DavesaRam

CKR will take a few more weeks to get match sharp. Would still like to see Stretton on at the end to occupy the opposition defenders.

At the start of the season, and especially after how we trailed out of the previous one, we were expecting an absolutely gruelling few months giving our all while watching a bunch of players barely able to string two passes together. The reality is the we are good to watch. I don't know what Wayne Rooney has done, but he has got the team playing some lovely, quick-passing, with great interplay, and players changing roles and places. The improvement is remarkable. We certainly don't look like a bottom of the table team.
As ever we struggled to turn our play into goals, but we ended up with a lorry load of shots, with 5 (although I thought more than that) on target. YEs, some were from long range, but not so long ago the players were trying to walk the ball over the line at every opportunity. We are creating chances and are not afraid to shoot. 3 great saves by the keeper, another one by the crossbar  and another disgraceful penalty ignored. Incidentally Ebosele's penalty shout had some meat to it, because as he was battling his way into the area, the defender had hooked his arm around Ebosele's to the point of it being inter-twined, which is clear evidence that the defender was fouling him.
I actually thought the ref was reasonably ok early on, bar his having lost his yellow card. Preston were able to break up a high proportion of our attacking breaks with cynical fouls, and there should have been at least 3 or 4 more cards shown. At least Derby didn't get the most yellow cards this time, so no doubt the ref is in for a bollocking tonight!
Preston upped their game for the second half and tightened up in their challenges, so the high pressing actually began to hold us up. They also stepped forwards a coupe of yards and it changed the game. We still created far more threat than they did until the last 10 or 15 minutes. I am right proud of what the players achieved today.
Once again I don't think I can single anyone out who had a poor game, with only Sibley not having the effect everyone wants him to have. But as ever he virtually never, ever gets played in his best, most natural position. He should be played in the number 10 role, either playing off the main striker (a bit hard, we haven't had one for a while), or playing in the hole behind a front two. He is instead tuck out on the wing, where he can produce the goods on occasion, but today he had no chance. He is not a lone striker. Tom can play that role better, so why not put him there, and Sibbers in Tom's place? One day he will end up going elsewhere, get played to his strengths and end up bagging a load of goals. We did it with Weimmann, who plays off a target man. We stuck him out on the wing, or as lone striker, or as bench warmer and he hardly scored for us, but he moved to Bristol and started cracking them in.
Jagielka and Davies were excellent yet again. I am assuming Jagielka's presence has been key, because we now have Davies looking like a player who can cope with the ball at his feet, where as last season he looked like he might trip over it when it got to his feet! And the improvement in Shinnie this season is really good. His reading of the game, and his ability to spot and make a pass were all questionable but he is now looking a complete footballer. And one attacking move he was involved in down the left wing had him playing a one-two the swerving and drifting past a coupe of defenders before getting into the box and crossing the ball. Brilliant!
It was a match we could easily have lost last season, but we stood up to a lot of rough stuff and outplayed Preston until right near the end of the match. We are going through one heck of a transformation. and are not being bullied off the ball anywhere near as much as we were, and we are tough enough to be able to stick to our game plan. 
We can't score for toffee, we seem to have the entire football establishment against us, and yet I am really excited about our future. It won't take much for us to start finding the net and then away we'll go. 
Se you on Tuesday!

At the start of the season, and especially after how we trailed out of the previous one, we were expecting an absolutely gruelling few months giving our all while watching a bunch of players barely able to string two passes together. The reality is the we are good to watch. I don't know what Wayne Rooney has done, but he has got the team playing some lovely, quick-passing, with great interplay, and players changing roles and places. The improvement is remarkable. We certainly don't look like a bottom of the table team.
As ever we struggled to turn our play into goals, but we ended up with a lorry load of shots, with 5 (although I thought more than that) on target. YEs, some were from long range, but not so long ago the players were trying to walk the ball over the line at every opportunity. We are creating chances and are not afraid to shoot. 3 great saves by the keeper, another one by the crossbar  and another disgraceful penalty ignored. Incidentally Ebosele's penalty shout had some meat to it, because as he was battling his way into the area, the defender had hooked his arm around Ebosele's to the point of it being inter-twined, which is clear evidence that the defender was fouling him.
I actually thought the ref was reasonably ok early on, bar his having lost his yellow card. Preston were able to break up a high proportion of our attacking breaks with cynical fouls, and there should have been at least 3 or 4 more cards shown. At least Derby didn't get the most yellow cards this time, so no doubt the ref is in for a bollocking tonight!
Preston upped their game for the second half and tightened up in their challenges, so the high pressing actually began to hold us up. They also stepped forwards a coupe of yards and it changed the game. We still created far more threat than they did until the last 10 or 15 minutes. I am right proud of what the players achieved today.
Once again I don't think I can single anyone out who had a poor game, with only Sibley not having the effect everyone wants him to have. But as ever he virtually never, ever gets played in his best, most natural position. He should be played in the number 10 role, either playing off the main striker (a bit hard, we haven't had one for a while), or playing in the hole behind a front two. He is instead tuck out on the wing, where he can produce the goods on occasion, but today he had no chance. He is not a lone striker. Tom can play that role better, so why not put him there, and Sibbers in Tom's place? One day he will end up going elsewhere, get played to his strengths and end up bagging a load of goals. We did it with Weimmann, who plays off a target man. We stuck him out on the wing, or as lone striker, or as bench warmer and he hardly scored for us, but he moved to Bristol and started cracking them in.
Jagielka and Davies were excellent yet again. I am assuming Jagielka's presence has been key, because we now have Davies looking like a player who can cope with the ball at his feet, where as last season he looked like he might trip over it when it got to his feet! And the improvement in Shinnie this season is really good. His reading of the game, and his ability to spot and make a pass were all questionable but he is now looking a complete footballer. And one attacking move he was involved in down the left wing had him playing a one-two the swerving and drifting past a coupe of defenders before getting into the box and crossing the ball. Brilliant!
It was a match we could easily have lost last season, but we stood up to a lot of rough stuff and outplayed Preston until right near the end of the match. We are going through one heck of a transformation. and are not being bullied off the ball anywhere near as much as we were, and we are tough enough to be able to stick to our game plan. 
We can't score for toffee, we seem to have the entire football establishment against us, and yet I am really excited about our future. It won't take much for us to start finding the net and then away we'll go. 
Se you on Tuesday!

