Watched his 88 minutes on the ESPN+ replay. Very interesting player to see play today after he developed out of sight at Huddersfield and cut his teeth at Scunthorpe. The gifs are gonna be pretty when @zlebmada drops them on Twitter. 6-7 runs with the ball through the middle of the park that created scoring chances. 2 resulted in goals. Megged his guy on the end line with his first meaningful touch. He can pick out a pass, good vision. Attacking mindset all game. Clever on the ball. Uses both feet. Fast with and without the ball. Hits a decent cross. He’s a winger, either side, can cut in from either side. Can stay middle comfortably. Stayed on the right most of the time but switched occasionally and drifted middle. Nutmegs guys. Draws fouls. Effectively tricky. Looks to score. There’s more unpolished edges than I’d expect a potentially international quality player to have to smooth out at 24. Which isn’t surprising but just saying he has some work to do yet. I wish he was stronger holding up the ball with possession in small space, and I worry about him playing with a fullback who doesn’t stay home behind him. I don’t know how stuck-in he would get in San Pedro Sula. He was super gassed at the end of the match and looked like he wasn’t used to playing a full match, which he isn’t. He tracked back but his technique, angles and timing in doing so were all a bit naive. Efforted though. That said he did grow into the game more as it went on. He’ll need to maintain goal and assist production to stay on the field. He may be a luxury-type we can’t always have out there. Who knows if this is sustainable form for him. I think Lampard will be tempted to continue to use him to impact the game off the bench but he sure didn’t hurt his chances with this performance. A little Justin Mapp in him but he’s quicker and shiftier. A little Cobi Jones in him but he’s much less physical and has fewer goals in him. He’s most comfortable with the ball at his feet going forward at pace. He’s brilliant at it actually. Splits defenders with runs and slides passes in behind. Best case he’s a game breaker. In our player pool, as a skilled dribbler he’s one of the only hot girls at church camp. He may be a 7 but he looks like a 10 and I will take a talented winger all day long.
apologies for the crummy stuttering video but you get the idea -- constantly created danger yesterday pic.twitter.com/jJCZ7yaMXo— scuffed (@scuffedpod) January 6, 2019
http://americansoccernow.com/articl...and-more-in-wave-of-news-for-americans-abroad "I’ve spoken with Holmes several times over the years. He badly wants to play for the United States despite growing up mostly in England. He comes back to Georgia every year to visit his family and follows the U.S. team. When the U.S. team traveled to Glasgow for a friendly in November 2013, Holmes had already made his Championship debut for Huddersfield. He wasn’t called up by Jurgen Klinsmann but traveled to Scotland on his own dime to watch the game. In an interview in November with ASN, Holmes said that playing for the U.S. team is a big motivator for him these days. With more performances like Saturday, the spotlight on him will only intensify." The more I learn about this player, the more intriguing he becomes....
If Holmes can establish himself as a Championship regular, he's certainly in the NT conversation. Short of that, he's basically an older (somehow), and slightly better Ariyibi.
There were a couple of real "ooooh" moments in there from the kid. I couldn't hear the audio but I hope he got those from the crowd because he looked really good. He has a look in that video of being a level above, but I know that was just a real small sample of his play, so I'll try to be level headed about the whole thing.
I agree it's one game but (1) he's looked good all season and (2) Southampton is currently an EPL team - so if he can look good against them - saying he looks a "level above" doesn't strike me as too outlandish (especially if you are talking about the championship)
He looked amazing in the way that he would look amazing against Guatemala in Kansas City. Which is a tangebile thing.
I had totally forgotten that Soton was in the EPL this season. That said, I would assume they had sent out a second team against Derby in that game? Regardless, the fact that he played that way against guys who are, nominally at least, and probably temporarily anyway, EPL level is pretty impressive. One would hope Duane could parlay that form into a more regular starting role with Lampard.
They did. Only 4 starters remained from the team that lost to Chelsea. Even allowing for a switch from 4-2-31 to 4-4-2 for the Cup tie, it's really a second team. EPL survival takes absolute priority
This is how #DCFC line up to face Leeds United tonight... #LUFCvDCFC pic.twitter.com/c3jaWyj9nD— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) January 11, 2019 Starts against Leeds
BOOM! Let's go, young man! PbP thread here: https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/de...onship-1-11-19-duane-holmes-starting.2092969/
Huge match. I love the confidence in Lampard to insert Holmes into the lineup in such a crucial match. The kid has earned it. Now it's Homes repay that faith and take it to Leeds.
Speaking of this match............huge back story has unfolded. Derby Co spotted a spy at training this week and Leeds manager, Marcelo Bielsa, stunningly admitted he was responsible. His comments have set off fireworks for this match. edit: https://news.sky.com/story/leeds-bo...end-someone-to-spy-on-derby-training-11605059
Derby have been bad today, and are down 0-2 in the 55th minute, but I've watched the whole game and Holmes has looked good when he's gotten the chance. I've seen a few Derby fans say he's been the only positive from today, which I'd agree with.
Some positives from tonight:1. Duane Holmes2. Found a pub in Watford that does decent Macaroni Cheese. #winning pic.twitter.com/hUAKe0AKHR— Jonathan Rodgers (@popsider) January 11, 2019
The good news is that even with the loss Derby remain 6th and above the playoff line over Forest. The bad news they had a chance to leap frog 'Boro - at least temporarily - into 4th before the weekend's matches kick off. The worst news, Leeds are now 5 pts clear at the top off the table and could be pulling away from the pack. Yuck!
Took a nasty boot to the face: I’m amazed Leeds goalie didn’t get carded for putting the boot into @DuaneHolmes face. #LUFCvDCFC pic.twitter.com/BdymPWV3pS— Mark The Donny Iron (@markdonnyiron) January 11, 2019
On the bench for the FA Cup replay against Southampton: Here is your #DCFC team to face Southampton tonight... 🐏#SFCvDCFC pic.twitter.com/8HwmoShAX7— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) January 16, 2019