MILLWALL v DERBY COUNTY....................………... Sky Bet Championship Game 17
1500 The Den, Landan 6th November 2021
Oh it could have been so different if we'd done Barnsley on Wednesday but it was not to be. We did not really deserve anything against (technically) the bottom side in the league and this just makes it really worrying. The old fault finding and blame game came out on social media which was really depressing but maybe, just maybe some is deserved.
Millwall are doing OK in this relatively tight league and have confidence after piping Reading 1-0. They will fancy their chances against a suddenly dis-jointed Derby side.
Where has that collegiality gone? Maybe is was just a super sticking plaster that started to come apart against Blackburn. FFS, we still have all to play for and Millwall is where we should start.
I understand that Ebosele will start on Saturday - trouble is will the expectation be too much? Look at Sibley's trajectory after bursting onto the scene. Shinnie is a no brainer to start, Knight, Davies but after that players will only be playing because there is no-one else to play........
Pay on the gate at Millwall with a large contingent expected from the faithful. Included in that will be Scouse, which will deprive this thread of its usual laconic wind-ups and illegal TV streams
comment by ViewFromCroxteth (U1581)
posted about an hour ago
comment by ViewFromCroxteth (U1581)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by lastapostleofvidal (U1491)
posted 4 minutes ago
You sure?
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Confirmed by the club
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Not sacked but 'agreed to leave'
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Not according to his interview.. he was "told I was leaving".
We are slipping further from safety. We really need a few wins. We have hit the post in the dying minutes of three games we have lost by the odd goal so we need a change in luck as well.
Morning after view :
Well despite only one point gained it felt like a win.....and we survived Rowettball. Jed Wallace apart I didnt feel that Millwall had much in their locker - so it just shows the level of much of the championship. Somebody mentioned luck in an earlier comment....to quote the words of a song (by Cream I think) - "if it wasnt for bad luck - I wouldnt have no luck at all"....and so it is with the Rams. But I live in the belief that if we keep playing as we did yesterday that the tide will turn. So thoughts as ever :
1. Roos. Thought he shouldve saved the shot that Millwal scored from...but made amends with the rest of his performance.
2. Festy - when the ball came to him I prayed that he just hit it - rather than control it first (as we have done too many times) ....thankfully he hit it....
3. Sam Baldock. Often wondered quite what he does for the team...but today he showed me. Best game for Derby and I'm giving him MOM.
4. Knight / Shinnie. 2 players we cant do without ATM.
5. The Defence. Very good and rarely gave much away.
6. CKR / Sibley. Little chance for any impact.
7. Aghastise. Another academy product. Must admit that he's not a name I've heard of before (and I do follow the U18's / U23's)....a big day for him....
8. Bennett...did his part in Byrne being sent off. Was it deserved ???? .....open to debate
9. Yes, we need more wins but surely if we're able to perform like today - on a regular basis - then some wins will follow...
UTR
Our new Academy debutant :
Born in Germany, Osazee Aghatise began taking football seriously when he moved to England as a seven-year-old.
He was quickly spotted my Manchester United and he spent two seasons in their Academy before moving to Manchester City, where he stayed for six years.
The midfielder joined Derby’s Academy ahead of the 2019/20 campaign as one of 11 first-year scholars in the Under-18s squad.
During his first season with the Rams he made 23 appearances for the Under-18s, scoring three times and registering two assists.
In addition, he also featured three times for the Under-19s in the UEFA Youth League.
After missing the opening game of the Under-18s 2020/21 season, Aghatise scored twice and added an assist in the next two games, helping the young Rams to a flying start. In his 16 Under-18 Premier League - North appearances, the midfielder scored six goals and provided three assists.
Aghatise's development was further developed in nine appearances for the Under-23s as well as starting in the Emirates FA Cup clash against Chorle in January 2021 and he stepped up to Pat Lyons' squad for the 2021/22 season.
I know the Roos debate has restarted but I'm not convinced he was at fault for their goal. Maybe he could have got it but it was a very well-hit strike. No-one is questioning the Millwall goalie; I reckon Roos would have saved that goal by Festy (good a build up as it was) and I am not going to join any "Roos out" bandwagon. (He did prevent two goals on other occasions during the game.) The fact of the matter is that Roos' defensive colleagues (or some of them) had gone awol for that goal but again I am not going to slag them off because the defence was otherwise pretty faultless.