I vote that we don’t get the penno again. ?

I vote that we don’t get the penno again. ?

I vote that we don’t get the penno again. ?

I'm not so sure that's the case.
I think we simply have far better defense players than attacking ones at this moment.
 

At the start of the season, and especially after how we trailed out of the previous one, we were expecting an absolutely gruelling few months giving our all while watching a bunch of players barely able to string two passes together. The reality is the we are good to watch. I don't know what Wayne Rooney has done, but he has got the team playing some lovely, quick-passing, with great interplay, and players changing roles and places. The improvement is remarkable. We certainly don't look like a bottom of the table team.
As ever we struggled to turn our play into goals, but we ended up with a lorry load of shots, with 5 (although I thought more than that) on target. YEs, some were from long range, but not so long ago the players were trying to walk the ball over the line at every opportunity. We are creating chances and are not afraid to shoot. 3 great saves by the keeper, another one by the crossbar  and another disgraceful penalty ignored. Incidentally Ebosele's penalty shout had some meat to it, because as he was battling his way into the area, the defender had hooked his arm around Ebosele's to the point of it being inter-twined, which is clear evidence that the defender was fouling him.
I actually thought the ref was reasonably ok early on, bar his having lost his yellow card. Preston were able to break up a high proportion of our attacking breaks with cynical fouls, and there should have been at least 3 or 4 more cards shown. At least Derby didn't get the most yellow cards this time, so no doubt the ref is in for a bollocking tonight!
Preston upped their game for the second half and tightened up in their challenges, so the high pressing actually began to hold us up. They also stepped forwards a coupe of yards and it changed the game. We still created far more threat than they did until the last 10 or 15 minutes. I am right proud of what the players achieved today.
Once again I don't think I can single anyone out who had a poor game, with only Sibley not having the effect everyone wants him to have. But as ever he virtually never, ever gets played in his best, most natural position. He should be played in the number 10 role, either playing off the main striker (a bit hard, we haven't had one for a while), or playing in the hole behind a front two. He is instead tuck out on the wing, where he can produce the goods on occasion, but today he had no chance. He is not a lone striker. Tom can play that role better, so why not put him there, and Sibbers in Tom's place? One day he will end up going elsewhere, get played to his strengths and end up bagging a load of goals. We did it with Weimmann, who plays off a target man. We stuck him out on the wing, or as lone striker, or as bench warmer and he hardly scored for us, but he moved to Bristol and started cracking them in.
Jagielka and Davies were excellent yet again. I am assuming Jagielka's presence has been key, because we now have Davies looking like a player who can cope with the ball at his feet, where as last season he looked like he might trip over it when it got to his feet! And the improvement in Shinnie this season is really good. His reading of the game, and his ability to spot and make a pass were all questionable but he is now looking a complete footballer. And one attacking move he was involved in down the left wing had him playing a one-two the swerving and drifting past a coupe of defenders before getting into the box and crossing the ball. Brilliant!
It was a match we could easily have lost last season, but we stood up to a lot of rough stuff and outplayed Preston until right near the end of the match. We are going through one heck of a transformation. and are not being bullied off the ball anywhere near as much as we were, and we are tough enough to be able to stick to our game plan. 
We can't score for toffee, we seem to have the entire football establishment against us, and yet I am really excited about our future. It won't take much for us to start finding the net and then away we'll go. 
Se you on Tuesday!

At the start of the season, and especially after how we trailed out of the previous one, we were expecting an absolutely gruelling few months giving our all while watching a bunch of players barely able to string two passes together. The reality is the we are good to watch. I don't know what Wayne Rooney has done, but he has got the team playing some lovely, quick-passing, with great interplay, and players changing roles and places. The improvement is remarkable. We certainly don't look like a bottom of the table team.
As ever we struggled to turn our play into goals, but we ended up with a lorry load of shots, with 5 (although I thought more than that) on target. YEs, some were from long range, but not so long ago the players were trying to walk the ball over the line at every opportunity. We are creating chances and are not afraid to shoot. 3 great saves by the keeper, another one by the crossbar  and another disgraceful penalty ignored. Incidentally Ebosele's penalty shout had some meat to it, because as he was battling his way into the area, the defender had hooked his arm around Ebosele's to the point of it being inter-twined, which is clear evidence that the defender was fouling him.
I actually thought the ref was reasonably ok early on, bar his having lost his yellow card. Preston were able to break up a high proportion of our attacking breaks with cynical fouls, and there should have been at least 3 or 4 more cards shown. At least Derby didn't get the most yellow cards this time, so no doubt the ref is in for a bollocking tonight!
Preston upped their game for the second half and tightened up in their challenges, so the high pressing actually began to hold us up. They also stepped forwards a coupe of yards and it changed the game. We still created far more threat than they did until the last 10 or 15 minutes. I am right proud of what the players achieved today.
Once again I don't think I can single anyone out who had a poor game, with only Sibley not having the effect everyone wants him to have. But as ever he virtually never, ever gets played in his best, most natural position. He should be played in the number 10 role, either playing off the main striker (a bit hard, we haven't had one for a while), or playing in the hole behind a front two. He is instead tuck out on the wing, where he can produce the goods on occasion, but today he had no chance. He is not a lone striker. Tom can play that role better, so why not put him there, and Sibbers in Tom's place? One day he will end up going elsewhere, get played to his strengths and end up bagging a load of goals. We did it with Weimmann, who plays off a target man. We stuck him out on the wing, or as lone striker, or as bench warmer and he hardly scored for us, but he moved to Bristol and started cracking them in.
Jagielka and Davies were excellent yet again. I am assuming Jagielka's presence has been key, because we now have Davies looking like a player who can cope with the ball at his feet, where as last season he looked like he might trip over it when it got to his feet! And the improvement in Shinnie this season is really good. His reading of the game, and his ability to spot and make a pass were all questionable but he is now looking a complete footballer. And one attacking move he was involved in down the left wing had him playing a one-two the swerving and drifting past a coupe of defenders before getting into the box and crossing the ball. Brilliant!
It was a match we could easily have lost last season, but we stood up to a lot of rough stuff and outplayed Preston until right near the end of the match. We are going through one heck of a transformation. and are not being bullied off the ball anywhere near as much as we were, and we are tough enough to be able to stick to our game plan. 
We can't score for toffee, we seem to have the entire football establishment against us, and yet I am really excited about our future. It won't take much for us to start finding the net and then away we'll go. 
Se you on Tuesday!

