Matchday Thread: Derby v Charlton

[swaledale]

‘Same old, same old. How?’
For years it seemed as if there was an annual January Derby collapse. Now, for the second year running we seem to have swapped to February.

The fact that Bolton and Posh are ‘faring no better’ having ‘spent money in January’ is of limited consolation. Let’s not kid ourselves, we’ve only remained in the automatic places because of the failings of others…and we have also spent - or committed money - too…£300k and wages for CBT and wages etc for Adams.

Fact is we were ultimately fortunate to take all the points from Stevenage and we’ve apparently - I saw neither match - been very poor since.
As you said, and I agreed, it needs sorting quickly…starting on Saturday against another outfit fighting for L1 survival. Thankfully February will be done so maybe there’ll be a change of fortune.

I'm still puzzled as to how you can describe a run of 6 games, in which Derby lost 2 as a slump in February? OK 10 from a possible 18 pts was less than one would have hoped for, but its still hardly a slump. Whether there has been a "slump" in performances in January for years or whether that is just a perception is open to question, one would have to compare results which I haven't done, but certainly to describe the loss of the final 2 games in this month as a slump is not accurate.

Also however we have played and against Barnsley the general view, with the exception of those who seem to expect fantasy football in this league, was that Derby played well and were unlucky to lose, and perhaps derby were "lucky" to beat Stevenage but in the end its the result that matters.

I accept its frustrating that we have not managed to consolidate the current position and that's 2 games where we have scored first and lost, which is rather concerning and something as you say that needs addressing and for that the coach and team can be justifiably criticised.

I mention Posh and Bolton purely to illustrate that 2 clubs not as financially constrained as Derby are doing no better, it gives Derby's performance context which its important to remember.

It is rather out of Warne's hands when players make errors such as Wildsmith did and whilst yes its valid to say that there appears to be an inability to change tactics or shape to break down teams, to be fair Warne has changed the way the team plays and personnel quite drastically in games and after all one can only use the players available within the squad.

[ramAnag]

I'm still puzzled as to how you can describe a run of 6 games, in which Derby lost 2 as a slump in February? OK 10 from a possible 18 pts was less than one would have hoped for, but its still hardly a slump. Whether there has been a "slump" in performances in January for years or whether that is just a perception is open to question, one would have to compare results which I haven't done, but certainly to describe the loss of the final 2 games in this month as a slump is not accurate.

Also however we have played and against Barnsley the general view, with the exception of those who seem to expect fantasy football in this league, was that Derby played well and were unlucky to lose, and perhaps derby were "lucky" to beat Stevenage but in the end its the result that matters.

I accept its frustrating that we have not managed to consolidate the current position and that's 2 games where we have scored first and lost, which is rather concerning and something as you say that needs addressing and for that the coach and team can be justifiably criticised.

I mention Posh and Bolton purely to illustrate that 2 clubs not as financially constrained as Derby are doing no better, it gives Derby's performance context which its important to remember.

It is rather out of Warne's hands when players make errors such as Wildsmith did and whilst yes its valid to say that there appears to be an inability to change tactics or shape to break down teams, to be fair Warne has changed the way the team plays and personnel quite drastically in games and after all one can only use the players available within the squad.

I don’t think I have used the word ‘slump’ have I?

I think our form in 2024 has been a concern. P13, W6, D2, L5 is not promotion form and 20/39 available points isn’t going to get us promotion.

Personally I find it a little odd that you excuse the Barnsley defeat on the grounds of us being ‘unlucky’ but say of the ‘lucky’ Stevenage defeat
that it’s the ‘result that matters’. Ultimately I suppose it’s always the result that matters but I do believe we have been worryingly inconsistent this year for a team with our ambitions.

[swaledale]

I don’t think I have used the word ‘slump’ have I?

I think our form in 2024 has been a concern. P13, W6, D2, L5 is not promotion form and 20/39 available points isn’t going to get us promotion.

