Match Thread Most liked posts in thread: Derby County Friendly (H) @ 3 pm Saturday 9 July 2022

Just got back from the game, sat near the dug outs as I wanted to get a flavour for the communication. Their manager barked orders for the full 90 demanding they press for the full 90, he even said I want this fecking clean sheet boys during the final water break make no mistake they were out to try impress today. Sparky didn’t say a word all game, that’s not a criticism, we got off the plane from warm weather training yesterday so I think he probably didn’t want us to push to hard, the levels in intensity were very evident watching it live pitch side. That Derby team first half was full of championship quality, make no mistake about it.

We were hampered by our full backs, particularly first half when Chapman and Young had the ball multiple times and nobody bothered to go on the overlap leaving them running into a dead end. Foulds did better when he came on, but the crossing left something to be desired. Walker was unlucky not to score, firstly from a very good save then just before they scored the second when he lobbed the keeper.

A note to our keeper who looked assured, he was the better keeper tbh theirs looked panicked on a number of occasions.

A good run out against a good team in hot conditions, no injuries that’s the main thing. I remember people getting excited when we were winning pre season games last season, they mean little, we’ve certainly found areas we need to improve on and got some good minutes into the legs.

I wasn’t going to go but it was that or Leeds Trinity so it was no contest! Might do York, but bring on the 30th July now I’m looking forward to it.

 

Thats a bit disingenuous. Yes, they’re a league one team but if it weren’t for a points deduction they’d have finished mid table in the Championship. The likes of Davies, Cashin, Bird, Sisley, Forsyth, Knight, Thompson all played regularly last season and are essential mid table championship level players. Barkhuizen has only just come out of the championship and Mendez-Laing is a quality player.

We’ve been disappointing, but lets not pretend that we’re facing teams of this standard in League 2.

 

I'm now officially elderly, and I just signed up to go to the match.

Going by public transport from Keighley direction and to look at these 12 new signings.

What's better to do on a sunny Saturday?

 

Don't worry it's just good minutes in the bank for the players. Also tells you, for the ones that didn't realise a long while back, that Staunton and FCD will need to look elsewhere for first team football.

 

He might not everyone's choice for RB but I suspect Hendrie has already nailed down the position of scapegoat before the season has even started

 

The full backs are especially poor at the minute.

 

Both our fullbacks are weak. Both caught out already.

 

Correct people have been saying it for months. I agree about the back up, but Hendrie is a capable L2 full back who won't let us down. Could we get better? Sure. But he's not the massive weakness some seem to think.

 

Yet Ridehalgh has played over 100 games at league 1 level. Not sure why he gets stick, he was very consistent last season and in his day is the best crosser of a ball in the squad. Hendrie will do a job if required but we could do with having an out and out right back as first choice

 

Well that was poor. First half was a mismatch but even in the second half, we just had nothing about us at all.

Hopefully it's been a good exercise in building fitness and no one's picked up any injuries, because there's not really much else to take from that. We looked very sloppy. Very much an early pre season type of performance. A lack of intensity at this point is fair enough, but the lack of purpose in possession was a disappointment. Lots of square and backwards passing with no real intent to build attacks.

Hopefully we have a couple more quality additions coming in, because we need it. Certainly at full back.

 

Harry Lewis take a bow.
Superb performance between the sticks this afternoon.
Credit also to Derby's travelling support,were very vocal and added to an enjoyable afternoon

 

I would rather our full backs get mullered against Derby in a friendly than Crawley away tues night during the season ..... sort out Hughesy we need fullbacks....

 

Totally agree, Fordy stop talking bollocks and contradicting yourself- you know preseason is all about getting minutes and fitness. Hughes has said all the right things after today's game, read his comments and stop being a drama queen

 

If he does bring in a better RB than Hendrie that that would be brilliant. But I still don't think Hendrie is as big a weakness as some think.

 

Or we just have some players that aren't very good ?

 

Don’t think it can be said Hendrie let us down. He certainly did better than I expected however we need another right back without a doubt yesterday showed us that.

 

I think the starting centre backs are yet to be determined and we need the right full backs/wing backs for whatever system Hughes decides to play - don't want to be harsh but Staunton really needs to progress further pretty quickly as he is treading quicksand and FCD is a CB or nothing, he constantly is not aware enough as a FB

 

I don't think either Ridehalgh or Hendrie let us down in any match last season. Both are good enough to be starters.

The best two full backs in l2 won't get us promoted but the best central midfield two, keeping the ball, might

 

FFS 3 points down the pan already. Hughes out.

 

Our full backs of FCD and Staunton don’t look like they will be pressing to start the season.