Pride Park
Derby
22 April 2019
1500
Fresh from once again snatching a draw from what should have been a win we look forward a game where we can just wear our replica shirts (and pants and jeans), a situation hitherto only once possible at the pre-season friendly at the Pirelli.
Look, if you're feeling a bit pi55ed off,consider that lot on the Dark Side. An owner facing serious criminal charges (Spart did tell 'em) and a legendary ex-player, now manager, facing the sack (we told you so). We're positively bubbly and cheerful.
Duane Holmes us still unavailable and Scott Malone may pop up on the bench. Will Huddz make a return or us BJ still the main option? Will Marriot start? (no).
As the debate rages about Keogh's fault for the opener on Friday (I lean towards Tomori who showed a bit of naivety), one thing is certain, he will be playing.
We do have a good record against QPR - won against them in the last four games at home, our main blotted copybook being Wembley . And apparently Tom Lawrence always scores against QPR .
Where is Anya?
Team news:-
Derby County 2 - 0 QPR
posted on 23/4/19
Ince all day long.
posted on 23/4/19
I am going with neither despite Desicau's rules. Apart from his one season with Blackpool, Ince, despite his talent has never been part of a successful team. Oddly Rowett dropped him at Derby and then signed him at Stoke.
Lawrence has flattered to deceive too many times. His bad games out number his good games by a high percentage now. There comes a time when a player has been given enough chances to show his value and I think that time is up for Lawrence. Maybe he can have a Vydra like season and go from hardly scoring to out scoring everyone in the division. He needs to do something by the start of next season.
What about a Stephen Pearson type of season ending. Do very little all season then score the winner at Wembley.
posted on 23/4/19
That’s beyond the pale Spart, you cannot diss Stephen Pearson. He was a stalwart in an average team and achieved cult status with his powerful runs into the opposition box, only stopping to metaphorically scratch his head while deciding what to do next.
posted on 23/4/19
comment by ViewFromTheStudent (U1581)
posted 37 minutes ago
That’s beyond the pale Spart, you cannot diss Stephen Pearson. He was a stalwart in an average team and achieved cult status with his powerful runs into the opposition box, only stopping to metaphorically scratch his head while deciding what to do next.
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LOL at that last part.
I have to agree. Stephen Pearson contributed much more than Lawrence has in his time here.
Lawrence was seen as a replacement for Ince but it looks like a transfer that's resulted in us going backwards. Ince at least offered goals ( both sides of the pitch, if you take into consideration his failure to track back)
2014-2015 - 11 goals
2015 - 2016 12 goals
2016 - 2017 14 goals
Tom Lawrence
2017 - 2018 6 goals
2018 - 2019 4 goals
I really hoped he'd kick on this season but it sounds like he's been an incredibly frustrating player. Happy to be proven wrong here as I'd love for him to be a success.
Who would we consider to be the last 'successful' winger at Derby. I think back to Tommy Smith who I thought was a great signing (free) and did well, Commons was very much hot and cold but did offer some great moments.
posted on 23/4/19
The criticisms of Lawrence haven’t always been fair but I thought he was crap yesterday and that his good games are too infrequent to make up for the poor ones. Next season we have Luke Thomas coming back and Mitchell-Lawson coming through. Lawrence is a luxury player rather than one to build a team around. He ought to fetch a few quid and that could be used to strengthen elsewhere. If it was a choice of selling him or Bogle I would want to keep the latter every day of the week as he has a chance of increasing in value to the team and as an asset, while Lawrence is what he is and won’t get any better. With the pair I mentioned plus Holmes, Bennett and Zoon we have plenty of wide players to choose from. Even if we don’t get a new winger in the summer I don’t think we would miss him too much.
posted on 23/4/19
I didnt particularly like Ince, mainly because of his demeanor, but his superior scoring record gives him the edge.
I was a big supporter of TL following his transfer, mainly based on reports I got from Ipswich fans, who were more than sorry to lose him.
So, just a final thought in his defence. We often see that playing a player in his preferred position can lead to a massive improvement in performance, perceived or otherwise. There are several examples without having to think too deeply, Weimann now he's at BC, Waggy, now he's in his best position of CF and Wilson playing in CMF, rather than out wide, spring immediately to mind.
Without suggesting that we try and shoehorn him into a new role, arguably, Tom's best, and most productive times, have come when he's had a freer, more central role rather than being a designated winger. He has the talent, more so than Bennett, but has far from excelled in this role. That said, I'd have him there any day of the week, rather than Zoon.
I like the lad and I trust in Frank, but I recognise that he's had his fair share of chances and I wouldn't be surprised to see him replaced next season.
posted on 23/4/19
Good points Ang. He’s played best in that position for Wales too. He doesn’t like the physical stuff and when you play wide then you get a bit of that and you have to cope with it. But even centrally you have to protect the ball from time to time or at least win the foul. He gets muscled off it very easily. Cash in for me.
posted on 23/4/19
Agreed. I do share the frustration.
posted on 23/4/19
Did he play more as a no.10 for Ipswich ?
posted on 23/4/19
comment by Desicafu (U8481)
posted 3 minutes ago
Did he play more as a no.10 for Ipswich ?
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Prepared to be corrected, but that's how I understood it, Desi