Andrew3000

31Vickers: 7 Good game. 2 full-length saves  & snuffed out the 1 v 1.
2Wilson: 7 Slotted in well and did the defensive work well. Distributed well. Consequently muted his attacking play. 
35Nelson: 7.5 Solidity personified. A thumping headed chance was straight at their keeper. 
6Cashin: 6 Was beaten for pace 3x by Taylor which is unusual to see. Picked up a half-mark for clearing off the line.
20Elder: 6.5 Probably his best game yet after his Burton nightmare. Looked a sharper more solid version of himself. Some nice long passes.
7Barkhuizen: 6 Posed some threat but marshalled by their defence. 
16Thompson: 6 Brought industrial energy in the final quarter without finding a foothold to exploit.
8Bird: 7.5 Weaved away constantly in the engine room in a crowded space. 
4Hourihane: 6 A little off the pace of the game & couldn’t quite deliver the killer ball. 
11Méndez-Laing: 7 Early threats when he powered through but thereafter well marshalled. 
17Sibley 6 Good early game cross which found Nelson’s forehead.
19John-Jules 6 Would like to see him step-up and link up with Collins more. He needs to take a lead not play 2nd & 3rd fiddle. 
9Collins: 6.5 A couple of half-chances in the box but a game of feeding off scraps.
Credit to Imps who put in a huge effort to thwart Derby, and actually had the far better chances in a game that Derby bossed possession wise. A draw was a fair outcome. We need another option to draw upon via the open window as the sticky pitches become energy-sapping and we move into the 2nd part of the season. We are set fair but not convincingly top 2 quality yet. 

Isn't TJJ the option, more athletic, better touch? Just not 100% fit yet, and when Waghorn and Washington are fit, aren't they different?
And if Collins got injured we would need a replacement, or rotate to keep them both fresh, although I believe Smith is more of a brute and better in the air to be able to Bully the defenders anyway.

Take your point mate, but perhaps we're looking to do both? I think that overall, Smith probably brings a little more to the table than Collo and while I'm delighted at the latter's form this season, we'd be in deep doodoo if he got injured.
Also, won't CBT give us a pace dimension upfront too, albeit from the flanks? It's still the midfield that has me slightly concerned tbh.

I guess, but it would be pointless us signing a different kind of striker (especially on loan) when the team isn't set up to make use of them.
If the aim is just to get out of this league at all costs I can't really think of any better option.

31Vickers - 7.0 - Really good shift from Josh. I'd still prefer Joe as first choice, but perhaps these games will benefit us and keep Joe keen.
2Wilson - 7.0 - Played well again I thought. He's far better defensively than often assumed.  
35Nelson - 7.5 The pick at the back, where he looked back in prime form. He's such a solid signing. 
6Cashin - 6.0 - Is he carrying a niggle? He looked to be struggling almost from the outset. Entitled to a bad game though, given his imperious form this season and that goal line clearance earned him a probably generous 6.0. 
20Elder - 7.0 - Is he settling down? Again looked rusty early, but he looked a lot better later in the game and I think the minutes will serve him well. 
7Barkhuizen - 6.5 - Difficult season for Tom, but he's shown that a return to his best in imminent in recent games. Industrious again today.
16Thompson - 6.5 - An unselfish grafter, Liam must be close to full fitness now. Could he start in MF to provide us with much needed legs?
8Bird - 7.0 - Thought Max was decent today, but in a midfield 2 against a pacy attack, it's difficult to shine.  
4Hourihane - 6.0 - Leggy and off it today after showing better consistency in recent weeks. Hopefully just a blip, but midfield remains a query for me. 
11Méndez-Laing - 6.5 -  Willing as always but not at his best today. CBT to provide cover and / or additional attacking threat is a big deal, as teams seem to be doubling up on Nate. 
17Sibley - 6.0 - Didn't really notice him that much during the game and it's becoming frustrating that we can't get the best, or even close to it, out of the lad. I had high hopes for him this season, but I don't see him getting enough games where he wants to play to prosper. 
19John-Jules - 7.0 - Added something, but not enough. I still think there's plenty in the locker though.
9Collins - 6.0 - A rare off day, he worked hard as always, but was ineffective. I suspect he'll be getting minus scores from one 'supporter' on here.
WarneWatch - Feel for him a little as he's just got the team playing and now absences and injuries seem to be undoing our previously staunch defence. I do think we could have reacted quicker to their threat, but I suspect he'll feel the players have let him down a bit today. He's probably counting the minutes until Ryan Nyambe returns.

Who do we think this is then?

Bugger, sounds like we had an off day. When that happens you have to make sure you at least take something from the game. Another point nearer promotion, onwards and upwards. 

Suppose you want money for nothin and your Chick's for free too ?

Bit of a weird one, they’ve young forwards coming through and it’s a bit of a nothing season for them. I thought they’d rather breathe through they’re youth than spend big wages on a 6 month loan.

4 if you include Wilson when Nyambe returns.

