Andrew3000

Helpful angle. You see good control and some decent pace. Absolutely delighted for him. Hopefully he breaks through next year.

Oops, so it was!

Nice goal. Will do wonders for his confidence. First goalm in mens footie and the fact it's a last minute winner. Great sign of composure.

1Wildsmith 4.5 Like @Comrade 86, I felt Wildsmith was the better of our two keepers and felt much more comfortable when he came back in, but now I am confused and worried. My attention was drawn throughout the first half to a furious Richie Barker, bawling, gesticulating and shaking his head at our unresponsive keeper who was seemingly not releasing the ball quick enough. I was speechless at his ridiculous charge out of his goal, when covering defenders were clearly present and the lame kick at their forward to concede a completely unnecessary penalty. Following this, he then fluffed a clearance, slicing it in the manner of my wife swinging wildly at a beachball after several generous long island ice teas. In mitigation perhaps, the game had already become a farcical and frenetic game of pinball played by a hyperactive toddler and so perhaps he merely became infected with the moronic miasma that had first enveloped the referee, then the players, coaches and finally everyone in the stadium (one guy in front berating Wilson being a good exemplar). I certainly felt 25 % stupider upon leaving the ground. 24Nyambe 6.5 Was looking strong and decisive before his injury. A couple of good raids forward and a silly long range shot. Any serious injury is a huge blow to our campaign. Why aren't we allowed to have full backs any more? 7Barkhuizen 5.5 I was surprised that he came on when he did and didn't notice him much after that. His body language is generally miserable and weary, much like myself! 35Nelson 7 A warrior who always takes responsibility. He even managed to sling a few decent balls into their box. I didn't see the altercation with their player, just the aftermath and he seemed extremely frustrated at the wrestling during set-pieces but was giving as good as he was getting. 5Bradley 6 Generally defended ok as far as I could tell, bar a few dodgy clearances, possibly panicking due to their press. 6Cashin 7.5 A baffling decision to play him left back was almost made to look reasonable by Cashin. I felt embarrassed for Warne when he explained that he simply wanted to keep all of his best players on the pitch and this was the solution. Just stop that now. He nearly got done for pace a few times and most other teams would have exploited this unnecessary flaw and roasted him. Instead, Charlton played quite narrow and Cashin used his nous to read the game. The fact that he looked like the best footballer on the pitch is in no way an endorsement of him playing full back. His sheer power and determination took him through a crowd of players to head in the opener. Sometimes the raking balls forward did not come off, but without him trying to start the play we look lost. 2Wilson 5 A real off day for Kane got worse when he was needed to revert to right back. The sight of him and NML taking people on inside our own half is terrifying. He played a dozy ball back to Adams which put him under pressure (although what happened next was totally unexpected as Adams ingested a big gulp of moronic miasma and lost the ball underneath him in a way which look harder to do than not). 12Smith 6.5 I liked much about this display from Smith. He seemed sharp and snappy. He won several headers after majestic leaps and hit a pea-roller than was just wide. He was guilty of one moronic moment in the first half when he pinged the ball straight to their onrushing players. 17Sibley 5.5 I had to remove half a point because he too succumbed to the miasma with that gormless shot high into the South Stand. Apart from that struggled to get involved but tried his best. 32Adams 6 His entire Derby career so far seems to have entailed enduring repeated manslaughter attempts by the opposition and being punished by the referee instead of protected. He is entitled to feel persecuted and generally tolerates this somehow without losing his mind. Merits the miasma induced minus though for dummying the ball to set up their second goal. 27Blackett-Taylor 6 Did not see him really, not enough time to get going. Thought he should have come on instead of Barkhuizen if we were insisting on doing that kind of thing. 11Méndez-Laing 6 In open play nothing really came off, despite his usual impressive determination and effort. One moment, when he raced sideways across our own half, was particularly emblematic of the whole affair. Some really good set pieces though, one of which was the corner we scored from. This is encouraging, because it means we don't have to perpetuate a dependence on Hourihane. 8Bird 🐦 6 He had the world-weary look of Barkhuizen and I think must be one of the "gassed out" gang that Warne referred to afterwards. Didn't execute the right passes and seemed to waft about on the periphery at times. A couple of good interceptions got us driving forward in the first half. 25Gayle 6 One the few encouraging sights of that evening. Admittedly, he didn't get the ball much but he when he did, he used it well, with one neat flick to a team mate that stood out. He looked sharp and very motivated. He pressed and made menacing movements. Whilst he may have lost some power and pace, he looked sprightly and I do think he is highly capable of scoring and otherwise offering us real attacking instinct at this level. 10Waghorn 5.5 It was so good to see him. His playful, fatuous demeanour is itself a real tonic, the antitheses of Barkhuizen (and myself generally tbf). One pathetic prod when well placed to score, but he will get sharper with each game obviously and adds a muscular presence and some free kick options. So good to be able to balance his fitness and Gayle's. WARNE - I've kept positive generally but his decision making was very frustrating. He did however speak afterwards about the players needing to slow the game down at times in order to manage it better. I was relieved to hear this because sometimes he seems to justify the pinball. However, if he wants more control than is on display, he needs to find a better way of communicating this and facilitating it to happen, because it rarely has this year. This match was a marker for me - not quite a final straw but a significant sign that I cannot shake off, no matter how much I want him to succeed here. ATG - although after the equaliser, I think I left my body so as not to get caught up in any wasted excitement or stress, as we smashed the ball around desperately as per usual.

