Apparently there has been a truce and rich people will no longer be fighting over poor people’s Castles that they own, or once owned or ruined or wanted to ruin. Let’s hope it is a genuine peace, leading to better times and not more smoke and mirrors.

Backstory aside if both sides go for this, I think we could be in for a classic. Only Bournemouth have dared go at Borough with a back four, recently in the Champ, they didn’t succeed. However, I think if we play the same team and shape as we did against Hull, this could be firework football. Haymaker vs Haymaker stuff especially on the counter.

High pressing of CB’s from us, suffocating the middle of the park from them, lightning fast counters on the flanks from both of us, direct crosses from them, direct running from us, and high risk overloads all round, where the slightest mistake, leaves the backdoor wide open. Cue a stultifying 5-4-1 v 5-4-1, ‘one goal will win it’ stalemate.

Last Two in Champ:

	GOALS	XG	Shots/ Shots On	Passes/Accurate	Possession	Duels/Won
Boro H Avge	1.46	1.44	11.25 38.9%	322.88 78.8%	48.8	227 48.9%
Opponents Avge	1.04	1	9 32.4%	360.79 80%	51.2	227 46.9%
Derby A Avge	0.63	0.93	8.56 30.7%	413.7 82.3%	52.33	228.33 45.6%
Opponents Avge	1.44	1.38	10.41 36.6%	380.89 80%	47.67	228.33 48.7%

Below is an overview of Wilder at Sheffield United, better than owt I could do. Looking a bit at Boro it feels like not much has changed. Like Warnock’s man to man marking, it’s proving a very effective strategy at championship level.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=football+tactics+chris+wilder&t=newext&atb=v282-1&iar=videos&iax=videos&ia=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DidTP4CttsaU

Wilder might opt for 1 in behind the front 2 but I doubt it. More chance of Roo going for a back 3 but I think sticking to the 433-ish shape against Hull, gives us fluidity and cover on the flanks where Mardyboro are most of a threat.

Counter attacks: Assuming we go same lineup. Festy and Byrne off Plange coming deep, to collect. Recoveries/interceptions from Bird/Bielik, carry the ball out and attack centrally, their last CB and Howson, then go wide right to Festy/Byrne/Knight or the ‘less haste more speed’, cultured, style of TL and Fozzy down the left. Plange also running to the flanks to collect and pulling CB’s wide then diagonal for the on rushing wide men from t’uther side. This I think has more merit on our left, where Fozzy and TL are more of a Sunday-drive-up-Minninglow-way, kind of electric than on our right. Buchanan with the odd foray into enemy territory might create a few cheeky overloads..

Boro Counter. Will usually go backwards to go forwards if not pressured, give the full backs time to enter the attacking line. If pressured hold up ball for one of the forwards to chase or knock down. Boro halfway line, press unless they sacrifice a man in MF and move him fwd behind the front 2. Will be interesting to see how we press. Do we push Knight and TL up against their CB or hold off a tad?

Boro can also alternate overlapping CB’s. Keeping one back on the opposite flank to where the ball is. They might choose to do this a little bit more if Festy is on our right.

They love to switch the play, direct football out to the flanks, n get a cross in to a stacked penalty area. They rarely play through the centre and try and stifle the game here, with three defensive midfielders. One or both the CM, ahead of Howson, will venture into the penalty area, once the opposition defence has been pinned back. It’s a bit like an attacking version of Pulis ball at times only using a front four and diagonals, instead of Crouch.

Very effective on the counter, very hard to break down defensively but also quite hard to score goals with. Think they might have scored more than two, only once this season.

As for us, I don’t think we need to change at all. Although just heard Festy is a slight doubt. Which would be annoying as we might have to use another academy prodigy in Ebiowei. Then him and Festy are gonna get mardy with each other over, who’s the greatest, bad for team morale. If fit, potentially Festy at left back, to have pace on both flanks, or a back three to match them up, but with Bielik and Bird holding, the engines of Knight and Festy and Larwence’s workrate, I think we can track back quite well with the formation we have.

