Irish Rams and Opposition Irish

**Charlie Darwin** · 11/04/2015, 11:48 AM

Derby at home to Brentford this afternoon. Big clash of the Irish in midfield with Hendrick, Douglas and Judge all up against one another, with Keogh in defence as well. Brentford winning after half an hour.

**DeLorean** · 11/04/2015, 12:16 PM

Brentford winning that battle as well. Derby forced into playing 4-4-2 with the absence of midfielders Hughes, Thorne, Eustace and Mascarell. Christie not in squad so must be injured. The goal came as a result of Hendrick losing the ball well inside Brentford territory, having done well initially. I think he could have worked harder to get back and make up for his error, possibly an indication of why he's better suited to a three man midfield and how Derby are really struggling without a defensive midfielder to mop things up. Brilliant finish by Pritchard though.

**TrapAPony** · 11/04/2015, 12:49 PM

Brentford have had enough chances to win 10 games. By far the better team.

**Charlie Darwin** · 11/04/2015, 1:06 PM

Hendrick, lucky to still be on the pitch after a frustrated lunge, sets up the equaliser with a scuffed shot that rolls perfectly for Bent.

**DeLorean** · 11/04/2015, 1:13 PM

Bit of a wild one alright but yellow was probably about right, though he couldn't have complained if it was red. Just as well, last thing Derby would have needed would be a three game suspension to another midfielder. They were absolutely battered today, if they'd lost by four or five it would have been a fairer reflection.

**Stuttgart88** · 11/04/2015, 1:19 PM

Brentford were really good.

**DeLorean** · 11/04/2015, 1:22 PM

They were, they seem to be better away from home. I think Derby are making teams look better than they are at the moment too through their own lack of confidence but Brentford were tenacious, and clever and calm in possession. They really bossed the game completely. Only thing they didn't do was kill the game off, and it wasn't due to a lack of chances.

**Stuttgart88** · 11/04/2015, 4:10 PM

Ok, from an Irish perspective who do we most want to get promoted? Quality over quantity, i.e., I'd prefer a good prospect like Hoban to get promoted over, say, Jon Douglas. Unfair on Douglas who is playing really well but I think you know what I mean.

Put another way, of the Irish players in the mix for promotion, which ones do we think need most to be in the EPL next year?

Arter, Hendrick, Hoban, Hoolahan, Murphy, McGoldrick? I know TOWK liikes Alan Judge.

**DeLorean** · 11/04/2015, 5:48 PM

Hoolahan is a strange one as PL football might see him back on the bench. At this stage of his career we just need him to be playing regularly. He wouldn't necessarily be dropped or anything but Norwich might feel they need an upgrade, based on his expendable status over the past year or two.

Hendrick could do with making the step up for sure at this stage, I think the PL would suit his game and see him develop at a faster rate. We'd learn very quickly if Keogh could be of any use at a high level, I suspect Derby would need better if they were to be competitive.

The automatics are between four now after today and I fully expect Bournemouth to see it through with the fixtures they have. That would leave Norwich, Watford and Middlesbrough fighting it out for one spot. From an Irish perspective, like you say, Watford and Hoban might be the best bet with the Hoolahan situation. In the unlikely event of Bamford declaring, it's unlikely he'll remain at Boro anyway.

Ideally I suppose three from Bournemouth, Derby, Ipswich and Brentford would have been the best result. Mick might even sign another Irish player or two once they've gone up!

Realistically Bournemouth, Norwich/Watford (auto) and Derby (playoffs) might be the best result we could hope for now, although quantity wise Ipswich or Brentford would be ideal, but quality wise questionable.

**Stuttgart88** · 11/04/2015, 6:54 PM

Was thinking the same about Wes, although this new manager might trust him more.

**TrapAPony** · 11/04/2015, 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Was thinking the same about Wes, although this new manager might trust him more.

I'm not pushed if Norwich go up or not. Wes is almost 33 so it's not really going to be hugely beneficial for us. I'd be hoping a team with some young Irish players would get promoted instead.