Personally I find it a little odd that you excuse the Barnsley defeat on the grounds of us being ‘unlucky’ but say of the ‘lucky’ Stevenage defeat
that it’s the ‘result that matters’. Ultimately I suppose it’s always the result that matters but I do believe we have been worryingly inconsistent this year for a team with our ambitions.

No true, the word you used was collapse.

We ahve been inconsistent its true, but then given we have scraped a team together on limited resources and suffered a fair few injuries, that's probably not surprising.

Some games you win, some you lose, some deservedly so, others not so much, was the point I was trying to make with the Barnsley and Stevenage. I would rather the team play badly and win, than perform well and lose, but its football and anything can and does happen.

One can take a point of view and say derby are "lucky" to be where they are, due to various factors, but equally one can say in some games Derby have been unlucky not get at least a pt or all 3 pts.

I guess given my expectations were always on a top 6 finish, I am fairly sanguine about whats happening, frustrated that the team just don't seem on occasion to be consistent throughout a match, but have enough realism to look at how other "big" clubs fared - Ipswich for example never finished higher than 9th in 3 seasons, before getting promotion in their 4th, to understand that actually Derby aren't doing too badly at all.

Obviously I hope it all comes together and we can secure 2nd spot.

[ramAnag]

No true, the word you used was collapse.

We ahve been inconsistent its true, but then given we have scraped a team together on limited resources and suffered a fair few injuries, that's probably not surprising.

Some games you win, some you lose, some deservedly so, others not so much, was the point I was trying to make with the Barnsley and Stevenage. I would rather the team play badly and win, than perform well and lose, but its football and anything can and does happen.

One can take a point of view and say derby are "lucky" to be where they are, due to various factors, but equally one can say in some games Derby have been unlucky not get at least a pt or all 3 pts.

I guess given my expectations were always on a top 6 finish, I am fairly sanguine about whats happening, frustrated that the team just don't seem on occasion to be consistent throughout a match, but have enough realism to look at how other "big" clubs fared - Ipswich for example never finished higher than 9th in 3 seasons, before getting promotion in their 4th, to understand that actually Derby aren't doing too badly at all.

Obviously I hope it all comes together and we can secure 2nd spot.

I’m sure that’s what we all hope and likewise I’m sure we are all ‘frustrated’ by the lack of consistency. The point I was making is that…if that hope is to be realised then the manager has some decisions to make and, where possible, stick by…how to best use NML…is Bradley worth sticking with as a first choice - which imo renders Cashin and the CD’s less effective - or is he best as cover on the bench…is Hourihane our captain, or no longer a first choice in which case who is the ‘leader’…and some players have to get their acts together and show that they can concentrate for ninety plus minutes and cope with the atmosphere created by 26,000 at PP.

[Andy_Faber]

I’m sure that’s what we all hope and likewise I’m sure we are all ‘frustrated’ by the lack of consistency. The point I was making is that…if that hope is to be realised then the manager has some decisions to make and, where possible, stick by…how to best use NML…is Bradley worth sticking with as a first choice - which imo renders Cashin and the CD’s less effective - or is he best as cover on the bench…is Hourihane our captain, or no longer a first choice in which case who is the ‘leader’…and some players have to get their acts together and show that they can concentrate for ninety plus minutes and cope with the atmosphere created by 26,000 at PP.

Funny about Bradley, apart from one game I haven’t especially rated him but I sense he was brought in as a future captain and will be played come what may in future because of that.

[swaledale]

Funny about Bradley, apart from one game I haven’t especially rated him but I sense he was brought in as a future captain and will be played come what may in future because of that.

He has taken a long time to fit in, Warne presumably wanted him for his favoured back 3, but his form has precluded that. I don't see Warne playing him irrespective of his form, but injuries to Forsyth and presumably Elder have forced his hand somewhat. Why he didn't play Sibley at LB to start with is a mystery, but perhaps he preferred a player with more "bite" in defence.

To date Warne hasn't shown a tendency to favour players irrespective of their form, but on the other hand he does have to use the squad he has, keep players match fit and cope with injuries.