Andrew3000

Yeah it’s all well and good you objectively presenting stats to show he’s actually quite useful at this level and could probably do a job for us.
You could also add in the fact he scored double figures for a side that won promotion from this league last season who were storming the league at one point, BUT you’re missing the point that he’s over 30 and once played for a club we look down our noses at! (Scoring 18 goals in 45 league games as they won promotion from this league too)

His 21/22 season he had the following (stats per 90):
0.43 goals 
6.37 aerial duels won (league highest)
5.85 touches in the box (98th percentile)
Also, won possession 43 times in the final third, which was a league high.
In 22/23, he also had 0.52 goals (0.43xG) per 90 which was near the top of the league.
He'll add a different dynamic in our attack, win us aerial duels up top and get on the end of crosses. It'd be a good signing.

Couple of things here, last season was our first in League 1, not only would incoming players be sold the bounce straight back up dream, Rooney was still around whilst deals were being lined up.
18 months later, are we to believe Warne hasn’t signed any quality players, players which have us 2 points off the automatics? Nelson, Wilson, Ward, are they crap?
To top it off and suggest Warne isn’t respected at this level, come on, his CV will earn him respect, let’s not needlessly slander the guy because we’re not signing players that we want and he may have no interest in.

What you talkin about @MaltRam?

Always liked Smith. Gregory surely past it 

Leigh Curtis said earlier the Blackett-Taylor link won’t go away. Cant imagine he’d be too much as he’s in the last 6 months of his contract. He also could want to leave as it doesn’t look like Charlton will be gettin top 6 this season. I also noticed on instagram he seems to be friends with Kane Wilson and NML. Two guys who are enjoying their football this season at Derby. Hopefully they can sway him to come to the East Midlands if we are interested. 

He might well be £6m better to be fair. Maybe not in terms of performances right now, but as an investment. I love Cashin but I don't think he'll end up a top-six PL regular. Don't know much about Edwards but if there's a chance he will then the future gap in value will be immense.
Agree we've not been great at getting value over the years, but a lot of our best players haven't kicked on as we thought after they left the club. Maybe they weren't quite as undervalued as we thought. 

AI, AI, AI O, up the football league we go.

AI, AI, AI O, up the football league we go.

In the summer, maybe. Had a bit of everything. Not a priority right now. Shame its not worked out so far for him.

In the summer, maybe. Had a bit of everything. Not a priority right now. Shame its not worked out so far for him.

Feeling all cherried up mate.  All cherried up.
xxx
🐏🍻
 

Good shout. I liked the lad. Shame we couldn't secure a deal for him in the close season. 

And it’s been raining loads more this year.

Somewhere to share news and views on our promotion rivals.

1Wildsmith 6 some decent claiming of crosses but possibly could been better for the last 2 goals.
24Nyambe 6.5 Great effort but seemed a little panicky. Can see why because they had pace and power in abundance.
35Nelson 6.5 Decent enough but the goals are a defensive mess.
6Cashin 6.5 As above. Done for pace in first half.
3Forsyth 6 Struggled against pace and attacking link ups not quite so good.
20Elder 6.5 Opposite side to me but seemed to be sound defensively and ok on the ball. Seemed to come inside rather than go outside on his left.
4Hourihane 5  Slow, sloppy and lightweight. Gave the ball away a few times that put us under unnecessary pressure. 
16Thompson 6.5 He's dynamic, quick and tidy feet, kept tbe ball and used it well. Huge effort and I'm looking forward to seeing him gain fitness and replacing one of tbe less mobile midfielders.
2Wilson 7.5 superb first half ball winning, driving forward gazza-like. Was so looking forward to seeing him in front of me in 2nd half, but he was knackered by then.
24Ward 6 One decent ball in.
11Méndez-Laing 6 some great defensive ball winning but never seemed to have the ball under control going forwards, nothing came off and he didn't seem on same wavelength as others.
19John-Jules 6 Nicely worked shot but didn't get much of tbe ball.
8Bird 6 Midfield was wide open, they just waltzed right on through too easily, especially second half.  Not all his fault, pairing him with Hourihane was a crime in this game. Decent effort given, but nothing that effective.
9Collins 7.5 Great effort. Great header for the goal. Some good hold up play.
7Barkhuizen 6 Good cross for the goal but not a lot else.
17Sibley 6 one great tackle but didn't get hold of the ball generally.
 
