Development Squad versus Derby (at Alfreton Town) : 1-1 :

[Nottingham_Blancs]

Just returned from the Impact Arena, Alfreton (great name ...Impact Arena , not Alfreton), to watch the Dev Squad play Derby County

The Impact Arena was a real old school ground, rickety stands, an away end name "The Tin Stand" (after the tin roof I think), Terracing with seats bolted onto it. Quite a nice touch was the far side wing covered in Autumn leaves from the trees that hung over the stand. The Wanderers green shirts looked pleasing against the autumn gold leaves,

About 500 in attendance including Lennon and his backroom staff.

First Team squad members playing: Trotter, Medo, Wheater, Hall

Fringe Players : Vela, Wilkinson, Clayton

First Half : The Wanderers were quite free flowing and pacey going forward but lacked any real threat up front. Hall was always on the ball and jinked down the wings with his silky skills, but his final pass / cross was a bit disappointing. Same could apply to Clayton, good touch and skilful, but wasted the ball at times.

Second Half : The Wanderers stepped the pace up a bit and had a few chances. Wilkinson seemed a bit lost up front and for a big lad didn't put himself about much and was generally a disappointment to my mate Bill (also a Wanderer). Vela who had looked Ok in the first half moved to right back to cover for a couple of injuries. A cracking goal from a free kick by Clayton and a stonewall penalty given away by Medo for Derby's equaliser)

So who impressed and who didn't ?

Liam Trotter had a good game, with some neat threaded passes and looked a class above many on the pitch
Wheater, steady and clumsy, won't be pushing for a first team start on that performance
Vela, tidy on the ball, tried too hard at times
Clayton: Improved second half and scored a good goal
Medo : Disappointing. Won't be appearing on first team duty

Sellars : Really impressed with him at left back. Fast, fierce tackle, decent distribution. Will be pushing for first team duty soon.

Fitzsimons (GK) : Looked pretty confident and commanding
Wilkinson : Not yet

Cloughie : Nice movement and ball skills, Martin Peters 'esque, three moves head of the rest of the squad, just a pity the others weren't

Hall : Yes, he was OK , but you all know about him anyway

Decent game all told. £3-00 admission, £1-00 concessions, free to Rams season ticket holders . I blagged my way in for free, showed the man on the gate my BWFC season ticket, saying you should let BWFC season ticket holders in free if you let DCFC in free . Unexpected surprise was Sellars. Nice colours too with the reds of the Alfreton Towns stands and seats, complimenting the green pitch, yellow leaves and white and green jerseys...Football can be a beautiful game you know

[TANGODANCER]

Thanks for that. Interesting.

[Vertigo]

Another good left back to add to the collection?

[bobo the clown]

Very good read Msr Le Blanc.

Vela almost 'over eager' is how I've read him when I did see him and my only fear, now he's been taught hiw to run, is that his terrier like qualities could make him a sending off waiting to happen. Lennie may be good ... or bad ... for him in this respect having been a player like that himself.

Trotter standing out as the best player is a bit scary. Interesting what you say about Clough. I so want him to come good. Sellers is nice to read about. Sad to hear that Medo seemed lethargic. I've long been of the view that we don't get the best out of him. I'd like to and would like to find a way to accommodate him but if we can't then I see him being sold in January for what fee we can get plus a decent wage off the books and freeing that up for elsewhere

[LeverEnd]

Very good read Msr Le Blanc.

Vela almost 'over eager' is how I've read him when I did see him and my only fear, now he's been taught hiw to run, is that his terrier like qualities could make him a sending off waiting to happen. Lennie may be good ... or bad ... for him in this respect having been a player like that himself.

Trotter standing out as the best player is a bit scary. Interesting what you say about Clough. I so want him to come good. Sellers is nice to read about. Sad to hear that Medo seemed lethargic. I've long been of the view that we don't get the best out of him. I'd like to and would like to find a way to accommodate him but if we can't then I see him being sold in January for what fee we can get plus a decent wage off the books and freeing that up for elsewhere

There is definitely a decent player in Trotter. He's a decent passer and was taking control of that game at Crewe when he was injured. Big deal, I hear you say! He's not going to be first pick and is never going to be all-action but can be a decent squad player I think.

[Lord Kangana]

He said class above many, not all!

[LeverEnd]

He said class above many, not all!

I'm sure. I don't think he's great, just not as bad as made out.

[bobo the clown]

He said class above many, not all!

I'm sure. I don't think he's great, just not as bad as made out.

he is.

[Nottingham_Blancs]

Trotter was good and I am sure he will do a job for us during the long winter

I remember him bossing the midfield at the Reebok for Millwall the first season we dropped from Prem

A picture from the game , Hall and Clayton lining up the free kick for our goal

[truewhite15]

Didn't Odelusi play in this as well? How did he do?

[Nottingham_Blancs]

Didn't Odelusi play in this as well? How did he do?

A five minute cameo substitute appearance in which he managed to fall over the ball in the Derby penno area (well maybe not fall over the ball , but took a clumsy tumble)

[Salford Trotter]

Nice synopsis...500 seems like a good turnout

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

A picture from the game , Hall and Clayton lining up the free kick for our goal

Sorry mate, can't see them. It's as if they're camouflaged or something...

[NiceHotCuppaTea]

...and here's the resulting goal: