BaaLocks

Good friend of mine is a die hard Tranmere fan, couldn't believe we'd bought him. He had one word to describe him - erratic. And that has been his career with us, moments of excitement surrounded by periods of 'm'eh'. He's also quite easy to suss out for the opponent, largely he doesn't take players on as such, he just kicks the ball 20 yards down the touchline and hopes he wins the foot race. Great when it works. My point is a broader one, I think Warne is a good man manager and I am sure the lads love him. I don't actually fault too much his style of football or his tactical decisions - he knows the game and it might not be footballing Bazball but there is a plan. But his transfer purchases are the equivalent of a ball and chain around our ankles. I know we don't have much money but that which he has had I really don't see his having spent wisely. Hopefully recent forays into the international arena may bring better returns - Goudmijn and Zetterstromm are rays of hopeful light - but CBT, Washington, Bradley and a couple more are hardly confidence boosters to open up the biscuit tin for him.

Can I just get a sense check? Are we still questioning the OP or have we moved on to questioning those who questioned the OP? I think we might actually have moved to now questioning those who questioned the OP, I think I even picked up on person questionining why someone questioned someone questioning the OP. If that is the case then no further questions.

Just bumping this because of the Soton thread. Southampton have five games to get six points to not take ownership of the St Clods Day crown (the latest day in the season on which our record cannot be beaten). Amongst those they have Newcastle at home and Chelsea away so, realistically, six points needed from three games (which includes Bournemouth and Brighton). I'd say it's likely they will take that crown. But they have 16 games now to get six points, that's less then a point every two games. I'm not writing it off but I'd be very surprised if they take our record. We were utter, undiluted bum gravy that season. So bad!

Thought his breakout role, as in no longer being the posh dimwit, was Paddington 2. He was excellent in that

A photon walks into a hotel. The desk clerk says, "Welcome to our hotel. Can we help you with your luggage?" The photon says, "No thanks, I'm traveling light."

Crystal Methusalah?

Couple of thoughts: - Midfield lacked bite and, more importantly, structure. We seemed not quite to know what to do to turn defence into attack, particularly after NML and CBT went off. We just looked cluttered and rushed, unable to stamp any authority. - It's all good stuff berating our lack of strike force but Halland and Salah couldn't have done much more last night. Got to get the ball to them to allow them to do their stuff, largely we didn't. - Jakob needs to be taught how to face a penalty, he got sent the wrong way nearly every time and telegraphed his intent loud and clear. - Elder's penalty made Southgate look like Roberto Carlos. Thank everything in heaven and earth he will likely not take another one for us. - In general, penalties just seemed to surprise us, didn't look like we had planned for it or knew our best tactics. Strange, all things considered. I get where we are budget wise but that was one of the most insipid performances I can remember seeing from a Derby side (and I've seen a few). If we turn in anything like that in the league we can pretty much consider the points surrendered. And to lose to a team that seemed content to just rifle it in from range was really disappointing, end of the day it won't change what division we are in next season but there was much in there that needs to change or those things will.

I never understand with every single penalty shootout why the ref and the managers and all the players look at each other as if they haven't got a clue that it was coming. Surely they have their list prepared before the match and they should be able to get straight into it rather than having a 15-minute wait while everybody decides who's doing what

Unrelentingly average, just bang average

Barkhuizen is incapable of retaining person, gives it away every time he gets it

Do try Nightbitch, as plugged above, if you like Amy Adams. It's not a typical movie for her but she is very good, and really quite brave in parts, in it. Although whoever does the genre assignments was having a laugh when they called this horror, it really, really isn't.

Daddio: Basically, the whole film is Sean Penn and Dakota Johnson in a taxi from JFK airport to downtown New York. I liked the idea as I remember Tom Hardy doing something similar in Locke and being excellent. But this one is ultimately unbelievable, there's this suggestion that they just had this deep connection but the plot, the context and the exchanges leave you feeling there was no way it could have cut so deep. Promised a lot, I had high expectations, but I ended up just feeling I didn't see what I had hoped for. Raul Albentosa / 10

Nightbitch: Bit of a quirky one starring Amy Adams (who is not as you might expect given she put on quite a bit of weight for the part). She's great in the role though, it's a good watch if you've ever raised a child - for us doubly interesting as we did it in California where the film is based (probably just a pile of cinders now tbf). Has its moments even if, and we've been here before, it doesn't quite know how to get out of the plot it has got itself into. Richard Pratley / 10

Better?

Farrend Rawson getting a run out for Accrington against Liverpool. I was really impressed with him when he started out, shows what I know but I really thought he'd end up at a slightly higher level than (all due respect and all that) than League Two.