At the start of the season, and especially after how we trailed out of the previous one, we were expecting an absolutely gruelling few months giving our all while watching a bunch of players barely able to string two passes together. The reality is the we are good to watch. I don't know what Wayne Rooney has done, but he has got the team playing some lovely, quick-passing, with great interplay, and players changing roles and places. The improvement is remarkable. We certainly don't look like a bottom of the table team.
As ever we struggled to turn our play into goals, but we ended up with a lorry load of shots, with 5 (although I thought more than that) on target. YEs, some were from long range, but not so long ago the players were trying to walk the ball over the line at every opportunity. We are creating chances and are not afraid to shoot. 3 great saves by the keeper, another one by the crossbar  and another disgraceful penalty ignored. Incidentally Ebosele's penalty shout had some meat to it, because as he was battling his way into the area, the defender had hooked his arm around Ebosele's to the point of it being inter-twined, which is clear evidence that the defender was fouling him.
I actually thought the ref was reasonably ok early on, bar his having lost his yellow card. Preston were able to break up a high proportion of our attacking breaks with cynical fouls, and there should have been at least 3 or 4 more cards shown. At least Derby didn't get the most yellow cards this time, so no doubt the ref is in for a bollocking tonight!
Preston upped their game for the second half and tightened up in their challenges, so the high pressing actually began to hold us up. They also stepped forwards a coupe of yards and it changed the game. We still created far more threat than they did until the last 10 or 15 minutes. I am right proud of what the players achieved today.
Once again I don't think I can single anyone out who had a poor game, with only Sibley not having the effect everyone wants him to have. But as ever he virtually never, ever gets played in his best, most natural position. He should be played in the number 10 role, either playing off the main striker (a bit hard, we haven't had one for a while), or playing in the hole behind a front two. He is instead tuck out on the wing, where he can produce the goods on occasion, but today he had no chance. He is not a lone striker. Tom can play that role better, so why not put him there, and Sibbers in Tom's place? One day he will end up going elsewhere, get played to his strengths and end up bagging a load of goals. We did it with Weimmann, who plays off a target man. We stuck him out on the wing, or as lone striker, or as bench warmer and he hardly scored for us, but he moved to Bristol and started cracking them in.
Jagielka and Davies were excellent yet again. I am assuming Jagielka's presence has been key, because we now have Davies looking like a player who can cope with the ball at his feet, where as last season he looked like he might trip over it when it got to his feet! And the improvement in Shinnie this season is really good. His reading of the game, and his ability to spot and make a pass were all questionable but he is now looking a complete footballer. And one attacking move he was involved in down the left wing had him playing a one-two the swerving and drifting past a coupe of defenders before getting into the box and crossing the ball. Brilliant!
It was a match we could easily have lost last season, but we stood up to a lot of rough stuff and outplayed Preston until right near the end of the match. We are going through one heck of a transformation. and are not being bullied off the ball anywhere near as much as we were, and we are tough enough to be able to stick to our game plan. 
We can't score for toffee, we seem to have the entire football establishment against us, and yet I am really excited about our future. It won't take much for us to start finding the net and then away we'll go. 
Se you on Tuesday!

At the start of the season, and especially after how we trailed out of the previous one, we were expecting an absolutely gruelling few months giving our all while watching a bunch of players barely able to string two passes together. The reality is the we are good to watch. I don't know what Wayne Rooney has done, but he has got the team playing some lovely, quick-passing, with great interplay, and players changing roles and places. The improvement is remarkable. We certainly don't look like a bottom of the table team.
As ever we struggled to turn our play into goals, but we ended up with a lorry load of shots, with 5 (although I thought more than that) on target. YEs, some were from long range, but not so long ago the players were trying to walk the ball over the line at every opportunity. We are creating chances and are not afraid to shoot. 3 great saves by the keeper, another one by the crossbar  and another disgraceful penalty ignored. Incidentally Ebosele's penalty shout had some meat to it, because as he was battling his way into the area, the defender had hooked his arm around Ebosele's to the point of it being inter-twined, which is clear evidence that the defender was fouling him.
I actually thought the ref was reasonably ok early on, bar his having lost his yellow card. Preston were able to break up a high proportion of our attacking breaks with cynical fouls, and there should have been at least 3 or 4 more cards shown. At least Derby didn't get the most yellow cards this time, so no doubt the ref is in for a bollocking tonight!
Preston upped their game for the second half and tightened up in their challenges, so the high pressing actually began to hold us up. They also stepped forwards a coupe of yards and it changed the game. We still created far more threat than they did until the last 10 or 15 minutes. I am right proud of what the players achieved today.
Once again I don't think I can single anyone out who had a poor game, with only Sibley not having the effect everyone wants him to have. But as ever he virtually never, ever gets played in his best, most natural position. He should be played in the number 10 role, either playing off the main striker (a bit hard, we haven't had one for a while), or playing in the hole behind a front two. He is instead tuck out on the wing, where he can produce the goods on occasion, but today he had no chance. He is not a lone striker. Tom can play that role better, so why not put him there, and Sibbers in Tom's place? One day he will end up going elsewhere, get played to his strengths and end up bagging a load of goals. We did it with Weimmann, who plays off a target man. We stuck him out on the wing, or as lone striker, or as bench warmer and he hardly scored for us, but he moved to Bristol and started cracking them in.
Jagielka and Davies were excellent yet again. I am assuming Jagielka's presence has been key, because we now have Davies looking like a player who can cope with the ball at his feet, where as last season he looked like he might trip over it when it got to his feet! And the improvement in Shinnie this season is really good. His reading of the game, and his ability to spot and make a pass were all questionable but he is now looking a complete footballer. And one attacking move he was involved in down the left wing had him playing a one-two the swerving and drifting past a coupe of defenders before getting into the box and crossing the ball. Brilliant!
It was a match we could easily have lost last season, but we stood up to a lot of rough stuff and outplayed Preston until right near the end of the match. We are going through one heck of a transformation. and are not being bullied off the ball anywhere near as much as we were, and we are tough enough to be able to stick to our game plan. 
We can't score for toffee, we seem to have the entire football establishment against us, and yet I am really excited about our future. It won't take much for us to start finding the net and then away we'll go. 
Se you on Tuesday!