Ravel back, hard to see where he’d fit maybe Lawrence moving forward to play as a false nine and Morrison playing in the half spaces on the left. Or if chasing taking off Bird or Bielik and slapping them with a little Ravel.

Ey up. Please sign the petition if you feel so inclined: https://chng.it/tyGykNq9SQ

Back to business. Three wins and a takeover for Hull….a takeover…..luxury. In my day we just had to be abused by people in authority, telling us that, their arbitrators were just as independent, as independent arbitrators.

A disappointing defeat to Preston in their last game. New manager in Shota Arveladze, at the wheel.

Past Two Line Ups:

Think Lewis-Potter and Honeyman are the wrong way round on Wyscout’s diagrams, Honeyman does like a ramble though, Lewis-Potter more of a touchline hugger, run down the outside, kinda fella.

Injuries: Baxter and Bernard are fitness doubts at time of writing. Bernard does join the attacking lines from CB and would be the most adventurous of their CB’s.

Shape: I think both teams might look at shaking things up a tad. Hull have mostly had a back three, and two wing backs joining the midfield and forward lines. I would be surprised to see that change. Potentially they could play the counter like they did against Swansea, but I think playing the lone striker, plays into our hands a bit. 3-4-3 I think would be the best suited against us. Potentially they could try Eaves and Foss together, play a bit more direct and Honeyman play in behind.

Against Preston (3-5-2) Hull employed a 5-2-3 mid press. I think a higher press causes us much more problems though. Maybe the two wide attackers on our CB’s and Eaves (CF) on our holding MF.

Smallwood the more of the defensive CM I think, Doherty more your box to box.

Key: CM – Central Midfield. LAM – Left Attacking Midfielder. LWB – Left Wing Back. SK – Striker. RWB – Right Wing Back. RAM – Right Attacking

New Signings:

Sayyadmanesh: RAM.

Foss SK:

Walsh CM.

I think how they set up will depend on whether they want to play counter or want to force the error with a gegenpress. 5-4-1 lineup Lewis-Potter and Honeyman on the wings hints at mouse, 3-4-3 Lewis-Potter and Honeyman playing centrally hints at Cat.

The Oppressed FC

Bielik was great for 10 mins but he tired quite quickly I thought, in our herculean tragedy in Huddersfield. Bird is fit and I think we’ll see him start with Bielik finishing, to protect both from injury. Fans with heart dispositions are worried about our playing out from the back but I don’t think the gaffer is for changing on this one. Buch’s has the nod at CB. A back 3 might give us more protection but I think we’ll stick with the back four.

On paper I’d probably go for this as my starting formation. Just to try and leave a few options later on the bench.

Obviously this is all hypothetical as we have no idea what’s been going on in training, just trying to take a stab at how we can make a picture out of a jigsaw with a fair few pieces, stolen by hands, not our own.

The High Press:

Recently Brum, Udders and that other team before them, a bit, have pressed our CB’s and playmaker hard with 3 forwards pressing when Allsop has the ball at his feet. Tactically I think a back 3 makes this press more difficult as you have the security of an extra man in defence.

Trying to think of what could be done to remedy this if we do want to keep our attacking shape.

1. The holding midfielder retreats into the defensive line, wide of the CB’s taking his marker with him and leaving a potential passing lane for either the full back or in this example
2. RAM to make a late run into the inside right position before
3. Making a pass out to the full back/ wider player.

a) The full back makes a late run back into the defensive line, dragging his marker and/or the forward marking the nearest CB. This in turn opens up a passing lane for

b) The holding midfielder to move closer to receive and link with LAM or

c) The holding midfielder to provide the decoy and let the ball run onto c) before turning into space and beginning an attack

Dunno about everyone else but I wouldn’t mind us winning this one. Owd Huddz on Hull’s bench, hope he’s more loyal than other traitors of late.