Two key admissions by Warne that both contribute to weakening our offensive play: that we lacked a focal point and the initial shape was wrong. So, I'm hoping he addresses both. Firstly, we need yo stop the no striker experiment immediately. We need Brown back purely to be a back up focal point. Neither Gayle nor Waggy can do 90 and it will take weeks before they can, if it all. Therefore, Brown, whatever his current readiness, is required to ensure we have enough options to maintain a focal point. Secondly, 4 at the back has to be our starting formation from now on. This allows CBT, NML, Barks and Wilson to rotate in their best positions. Warne admits he has been caught between defensive or attacking advantages of the formation, but surely now it is clear that 3 at the back creates more problems than this, our overall play is far more suited to four at the back, too many players suffer as a result.

You love it?

3 at the back not a big decision? I think it changes things very significantly.

Oh yeah, only 10 !phew

No Wilson or Ward, but 3 at the back?

Agreed. He would be a wildcard, but he's fit, young and strong. Every other striker we have is physically compromised. I get thar the responsibility could be immense for such a youngster, but this could be managed. If he performed at all well the benefits are huge for all. If he struggles, it is still a massive learning opportunity that he can grow from, provided he's supported well. This is a striker crisis. No one knows if he is ready but he is 'next man up'. Warne talking up the value of a specialist CF on the one hand but also talking about playing Nat or Barks is contradictory. We at least need the option. What if gayle and waggy break down? Bring him home.

No silly 18 month deal either. He will want to win a longer deal. If I recall rightly he wasn't just a speed merchant but has some good skill. A decent touch, ability to be in the right areas and reasonable scoring instinct go a long way in this division. Hopefully we'll find out how to play to his strengths. Bring Brown back on the bench be patient for Wagginton.

