Stuniverse

Saturday 17th September 2022 St Albans loan Cybulski

Thursday 15th September 2022 Osula injured

Thursday 15th September 2022 South Africa call-up Barkhuizen

Tuesday 13th September 2022 Lincoln City 4-0 Derby County - League One (9) Disappointingly we just never got going today. We started with a Balanced mentality, thinking it might help us be that bit more solid at the back, and we just couldn't get out of our own half, whilst Joe Wildsmith had to make three or four fine saves to keep us level at 0-0. On 14 minutes, Diamond's corner was cleared back to him, he crossed again and Garrick headed home at the far post (0-1). We changed from Balanced to Positive as we weren't doing anything. 28 minutes, Jason Knight dwelt on the ball too long, Diamond dispossessed him, ran into the penalty area, and shot past Joe Wildsmith (0-2). 40 minutes, a great run by Knighty down the right, his cross was headed goalwards by James Collins, but Rushworth saved easily. After the break, we pushed David McGoldrick further forward alongside Collo. 63 minutes, Joe came for Diamond's cross, but only knocked the ball into Davenport's path and he rolled the ball into an empty net (0-3). 65 minutes, Lincoln hit us on the counter-attack, Garrick found House who scored (0-4). On 73 minutes, Louie Sibley went off injured... and it sounds like he'll be out a while with a pulled calf muscle. 90 minutes, Liam Thompson crossed from the left and Didzy's header smacked the bar. I take the blame. The responsibility rests with me, although we did shoot ourselves in the foot, twice, by gifting them two goals.. I know this'll sound like excuses but I think today was just one game too far. We've been playing two games a week, most weeks, all season with a very small squad and an ever growing injury list, an injury list that grew longer today. And we just haven't got the numbers to rest players and freshen up the legs. Today, I think it all caught up with us. I'm just being honest. I know it's not what the fans will want to hear, but it is what it is. Of course, it's my job, and the job of my backroom staff, to get the best out of this squad of players. Today, we couldn't do that... but we will regroup and go again on Saturday at home to Wycombe Wanderers.

Monday 12th September 2022 Pre-game: Lincoln City (away) - League One (9) We visit Lincoln City on the back of a five game unbeaten league run but we've only won two of those, drawing the other three. Lincoln are five points behind us in the League Table but, with home advantage, and their fans behind them, they'll be looking to close that gap. Injuries No new injuries, but also none of the players we're closely monitoring are back to full fitness yet. Team News We've been playing well, creating plenty of chances, but our problem has been adding to a one-goal lead as we've struggled to get a two-goal advantage. We'll probably look to change a couple of things to help with that. The U21s played yesterday and are tired so we're limited as to what we can do to freshen things up.

Saturday 10th September 2022 Morecambe 1-1 Derby County - League One (8) Another game we felt we did more than enough to win, arguably deserved to win, but only drew because we couldn't find a second goal and then conceded an equaliser against the run of play. I can't fault the players though because, on this occasion, we found a goalkeeper in Connor Ripley who was inspired. We started well. 3 minutes, after brilliant pressing work by David McGoldrick to win the ball back, Lewis Dobbin went on a mazy run into the penalty area, only to be denied by a brilliant save by Ripley in Morecambe's goal. 6 minutes, Conor Hourihane's stunning free-kick looked destined for the top corner until Ripley's fingertips miraculously kept it out. 12 minutes, Eiran Cashin wins his header after a long kick from Morecambe's goalkeeper, Hourihane picks up the ball and plays it forward, splitting the Shrimpers defence. James Collins runs onto it and calmly slots it past Ripley (1-0). 26 minutes, Ripley made a superb double-save from Lewis Dobbin. 27 minutes, after great work by Cash and Dobbs, Max Bird shot narrowly over from 30 yards. 40 minutes, Haydon Roberts threaded a pass to put Collo clean through again, only for Ripley to produce another sensational save to deny him. From the resulting corner, Collo's header was comfortably saved. 56 minutes, after a good passing move involving Cash, James Chester, Haydon and Conor, Collo shot wide from the edge of the penalty area. 61 minutes, Tom Barkhuizen's cross was headed clear, Conor played the ball back into the box, Dobbs turned and shot high over the bar. 69 minutes, Haydon crossed from the left and Collo looped a header onto the roof of the net. On 71 minutes, came the sucker-punch, totally against the run of play, when Weir scored with a direct free-kick. (1-1). 77 minutes, we made a couple of changes, pushed Didzy further forward alongside Collo, and went Attacking. 78 minutes, Barks plays Collo in and he side-footed his shot wide. 86 minutes, two substitutes Louie Sibley and Liam Thompson combined, Thommo's first shot was blocked, his follow up saved by Ripley. 89 minutes, we sent Will Osula on for Barks and changed our shape to 433 AM Narrow, still Attacking. 91 minutes, Thommo sends Collo away, and Collo watched his shot beat Ripley and bounce back off the far post straight into Ripley's arms. The second, winning goal just wouldn't come. We were close, very close, but not close enough. At least we are creating the chances... if we weren't creating chances, I'd be more worried, but we have to find a way to get a second goal when we have our noses in front.

