Wistaston Ram

That was fun yesterday. Two penalties conceded, a red card and a home defeat to the club who came up last season via the L2 playoffs. 
The performance of the ref and his assistants is the talk of the forum but my overall take is this.....
 
1. We didn't deserve to win the game and our performance should be of greater concern than that of the officials.
2. The key decisions - the two pens plus Collins' red - weren't awful decisions. Collins didn't aim for their player but he lashed out and if he's caught him then the ref is always likely to send him off.
3. Sibley was hauled down at the end but the ref gave it as a free kick to them rather than a penalty (or waving play on). As it happens, I'm pretty sure he blew before the corner had actually been taken so he got that incident doubly wrong.
4. Whatever the merits or otherwise are of having three CB's and playing with wingbacks, I'm already of the opinion that neither Barkhuizen or Mendez-Laing are suitable for the role. Festy or Byrne as RWB and Lowe or Buchanan as LWB yes, but I've spotted a problem with that.
NML seemed to lack his explosive pace yesterday and I think asking him to cover more distance is a likely cause. I like both Barks and NML but only as wide attacking players or possibly conventional wingers in a 4-4-2, not as wing backs.
5. We had a midfield three yesterday of Bird, Hourihane and Knight. That trio should be more than good enough to dominate most matches at L1 level. I felt yesterday that they were off it individually and as a trio. I also felt we didn't try to play enough football through them. They have quality, it is potentially our strong suit yet we play as though it isn't.
If we play with three in the middle I'd like to see Rooney given an opportunity to nail the DM role. He looks to be a fine prospect. Knight's energy plus whoever compliments the team best - or most in form - out of Bird, Hourihane, Smith, Thompson and Sibley can take the remaining place (Smith looked excellent in his most recent appearance). 
6. At this level we should have enough ability to play four at the back and use the third CB body elsewhere. If this means Odurah, Smith or Chester at RB then so be it. 
7. Yesterday was the first time I've watched a match from the North Stand since circa 1997 (a 3-1 win versus Everton). You boys and girls in the South Stand looked great doing the bounce after the goal.
8. Osula doesn't look equipped to play up front as a sole striker.
 
COYR
 

Thank you for all the kind words and support.
Others have been posting on social media and there has been an article in DerbyshireLive ending with a plea to start the clapping at the 23rd minute tomorrow...
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/dad-plans-moving-farewell-son-7671542
If you could mention it to your friends or people who may not have heard about it while enjoying pre-match drinks etc. that would be fantastic!
Once again, sincere thanks... And COYR! 

It will be my first in-person experience of Warneball on Saturday. Got a couple of colleagues that support Port Vale so I need this to not go tits up or I am going to have to hand my notice in.

My efforts with documenting and preserving the history of our club through its shirts have been acknowledged and rewarded by the kind gift from the club of the number 9 shirt as worn by James Collins through the pre season games when we were without our new seasons kit, depicting Derby as a United City and football club, it was nice to be rewarded but even better for the club to officially recognise the longer term purpose of the collection.

You won't be the only Danes at the game, I will be dragging my wife along to Ipswich but we've only got to get there from Crewe!

You won't be the only Danes at the game, I will be dragging my wife along to Ipswich but we've only got to get there from Crewe!

Its incredible that they have 16 points after only scoring 4 goals in 12 games (but only conceded 4 goals). Minimalist Football!

3,638 tickets left for this now, should be 28,000 +

I've watched the highlights now and, while I can't comment on his overall performance, I think some of the more scathing views of Cybulski's finishing are a bit harsh. Of the three goal attempts shown, the first (header) he should certainly have done better with; the second (where he hit the post) was great turn and shot, and the third, where he was faced with the keeper coming out and a defender back on the line, he put to the correct side of the keeper and on target - it was just a decent bit of keeping imo. I think there's something to work with there.

Fully deserved for Mansfield who should have won it in the 90 minutes.  Tough watch with shades of Lincoln. We looked weak and without energy

As a seven year old I fell in love with this beautiful shirt complete with red number.  My uncle took me to see Derby for the first time at Villa Park (he was a Villa fan) and I just remember how great we looked!   Lost 4.0 and the rest is history
I was also into collecting Panini football stickers at school.

Have to tag this one because Todd was the greatest I ever saw at the BBG or PP. He played football for a later age (prize to anyone who spots that reference) mostly with the outside of one foot. And on a pitch like a peat bog. Paul Ince, Edgar Davids, and many more, eat your hearts out  
Anyway ...  My grandfather was born in Spondon, my father in Chadd, both supporters of course. I was born in Mickleover. Always loved football. How could it be possible to support anyone else ?

As a seven year old I fell in love with this beautiful shirt complete with red number.  My uncle took me to see Derby for the first time at Villa Park (he was a Villa fan) and I just remember how great we looked!   Lost 4.0 and the rest is history
I was also into collecting Panini football stickers at school.

As a seven year old I fell in love with this beautiful shirt complete with red number.  My uncle took me to see Derby for the first time at Villa Park (he was a Villa fan) and I just remember how great we looked!   Lost 4.0 and the rest is history
I was also into collecting Panini football stickers at school.

Looking forward to el crapico.

Coley's (named after our manager) is open from 12pm for home and away fans. It's inside the stadium overlooking the pitch, entrance by scanning your match ticket at the door.  Open after the match too with live music. Only opened in April. 

Looking forward to el crapico.

Looking forward to el crapico.

As a seven year old I fell in love with this beautiful shirt complete with red number.  My uncle took me to see Derby for the first time at Villa Park (he was a Villa fan) and I just remember how great we looked!   Lost 4.0 and the rest is history
I was also into collecting Panini football stickers at school.

Derby born (Nightingale, a popular place !!?)
My Dad took me to my first match at the BBG in January 1959 - see picture below that still hangs in Pride Park. I was somewhere on that picture on the Popside. PNE in a FA Cup match 2-2.     2 or 3 inches of snow on the pitch and on the terraces. The match would not have been played now a day.
DERBY PLAYED IN RED !!!! ? and I see both teams had white shorts.
'Forever Derby' from that day onwards even though I have lived 50 miles away since 1967.
Two daughters both keen Rams fans and season ticket holders. Although the eldest had a brief skirmish with Coventry the year they won the Cup but I soon put a stop to that !!!
We still travel the 100 mile round trip.        IT'S IN YOR DNA.
 
 

Looking forward to el crapico.

Looking forward to el crapico.

As a seven year old I fell in love with this beautiful shirt complete with red number.  My uncle took me to see Derby for the first time at Villa Park (he was a Villa fan) and I just remember how great we looked!   Lost 4.0 and the rest is history
I was also into collecting Panini football stickers at school.

As a seven year old I fell in love with this beautiful shirt complete with red number.  My uncle took me to see Derby for the first time at Villa Park (he was a Villa fan) and I just remember how great we looked!   Lost 4.0 and the rest is history
I was also into collecting Panini football stickers at school.