Eustace & Heckingbottom

[agreenwood]

Cut from the same cloth.

Big lads at the back. Go long at every opportunity. Try and turn the defence. Force corners. Force throw ins. Get it in the box. Turn the penalty area, wide areas and centre circle into sand to make it harder for technical players.

I could probably cope with it for a means to an end scrap against relegation, but it’d be a very hard watch long term.

The spirit of John Beck is alive and well.

[Burnley1989]

Ive no issue with it tbh, i quite like the battles and you have to work with what you have.
I did smile when i watched them warming up in the penalty area, literally half a pitch to use but warmed up in the area of the pitch that was literally a sand pit to really dig it up before kick off. Dark arts

[agreenwood]

It’s been effective against us for sure. On last nights evidence it’ll probably keep Derby up and it’s a shame they don’t play Leeds or Sheff Utd in the remaining games the way Eustace has turned them around.

I just couldn’t watch it for long.

[Goalkeeper]

Are we any more entertaining? Last night was difficult to watch. No flair, no swift transition, with an ethos that is more about not losing, rather than winning.

[NottsClaret]

He’s very good at it. Masked how poor Blackburn actually are for a year. Must be exhausting to play against and I don’t mind watching it, good antidote to all the Pep-lite crap.

[RVclaret]

Horrible to play against. Leeds fans hate coming up against him (Eustace). They’ve lost 3 and drawn 1 of their last 4. Knows how to make games as ugly as possible and stop teams like us and Leeds playing football.

[agreenwood]

I think there might be a few watchable alternative styles of football for those who don’t like “Parkerball” before we literally resort to removing the grass from the pitch as we have no intention of playing the ball on it.

[Loyalclaret]

Their fans didnt seem to mind, great atmosphere in the home ends.

[agreenwood]

Their fans didnt seem to mind, great atmosphere in the home ends.

See what they think if they are still playing it this time next year.

[Alan Young]

Means to an end and perhaps the only way they can be competitive at this level at present. I think some of our fan base are underestimating what a tough game that was when you take everything into account. Arguably our toughest of the remaining fixtures.

[CaptJohn]

They play to their strengths. You can't blame them for setting the pitch up to take advantage. It was a battle and I'm quite happy with the point.

[Poulton-le-Claret]

Good point for us, always thought this game was a massive banana skin and to the end the night in the top 2 is a huge positive for me.

Derby are a poor footballing side, but they play to their strengths, aided by a sorry state of a pitch and ref who kept his cards in his pocket. I can't really fault them, we did similar under Dyche, but at least we were doing it in the PL to make it more tolerable to watch. They will stay up this season if they keep putting a shift in like that.

[agreenwood]

Good point for us, always thought this game was a massive banana skin and to the end the night in the top 2 is a huge positive for me.

Derby are a poor footballing side, but they play to their strengths, aided by a sorry state of a pitch and ref who kept his cards in his pocket. I can't really fault them, we did similar under Dyche, but at least we were doing it in the PL to make it more tolerable to watch. They will stay up this season if they keep putting a shift in like that.

We were direct and physical under Dyche, but I never felt we were all about forcing set pieces or went we far as wrecking the pitch in areas that would pose problems for our opposition.

[LincsWoldsClaret]

Their fans didnt seem to mind, great atmosphere in the home ends.

No atmosphere at all - the sponsored drum saw to that

[agreenwood]

It seems some things never change at Derby..

https://youtu.be/JM1ZOehyQug?si=zmGMipetgehOgM9j

https://youtube.com/shorts/TLcLB2ACvfY? ... 0AK4JsCbfA

[Culmclaret]

No complaints from me, although the state of the pitch given the absence of much rain for weeks was….erm…surprising. They played well and deserved their point.

[northeastclaret]

Thought we had seen the last of him after Ewood when he was in tears when we won. Would have much preferred him to stay at Rovers rather than playing him again. Always felt this and Sheffield United would be our toughest games out of the last 7.

