Derby County v Birmingham City
Pride Park
Opposite Frankie and Benny's
Derby
1500
28 Sept 2019
I don't know whether to laugh bitterly or wax lyrical about the disgusting debacle enveloping My Club this week. I just feel so 'let down'. I know this is a match thread but you are welcome to pass any judgements you see fit - I would probably agree with you.
Time to get behind the remnants of the team. You never know, new personnel may be a catalyst to improvement. Bennett and TL can go and do clink for all I care.
A new centre back is sought and various combinations have been mooted but nothing really satisfactory. PC has still not made a definitive statement on the selection of Bennett and Lawrence. Maybe Huddz could fill in at CB? Will Chris Martin start and when did he become the solution to all Derby's woes? High expectation which may not be fulfilled but it was good to see him back.
Still waiting a first home this season, suddenly it looks an awful lot harder. Let's get behind the innocent(?) ones on Saturday and hopefully they'll step up.
Team news from Ang.
Derby County 3 - 2 Birmingham City
posted on 28/9/19
I think Holmes would look very, very good behind Martin or Marriott and give us the fluidity, defensive nous, dribbling and distribution needed to link 5hit together. 4-4-1-1 or 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.
Zoon, Waggy n Pato seemed to do a lot of rotating today behind Martin. Waggy is quite useful dropping back to make it a 4 man midfield as he showed at Leeds and at times again today.
I didn't think Paterson was great first half and looked better on the wing in the 2nd.
I would like to suggest Holmes in the hole but that means we need another central MF. Think it's between Knight and Dowell. Knight probably shading it on defensive nous at the moment. Has Shinnie shown us any 'bite' in the games he has played for us?
....................Roos.....................
Bogle*...Bielik...Davies*...Malone
...........Knight*....Huddz..............
.....Waggy......Holmes.......Zoon*..
...................Marriott*...................
* Lowe until Bogle is fully fit.
Clarke I think will have to help Davies out in terms of squad rotation.
Malone I think's been very competitive recently but Lowe can offer decent back up.
Knight, Dowell possibly Shinnie.
Between Zoon and Pato for the left wing slot.
Martin and Marriott depending on fitness, opposition formation and CB's.
I like the idea of Pato to offer something else from the bench, think others will opt for him to start though.
Can Knight, Dowell or the lesser spotted do the central MF job well enough though, might be the only question.
posted on 28/9/19
We really are struggling in midfield, especially now we have been forced to move Bielik back into defence. With few games under his belt in midfield I feel we’d see what we have invested in, but that is looking unlikely for the foreseeable future. Holmes is a good little player but he has a lot of ground to cover as Huddz sits deep. Martin coming back in has helped as he likes to come deep and link up, but I don’t feel this is sustainable all season, especially against better midfielders than today.
posted on 28/9/19
Agree Tommo.
Zoon may as not be on the pitch. Ineffective. I saw enough last season to think he's not up to it and Cocu has given him a run but it's like we're playing with 10 men. Literally anyone else would be an improvement.
posted on 28/9/19
Made some good runs ahead of Martin, didn't lose the ball as much today, he worries me defensively but so does Paterson, switching off whilst tracking back.
I think he'll come good.
posted on 28/9/19
He may well do but he's had plenty of opportunities. Far more than Dowell or Shinnie.
Time to look at other options.
And we also have Sibley.
Zoon's blocking a path for others.
posted on 28/9/19
What a great day.
Rams 1-0 up at halftime with a second minute goal from CM (I guess that is two in two minutes)?
Of into town for cocktails at four then getting confirmation of a win before the start of the film at five.
UTR.
posted on 28/9/19
comment by Scouse (U9675)
posted 3 minutes ago
What a great day.
Rams 1-0 up at halftime with a second minute goal from CM (I guess that is two in two minutes)?
Of into town for cocktails at four then getting confirmation of a win before the start of the film at five.
UTR.
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Downton Abbey ?
posted on 28/9/19
Downton Abbey ?
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"Ready or Not" (black comedy/horror). Not bad to be fair, but a good excuse for a good meal and drinks before & after with Mrs Scouse.
posted on 28/9/19
I can’t remember the last time I was so anxious during a match. At 2-2 it felt like everything was on the line. Defeat today would have been a disaster, especially from 2-0 up.
Positives: attitude, resilience, desire. Martin like the Martin of old, played really well. Paterson excellent, MOM for me. We looked threatening going forward.
Negatives: very shaky defending balls in the air. OK, Brum are strong so it isn’t easy but we must do better. Obviously some mitigation with it being Davies’ first game in ages and a brand new pairing with Bielik. Roos rescued his day with the penalty save, otherwise was very weak on crosses.
No strength in midfield. They ran past Huddz at will, we stood off their players and allowed far too many crosses to go in.
Josefzoon again ineffective and both Holmes and Waghorn’s passing poor.
It must have been a shellshocking week though so you have to say well done to get the job done.
posted on 28/9/19
Highlights, enjoy:
UTR.
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/championship/11822041/derby-3-2-birmingham