Matchday Thread: Rams v Brizzle City

[Andy_Faber]

Last year's early season game v these opponents marked probably the most positive I've been about our medium term onfield prospects for a number of years. It got a bit more real not long after. Will friday be a turning point in the opposite direction?

Hy opinion? Heart 3-2, head 1-3

Anyone?

[macstheman]

We grabbed 3 goals on Sat but that wasn't enough to overcome an otherwise shambles of a performance in which we conceded 5 (and could easily have been more)! With non of the wounded still available and it seems no newbies I just can't see much changing.
I see Knighty having the freedom of the pitch, eager to remind us what we lost he will boss the match!
Heart hopes for a scrambled 2-2 but fearing more pain, 0-3.

[SithHappens]

We need to pick up some points, going for a 1 nil scraped win

[MadAmster]

If we continue to play Ebou at 10, we'll concede MF to the oppo and struggle. I foresee a 1-3 reverse.

[ramAnag]

Got five grandchildren going tomorrow and three of them - the two Germans and one from seventy miles south - will be wearing their Rams shirts and have yet to see Derby lose. Last time they came was against Blackburn last March and that seemed to be the turning point of our season. Hoping for a repeat tomorrow.

Agree with MA about Adams’ role and hopefully if Ward is a little fitter then maybe we can get 60 mins or so and a few meaningful crosses out of him. If that happens I fancy us for our first points of the season. 3-1.

[MadAmster]

Defence needs sorting. A starting back 4 of Nyambe Batth Clarke and Elder would not provoke positive thoughts. I can also see Vickers getting the nod in goal. going on a 14231 formation...

Vickers
Gordon Rooney Clarke Fozzy
Ozoh Tommo
Ward Adams Clark
Morris

What would I like to see? a 1352

Vickers
Rooney Clarke Fozzy
Ward Ozoh Kenzo Ebou Clark
Morris Brown

In both cases, if Brewster is fit, start him on the right.

[MadAmster]

Duplicate post so deleted.

[swaledale]

Defence needs sorting. A starting back 4 of Nyambe Batth Clarke and Elder would not provoke positive thoughts. I can also see Vickers getting the nod in goal. going on a 14231 formation...

Vickers
Gordon Rooney Clarke Fozzy
Ozoh Tommo
Ward Adams Clark
Morris

What would I like to see? a 1352

Vickers
Rooney Clarke Fozzy
Ward Ozoh Kenzo Ebou Clark
Morris Brown

In both cases, if Brewster is fit, start him on the right.

Interesting, even though 3 defenders didn't stop 5 goals last time out!! I wouldn't have Vickers over Zetterstrom as tbh as the latter is a much better goalkeeper.

I'm in agreement with your comment about Adams. But I cant fathom what tactics Eustace is trying to adopt at the moment or some of his selection choices even allowing for the missing players.

At some stage we have to pick up a positive result, or we are on a downward spiral so hopefully we get at least a pt.

[Ramshank72]

3-1 Rams.

[macstheman]

3-1 Rams.

It cheers that one or two retain positivity after our crap start, let's hope that positivity is transferred to PP🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

[MadAmster]

It cheers that one or two retain positivity after our crap start, let's hope that positivity is transferred to PP������������

I prefer to view my approach as realistic rather than +/-

[MadAmster]

Interesting, even though 3 defenders didn't stop 5 goals last time out!! I wouldn't have Vickers over Zetterstrom as tbh as the latter is a much better goalkeeper.

I'm in agreement with your comment about Adams. But I cant fathom what tactics Eustace is trying to adopt at the moment or some of his selection choices even allowing for the missing players.

At some stage we have to pick up a positive result, or we are on a downward spiral so hopefully we get at least a pt.

We don't disagree with regard to the GKs, I just have this suspicion Vickers will get the nod tonight. I won't be upset if he doesn't.

[Geoff Parkstone]

As it happens am having some decorating being done at the moment, which is lucky as I actually could watch paint dry this evening.

[Andy_Faber]

As it happens am having some decorating being done at the moment, which is lucky as I actually could watch paint dry this evening.

Clarke and Morris excepted, pretty poor stuff tonight. The only positive is the point

[MadAmster]

Started lively, some good passing moves, a fair few corners but never looked like scoring. They got into it more, pressed us but also didn't bother JWZ until... Throw in down their left, ball comes infield to a MF player given the freedom of Pride Park. He feeds Twine on the edge of the box and has has no DCFC players within yards of him. One touch and he slots it in the right hand corner. You can't give good players that amount of room and expect to get away with it. Not for the first time this season, they had men free and available to accept a pass when in possession, we struggled as there weren't, all too often, options. Clarke should have gone with Twine, IMO.

The positive from this is that we didn't give up and that perseverance saw us get the equaliser. They had 11 shots to our 5, on target was 3-2 in their favour. Neither side can wallow in any glory. They are top following the draw we move up to the dizzy heights of 19th. Where we are come this evening will depend on how well or otherwise the 5 pointless teams below us do today.

Can't decry the effort. Can't fault the perseverance. I can't help but think there's a fair few changes to the starting XI to come before we start to see the performances and results we want.

Back 3, back 4 or back 5. Not even JE seems to know at the moment. His stated preference is a 4. I think we'll see that when Langas is fit. Beck at LB. RB? Nyambe is the only one we have (Gordon seems to have been discounted) as both Ward and Wilson are WB or winger, IMO. Johnston in? The 2? I'd have Ozoh and Adams. The 10? Until someone is fit, Kenzo. That MF 3 worked well up to Ozoh's injury last season and it can do so again. Once other MFs are fit, all roles are up for grabs. Wide? We need wingers, proper ones. Once fit we can use Brewster and Clark, possibly. I would have said Saito but QPR have matched our bid and he knows the club... Up top, the 1 is Morris. Where do Agyemang and Salvesen fit in? Could they be the wide players? Might he go 3 or 5 at the back to play a front 2, I still believe strikers hunt in pairs. 1442 could also be a possibility.

Basically, whilst not being happy with what we're serving up, I'm not worried as, in a few weeks time, our starting XI is likely to show around 5 changes in personnel and God alone knows what system we'll be adopting.

Things will get better. Of that I'm sure.

JWZ. Hope his head's better this morning, the post took a right clattering.

Batth and Sanderson will be bench sitters once Langas/Nelson are back.

I think it could well be 15 games in before we start to see personnel and system settling into what we can expect. Aint injuries wonderful?