striker

After re-watching things it looks like Vestergaard was actually there in position, but just missed the ball. This is much better than Stephens and Hoedt. Outside of that one major error, I thought the big guy did well. He's definitely smooth on the ball. He'd may be good in the center of a 3 back setup.

Liverpool to win the league ManU 2nd, City 3rd Leicester is this seasons relegation upset, Puel is fired about 1/2 way through Saints finish 12th Relegated Leicester, Wolves, Cardiff

Can't wait for the Sparky presser after this. I don't think he is one to take this lying down (like MoPe did).

Ok, well that sucked. Knee jerk reactions: Our CB's are terrible. Stephens is a League One player, Hoedt not much better. Vestergaard scares me. He is good on the ball but looks really slow. The first goal was because he reached when he couldn't get there. Come the season we need Yoshi, Bednarek, and someone else back there. Hell, I'd sign Fonte at this point, it would still be better. Midfield didn't get off the bus. I don't get what we were doing. Was it the players or a scheme? Derby all day just ran right down the center of the pitch, merrily passing the ball between themselves with little or not pressure. I am willing to give the attacking players a break here, and that means Mo, Redmond, Austin, and Gabbi. When the mids were getting crushed, and the defense was awful, there really wasn't much they could do. We really didn't have the ball much in a scoring position. McCarthy was ok. He was put in poor positions over and over (and over) again.

Their player was so open in the box I honestly can't tell who screwed up.

Derby has changed out almost all their players. So this is completely their 2nd and 3rd team

This better be our backup defenders. Hoedt reaches in, misses, Stephens late coming, goal Derby. Also still wondering where our midfield is today. Derby seems to be just easily going right down the center of the pitch.

Gabbi, Hoj, Reed on

Vestergaard with a huge error, leads to a break away goal by Derby

Ha, Vestergaard almost scores on a header

Bertrand moves back out to the outside

Vestergaard in for Targett, Davis for Mo

To me he looks like a Tadic "plug and play" guy. If you see the 11 running around you may not even be able to tell the difference, which I think is a good thing (since I liked Tadic). They even look a little alike.

Well.... The good news is the players in the back three today possibly won't be playing come Burnley. Stephens is just poor, Hoedt is weak, and Bertrand will be out wide. Yoshi, Jannik, Bednarek, with Bertrand and Cedric will make a huge difference. I thought JWP and Targett were poor too. I don't know completely what was going on in midfield, but it just seemed like Derby were running through them. I don't know if Hughes is trying out a new scheme (which isn't working), or if Armstrong just isn't that good. I thought Mo, Redmond, and Austin were ok, nothing too exciting but its hard when the the other 7 are defending most of the time. McCarthy was really good, the best player on the pitch. Thats the way I see it, I'm sure others will see it completely different

Seem to need another player in midfield, its only Armstrong and Lemina and they look to be getting over run

Yep, that seems to be correct. Wearing the yellow today, not bad.

Guess I'm going to have to break down and pay Derby a fiver for this. I can't stand just watching the updated commentary

So 4 in the back today? Is Redmond a striker or are we playing 1 up top with 5 mids?

So do we think this match is a must win?

I think the tandem of Austin and Gabbi can be used effectively. They can be rotated depending on the type of match we expect. The open space, counter attacking, style we will play against the big teams while we sit back and defend, we can use Gabbi to get on the front end of the counter attacks with room to go. When we expect to have lots of possession, and have the ball in the offensive side a lot, it will be slower and less open, and better suited for Austin with crosses in the box and scrambles in front of the net.

No goals in over 2 matches (including extra time versus Croatia). That will do it.

This, but put Redmond in for the "Another" above

I'm fine with Austin and Gabbi as the two striker options. These are the only two guys who have shown they know where the back of the net is. If Austin stays healthy he'll score 15 or so goals, probably Gabbi too. Gabbi has more quickness but Austin is better in the air. Also Austin holds the ball up fine. He did this for Hughes at the end of last season, since this is the style Hughes seems to like, and also did this in the first preseason match on the Redmond goal. Besides Hughes seems to like 1 striker with a bunch of attacking mids flying around them, in this scenario I Think Austin and Gabbi are fine options.

I don't think you can read anything into this. The players are just getting into form, and Hughes seems to be playing around a little with formations.

Boy this is boring. I think watching a practice session is more exciting