http://www.skysports.com/football/n...ons-a-win-for-derby-but-what-is-the-derby-way Mind you what does he know after predicting we'd win at Middlesboro and a draw with Brighton. Let's hope his wrong City predictions continue
I think we'll win this OK Nin. The Boro game was a just a blip. Just posted on the prediction thread that I can see another "Brighton" type performance tomorrow and we'll see Preston off with at least 3 goals in the bag - in fact I've gone for the 4-1 Brighton scoreline again.
Indeed we will maclad. Not being arrogant pal after that Brighton game of ours, but if we play like that again, you'll be lucky if we only score 3 tomorrow.
But Brighton aren't us, we'll see tomorrow yep I will be there, draw no good to either should be a decent game.
It'll be a competitive game alright - really looking forward to it maclad. I also agree Brighton aren't you - they're better. Maybe have to eat my words there after tomorrow pal, but then again, maybe not eh?
Well it was 11, given our keeper pulled off some fantastic saved, probably the points went the right way, don't think Marshall was overly busy. For the penalties both were fouls but thought possibly the ball had gone out of play right at the start of the move, second to be fair to the ref thought he was decent but him and the loner possibly guessed were the incident was. Long day 9 hours travelling, decent stadium, will do a match report on my section tomorrow
maclad - we didn't play that well but it was plenty good enough on the day. The main difference was we kept it up for the 90 minutes rather than blowing hot and cold for 45/45. That along with not taking our chances when they come has been the most frustrating part of our game so far this season. Our Brighton game was when it all came together and for the first time really. You set up to defend and did it well, but we fully deserved the half time lead on the run of play and it shouldn't have needed the penalty to achieve it. When you switched things half time the second goal was always going to be decisive either way. It took another penalty (and I agree they were both good calls by the ref) for us to go 2 up, but that scoreline with 10 minutes to go is a very bad place for us this season. As it was we took the 3 points in the end and deserved them. I thought you were very organised on the day and seemed to come for the point - possibly even too organised to force a win. Good luck - as long as you stay behind us in the table will do for me.
Firstly Holloway again got it wrong Onto the game PNE failed to take the most of Slade sitting back on a one goal lead. Unsure why they took off one their best players, Johnson. I don't understand Slade's selection or tactics. Pilks should be out wide, there are 3 strikers on the bench or push Lawrence infield. Ralls needs to be in the middle with O'keefe. Gunnarsson should remain on the bench, and Dikajcoi likewise. 1-0 up and Slade has the team set up to defend. The best form of defence is attack. They were the home team. No, he allows PNE to play in our half and on another day would have got more than 1. Better teams will.
I thought the Preston fans were pretty good on the day - kept up the noise levels for most of the game. I did enjoy it when their goal was disallowed
Lawrence definitely needs to play through the middle. He had a relatively poor game out wide yesterday - I don't see him as a winger at all. I said in my above post that the second goal would be decisive whoever got it. The penalty came our way but it could so easily have ended up all square.
Actually thought Johnson had a poor game, having seen the second penalty it was in the area, and it was good banter after the disallowed goal, all the best lads suspect be there again next season but you never know
You'd move the striker who's scored 5 in his last 7 or so games? Seriously?!? I know he scored 2 pens but the first he earned and you've still got to put them away. Finally we've got a player who looks like he'd score 20 goals + if left upfront for a season. He's been a revelation in that role whilst can be very in/out when played on the wing. As for Lawrence he doesn't score goals, good player with lots of potential. Until he finds the scoring touch he should be left out wide. I agree Ralls shouldn't be moved but it worked and we won against a team on great form. We deserved the win too. Find it hard to knock Slade too much in those circumstances.
Lawrence is not a striker - his goal scoring record so far in his career demonstrates that clearly. I don't think he's an out and out wide man either, so where should he fit in and be most effective? He seems to fall beteween two stools up front and maybe the number 10 slot just behind Pilks is the answer. He'll run at defences causing panic (a la Burkey) and would be far more effective through the middle allowing space for others to drop into. Then you ask the question what about Lex Luther then - where does he fit? With Whitts fit and firing again (hopefully) there could be some good interchanges between those four. Ralls and O'Keefe in the middle behind them and in front of a solid back line could see many of our remaining opposition off - that was the lineup against Brighton. I only see Burnley and Sheff Wed as real threats away from home - the rest should all be beatable given the right attitude from the players as well as judgement from Slade, particularly about Ameobi's inclusion. At best bench fodder, at worst not even good enough for that given others in the squad..
Stevo, Pilkington is one of the divisions best payers, but he has failed to put away some really good chances that a half decent striker would have gobbled up, especially with his head. He has scored only one goal in open play for a while now, and that really should have been saved by the Brighton keeper. He is best playing out wide, and coming in as he so good at making space and looks like him and Immers could link up well. Slade maybe should start with one of his strikers now Mason and Jones have gone, and play Pilk'n inside left. I feel Slade can be justly criticised for the 2nd half display on Saturday. Yes City won the game, but we all know that we were just waiting for at least one Preston goal. City surely should have won that game by 2-3 clear goals, and my fear is that better teams coming our way; Ipswich, Birmingham etc will take advantage of Slade's negativity. When in front, what do Brighton and Sheff Wed do - they go on the offensive and look to kill the game, like we did ironically v Brighton but that was IMO once in a season result. Usually we just sit back and invite the opposition to come at us ie Sheff Wed, Burnley, Brentford etc
We don't have a half decent striker. The ones we sold missed more chances than Pilks has and we've scored more goals since he's been moved. I like his intelligence and movement. I think it works well centrally. As for the 2nd half you need to give Preston credit. They pushed much higher up the field and made it a lot more difficult to play out. Gunnar was exposed badly by the lack of time and space but then showed in the same performance what an asset he can be when we don't have the ball. In our current formation we missed Whits intelligence with the ball. His passing combined with Pilks movement would have caused Preston issues as they squeezed up. Maybe in that scenario off the opposition playing higher up the pitch Slade could swap Lawrence and Immers for a to give us real pace through the middle. It was a good win and we need back it up on Saturday
You say we don't have a half decent striker. Yet we still don't know what Saadi or Zahora can do. I personally thought we should have seen one of them a lot earlier last Saturday. As for Macheda, we know he has the talent but seems we won't ever see it in a City shirt. Preston were given the opportunity by negative Slade tactics to come forward just like Sheff Wed did after the interval. Fortunately Preston weren't good enough. It seems Whittingham may not be fit for Saturday so presumably it'll be the same team, and formation.
