Well, things are getting better under Gary Rowett. The team seem transformed as seen by 27,000 Derby fans plus about 27 QPR diehards played in brilliant conditions. No wind, nice mild evening and a lovely pitch.
QPR started brightly but Derby soon put them in their place and started to dominate the game more and more. All Derby players looked as if they wanted to play for Gary Rowett and plenty of effort was on display. The ref just let them get on with things and did not disrupt the flow of play too much. However this favoured QPR more than The Rams since, from the start, they were set on committing fouls to break up Derby’s dominance. Quite a few chances were created with poor shooting by Ince and blindness or selfishness on the part of Johnny Russell led to him missing when others, had they received a pass would have more likely scored. Russell actually contributed a lot by his energy and running but was guilty of two or three poor decisions. Tom Ince was perhaps Derby’s weakest player on the night as he did not represent much of a danger for most of the game. Vydra at last is showing why he cost £8m and was quick, busy and full of running. A feature of Rowett’s new line-up was the speed of attack and good movement off the ball which Holloway’s boys could not deal with.
Johnson had a real solid game as did Bryson. Both were quick and decisive and the difficulty of finding a place for Will Hughes (England Under 23 Captain) was quite apparent. Baird was magnificent and showed wisdom and experience in countering QPR’s attacks as well as some great passes. Keogh also had an excellent game and showed again hoe quick over 10 yards he really is. One remarkable interception was on QPR’s right winger who got a great pass with acres of space around him. Keogh streaked across the grass at terrific speed and got in a crucial tackle before the winger could get the ball under control. I don’t know what metric data there is on Keogh but over a few yards he is lightning quick.
Alex Pearce also played well. Marcus Olsson was a bit more unpredictable but he certainly caused a lot of trouble for QPR’s defence. Carson was typically cool and in control though he had little to do.
QPR offered little beyond the first five minutes of endeavour and they never looked like scoring - EXCEPT for Derby’s usual trick of poor defending of set pieces. On 90 minutes, a corner from the right was not defended and Sylla’s free header comes off the post. The final score suggests a much tighter game but Derby were in control for almost the whole game.
Now we need a win against Fulham next Tuesday. Scuppering their chances of a promotion will strengthen our chances of getting Chris Martin back at the end of the season. But we can now see that Vydra (at 24 years of age) is a great prospect for us. Nugent too is starting to show he can play a bit.
For Those Who Did Not Attend
posted on 3/4/17
If things are looking bad financially we will sell Hughes and or Ince. A step back but sometimes that has to be done. From the game on Friday it appears that Rowett doesn't bother much with pretty midfield play. The direct running of Russell appeared to be his main tactic. If only Russell had remebered how to shoot he would have had 6.
posted on 3/4/17
Spart - we may well do that but selling off the crown jewels is not necessarily the way to run a business.
Only Southampton seem to be able to get away with it on a regular basis and they have an academy system second to none that allows them to do so.
There's not a lot coming out of our academy at the moment is there?
posted on 3/4/17
I didn't say I wanted that outcome Peeder but it is always on the cards. Selling off your best players works if you ration it. Otherwise there aren't the quality players coming through, or the bargains to be had.
Where does Hughes fit in now if we bypass midfield? Just being a player to chase down opposition players and try and force the error seems a waste of his talents.
posted on 3/4/17
I don't see the problem Peeder. I am willing to put my hand in my pocket, just have actually. Mel is willing to put his hand in his and he has more in his that I have in mine. What's the difference?
Mel is only getting wealthier so him putting his hand in his pocket is OK by me.
posted on 3/4/17
off topic:
the 'for those who did not attend' articles are really putting a dent in View's match day comment totals. He told me yesterday that he absolutely fuming about it.
posted on 3/4/17
What's all this talk of 'business'? Uncle Mel, whilst perhaps not entirely altruistic in the long game, is putting his money into his boyhood club in an attempt to better it. Maybe he'll get a reward in the future, maybe he won't, but there are precious few clubs in the black. You can compare our position now under Mel to then under GSE but you fail to appreciate the difference in ambition; we weren't going up under the former owners but the intention is there under Mel.
Obviously we aren't there yet and there have been disappointments considering the cash we've spent, but at least we're now trying to improve instead of treading water. It's no real surprise to see that the clubs that have won promotion without the aid of parachute payments have all fallen foul of FFP lately; Leicester, QPR, and Bournemouth all disregarded the confines of FFP to make the leap and it looks very much like we'll need to if we're to be successful. With an ever-widening financial gulf between the Championship sides and relegated Premier League sides, I can see no real alternative to finding the right manager to back and then backing him to the hilt to get us up. Risky..? Sure, but that's what it's going to take.
posted on 3/4/17
...and get the fcking Prediction League up for tomorrow's massive play-off six-pointer, FatBoy
posted on 3/4/17
666 - predictions posted as requested.
Part of me agrees with what you are saying BUT whilst it works for some, it has failed for others.
I have no doubt he wants to get us promoted and I applaud his outlay so far.
While Mel is around and "fully engaged" in the project on his terms, then all will be fine and we wont be needing to sell off players unless we want to.
My concern is what those terms of engagement are?
Abramovich, for example, has proven that not all owners get bored or want to interfere on a daily basis; but I have got the impression from the rumour mill that Mel is a bit more hands on and likes to be involved more than is perhaps healthy with the team affairs.
If that is remotely right, what happens when he gets bored of his play thing?
Will we crumble like Forest?
I'm sure I can recall many people on here saying they would never want to be like Forest when Doughty was in charge, beholden to a single person with big pockets. Now, it seems we are okay with it?
posted on 3/4/17
Don't forget the Chinese investors that Big Sam has been lining up.
What are the odds on a Chinese owned brand being emblazoned across our shirts next season ?
Could include Pizza Express, Hamleys, House of Fraser or even Weetabix.
posted on 3/4/17
comment by Iwaslevel (U4836)
posted 5 hours, 15 minutes ago
off topic:
the 'for those who did not attend' articles are really putting a dent in View's match day comment totals. He told me yesterday that he absolutely fuming about it.
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Cue: slow whistling wind.......deserted traditional Main Street on a Hollywood western set.......tumbleweed blowing seemingly of its own volition across aforementioned street.......along with the ramblings of a Spondonite still wrapped up in the glory of Celanese and Rai's newsagent on the roundabout going down to the station.....