DTID

Please sign the petition below. Don’t let other clubs become the next Derby

https://chng.it/tyGykNq9SQ

The English Football League’s policy of parachute payments to clubs relegated from the Premier League, gives an unfair advantage that encourages breaches of Financial Fair Play and risky financial management throughout the footballing pyramid.

The English Football League has shown itself unable to provide robust policies to mitigate this financial (dis)advantage, mediate between competing club owners and their financial practices, and as a result now threatens the very survival of football clubs under its jurisdiction.

The lack of leadership and foresight on this issue when clubs are faced with huge losses of income from the pandemic, is threatening the future of football and the communities that these clubs serve.

We ask the Sports Minister to

– Hold the EFL accountable for their policies on Parachute Payments and FFP.

– Launch an urgent Inquiry into the governance, independence and accountability of the English Football League.

– Seek recommendations from the Inquiry as to a) the financial fairness of the current footballing pyramid b) the ability and responsibility of the Premier and EFL to protect clubs from liquidation and c) policy recommendations on encouraging the highest possible levels of stewardship of our national game.

Deadline Day Transfers:

Apparently for clubs not being persecuted, up until yesterday, you were allowed to buy and sell players as opposed to giving them away. Sounds nice.

Carel Eiting – Left sided playmaker or number 8. Not played many games recently so doubt he’ll start.

Jamal Blackman – Goalkeeping backup.

Tino Anjorin (Attacking Midfielder) on loan from Gangster Capitalists Chelsea FC. Anjorin looks a prospect, not sure on his fitness though, but a potentially very good signing for Huddersfield, according to the peer reviewed Rumour Mill.

Games	Shape	Xg	Goals	Shots/On Target
Huddersfield	4-4-2	1.24	1	12/5
Stoke	4-1-4-1	1.53	1	16/8
Reading	4-3-1-2	1.51	3	10/4
v Huddersfield	4-4-2	2.06	4	18/7
Huddersfield	5-4-1	1.85	1	10/7
v Swansea	3-4-2-1	0.95	1	18/11
Blackburn	5-4-1	1.1	0	12/1
v Huddersfield	3-4-2-1	0.39	0	4/1
Huddersfield	3-4-3	0.54	1	9/2
v Notts	4-2-3-1	2.23	0	22/6

Shape: They’ve gone four in midfield and 2 up top, the last two games. High octane stuff. Hogg and the Full Backs advancing high.

Vs Stoke:

Vs Reading

We ended up with Knight on Bacuna, but I wonder if Bird had dropped deeper, shielding balls into Hernandez, man to man marking him and/or dropping into central defence to allow Stearman or Davies to support our full backs, if that would have been more effective. Thompson would then have been on Bacuna and Knight on Gardner. TL on Woods a bit, Woods isn’t as creative though as Gardner or Bacuna, so less of a priority.

Who knows, but if Bielik isn’t fit, I think the last two games there have been signs that mid table opposition, is finding us out a bit. Against a stronger side in Huddersfield we could be forced to keep shape better and not be as attacking as we would at home, which might work in our favour.

Should be a good game, if the EFL doesn’t slash our bus tyres in a freak Steve Gibson sponsored random vehicle inspection of Championship team buses.

There will be a noticeable difference in terms of options from the bench but, we are Derby.

Stay Strong

Sheep Shag Army Survival Specialists

Brum have mixed it up a bit since they were 4-1 down at the ayf, to Fulham. Since 6-2 day, out went the 3 at the back and a back four with Woods holding has been constant.

Alongside Woods you’ll either have Sunjic (right/left) or Gardner (right). Gardner the more attacking of the two, trying to get ahead of play. The last two games they’ve looked to play the youngster Jordan James ahead of the two central midfielders and Hernandez on the left.