Does anybody know how I would go about creating a weekly training schedule, saving it, and importing it to use in-game? Many thanks.

Friday 9th September 2022 Pre-game: Morecambe (away) - League One (8) For the second consecutive game, we play a side who know that a win will see them leap-frog us. We saw how that inspired Plymouth Argyle last weekend and Morecambe will be cheered on by their home supporters. I went to the Mazuma Stadium this week and Morecambe were very impressive as they defeated MK Dons 3-0. The Shrimpers looked a bit edgy and nervous for the opening 20 minutes, but once they got their noses in front, Morecambe never looked back. They played a 5-2-1-2 DM AM system. Liam Shaw scored a powerful header from a Caleb Watts corner. Their captain, Donald Love, was lively down the right-wing and set-up their second goal, a tap-in for Ashley Hunter, and put the cross in from which they won the penalty for their third goal. Morecambe also have former Rams Academy graduate Farrend Rawson playing for them Injuries Good news and bad news I'm afraid. Where should I start? Good news or bad? OK, finish on a positive, so bad news... Jake Rooney sprained ankle ligaments in training. Good news, Richard Stearman is back in training and our medical team advise Stears could probably give us 45 minutes if we need him. Team News We are delighted to welcome Will Osula back from international duty where he made two substitute appearances for Denmark U21s. We're also short of centre-backs at the moment so we've assigned squad numbers to Leigh Kavanagh (#46) and Harrison Solomon (#47) and they've both been training with the first-team. Harrison is currently the subject of a loan bid from St. Albans City in the Vanarama National League South, which we're kind of dragging our heels over as we decide whether we can let him go out on loan (the experience would definitely aid his development) or whether we need to keep him around due to our injury crisis in central defence. --

Friday 9th September 2022 Butler snubs Hull

Friday 9th September 2022 Slough take Roberts on loan

Wednesday 7th September 2022 Rooney injury blow

Wednesday 7th September 2022 Hull want Butler

Tuesday 6th September 2022 Morecambe 3-0 MK Dons - League One

Tuesday 6th September 2022 Neil leaves Salford for Derby

Monday 5th September 2022 Turner snubs Stoke U18 goalkeeping coach Tom Turner has snubbed Stoke City and agreed a new contract to remain at Derby County.

Sunday 4th August 2022 Devine snubs Arsenal and Leeds U21 Physio Steve Devine has snubbed Arsenal and Leeds United by signing a new contract with Derby County.

Saturday 3rd August 2022 Stuniverse to study for coaching badge

Saturday 3rd September 2022 Derby County 2-2 Plymouth Argyle - League One (7) We are so frustrated and disappointed not to have won that match. I thought performance wise we were magnificent, we created loads of chances and, yes, we still need to get more shots on target, but I thought we did enough to have won it. And, let's face it, when you have two players shown straight reds for ridiculously dangerous tackles you don't deserve to win a game off football. We were very fortunate that Haydon Roberts and Tom Barkhuizen weren't injured, but Lewis Dobbin was. Where Plymouth were better than us, first-half, was that they were so clinical. Two shots, two goals. Only a minute in, and we got caught out early when Butcher hit a long clearance forward, Hardie headed it down to former Ram's Academy graduate Morgan Whittaker, who brought the ball forward, before sending Hardie away to run in on Joe Wildsmith and shoot hard and low past our goalkeeper (0-1). The players responded brilliantly and were level 6 minutes later, Max Bird played the ball out wide, Barks headed it to Jason Knight, who ran down the right-wing, crossed low into the six yard box, and James Collins - who else? - was there to side-foot home our equaliser (1-1). 10 minutes, another great run and cross from Knighty and Collo looped a header onto the roof of the net. 11 minutes, Knighty was getting a lot of joy down the right, another cross and, this time, David McGoldrick headed over. 21 minutes, and we fell to a sucker-punch, Houghton sent in a free-kick and Galloway headed Plymouth back into the lead. Two attempts, two goals. Argyle were clinical in front of goal. (1-2). On 28 minutes, Wilson was shown a straight red for a two-footed challenge on Haydon. At least Steven [Schumacher] admits Wilson deserved his marching orders - that's something, I suppose. 31 minutes, Conor Hourihane floated in a free-kick, Collo chested it down, turned, and saw his shot well saved. On 34 minutes, Plymouth were reduced to 9 men when Butcher lunged in from behind on Barks as he's driving through the middle towards the penalty area. Conor took the free-kick and curled it into the side netting. At half-time we brought Louie Sibley on for Lewis Dobbin. Dobbs had taken a knock and had a bruised thigh so we saw no reason to take any risks. We also pushed Didzy further forward alongside Collo. 58 minutes, after good work down the left involving Eiran Cashin, Haydon and Sibs, Didzy tried to chip the goalkeeper but it was a comfortable take for Cooper. After half an hour, we went more Attacking. 62 minutes, Conor's free-kick looked destined for the top corner, but Cooper magnificently saved it. 63 minutes, Knighty found Birdy from a throw-in, Barks ran into the penalty and squared the ball, and Collo levelled things with a hard, low shot (2-2). 74 minutes, Didzy and Sibs combined down the left, and Collo's shot was well saved. 79 minutes, Didzy fed Collo but he shot over from just inside the penalty area. 80 minutes, Conor and Didzy were looking tired so we sent on George Nunn (for his debut) and Bartosz Cybulski and changed our shape to more of a 3-2-5. 81 minutes, Knighty curled in a free-kick which Cooper turned round his post at full-stretch. On 88 minutes we went Very Attacking. We won a couple of corners after that, Barks took them, but Cooper claimed both very comprehensively amongst a crowd of players. The frustration was there for all to see at the final whistle. For me. For my staff. For the players. And for the supporters. We didn't lose, but playing 56 minutes against 9-men, we should have won.

