Ellafella

Multi-syllabic-named players

Assuming he passes his medical, I suspect Corey-Blackett-Taylor (6 syllables) will be the player with the joint-most syllables ever to have played for the Rams. Furthermore, there is a rising trend here what with Nath-an-iel-Men-des-Laing and Ty-reece-John-Ju-les. Oh I long for the days of the mono-syllabics like Mick Coop, Tom Ince, Dave Webb et alia. No wonder we can't come up with any decent songs that scan prop-er-ly 😲 

1 hour ago, Dimmu said:

We don't have options up front, so I'd expect the same lineup as against Burton. Sibley is the only one who might come in, but I'm not sure who he would replace: Elder, Barks, or TJJ. 

Even though in the long run I hope some from the coaching eventually realize Sibbo's best position will be RW. Just make him watch tons of games from Robben.

I strongly suspect Sibbo for Elder. Sibbo shored up the left when he came on the other night. Elder will need support & careful rehab following his mistake; he’s clearly too much of a risk for this week’s game. 

4 minutes ago, Crewton said:

He obviously misjudged Hugill's position, but he shouldn't have been the only one back there.

It’s been standard for a good while now that 1 player holds the fort. To my mind, Elder is the last pick for that job - I have to say he’s a big question mark generally in my book. In the past it’s been Corey Smith, Nyambe, so players with a mostly defensive brief, who’re least likely to score. 

13 minutes ago, DavesaRam said:

So now the emotion has subsided - it was a great game of football for the neutrals, but I'm not a neutral! The opening exchanges got me thinking that we've got too much for Burton, and we SHOULD be comfortable! And we had yet another chance to make a statement by going second. So Derby County said "Hold my beer", so now we are third! It's the Derby way. Fact is we are joint second, one point behind top with a game in hand. So its good!

First half all that Burton had to offer was lots of running around, and a lot of thug football. The ref was like a woman's blouse on washday - all wet and floppy, and many in the South Stand could see right through him, which is another feature of wet shirts, even though that is not what they are supposed to do. By half time there should have been 5 or 6 yellow cards to Burton, and possibly a red. Ironically the first goal was scored by a player who shouldn't have been on the pitch. But the ref's thighs swish together when  he runs because he hasn't got any balls to keep them apart. Seddon should also have been yellow carded for diving into the box to try and fake a penalty, but although the ref played the advantage, he didn't then go back and do what ref's are supposed to do. Neither did he card Seddon for running away with the ball, which apparently isn't as bad as kicking the ball away. 

Things changed in the second half because Patterson noticed that our players had turned midfield into a no-man's land, switched his formation and then  spent the next 20 minutes or so charging through the gaping holes we so thoughtfully provided for them, and the two  bits of poor play were heavily punished. How Burton could punish us when so many other teams haven't been capable I don't know, because the Brewers are not a good team. I find it strange that NML is getting rave reviews for his pace and threat, yet he has only put away a single one-on-one, and fluffed the rest, yet two Burton players put theirs away as though that's all they do for a living. But in part it is because of how we play at times. Although we like to get the ball forwards as fast as possible, at times we will take our time, especially when the opposition park the bus, in order to draw them out of their own half and leave gaps to exploit. But last night we twice got drawn into Burton's half and we got hit on the break for both goals, because we had hardly anyone back. 

Also, re the vacant midfield spaces: Bird's perceived poor performances are aften because he has two or three players buzzing round him at all times, and when he does get the ball in space, there is  no-one to pass to because everyone is scurrying out wide as though the middle of the pitch is riddled with land mines. He actually played well last night, and as well as blocks and interceptions, he made a number of runs through the middle - I hope Warne wasn't watching! 

The eventual bolstering of midfield did the trick, but rather than Thompson being the key - and I really rate him and what he brings to the team - the real difference was Sibley who saw loads of the ball, took men on and put loads of crosses on, and our taking back control revolved around him being brought on to the pitch. Ironically if he had made the mistake which Elder did, there would be a second thread all to himself demand he be flogged or be given a flogging! The kid did really well last night!