[The Shire Claret]

You have to do what you have to do to get the job done and get the odds in your favour ... We watched us under dyche for years playing to our strengths

thats the beauty of football

[northeastclaret]

The most sickening thing about last night is what they deliberately did to damage the pitch where Edward’s does his most of his attacking , disgustingly pathetic, no wonder he kept falling, hate Eustace, hope they go down.

Aren’t they in breach of some FA rule?

[Firthy]

It was a tougher game than their league position would suggest. The pitch was horrendous and they were very physical and chased after everything. I thought we gave as good as we got especially as the referee let so much go. They played for a draw with very little attacking intent, packing the midfield and defence and 0-0 was always looking likely. Another clean sheet and continued our undefeated run and far more positive than Leeds and Sheffields recent results.

No complaints about last night at all and we are still joint top.

[evensteadiereddie]

Derby are poor and desperate, you can hardly blame for trying to make and take advantage when they can against the better teams like us.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Seems a bit odd after comments mocking Coventry fans reactions after they lost to us we seem to be doing something similar after no beating Derby.

They are allowed to use any advantage they like when playing at home

[Poulton-le-Claret]

We were direct and physical under Dyche, but I never felt we were all about forcing set pieces or went we far as wrecking the pitch in areas that would pose problems for our opposition.

Yes not a dig at Dyche from me, more that it would be rich if we complained about another club doing what they can/need to survive.

Good luck to the Derby fans though, now they have to watch a team that plays for throw ins every week.

[SouthLondonexile]

Eustace made such a song and dance about SP disrespecting him before the Blackburn game this season. Acted like the school bully.

[mickleoverclaret]

Seems fairly obvious that Derby wouldn't play like that every week, just as we don't play every week like we did for the last half an hour against Coventry. They were up against a team with 5 times their budget, neutralised them effectively and got a deserved point, well done to them.

[agreenwood]

Seems a bit odd after comments mocking Coventry fans reactions after they lost to us we seem to be doing something similar after no beating Derby.

They are allowed to use any advantage they like when playing at home

They day I have to check what I post against whether it’s at odds with weird social media rivalries I don’t get involved in, is the day I’ll delete my account on here.

[willsclarets]

I rate Eustace as a manager. I'm not sure be can be defined as a long ball merchant, more like Dyche in that he's pragmatic. He has a team on the verge of relegation, and he's keeping it simple. It's working, and our frustration watching games against such sides kinda proves it. I don't think Parker's quite found a solution against teams like Preston, Derby etc, but at this point in the season a lot of the teams at the bottom are going to prove difficult to beat.

[agreenwood]

Seems fairly obvious that Derby wouldn't play like that every week, just as we don't play every week like we did for the last half an hour against Coventry. They were up against a team with 5 times their budget, neutralised them effectively and got a deserved point, well done to them.

Alan Sheehan thinks they play like that every week..


https://x.com/swansofficial/status/1908 ... hrPAGxw_EQ

[northeastclaret]

Alan Sheehan thinks they play like that every week..


https://x.com/swansofficial/status/1908 ... hrPAGxw_EQ

Listening to that it seems like all their recent goals have come from long throws and corners.

Like when we played Preston away in the league and last night , you tend to only get several chances to win the game and you have to take one. Equally they will get a good chance and fortunately they missed it at the end.

Tight margins for sure as Scott says.

[agreenwood]

Listening to that it seems like all their recent goals have come from long throws and corners.

Like when we played Preston away in the league and last night , you tend to only get several chances to win the game and you have to take one to win. Equally they will get a good chance and fortunately they missed it at the end.

Tight margins for sure as Scott says.

Parker said in his post match that Derby have the highest set piece XG in the league. I’m assuming he’s right.

[northeastclaret]

As an asside , I am amazed how well we have defended the bombardments have got this season from long balls and corners.

Last night particularly after Foster went off they had several more taller than us but we still stood strong.

[agreenwood]

As an asside , I am amazed how well we have defended the bombardments have got this season from long balls and corners.

