Ian Buxton's Bat

1 hour ago, trappatoni said:

Ok I rarely go away so this may be some new chant I don't know (have a home season ticket) but jail for singing Billy Sharp's a Sex Offender ?    

I haven't got a problem with the way our fans behave - last thing I'd want is police or stewards killing the atmosphere by policing that contingent more than they already do.  

OK….maybe jail is a bit harsh.

I do have a problem with fans making completely unfounded statements about someone being a sex offender.

I’d like to think that’s a widely held view but maybe I’m wrong.
 

31 minutes ago, angieram said:

This is what I don't understand. You know who they are. I know who they are. Anyone who goes to away games regularly know who they are but the Derby stewards, who travel away as well as home, do absolutely nothing about the bellends who follow us and make life miserable for the rest of us.

There were a large number singing that Billy Sharp was a sex offender in the queue outside the ground. They weren’t hidden in a crowd and could be identified - I didn’t recognise any of them. I saw a perfectly reasonable Blades fan plead with the police to take some action and they wouldn’t, much to his disgust.

A few banning orders or prison sentences could sort it but “the authorities” don’t seem bothered.

Maybe 25 years ago, I confronted and reported a fellow fan for hurling racist abuse and the club were on it in a flash, having been provided with a seat number. 

Ideally, you don’t want to put yourselves in harm’s way by confronting people but maybe a complaint to the club with a seat number could work.

Billy Sharp chants….embarrassing 

Sheff U 3 Derby 1

FRGS Nelson

At most away games I go to, if there is a controversial incident that is difficult to see, I can check on this forum to get comments on TV replays from those that have taken a trip on VPN airlines to watch Rams TV. I can get score updates, send messages no probs.

Home matches.......nothing. Can't even sit the phone on BBC scores section and let it update at its leisure any more. I'm with EE so maybe it's a network coverage thing.

Just checked their map for Pride Park........5G (officially iffy), 4G (stupendous), 3G (off)........and 2G (stupendous)........

1. JWZ  8

24. Nyambe 7

35. Nelson  8

6. Cashin  6

20. Elder  7.5

4. Ozoh  6

32. Ebou  7

17. Kenzo  7.5

19. Jackson  6.5

10. Yates  7

11. NML  7

SUBS

8. Osborn (50th min)  6

18. Harness (69th min)  6

3. Fozzy (82nd min)  6

12. Phillips (82nd min). 6

Enjoyed that.

Some great football in the first half and deserved the lead.

Thought we were more pragmatic and then sat back a bit early in the second half …..but it yielded 3 points.

I thought Cardiff were OK - I thought their 27 was the best player on the pitch.

I can also see why they let Ebou go as I thought their number 3 was outstanding - he sniffed out danger like Shinniesta and he got them playing.

Like a few other posters, I’d say Elder deserves great credit. I’m a big fan of Fozzy and would have started with him this season but Elder is proving me wrong - he’s hardly put a foot wrong defensively and looks like a new signing as far a forward play is concerned.

Ebou’s miss………at least we’ll be able to say “we were there”. 

There were bits and bobs iffyness by a few players but I'd give all outfield players 8 or 8.5.

Really enjoyed it and my thought as I walked down the main stand steps was "will Phillips and Harness get in the team?". I've watched all but about 2 games since PW came in (live or on TV) and that was the most complete performance to date imo.

No idea who I'd give MOTM to......an argument for each of them for a variety of reasons.

Thought Barks (7) made things happen when he came on......great to see after a dismal 45 mins on Tues and other subs did nothing wrong (6's)

7 minutes ago, MackworthRamIsGod said:

Not a chance this late in the day.

A loan and everyone would be in uproar.

Money offer too good to turn down, a bit late in the day to do business.

 

£X m for Cashin and Cooper in ?

Letting Cashin out with no replacement would be daft - I agree.

5 minutes ago, Animal is a Ram said:

If you want to stay close to the ground, The Brunswick is a good shout if you like real ale, or else the Royal Standard has just been refurb'd and likewise will do a good variety - not sure on opening times, mind, and probably best to avoid wearing colours.

Safe travels!

@JJH the Brunswick is home fans only so, as Animal says, avoid showing your colours. Not sure it's open that early though.

The Harvester on Pride Park is the designated away pub - serves a very decent breakfast and serves ale from daft o'clock.

Enjoy.

3 hours ago, Bris Vegas said:

I am serious. I think Warne’s football last season was relatively crap considering the gulf in quality over the opposition. I think that deserved criticism.

