Matchday Thread: Rams v Posh 1/1/24

[swaledale]

I was going to say, ‘this was one of the most one sided 2-2 thrashings I’ve ever seen’...and then...after a great start we got what we deserved.
Midfield horribly anonymous and if anyone’s been doubting the importance of the January window then they shouldn’t any longer.
I’d have taken the 9/12 points over ‘Christmas’ but this league is essentially split into two parts now...the top eight and the rest.
In that context this was a big defeat...men against boys (old men against hungry youngsters) and the boys won comfortably (4-2 wouldn’t have flattered them).
On the plus side...we’re still very handily placed, Cashin looks like he’s staying, Elder looked useful at last and there’s money apparently available in January, but today we were outplayed by a side that looked fitter, stronger and better organised in every area.
No excuses...need to get back on the ‘horse’ against physical Fleetwood on Saturday and work some wonders in the window.

A bit over the top rA! This is the side Derby beat 4-1 at there place in the Autumn remember? They also only just drew at home to a Barnsley side we beat comfortably one only has to take a look at the results in this league to see how results swing from one game day to the next. It was Posh's day today and even then they only just managed to win.

Its true that the games which to be fair have been tough ones, have caught up with the squad, but people seem to forget, many of our players that have been outside the first team are still coming back to fitness after injury. So perhaps no surprise that Posh looked fitter and stronger in this game.

For me it was one of those games that are inevitable after the run Derby have had and the number of games played. Again expecting players at this level to consistently play at a certain level is unrealistic.

The most important thing about the January transfer window will be not losing Cashin and Bird, any players that come in will be a bonus, but not necessarily ***** to how the rest of the season pans out - after all this squad got Derby to where they are, so by what logic is it not good enough to continue in the same vein?

IF we can get in 2 or 3 players that are as good or better than what we have that will be preferable, but wont guarantee anything, just as not getting them in won't mean our promotion bid is doomed.

[ramAnag]

A bit over the top rA! This is the side Derby beat 4-1 at there place in the Autumn remember? They also only just drew at home to a Barnsley side we beat comfortably one only has to take a look at the results in this league to see how results swing from one game day to the next. It was Posh's day today and even then they only just managed to win.

Its true that the games which to be fair have been tough ones, have caught up with the squad, but people seem to forget, many of our players that have been outside the first team are still coming back to fitness after injury. So perhaps no surprise that Posh looked fitter and stronger in this game.

For me it was one of those games that are inevitable after the run Derby have had and the number of games played. Again expecting players at this level to consistently play at a certain level is unrealistic.

The most important thing about the January transfer window will be not losing Cashin and Bird, any players that come in will be a bonus, but not necessarily ***** to how the rest of the season pans out - after all this squad got Derby to where they are, so by what logic is it not good enough to continue in the same vein?

IF we can get in 2 or 3 players that are as good or better than what we have that will be preferable, but wont guarantee anything, just as not getting them in won't mean our promotion bid is doomed.

Yep...I remember, Swale...better than you apparently...as the reverse fixture was back in August and finished 2-4...not 1-4.

Not sure what I’ve said that’s ‘OTT’. Fact is we were comprehensively outplayed yesterday in a way which I haven’t seen since Oxford at home, also last August.

If you don’t believe me, look at the stats...they sometimes lie but not on this occasion and although it always looks unlucky when you lose in the 93rd minute the truth is we were lucky to still be in touch by then, courtesy of one great Wildsmith save and Posh’s wastefulness.
Also look at MA’s comments and the half time substitutions...we were horribly outplayed in that first half and one of the reasons was that we had no answer to their greater mobility.

Things improved slightly in the second half imo but this was a warning. Yes, it may have been just one of those days and yes the run always had to come to an end but there’s half the season still to go and yesterday all too many...Bird, Hourihane, NML, Barkhuizen, Wilson, Forsyth...just looked knackered.

Also, can’t help feeling you’ve got a bit of a bee in your bonnet about us not being able to acquire players of the right quality because of financial restraints. You obviously have a point, but you need to look at mac’s comment yesterday. I had a look at their squad after reading what he’d written and he’s right...many of yesterday’s Peterborough team have been sourced from L2 or non league sides. That’s all about scouting and coaching and although I don’t think yesterday was necessarily anything more than an ill timed and disappointing setback it did point to the need for a combination of experience and youthfulness in the, now suddenly current, window.