jono

So, a young guy who made a mistake, had lost a parent and was out with the team captain has no chance of redemption.? 
he was fit to play, fit to fulfill his contract, got his head down, was contrite, scored a few goals and got on with it. 
 
OK, for me Curtis has Captain written in his DNA but just maybe this is what it takes to lift Tom to another level ? 
I’m all for giving him a chance. 
 

So, a young guy who made a mistake, had lost a parent and was out with the team captain has no chance of redemption.? 
he was fit to play, fit to fulfill his contract, got his head down, was contrite, scored a few goals and got on with it. 
 
OK, for me Curtis has Captain written in his DNA but just maybe this is what it takes to lift Tom to another level ? 
I’m all for giving him a chance. 
 

Interesting comments on face masks. Most around us wore them to arrive and depart, took them off when sat. I didn't see anyone less than two rows apart and we were well spaced.
More amusing was the "one way" system and total lack of policing of that. Our steward (who made me look like the YTS) was absent most of the time and did nothing to enforce any rules. 
Having said that, I felt as safe as I am going to be in a football stadium. I think any of us attending accept there will be some level of risk.

It's likely to be safety in numbers I would imagine similar to when people stand at away games. The rules are that you don't stand continuously but if enough people do it the club are stuck and can't do anything about it without causing big issues ditto with the masks. Personally, I'd say it's pretty obvious in the open air you're creating a bigger health risk asking people to wear the mask in 32 degree heat than allowing people to go unmasked in the stadium itself. 

So, a young guy who made a mistake, had lost a parent and was out with the team captain has no chance of redemption.? 
he was fit to play, fit to fulfill his contract, got his head down, was contrite, scored a few goals and got on with it. 
 
OK, for me Curtis has Captain written in his DNA but just maybe this is what it takes to lift Tom to another level ? 
I’m all for giving him a chance. 
 

So, a young guy who made a mistake, had lost a parent and was out with the team captain has no chance of redemption.? 
he was fit to play, fit to fulfill his contract, got his head down, was contrite, scored a few goals and got on with it. 
 
OK, for me Curtis has Captain written in his DNA but just maybe this is what it takes to lift Tom to another level ? 
I’m all for giving him a chance. 
 

So, a young guy who made a mistake, had lost a parent and was out with the team captain has no chance of redemption.? 
he was fit to play, fit to fulfill his contract, got his head down, was contrite, scored a few goals and got on with it. 
 
OK, for me Curtis has Captain written in his DNA but just maybe this is what it takes to lift Tom to another level ? 
I’m all for giving him a chance. 
 

I am ambivalent about this. On the one hand we signed up to a set of rules so we really ought to follow them.
But. Given that the stadium was spacious, the stands were in the open air, the crowd was restricted in terms of numbers then perhaps the rules were rather silly. Way beyond what is legally required, particularly with the precedent at Wembley. Simply not logical given the type of event. 
 
There is a thing about good law. It’s one that most follow when reason is exercised. .. I wore my mask in the concourse and the loos. .. I didn’t want to in the fresh air and as 90% of my fellows weren’t .. then I didn’t until I left my seat to leave. 
 
 

"I think for Tom it is a big season for him, he has to step up, he knows that." Rooney told DerbyshireLive.
"When he was injured last season I put a lot of demand on him to get back fit. What people didn't see and don't see is how he was and is in the dressing room. He was leading the players even when he was injured. He came back with high demands of himself and his team mates, and giving him that added responsibility is a challenge for him, and he has to take up that challenge..."

No. It seems like according to EFL rules we have a full squad, thanks to playing the Academy in the FA Cup against Chorley. We are under hard embargo and so it seems (most think) that if your squad is up to number to compete you can't sign other players.
But no-one actually knows for sure.

Well they are currently on Zero so it would be up to them 

He’s always looked lively whenever I’ve seen him. Would need to see him start some first team games to properly assess though.
 
It’s interesting that he’s playing all over the place because it might have been difficult for him at right back with McDonald seemingly having the deputy spot nailed down.

We've had a few over the years. I reckon Kinkladze was fond of the odd dumpling or two! ?

I don’t know a lot about him except one youth team game I saw. Just think he is a man now and looked a handful. Very determined and good feet. .. dunno, it was 30 minutes in a friendly but my instinct is that he is more than useful. 

It’s about time we had a striker where the opposition can shout who’s eaten all the pies, as the ball hits the net 

It’s about time we had a striker where the opposition can shout who’s eaten all the pies, as the ball hits the net 

I dont know about that we created quite a few chances I throught morrison did well personal.