The shape of the front 4 hasn’t been consistent. 4-3-1-2/4-2-3-1/4-3-3. Jutkiewicz has been playing more out to the right though and behind Hogan who has been leading the line. Hernandez provides width, pace and trundles (dribbling) on the left. Gardner if playing alongside Woods provides width on Birmingham’s right. Hogan and Jutkiewicz can also switch as the Jut doesn’t exactly stretch the pitch with hazy runs down the flanks.

Owd Bowyer wasn’t happy with the 2-2 showing against the Posh though and with Bacuna (Left sided central MF) coming in from Rangers I think Bowyer will opt for a front 3 of

Hernandez – Hogan – Jutkiewicz

and a midfield three of

Bacuna – Woods – Gardner

Hogan playing slightly ahead of Hernandez and Jutkiewicz.

Style of Play:

Arguably the most functional of Championship teams. 2 or 3 passes then look for the big number 10 and try and get in behind, which in all fairness Hogan does an excellent job of doing. I wonder if we could mould Sibley into that type of player? Think Sibbo prefers the space behind, but might get him a few more games if he can run at the backline, like Hogan does. If we don’t get to the second ball Stearman and Davies need to be on their toes. Any throw-in, over 10 yards into our half is corner time, with Roberts’ long throws. This does allow for counters as well it’s not pretty on the eye though. Brum score a lot and concede a lot.

After Bowyer had sorted his shape out against Fulham they only lost the second half 2-1 but Fulham I thought looked better in that half and provided a good example of how to beat them.

Birmingham are quite narrow especially the back four.

If it’s just one up top for Brum, the pass back to CB’s/HM and switch of play to the wings was very effective and relatively easy as there was no high pressing from Birmingham. Fulham did this with fast tempo, quick 1 touch play.

Fulham would push their full backs high alongside the winger and also advance the closest holding midfielder, to the side of play. This allowed the attacking midfielders to fill the box and gave Fulham options to either

A) Execute quick balls in behind from central areas, passes from the wing to an attacking midfielder dropping deep off the defensive line and playing a first time through ball.

B) Ball over the top from the flanks behind the defensive line for attacking midfielders to run onto.

C) Rotating triangles between Full Back, Winger and Holding Midfielder with the holding midfielder not being afraid to go wide, overlap or underlap.

D) Wide man going cross country against the defensive line with 3 + players in the Birmingham box.

Playing like Fulham is easier said than done though and would require Thompson and Bird alternating as the sole holding MF.

No injury concerns in Rooney’s presser. I could see him starting with the same formation as we started with against our last opponents. I’d be tempted to start with Fozzy’s aerial presence though, especially if Jutkiewicz is playing out wide.

I think Plange to start off with and CKR to finish might be a good un too. Although both CKR and Plange’s height will come in handy defending the loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong throw.

My mad professor move would possibly be to put Buchanan in Left Attacking Midfield, Tom Lawrence number 10 and JK38 in Right Attacking MF. Plange leading the line. It would give us the option of switching to a back three if need be. Plus allow for Fozzy, Buch’s and Thompson to try and create the overload on the left flank and JK38, Byrne and Bird do the same on the opposite. Then hit them with the Joz, Festy and CKR line second half.

Both sides I think would ideally like more options on the bench.

Wish I could be there to soak up the stoic cauldron of defiance that is Derby County FC and Derby City. Football Our Daily Bread.

Til the end.

