At the halfway stage of the eason, how do we think our heroes have done? Here are my marks, feel free to disagree:
Joe Wildsmith: What a season so far. An unheralded signing who has surprised us all with his reliabilty. Assured handling of crosses, good shot-stopper and confident distribution. A+
Korey Smith: Shoved in as an emergency right-back and has proved a very steady stopgap until we get a proper one. Limited going forward but has been part of a very solid defence. B
Louie Sibley: Nobody anticipated the petulant wunderkind becoming our first-choice left back and he has looked increasingly at home. Disciplined in his tackling, unbullied by opposition forwards and a threat carrying the ball. A-
Haydon Roberts: Looked very promising early in the season but displaced by Sibley and now reduced to watching from the bench C+
Eiran Cashin: It's unbelievable now that pre-season it seemed possible he might be behind Davies and Chester in the pecking order. After his mistake that cost the game against Plymouth he has been stupendous. Strong, intelligent, composed, skilful. A+
Craig Forsyth: The third of the back four playing out of position, Fozzy has played like a cross between Maldini and McFarland. Has he spent his entire career in the wrong position? A+
Conor Hourihane: After his winning goal on opening day, it's fair to say Hourihane has not set the league alight as might have been anticipated. His main contribution has been generally excellent set-piece delivery but his overall impact has been disappointing. C
Max Bird: Captain on the pitch, it's easy to forget Bird is only 22. He divides fans more than any since Tom Lawrence. Is he influential enough? I believe he is under-rated and that while he doesn't have the presence of a Bielik he has done pretty well at his age to anchor an unbalanced midfield. B
Jason Knight: Our first emergence right-back and did well there though clearly a square peg. Now just back from injury and ought to force his way into the regular starting line-up for the second half of the season. B
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing: At times unplayable for the opposition with his power and speed though a little inconsistent. Easily our biggest wide threat. A-
Tom Barkhuizen: After a lively start to the season he has looked a bit bog-standard. Reliable enough but lacks the pizazz of his teammate with the oversized appendage on the opposite wing. C+
Lewis Dobbin: Frustrates with his finishing but carries the ball well and at pace and has terrific potential. He's very much at the start of his career and deserves encouragement so that he doesn't drop his head. B+
Will Osula: Still struggling to get minutes on the pitch but at times has looked as though he could develop into a forward with the full package: pace, power and can finish with either foot. B
James Collins: Fair to say he is not everyone-s cup of tea. Some of us love an old-fashioned muck and nettles centre-forward, others bemoan his lack of finesse. B+
David McGoldrick: Injury and lack of fitness delayed his introduction to the team but latterly he has been mesmeric with quickness of feet and mind that belies his years and two hat-tricks already. He looks way below his natural level playing in League 1. A
Others: Davies, Stearman, Rooney, Thompson: not enough minutes on the pitch to give a proper mark but a mention for Rooney who when he has featured has caught the eye.
Paul Warne: the football isn't always easy on the eye but the team is unquestionably fitter and far more physically robust since he took over. He is a League 1 promotion expert but it's not clear how far he can take us beyond that and whether he has tactical subtlety that goes beyond: "Win the ball, get it out wide, get the crosses in". B
What say you, Rams fans?
Half-Term Report
posted on 1/1/23
comment by 🏴 HebridesRam (U2909)
posted 6 seconds ago
Shinnie 🏴 please!
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Remember we (mostly) regarded him as highly effective (once settled in) at Championship level. In this league he could dominate proceedings
posted on 1/1/23
Hourihane is technically better and his set-piece delivery is good, but then it isn't as if we rain in the goals from set pieces. We would gain a battler and lose a bit of creativity. I'm inclined to agree with you Heb, but I wouldn't say the same if we were talking about Bird or Knight rather than Hourihane.
posted on 1/1/23
Ha! That has made my year already. Vidal inclined to agree with me about footy. The future is bright indeed
posted on 1/1/23
I don't think the comparison of Cashin to Todd is altogether unfair. Cashin has an understanding of the game that cannot be taught; an instinctive ability to know where he needs to be. He's still very young but he's an outstanding talent. And, easily, my POTY so far.
posted on 1/1/23
comment by Peeder (U1684)
posted 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
I don't think the comparison of Cashin to Todd is altogether unfair. Cashin has an understanding of the game that cannot be taught; an instinctive ability to know where he needs to be. He's still very young but he's an outstanding talent. And, easily, my POTY so far.
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You don't think comparing Cashin to Todd is unfair? As I have said before, and now you prove it, you know nowt.
Todd had pace, good control, balance and awareness and defended against some of the best players on the planet. Cashin is brave and no nonsense, more like Bucko , and has never played higher than Championship level. There is no comparison.
posted on 1/1/23
You can say the player X has a bit of the Player Y about him without it meaning that you are implying they are of equal ability. Toddy was one of the best players we have ever had. Of the qualities you list, Spart, I reckon that Cashin has good control, balance and awareness. He's still a year younger than Toddy was when Clough signed him so he's doing pretty well. I also have him as our POTY so far.
posted on 1/1/23
Evening all,
Hope everyone enjoyed their celebrations. Reading about Shinnie's possible return is one of joy but as discussed it leaves question marks on Bird, Knight and Hourihane.
Is PW likely to field a 5-2-3 ( allowing our wingers game time ) or 5-3-2 (most likely) so that Knight - DM - Hourihane can be accommodated?
Latest updates from Alan 'useless' Nixon indicate we're linked to Curtis Nelson from Cardiff. He seems to be predominantly a CB who can play at RB too.
If RB is our priority transfer I'd prefer a player who is a specialist at RB or RWB.
Cashin and Forsyth are working in harmony and as pointed out , to Spart's pleasure, like Todd/Maldindi.
I guess Sibley has become Roberto Carlos-esque so we just need my namesake for RB, Cafu.
posted on 1/1/23
You don't need to compare Cashin with anyone. Just acknowledge that he is having a superb season, is probably the first name on the team sheet and is most people's POTY so far or should it be POTS? Having said that, there's nowt wrong with drawing comparisons - it's a natural thing to do and I have no difficulty in thinking Toddy when I think about Cashin. Of course C is not at the same level as T but then, unlike Spart, I know I know nowt!
posted on 1/1/23
PS I said this on another thread but I'd be surprised if we sign Shinnie given PW's oft quoted remarks about the imbalance of ages within the current squad - too many oldies and too many kids and not enough in between.
posted on 2/1/23
comment by Spart-Derby really are the best says red dog. (U4603)
posted 22 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by Peeder (U1684)
posted 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
I don't think the comparison of Cashin to Todd is altogether unfair. Cashin has an understanding of the game that cannot be taught; an instinctive ability to know where he needs to be. He's still very young but he's an outstanding talent. And, easily, my POTY so far.
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You don't think comparing Cashin to Todd is unfair? As I have said before, and now you prove it, you know nowt.
Todd had pace, good control, balance and awareness and defended against some of the best players on the planet. Cashin is brave and no nonsense, more like Bucko , and has never played higher than Championship level. There is no comparison.
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100% right Spart, Todd was immaculate and I think he was better than Bobby Moore. I do like Cashin though but he has got a long way to go to be lacing Colin's boots.