1Wildsmith 6 1 clanger, 1 decent save. I had almost forgot his deep set pieces that had become a thing. 35Nelson 7.5 As usual, quietly goes about his business. Mr consistent. 5Bradley 8 extra mark for that goaline clearance. Seemed to time and direct his headers better. Decent on the ball. Mostly decisive and more physical. Not quite the beast we expected but less apologetic in the challenge. Looking more of a leader. 6Cashin 7.5 Suitably tenacious. So important to starting off our play, as we saw when he was out. 24Nyambe 6.5 Battled Well. 11Smith 8Bird 6.5 lovely long ball to NML. 32Adams 6.5 superb effort. Surprisingly good in the air. Dallied on tbe ball once but injury might have stifled his ability to drive forward. 20Elder 6 Looking more confident and combative. Still don't see how he could have been a wing back but at last looking decent left back at this level. 2Wilson 7 The Buffalo! He is a delightful sight stampeding down the wing. Keeps the ball so well and drives us forward with great skill and a genuine threat. 11Méndez-Laing 7 obviously lost up front but did his best and another assist. 7Barkhuizen 6.5 Another who seemed to suffer from the changes up top, but he did drive at them quite well at times. 17Sibley 7 Point for the winner. Such an instinctive finish. So pleased for him.

Anyone see Wilson celebrate with the ball boy? Lovely moment. Wilson loves it here.

South stand were incredible. Really inspiring support instead of waiting for something to happen.

Sounds like a whole shift of radiographers.

No, he was delivering the sausages.

1Wildsmith 6.5 I instantly felt more comfortable with him back in. 24Nyambe 6.5 Solid enough. 2Wilson 6 Poor defending for the goal, but was so good thereafter going forward. 5Bradley 6.5 Showed a bit more strength, won plenty of headers. Him or Nelson should have been out to challenge the goal scorer. 35Nelson 7 once moved away from lcb was his usual Imperious self. Apart from the goal. Wins so many headers. A few aimless long balls. 23Ward 6 couple of decent balls in. 7Barkhuizen Part of the increased threat in 2nd half. That sliced shot seemed purely about not trusting his left foot. 32Adams 6.5 Tough and determined. Got fouled so many times. 16Thompson 6 usual scampering cameo. 4Hourihane 6.5 Great free kick which was well saved, some decent dead balls generally. 8Bird 7 Really nice first time finish and tried to create. 17Sibley 6 poor first half. As the lwb did not beat his man or get a cross in. 20Elder 6 no time to make any kind of impression. 11Méndez-Laing 7 Struggled first half as did the whole team, as the formation seemed to stifle us. 9Collins 5 Very little service

⁹1Wildsmith 6.5 I instantly felt more comfortable with him back in. 24Nyambe 6.5 Solid enough. 2Wilson 6 Poor defending for the goal, but was so good thereafter going forward. 5Bradley 6.5 Showed a bit more strength, won plenty of headers. Him or Nelson should have been out to challenge the goal scorer. 35Nelson 7 once moved away from lcb was his usual Imperious self. Apart from the goal. Wins so many headers. A few aimless long balls. 23Ward 6 couple of decent balls in. 7Barkhuizen Part of the increased threat in 2nd half. That sliced shot seemed purely about not trusting his left foot. 32Adams 6.5 Tough and determined. Got fouled so many times. 16Thompson 6 usual scampering cameo. 4Hourihane 6.5 Great free kick which was well saved, some decent dead balls generally. 8Bird 7 Really nice first time finish and tried to create. 17Sibley 6 poor first half. As the lwb did not beat his man or get a cross in. 20Elder 6 no time to make any kind of impression. 11Méndez-Laing 7 Struggled first half ( apart from a good shot after making himself space) as did the whole team, as the formation seemed to stifle us. 2nd half looked threatening beating his man and getting crosses in. 9Collins 5 Very little service. Usual effort. Caught offside several times, although I haven't seen if this was fair and refereeing seemed very poor.

More than OK according to tbe song.

Great idea for a thread. I'm not salty. Not at all.

Always enjoy your reviews, but this is a cracker!

But what has he got in that enormous rucksack ( apart from 3 massive points)?

Love this song. You've struck on the way for us to deal with the situation! Let's have loads of songs about this. How about another to the tune of "we don't need another hero"?

Thierry Ennui.

Potty mouth! This confirms it; our recruitment has gone potty.