Nottingham Forest Last 5 games:

Opponent	Positional Attacks w/Shots LEFT FLANK	Positional Attacks w/Shots CENTRE	Positional Attacks w/Shots RIGHT	Counter Attacks LEFT	Counter Attacks CENTRE	Counter Attacks RIGHT	Total Counters with Shots
Millwall A	21%	50%	29%	0	0	4	3
Huddersfield H	29%	54%	17%	0	1	1
Babyborough A	28%	0%	72%	0	0	0	BIT SHITE
Hull H	84%	2%	13%	2	1	1	2
Swansea A	84%	2%	13%	0	1	3	1

Derby County Last 5 games:

Opponent	Positional Attacks w/Shots LEFT FLANK	Positional Attacks w/Shots CENTRE	Positional Attacks w/Shots RIGHT	Counter Attacks LEFT	Counter Attacks CENTRE	Counter Attacks RIGHT	Total Counters with Shots
Sheff Utd H	100%	0%	0%	1	1	0	1
Reading A	9%	16%	75%	0	0	0	0
Stoke H	8%	62%	30%	0	0	0	0
West Brom H	0%	100%	0%	0	0	0	0
Blackpool H	20%	80%	0%	1	0	1	0

Ran out of time to explain this better and go into more detail. What it does tell us is that Derby learned how to counter more effectively in their last game and the would be Premier League champions Middlesbrough, made life tough for Forest.

I formally bid you all a good night.

2W

Ey up. I’m not a data scientist so go easy on me here, just perusing the pages of Wyscout.com (mentioning them in the hope I can get a discount 🙂 ) I found some information for the statto’s amongst us to pore over and debate. Strange one El Cloughico this time. Bigger fish to fry maybe. Not gonna lie I sometimes look at Forest and their boring existence and sometimes have a tinge of envy. I sometimes think it would be quite nice to be a club, that’s neither there nor here, maybe the anonymity of it or somet like that.

Overall equals Championship 21/22 only, excludes cup competitions.

Xg= Quality of shot and/or probablity of it ending up in back o’net. Using a shed load of data from thousands of goals scored, each shot is given a value according to it’s likelihood of going in. Eg/ 6 yard tap in with the goalie beaten = 0.99 chance of going in; contested header from a corner .44 chance of going in; Ronnie Rosenthal with an open goal .001 chance of going in.

Source: Wyscout.com

Florist Overall	Goals	Xg	Shots ON	Passes/Accurate	Possession	Losses	Recoveries	Duels Won
1-15 mins	0.08	0.1	1.5 (25.3%)	63.27 (81.5%)	49.43	17.42	12.85	34.77 (47.5)
16-30 mins	0.15	0.12	1.15(36.5%)	59.81(81.5%)	50.68%	16.04	10.85	34.41(48.4%)
31-45+mins	0.12	0.16	1.58(26.6%)	63.88(80.7%)	47.47	19.04	13.46	41.65 (48.2%)
46-60 mins	0.27	0.19	1.88(28.7%)	59.5(81.8%)	55.43	16.04	12.19	34.5(50.3%)
61-75mins	0.31	0.32	1.88(38.8%)	52.04(80.3%)	51.32	15.04	10.77	32.19(47.1%)
76-90+ mins	0.35	0.42	2.88(36.1%)	73.62(80.1%)	51.77	21.54	15.73	46.31(47.3%)

Forest Overall: Seem to gradually come into the game in terms of shots and quality of shots. Presumably after boring the opposition to tears with their drivel. Possession strongest straight after the half and excluding the last 1/6th of the game, it is in this period of the game that their shots on average are at their highest

Florist Home Games	Goals	Xg	Shots ON	Passes/Accurate	Possession	Losses	Recoveries	Duels Won
1-15 mins	0	0.15	1.74(23.6%)	64.78(82.2%)	51.19	17.07	11.96	32.93(46.5%)
16-30 mins	0.15	0.16	1.67(28.7%)	66.78(84.1%)	50.85	15.41	11.48	34.56(47.2%)
31-45+mins	0.19	0.23	1.85(20%)	68.96(83.5%)	50.38	18.48	13.63	39.78(46.9%)
46-60 mins	0.19	0.18	1.96(26.5%)	58.56(80.1%)	53.06	15.93	12.52	33.59(50.6%)
61-75mins	0.26	0.25	1.7(41.2%)	50.04(80.5%)	48.09	14.3	9.41	31.56(46.4%)
76-90+ mins	0.15	0.2	2.19(25.6%)	72.67(79.9%)	50.43	21.63	15.15	45.15(47.6%)

