After 2 excellent away wins - before people say " Fulham are crap they haven't won in ages " and " MK are dog " - we still HAVE to beat them and did. MK beat Wendy last night doing us quite a favour. They look tick them off when you have 3 points on the board and " easy easy " but it's still a good achievement. Take the year QPR tore it up with Taraabt and co - they still lost 2 or 3-0 away at Scunthorpe that year...... However, as I've banged on about quite a lot of late it's our home form rather than away that alarms me. On the road we're set up very well to sit, have pace galore to hit teams and with our 40% of the ball possession, this is a very nice tactic to nab a goal and be a damn pain to play. At home, the onus is on us to attack. Fans expect us to dictate play, go forward etc. We're not capable of dictating a game at present. Derby are a very good side in this league ( if you spend £20 mill in the summer plus wages you'd expect to be right up there ) and this is going to be a very very tough game. I want us to get back on winning form at home sooner rather than later ( think i'm right in saying our only win in 8 is vs horrific Bolton at home ) however on the back of 2 away wins I would be quite pleased with a point from this one and 7/9. Obviously 3 would be better, but even a defeat would mark a very good week points wise as a town fan. The table is starting to take shape, and we're certainly in the play off hunt this season. Burnley are somehow only a point ahead of us - perhaps that fixture is looking less intimidating than it did in October when we were struggling. I'll plump for a 1-2 defeat - but a better display vs Boro. I have a feeling we'll beat QPR after. COYB. Wonder if Mick may opt to rotate a little bit for this game and Fraser start....
Firstly, I believe that 4 of the 5 above us (excluding Brighton) are still head and shoulders above us. All four teams (Boro, Derby, Hull and Burnley) have premiership players throughout their team, and should rightly be challenging at the top (I still feel Brighton will falter slightly, but will still be in the play off picture). That said, on our day we can beat anyone. We're tough, resilient, and are a pain in the gluteus maximus for other teams. We're not pretty, but we are very effective. Yes, we haven't beaten anyone that great lately, but the difference from years gone by, is that we are now beating the teams we "should be beating". A couple of years ago we would've easily dropped points against the lower teams, but Mick has instilled a "don't take other teams for granted" attitude. Back to the game on Saturday - this will be tough (as will the following three games). This will come down to who scores first. If Derby do, then we could be in trouble, as we are generally not that great at chasing games. I think we will be set up like the away side, let Derby have possession, let them ping it around, and then hopefully we'll do what we've been doing of late, and that's working the channels and hopefully nicking a goal or two. I'll take a draw, but ideally we need a minimum 4/5 points from our next four games so we can stay in the top 6. I think we may come unstuck on Saturday, but will go down fighting, and eventually losing by the odd goal. ( I think we'll draw with QPR and Burnley, and I believe we will be the team to finally beat Brighton). Fraser will not start, not in a million years, hopefully he can get at least 15 mins. Bru also needs more time, but I don't think he's ready to start. If everyone is fit and healthy, I'd stick with the same 11 - they all deserve to keep their places.
I'm not bothered about our home form. As long as we are getting the right amount of points to stay around the top six that's good enough for me. Nobody likes playing us, we make you work to get something from the match and I don't see why we can't get a result against Derby. 2-1 Town. Murphy and Pitman.
" I'm not bothered about our home form. As long as we are getting the right amount of points to stay around the top six that's good enough for me. " I see where you're coming from but it puts pressure on us to pick up points on the road - we do need to make Portman Road more of a fortress - the 4 wins have been superb however with Brighton and Burnley coming up away it's going to be difficult to keep it going! Hope you're right, 2-1 would be lovely jubbly!
Home or away makes almost no difference in my opinion...as far as I know it's always played on a football pitch roughly the same size as all the others, and the ball is normally the same for home and away team......
In theory it shouldn't be in reality, massive difference. Remember 07/08 when we won every single game at home but didn't win away until January!? Damn weird football.
I think we all know our 'dream team' includes something along the lines of a Bish bru midfield with Fraser flying down the wing feeding any combination of our four strikers in peak form and fitness. It's a promotion looking side but unfortunately it hasn't been put together yet through injury and if/ when they do play together these things take time to settle and momentum and belief to grow. Had we had them all fit and ready from day one I'd be more confident but I'm worried we won't see it all gelled and smooth until the tail games of the season when we could put in a late, strong charge for the top 6 as anyone punching above their weight like Brighton dips. Until then I think we'll struggle against the other top sides who have gelled, got consistency and benefitted from a fit squad that have played together all season. As westlake33 said; Derby have invested and well: Tom ince is a fine player and I can see his hatrick in the last game being the start of a goal run in this division propelling Derby past 'tough to beat' teams like us that don't have that quality in the kitty or, in perhaps in our case, fit and on the pitch at the same time and in a team that's already buzzing along. We've been up and down this season, were on a good run but this next few games could knock us off course, I just hope we can scrape top 6 with all my heart.
Exactly and well put Bucky! I see a tough match, great spirit but back in our oh so defensive, if brave box.....and going down by the odd goal. 1-2. Hope I am wrong!
Well said Stretchy and Bucky. I really hope we can get something out of this match, but on paper, there is too much difference in quality between the two squads to realistically expect anything more than a point. Our record against the top teams in this division is a little patchy, but we're in good form and, if we can learn from the lessons of the Boro defeat, then I can see us nicking a draw. Head says a narrow 1-0 loss, heart's thinking 2-2.
Well we beat Fulham who are crap and havent won in ages, also a MK side that are dog doo but this is a different test altogether, therefore i predict a ........ 1-5 scoreline
Not too scared of Derby. Correct me if I'm wrong but from the top 6 only Hull outclassed us? We're full of confidence with Fraser ready to go too. I'd be content with a draw but I'll go for 3-2
Westy read your first paragraph and then my reply, then decide how serious i am. Actually think we may win
You're a man of mystery Spanish but one day our paths will cross! Maybe we're overestimating Derby somewhat.... on our day we can?
Whilst we more or less matched them in the first half, Boro clearly outclassed us in the second without really breaking sweat.
its a game where I am worried about our lack of true quality at FB on both sides. I cant see us being overrun as, like ever, we will be organised. I think it will be an interesting test for us. As you all know I have concerns about MM's mindset of going for a 'not get beaten' rather than a more ambitious approach. If we can actually take the game to Derby then I may start believing that we can actually get out of the championship.
