plymouthram

Agree with this, I for one was critical about Collins, but he seems to be a lot fitter than the first 3 months of the season. Also don't like the back 5 system, even today's match showed gaps and players caught out of position. A better team than Fleetwood would have caused more problems and scored more goals. It's like Warne is trying to justify bringing in Bradley by fitting him in along the two centrehalfs who are head and shoulders above him in quality.

Well if the prize monies is back up to what Papa Johns were sponsoring, the winners at wembley will get £100k and so far Derby have banked £70k (that's paid for Warne's collection of bobble hats and the teams xmas bash).

I think Vickers got the nod over Wildsmith for two reasons, Wildsmith took a knock against Peterboro and Vickers is going to start in the EFL trophy on Tuesday, so it made sense to get him used to the backline in front of him and he also won't be going into that game cold.

What's peoples thoughts on this competition, is it a worthwhile venture to be in. It changed sponsors from Papa John Pizza to Bristol Street Motors and some of you might not be aware that the money dropped down. All participating teams still got £20K, but the £10k per win in the group stage was dropped down to £8k. The winners at wembley now will only get £84k instead of £100k. So far then, Derby pulled in £59k for reaching the 3rd round, if we beat Bradford we get £29.5K for reaching the quarter-finals. Could it be a distraction from concentrating on the league, could key players get injured. We still have Bolton, Peterboro, Portsmouth and Oxford in the competition and all are in the promotion race. Should Paul Warne field a weak side against Bradford, perhaps play some youngsters to avoid burn out and injuries to key 1st teamers (after all, its only £29.5k at stake). It only becomes a good Trophy if you win it and have seen your team at wembley.

Went on the 2 Pompey forum sites, gosh they are downbeat. Lots of them stating that they won't finish in the top 2 for Automatic promotion. Also went on the Cheltenham forum and several used the word "Inmense" when talking about Curtis Davies. POMPEY WE ARE COMING FOR YOU and so are Bolton and Peterboro and maybe even Barnsley.

You should'nt soak your pigs in blankets in Cornish cider, no wonder you got confused.

January is an opportunity to gain ground in the promotion race, but so is February, March & April. Agree with Jourdan, one game at a time. But what ever happens, we must stay in contention and be in the mix all through the remaining games. Of course, this transfer window would make a difference to the top 7 teams who currently have the best chance of getting promotion. I can not see beyond the current top 7 teams grabbing the 3 promotion slots. So I'm looking at the business end of the season, March and April. I'm also looking at the current top 6 that who are in the best position to grab an automatic promotion slot. Going by all teams current League position, Barnsley have the easiest fixtures to play with 11 games out of their remaining 22 to play against teams in the bottom half of the table and in the last 2 months only face Bolton and Portsmouth from the current top 7. But we know it does'nt work in your favour playing teams below you each match and thinking it's going to be 3 pts every time. March and April is interesting though, Portsmouth have 5 fixtures against the current top 7 teams and only 4 against bottom half teams. Bolton in the last 2 months have 6 fixtures against the current top 7 teams. Peterboro have only 4 fixtures against the top 7 and their last 3 matches of the season is Oxford (a), Bristol R (a) and Bolton (h). Derby only have Bolton (h) and Portsmouth (a) to play in the last 2 months of the season. If my head was to rule me, I would state Bolton will win the league and 2nd spot would be between Portsmouth, Peterboro and Derby. Stevenage with their style of football will see them drop away(running out of steam). Oxford with a recent change of manager seem to be on a bit of a wobble and best hope is hanging on to a top 6 spot. Barnsley's current form is'nt outstanding, drawing against lower placed teams and all their recent wins have been by the odd goal and have not been dominating. But having stated that, the Tykes could come good and surprise us. So for now, it's one game at a time, no major injuries, a good transfer window and we will see in the last 11 games of the season if we can do it.

Would love Joe Taylor just turned 21 and currenly on fire, but maybe Luton want him back to gamble him in the Premier League or send him out on loan to a higher division (League One Derby ?).

What about Desperate Dan

I think we need a good transfer window, meaning don't loose Bird or Cashin and bringing in a striker (or two) and a midfielder with a good engine (box to box). Then perhaps we can go on and win another 8 matches out of 9 to get in the top 2 (I don't want play-offs).

Passing out from the back. Slick one or two touch passing and quick movement up front. And playing 4 at the back Mr Warne, I'm slightly more impressed. I could be convinced to become "PRO WARNE". Keep it up and don't tinker with 3 at the back like last season when we fell away.