But man of the match has to be Wilson, who to me is the best footballer we've had at the club for years and years. I don't think he put a foot wrong defensively, although I could be wrong, skinned his defenders for fun, and I think only put one poor cross in all night. A great player!

So we are sitting very well in the league right now, with the main threat being Bolton, if they can use the potential of their games in hand. If so, top spot is theirs. But  one of the top spots is ours. All we've got to do is fill it! COME ON YOU RAMS!

Spot on @DavesaRamabout midfield and Sibley & Wilson. 

Form tables strongly suggest Away win…but we know Madame Football can be a cruel hoaxer …

Away form:

Lincoln home form:

Form table below: 👇 

14 hours ago, Boycie said:

Imp ressive last gasp win against Burton. Can we turn it on away at the LNER Ground.

Lets keep on track.

I see what you did there @Boycie Are you available for children’s parties 😲

Half-marks allowed; please rate all subs. Closes Thursday @ 18:00. Results by Thursday 22:00. Average is 6.00. Therefore, when a sub steps on the pitch he is on 6 -that'sthe baseline. Also indicate ATG (at the game) Or Tv.

31Vickers

2Wilson

35Nelson

6Cashin

20Elder

17Sibley

11Méndez-Laing

8Bird

4Hourihane

7Barkhuizen

5Bradley

19John-Jules

16Thompson

9Collins

5 minutes ago, oodledoodle said:

Warne watching a player tomorrow night that he likes. Who wants to narrow that down?

Give us a clue 🤷‍♂️

Great win Derby. Showed maturity & belief. 

1 hour ago, Caerphilly Ram said:

He said people within the academy and the club told him he was likely to have a decent career at national league level but maybe not higher; 

"There were academy representatives who said we think you'll have a good career, maybe in non-League or at National League level, if you work hard.

"I've had a lot of ups and downs in my career. There will always be doubters.

"So to prove them wrong and to get 100 appearances is massive for me, and obviously my family.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13046968/derby-defender-eiran-cashin-im-not-the-biggest-or-the-tallest-or-the-strongest-but-ive-found-a-way-to-make-it-work

Either brilliant motivational coaching or a car-crash of coaching prescience 🤷‍♂️?! To be fair, I remember talking with Daren Wasssel about Will Hughes who said “At 15 years old, I wouldn’t have predicted that Will would be the lad making his first team debut at 16!”. I suspect a great many players fall through the net who would otherwise become future seasoned professionals. 

John Lewis Shop in Nott’m:

31 minutes ago, angieram said:

Congratulations to Paul and his team and very well-deserved. 

I always think a Management team's job is a frustrating one, because if you win it's in spite of you, when you lose it's all your fault.

Enjoy the moment, get your heads down and carry on the good work. 

Hear! Hear! @angieram. Whatever our personal views you can’t help but be aware of just how incredibly hard PW et al work for Derby County. They are totally absorbed & dedicated to the job. They so deserve success and I really want them to get the job done. 

7 minutes ago, RoyMac5 said:

Yes, but it wouldn't be forever(?) and he'd make a good attacking fullback I think. It would allow the defence to stay the same.

When he has played Right FB his attacking has been stilted by (usually Ward) the teammate played above him on the wing. I thought the idea would to interchange with Ward, but the problem is that Ward is a penalty-giver looking for an opportunity to mis-time a tackle on an opponent in our box. His success on that count is legendary at P'boro  

Vickers: 6 Distribution for the first 20 minutes was Sunday League-esque (skyscraper kicks or hospital passes vaguely in the direction of a defender in a white shirt). Settled down thereafter and made 3 good saves. No fault for the goal.