DET saying Charlton backtracked and accepted Derby's 2nd offer - £250k. That's good business if so. In any case, he looks one to get bums off seats and I'm looking forward to seeing him play.
On a general note, with the players we've managed to secure on longer contracts, I reckon this has been a quietly progressive window for the club. We seem to have adopted a 'we won't sell for beans and we won't overpay either' kinda stance and I like it a lot. Whatever else happens, we'll start next year in probably our most robust financial health in years, hopefully coinciding with our first game back in the Championship.
And on that note, how about that midfield fix, Mr Clowes? I reckon that might just about do it, don't you? Oh, and the big lad in on loan if there's still coins down the back of the sofa. We don't ask for much, you know! 😋
 
 

3 quality wide players in the match day squad, means one comes on 60-65 mins and is a nightmare for defenders. Hope we keep Barks, he is a confidence player and his recent goals will boost him.

Done by your friendly neighbourhood muppet mod.
No, not that one, I meant me.

I see what you did there. How KTI are you though? 🙂 

31Vickers 6
2Wilson 7.5
35Nelson 6.5
6Cashin 7.5
20Elder 5.5
17Sibley 6
11Méndez-Laing 6.5
8Bird 7
4Hourihane 7.5
7Barkhuizen 7.0
5Bradley 6
19John-Jules 6.5
16Thompson 6.5
9Collins 7.0
ATG
Too late to give a detailed individual breakdown, but I did watch the game again on Sky the next day. That made me mark JJ up, because he did some really good connecting play, as did Bird, stuff that seems to go un-noticed by many.
Hourihane was good too, very involved all game. 
Elder made a mistake early doors as well as being done for their second, and Nelson really should have come out to Seddon, Cashin was already moving across to cover. 
It's easy to say with hindsight, but we really should have been more comfortable than we were. This is what defensive frailties and a bit of luck do to you. We need to be more ruthless when we're on top so we don't put ourselves in these situations. 1-0 was a poor return for our first half dominance and that's what nearly cost us.

31Vickers 6 
2Wilson 7.5 Relentless driving forward even from the deeper position he was asked to play kept the ball so well, great skill and some lovely balls in. 
35Nelson  7.5  supreme in the air, used tbe ball well too. Took off half a mark for being uncharacteristically too passive for first goal. Thought he could have put more pressure on Seddon.
6Cashin 8  Solid and takes so much responsibility with the ball to start moves. One right footed chip over their player (when played into a difficult position at the back ) was just a delight, took all pressure off instantly. 
20Elder 5.5  Still not sure what he is.  More legs than Fozzy is helpful but reticence in defending and attack. Did drive forward well occasionally, put in a decent ball but more often check back inside rather than driving on outside or playing tbe fozzy ball. won a couple of headers but some wayward passing.  Match sharpness and confidence lacking, hopefully there's a much better player in there.
17Sibley 6
11Méndez-Laing 7.5  it's great to see 90 mins plus of running from him now. Constant threat to them, great assist, some great balls in. But yeah, lost the ball for the goal.
8Bird  6.5 Decent shift. Good awareness to cover defensively at times. Balance in midfield wrong of course but not his fault.
4Hourihane 7 very mixed night. Worked hard, some good dead balls, some sloppy passing and just gets run past easily. Such a wonderful finish though. Once again, can we get him in these positions more instead of further back?
7Barkhuizen 7.5 Not as persistent a threat as NML but great finish, loved to see him pointing to where he wanted that ball and a nice headed assist.
5Bradley 6
19John-Jules 6.5 Battled well, some key touched but as others said, we need to vary our attacking play to see him thrive. Trying to get on the end of endless crosses did not seem to suit him.
16Thompson 6 one of the few who can press really well.
9Collins 7 mixed night but huge effort, well taken goal and some decent link up.  
 
ATG

More likely over confidence in Derby’s team and a total demolition of any confidence in the NC team.
Total imbalance of skills. Anyone going up to the first team may be under the delusion they will have similar time and space and be rudely awakened by a Stevenage boot up the Khyber Pass.
 

Looks like he’s staying then- really pleased. I think, like Bird and Cashin, he’s miles ahead and of this league in terms of quality.
Hopefully we can sign him permanently in the summer and then he can bang in 30 goals in the championship next season and lead us to title glory 

I only saw the highlights of the Burton game, but it looked like he had a key involvement in the opening goal and in the creation of a number of other chances. For me, he's sharpe and confident, and I'm glad if he's staying.

It's always about a blend.
Our midfield absolutely didn't work, and still doesn't really, when we played Hourihane and Smith. Age is relative to athleticism, NML for example, is still quicker and more athletic than a lot of younger players you'll come across. Got to find the blend for the opposition - our old, slow players got battered against Posh's young, athletic, quick players.
So, overall, your post and assessment of TJJ is about as wrong as old Alan's was.

Cheers. Love your academy contributions - they are much appreciated by others too I'm sure.

If Wheeldon isn't a player then I'm a Dutchman

We started with 4 first team players so I'd hope they're close 😅 Sibley and Thompson involved with the first half goals. Ward and Fornah the other two involved.
DRobinson and DBrown are the closest from our U21s but would benefit from loans for slightly different reasons. Robbo needs first team minutes now so he can kick on and progress, whilst Brown needs a loan to get over the mental gap between U21 and first team football. I see him as being in a similar situation as Whittaker when he was put in the first team too early - he looked a bit lost and wasn't playing anywhere near to what he was capable of and showed in U21/23 games. On ability, I would put them at L1 and L2 level respectively.
Weston and Bartley a little further behind, perhaps NL level. Bartley's physicality means he'd be able handle himself at that level too.