jono

Apart from one error I think he looked better today than when he came. Looks stronger and has a bit of pace. I think he’s a good footballer. Overall I think he had a good game

I felt the same. We made 2 mistakes, got punished and then contributed to Burtons “revival” by panicking/rushing/ getting in to hoof ball and head tennis. . Burton were plucky and worked very hard but it was our individual errors that let them get as close as they did. Why can’t we get a young Manchester United kid on loan who can score on his debut ? Anyway .. it’s 3 precious points. That’s all that matters. Still lots of games to play. Still in a great run of form and had the spirit to keep playing.

There will always be a distortion when clubs like Leicester and Fulham drop. My gut feeling (with zero empirical evidence 🤪) is that wages in L1 and L2 for a mid ranked player in a mid ranked team have stagnated. The money just isn’t there. Oh yes, for a one off at a big team - there will always be a rate buster, but the every day reality is a different matter.

I think the 12k is an exception - an enticement in difficult times to get an aging player of his pedigree when there was little else available . The market has changed. I’d bet our regulars are probably earning 4-6 K with the older “stars” on shorter contracts at 6-8 K. There might be room for a 1 off 10k player but you can bet your life there will be terms and conditions. I read somewhere that the average (for the top 100 players ) is just over 7k .. remember that average is for the top 100 not all league 1 players.

Can we use a different short cut for his name ?. I find CBT somewhat unsettling.

I probably could have but it’s an interesting comparison. I love to have grunt under the bonnet, not to exceed speed limits, simply to have the reserves in emergencies and the waftability of an engine that is less stressed. Each to his own. In simpler terms though .. if it’s a question of 3k a week verses 6k a week then of course money talks; but if Derby are offering say 10/15% less dosh than “AN Other” perennial L1 club that has a regular attendance of 7,100. Which would you take ?

What happens after a game is abandoned ? Just a straight replay at another date ? Anyway I reckon you’re right Bolton will have games in hand but a lot of pressure on them to get results in a cramped fixture list .. and haven’t they got an FA cup replay too ?

Oh yes, for sure but Knight had tasted it and was wanted by a team in a higher league. I was thinking more about those players currently in L2 or L1. Derby has to be more appealing than Wycombe or Orient and that appeal must be more valuable in terms of 10% less in salary terms ? Hey I don’t know but I’d sacrifice heated seats and metallic paint for a bigger engine even if it cost me a few quid

It’s the name of the game isn’t it. Bottom line we are a good side, we have earned our position, our players have given at least as much as any one of us could ask. It’s a a bit of a lottery 2 players, in the right place, with the right skill set could tip a balance and we could be kings and emperors at our level. But do they sign, are they the right ones ? Do we lose some disinterested pieces elsewhere. Funny thing is without being biased, this is L1 and if you were a player with ambition, would a few percentage points in salary and contract terms mean that much if it was .. play for DCFC / 25,000 home crowd every week - pure theatre .. and Wycombe wanderers with a dodgy car park policy? Perrrrlease ! . So you are Wayne Champney Fortesque .. 21, young gun, lots of utube highlight reels .. want to sign for Crawley, Wycombe or, oh maybe Derby County ? .,🤣. Come on .. call me entitled .. don’t give an F .. Dreams man, have dreams

I have tendency to spout polemics when it comes to sporting heroes. Not many spur me to this. A few handfuls over a lifetime but the good ones need to be recognised. The world has become very cynical. I just like remembering what it’s like to have ideals I suppose 😊

I simply am not clever enough or knowledgeable enough to get too deeply in to this but if our midfield needs anything it is a player who can control a ball with his first touch, make space to play a useful pass. We talk about someone who can “break up play” or a breaker of lines or a “general” But For me it’s kind of Idiakez .. those players who own the ball and decide what they want to do with it. It ought to be Hourihan but if I am honest with my own feelings, he is solid and tidy, organised and has a decent shot on him. Maestro pulling strings ? Nope, and not is Max (and he should be by now) I suppose that’s League 1 but we have needed a special player in the middle for a long time.

I really am an aging newbie when it comes to DCFC. 10 years a fan and ST holder but that means little compared to most on here who have it in the blood from an early age. But for what it’s worth, Curtis is the most “right” player I have ever seen in a Derby shirt. He was no youngster when he joined. We were his Indian summer and boy did the sun shine. Sure there were days when he got out paced by some young guns and he wasn’t a silky ball playing CB. But as a man who read the game, stood tall gave absolutely everything on the pitch… and some…., Curtis is my favourite player by a huge margin. Some skill but more than that .. pride, integrity guts. Bloody love the guy. If I could have been a player I would have liked to be like him.

