jimtastic56

ON that evidence Browne is shaping up nicely as a CDM for the Rams!

Or Callum Ball

Feels like a long time ago that we'd have 15 year olds making the first team squad. Now we have 18 year olds who aren't even first choice strikers at the non-league club we've loaned them to being our "hopes for the future" 😂

I’m hoping they draw, with 2 key players from both sides sent off for violent conduct meaning 3 game bans, and a further key player each injured within the dying seconds of the game so the match isn’t abandoned but it leaves both sides severely weakened for the run-in….
Thats bad of me isn’t it? 

It really is though. An open goal for us to get up . No Ipswich , Plymouth or Shef W in our league this season . Portsmouth finished 8th last season and are running away with it . Barnsley worry me as they finished 4 th last season . The team that finishes above them will get automatic.

Ah, but will we have deserved it? 😉

I was going to say that Portsmouth have wobbled but won't drop enough points to finish below 1st, but they still have to play Derby, Peterborough, Barnsley, Bolton, Blackpool, and Wigan. Bolton have a terrible run-in too. Barnsley's form should see them go up, and they have some easy ones on paper - Lincoln (h), Carlisle (a), Cheltenham (h) in a row could see them put a run together before they play Pompey. They finish with Charlton, Stevenage, Reading, so could tail off. But then Cheltenham are in v. good form and Peterborough are on the slide...

In conclusion, who the eff knows.

I think we'll finish 2nd and this will be the weirdest, least convincing promotion in history.

May the 4th be with you 🖖

It shows:
1. That random stats can show whatever you want them to show.
2. Some people have far too much time on their hands.
3. Er....that's it.

I love a good chart! But I don't understand this one ... 
Can anyone explain what it is meant to show?

Portsmouth do seem to be running away with the league to me. Their total with 10 games to go will already be enough for the playoffs. If they maintain their season-long form, they will finish on 97.1 points. By contrast their closest challengers, Bolton, are looking at 90.7 points. They've only lost 4 games all season - we've lost 9! Barnsley are next closest to them on that stat, losing 6 matches.

You know that once something like a football season is finished the league table is final and recorded in history as something that ACTUALLY happened right? Barnsley finished 4th, because they accumulated the 4th highest amount of points in the league;
 
 

I can't get my head round this, so you're saying they didn't deserve to finish 4th because they scored more goals than you were expecting?

It really is though. An open goal for us to get up . No Ipswich , Plymouth or Shef W in our league this season . Portsmouth finished 8th last season and are running away with it . Barnsley worry me as they finished 4 th last season . The team that finishes above them will get automatic.

Portsmouth aren't running away with it and I don't quite get the point you are making about them finishing 8th last season. The year before last Plymouth finished 7th and Ipswich finished 11th, so what's your point?
It is a weaker league than last season without the teams promoted but it's still not an open goal. I haven't investigated all the signings each team has made but haven't Portsmouth, Bolton and Barnsley strengthened their squads (to a greater extent than we've been able to)?

He seemed to have abit more pace yesterday! Vale must have a slow right sided full back.
Sibleys always got a goal in him! 

The Ward v Nyambe debate is a bit superfluous while Nyambe is injured, but for me it's about Warne making the right choices.
In games where we need to be on the offensive then Ward is perfect. Backs against the wall, I'd want Nyambe there every time. 

And that's a brilliant asset for a wing back to have! 
Re MOTM, don't one of the sponsors pick it? I don't think there's a lot of thought goes into it. Half of them don't even go out to watch the game! 🤷‍♀️

My take on it is the creative and defensive efforts of Ward probably pipped Sibley for motm. Sibley scored 2 from Ward crosses, Barkhuizen cleared the bar from a Ward cross, Ward’s turn and pass into the channel found Barkhuizen who’s touch finds Adams to cross for the Gayle header for the second. There was also one lovely interception and driving run that led to Barkhuizen then losing possession for them to get in behind with the cross Nelson cut out, Ward’s part in that passage of play was great…we just turned the ball over attempting to counter 🤦🏻‍♂️
He was a creative outlet and did his job defensively so probably got it on that basis in my view. And that’s not a criticism of Sibley who I also thought was very very good yesterday, just my thoughts on why Ward was man of the match. 

I’ve been an admirer of Sibley for a long time. It’s driven me mad that he didn’t really seem to be getting a regular run of games. 

He’s really taking his chances now and has shown his versatility. Long may it continue.
🐏

I was mystified today has to how Sibs didn’t get MOM🤔 yes Wardy had a very good game but any better than Sibley and did he score 2 goals? If a striker scores 2 goals he would almost certainly get MOM🤷🏿‍♀️ I’m still confused.com 

I get the joke of course but there is a serious side. Every time Sibley plays, the chap sitting next to me makes some comment about how long it will be before he is booked. I have to keep reminding him that Sibley has matured a lot since his bad old days and is no more likely to get booked than any other player.

He does divide opinion somewhat 😂
It's an interesting one as back in his academy days, when it was much easier to catch games live, I watched every game I could and that was a good generation amongst whom, he looked the comfortable standout. He literally scored for fun. He's never looked quick, but he was utterly unerring in front of goal. and we all predicted huge things. Fair to say that things haven't since gone according to plan and he's now struggled to convince a good few coaches that he's worth a regular starting berth, but what I really like about his recent endeavours is that he's now putting in really good shifts wherever he's asked to play. I think he has to start the next game and if he can now add consistency to his goal contributions, he can silence his doubters once and for all. FWIW, I still believe in him and I'd re-sign him in a heartbeat. 

I went to Barnsley nobody was good😀

In front of goal he’s got poise and killer instinct