At the start of the season, and especially after how we trailed out of the previous one, we were expecting an absolutely gruelling few months giving our all while watching a bunch of players barely able to string two passes together. The reality is the we are good to watch. I don't know what Wayne Rooney has done, but he has got the team playing some lovely, quick-passing, with great interplay, and players changing roles and places. The improvement is remarkable. We certainly don't look like a bottom of the table team.
As ever we struggled to turn our play into goals, but we ended up with a lorry load of shots, with 5 (although I thought more than that) on target. YEs, some were from long range, but not so long ago the players were trying to walk the ball over the line at every opportunity. We are creating chances and are not afraid to shoot. 3 great saves by the keeper, another one by the crossbar  and another disgraceful penalty ignored. Incidentally Ebosele's penalty shout had some meat to it, because as he was battling his way into the area, the defender had hooked his arm around Ebosele's to the point of it being inter-twined, which is clear evidence that the defender was fouling him.
I actually thought the ref was reasonably ok early on, bar his having lost his yellow card. Preston were able to break up a high proportion of our attacking breaks with cynical fouls, and there should have been at least 3 or 4 more cards shown. At least Derby didn't get the most yellow cards this time, so no doubt the ref is in for a bollocking tonight!
Preston upped their game for the second half and tightened up in their challenges, so the high pressing actually began to hold us up. They also stepped forwards a coupe of yards and it changed the game. We still created far more threat than they did until the last 10 or 15 minutes. I am right proud of what the players achieved today.
Once again I don't think I can single anyone out who had a poor game, with only Sibley not having the effect everyone wants him to have. But as ever he virtually never, ever gets played in his best, most natural position. He should be played in the number 10 role, either playing off the main striker (a bit hard, we haven't had one for a while), or playing in the hole behind a front two. He is instead tuck out on the wing, where he can produce the goods on occasion, but today he had no chance. He is not a lone striker. Tom can play that role better, so why not put him there, and Sibbers in Tom's place? One day he will end up going elsewhere, get played to his strengths and end up bagging a load of goals. We did it with Weimmann, who plays off a target man. We stuck him out on the wing, or as lone striker, or as bench warmer and he hardly scored for us, but he moved to Bristol and started cracking them in.
Jagielka and Davies were excellent yet again. I am assuming Jagielka's presence has been key, because we now have Davies looking like a player who can cope with the ball at his feet, where as last season he looked like he might trip over it when it got to his feet! And the improvement in Shinnie this season is really good. His reading of the game, and his ability to spot and make a pass were all questionable but he is now looking a complete footballer. And one attacking move he was involved in down the left wing had him playing a one-two the swerving and drifting past a coupe of defenders before getting into the box and crossing the ball. Brilliant!
It was a match we could easily have lost last season, but we stood up to a lot of rough stuff and outplayed Preston until right near the end of the match. We are going through one heck of a transformation. and are not being bullied off the ball anywhere near as much as we were, and we are tough enough to be able to stick to our game plan. 
We can't score for toffee, we seem to have the entire football establishment against us, and yet I am really excited about our future. It won't take much for us to start finding the net and then away we'll go. 
Se you on Tuesday!

At the start of the season, and especially after how we trailed out of the previous one, we were expecting an absolutely gruelling few months giving our all while watching a bunch of players barely able to string two passes together. The reality is the we are good to watch. I don't know what Wayne Rooney has done, but he has got the team playing some lovely, quick-passing, with great interplay, and players changing roles and places. The improvement is remarkable. We certainly don't look like a bottom of the table team.
As ever we struggled to turn our play into goals, but we ended up with a lorry load of shots, with 5 (although I thought more than that) on target. YEs, some were from long range, but not so long ago the players were trying to walk the ball over the line at every opportunity. We are creating chances and are not afraid to shoot. 3 great saves by the keeper, another one by the crossbar  and another disgraceful penalty ignored. Incidentally Ebosele's penalty shout had some meat to it, because as he was battling his way into the area, the defender had hooked his arm around Ebosele's to the point of it being inter-twined, which is clear evidence that the defender was fouling him.
I actually thought the ref was reasonably ok early on, bar his having lost his yellow card. Preston were able to break up a high proportion of our attacking breaks with cynical fouls, and there should have been at least 3 or 4 more cards shown. At least Derby didn't get the most yellow cards this time, so no doubt the ref is in for a bollocking tonight!
Preston upped their game for the second half and tightened up in their challenges, so the high pressing actually began to hold us up. They also stepped forwards a coupe of yards and it changed the game. We still created far more threat than they did until the last 10 or 15 minutes. I am right proud of what the players achieved today.
Once again I don't think I can single anyone out who had a poor game, with only Sibley not having the effect everyone wants him to have. But as ever he virtually never, ever gets played in his best, most natural position. He should be played in the number 10 role, either playing off the main striker (a bit hard, we haven't had one for a while), or playing in the hole behind a front two. He is instead tuck out on the wing, where he can produce the goods on occasion, but today he had no chance. He is not a lone striker. Tom can play that role better, so why not put him there, and Sibbers in Tom's place? One day he will end up going elsewhere, get played to his strengths and end up bagging a load of goals. We did it with Weimmann, who plays off a target man. We stuck him out on the wing, or as lone striker, or as bench warmer and he hardly scored for us, but he moved to Bristol and started cracking them in.
Jagielka and Davies were excellent yet again. I am assuming Jagielka's presence has been key, because we now have Davies looking like a player who can cope with the ball at his feet, where as last season he looked like he might trip over it when it got to his feet! And the improvement in Shinnie this season is really good. His reading of the game, and his ability to spot and make a pass were all questionable but he is now looking a complete footballer. And one attacking move he was involved in down the left wing had him playing a one-two the swerving and drifting past a coupe of defenders before getting into the box and crossing the ball. Brilliant!
It was a match we could easily have lost last season, but we stood up to a lot of rough stuff and outplayed Preston until right near the end of the match. We are going through one heck of a transformation. and are not being bullied off the ball anywhere near as much as we were, and we are tough enough to be able to stick to our game plan. 
We can't score for toffee, we seem to have the entire football establishment against us, and yet I am really excited about our future. It won't take much for us to start finding the net and then away we'll go. 
Se you on Tuesday!