Me too ( in respect of those highlights) . Multiple shots of the same goals. Might be a real ace but didn’t see enough of his touch under pressure to judge if he has THE magic. Finishing looks good but you need to see what a player does when he has two on him and either plays the right pass or loses them. Or has a sublime trap the ball thing or drifts in to places when no one saw him. I knew 100% that Ebiowe was class, the ball belonged to him. There is something about certain players. Those highlights were sound enough but didn’t light my fire. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t got it, just that the reel tells little.

Sad day today A football man now but I grew up watching Union, the great 60/70’s teams on grass and mud. Wales playing the equivalent of total football. The names of them and their rivals ring out today, Barry John, Gareth Edwards, Jeane Pierre Romeu, Grant Batty, Gerald Davies, Phil Bennet and so many others JPR Williams left us today. He has a place waiting in my pantheon of the greats. I maybe rose tinted but the way those teams played in that era was, at times, high art. We talk about ball on the floor, they moved the ball hand to hand and on the day it was electric.

Truth be told there isn’t great history, no legends to be made but it is a competition and we are in it. For me it’s a perfect playground to experiment. Fringe players, young guns, returnees from injury. Whoever we play will respect a visit to us and away games give everyone experience. And yes, a scratch card chance of a Wembley trip, why not ? Luton won it having been shafted by the EFL they enjoyed their day at Wembley and appropriately embarrassed the executive. They didn’t do too badly in the aftermath. There’s a naughty streak in me that wants promotion and on to of that a chance at Wembley to bite back at those who had agendas beyond simple fair play and just sanction.

Well that’s a bit of good news. He’s no youngster but so so effective for us. 2 more years 😊😊 Cheers Mr Shoulders

Bolton, Brighton, Middlesbrough.. he’s here he’s there he’s every blooming where

I think that’s fair enough but at the same time the flat track bully thing is kind of what you need in league 1. Then I’d think I’d challenge you over our performance against better teams. I am no stato but suspect we have been on par in our games against the better teams. Peterborough the other week was narrow margins, both teams played good skilled football but the deciding margin for me was down to younger legs. You’re right though about the end of season drop off. I hope the bigger squad, returnees from injury and any reinforcements might just be enough to get us over the line. The one thing that worries me is Peterborough in a play off final !

Yes. He doesn’t stand out that much in this league - oh yes he is more than capable - but the more the ball is on the ground, the brighter and more skilled the players around him are and he will stand out more. You watch bits of interplay in a match. NML, is on a wavelength as is Nyambe, Cash and at times good old Fozzy. The guys that don’t don’t play the obvious pass and can see a bit further ahead

I see your point and agree with it in part but I think Tommo’s injury came just as he was knocking on the door to be a starter. He hasn’t been able to play that much but is hopefully coming back now. And Fornah ? I generally only see home games so it’s difficult to comment as he hasn’t featured that much, occasionally as a sub but how many starts has he had ? Don’t think he’s had a fair crack of the whip yet. I think he’s got something. Without those two we don’t have a particularly dynamic midfield. Skilled yes, intelligent yes but Max and Connor need something to compliment them.

Love this. Names, stories and derivations. I knew a bloke in Sheffield, surname Havenhand. His great grandparents were Dutch emigres and opened a Butchers Shop: “R. Van Hand.” Changed it at the outbreak of WW1 as anything faintly Germanic wasn’t popular. Shops name sounded the same in proper Yorkshire speak.

It rains less on the eastern side of the country. I’d also add we went a season or more on bare bones ground maintenance. It isn’t about ambition it’s about reality. If your idea of ambition and drive is to have a Porsche on tick in your garage and a maxed out credit card you’re welcome to it. PS, Not embarrassed at all thank you mwah mwah

Not a bad game. You could almost say routine away win. Plenty of effort, too much ball in the air for us to be truly dominant but our skill, strength and experience was enough to see us over the line. Fleetwood weren’t without threat so we couldn’t be casual, that said, bar a few nervy moments there was only going to be one winner. Pleased for everyone. As @Caerphilly Ram knows (😳) I am not very good at this formation malarkey but it does occur to me that Bradley would be better in a CB pairing in a 442. That is what he played mostly at Luton. He gets exposed in a 3, doesn’t have the speed to adjust when there are difficulties. Anyway he did ok and a right royal Anglo Saxon 2 fingers to all those who love a whipping boy. Your last one Collins ain’t doing too bad is he ? Give them a break will you ! Cash was powerful again, NML was all over the place, Wilson is an attack terrier and Bird who drifts through games sometimes, showed his quality in neon lights at the end. UTR 😎🍻

Don’t understand the Fornah thing. He always looks useful and front foot when he’s on the pitch. Got good feet too. Not enough of our team have the best close control. Fornah has a good touch.

Well that looks like 4 at the back Seems like 442 ? With JJ and Collo up front ? NML/Wilson wide and Bird Hourihan in the middle ?