Fleecing the Rams. Away V.Derby County, Sat 21st Jan.3.0' clock.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Hoping this is going to be a game of 2 halves as that was poor. 1 shot in total.

Especially as Dion needs 2 or 3 to score, bless him. And this is one of those close big games where we don't get loads of chances. The promotion deciders.

I can see a turgid half-hour, a Derby second, then a late consolation. Shoretire sprinting into the net to pick the ball up. All in vain.

[Spartan2]

Williams has just tried running the length of pitch and got caught by a lad who gave him a good 15 yard start. That said he was up top on his own. Might be an issue if we're trying to counter

Yeah I thought he was meant to have genuine electric pace?

[Mar]

Aimson for Santos would be the correct tactical switch, but no good for the player. Unless he has a knock he will stay on, but we need to offer him out-balls to break that trap.

I'd argue Santos coming on would probably be a good shout due to Santos' dribbling ability coming out the back, letting us mix it up a bit in terms of how we break against this bunch. I don't think Aimson is that keen on heading out from the back.

That being said, i'd still have Aimson on first choice for next match given how well they've been performing lately.

Yep this is where we get into man-management. It's fine being horses for courses, but the players have to understand the tactics behind it.

I am/was half-expecting Santos to play midweek v FGR - at home in a game where we'll dominate possession. I also agree with Ghost that it would be the right tactical switch to bring him on now – they have found a weakness; plug it - but coupled with the above, it might seem like Aimson is getting somehow blamed. That he is not would need to be made clear to players and fans. This is what managers have to do.

Fully agree. I suspect with Aimson on the pitch they'd be looking to press against his ball control, whereas with Rico on the pitch it'd be a case of Rico possibly just dribbling past them and running at the midfield which would pose them other problems. It would make the opposition have to adjust and approach us differently.

That being said I don't think our defence is the problem here. Sure Derby might target Aimson, but he's been ok, as have the rest of them. The biggest problem we've had is the fact that our team aren't getting the ball to Charles quickly and when it's got to N'lundulu, it's been a case of it looking good but not coming to anything.

We've got time, but I can't imagine as it stands we're going to massively cause Derby any more problems.

Getting to the point where i'm clutching at straws hoping this Shoreretire guy is decent.

[DJBlu]

Keiran Lee ineffective due to the Derby press. Fair play to them. Know out lot will play if given time on the ball, also that we'll give it away when pressed.

[TANGODANCER]

Come on the Irish lads. Let's have a bit of your luck...

[Mar]

Williams has just tried running the length of pitch and got caught by a lad who gave him a good 15 yard start. That said he was up top on his own. Might be an issue if we're trying to counter

Yeah I thought he was meant to have genuine electric pace?

He looked fast, it was a long distance to run and Mendez-Lang isn't exactly a slow player.

Randell's looking a bit knackered out there. Fatigue kicking in?

[HMX]

Randy has been… awful. But plenty haven’t been up for it yet.

[Prufrock]

I'm not watching but I'm hearing Williams has really struggled.

Is that a fair assessment?

He's been shite. But far from alone.

[Mar]

Has the kettle been on yet?

[DJBlu]

Unlucky Demps, better lads.

[GhostoftheBok]

Yeah I thought he was meant to have genuine electric pace?

He's quick, but he's clearly not fully fit and we don't yet know how that bad knee injury has affected his pace.

[BWFC_Insane]

We are poor all over. Big Dan a handful but it’s definitely not clicking up front with Charles and him yet.

Randell Williams struggling for me. Bradley hasn’t been very good either.

Derby are a decent side. Let’s not make any bones about that. But we’ve made them look good. We can argue all we like but we need more going forwards and that will need a couple of big signings now.

[Mar]

We are poor all over. Big Dan a handful but it’s definitely not clicking up front with Charles and him yet.

Has Charles even received a pass yet?

Service just hasn't been there.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

The only top-eight good news is Ipswich being held by Oxford (goalscorer: Yanic Wildschut). Sheff Wed strengthening grip on second, and the Rams sprinting head-first towards the Tractors - stays like this they'd only be 5 behind with a game in hand.

[HMX]

Changes, please

[DJBlu]

Our left side has been dire. Proper shit.

[TANGODANCER]

Shola appears....

[BWFC_Insane]

Changes, please

As has been pointed out our bench has one league goal between them this season and that was Gethin Jones at MK Dons. Good time to change that but also points to the work needed in January. And I don’t think the need for new players has been this stark for a while.

[HMX]

Poor crosses and nobody winning headers against the dinosaur derby back line. Frustrating.

[GhostoftheBok]

Shoretire change was needed. We've been out-done in midfield by a distance. Let's hope he can offer the legs and touch we need to work some space.