ATG. Best side we've seen at home.  I knew they'd have attacking menace but their midfield surprised me and totally dominated ours.
We did OK and Warne was decisive about addressing issues as best we could. Needed to be at our best to win and weren't. 

Tommy Leigh - 23 years old, Accrington, out of contract in the summer. 6 goals and 2 assists so far this season, mostly playing as an AM, but has previously played at CF, DM. He's a hard working midfielder who likes to drift out to the left (similar to Hourihane), puts a lot of ball into the box early and has a decent shot
Davis Keillor-Dunn - someone capable of being an immediate starter at AM. 26 years old, Mansfield, but only 1 year into a 2.5 year contract so may cost more than we're willing to pay. 14 goals and 5 assists so far, a good dribbler through the middle of the pitch
Stephen Wearne - i mentioned him a few weeks ago. He's only 22 years old, plays mostly at CM (can play on the wing or at AM) and has 11 goals and 10 assists in 25 games for Gateshead (NL). He's a willing runner with a fantastic first touch. 
 
We should also be targetting L1 players who're out of contrcat in the summer, but mindful that promotion rivals are unliekly to sell to us. Get them in cheap now so their club gets somethijg for them while they can. For example, Charlton are now 14 points off top 6, so some players could be available.
Corey Blackett-Taylor - if he's available for a reasonable fee, we have to be in for him. We need to add someone who is a dribbler and finisher from the wide areas - Blackett-Taylor is both. Also originally from the Midlands, so should make it easier to tempt him to come.
Others out of contract in the summer: Josh Earl (CB/LB/LWB, Fleetwood), Rio Adebisi (LWB, Crewe), Sam McCallum (LWB, Norwich) George Dobson (CM, Charlton), Owen Moxen (CM, Carlisle), Stephen Humphrys (RW/CF, Wigan), Ruel Sotiriou (AM/LW/CF, Leyton Orient).
Divin Mubama and Callum Marshall (both West Ham CFs) are also out of contract in the summer, but will demand compensation. Both will be in very high demand with some Championship interest too.

Haven't read all the thread but the last few pages seem pretty realistic and fair.
On the way home we all agreed that aside from the result/last minute, we much preferred watching that game than the Lincoln game.
Really was a great game to watch I felt. Lots of goals, decent spirit, end to end, effort, tackles, chances, saves...
Credit to P'Boro ...they look a team of young athletes. Just over ran our midfield first half especially at times. Even their centre backs were decent on the ball but relatively quick. Looked like an academy team almost.
Cashin was my MoTM but he looked at fault for the goal at the end. Wilson was a real threat at times. Thompson worked his backside off. Collins never stopped,  unbelievable engine today.
Hourihane and Bird looked really pedestrian and out matched at times.  Niambe struggled manfully in a real tough game.
NML looked shattered and lacking in zip. Barkhuizen looks a bit lost at times,  I'm not sure what he brought to us after the first 2mins. Elder was quality and Sibley worked hard but couldn't get into the game going forward, likewise JJ.
No shame in yesterday,  just gutting to throw away all 3 points to them. Good atmosphere,  end to end football. Need to move on quickly.

