Match Thread Derby County Friendly (H) @ 3 pm Saturday 9 July 2022

I thought that too. A couple of decent saves and clearly very comfortable on the ball.

 

I never felt we would win today, primarily for 3 reasons.

First, and most obviously, our team is not a strong as Derby's. They have better players pretty much across the pitch.

Secondly, the club has just been saved and the mood will be buoyant and their fans were well up for a celebration and rightly so. They were a credit to their club and I'm pleased for them.

Finally, I feared our energy levels wouldn't be quire right playing literally the day after coming back from Spain. They looked leggy.

 

Leggy is exactly right. I get that they aren't going to be going all guns blazing in a friendly but we looked second best fitness wise all over the park. Hopefully just a hangover from last week.

 

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.

 

Just a fitness builder and assessing peoples strengths/weaknesses.

 

You could tell the players had just done 4 days training and this was Derby's 1st taste of proper action.
I wasn't keen on the 2 right footed cb combo.
But you can't judge anything from pre season friendlies.
Swindon lost to Marine 2-0
Morecambe lost at Macclesfield
Sunderland lost to a 9th tier team i think.

 

It was interesting to see FCD get a run at centre back in the second half. Looks a position much more suited to his strengths to me.

 

Remember us losing 6-0 to Crewe under Stapleton, in a pre-season friendly. We were top of the league by October.

 

Totally agree.
Was thinking the same.

 

He can improve on the ball but realistically he's always going to be limited going forward.
Having said that, it's hard to trust a young kid at CB as it's such a crucial position.

 

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

 

Madeley

 

4,300 for a pre season game. The accountant will be happy!

 

Their keeper pulled off a decent stop from Walker …..otherwise, Lewis a country mile better .

 

Takeaways, not one sign of a starting 11 formation against Donny in either half.

Can’t see Songo’o playing.
I can see a complete different back 4 completely from any of the personnel on show in either half
Several players in that 22 were in the shop window for loans …that was as clear as day imho.
Lewis, great acquisition.
Our massive weakness is Right full back and back up at left full back (Assumes Ridehalgh will be fit for Donny). All full backs on show today we’re frankly awful, both defensively and non existent going forward.

Playing two teams like that gets match fitness and nothing else bar putting those going out on loan in the shop window.

 

One positive that hasn’t been mentioned - Harratt impressed me again with his energy and hunger.
Him and Cook looked absolute pests and will cause L2 defences problems.

 

He looks to sit on the shoulder of the last defender. To get the best out of him we'll need someone to be able to play a through ball or dink over the top. If we can do that it also varies the attack and will make defenders wonder how we'll attack.

 

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....

 

Hendrie and Ridehalgh will be occupying the full back births IMO, I cant see us bringing in another RB in all honesty.