Perhaps that didn't show as well on the tv, he just looked a bit pudgy. ?

Thing is, you either want to go or not, no point in moaning about what others are doing, it’s your decision now.

At this point it’s going to be irrelevant whether Rooney is/could be a good manager or not.
If his higher-ups don’t get our situation sorted sharpish, he’s not going to stand a chance.

To be frank Roy, the thing that struck me was he seemed more like a CF than a winger.  He could hold the ball tight to him with 2 on his back. Lot of strength. He nearly got a serious big CF’s shot off bursting through the middle in the first half. .. yes, it is early days. You never know how they will gel in a unit but I wouldn’t like to play against him. 

That was the game I saw, mostly. I didn’t latch on to Morrison .. I was sitting quite close to the pitch and you don’t get a good view of midfield interplay. Unlike Roy I though Aluko looked dangerous, mobile and very strong. Feisty has come on physically since I last saw him. I’d hate lose Byrne. 
 
That was a good run out. We moved the ball well, weren’t predictable, got caught when they pressed hard and high but they looked hungry and skilled.
Had a little welling up when the team came out and when King Colin banged one in. It felt like coming home after a long grubby journey in bad weather. 
 
As the Aussies say “She’ll be right mate” 
we are ok … if we avoid a points deduction we won’t get relegated.. they are good enough and maybe will improve a bit on the way. 

That was the game I saw, mostly. I didn’t latch on to Morrison .. I was sitting quite close to the pitch and you don’t get a good view of midfield interplay. Unlike Roy I though Aluko looked dangerous, mobile and very strong. Feisty has come on physically since I last saw him. I’d hate lose Byrne. 
 
That was a good run out. We moved the ball well, weren’t predictable, got caught when they pressed hard and high but they looked hungry and skilled.
Had a little welling up when the team came out and when King Colin banged one in. It felt like coming home after a long grubby journey in bad weather. 
 
As the Aussies say “She’ll be right mate” 
we are ok … if we avoid a points deduction we won’t get relegated.. they are good enough and maybe will improve a bit on the way. 

It was great to get back down to Pride Park and see our first team in action. Not the best day for it temperature-wise and sometimes players are going through the motions a bit in friendlies but I thought most of them today put in a good shift.
Players that caught my eye first half were Morrison (great use of the ball - if anyone can get him playing like that every week, sign him up!), Aluko, Byrne, Lawrence (despite his header!)  Jagielka and Davies both classy at the back and Roos' handling of the ball and quick distribution kept us moving forward. The intent was definitely there to get forward much quicker, with some smart interchanges to transition play down both flanks. 
Bird had a mixed game, did some good stuff going forward but made the mistakes for the goals. However, he tries things, Shinnie doesn't and was more of a sideways passer than Bird today. Buchanan puts in a shift going forward, I thought he did okay too given the opposition. 
No-one seems to have mentioned that we let our second goal in just before the 60 minute changes. At this point we were playing against a completely fresh Man Utd midfield and attack whereas our lads were wilting. It was 36 degrees pitch-side and a rushed pass from Aluko I think that put Bird under pressure.
Unlike others, I thought Fozzy played well when he came on, looked much sharper than the end of last season and I thought him and CKR took good responsibility for the younger group of players. Fozzy definitely organising the defence. Ebosele played well too, you can't ignore him, Hutchinson took a while to get into it but looked classy on the ball and could have had a goal. Bardell and Thompson showed some nice touches and weren't overawed - have either of them played for the first team before? 
Sibley and Macdonald a bit disappointing, especially Sibley who wasn't offering the defensive cover that Aluko offered first half. I want to see him get his mojo back quickly because this isn't the player I know he can be.
Not sure whether Man Utd's first goal was a handball? I thought it was but not given, did Rams TV show anything? 
Overall an enjoyable afternoon and a decent atmosphere for a friendly with a bit of banter between the two sets of 'singing' supporters.
However the highlight of the afternoon, and worth the admission money alone, was to see CKR score an actual goal in front of the Derby fans. Use him well and he's going to be even more of a hero this season than last. ?

To be frank Roy, the thing that struck me was he seemed more like a CF than a winger.  He could hold the ball tight to him with 2 on his back. Lot of strength. He nearly got a serious big CF’s shot off bursting through the middle in the first half. .. yes, it is early days. You never know how they will gel in a unit but I wouldn’t like to play against him.