The big issue for me now is Morrison. To be honest we looked better without him although I know we are only looking at one game. The team as a whole was moving the ball around much quicker and Bird was doing all that was necessary viz-ziz picking up from the back four. I also felt Lawrence had his best game in ages possibly because Ravel was not inhibiting him. Now I am not for one minute blaming him for our less effective displays; just saying that I cannot see any real balance when all three of Bird, Morrison and Lawrence play. Two of them should be enough. That would leave the extra one to come off the bench if needed.
I agree with Terry that Baldock also had his best game yet and with Strett getting a fine hat-trick agin Blackburn I reckon we have some decent options up front - some but not enough. Everyone keeps saying that come January and if we are out of admin, we can sign a striker but first, who is available and secondly will we not still be under an embargo? I would much appreciate your thoughts on the January and Morrison situations.
I know that we have shortcomings in defense but we are still desperate for a goal scorer, someone who is capable to score regularly & more than once in a game!
comment by Chicagoram (U22653)
posted 52 minutes ago
I know the Roos debate has restarted but I'm not convinced he was at fault for their goal. Maybe he could have got it but it was a very well-hit strike. No-one is questioning the Millwall goalie; I reckon Roos would have saved that goal by Festy (good a build up as it was) and I am not going to join any "Roos out" bandwagon. (He did prevent two goals on other occasions during the game.) The fact of the matter is that Roos' defensive colleagues (or some of them) had gone awol for that goal but again I am not going to slag them off because the defence was otherwise pretty faultless.
The big issue for me now is Morrison. To be honest we looked better without him although I know we are only looking at one game. The team as a whole was moving the ball around much quicker and Bird was doing all that was necessary viz-ziz picking up from the back four. I also felt Lawrence had his best game in ages possibly because Ravel was not inhibiting him. Now I am not for one minute blaming him for our less effective displays; just saying that I cannot see any real balance when all three of Bird, Morrison and Lawrence play. Two of them should be enough. That would leave the extra one to come off the bench if needed.
I agree with Terry that Baldock also had his best game yet and with Strett getting a fine hat-trick agin Blackburn I reckon we have some decent options up front - some but not enough. Everyone keeps saying that come January and if we are out of admin, we can sign a striker but first, who is available and secondly will we not still be under an embargo? I would much appreciate your thoughts on the January and Morrison situations.
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Somebody suggested Andy Carroll 🙈
I agree about Morrison. He has plenty of talent but he slows down the game. He's a luxury player. So is Lawrence to an extent but Lawrence generally tries to do things quicker, even if not always successful, and he has had a few assists lately which is more than can be said for Morrison. If Bird, Shinnie and Knight play I don't really see a place for Morrison in the starting line-up.
In January it all depends on our embargo situation. In the same way that many of our players might be up for grabs, there will be other clubs who similarly have plenty of players coming to the end of their contracts. Then there are players currently without clubs, and loanees.
I would say we need at least one and maybe two new strikers, even if Baldock stays, to have a chance of staying up. The latest rumour is that the 12 points won't be overturned but that the rumoured extra 9 might be only 3. So that's a very tough task but IF all is resolved and there is new ownership and a strengthening of the squad you never know. As Spart always says, it's all about momentum and if we were to start closing the gap you can imagine the support the fans have given building and building. We might still have a season to remember for a good reason.
comment by lastapostleofvidal (U1491)
posted 3 hours, 21 minutes ago
I agree about Morrison. He has plenty of talent but he slows down the game. He's a luxury player. So is Lawrence to an extent but Lawrence generally tries to do things quicker, even if not always successful, and he has had a few assists lately which is more than can be said for Morrison. If Bird, Shinnie and Knight play I don't really see a place for Morrison in the starting line-up.
In January it all depends on our embargo situation. In the same way that many of our players might be up for grabs, there will be other clubs who similarly have plenty of players coming to the end of their contracts. Then there are players currently without clubs, and loanees.
I would say we need at least one and maybe two new strikers, even if Baldock stays, to have a chance of staying up. The latest rumour is that the 12 points won't be overturned but that the rumoured extra 9 might be only 3. So that's a very tough task but IF all is resolved and there is new ownership and a strengthening of the squad you never know. As Spart always says, it's all about momentum and if we were to start closing the gap you can imagine the support the fans have given building and building. We might still have a season to remember for a good reason.
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Re getting any players in, I'm sure I've read somewhere that a transfer embargo is imposed for two years on a club coming out of admin. If that is true then it is an extremely harsh and unfair regulation - one that seems to have been framed to give a struggling club no hope at all. Does anyone know if there is such a regulation in place?
