Black ('n' White) Sheep

YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! ?

Sibley on for Hourihane please... His card's been marked by the ref and we can't afford to go down to 10!

Need some creativity in the middle of the pitch...

Having a lot of joy down the wings, but not much happening in the centre. Fast becoming a NML fan... it's great seeing an out-and-out winger who'll run at people!

Oxford starting to get a foothold in the game now after a bright Rams start

12 minutes ago, Ram1988 said:

 A right back surley needs to be the priority at the moment. Don't know too much about D Sterling or Ferguson to be fair, would you have a preference between them?

I'd be after Dujon Sterling personally... If only for the fact that he's played more first team football (on loan at Blackpool, Wigan and Coventry over the last few seasons).

First-team Premier League loans eh? Just guessing here, but going on where I think we'll need more depth some of these:

GKs - Steele (Brighton), Randolph (West Ham), Butland (Palace)... all third choices at their clubs. Wouldn't mind Iversen (Leicester) either, but can't see him dropping down to L1 after 2 Championship loans.

RBs - D Sterling (Chelsea), Ferguson (Palace)

Wingers - Anthony (Bournemouth), Sarmiento (Brighton), Palmer (Man City)

STs - Simms (Everton), Scarlett (Spurs)

Or maybe not... either way I'm intrigued to see who we'll get!

Not a bad game. Our goal was the pick of the bunch. Leicester's 2nd goal was a mile offside and their third was soft as ?.

Player wise... we could possibly do with a GK that can kick better if we're going to continue playing it out from the back. A proper first-choice right back is a must. Midfield fine; Max Bird was class. Collins showed some good touches in the build up even if he didn't get any clear chances on goal himself. We need to create more chances... but I think if our wingers ran beyond the opposition full backs more this would come.

Feeling positive for the first game. COYR ?

Smith, Davies, Chester/Cashin and Forsyth/Roberts... that would be a top-half Championship defence, never mind League One.

One of my players: "What are the tactics you want us to play today boss?".

My response: "Put the ball in their net more times than they put it in ours, lad".

1 hour ago, MACKWORTHRAM said:

What does everyone else think we need?

Bare minimum... we need a right back and Fozzy to re-sign for us.

To improve on what we have on matchdays... utilise the loan market and get a GK, winger and a CF (in addition to the RB).

That would do for me.

Slightly concerned how behind Stevenage we seem fitness/sharpness wise on this showing with a week and a bit to go until the start of the new season. Kind of hoping it's down to the heat (although we're both playing in the same conditions)!

Definitely missing Bird in that holding role. The midfield is just looking a tad lightweight tonight. Wouldn't mind seeing Knight, Bird and Hourihane in a 3 with Max sitting and the other 2 pushing on... might get a bit more service into Collins that way too.

I'm guessing we're going to see how we start the season before making a decision... no point giving LR a long-term contract only to sack him after 10-12 games if we start poorly (I consider this a very unlikely scenario before anyone says anything!).

Coventry?! Duck off!

Was expecting to see a bigger club linked.

If true, I wouldn't have blamed him for walking away at any point in the last 12 months... it's just:

1. You could have timed it better Wayne!
2. If you were leaving for a move to the MLS, at least be honest about it instead of saying you're going to take some time away

Oh well. I suspect the brains of the outfit are still at the club.

1 hour ago, The Scarlet Pimpernel said:

Can Royces be persuaded? 

I'd love a Rams shirt with Rolls-Royce on the front!

Maybe Hourihane will be the more attacking option in midfield then?...

A midfield of:

                  Stephens  Bird
Barkhuizen  Hourihane  Mendez-Laing

Would be amazing in L1 on paper.

I'll be honest (last season the exception as I bought a blank one), the only shirts I've got from the sponsorship era are ones where I've 'liked' the main shirt sponsor. British Midland, Bass, Auto Windscreens, Puma, EDS, Pedigree, The Derbyshire, Bombardier and Avon Tyres... and I'll be bidding for one of the ones used yesterday when they come up for auction too!

13 minutes ago, Ram1988 said:

How did the 4 "trialists" fare today?

Kwaku Oduroh looked promising at RB. I'd offer Fozzy a contract tomorrow. Ryan Glover could deffo be one for the U21s... take or leave the others on today's performance. It is only our first friendly though.

Carlos Richards and Darren Robinson are the two obvious ones.

A few other names to possibly look out for:

Riley Moloney (LB) - Looked a great prospect before injury so it'll be interesting to see what he's like when he's fully fit again. Captained England at youth level.
Connor Dixon (CM) - One of the older youth players we have. If he doesn't break through here this season then he probably never will. A hard worker in the middle of the park.
Osazee Aghatise (AM/LW/RW) - Very impressive for the U23s last term. Was surprised we didn't get to see more of him in the first team last season if I'm honest.
Sam Sebagbo (AM) - Maybe not in the league, but would expect him to get a run out in one of the cups. Only 16. Got one hell of a shot on him!

Also, thanks to the last couple of years, there's a need to recruit in both the U21 and U18 age groups... it wouldn't surprise me to see some names that we don't yet know of that have been released from other clubs/picked up from the lower leagues make an impact; like Plange and Ebiowei did last season.

Stearman, Davies, Chester and Cashin... looking very strong at centre-back now! 

If Brighton still fancy helping us out... how about Jeremy Sarmiento on loan? Very quick winger.

Like others have alluded to, I have a suspicion this one didn't happen because we wouldn't guarantee him the number one slot.

Oh well... plenty more goalkeepers in the sea. I'd like us to try and get young Matej Kovar on loan from Man U for the season if we're still after a young one. Shored Burton's defence up when they played him in the last 5-6 games last season.

3 minutes ago, Ghost of Clough said:

Neil Taylor: Backup LB option if Fozzy doesn't stay. Played with Chester for Villa and Wales, Hourihane at Villa.

Moses Odubajo: Good options at RB if we sell Byrne. Can also cover LB

Thierno Ballo: 20 year old AM/RW. Available after release from Chelsea.

James Trafford: Loan option from Man City if we miss out on Rushworth.

 

Trafford's already signed on loan at Bolton for the forthcoming season... a promising young GK though!

Odubajo would be my choice for full-back. Very quick and can cover/has covered both sides of defence in the past.

Including linked players and ones not currently with a contract:

                     Rushworth
       Byrne  Davies  Cashin  Roberts
                    Knight  Bird
Barkhuizen  Hourihane  Mendez-Laing
                       Collins

Subs: Wildsmith, Forsyth, Chester, Thompson, Sibley, Sotona, McGoldrick

I haven't included Bielik as I just can't see him playing for us in L1.

Man it sure feels good to be debating things on the pitch rather than off it! ?