At the start of the season, and especially after how we trailed out of the previous one, we were expecting an absolutely gruelling few months giving our all while watching a bunch of players barely able to string two passes together. The reality is the we are good to watch. I don't know what Wayne Rooney has done, but he has got the team playing some lovely, quick-passing, with great interplay, and players changing roles and places. The improvement is remarkable. We certainly don't look like a bottom of the table team.
As ever we struggled to turn our play into goals, but we ended up with a lorry load of shots, with 5 (although I thought more than that) on target. YEs, some were from long range, but not so long ago the players were trying to walk the ball over the line at every opportunity. We are creating chances and are not afraid to shoot. 3 great saves by the keeper, another one by the crossbar  and another disgraceful penalty ignored. Incidentally Ebosele's penalty shout had some meat to it, because as he was battling his way into the area, the defender had hooked his arm around Ebosele's to the point of it being inter-twined, which is clear evidence that the defender was fouling him.
I actually thought the ref was reasonably ok early on, bar his having lost his yellow card. Preston were able to break up a high proportion of our attacking breaks with cynical fouls, and there should have been at least 3 or 4 more cards shown. At least Derby didn't get the most yellow cards this time, so no doubt the ref is in for a bollocking tonight!
Preston upped their game for the second half and tightened up in their challenges, so the high pressing actually began to hold us up. They also stepped forwards a coupe of yards and it changed the game. We still created far more threat than they did until the last 10 or 15 minutes. I am right proud of what the players achieved today.
Once again I don't think I can single anyone out who had a poor game, with only Sibley not having the effect everyone wants him to have. But as ever he virtually never, ever gets played in his best, most natural position. He should be played in the number 10 role, either playing off the main striker (a bit hard, we haven't had one for a while), or playing in the hole behind a front two. He is instead tuck out on the wing, where he can produce the goods on occasion, but today he had no chance. He is not a lone striker. Tom can play that role better, so why not put him there, and Sibbers in Tom's place? One day he will end up going elsewhere, get played to his strengths and end up bagging a load of goals. We did it with Weimmann, who plays off a target man. We stuck him out on the wing, or as lone striker, or as bench warmer and he hardly scored for us, but he moved to Bristol and started cracking them in.
Jagielka and Davies were excellent yet again. I am assuming Jagielka's presence has been key, because we now have Davies looking like a player who can cope with the ball at his feet, where as last season he looked like he might trip over it when it got to his feet! And the improvement in Shinnie this season is really good. His reading of the game, and his ability to spot and make a pass were all questionable but he is now looking a complete footballer. And one attacking move he was involved in down the left wing had him playing a one-two the swerving and drifting past a coupe of defenders before getting into the box and crossing the ball. Brilliant!
It was a match we could easily have lost last season, but we stood up to a lot of rough stuff and outplayed Preston until right near the end of the match. We are going through one heck of a transformation. and are not being bullied off the ball anywhere near as much as we were, and we are tough enough to be able to stick to our game plan. 
We can't score for toffee, we seem to have the entire football establishment against us, and yet I am really excited about our future. It won't take much for us to start finding the net and then away we'll go. 
Se you on Tuesday!

You know who I love right now? (Ok yes my girlfriend In the very off chance she would read this and even known who I am) but Derby blooody county, every display right now the rams should be proud. UTRSSSSSSSSS

At the start of the season, and especially after how we trailed out of the previous one, we were expecting an absolutely gruelling few months giving our all while watching a bunch of players barely able to string two passes together. The reality is the we are good to watch. I don't know what Wayne Rooney has done, but he has got the team playing some lovely, quick-passing, with great interplay, and players changing roles and places. The improvement is remarkable. We certainly don't look like a bottom of the table team.
As ever we struggled to turn our play into goals, but we ended up with a lorry load of shots, with 5 (although I thought more than that) on target. YEs, some were from long range, but not so long ago the players were trying to walk the ball over the line at every opportunity. We are creating chances and are not afraid to shoot. 3 great saves by the keeper, another one by the crossbar  and another disgraceful penalty ignored. Incidentally Ebosele's penalty shout had some meat to it, because as he was battling his way into the area, the defender had hooked his arm around Ebosele's to the point of it being inter-twined, which is clear evidence that the defender was fouling him.
I actually thought the ref was reasonably ok early on, bar his having lost his yellow card. Preston were able to break up a high proportion of our attacking breaks with cynical fouls, and there should have been at least 3 or 4 more cards shown. At least Derby didn't get the most yellow cards this time, so no doubt the ref is in for a bollocking tonight!
Preston upped their game for the second half and tightened up in their challenges, so the high pressing actually began to hold us up. They also stepped forwards a coupe of yards and it changed the game. We still created far more threat than they did until the last 10 or 15 minutes. I am right proud of what the players achieved today.
Once again I don't think I can single anyone out who had a poor game, with only Sibley not having the effect everyone wants him to have. But as ever he virtually never, ever gets played in his best, most natural position. He should be played in the number 10 role, either playing off the main striker (a bit hard, we haven't had one for a while), or playing in the hole behind a front two. He is instead tuck out on the wing, where he can produce the goods on occasion, but today he had no chance. He is not a lone striker. Tom can play that role better, so why not put him there, and Sibbers in Tom's place? One day he will end up going elsewhere, get played to his strengths and end up bagging a load of goals. We did it with Weimmann, who plays off a target man. We stuck him out on the wing, or as lone striker, or as bench warmer and he hardly scored for us, but he moved to Bristol and started cracking them in.
Jagielka and Davies were excellent yet again. I am assuming Jagielka's presence has been key, because we now have Davies looking like a player who can cope with the ball at his feet, where as last season he looked like he might trip over it when it got to his feet! And the improvement in Shinnie this season is really good. His reading of the game, and his ability to spot and make a pass were all questionable but he is now looking a complete footballer. And one attacking move he was involved in down the left wing had him playing a one-two the swerving and drifting past a coupe of defenders before getting into the box and crossing the ball. Brilliant!
It was a match we could easily have lost last season, but we stood up to a lot of rough stuff and outplayed Preston until right near the end of the match. We are going through one heck of a transformation. and are not being bullied off the ball anywhere near as much as we were, and we are tough enough to be able to stick to our game plan. 
We can't score for toffee, we seem to have the entire football establishment against us, and yet I am really excited about our future. It won't take much for us to start finding the net and then away we'll go. 
Se you on Tuesday!

