Idiakez

I’ve got a horrible feeling tonight will be very similar to Ipswich away last season, where we just didn’t lay a glove on them. Gayle, Barks, Nyambe, Forsyth and Bird would’ve made a world of difference too and you could argue that they’d all be starting if fit. Although I will say despite my pessimism if we do nick a goal we’re as likely as anyone to see it out, so who knows. 
 

Up the rams. 

11 hours ago, S6 boy said:

I thought he looked like a beast in the first half and was thinking he'd slot in nicely between Cash and Nelson in a back three.  However it was obvious he is not great on the ball as our staff had devised a press which completely ignored him.  Some of the fans were not happy we were letting him have the ball with zero pressure, but to me it must have been deliberate.  It seemed to work too, as I don't remember him doing anything with the ball at his feet all match.

Bang on. He’d just wander into midfield before either giving it away or playing sideways/backwards. The few times he tried to play into their number 9 they lost possession. We definitely let him play and cut off his passing options, rather than worry about him slicing us open.

We’ve been on the wrong end of games like today many times in the past so nice to dish one out in such a big game. Bolton are clearly well drilled, definitely easier on the eye than us but don’t have the grit needed to push through these kind of games, whereas we do. 
 

Any of the back 3 and Wildsmith could’ve been MOTM. Thought Smith and Thompson added a bit of bite when they came on although not hard when you’re a direct replacement for Hourihane, who for all his qualities looks like he’s towing a caravan when he moves. 
 

Their skipper, Santos, who their fans rave about - did anyone else think he looked absolutely dreadful? Clearly not good on the ball, got caught under 4/5 long balls and offered no threat from set pieces. Might be an off day but wasn’t impressed after reading so much about him.

58 minutes ago, kevinhectoring said:

Hope he puts Fozzie in the middle. Want Cashin and Sibley covering their right wing. With Adams sitting deep in MF that’s less ground for Fozzie to cover

I’d rather Cashin in the middle personally as I think he reads the game better than anyone else. Forsyth also more comfortable defending 1v1 which is where Cash struggles from time to time. 

12 minutes ago, SECornerRAM said:

Sonny Bradley out today 

Nothing too serious - I'm lead to believe it's concussion (hence the sickness etc) 

Has to be Fozzy LCB and Cash CB, surely?

What are these players being told to do in training? Surely it’s not get it out wide and hope NML can pull something out his backside for hours a day? Cos if it’s not that then we’re either praying for a set piece or a bit of magic from somewhere. We’ve created absolutely nothing against a team that haven’t won since November.

We turn every game into a scrap as if we’re the underdogs which of course suits 90% of this torrid division down to the ground. Why play around them when we can try and out-battle teams that haven’t got half as much talent as us? Baffling. 

All but signed. Papers sent off to EFL yesterday apparently.

55 minutes ago, Idiakez said:

I’ll eat my hat if we score today. Never seen us so toothless. 

Anyone got any ketchup?

I’ll eat my hat if we score today. Never seen us so toothless. 

Can anyone tell me when our last good performance at home was? We’ve got a team with quality in abundance (for this level) and their instructions are get it out wide and cross. When that doesn’t work we’ve got nothing, even against a side like Shrewsbury who were quite clearly devoid of any quality whatsoever. Painful.

Would love us to win 2 or 3 nil without getting out of second gear. The games against Burton and Cheltenham (on paper at least) should’ve been relatively comfortable but we made a mess of them, expending far more energy than we probably needed to. Can’t remember our last good 90 minute performance at home, possibly Barnsley? Easy to say Bolton’s fixture pile up will derail them but I’m sure there will be a few home games where they’re cruising for the last 30 or so, which we seem incapable of doing.

I actually liked Gregory the first time round. Big lad with a good footballing brain, I think he’d suit the way we play. I’m a fan of Collins but his actual hold up play leaves a lot to be desired, Gregory would definitely be an improvement in that regard. Whether he’s as much of a goal threat I’m not too sure but would be nice to have another option.

24 minutes ago, Srg said:

Read a stat that Peterborough haven’t won in 21 games in front of more than 15k fans. 

They’ve got one of, if not the youngest squads in the division whereas we’re at the other end of the spectrum. Hopefully it’s the kind of game where the likes of Hourihane, Fozzy, Nelson etc use that bit of know how to give us the edge. That stat would suggest their youngsters are more a deer in headlights rather than a rise to the occasion type side.

Derby 0-1 Peterborough 

24 minutes ago, Srg said:

Read a stat that Peterborough haven’t won in 21 games in front of more than 15k fans. 

Losing 19 of them 🫣

The show goes on… for me at least as the match thread poster.

7th vs 8th in League One. Stevenage have 1 win in their last 6 league games, having drawn the last 2. A late equaliser from a certain Chris Martin stopping them from a good win in Bristol last time out. Managed by Steve Evans you know what you’re going to get, much like he does when he steps foot in the chippy, so expect a tight game. Stevenage have picked up more points away from home than they have at Broadhall Way (had to google that) so perhaps not as tricky as it could be, however this is Derby after all. Off the back of a very steady 2-0 win does Warne keep the handbrake off and leave us top heavy or go back to playing as many holding midfielders as physically possible? Tune in Saturday at 2pm to find out. 

Can anyone even be arsed?

A bit more info:

We all know of Derby’s recent struggles (especially at home) but Exeter are flagging themselves after an impressive start. Bottom of the form table with 5 defeats in a row, if there’s a manager under more pressure than Paul Warne in this league I’d imagine it’s Gary Caldwell. 

A thumping win for the Rams to kickstart our season and get our home form back on track?

Probably not. 
 

Best squad in the league on paper. One of, if not the biggest budget. Best training facilities. Best stadium. 
 

Yet this is the football we’re producing week in week out. Time to go Mr Warne.

2-1 Bolton

Waggy FGS

Better but not convincing. First half was probably the best we’ve played so far this season (not that the bar is set high) whereas second half we looked absolutely gassed from 60 mins onwards. Hourihane and Smith desperately need some help in the middle with Hourihane especially putting one hell of a shift in. 
Speaks volumes that Fleetwood were able to make subs to influence the game whilst we had our hands tied and could only put square pegs in round holes. The big lad Omochere they brought on upfront was a handful, only 22 and signed from Bohemians a couple of seasons ago, do we not have the ability to pick players up of a similar ilk? Not saying he’s going to go onto be a world beater but I doubt he was expensive (fee or wages) and he certainly added something when he came on. Same with Quitirna who they also brought on and was signed from Waterford. Agree with @Thierry Ennui that Earl looked like a very good player, thought he was very accomplished when he push forwards too. 

Anyway 3 points is 3 points. Onto the next one, hopefully with some new additions to choose from. 
 

Four games and four of the worst performances I’ve ever seen from a Derby side. If Burton weren’t absolute dross it’d be 4 losses. 

https://twitter.com/mrandrewmoon/status/1688548669828567040?s=46&t=Zia7L2cw2498hPmqkexUCQ

Not going to Portsmouth it seems.

Derby 1-0 Wigan FGS Collins 

Derby 1-0 Wigan FGS Collins

I think people look for things that aren’t there when he’s speaking. To me, he comes across as an honest, hardworking, enthusiastic individual who will no doubt put his all into this club no matter the circumstances. He was open about not wanting to lose Knight but having his hands tied, he’s open about not being able to bring in the perfect striker, what else do you want him to say? Then there are those who dissect every little comment as if he’s speaking in riddles. He’s just a bloke, he’s not a Marvel villain delivering a monologue before a big fight with Captain America. There is no further meaning behind his comments, he just says what he sees/feels.