I don't think Rooney's midweek comments influenced the officials like some have suggested (considering the Wolfe 'red card'), but what it did do was straight out of the Flicker playbook. It obviously galvanised them, roared on by 25,000 fans, as them against everyone. The EFL, the opposition, the officials. Derby vs. the world. It worked. We don't have those kind of characters in the squad this season, so being on the front foot early is key as you say. But sometimes the game plan you have, and the intention you set out with, can be disrupted by the opposition who want to impose their plan as well. Individual errors in the first half against Derby compared to Boro? Probably over a dozen vs. just one or two. No wonder we were so deep. On to the next and the unpredictability of the Championship. Stoke are due a win and Fulham are due a loss. Bristol will be 2-2......same as it ever was.
So you do not think that Rooney is a massive personality within the game then ? , they are not even called Derby County any more, its been all about Rooney since he went there & if our coach made a statement to the press do you think it would get the same publicity ? I do not think so , there has always been different rules for the have"s & have nots in our game & we have seen it many times in our history , I will mention the name Willard & leave it at that.
Wolfey was lucky to stay on the pitch. I expected to see him withdrawn after the second challenge. Their man made a meal of it, but yeah, it definitely affected his game that early card. Rooney isn’t as thick as he sounds. He’s always come across well in the times I’ve come across him too. They’re definitely playing on that ‘us against the world’ card too. They’re not effective away from home and I still think we are more likely to catch Reading than they are. But I’m less emotional than most folk. I quickly move on from bad days and look towards the next good one. Big 10 days.