When playing at home their possession rates don’t have the 31-45+ minute blip, that appears in the overall stats. Passing accuracy hovers above 80 % apart from last 76-90+mins at home. Barring the final 1/6th they do have the highest amount of losses in the 31-45+ session conversely they have the most amount of recoveries in this period too. Potentially Forest are playing counter here, sitting back having a pre half time cuppa or trying to up the ante but just not that good at it. Maybe Forest fans can elighten us. Excluding the final 1/6th again, just gonna call that the business session. Most duels won come in the 30-45+mins session. Which does hint at sitting back in that period. They haven’t scored in the opening 15 mins of a game at home too.

Derby Overall	Goals	Xg	Shots ON	Passes/Accurate	Possession	Losses	Recoveries	Duels Won
1-15 mins	0.12	0.08	.96(24%)	75.73(84.4%)	54.13	16.73	12.35	32(46.8%)
16-30 mins	0.12	0.12	1.58(31.6%0	63.38(84%)	46.16	15.27	10.65	30.85(44.1%)
31-45+mins	0.19	0.14	1.5(43.3%)	68.65(81.7%)	49.23	19.62	13.96	39.62(43.7%)
46-60 mins	0.12	0.18	1.31(41.2%)	58.23(80.8%)	49.34	16.27	11.81	34.15(48.1%)
61-75mins	0.15	0.19	1.62(28.4%)	54.04(83.8%)	49.65	15.46	11.54	33.92(47.6%)
76-90+ mins	0.27	0.21	2.04(30.4%)	65.10(78.5%)	45.86	24.62	17.69	53.88(44%)

Derby Away	Goals	Xg	Shots ON	Passes/Accurate	Possession	Losses	Recoveries	Duels Won
1-15 mins	0	0.07	.85(27.1%)	83.62(86%)	54.89	17.46	13.23	32.33(47.7%)
16-30 mins	0.15	0.13	1.85(37.3%)	67.69(85.7%)	48.02	15.54	11.46	33.15(42.5%)
31-45+mins	0.08	0.09	1.38(44.9%)	76.69(85.5%)	52.38	19.92	13.08	39.69(39.4%)
46-60 mins	0.08	0.09	.92(33.7%)	61.62(81.6%)	52.45	16.62	12.46	34.23(46.7%)
61-75mins	0	0.22	2.08(22.1%)	56.15(84.4%)	51.92	15.69	12.31	34.85(48.4%)
76-90+ mins	0.38	0.29	2.46(34.6%)	81.54(80.8%)	49.74	25	19.69	55.92(43.6%)

In the Overall tables, Forest are by far the more likely to score in the second half. In the business end of the game, Derby’s chances are statistically much higher than the 46-75mins period but Forest still maintain superiority in all these sessions. Derby are more likely to score in the 1-15mins and promisingly 31-45+ mins session when Forest are in lazy mode. Comparing Forest Home to Derby Away. Neither side has scored in the opening 15, Forest outscore us in all other sessions apart from the business session where we hammer them (0.15 vs 0.38) and the 16-30mins session, where it’s honours even. Forest again creating better chances in the 2nd half, Derby not really showing up until the 75mins mark. Losses and Recoveries much of a muchness, until the business session where Derby lose the ball and recover it by a slightly more noticeable margin. Which could indicate we’re chasing the game more often that not, in this session. Forest win a lot more of their % of duels. Probably due to the fact that Ryan Yates gets away with more thuggery, against homer referees, I imagine.

