BathRam72

Collins yesssss

The first time in weeks, I haven't chosen Bird as my Frgs. Get in

On 24/01/2024 at 10:27, sage said:

Bird, NML and Collins have played too many minutes and too high a pace and intensity.

They are all now knackered. As our game plan involves running around a lot, this is a slight issue.

 

I would agree with you. However. Bird is young and should be able to go longer into the season. Collins and NML put far more effort and energy in than Bird. So you are right with those two. I like Bird, but he is not all that. His basic passing was atrocious the other night. That is not fatigue that is lazy.

Derby 3 v 1 Cheltenham   FRGS NML

Already a thread for this topic

I think, those who resort to insult and abuse are generally lacking in intelligence and don't have the argument to back up any criticism. So they resort to vitriol abuse.

Or they fall under the 'yeah yeah, what he said' group.

28 minutes ago, trappatoni said:

He's only 32 - ok nearly 33 but people have been levelling this accusation at him for at least a year.   I don't believe physiologically a 32 year old has lost much - at least not due to age - a few percent most.   He should be able to cope physically - the athleticism of league 1 players is typically less than the higher levels.  

Not sure I entirely agree with your last line. At levels above, games are usually wide open and players have time. If you are clever you don't have to run as much if you can dictate the play.

At this level, most teams rely on their athleticism ton just run and hope they are faster and harder than the opposition. Currently most teams are more than Derby.

9 hours ago, JuanFloEvraTheCocu'sNesta said:

You could put Kevin de Bruyne in our midfield, it wouldn't make a difference because Warne actively bypasses the midfield. 

It's a tactical choice that is currently, and will continue to, cost us points.

However, if your midfield is so poor as ours is, why would you play it to them. Bird pretty much gave every ball to the opposition last night.

So until we get some decent players in the midfield, we may as well play 5 at the back and 5 up front.

39 minutes ago, Chester40 said:

I have consistently argued for fans to stop overreacting, because the results and some performances have been good.

What's concerning is that last night imo it's no overreaction  to say it was possibly the most sloppy performance I can recall and in the circumstances as disappointing as it's possible to comprehend.

The chance to go top and we literally appeared to have been on a stag do all weekend. Elder was decent going forward but defensively he was a liability at times and he was our MoTM.

Hourihane misplaced so many passes it was bizarre. Bird is so passive. Wilson toiled energetically but created little. NML looked like he'd been working down the pit all day. Even after constant offside Collins kept running offside do he couldn't be passed to. Barks barely touched it. Sibley looked so weak, slow and pedestrian.  

Thompson tried hard but was a bit like an enthusiastic puppy. Cashin kept trying the same dangerous pass out, Nelson seemed off it... just all-around it was frustrating as anything.

TJJ missed a good chance and did nothing else till he pulled up injured again.  

We need Fornah to be the player we think he is and get the game by the throat. Nyambe and Wildsmith need to come back. Put players back in their proper position and get the centre midfield taking the ball off the back instead of constantly looking wide.

Fortunately Sat is a very good game to get back on track. No excuses to not win it and address the issues and go again.

 

I do agree that last night was awful.  Isn't the Derby way, to get within touching distance then fall away. The midfield is atrocious at the moment. 

Bird couldn't place any pass unless to the opposition and shied away from tackles. I wonder if another team are in for him and he doesn't want to get injured.  

No one was really on it last night for whatever reason. 

My original point was in answer to the toxicity on the forum recently.  I agree it is terrible.  But we have come through similar times . 

4 hours ago, Comrade 86 said:

Don't think I've ever felt so out of kilter with our fanbase. There's always been a few on here, but since Covid it's been an absolute deluge. The amount of new members joining just so they can join the pile on is staggering. We've literally gone from being the most staunch set of fans in the entire EFL, to this, all in 18 months or less. Fortunately, our most loyal fans, especially those who seem to go to every game, come rain, wind or shine, seem able more than able to take the knocks without the kind of histrionics we see on the matchday threads. 

Ah well, a big performance is a must now against Cheltenham, or this forum will be toxic beyond belief. 

Maybe some of the new members can't remember the tough times and feel we have a god given right to be perfect every game. League 1 is tough because the teams get in your face. Everyone ups there game for Derby because they also see us as a big club. We currently are not a big club. 

Awaiting incoming from Nigel aged 9

1 v 2 coming up

1 minute ago, JuanFloEvraTheCocu'sNesta said:

And our manager has absolutely no interest in using ours. 

Probably because they are so lightweight. Genius really

Has Bird actually completed a pass to one of ours. He looks very out of sorts. Even in a poor performance 

Bugger

To answer the original question.

Which ever way the transfer window goes, there will be those who say Stick, then moan if we fail and there will be those who say, throw caution to the wind and spend, then moan if we fail.

I believe if you have a good tight knit squad who remain fit (obviously nothing is guaranteed) then maybe just strengthen in your vulnerable areas.

Don't just throw money in (MM) because it is the RIGHT Thing to do and WILL hopefully get us promoted.

So pleased I do not have to make those decisions.

Reading 1 v 3 Derby. FRGS Bird

15 hours ago, SKRam said:

60 days….. I’d be lucky… 60 seconds ago sometimes….. when you run upstairs and arrive to think ‘what have I come up here for?’ 

Run?

17 hours ago, rammieib said:

I really hope we stick him straight into the team on Tuesday. I’m sure the team has a training session on Monday which he is part of and then will travel.

Either for Berks or Sibley.

Do you have any contacts at Leeds? I am sure they will have pictures of him training with us.

11 hours ago, Ghost of Clough said:

Is a £6.8m loss over 9 months sustainable?

Book value is not the same as worth. The squad had a £3.3m book value when Clowes took us out of admin - we later sold 2 players for the majority of that figure. When you add on the minimum fees expected for the like sof Cashin and Bird, then our total squad worth is significantly higher than it's book value.

After seeing the figures for the 9 month period, it's now reasonable to assume we'll have the highest wage bill in the league this season. Clowes will be expecting promotion from such outlay, so it's reasonable for fans to expect promotion too.

I would argue that a good deal of the £6.8m was probably legacy payments for the likes of Beilik etc. To be where we are not having paid a fee for players since 2020 is pretty good I suspect. When you rely on freebies and loans, you only have a pick of a very small pool of players. When you can spend, that pool gets much bigger and better.

I will not complain about where we are based on the current finances.

So. The accounts and how much has been spent v squad worth should be a stark reminder to those who DEMAND instant success.  Blame recruitment if you want, but the plain fact is Clowes is running this club sustainably.  I take my hat off to you sir. Especially after the previous farce

Lincoln 1 v 2 Derby FRGS Bird

If his heart wasn't in it, I doubt he would be captain.  The players chose him because they must have seen him as the best leader, figure head and role model. So, no I don't feel the same way.

6 minutes ago, Millenniumram said:

Doesn’t change the fact that Warne’s game management was abysmal and should have made that change significantly earlier. We were fortunate to win tonight, he said as much himself. We shouldn’t have needed to be.

Milleniumram for manager. Because this youngster can do a much better job.

48 minutes ago, caymanram said:

People have a justifiable right to complain when things are crap or going pear-shaped in front of their eyes. It doesn’t make them any less of a true fan. 

Agreed. But very predictable and boring everytime.  Especially when we are 1 point from the top. Some people would moan if we were 10 points clear and win with a poor performance 

Just now, strawhillram said:

You can say that again

I doubt he can