Matchday Thread: Rams v Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Gargoyle FC 9/11/2024

[MadAmster]

The return of the Wazza. I sincerely hope he gets a warm welcome.

On the pitch I expect another 3 points for DCFC. Wednesday nights efforts will be negated should we fail. It's the last game before the international break and going into it with 3 wins, 3 draws and just the 1 loss in 7 would do wonders for both player and fan confidence levels, even more so considering 4 of those games were away.

The side? Heaven alone knows what formation and individuals PW will pick but I'll have a go at predicting, all the same

JWZ - Nels Bradley Phillips - Jackson Tommo Kenzo Adams Fozzy - Yates Brown

PW might go for Ossie at LWB but I doubt it. Foz had a mare at Stoke but more than made up for it in yesterday's sub appearance following Elder's groin strain.

[MadAmster]

Not much rest for the players for this game. Those not injured and also not in the matchday squad will have done a full session this morning, along with the unused subs. Used subs will have done a short session. This afternoon they'll all be in tactics meetings watching videos of the Gargoyles' strengths and weaknesses and looking at how best to combat the former and take advantage of the latter. More of the same tomorrow as well as a session out on the grass working on those strengths and weaknesses as well as practising both defensive and attacking set pieces.

Gargoyle will have had an extra day to prepare but the Mighty Rams will prevail.

[swaledale]

Ah expectations eh? It would be nice to build on the 3pts we got but not disastrous if we don't. One would think Derby should beat Plymouth but in this league anything is possible, still beating those teams below or around is important to stay mid table. I'm going for a 1-1 draw and hoping for a 2-0 win now Yates has found the target.

[SithHappens]

A good win for this, going for 3-1.

[ramAnag]

Bit concerned about Obafemi and Whittaker…but I’ll keep the faith and go for a nail biting 2-1 home win.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Reasons for optimism, reasons for pessimism but on the whole I'm looking at a 4-0 crushing with 2 from Kenzo

[Andy_Faber]

Reasons for optimism, reasons for pessimism but on the whole I'm looking at a 4-0 crushing with 2 from Kenzo

Such are the fine lines between success and failure. If it wasn't for the desperate headed clearance by an Argyle defender from an on-target Kenzo shot early first half your prediction may well have come true. Ah well...

[SithHappens]

disappointed with the result, fully expected the way we started to go on and win comfortably.

Ah well

[MadAmster]

Stats show pretty much even on possession, slightly in our favour 53-47. However, we all know it's what you do with that possession that matters. We had 20 shots to their 5, 4 on target to their 2. The most important stat shows 1-1.

This was a game we should have won and didn't. IMO 2 main reasons. Firstly, our inability to put the ball away combined with some less than average final passes which would have given us even more chances. Secondly, the poor level of officiating, again. 41st minute, Whittaker gets the ball maybe 22 or 23 yards out. He loses control of it. NML steps in between man and ball, all perfectly legal. Whittaker lifts his left leg, makes contact with NML, falls over and gets a free kick. If it was one it was to Derby. Kick gets taken, ball going right, JWZ goes that way, ball deflects off Yates' head and goes in the right hand corner. JWZ given no chance. They commit a foul, they get the free kick and it goes in off a Derby head. Ref gets that call right and we, almost certainly, win the game.

Norwich revisited. Officials make a mistake and we suffer because of it.

All in all we played reasonably well. Much better than they did and we deserved the win. That's 5 points dropped at home down to poor officiating. Gain those points and we're 7th, level on points with 5th placed Burnley. As it is we're just 4 points off the relegation places.

Of yesterday's starting XI, IMO, NML was our worst player, 5.5 out of 10. He's not been at his best all season. He'll come good but I think he needs a rest. Fortunately, there's no Guatemala games this coming 2 weeks so he can get the rest he needs.

[SithHappens]

A few boos at full time, don't get it. As far as I'm concerned we are still exceeding expectations.