At the start of the season, and especially after how we trailed out of the previous one, we were expecting an absolutely gruelling few months giving our all while watching a bunch of players barely able to string two passes together. The reality is the we are good to watch. I don't know what Wayne Rooney has done, but he has got the team playing some lovely, quick-passing, with great interplay, and players changing roles and places. The improvement is remarkable. We certainly don't look like a bottom of the table team.
As ever we struggled to turn our play into goals, but we ended up with a lorry load of shots, with 5 (although I thought more than that) on target. YEs, some were from long range, but not so long ago the players were trying to walk the ball over the line at every opportunity. We are creating chances and are not afraid to shoot. 3 great saves by the keeper, another one by the crossbar  and another disgraceful penalty ignored. Incidentally Ebosele's penalty shout had some meat to it, because as he was battling his way into the area, the defender had hooked his arm around Ebosele's to the point of it being inter-twined, which is clear evidence that the defender was fouling him.
I actually thought the ref was reasonably ok early on, bar his having lost his yellow card. Preston were able to break up a high proportion of our attacking breaks with cynical fouls, and there should have been at least 3 or 4 more cards shown. At least Derby didn't get the most yellow cards this time, so no doubt the ref is in for a bollocking tonight!
Preston upped their game for the second half and tightened up in their challenges, so the high pressing actually began to hold us up. They also stepped forwards a coupe of yards and it changed the game. We still created far more threat than they did until the last 10 or 15 minutes. I am right proud of what the players achieved today.
Once again I don't think I can single anyone out who had a poor game, with only Sibley not having the effect everyone wants him to have. But as ever he virtually never, ever gets played in his best, most natural position. He should be played in the number 10 role, either playing off the main striker (a bit hard, we haven't had one for a while), or playing in the hole behind a front two. He is instead tuck out on the wing, where he can produce the goods on occasion, but today he had no chance. He is not a lone striker. Tom can play that role better, so why not put him there, and Sibbers in Tom's place? One day he will end up going elsewhere, get played to his strengths and end up bagging a load of goals. We did it with Weimmann, who plays off a target man. We stuck him out on the wing, or as lone striker, or as bench warmer and he hardly scored for us, but he moved to Bristol and started cracking them in.
Jagielka and Davies were excellent yet again. I am assuming Jagielka's presence has been key, because we now have Davies looking like a player who can cope with the ball at his feet, where as last season he looked like he might trip over it when it got to his feet! And the improvement in Shinnie this season is really good. His reading of the game, and his ability to spot and make a pass were all questionable but he is now looking a complete footballer. And one attacking move he was involved in down the left wing had him playing a one-two the swerving and drifting past a coupe of defenders before getting into the box and crossing the ball. Brilliant!
It was a match we could easily have lost last season, but we stood up to a lot of rough stuff and outplayed Preston until right near the end of the match. We are going through one heck of a transformation. and are not being bullied off the ball anywhere near as much as we were, and we are tough enough to be able to stick to our game plan. 
We can't score for toffee, we seem to have the entire football establishment against us, and yet I am really excited about our future. It won't take much for us to start finding the net and then away we'll go. 
Se you on Tuesday!

At the start of the season, and especially after how we trailed out of the previous one, we were expecting an absolutely gruelling few months giving our all while watching a bunch of players barely able to string two passes together. The reality is the we are good to watch. I don't know what Wayne Rooney has done, but he has got the team playing some lovely, quick-passing, with great interplay, and players changing roles and places. The improvement is remarkable. We certainly don't look like a bottom of the table team.
As ever we struggled to turn our play into goals, but we ended up with a lorry load of shots, with 5 (although I thought more than that) on target. YEs, some were from long range, but not so long ago the players were trying to walk the ball over the line at every opportunity. We are creating chances and are not afraid to shoot. 3 great saves by the keeper, another one by the crossbar  and another disgraceful penalty ignored. Incidentally Ebosele's penalty shout had some meat to it, because as he was battling his way into the area, the defender had hooked his arm around Ebosele's to the point of it being inter-twined, which is clear evidence that the defender was fouling him.
I actually thought the ref was reasonably ok early on, bar his having lost his yellow card. Preston were able to break up a high proportion of our attacking breaks with cynical fouls, and there should have been at least 3 or 4 more cards shown. At least Derby didn't get the most yellow cards this time, so no doubt the ref is in for a bollocking tonight!
Preston upped their game for the second half and tightened up in their challenges, so the high pressing actually began to hold us up. They also stepped forwards a coupe of yards and it changed the game. We still created far more threat than they did until the last 10 or 15 minutes. I am right proud of what the players achieved today.
Once again I don't think I can single anyone out who had a poor game, with only Sibley not having the effect everyone wants him to have. But as ever he virtually never, ever gets played in his best, most natural position. He should be played in the number 10 role, either playing off the main striker (a bit hard, we haven't had one for a while), or playing in the hole behind a front two. He is instead tuck out on the wing, where he can produce the goods on occasion, but today he had no chance. He is not a lone striker. Tom can play that role better, so why not put him there, and Sibbers in Tom's place? One day he will end up going elsewhere, get played to his strengths and end up bagging a load of goals. We did it with Weimmann, who plays off a target man. We stuck him out on the wing, or as lone striker, or as bench warmer and he hardly scored for us, but he moved to Bristol and started cracking them in.
Jagielka and Davies were excellent yet again. I am assuming Jagielka's presence has been key, because we now have Davies looking like a player who can cope with the ball at his feet, where as last season he looked like he might trip over it when it got to his feet! And the improvement in Shinnie this season is really good. His reading of the game, and his ability to spot and make a pass were all questionable but he is now looking a complete footballer. And one attacking move he was involved in down the left wing had him playing a one-two the swerving and drifting past a coupe of defenders before getting into the box and crossing the ball. Brilliant!
It was a match we could easily have lost last season, but we stood up to a lot of rough stuff and outplayed Preston until right near the end of the match. We are going through one heck of a transformation. and are not being bullied off the ball anywhere near as much as we were, and we are tough enough to be able to stick to our game plan. 
We can't score for toffee, we seem to have the entire football establishment against us, and yet I am really excited about our future. It won't take much for us to start finding the net and then away we'll go. 
Se you on Tuesday!