Forest @ Home When….	Goals	Xg	Shots ON	Passes/Accurate	Possession	Losses	Recoveries	Duels Won
Winning	0.55	0.54	5.18 (31.7%)	135.27 (79.9%)	43.18	44.45	33.73	97.36(46.5%)
Drawing	0.44	0.64	5.85(24.6%)	212.59(81.5%)	49.84	57.44	41.56	119.63(47.2%)
Losing	0.44	0.54	5.31(29.4%)	192.5(83.2%)	58.48	46	31.81	98.31(48.8%)
Total	0.93	1.17	11.11(27.4%)	381.78(81.8%)	50.85	102.81	74.15	217.56(47.5%)

Derby @ Away When..	Goals	Xg	Shots ON	Passes/Accurate	Possession	Losses	Recoveries	Duels Won
Winning	0	0.07	1.3(15.4%)	84.3(78.6%)	40.93	28.2	21	59.4(41.4%)
Drawing	0.44	0.6	5.19(37.8%)	232.11(81.3%)	52.03	67.63	47.37	133.37(46.4%)
Losing	0.28	0.54	4.78(22.2%)	239.5(84.7%)	59.9	49.72	38.06	111.39 (45.8%)
Total	0.63	0.99	8.85(31%)	423(82.4%)	52.92	111.22	80.52	229.63(45.7%)

Derby are very unlikely to score again when winning away from home, as very as very gets. Forest on the other hand are more likely to score again when in front than when chasing or at a stalemate. This presumably hints at weak minded, southern softy type players, flat track bullies, but not those stoic men amongst men, made for Tuesday nights in Stoke. Although in fairness they’re more likely to score when trailing than us, when comparing the two records. They’re more likely to lose the ball when winning than us. Surely the most boring football team in the world, can’t be trying to play a brave, new and expansive brand of football can they? Forest it appears stop passing when they’re losing. Again highlights the mental frailties within the whole team and lack of resilience.

In conclusion then, Forest should forfeit this game as they’re obviously not up for it, and playing fair weather teams and enduring fair weather fans, is beneath us heroic, battle hardened warriors of the beautiful game. If only we could play real teams like Bury FC, those who know the true meaning of suffering, not teams of little significance, treading water in a lifeless, windless sea of monotony, as Tears for Fears once put it, “going nowhere”.

Tis a Mad World out there Derby fans. Stay strong

More trouble for Boris Johnson, as his aides confuse the EFL for the BBC.

It is understood that in an attempt to secure his political future, the UK Prime Minister has agreed to wind up the shower of incompetence that is the EFL. In a surprising U turn the Prime Minister has bowed down to cross party pressure and agreed to strip the Premier League and EFL of their rights to govern.

In a blow to the top 6 money grabbing clubs, TV rights money will now be redistributed fairly throughout the leagues.

Guardiola and Klopp leapt to defend the current setup. “Hard working, weak minded glory hunting, consumers demand the highest levels of inequality to keep our league competitive.” Pep raged. Sentiments echoed by Jurgen Klopp. “Fans prefer to see all the good players on one side and all the shit ones on the other. That way Match of the Day, can pretend that bosses are great and amazing and we should all bow down to their authority.” Roman Abramovich cut short a fundraiser for Israeli settlements to echo similar concerns. “If the English game continues it’s suicidal path towards equality, we will take all the good players and put them in other leagues where, we can make them look better than they really are again.”

However, not all agree. Newly appointed Everton manager Bobby Martinez told reporters before boarding an Easyjet plane to John Lennon airport, that “this could be a good idea”. Tory back-benchers have vowed to fight against Boris Johnson. John Redwood, after singing the Welsh National Anthem, said Johnson’s decision to break up the governing bodies and monopolies that cream off the English game,” is tantamount to treason, and the first step towards Stalinism.”

