there’s been a disconnect. I’m not suggesting he’s been unprofessional, just removed from the celebrating at times.

However, last nights celebrations were very much him enjoying the moment with the fans. Great goal, and he deserved that moment. 

3 minutes ago, Gerry Daly said:

Well at least he is better placed than most parents financially to help his lad out. I hope we sign him anyway

Not sure that’s the point. Think about all of the other young players who could be in that situation. Many won’t have family who can just step in and help. 

Was waiting for someone to post his latest name. Although it’s not a new one. Loan better than paying for him, as his age makes him a short term target (surely)

On 04/01/2024 at 22:45, Srg said:

As I say, no reason to believe him. Just saying, someone is putting it out there. 

 

That’s my barber! He’s mates with Thompson and a couple of other players, so could be something in it!

It’s not really about the money, although every little helps I’m sure. It’s a competition that offers 2 ‘lower’ clubs an opportunity to play at Wembley. It’s also silverware. Seeing as we’re hopefully not going to be playing in it next season, let’s go and win it this year. We’ve got players on the fringes who are good enough to win it, so it doesn’t matter if there’s some rotation.

Fleetwood 1-1 Derby FRGS Ward

27 minutes ago, Ghost of Clough said:

Unfortunately, he's just not very good, and at 24 he's unlikely to improve by much in the future. It's as if our recruitment team went searching for a "more athletic Korey Smith". Neither are good enough to play the sole DM role, and neither offer enough going forward to play further forward. Bird gets criticised for a lack of end product, but he's like De Bruyne in comparison to Fornah.

I’m just not sure anyone can say that yet though, we’ve not seen enough. I agree he was bought in due to his athleticism. This was fully displayed in his late game heroics when he set up NML a few matches ago. He's unlikely to play the CDM role alone, whereas in the current 442/4231 he would be an athletic upgrade as one of the 2 in the middle.

I'm not saying he is amazing, I’m saying I don’t know what he is. I don’t think any of us do

Fornah could well be the athletic midfielder we need, but I don’t think he’s been given enough time to settle into the side. It’s either a cameo off the bench or not in the 18 at all. He needs to be given a run of consecutive starts to really see how he adapts and develops.

7 hours ago, Gee SCREAMER !! said:

I'm not sure about the value of signing a player who a League 2 club have loaned to another League 2 club.  This sort of thing gives me Blackman vibes.

I reckon Blackman would have been more of a success here if we had been in League 1. League 2 to League 1 is less of a step up than the other leagues. It will be about identifying his key traits and deciding if those can be used in our side.