Paul Wright

Here we go again, the thread no-one asked for - my take on the 2024/25 Derby County numbers.... #DCFC Questions/comments welcome as ever!

Solid result and performance today. Great to keep another clean sheet too. No favours done by the rest of the league - albeit play offs would be a bonus this season for me. #dcfc

What a mug this fella is #DCFC

Spent the day at Moor Farm yesterday and found a club excited and ambitious about its future on and off the pitch. From their new shirt deal to AI models, the club's progress since exiting administration has been impressive. Piece below. #DCFC #DCFCfans derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football…

Fortunate to win that. Portsmouth have a lot of heart but low on quality, which is why they're down the bottom. Hope we've got a bit more about us for the rest of the season, otherwise we might as well head to the beach now. #DCFC 🐏

What's the most disappointing about this is how Portsmouth are consistently finding space for attacks with this hit and hope method they're applying. We should be comfortably able to snuff this out, very fortunate to not be losing this at the moment. We still could. #dcfc

This is painful to watch. We can't defend for a whole half, this has been proven time and time again this season. I get they are desperate for points but I don't see why we can't dictate play a bit more, be a bit sharper, nullify these long balls down the pitch. #dcfc

What does a Portsmouth player have to do to get a booking? Some very aggressive tackles gone in, should've had at least two yellows already. #dcfc

Got to be taking those. Smodzics does nothing for the team, bench him for the next game please #dcfc

Inevitable that I'm afraid. You can see the difference though - they're quicker, better vision, better organised. Write this off, move on. #DCFC

Yeah we are nowhere near playoff material #dcfc

@LeighCurtis_DT @joncolman @PTAlanSwann This isn't the way to do that. Parachute payments should be either restructured or binned altogether. Awarding a shot at promotion to a team that may have only finished 15 points clear of relegation is crazy.

@joncolman @PTAlanSwann Understand that point, but nobody seems to argue how to balance the playing field when it comes to parachute payments from the PL that have skewed the Champ. What harm does it do to hand out two extra playoff places? Apart from upset traditionalists.

Getting to the point where we may as well do away with the 46 game league entirely and just have play-offs involving everyone. Giving the 8th best team the chance of promotion isn't adding "interest", it's artificially rewarding mediocrity.

@RyanDilks1 Why don't we just expand it to 10 or 12 teams then, even fewer dead rubber games, more entertainment as you say. Finishing 8th shouldn't be rewarded with a shot at promotion. The EFL should be looking at sorting the advantage relegated clubs have financially, instead we get this

Can’t believe how many people are complaining about this: 👉 Fewer dead rubber games at the end of each season - now a battle to finish 3rd/4th as well as in the top 8 👉 More teams have a chance to get promoted - the league’s been dominated by relegated teams in recent years, this makes it harder for them and evens out the playing field 👉 MORE Play-off games! - more entertainment! 👉 The team who finishes 8th could get promoted - so what? The team who finishes 6th can get promoted currently? If you have an issue with this, you have an issue with the entire concept of the Play-offs This is a great idea 👏

Given our season is built on our away record it's very disappointing to lose two in a row away, conceding six in the process. Feels like season is over, need a big response at the weekend #dcfc

@Derby_Dazzler Signs that Derby are following the model adopted by Brentford - buying players with sell on value, promising academy prospects, steady progression on the pitch. Would far rather that than Forests crazy spending spree and delusions of grandeur

@WrightStuff86 Completely. Target for this season should have been survival and good Euro run. Still on for that tbf. Nobody does well in league first season in Europe.

Great thread. She’s 100% right, they were entitled when they were in League 1, Championship and Prem. Always will think they’re better than they are.

@dankendrick1884 No, but he was caught out several times, we can't have that keep recurring. As I said hopefully it's just nerves.

@WrightStuff86 He got shoved in straight away and you expect him to be the new coming of Roberto Carlos give the guy time he was okay

Mirkin looked really poor. Will write it off to nerves but he's got to improve very quickly. Ball watching for the second and they could've easily had a third late on. #dcfc

@LeighCurtis_DT Mirkin was poor imo - caught out several times, including for second goal, nearly got a third when bypassed, no effort from him to recover his position. Write it off to nerves but needs to improve quickly.

Ipswich win 2-1 at Pride Park as Travis sees red. Derby huffed and puffed, but didn't translate some promising moments into chances. Travis red was silly. No need to get involved with that ref. Davis' winner was great header. Murkin MOM. Ratings. derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football…

Travis caught out there, unprofessional from the Ipswich player but don't fall for it. Not sure how that wasn't a foul before Akpom was set loose. Disappointing to lose in that fashion, but some questionable refereeing decisions. But poor home form must improve fast. #dcfc

Will tell you something though - they don't know what to do with Agyemang. Defenders trying to swap shirts with him already. #dcfc