Saturday 3rd September 2022 Pre-game: Plymouth Argyle (Home) - League One (7) Plymouth Argyle are a very good side at this level who have been in and around the playoffs for the last few seasons. They are currently seven places below us, but their manager Steven Schumacher will have his players fired up knowing that if they come to Pride Park and win then they will leap-frog us. We need to make sure we match them for intensity, work rate and effort and, if we do that, I'm confident we will send the Rams fans home happily. That's what we've been working hard on in training and we'll be doing our best to get that positive result for our supporters. Injuries Our medical staff remain busy with Darren Robinson the latest addition to the injury list with a tight hamstring. Korey Smith continues to work on his match fitness but, with a long injury list already, I'm not keen to rush him back. Team News William Osula is still away with Denmark U21s so we'll be without him. We deliberately played a young team against Mansfield Town in midweek to rest as many senior players as we could for this game against Plymouth Argyle. But the young lads performed that well that they've given me some food-for-thought about my team selection. -- Steve Cotterill - Elliot Bennett

Friday 2nd September 2022 Wells snubs Derby

Friday 2nd September 2022 Derby Academy Staff in demand --

Thursday 1st September 2022 Summer Transfer Window Closed -- Note: I disabled the First Transfer Window on this save.

Thursday 1st September 2022 Monthly Reports Results Board Review Finances Dynamics Supporter Review

Wednesday 31st August 2022 Mansfield Town 0-2 Derby County - Papa Johns Trophy North Group F (1) We picked a very young team to play a Mansfield Town team who, we feel, are underperforming in 17th place in League Two currently. It was always going to be a challenge for such a young team so we're delighted that we controlled the game from start to finish. 2 minutes, Kwaku Oduroh's cross is blocked and balloons up in the air, Osazee Aghatise was unable to get any power in his header and it was comfortably saved by Flinders. 3 minutes, great work in the middle of the park between Osazee and Louie Sibley, saw Sibs slide the ball through to Lewis Dobbin, who calmly shot past Flinders (1-0). 14 minutes, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton cuts in from the right wing and shoots over the bar. 51 minutes, Sonny floats a free-kick into the penalty area and Jake Rooney's header crashes against the bar, and Mansfield scramble the ball out for a corner. From the corner, Sonny shot over. 62 minutes, Dobbs heads home Sibs's corner at the far post (2-0). 65 minutes, Roon's plays Dobbs in for what should have been his his hat-trick, but his shot flew wide. We expected Mansfield to come at us after that but, to be honest, they never really troubled us. Joseph Anang, in our goal, only had one shot to save all game. 87 minutes, Darren Robinson hit a long ball to Bartosz Cybulski who shot high over the bar. It was a good run out for the young lads and I thought Max Bird captained them brilliantly for saying he doesn't turn 22 until his birthday later this month.

Wednesday 31st August 2022 Pre-game: Mansfield Town (away) - Papa Johns Trophy Group Northern Group F (1) Injuries We've had a bad week for injuries with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing picking up a thigh strain and our captain Curtis Davies damaging his achilles tendon. Both will be out for some time. Richard Stearman is due back in training soon though so that's something. Korey Smith has been given the green light to play by our medical team after his tight thigh but, given our growing injury list, we won't be taking any chances with him or anybody else in the Pizza Cup. Team News William Osula will miss the Mansfield Town game as he's away with Denmark U21s. With a crunch League One game coming up on Saturday against Plymouth Argyle at Pride Park, we will likely start with a much changed team.