Derby County v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Taylor]

So pleased we've got Di Matteo rather than Pearson. His post match interview was Lambertesque.

[GarTomas]

4 games in and I see it like this.
2 clean sheets and 2 goals conceded in the other games due to mistakes/bad luck depending on your point of view.

RDM should be in the market for another RB and now Jedinak is in can see Amavi starting more at LB.

Another forward and maybe a player on the wings and think we will be in good shape.

Today we deserved to win on the balance of the game. You'd think that one of Elphick/Gardner/McCormack crosses the line but not to be. Tough to take given the goal we conceded midweek.

What was nice is the longer it went on the more I felt we wouldn't concede which makes a nice change. Clark + 2m for Chester is a good upgrade.

Bacuna was decent today and offers versatility in the squad. Gardner and Westwood are 3rd and 4th choice and did OK. I think both would improve with Jedinak next to them.

[Matt Collins]

RDM talking a lot of sense in the post match interview. Likes our new signings and defence. Still thinks we are the unfinished article elsewhere. Feels we look more solid game after game.

That sounds spot on to me.

There are a few positions we could strengthen but no 9 has to be the priority. A couple of goals against Rotherham doesn't convince me that gestede can start for this team week in and week out

[Deano's Mullet]

Solid point and our defence is clearly our strength, Elphick and Chester look tight as a partnership. Midfield i thought we missed Tshibola and I actually thought Westwood had one of his better games today. Grealish faded after first half and McCormack seems to be sitting too deep, the other striking role is a worry and I am not sure about Ayew, I think he's wasted on the wing, he goes past people for fun but theres no end product. On another day however we'd have scored 2-3, it just was never going to be our day, unlucky with first half chances and Elphick was denied by some excellent defending in the second. Script seemed written for Bent to score a 90th minute winner so thankfully we avoided that - fair play to Derby, they did well second half. Unbeaten in three now and more positives than negatives.

[Percy McCarthy]

first half I thought we were totally bossing it. felt the goal would come any moment. Things changed when Gestede limped off. I am a fierce critic of Gestede but whatever weakness in his game he is a presence in the division. When he left the pitch nothing stuck upfront whatsoever. We had the better chances even in the 2nd half boon had one cleared off the line and Kozak missed a sitter.
I think we will look back and see it as a decent away point. It's just the lack of wins makes you feel frustrated when we go close so many times.

You're right about it not sticking. I think Ayew should have gone up front with McCormack rather than a terminally rusty Kozak. He wouldn't win many headers but neither did Libor - at least Ayew can actually control it and play football with his feet.

[dekko]

I'm encouraged. New keeper and central defenders, probably 2nd string center midfield. Bossed the game for large periods against all teams we have played, most of which were pushing for promotion last year. The only goals  against us have been flukes and we have hit the woodwork loads of times. new players due. Once we gel we'll do very well.

Pretty much this ^^^^^^^

Sooner or later we're gonna start putting these chances away - at which point someone is in for a battering.

[Flamingo Lane]

We have every appearance of a mid-table Championship side, and given the state of the team and of the club at the end of last season I'd say that's progress.

[brontebilly]

No harm to see out a clean sheet, looked very nervy at times near the end. Daft free kicks given away in dangerous areas, both full backs put themselves under pressure with stupid yellows.
They took over second half but RDM waited far too long to take off Kozak. Wouldn't have agreed with Grealish coming off either.

Positives, centre back partnership looks good. Elphick and Ayew showed leadership in second half when we needed it.Grealish looked threatening but needs moving targets ahead of him. First half we kept the ball from front to back easily. Amavi also had a decent cameo I thought, helped stiffen up the left flank.

Negatives, Cissokho should have had a peno against him late on, indiscipline in several players when Derby took over, Mccormack's fitness levels are appalling, needs to lose weight quickly, Gardner and Kozak are nowhere near good enough, Green was horribly naive again upon his introduction. Westwood went MIA in the second half after an outstanding first half, Derby pushed Hughes up on him and he couldn't cope.

Jedinak will improve us massively but we need a prolific speedster up front to lead the line. Grealish, Mccormack and Ayew are only supporting strikers while Gestede is a handy option but can't be first choice.

Gollini 6, Bacuna 7, Elphick 8, Chester 7, Cissokho 6, Ayew 8, Gardner 4, Westwood 6, Grealish 7, Mccormack 5, Gestede 6. Kozak 3, Green 4, Amavi 6

[Matt Collins]

As someone says above, you'd have thought moving ayew to no 9 would be a better bet than kozak

[Rudy65]

I think Grealish needs to work harder and play more forward and central. He always gets the ball too deep and has too many poeple to beat.

We need more pace up front

For the next game Id go

             Gollini
Bacuna, Tommy, Chester, Ally
       Tish, Mile Amavi
             Jack
        Ross, Ayew

[QuintonVilla]

I think there are quite a few positives.

We would have lost that last season, or even a few weeks ago.

We look solid, the only 2 league goals we've let in have been stupid mistakes. Elphick and Chester look a good partnership.

Sooner or later our luck must surely change and those efforts off the woodwork will come back and hit the keeper off the head and go in.


However I do think we desperately need another striker, someone with pace. If we'd had say Hernandez from Hull up front instead of Lamp post Kozak we'd have won imo.

[Villafirst]

We have every appearance of a mid-table Championship side, and given the state of the team and of the club at the end of last season I'd say that's progress.

No. The team hasn't really gelled yet with new faces and more to come. With Jedinak and Tshibola to add this team is top six.

[Toronto Villa]

We have every appearance of a mid-table Championship side, and given the state of the team and of the club at the end of last season I'd say that's progress.

I really don't think we do. We have the appearance of a side that is making a 180 degree turn and we are about 110 degrees through it. There are lots of encouraging signs along with a number of things that will resolve itself as the season goes on and new players are added and bed in. So I think we have the look of a promotion side that hasn't got it all together yet.

[Jimbo]

As someone says above, you'd have thought moving ayew to no 9 would be a better bet than kozak

I think Ayew was playing deep for a reason. He was the only one with any real composure and comfort on the ball there.

[Percy McCarthy]

As someone says above, you'd have thought moving ayew to no 9 would be a better bet than kozak

Yep, good idea.

It was me BTW.