Last night particularly after Foster went off they had several more taller than us but we still stood strong.

Agreed. That was the major positive last night. We shouldn’t be surprised though. We’ve been defending superbly all season.

[northeastclaret]

Agreed. That was the major positive last night. We shouldn’t be surprised though. We’ve been defending superbly all season.

I think the way Trafford commands his area now when high balls are launched in the box is obviously massive for us in successfully defending these tactics.

[Woodleyclaret]

Our last two away games are also tough as everyone wants to beat us and Watford have massively underachieved this season. QPR are decent at home so these are tough games.Beat Norwich and hope Plymouth win v Blades then our home games will see us up.That said I would of course be happy to win all our last 5 but feel three wins and two draws will take us up.

[northeastclaret]

Yes , and hopefully Watford are realistically out of play off contention when we play them.

[Targetman]

Seems fairly obvious that Derby wouldn't play like that every week, just as we don't play every week like we did for the last half an hour against Coventry. They were up against a team with 5 times their budget, neutralised them effectively and got a deserved point, well done to them.

Do you have a soft spot for Derby?

[mickleoverclaret]

Do you have a soft spot for Derby?

I do, as it happens, but I also have a soft spot for that style of football after 9 years with Dyche!

[Targetman]

I do, as it happens, but I also have a soft spot for that style of football after 9 years with Dyche!

I thought so, it did come across that way.

Perhaps if Derby hadn't been mismanaged for so long they might now have a similar budget to us?

[mickleoverclaret]

I'm not defending them in that regard, their mismanagement for years is nothing to do with their current owner or manager. They have to play the hand Mel Morris dealt them and I thought they played it well last night.

[Tricky Trevor]

It’s football, horses for courses. You devise a system for the players available. The fact that we, regularly this season, have not been able to break these sides down is our problem to solve.
A proper striker in January would have seen us up.

[Bullabill]

They played for a draw with very little attacking intent, packing the midfield and defence and 0-0 was always looking likely.
No complaints about last night at all and we are still joint top.

They had a higher Xg
More big chances
More corners
More touches in the penalty area
More shots in the area
More shots
More blocked shots

Oh, and we are not joint top. We are second.

[Swizzlestick]

Tough game, it happens in the Championship - Eustace knows how to get a result, crap pitch, team fighting for their lives, we were a bit off the boil. We really need to find a few more 'cheap' goals though, particularly from corner opportunities, though we at least appear to be defending them pretty well.

[dandeclaret]

Parker said in his post match that Derby have the highest set piece XG in the league. I’m assuming he’s right.

Commentator last night said that over 50% of their goals this season had come from set plays.

[Colburn_Claret]

The pitch is a disgrace, but we have no right to complain about it. We just deal with it, or don't. If we can't deal with it, then they were right weren't they.
The pitch didn't help, but we didn't win because we didn't put the ball in the box often enough, or have the numbers in there to take advantage. Simple.

[agreenwood]

Commentator last night said that over 50% of their goals this season had come from set plays.

They certainly play for them.

As I say, it’s not for me.

[FCBurnley]

Was all very predictable and an awful watch. Is Eustace the new Fat Sam ?
We increased our lead over Sheff Utd and are joint top with Leeds.
So far so good but if we miss out on promotion which we could then we would have to look at our inability to score against Derby and Preston

[Quicknick]

Was all very predictable and an awful watch. Is Eustace the new Fat Sam ?
We increased our lead over Sheff Utd and are joint top with Leeds.
So far so good but if we miss out on promotion which we could then we would have to look at our inability to score against Derby and Preston

Whereas if we go up and SU don't, they'll have to look at their inability to score in the last two games.

[jojomk1]

And Dyche?

[Culmclaret]

I said before the game to expect a match similar to Sheff United’s at Oxford. Derby are better than Oxford and at least we didn’t lose. Pitch was the same for both sides and Derby played well.

[aggi]

I was surprised how poor their long throws were given how much they tried them. I think Roberts' throws were more dangerous, Derby were getting them nowhere near the goal.