At the start of the season, and especially after how we trailed out of the previous one, we were expecting an absolutely gruelling few months giving our all while watching a bunch of players barely able to string two passes together. The reality is the we are good to watch. I don't know what Wayne Rooney has done, but he has got the team playing some lovely, quick-passing, with great interplay, and players changing roles and places. The improvement is remarkable. We certainly don't look like a bottom of the table team.
As ever we struggled to turn our play into goals, but we ended up with a lorry load of shots, with 5 (although I thought more than that) on target. YEs, some were from long range, but not so long ago the players were trying to walk the ball over the line at every opportunity. We are creating chances and are not afraid to shoot. 3 great saves by the keeper, another one by the crossbar  and another disgraceful penalty ignored. Incidentally Ebosele's penalty shout had some meat to it, because as he was battling his way into the area, the defender had hooked his arm around Ebosele's to the point of it being inter-twined, which is clear evidence that the defender was fouling him.
I actually thought the ref was reasonably ok early on, bar his having lost his yellow card. Preston were able to break up a high proportion of our attacking breaks with cynical fouls, and there should have been at least 3 or 4 more cards shown. At least Derby didn't get the most yellow cards this time, so no doubt the ref is in for a bollocking tonight!
Preston upped their game for the second half and tightened up in their challenges, so the high pressing actually began to hold us up. They also stepped forwards a coupe of yards and it changed the game. We still created far more threat than they did until the last 10 or 15 minutes. I am right proud of what the players achieved today.
Once again I don't think I can single anyone out who had a poor game, with only Sibley not having the effect everyone wants him to have. But as ever he virtually never, ever gets played in his best, most natural position. He should be played in the number 10 role, either playing off the main striker (a bit hard, we haven't had one for a while), or playing in the hole behind a front two. He is instead tuck out on the wing, where he can produce the goods on occasion, but today he had no chance. He is not a lone striker. Tom can play that role better, so why not put him there, and Sibbers in Tom's place? One day he will end up going elsewhere, get played to his strengths and end up bagging a load of goals. We did it with Weimmann, who plays off a target man. We stuck him out on the wing, or as lone striker, or as bench warmer and he hardly scored for us, but he moved to Bristol and started cracking them in.
Jagielka and Davies were excellent yet again. I am assuming Jagielka's presence has been key, because we now have Davies looking like a player who can cope with the ball at his feet, where as last season he looked like he might trip over it when it got to his feet! And the improvement in Shinnie this season is really good. His reading of the game, and his ability to spot and make a pass were all questionable but he is now looking a complete footballer. And one attacking move he was involved in down the left wing had him playing a one-two the swerving and drifting past a coupe of defenders before getting into the box and crossing the ball. Brilliant!
It was a match we could easily have lost last season, but we stood up to a lot of rough stuff and outplayed Preston until right near the end of the match. We are going through one heck of a transformation. and are not being bullied off the ball anywhere near as much as we were, and we are tough enough to be able to stick to our game plan. 
We can't score for toffee, we seem to have the entire football establishment against us, and yet I am really excited about our future. It won't take much for us to start finding the net and then away we'll go. 
Se you on Tuesday!

At the start of the season, and especially after how we trailed out of the previous one, we were expecting an absolutely gruelling few months giving our all while watching a bunch of players barely able to string two passes together. The reality is the we are good to watch. I don't know what Wayne Rooney has done, but he has got the team playing some lovely, quick-passing, with great interplay, and players changing roles and places. The improvement is remarkable. We certainly don't look like a bottom of the table team.
As ever we struggled to turn our play into goals, but we ended up with a lorry load of shots, with 5 (although I thought more than that) on target. YEs, some were from long range, but not so long ago the players were trying to walk the ball over the line at every opportunity. We are creating chances and are not afraid to shoot. 3 great saves by the keeper, another one by the crossbar  and another disgraceful penalty ignored. Incidentally Ebosele's penalty shout had some meat to it, because as he was battling his way into the area, the defender had hooked his arm around Ebosele's to the point of it being inter-twined, which is clear evidence that the defender was fouling him.
I actually thought the ref was reasonably ok early on, bar his having lost his yellow card. Preston were able to break up a high proportion of our attacking breaks with cynical fouls, and there should have been at least 3 or 4 more cards shown. At least Derby didn't get the most yellow cards this time, so no doubt the ref is in for a bollocking tonight!
Preston upped their game for the second half and tightened up in their challenges, so the high pressing actually began to hold us up. They also stepped forwards a coupe of yards and it changed the game. We still created far more threat than they did until the last 10 or 15 minutes. I am right proud of what the players achieved today.
Once again I don't think I can single anyone out who had a poor game, with only Sibley not having the effect everyone wants him to have. But as ever he virtually never, ever gets played in his best, most natural position. He should be played in the number 10 role, either playing off the main striker (a bit hard, we haven't had one for a while), or playing in the hole behind a front two. He is instead tuck out on the wing, where he can produce the goods on occasion, but today he had no chance. He is not a lone striker. Tom can play that role better, so why not put him there, and Sibbers in Tom's place? One day he will end up going elsewhere, get played to his strengths and end up bagging a load of goals. We did it with Weimmann, who plays off a target man. We stuck him out on the wing, or as lone striker, or as bench warmer and he hardly scored for us, but he moved to Bristol and started cracking them in.
Jagielka and Davies were excellent yet again. I am assuming Jagielka's presence has been key, because we now have Davies looking like a player who can cope with the ball at his feet, where as last season he looked like he might trip over it when it got to his feet! And the improvement in Shinnie this season is really good. His reading of the game, and his ability to spot and make a pass were all questionable but he is now looking a complete footballer. And one attacking move he was involved in down the left wing had him playing a one-two the swerving and drifting past a coupe of defenders before getting into the box and crossing the ball. Brilliant!
It was a match we could easily have lost last season, but we stood up to a lot of rough stuff and outplayed Preston until right near the end of the match. We are going through one heck of a transformation. and are not being bullied off the ball anywhere near as much as we were, and we are tough enough to be able to stick to our game plan. 
We can't score for toffee, we seem to have the entire football establishment against us, and yet I am really excited about our future. It won't take much for us to start finding the net and then away we'll go. 
Se you on Tuesday!