Having slept on this, I still think the better side won on the day but who knows what could have happened had there been (in my mind) a rightful sending off for handball.
Wilson was my MOTM, followed by Collins, who I will admit I had never rated but put his heart into it and was willing to track back (unlike others who just stood there when they lost possession).  Cashin had a fantastic 70 minutes but was very lucky to have only been caught out once in what was a very shaky first 20 for him, but thankfully he was supported by an excellent Nelson on what is truly a great CB pairing at this level.
Hourihane and Bird were largely absent and we're torn to shreds by P'boro and Randall in particular. Correct tactical move by Warne here at half time but I don't think we can rely on Sibley and Thompson to fill this need long term.  We have Fornah but reinforcements are needed here and can understand the Savage link.  Sibley was the only midfielder to take the game to Randall and did what Bird/Hourihane should have been all first half.
Mendez-Laing (tired) and Barkuizen didn't seem to understand who was playing where and we had more than a few occasions where space was created by them trying to play in the same hole.  
P'Boro's goalkeeper was on his full league debut and, penalty aside, was visibly lacking in confidence (not just the loss of possession outside the area).  This didn't seem to be recognised by the team.  Edwards and Knight put in a great showing but there was either no wish or no willing to attempt any long range strike.
Ref/lino poor for both sides (objectively, there was a point in the second half when Nyambe could have given away a penalty for manhandling his man, and the most handballs I have ever seen in a game), but overall a fair result.
Need some reinforcements, particularly up front to add quality and depth.  22 games to go and need to avoid burn out here.

I hate to go to task on it , but if you an opposing fan sat in away end listening to that .It sounds like your about to face an army of derbyshire morris dancers waving their sticks ..........its not intimidating at all .
You get the U2 guitar instrumental on as the players come out the tunnel the whole ground would be up for it and the aways fans would deffo sense a were up for it game . 

Agreed. It's a dirge and lyrically, a cringefest.  We need to change it up. Someone posted up a version if the derby ram folk song and actually it sounded like it could work, particularly the chorus.

Has this not had its day . 
Would sooner have the dambusters music at least it stirs the heart strings for what they did . Don't think I've ever been a fan of this as I find it a bit corny and slightly embarrassing plus most fans have never really heard of him ......no disrespect . 
 
But if your going to ramp up atmosphere Steve bloomers washing is one sure way of how to kill it . Remember when John Gregory was manager he introduced U2 " streets have no name " . Isn't it time we had some good ramp up the atmosphere songs to the lads coming out . Puts his tin hat on . 

Should still be involved tomorrow then 🤞 

Great news, get him on a longer deal in the summer, if we go up and he starts the championship on fire that 4 million could easily turn to 10 million with more clubs interested in him, its worth the gamble, also I love the Cashin Nelsin partnership, like i said months ago, best pairing in the division bar none. 

1Wildsmith - 5.5 Rush of blood in the 2nd minute. Perhaps too pumped up for this ‘big’ game. Whether it was a pen or not, ahould never have put himself in that position in the first place.
24Nyambe - 7.5 Solid again. Will be a big miss during AFCON. Expect Smith to fill the vacancy.
17Sibley - 7.0 Brought new energy when the midfield was waning. Not sure there’s a place for him long-term.
35Nelson - 8 Felt for him for the pen as I thought he had the situation under control. Mr Dependable again.
6Cashin - 9.0 Complete performance from the young man. Able to show his attacking prowess as Oxford gave him a quiet night defensively.
3Forsyth - 8.5 Unlucky with the header. Fox in the box at the back stick. Always looking to join in to keep us on the front foot
5Bradley - 7  Added a threat in the box against a keeper who didn’t fancy coming for it. Not really tested
2Wilson - 7.5 Doubled-up on most of the night and dogged their defence. His reaction after the final whistle showed he’s loving it here.
23Ward - 6.5 Played it sensibly to help see out the game.
8Bird - 7.5 I like him starting deeper. Unlucky the ball was driven under his feet for his first-half goal attempt.
4Hourihane - 7 Not a great first half, save finally delivering a decent corner for Foz’s goal. Great delivery for Cash’s goal. Think his replacement will be high on Warne’s shopping list.
7Barkhuizen - 6.5 Struggling with consistency. Still think he’ll be important for us at points this season.
16Thompson - 7.5 A very welcome return. Bags of energy and so petite he went unnoticed by their defence for his goal 😆.
11Méndez-Laing - 7 Better once playing wider. Think he’ll start there v Pish (sorry Posh).
9Collins - 7 Pressed their defence and keeper all night and his flick on presented Foz with his goal.
19John-Jules - 7.5 Vertically challenged often! Industrious in and out the box. 
TOUCH form Kane’s zinger to turn and get his shot off.
Watched on RTV.