Nelson: 6  Individually good for the most-part but part of a collective-defence that looked like keystone Kops.com especially during the opening minutes when the ball kept coming back to our box. The presence/absence of Nyambe is a key variable here. 

Wilson: 6.5 Some promising moments but disappointed to see him going to ground unconvincingly looking for a FK, which is not acceptable for me. 

John-Jules: 6.5 Also some promising moments but still quite raw and a bit of a lone shark who doesn't seek to link up with teammates; needs a lot more game time and I now feel he isn't going to click anytime soon; certainly not in the timeframe we need so suspect he'll remain bit-part or return to London.  

Bradley 6: Headed and cleared adequately but not always a reader of the situation and sometimes not in the right place. 

Barkhuizen: 5.5 Didn't show enough certainly not commensurate with his talent/experience. Not helped by being part of an ever-changing side/formation; he looked "seasick" after te final whistle.   

Collins: 5.5 Felt for Collo as he attempted to control Vickers's skyscraper kicks for the first 20 mins. He needs to be careful when challenging headers as he now seems to be all elbows - refs will take action. 

Thompson: 6.0 Energy and covered the turf but 50% of a headless chicken midfield. 

Mendez-Laing: 7.0 Brought much-needed injection of pace and power and possession for the 2nd 45 but toiled tout seul.  

Sibley: 5.0 Why does he have these "no shows"? Lots of talent but where is his "on" switch? 

Bird 🦅 6.5 Along with NML he brought some control and possession and threat but couldn't influence a losing battle sufficiently.

Elder 4.0 Failed to have an impact and was responsible for not "snuffing out" their scorer Stubbs. 

Cashin 7.5 Looked like the only footballer on the pitch after his introduction. 

Fornah 5.0 Has faded since his promising start and struggled to keep possession/control and was the other 50% of the headless chicken midfield. 

Hourihane 6.5 Exacted some control on his introduction and kept the ball moving. 

Ward:  4.0 Several unforced errors - misplaced pass straight to a rugby-shirted opponent, a couple of overhit crosses and co-calamity with Elder in failing to challenge Stubbs for the headed goal. He wouldn't make my squad selection on Monday, even without Nyambe. 

The performance was not acceptable and I suspect/hope that the cold night, bumpy pitch, lack of a crowd, and a "Groupthink" borne of complacency accounts for that ie that we have got it out of the system and won't approach the next match and fall into the same collective malaise. If those factors don't account for what we witnessed, I'm concerned because we will fall short if it stems from other factors such as our shape and tactics. Let's hope it's the former and that we have some talent entering via the open window. Last night burst a bubble. Bradford beat us without really breaking much of a sweat.  

Half-marks allowed; please rate all subs. Closes Thursday @ 18:00. Results by Thursday 22:00. Average is 6.00. Therefore, when a sub steps on the pitch he is on 6 -that'sthe baseline. Also indicate ATG (at the game) Or Tv.
 

Vickers

Nelson

Wilson

John-Jules

Bradley

Barkhuizen

Collins

Thompson

Mendez-Laing

Sibley

Bird 🦅 

Elder

Cashin

Fornah

Hourihane

Ward

2 minutes ago, caymanram said:

In truth I don’t think there’s one positive out of tonight’s game …

Truly an abject, embarrassing and lackluster performance.

But it’s just a crappy Cup … forget this and move on to more important things i.e. the League..

...but worryingly a strong Derby side for most of the game.  Very little individual or collective quality; no chances of note created against a largely second string Bratfut XI. 

6 mins added time. 

1 minute ago, May Contain Nuts said:

Bit of a problem when it's his one and only strength.

Indeed. 

pinball in the Bratfut area...but final shot cleared. Derby staring down the barrel of defeat ...

Absolutely zilch contact by JJ on their defender ...but asst flags frantically and ref gives it...

1 minute ago, Millenniumram said:

Even a free transfer was too expensive for Joe Ward

He makes regular unforced errors it has to be said.