**Charlie Darwin** · 18/04/2015, 3:08 PM

Derby faltering again. Thrown away a 1-0 lead at Huddersfield and now trail 3-1. Cyrus Christie came on as a first half sub. The goals were probably all Keogh's fault.

**Stuttgart88** · 18/04/2015, 3:59 PM

Finished 4-4. Crazy stuff.

**Charlie Darwin** · 18/04/2015, 4:03 PM

Mad stuff alright. With Wolves and Brentford both drawing, that means they only need a win from their remaining games to secure a play-off spot.

Bournemouth may just have blown the title by conceding a last minute penalty to Sheffield Wednesday, 2-2 there.

**tricky_colour** · 18/04/2015, 5:12 PM

Yea Bournemouth might miss out on automatic promotion too, they seem to have a harder last two games than
their rivals. However they have the best goal difference, nothing is settled at the top yet.

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 20/04/2015, 1:57 AM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Derby went top of the Championship last night with a late penalty from the Coldplay fella

Hendrick played his first 90 minutes (for Derby) since returning from injury

Leon Best came on as a substitute with 15 minutes remaining. My buddy over said he's the worst player he's seen at Pride Park in years, that even Conor Sammon was a bigger threat. Admittedly, this was in frustration after they drew 0-0 at home to Millwall and he did add that he probably just needs a goal to get his confidence up

Richard Keogh has now helped the Rams to six clean sheets on the trot, proving that he's not distracted by his X Factor heroics -

Richard Keogh - Twitter

Swings and roundabouts as Derby hang on precariously to a Playoff place after recently breaking a run of 7 games without winning against relegated Wigan & Blackpool.

27 goals conceded in 17 games as Derby falter at the business end - again.

Hopefully Derby, Ipswich or Brentford go up through the Playoffs. Would be nice to see some Irish players in the PL next season.

**DeLorean** · 20/04/2015, 7:46 AM

Keogh has been decent, for the most part, despite their lack of form. The absence of a recognised holding midfielder has killed them, although there were certain matches they'd have expected to win regardless, i.e. Fulham, Birmingham, etc. When you say "falter at the business end - again", what are you getting at? Obviously they faltered in the very last minute of the business end last season, but before that they seemed to be handling the pressure well, finishing third, hammering Brighton in playoff semi and totally dominating the final at Wembley. It's incomparable to the collapse this season which you seem to be doing.

Edit - and how sad it is that you scanned back to page three of this thread to find a quote that you somehow feel is now disproved.

**Charlie Darwin** · 20/04/2015, 9:04 AM

Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

Swings and roundabouts as Derby hang on precariously to a Playoff place after recently breaking a run of 7 games without winning against relegated Wigan & Blackpool.

27 goals conceded in 17 games as Derby falter at the business end - again.

Hopefully Derby, Ipswich or Brentford go up through the Playoffs. Would be nice to see some Irish players in the PL next season.

Three points clear with two games to play is hardly precarious.

**DeLorean** · 20/04/2015, 9:20 AM

It's actually four points clear and a far superior goal difference. They will need to win one (or draw both) of their two remaining games if either of Wolves or Brentford win both of theirs. On current form you couldn't assume anything but they'll surely have enough (or get lucky with other results!). Precarious definitely too strong a word and I suppose they are unbeaten in their last five and have showed heart to salvage draws from Brentford and Huddersfield, when they looked dead and buried.

**Stuttgart88** · 20/04/2015, 9:34 AM

As a fan who had to hide behind his sofa for the tail end of several Ireland campaigns, Arsenal's faltering 1989 title run-in and Celtic's limp to the line in 1998, I can only empathise with Derby fans. Rovers' league win under Michael O'Neill too. Chuck, was it Bray who 2-2 at Tallaght late in the season with a deflected late equaliser? I thought that was going to be it! You just know that as soon as the first slip up comes others inevitably follow. Was it Birmingham when they shipped two injury-time goals?

I'd say Bournemouth fans just want to hibernate between games now too. Real life can be just too unbearable for football fans at this stage of the season. At least these guys only have to wait days between games. The Euro 2000 qualifying campaign was nearly too much for me!