I think we will sign someone and maybe there will be money involved (i.e. not a freebee).

And Derby County U21s to win the EFL Trophy

What about getting John-Jules until the end of the season, currently due to go back to Arsenal in a few days time. Seems strange that if he is going back, why have him on the subs bench today at Wigan.

Might be worth resting him against Oxford and start with Wilson on the right with Barks on the left and give John Jules a start. If it's not working out, then bring him on in the 2nd half.

Curly Watts But look at the top 7 teams, there's a gap opening up, 8th and 9th placed teams have played 2 more games than Barnsley. It's currently looking like a 7 horse race for 3 teams to grab promotion.

Would have been terrible today if Wigan got a draw, they never had a shot on target. Their keeper (Mr Tickle) kept them in the match with 2 good saves, no wonder Everton want him in the January transfer window.

We've got more points at this stage of the season than last season. If we stick to 4 at the back and Warne does'nt switch back to 3 like last season then I would predict, we will concede the least goals in League One at the end of the season (that's providing we hang on to Cashin, even if it's a loan until the end of the season). MR WARNE PLEASE READ, LEAVE THE DEFENCE ALONE, DO NOT TINKER WITH A BACK THREE.

Luck = whether the better team wins, refereeing doesn't come into it. If the ref does'nt give you stonewall penalty decisions and gives the opponents dodgy penalties etc, that's down to luck. BAD LUCK for having a crap referee that's cost you the game.

Dodgy penalty!! he clearly put his hand up when the ball came over. Also in the same match when they equalised, Marlon pack handled the ball in the build up to their 95th minute equaliser.

Stats will state that most goals are scored between the 1st minute and the 90th minute. Some stone wall penalties that certain teams have not received and others have is also down to luck (the refs view does make a difference). Fitness levels do not determine a team losing or winning a game in the dying minutes of a match, it's down to game managerment and seeing out the game. It could also be down to luck (not Look?) that a decision goes against you. The Wycombe penalty was given and more stonewall incidents have gone against Derby in other matches. I am hoping that luck levels out for all teams and the eventual 2 teams clinching automatic promotion have deserved it over the 46 matches. As for the play-off winners, that could be determined on luck, based on several elements. take last season, just look at the highlights of Derby's match against Sheff Weds. The penalty given, not a lot of contact but given. The red card for Curtis Davies given, when he was'nt even the last man (cover by Cashin). If this game had finished a draw would the outcome of the play-off winners have changed?. My conculsion is: luck plays a bigger part of a League one team more so than a Championship or Premiership team and thats down to the standard of referee's at this level. If it all levels out for the 2nd half of the season, I believe Portsmouth's lead will be reduced. Another factor would also boil down to the January window, using Ipswich as an example who pushed on to gain promotion and are now benefiting from that.

These stats are only good guidance if the relavant teams keep up that performance for the rest of the season. At some stage some, if not all will drop off their PPG's. Just look at Portsmouth's March & April's fixtures to consider if they could continue at 2.29 PPG.

Every team needs a slice of luck, so far this season, Portsmouth have had bags of it. They are bottom of the list for conceding pens, top of the list for scoring late goals that alter the result. Lets hope their luck dries up and ours gets better. If Cashin goes in January, lets hope it's a loan back until the end of the season. Bird will be very hard to replace, so lets hope the powers to be at Derby ask for big money for him. Grinding out results seems to be happening in recent games, barring the Wycombe match, lets keep it up, getting results when not playing at your best is a good sign. And lastly Mr Warne, please bin the 3 at the back, we've looked vulnerable in defence and against the better sides we will get punished.

Got to agree with this, last season's January window was awful. Lets hope Warne and the recruitment get it right.

Talking of late comebacks, Portsmouth have done it this season a few times. In their 1st match back in August they drew 1-1 at home to Bristol Rovers with Yengi scoring in the 93rd minute. Bishop scored a 95th minute equaliser at Pride Park. Against Wycombe at home they won 2-1 with Shaughnessy scoring in the 98th minute. Then another home against Carlisle winning 1-0 Shaughnessy scores in the 93rd. Half of their 14 wins have been by the odd goal, lady luck seems to have been on their side so far this season. I don't want forum members reminding me that they were the better team at Pride Park that day, yes they was but Derby were poor back in September. Lets hope their luck and odd goal win dry up and (Derby) "We are coming for you Pompey" does happen.