For Those who Did Not Attend. 20 Oct 2018
Visitors - Sheffield United
Referee. Oliver Langford
Crowd. 27,927
Team. Carson, Bogle, Keogh, Tomori, Forsyth
Huddleston, Bryson, Mount
Waghorn, Wilson, Marriott
Subs. Roos, Lawrence, Davis, Jozefzoon, Malone, Evans, Waghorn,
Conditions - No wind and autumnal damp. A footballer’s dream pitch as beautiful and pristine as ever.
Sheffield United were top of the league at the start of the day. Derby are nicely placed but only a win would do if we are to stay in touch. Mount, Wilson and Keogh have been on international duty and it is to be hoped that the games will have served to inspire their performances for Derby and not any form of anti-climax. I haven’t troubled to see if any Sheffield players were on International duty.
In the event it was the most exciting game of football I have seen for many, many, years. I am still shaking from the sheer tension of the proceedings. Derby scored before quite a few fans had sat down properly. Harry Wilson crossed from the left and after a Waghorn touch, Bryson slotted it past Henderson. ! - 0 after 19 seconds. There followed a period in which Sheffield passed the ball mostly to feet, but sometimes to space, for attackers to run on and stretch Derby’s defence to the limit. The goal they conceded clearly stung the Blades to play as if their lives depended on it. They must be totally unused to being behind. They moved with purpose and with speed and Derby’s defence stood magnificently firm against everything Sheffield could muster. Great skills were on view from both sides. Derby had some great chances that were smothered by an excellent Sheffield defence and particularly brilliant goalkeeping. Wilson intercepted a pass and galloped towards the visitor’s goal. He had Marriott clear to his right and a pass through to him would have placed him one on one with the goalkeeper. Wilson failed to make the pass, due more to defending skill rather than any fault on Wilson’s part. Derby were holding up well to wave after wave of Blades attacks. I was proud of our defensive capability but eventually - 10 minutes before the break Sheffield scored. Fleck collected the ball and broke through unstoppably to pass to Basham who had a simple task of putting the ball past Carson. The equaliser stung Derby to increased effort and for a few minutes before the break Derby were dominant.
The second half saw Derby playing much more effectively and for a good part of the second half they dominated in much the same way that Sheffield had done in the first half when they enjoyed 65% possession. By the end - stats were almost exactly equal. Derby started to look the fitter and stronger of the two side with everybody performing really well. With 15 minutes to play Derby went ahead with a beautiful goal by Marriott from a superb cross by Craig Forsyth. He placed it to fall between two centre backs for Marriott to flick it past the excellent Henderson who had done well all game to make really great saves. At the other end, Carson dropped the ball from a routine cross and it went to a Sheffield attacker who headed the ball goal wards, only to see Mason Mount block the attempt and clear the ball. I thought Carson was going to give him big kiss for saving his total embarrassment. Time was played out for Derby to hold on and get the 3 points to raise them to 5th place - only two points behind. Derby deserved their win and if it were not for Henderson in goal they could have had 3 or4.
Who played well? Everybody on the park, though Wilson was a bit subdued I thought. Also Jozefzoon looked a class level lower than his colleagues -A bit harsh maybe - but he was not quite up to the game. Special mention of Keogh, Forsyth and Tomori was merited. The brightest spark for Derby was the partnership developing between Marriott and Waghorn. A pairing which I predict will do well for The Rams in the future.
For those who Could not Attend
posted on 22/10/18
That's very good news Spart.
Had a cheeky goose at the game.
Seems like Sheff Utd outfoxed us first half with the cleverly disguised three at the back which was actually 2 with a marauding Basham. We were set up to defend the 3-4-1-2 but Basham having a jolly on their right often led to Marcelo Fozzy having a man over to contend with. I would say he did a better job of the overload than Max Lowe, but Tomori was on fire yesterday against Leeds not so.
Not sure they would have scored had Bryson not been injured, actually I had Wilson as the one who should have stuck a leg out or checked Fleck's run first.
