Chester40

I agree that it's a good night ahead. Things are finally moving in this ageing era of mega-beasts! Either way - Joshua gets closer to the chance to fight for something big ..or he gets taught a lesson and he's off the table as a creditable champion. With only a fight with Fury left for him as worth watching (Wilder seems done now). Parker seems a decent bloke, but he seems to be just under the league of the top heavyweights so I kinda hope Zhang bullies him into submission and that then allows him to take on Fury eventually and all questions are answered.

He accepted results weren't great, that what he was trying wasn't working as quickly/well as he hoped...and he had various reasons (excuses) why that was the case and felt it wasn't within his scope to change those things (ie finances, ownership, fanbase etc). Having read a number of manager's autobiographies that's their version of 'failing'. It's never their fault.

Warne et al...? Plus Medical staff, groundsmen, stewards, catering, ticket office, general office/admin, stadium upkeep, advertising, sales team, revenue generation, academy staff, cleaners, maintenance, security ... guess it could be quite a lot of people still. Wonder what it was like before...

Surely it's time to get CBT and Waghorn some minutes.

Scruffy AF start to the 2nd half...

Back 3 is a real back 3... Dominated and should have been out of sight. Vale got a foothold and we couldn't get out without be too troubled. Barks and Bird especially looking loose in possession. Long ball over the top and Barks does well and lays off for a good cross from Adams that is steered home by Gayle. Not actually played a lot of football but they look very susceptible to the long ball and are doubling up out wide so when the ball drops in the middle we are picking it up in space. Wildsmith done nothing. Ward MoTM so far. Back 3 untroubled largely.

Playing a back 3 in a way that's attacking. End of...

Needs to put him on the naughty step.

Wide spread back 3. Dropped long ball over the back, Ward pulls it back and Sibley sidefoots a shot that has a triple deflection and in.

Definitely looks like a back 3..

I personally think a back 3 is a good option...but we have played it poorly at times. We have seemed to spread really wide and then pass it out from the keeper and play it ponderously across the back 3 to the other side and inevitably knock it down the line. Its congested, are receiving the ball with our backs to the goal at chest height. Cue scrappy game, lots of free kicks for backing in, ton of throw ins ...and we lose control of the game.

Can't see it personally.... Back 3 spread wide with Adams covering if back 3 are dragged too wide. Ward and Sibley pushing up and crossing - even over lapping if we get on top. Could potentially be very attacking if we do it properly. Also could be very negative if not.

Wildsmith Wilson Nelson Cashin Sibley Adams Smith Thompson NML CBT Gayle Ratters and energy in midfield, lots of attacking options down the wing.

That's it, get us on back on track talking about Warne's poor tactics.... as opposed to his poor team talks.😜 If we lose today the **** will hit the fan that's for sure... be nice to just talk about football rather than regurgitating the same arguments over and over.

The only thing I could hear in my head after Wildsmith's 'tackle' was Cloughie saying 'oh bloody hell, you need shooting'. Just criminal. As stupid and brainless as anything you will ever see. Always said it, Warne-ball is only acceptable when you win. First half was better and we were winning. 2nd half was bloody terrible. All the chickens came home to roost. NML looked shattered, Bird was ineffective. Two shocking defensive errors and we are left just launching it aimlessly. Needs a big turn round.

Wildsmith ...shocking... so so poor. Not the first time either.

Defensively we have looked really solid. Wilson been decent in patches. Adams and Smith have looked a good pairing. NML another sluggish performance. Bird not quite picking the right pass. Gayle looks on the edge of something.

Ffs, always something. Niambe pulled something. Barks on- reshuffle to drop Wilson or Smith to full back I'm guessing.

Really good start from Derby without creating too much. Charlton now coming more into it. Which is creating space for Derby on the break

Ref gives a free kick against Adams when he's doing absolutely nothing - other than hold his arms up to prove he's not fouling their player who is backing into him miles from the ball. Pathetic

The two things that annoyed me most during the game were : Ball was threaded to Hourihane in the middle of the pitch, if he'd turned he would have had room to run into. Instead he just passed it 20 yards backwards to a defender who under pressure passes it back to the keeper. Bird collects the ball which has been cleared, Derby are on top, he is facing the goal with a few yards to run into..he turns away and tries to slide a pass out wide that trickles out for a throw in. They are our 'ball players' and seemed happy to leave the 'match winning' to our 'skillful' players- Wilson, NML, Barks..who all struggled to do that yesterday. Defence largely looked solid. Adams worked his socks off ...really felt as a pair they contributed too little. I know a lot will say its all down to Warne telling them to how to play but we just didn't look after the ball in midfield at all.

Wow, Rooney looks older than I remember....

Think the tone is overly negative. We have been way more terrible and won games. Tight first half and it seemed to be prime-Warneball when we went 1 up. Slow out to block their shot and its 1-1. Even game. First 10mins of the 2nd half we were awful. Couldnt pass to each other. Then started to get a grip and went behind to what feels like yet another slack marking error. Warne made changes. We piled forward and couldn't quite create a clear chance. Draw would have been the fair result and a decent point. Thought the defence was solid again. Niambe looked great when he came on. Sibley was decent. Wilson was hot and cold. Adams a workaholic. Hourihane was ok. Bird and NML seemed out of sorts. Wildsmith's kicking was atrocious. Gayle and Barks didn't make a huge impact. Two winnable... and must win games coming up.

I think as well as out going, what he describes at times is introverted, ultra self-aware and ultimately quite indulgent navel-gazing. That also suggests a lot of over thinking, questioning himself, worrying about the opposition, being honest about what could/couldn't go wrong. That easily results in pragmatic football. Someone like Kevin Keegan or Jurgen Klopp who is all passion probably don't worry too much analysing everything and just think about what their team can do -making them more attacking ?

My feeling is this is the kind of game where with Warne as manager there is greater cause for optimism than for many a year. We don't over commit, we have a really good physical presence, we don't feel we to need go toe-to-toe and would be happy to nick/s***house it and have the individual players to win the game with a moment of magic. Barnsley need the 3 points, so they will come on to us and that's perfect for the way we will set up. We have a good keeper, Adams shielding the back 4 of Niambe, Cashin, Nelson and Elder looks solid. Plenty of pace and ability out wide. I'd start ; Wildsmith Niambe Cashin Nelson Elder Adams Bird Thompson Wilson NML Barks With Gayle, Sibley, CBT to come on.... Feel weirdly confident.