In other news Tom Lawrence, the Derby County attacking midfielder has drawn the ire of Severn Trent Water. He was found dancing on the lake at Ladybower Reservoir in the early hours of Sunday morning. His friends Richard Keogh and Mason Bennett uploaded videos of it onto popular media sharing platform Tik Tok, from the backseat of their Taxi. The videos show Tom Lawrence dribbling around the sinkhole with a hop, skip and jump then striking a perfectly weighted ball just under the arch of the bridge. Quantuma, Derby’s beleaguered administrators, have declined to comment on the videos. “We are aware of unverified photos of Tom Lawrence walking on water but right now are fully focused on Mike Ashley signing this peace of paper, that says “Veni, Vidi, Vici EFL and Steve Gibson.”

Source: Royters

Derby County vs Sheffield Utd

English Fuckwit Led Championship

Dear Diary.

Deep midwinter, our enemies are closing in, the terraces are stained with the wretched stench of betrayal, incompetence and cowardice. The EFL have us surrounded, feigning aid as they scatter the seeds of famine. Washing their hands, as the robber barons come to plunder in the dead of night.

If we should die, think only this of Derby:
      That there’s some corner of some familiar field
That is for ever Derby. There our club shall always be

Overview.

Meanwhile in Sheff. Jokanovic has given way to Heckingbottom, who has given way to Covid. He’ll watch this one from his computer screen. Since Jokanovic, 3 from 3 in the Championship for the Blades.

Championship Form Under the Heck:

WWW .100%.com

Just the 3 games since November, thanks to the Virus

Sheff Utd 2 Bristol City 0

Cardiff 2 Sheff Utd 3

Fulham 0 Sheff Utd 1

(Wolves 3 Sheff Utd 0) * FA CUP

Injury Crisis What Injury Crisis:

A fair few injuries but their squad is, huge compared to Derby’s, spoiled for choice, in centre o’park. Gibbs-White will be a huge loss though. I haven’t seen much of them this season, just catching up on games now. It appears from the Statto-y websites that Heckingbottom has tried to get more support closer to the fella leading the line (Sharp/Brewster/McBurnie) and maybe released Gibbs-White to roam across the park more. A defensive back three has been more or less consistent all season, which allows the central midfield to support the press and attacks more. Bogle (RWB) and whoever isn’t injured on the left providing the width.

Very difficult to predict who the front three will be potentially Sharp, McGoalDrought and Ndiyae or possibly Osborn against the club he’s always loved. Even harder to predict the shape of the front three. I think we’ll likely see 2 behind probably Sharp.

Berge in CM by all accounts put in a shift against Wolves. However, Heckingbottom seems reluctant to take a man out of central defence, to create a midfield 3 of potentially Norwood-Berge-Hourihane

Derby:

Too early for Bielik or Buch’s I imagine. Shinnie v Thompson in midfield or both? I imagine Shinnie-Bird-Thompson might be a bit more of an away setup, or defending a lead setup. 50/50 between Shinnie n Thompson to start methinks. CKR and Ravel didn’t put in a great case to oust the Reading front four of Joz, Knight, Plange and Lawrence. Joz vs Festy will be an interesting one. I think the left wing back position of Sheff, could be an area Derby target. Especially if their LCB and LWB are a new or inexperienced pairing. Festy had a field day running against Coventry’s Dabo but can he get a decent pass/shot away or improve his game once he’s done his man? I think Joz has quietly been going about, looking ayf decent. Again I think a 50/50 call on this one, but Festy probably would pin their LWB back and stop the overload on our right.

Space:

If we have a back four and two in the middle of the park, Sheff have the wings, TL dropping deep would give us the centre of the park. Equally if getting overun Knight and Joz/Festy alongside the midfield two and you have the wings protected, at the expense of attacking numbers. Plange running in behind will give Sheff somet to think about, both in their pressing and if they hang back, it frees up space in between the MF/DF line, wherein Tommy Lawrence can dwell. It’s not really our game but fast counters, playing diagonals behind the back 3 for wide players to run onto, dragging players across and then, switching play back to the man over served Wolves quite well.

Respect to the man in the ice cream van.