Team:-
Roos, Bogle, Davies, Clarke, Malone
Bielik, Holmes, Shinnie
Patterson, Waghorn, Lawrence.
Substitutes. Wisdom Dowell. Hamer. Marriott Martin. Lowe. Knight
Conditions: Flat Calm
Pitch: Immaculate
Attendance. Almost 25,000
Ref. Keith Stroud.
This is another game that might prove to be at turning point in our season. Lose this one and we are on the slippery slope. Win it and it will go some way to restoring faith in what we are doing. The game stared brightly enough. Tempo was noticeable higher than previous. Much leads going backwards. Tom Lawrence provided the first excitement after just 2 minutes. He took the ball down the left wing, cut inside and released a fine shot from outside the area which bounced just in front of their goalie like a well directed fast bowler’s missive which brought a great save from the keeper.
But Wigan came sensing perhaps, that Derby were vulnerable after recent events and the 3 - 0 defeat by Brentford. They attacked maybe even more hopefully than Derby and it was necessary for Derby’s defence to step up and keep them out. From one great cross into a dangerous area just n front of Roos, the ball was met with a solid header by Curtis Davies whose head then was smashed into by a Wigan boot. His injuries looked horrible and a couple of medics dealt with it until he emerged with a plug stuck up one nostril and heavy bruising all over his face and blood all over his shirt. The shirt was soon changed but a painful face had to be put up with. It was not Dangerous Play - it was Very Dangerous Play imho.
Still he carried on and Roos - noticeably coached recently into being more decisive and dominating in his area, made at least one great save in the first half and the teams went in at 0-0.
Cocu changed Patterson for Martin in the interval and Derby came out with plenty of endeavour and a good tempo. But so too did Wigan, more and more convinced they could get the 3 points.
Davies was magnificent in defence and at the same time a good leader. Roos made a series of brilliant saves and punches to keep us in the game. Still Derby were enterprising and a great plus came from the second half performance of Chris Martin with good linking and a number of flicks and deflections to set up some good chances. Waggy was replaced by Marriott who also put in a lively performance. Chances however were few and far between and the crowd had becomes resigned to a 0-0 draw (as long as a rampant Wigan could be kept out). 90 minutes came with 4 minutes of added time and I rather idly wondered if we could do something in those last few moments. Derby attacked in numbers and Martin received the ball on the penalty spot with his back to goal. He dinked a cut back to the oncoming Shinnie who volleyed a beautiful right foot shot from the 18 yard line which screamed into the top right corner. Unstoppable and really a joyful end to tight fought match. It was made even more joyful by the knowledge that Forest had lost and more joyful still when it was realised Forest had now lost 2 on the bounce.
The positive for Derby? Great improvement by Roos commanding his box. Clearly some heavy coaching has been applied. Bogle not quite back to his best and his crosses were generally poor but he was always a threat down the right wing which tended to keep their defence honest. I thought Malone defended well and burst down the left wing well enough but his crosses seldom beat the first defender when we had good players in the middle. Clarke was solid and played well. Bielik was very influential and Shinnie was a good energetic presence. Lawrence had one of his good games and is beginning to atone for his considerable off the field sins. Patterson was largely ineffective without being poor but Martin brought a great improvement. Waggy put in a high octane performance of very significant hard work, Marriott did well enough. Holmes was always a threat and penetrative. He tends to get knocked about a bit and I’d like refs to give hime more protection. Speaking of the ref he was a bit willing to let things go but at least the game flowed well.
All in all - all’s well that ends well. And that’s all from me. Except for a mention of The Gap. It is now down to 4 points. We are catching up.
For Those Who Could not Attend
posted on 24/10/19
I think Cocu ball without a play maker is always going to be a tough ask.
I have a feeling Cocu ball has more potential than Clough and Clement ball.
Hearing Cocu talk with Gibbo last night he expressed frustration at taking too many touches, not being positive or confident enough to play forward.
To still to be mid table whilst stuck in first gear I hope says somet.
Evans coming back offers us maybe a bit more out ball in either defence or MF, at least until he gets injured again. January transfer window, an experienced play maker due back from injury with Wayne Rooney available to play ahead of him a very talented academy midfield waiting in the wings.
I see a short term forecast that's a mixed bag but the long term forecast still looks very good in my opinion.
Rome wasn't built in a day and Cloughie isn't on this job.
posted on 24/10/19
No doubt one day we will all be looking back and saying how we never had any doubts from Day One that Cocu was the right man for the job.
posted on 24/10/19
I wont Vidal.
But I'm not sure how he can be expected to make a silk purse out of our squad.
Look at what we have ... how many are close to being good enough to play in the Premiership?
Bogle ... has potential
Lawrence... maybe
After that I'm struggling.
Bielik should be if we were willing to pay £10m for him but I haven't seen it yet.
The rest are decent championship players AT BEST.
You can only do so much with the tools you are given.
posted on 25/10/19
I am always surprised by the general impatience of football fans. I shouldn't be - I've seen it fro long enough. It obviously takes time and a big slice of self induced good luck (such as finding a Jota by Wolves) to get a league winning side together and then to continue in its organisation. Every other manager in the league is trying to do just that. They cannot all succeed.
So far at Derby we have succeeded in building a fine club infrastructure which (I believe) has led to our excellent youth teams and now we have a manager who has a record in bringing young players through to first team success. I believe this (and finding a Chris Martin or Jota) well, is our way to building a good - league beating team. It will take time.
posted on 25/10/19
How many other teams in this league have Premiership quality players Peeder?
Look at Stoke and Huddersfield full of so called Prem Quality players.
It means next to nothing in this league.
It's all about team ethic. Finding the correct blend and the right coaching to get the best out of what you have.
We haven't found that yet but still sit within striking distance of the play-offs.
It's up to Cocu the find it and from my point of view he should get as much time as necessary.
posted on 25/10/19
You wouldn't look at many, if any of the Sheffield United team and say that they were "Premiership quality". The other night journeyman McGoldrick led the line and owd Billy Sharp came on as sub. Yet they beat Arsenal. A team can be very much more than the sum of its constituent parts, but it isn't easy to replace individual talent with collective improvement. Usually it takes a long time.
posted on 25/10/19
I’m trying to recall the superstars Rowett had to get us to sixth.
Vydra. Let’s not forget it took us 3 seasons to figure out where to play him and to Rowetts credit it was he who had the vision to play him as a 10.
Marriott has the potential to replace those goals if used correctly.
I’m fed up hearing about how Tomori Wilson and Mount are irreplaceable.
posted on 25/10/19
Tomori, Wilson and Mount are irreplaceable.
posted on 25/10/19
They were so good we got to 6th. Let’s not forget Rowett had us top.
We have a Rooney coming. 6th is definitely achievable.
posted on 25/10/19
We were 6th under Rowett, but with a much less entertaining style of play. This season the Championship is so weak 1st is possible.