Wilson at CM instead of BJ was a big bold move, I guess Lamps wanted to force their defence back and didn't fancy Huddz ahead of BJ. BJ ahead of Huddz might have been interesting though.
Sheff Utd seemed more concerned going out wide and getting crosses in than building up play through the middle though. Did Mount and Wilson switch CM sides 2nd half though...hard to tell.
Tom Huddlestone's style and grace whilst everyone else was trying to shoot up the place was beautiful, oh it was wonderful, magical.
2nd Half Basham didn't go on his jolly's as far as I can see this was tactical from Sheff Utd not sure we did anything to enforce that.
2nd half was as accomplishedly as good as a Derby performance as I've seen in ages. Even in the first half we created the clearer chances than Sheff Utd and I do think 4-1 would have been a fairer reflection on that game.
As their wing backs tired and the game became more of a 5-3-2 we pinged, ratted, broke lines and looked rather spiffing all over the pitch. Wish Waggy's shot had gone in think he's a goal of confidence away from looking very foxy too.
Our firepower up front is ridiculous: Marriott, TL, HW, MM, Waggy, Bryson even BJ and Huddz can tw.t it from range. We all have a team of 11 Frankie Lampards, 11 Frankie Lampards
I think playing the way we do, we often overpress rightly so with this many goalscorers in our team, the downside is we can and will get exposed every now and again on the break or counter and leave our fullbacks exposed. Personally I'd rather take this than seeing Wilson, TL, Waggy tracking back religiously.
Marriott's form is exciting, if we could get Waggy a goal that'd be champion too. Would like to see Waggy n Marriott fight for the striker position and Nuge support with his usual aplomb. A goalscoring Bennett and Flo Jo duke it out on the right. The battle of the Taffy's on the left.
A resurgent Jacob Butterfield to keep Mount and Bryson on their toes, BJ morph into an athletic goalscoring thug to do the same, Evans and Huddz to Pirlo it out.
As for the Marcelo Fozzy debate I think sometimes as fans we have to work out which players respond to the hairdryer of fan generated moans and shouts and which players need an arm round the shoulder. I have a feeling Fozzy needs the arm of the fan around his shoulder, not the hairdryer. A nice wee chant for the fella I think could work wonders.
The greatest left back
The greatest left back
Marcelo Fozzy
The greatest left back
Might need a bit of work.
Lastly, my theory pound for pound we are the best attacking team in the Championship, we don't concede in the last 15 cos we're attacking. Teams can stop us with athleticism and well organised defence but given space we're the ish. 75 mins is usually when space opens up and we dominate. You can run but you can't hide, the rhythm is gonna get you tonight.
We had weaknesses when being pressed high up the pitch, the Huddz gives us the gift of composure here. Still a long way to go but I think we levelled up on Saturday.
Which is nice.
PS Not too sure about that 3 at the back thing we played last 5 mins though.
posted on 22/10/18
Thank you 2W. A bit more detail would have been nice but overall, a reasonable summary
posted on 22/10/18
No problem Heb I wanted to focus on songs more than details though, hence the brevity. <>
posted on 22/10/18
2W a very fine piece of summarising if you ask me. Very insightful and analysed like a pro.
posted on 22/10/18
Nice one 2W.
I love watching Marriott. A proper striker.
posted on 22/10/18
He is a very exciting prospect.
posted on 22/10/18
Wellies knows
Planning a holiday over in Canada next summer, Wellies - Toronto then out west. Are you there at the moment?
posted on 22/10/18
Yeah give us a shout Vidals, I'll venture into the city to provide your security if I'm not in the UK on my annual good behaviour visit.
posted on 22/10/18
Vidal becoming a hash tourist.
posted on 22/10/18
Speaking of which Spart I’ve sent your CBD oil and Sativa vape pen to that discreet PO Box you sent me. The scientific evidence of weed and erectile dysfunction is a bit loose goosey so I sent some Vye aggra as well just to make sure. Enjoy. 👍