At the start of the season, and especially after how we trailed out of the previous one, we were expecting an absolutely gruelling few months giving our all while watching a bunch of players barely able to string two passes together. The reality is the we are good to watch. I don't know what Wayne Rooney has done, but he has got the team playing some lovely, quick-passing, with great interplay, and players changing roles and places. The improvement is remarkable. We certainly don't look like a bottom of the table team.
As ever we struggled to turn our play into goals, but we ended up with a lorry load of shots, with 5 (although I thought more than that) on target. YEs, some were from long range, but not so long ago the players were trying to walk the ball over the line at every opportunity. We are creating chances and are not afraid to shoot. 3 great saves by the keeper, another one by the crossbar  and another disgraceful penalty ignored. Incidentally Ebosele's penalty shout had some meat to it, because as he was battling his way into the area, the defender had hooked his arm around Ebosele's to the point of it being inter-twined, which is clear evidence that the defender was fouling him.
I actually thought the ref was reasonably ok early on, bar his having lost his yellow card. Preston were able to break up a high proportion of our attacking breaks with cynical fouls, and there should have been at least 3 or 4 more cards shown. At least Derby didn't get the most yellow cards this time, so no doubt the ref is in for a bollocking tonight!
Preston upped their game for the second half and tightened up in their challenges, so the high pressing actually began to hold us up. They also stepped forwards a coupe of yards and it changed the game. We still created far more threat than they did until the last 10 or 15 minutes. I am right proud of what the players achieved today.
Once again I don't think I can single anyone out who had a poor game, with only Sibley not having the effect everyone wants him to have. But as ever he virtually never, ever gets played in his best, most natural position. He should be played in the number 10 role, either playing off the main striker (a bit hard, we haven't had one for a while), or playing in the hole behind a front two. He is instead tuck out on the wing, where he can produce the goods on occasion, but today he had no chance. He is not a lone striker. Tom can play that role better, so why not put him there, and Sibbers in Tom's place? One day he will end up going elsewhere, get played to his strengths and end up bagging a load of goals. We did it with Weimmann, who plays off a target man. We stuck him out on the wing, or as lone striker, or as bench warmer and he hardly scored for us, but he moved to Bristol and started cracking them in.
Jagielka and Davies were excellent yet again. I am assuming Jagielka's presence has been key, because we now have Davies looking like a player who can cope with the ball at his feet, where as last season he looked like he might trip over it when it got to his feet! And the improvement in Shinnie this season is really good. His reading of the game, and his ability to spot and make a pass were all questionable but he is now looking a complete footballer. And one attacking move he was involved in down the left wing had him playing a one-two the swerving and drifting past a coupe of defenders before getting into the box and crossing the ball. Brilliant!
It was a match we could easily have lost last season, but we stood up to a lot of rough stuff and outplayed Preston until right near the end of the match. We are going through one heck of a transformation. and are not being bullied off the ball anywhere near as much as we were, and we are tough enough to be able to stick to our game plan. 
We can't score for toffee, we seem to have the entire football establishment against us, and yet I am really excited about our future. It won't take much for us to start finding the net and then away we'll go. 
Se you on Tuesday!

At the start of the season, and especially after how we trailed out of the previous one, we were expecting an absolutely gruelling few months giving our all while watching a bunch of players barely able to string two passes together. The reality is the we are good to watch. I don't know what Wayne Rooney has done, but he has got the team playing some lovely, quick-passing, with great interplay, and players changing roles and places. The improvement is remarkable. We certainly don't look like a bottom of the table team.
As ever we struggled to turn our play into goals, but we ended up with a lorry load of shots, with 5 (although I thought more than that) on target. YEs, some were from long range, but not so long ago the players were trying to walk the ball over the line at every opportunity. We are creating chances and are not afraid to shoot. 3 great saves by the keeper, another one by the crossbar  and another disgraceful penalty ignored. Incidentally Ebosele's penalty shout had some meat to it, because as he was battling his way into the area, the defender had hooked his arm around Ebosele's to the point of it being inter-twined, which is clear evidence that the defender was fouling him.
I actually thought the ref was reasonably ok early on, bar his having lost his yellow card. Preston were able to break up a high proportion of our attacking breaks with cynical fouls, and there should have been at least 3 or 4 more cards shown. At least Derby didn't get the most yellow cards this time, so no doubt the ref is in for a bollocking tonight!
Preston upped their game for the second half and tightened up in their challenges, so the high pressing actually began to hold us up. They also stepped forwards a coupe of yards and it changed the game. We still created far more threat than they did until the last 10 or 15 minutes. I am right proud of what the players achieved today.
Once again I don't think I can single anyone out who had a poor game, with only Sibley not having the effect everyone wants him to have. But as ever he virtually never, ever gets played in his best, most natural position. He should be played in the number 10 role, either playing off the main striker (a bit hard, we haven't had one for a while), or playing in the hole behind a front two. He is instead tuck out on the wing, where he can produce the goods on occasion, but today he had no chance. He is not a lone striker. Tom can play that role better, so why not put him there, and Sibbers in Tom's place? One day he will end up going elsewhere, get played to his strengths and end up bagging a load of goals. We did it with Weimmann, who plays off a target man. We stuck him out on the wing, or as lone striker, or as bench warmer and he hardly scored for us, but he moved to Bristol and started cracking them in.
Jagielka and Davies were excellent yet again. I am assuming Jagielka's presence has been key, because we now have Davies looking like a player who can cope with the ball at his feet, where as last season he looked like he might trip over it when it got to his feet! And the improvement in Shinnie this season is really good. His reading of the game, and his ability to spot and make a pass were all questionable but he is now looking a complete footballer. And one attacking move he was involved in down the left wing had him playing a one-two the swerving and drifting past a coupe of defenders before getting into the box and crossing the ball. Brilliant!
It was a match we could easily have lost last season, but we stood up to a lot of rough stuff and outplayed Preston until right near the end of the match. We are going through one heck of a transformation. and are not being bullied off the ball anywhere near as much as we were, and we are tough enough to be able to stick to our game plan. 
We can't score for toffee, we seem to have the entire football establishment against us, and yet I am really excited about our future. It won't take much for us to start finding the net and then away we'll go. 
Se you on Tuesday!

If refs had given us half of our penalty shouts this season we'd be top scorers ?

Shinnie MOM

Ref needs to flash some yellows at PNE for these persistent fouling. Fouls are not acceptable and the ref should take action.