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

Definitely need two sizes up if you are buying a shirt. @Fordy117 you will need size L for your midgets.

On to the game. They are a championship quality side and it showed. Except their keeper who was really dodgy.

Going forward I can see we will be a force to be reckoned with-Chapman and Walker linking up well in first half.

Smallwood coming deep to get on the ball and make things happen.

Lewis made some great saves, is a quick lad and looks to command his box more than we have been used to seeing. Still not convinced Song'o is a CH though.

How their 14 didn't get asked to leave the field after he elbowed Songo'o in the face I really don't know.

Lots of good neat play down the left second half as well.

Osadebe is quick and looks a direct player-a good run second half took my eye.

I think they had near enough their best 11 out in the first half (looked like it anyway based on their second half performance) but we were far from that IMO so we competed very well except at FB-Staunton has a brand new a hole given to him by their very fast winger Forsyth? Magnificent player and had us on the rack every time he got the ball. FCD awol with their opening goal. But we were generally calm when in possession and its clear how MH wants us to play.

Far more to be positive about. Still cannot make up my mind what is our best starting 11 though.

 

Agreed, just think we could have put on a better 1st have display with the quality we had on. Just seemed lethargic all over the pitch with no real intent to compete

 

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.

 

I think we saw the weaknesses today and very few strengths

 

Glad it’s just not me, Rog.


Who was missing? Three to four at a guess who would certainly be knocking on the door of the first 11. Gilly, Critchlow, Ridehalgh and Odusina. Any more?

 

Add Kelleher and Threlkeld to that list

 

This 100% How many more games do the people saying we don't need another RB or CB cover because we've got those two, need to watch them play before they see the light?

 

From what I am hearing we we shite.

Look, Derby have hardly got any players and not really been in training.

Problem with many on here is that you don’t learn and believe the hype.

Great that the game means nothing but some players are not good enough for us if we are serious about going up and boy we have work to do.

 

I agree we looked lethargic, some in the second half as well but we were against lesser players second half which helped. I don’t think it helps energy levels playing a match 24 hours after landing back from warm weather training in Spain tbh, but it’s a friendly so it’s all about fitness and learning where we still need to strengthen.

 

Another toilet comment from Fordy. Liam Rosenior has been training his Derby team.
Mark Hughes has given his post match interview which is more informative than our resident restaurant critic.

 

Summed up your contribution by word five

 

do you think Derby would do it for home gemes?

 

Oh yes absolutely. I’m convinced it was MH’s last look as well as a shop window. The only one who came out of it of those mentioned was Kellherer imho.

 

pre season friendlies aren’t so much about the final scoreline, but more about players getting minutes, adapting to certain systems and formations

The Positives:

We defend on the front foot. An we do it in the right way, all the players up front are in sync with their pressing

It forced the Derby keeper into a few mistakes. That kind of attitude will play dividends against League Two backlines who won’t be technically gifted enough to play the ball out from the ball correctly every single time

Keeper looks good. Very comfortable with the ball at his feet.

Chapman looks like a great addition to the team. Some much needed pace up front. Was also very impressed with Young. Good pair of feet an not afraid to take on a defender.

The Negatives :

I don’t think Platt an Songo would be a good CB partnership, neither look overly confident on the ball.

The Full backs who arent even full backs will not ever be playing full back again. Shocker. Mendez Liang had Staunton on the ropes all half

Still plenty of time. Still need to see the team play at full strength. I can see Crichlow being a regular at LCB. We need one player comfortable on the ball back there

 

He didn’t go nor watched…He “heard”! . HE said friendlies are all about fitness? Ones tune has changed after “ hearing” it was a disjointed game with 40 different players on show?

 

Eisa

 

Thanks, you are right.

 

I think it's more the case that 2 of the 3 new CD's have slight knocks and therfore weren't available. Add Sutton and Hendrie to that list and Hughes didn't really have many options at RB either. Had all 4 been available, I think our defence would have looked very different today.

 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS | Bradford City v Derby County - YouTube

 

No real intent to compete? Are you having a laugh? Every time Chapman got on the ball he looked dangerous as did Walker. Smallwood dropped deep to get on the ball and create things. Hardly a lethergic approach don't you think?