*There’s

No Wellies. Just city stuff and Niagara while in Toronto. Going a bit more off the beaten track on Vancouver Island though.

On the ball you heading to Tofino?

Yes. Few days first in Vancouver, then up to Port McNeill on Vancouver Island for 5 nights, then across to Tofino for 3 nights. Then back over to Vancouver and fly to Toronto.

Tofino is a great place, if you like a bit of wildlife. There were more grey whales than you could shake a stick at when I went there a few years back. The boat trips offered a free second trip if you didn't see whales on the first one, because their confidence levels were so high.

Anyway, back to footy. Roos impressed me when he got his chance in the first team, but I agree he now doesn't look the part. Has everyone given up on Carson, though? I think he's a perfectly good 'keeper (albeit with questionable distribution) & I'd be happy to see him in the first team again.

comment by Sheep Botherer (U8445)
posted 1 hour, 58 minutes ago
Anyway, back to footy. Roos impressed me when he got his chance in the first team, but I agree he now doesn't look the part. Has everyone given up on Carson, though? I think he's a perfectly good 'keeper (albeit with questionable distribution) & I'd be happy to see him in the first team again.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It looks for one reason or another that Carson’s Derby days are over (probably Roos being a cheaper option).

Huddz and Dowell worked well yesterday but let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Burton hardly pressured Huddz at all and with that amount of time he will pull the strings all day long.

Watched the highlights and it looked a tidy display. Roos, though, looks jittery and it appears that we may be getting a different 'keeper.

BTW, how many goalkeepers that played for Derby in a number of meaningful games are still on the circuit?

Not sure how many of this lot ever get a game these days, but here’s a quick list I’ve cobbled together, I might have missed a couple
Lee Grant is at ManU (!)
Roy Carroll is at Linfield
Frank Fielding at Millwall
Legzdins at Burnley
Bywater at Burton
Camp at Birmingham

on your way across to tofino check out cathedral grove, Nanimo bars (chocolate not alcohol) went a few years ago as my Grandfather played in goal for the Nanaimo wanderers when they won the Canadian cup.

Bit surprising that Evans started yesterday. The team otherwise looked close to what we might expect on opening day. I would have thought that after a year out Davies would need plenty of game time in his legs. Maybe Cocu is assessing whether Evans is a reasonable back-up in that position but I wonder whether Cocu might feel that Davies isn’t good enough with the ball at his feet to fit into how he wants to play. I hope that’s not the case - we looked vulnerable from corners yesterday and Davies is undoubtedly a far better defender than Evans.

Unless there is an imminent incomer in that position

Davies is 34, maybe that's the reason. When he got that 'season-ending' injury, I though we'd seen the last of him. He's a quality defender, no doubt, but he's certainly not in the Paul McGrath 'I can read the game so well that I'll play when I'm 37 & my knees have gone' bracket. It'll be interesting to see how long he can stay keep his place. With our current squad, I think we'd have to play Davies & Keogh and hope for no injuries. We were lucky with (the lack of) CB injuries once Keogh & Tomori were settled in their partnership. I hope Keogh stays, even if Sheff Utd are offering silly money.

comment by Sheep Botherer (U8445)
posted 6 hours, 9 minutes ago
Not sure how many of this lot ever get a game these days, but here’s a quick list I’ve cobbled together, I might have missed a couple
Lee Grant is at ManU (!)
Roy Carroll is at Linfield
Frank Fielding at Millwall
Legzdins at Burnley
Bywater at Burton
Camp at Birmingham

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks

What happened to king of the bench warmers, Saul Deeney.

I just googled the fate of the ones I remembered, Spart. Can't recall this Deeney chap, did he go on to play up front for Watford?

comment by Sheep Botherer (U8445)
posted 2 hours, 48 minutes ago
Davies is 34, maybe that's the reason. When he got that 'season-ending' injury, I though we'd seen the last of him. He's a quality defender, no doubt, but he's certainly not in the Paul McGrath 'I can read the game so well that I'll play when I'm 37 & my knees have gone' bracket. It'll be interesting to see how long he can stay keep his place. With our current squad, I think we'd have to play Davies & Keogh and hope for no injuries. We were lucky with (the lack of) CB injuries once Keogh & Tomori were settled in their partnership. I hope Keogh stays, even if Sheff Utd are offering silly money.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Davies and Keogh at the back would give me nightmares ! Against a pacey attack we'd struggle if you take into consideration our RB and LB are not the best defensively. I'd have Keogh / Davies rotate. Keogh has been a consistent first team player but I think he needs to be dropped from time to time to , A ) stay fresh B ) keep him mentally alert. If you consider how many matches he's played in the last two seasons he's definitely needed time out the side.

Saying that if we can get a realistically decent amount for Keogh I'd say let's sell him and find a ball playing defender if that is what Cocu requires in central defence.

Has Wisdom played at all in these friendlies?

Only after a lot of time under the sun lamp. I can't imagine anyone not remembering Saul Deeney, and his enormous contribution to Derby.

Saul Deeney - name rings a bell , three matches during a five year spell at Derby. First team appearances seem a bit vague to me.

Davies and Keogh at the back would give me nightmares !
--------------------------------------
Agreed, Desi, but with the current squad, what else would you do? Keogh+ Evans? I'd go for experience and ask the fullbacks to cover. Mind you, maybe that's why I'm an IT nerd, and not a football manager

Saul Deeney - Basford United, near Nottingham, managed by Steve Chettle

comment by Sheep Botherer (U8445)
posted 41 minutes ago
Davies and Keogh at the back would give me nightmares !
--------------------------------------
Agreed, Desi, but with the current squad, what else would you do? Keogh+ Evans? I'd go for experience and ask the fullbacks to cover. Mind you, maybe that's why I'm an IT nerd, and not a football manager
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Current squad I'd play three at the back , Wisdom Keogh Davies with Bogle and Malone in the wing back roles. Ahead of them :

Shinnie Dowell

Lawrence

Marriott Waghorn

I dont think it matters what formation or first 11 anyone puts out right now without any further additions it wont look like a top half team let alone top 6

Worrying time for me. All for playing youth if they're good enough but not sure you can develop a strategy round it. If a good one happens to come along then its a bonus

Maybe Cocu needs to see how (with what he thinks is an OK team) we get on in a couple of actual games first?

Ampadu gone on loan to Leipzig.

100