kevinhectoring

Hope he puts Fozzie in the middle. Want Cashin and Sibley covering their right wing. With Adams sitting deep in MF that’s less ground for Fozzie to cover

Very hard to say. Smith for Hourihane? Fozzie for Bradley ? Got a nasty feeling that if we start the same we might be a goal down at half time.

Please no. imo that would be a grave error for so many reasons We’re playing well in the current system, it suits the squad and we’re benefitting from players feeling comfortable in a system that’s working. A straight swap, Forsyth for Bradley, would be better if he’s determined to use Foz. But even that would be a mistake at this stage.

Agree with what you say about the JC injury. But not Fozzie. imo Warne should months ago have had Foz in the CB role alongside Cashin and Nelson. It’s far and away the strongest defensive base to play from, and - with Fozzie’s distribution - and Wilson, Ward and/or Sibley (even Elder) playing wide, still allows plenty of attacking threat. Frustratingly, Foz’s injury might have been avoided if we’d used that system by design instead of necessity As for Nyambe, with Nelson, Cashin and say Foz at the back Ward should be picked ahead of N whether or not N is fit. Ward hasn’t played enough this season. Question now is whether he brings Foz into the back 3 in place of Bradley. Foz is the better player all round but despite that I hope Warne will not make that change at this late stage. Don’t think he will …

Rams TV (I assume they have a few people looking at replays) thought there was no contact and thought the booking was probably for the reaction not the foul itself

Err Jason Knight used to arrange for himself to be fouled, then fell over. Hourihane only did one of those things.

His only hope is that the lino will advise the ref he’s got it wrong, so was that who he was shouting at ? But if the lino was the other side of the pitch he wouldn’t be able to see the hand ball

Deserved to win but a shame we resorted to dark arts, particularly because we played flowing attractive football much of the time With Sibley and Ward suddenly so important Fozzie’s return is interesting. Given where we are in the season, I think Warne should keep things stable, stay with 3 at the back and use Fozzie as a CB sub, despite that he’s one of our strongest (his class was immediately evident). Also don’t think Collo should start again, even if fully fit. We have plenty with Gayle, cBT, Barks and NML and even Waggy. Thank goodness we’re now starting Barks. I think NMl should come off earlier. Slightly unnerved by the number of subs first change but thought it worked fine. It’s important Hourihane - if he starts - maintains intensity for say 65 minutes then is replaced by eg Smith or Tommo, depending on the situation. If he stays on at half c*** our midfield turns into holey underpants and we concede. I actually thought we played the game out pretty well - Reading retained something of a threat - but don’t really like the change of system. This squad is looking good now - excited about the run in

Worth another look I reckon

Such an intelligent footballer, Barks

Rest Hourihane and NML now

Hourihane simulation earns a Reading red card. Oh dear

Ward firm shot on target from the corner flag

Good half - plenty of fluency. Had some good chances not least Gayle in the second minute. Shame we’ve not found a goal - Reading will be pleased with this score line and have had the odd decent spell

Wonderful free kick Hourihane to Cashin to the woodwork

So below expectations last year and if bottom range of expectations this year, should he stay? well that’s not great. add to that that his recruitment and retention isn’t strong, I don’t think his selection is marvellous and the tactics and style aren’t great. Would we be better off in the medium term going up and keeping Warne, or staying down and losing him ? Pointless question not least because if we stay down I’d guess he’ll stay and that’s the worst of all worlds. This is why I don’t like the 4 year plan (which suggests that DC will not pay Warne to leave); and it’s why I don’t like Warne suggesting it’s all down to fate and that he doesn’t carry the can if we fail again (‘we don’t know the destination”… “we’re all going to fail together‘).

I’d say the likelihood of promotion is determined almost completely by the quality of the squad and mgt team. (The period of ownership/ the period since administration, will of course impact squad and mgt team; but once personnel is settled those factors are of no relevance.) imo last season our squad should have made top 6 ( it was a stronger division) and this season we should make automatics or at least top 4 it’s deeply strange for people to suggest that failure to get promoted this year is somehow explained, justified or excused because DC set a squidgy 4 year target for - what was it ? - being ‘established’ in the championship

Don’t think he usually gets enough out of this squad. It’s a poor division as for owner timescales, I don’t see any reason for not wanting promotion asap. DC’s vague 4 year plan was imo intended to manage fans’ expectations. The Derby brand loses lustre each year we languish in this lamentable league

See my response to Crewton. I love to see him get the best out of the squad - as he did against Bristol - and I love to see our better footballers excel. (For some reason he regularly decides not to play them.) But our form has been erratic most of the season, even during the winning streak. If he doesn’t find consistency in the run in, then we’re in the play offs and he’ll find himself up against sharper tacticians. I liked Warne’s plea for support when things are not going well and the team certainly has mine. What I don’t like is him preparing the ground for disappointment and implying it would not be failure

Give the team the best support we can - however they play - and enjoy it whilst the team selection and football is good But not be persuaded that staying down is anything less than failure.

Clever stuff from warne : Anything can happen in div 1 and our wonderful fans should just have fun, enjoy the ride etc … No, No, no it’s too far a cry from what he said beginning of the season: failure to achieve promotion in this div this season with this squad is … failure.

Good to hear our coaching staff are now criticising him in the media. That’ll do some good

I was wondering whether Cashin was struggling for form in and after Jan, because he was so focused on the Jan window and ultimately disappointed by it. Anyway, I think he’ll contribute massively now in the run in

Said it before. In a wider ranging midfield role Sibley can look good on the ball but is too often awol because he doesn’t take up the right positions, whether we’re in or out of possession. So when we’re in possession he doesn’t get the ball and when we’re out of position he flies around chasing the ball and often conceding fouls. But stick him on the wing and it’s easier for him to be in the right place : his role is clearer and more obvious (just to pick a word), so it suits him better. The other place he tends to find good positions is in the oppo’s box

We’re good at wining