Why are Derby trying to emulate Forest?

It's hard to really assess the abilities of any sides centre backs if the team in front of them keeps exposing them in the manner that our forwards and midfield keep doing due to the attacking manner we have.

I think McClaren has shown many times he has a plan b you don't achieve what he has with one dimensional football however managers can only implement tactics with the style and type of players within the core squad which is more our problem.

You're spot on Dru, which is why we have a Thorne in the side to replace the pedestrian Eustace. I also think that we have two very good attacking full backs who are instructed to bomb down the wing at all times. This too leaves us exposed and overrun at the back.

Wassa - Bucko has the heart for the scrap, I agree he's not cultured but he never gives up. His passing and awareness is better than Keogh who for me switches off too much and when under pressure looks to hoof it up the field.

Keep Bucko in, but its Whitbread for Keogh and Thorne for Eustace next Monday.

Dru I may be doing mcclaren a mis-service but his naive approach was also criticised at England, he didn't seem to vary the approach much and went into the Croatia game with a similar approach getting countered at every opportunity

One thing that's clear is he is not learning. Before the Leics match he maintained he would not change the way derby approach games. That was a mistake, the game was so open we just picked you off wide a pass out wide and got behind your midfield, it was axing to watch

Surely he must understand this free flowing attacking style has its costs? Last week at Yeovil was a clear warning sign, why is he not changing it?

I have always said the England job would end badly based on time served under Sven, seriously what fundamental difference was there after Sven left?

I'll make the same point again BlackStarr managers can only set teams up tactically based on the experience and depth of said squad that is our biggest problem and the goals conceded at Leicester and yesterday had less to do with the quality and ability of defence and more to do with the lack of experience in front of them.

It's hard to manage a way out of that whoever you may be.

Hmmm I think you have to play to the strengths of your team as a manager. If he hasn't got the players to play an attacking set up then he needs to adapt. That's the point I'm trying to make, he sets up the same way every game

You're putting the blame on the lack of experience of the midfield and I think to a large degree you are right, but Steve has to find a way of changing things tactically to not expose so much

This may come at the cost of goals, but that's where leicester have the balance right despite not signing any new midfield players.

And our midfield were seriously misfiring towards the end of last season- cue a new formation this season and Voila!

Black Starr you have a squad of matured seasoned professionals to chose from, you've had 3 seasons to work out your best formation and still have the financial clout to bring in Philips and Taylor-Fletcher to win your 'scrappy' games.

Comparing us to you is like apples and oranges, we don't have the squad for a 4-4-2 or a 4-5-1. Our strength is in attacking midfielders and one striker that can hold up a ball. Our options our 4-1-3-2, 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1, other formations would mean a very average side and a very poor defensive side.

So we are playing to our strengths, I think you have a fair point on McClaren showing some flexibility in this formation and I think a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 hybrid with Hughes hanging a bit deeper and us squeezing the play would make us more defensive.

I think with our 4-3-3 we can beat most of the teams below top 10, on a good performance 10th-6th and as for top 6 we still haven't taken anyone on using our 4-3-3 (ie/ been on song with it) so I'm still open to the possibility of it working.

Which brings me to the point, we're not top 2 material, I think McClaren is trying to see how far we can get with this squad and then make a decision on reinforcements at the end of the season.

Unlike you lot which are pretty much do or die for promotion I think we still have a bit of breathing space. Given the fact that IMO we are likely to make top 6 even if we lose our remainding games to the other 4 teams I think it gives us flexibility.

Our defence was also a shambles at times before he arrived, when we were on our run we showed a great balance of discipline and attacking swag. The players were praising McClaren's tactical understanding of what positions to be in, in order to maintain shape when we first got here.

As much as tactics for me it has been respecting the opposition and having the mental strength to play against the big boys. If we put in a performance we're capable of against a top 6 side and still get beat then I'll be more inclined to argue against the 4-3-3.

We have the option of emergency loans which I think we'll use. We have the rest of the season to work on our 4-3-3 and see if it does need a little more pragmatism.

As for having a go at Keogh and Bucko I don't get it when Keogh got injured we lost our leadership (yes he does have limitations) Bucko kept Keane on the bench with some great performances. In an ideal world Keane would have stayed and probably got his opportunity but can't fault the lad for leaving.

We have to be more careful than you lot with our money, so to splash cash when we don't know the full potential of our squad yet to me is a little unnecessary.

Who knows we could sneak a playoff win on a fraction of what you've spent, if as I think looks likely at the moment we fail we'll have a good marker for the close season, where the transfers aren't as limited or over inflated.

Lets be fair, we had our spending spree 3 years ago and spent it on dross. Most of those high earners have gone, in the last 2 seasons we have spent about £3m.

In the summer the only person we signed was a free LB from Tranmere and GTF and KP are at the stages of their career where the wages are not excessive. Konchesky has taken a wage cut so its really Kasper and Nuge who are on expensive salaries.

Pearson assembled a young and hungry squad, wages for Vardy, Knockeart, Drinkwater, James and DeLaet will be modest in comparison to many other championship players.

I agree with you that we have had a couple of seasons more to build (well actually Nigel Clough had about 5 years...) however our success is now down to sensible transfers, hard work and a manager who knows how to vary his tactics and approach to grind out results.

Maybe it was Derbys 7 match winning streak that raised expectations but I was very disappointed by Steves set up and subsequent performance at the KP

You don't have to splash the cash, but I think you could have looked at a couple of CB options in the window and just tighten up away from home

comment by WassaBBGroundRegular (U2584)
posted 11 hours, 24 minutes ago
One thing about half time. Us Rams fans got bleeding wet.....http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1iMfU4H8pgw
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Another sad day spent youtubing pathetic clips of Derby and their fans trying to prove a point that you went to a game

Burnley
2-0
Derby

Still copying Forest i see? You do know if we lose, you're meant to capitalise on it? Thick sheep, following their masters of football.