But I can’t criticise Warne at all this season. IMO he is handicapped and if he manages to keep this squad of players afloat, regardless of playing style, he will deserve huge credit.

I agree....in the league

Last year I was with you @Bris Vegas - frustrated by the style of play when I think we had the players to put on more of a show and win more convincingly. When we did lose it was excruciating.....but we didn't lose very often.

If we win tomorrow with something of a repeat of the Boro game, the world will seem a better place and I think it may change a few views on Warne and the best approach for this squad in this league.

Would I be looking forward to the game tomorrow more if we had, say, prime gung-ho Harry Redknapp in charge? Of course I would. Do I think prime Harry Redknapp would stand a better chance of keeping us up? I don't. I think it would be a great watch - and a more enjoyable season.....until it ended in relegation as a result of being picked off on the counter each week by better players.

Similar arguments to last year - do we want to be entertained with free-flowing football and/or watch the team achieve their goal at the end of the season? Last year I thought we should have done both. This season I don't see how it's possible.

As for Barrow......excruciating......we should have put on a show and won convincingly with that gulf in class!

5 minutes ago, Kathcairns said:

It is getting boring, dont you think.

Too right @Kathcairns

I saw this in an article recently......

I recently learned of a German word, streitsüchtig, which is typically translated "quarrelsome." But its literal meaning is dispute-addicted. It describes not just a tendency toward conflict but a certain hunger for it — a need for discord or yearning for something to oppose.

6 minutes ago, Steve How Hard? said:

Chris Martin, player manager.

From this forum, Coldplay or ex-player?

It was interesting listening to the RD post-match chat last night.

They were banging on about how 'strange' the CBT signing was......signed someone who is injured and doesn't fit the PW mould of working up and down the pitch.

I tend to think they may be semi-ITK and they were questioning who signed him....PW or someone else.

It also transpires that Ben Osborn was carrying an injury when signed.....albeit he's clearly Champ quality with a good work ethic if fit.

Washington was an injury risk, TJJ was an injury risk, Embleton was an injury risk. 

Now I genuinely hope CBT comes good and is a superstar for us but I wonder if DC has money in the competitive budget but doesn't trust those who are spending it to spend it wisely.

42 minutes ago, Tamworthram said:

I just fail to see why you're calling him out simply because he didn't try to force a move elsewhere. He strikes me as a true professional that will always do all he can to contribute. Maybe he will be a bench warmer (who knows) but, as such, he still as a role to play even if it is only because other players ahead of him are not available as you highlight.

I suspect it may become rare that he starts games but if he comes off the bench and makes an impact (positive I hope 😀) then I don't think he's stealing a living.

I agree.

The last player I'd accuse of stealing a wage is Collins. Maximum effort is pretty much guaranteed.

Is he good enough for the Champ? Possibly not.

However, we could have had Haaland up top last night and it wouldn't have made much difference. For all the talk about getting a better striker in, we have to find ways to get the ball to said striker, whether that's tactics and/or better ball retention.

Collins likes to be involved so goes hunting the ball, which means he's often not in the box......whereas a striker like Haaland is happy to do nothing all game except score 2 goals......... but last night Dajaune didn't go hunting for the ball and, according to Whoscored, he had 7 touches, with one completed pass and no shots or headers, in 35 mins on the pitch. Against Barrow. I don't think that's his fault.

4 minutes ago, Comrade 86 said:

What has Warne had to say? Couldn't bring myself to watch any more than I already had.

Said we needed new faces.

Dom et al on RD said we didn’t need new faces to beat Barrow.

I tend to agree with Dom et al.

Just now, Ian Buxton's Bat said:

Sound levels now sorted.

Now trying to decipher the broadest Scottish accent doing a Norman Collier tribute act.

@Mucker1884…..you got in first mate!

2 minutes ago, Rich3478 said:

Can anyone understand the commentator? Just seems to be mumbling, as turn it up the crowd noise just gets louder 

Sound levels now sorted.

Now trying to decipher the broadest Scottish accent doing a Norman Collier tribute act.

2 minutes ago, Carl Sagan said:

Not all of us can make it to every game like @i-Ramtries to. If this is on, is it on that new-fangled Sky+ thing? Or RamsTV? If the latter, do we have to fly out of the country? Or is it just a cast watching the scores update on Ceefax. 

Ta very much. 

 

Red button Sky thingy, according to Live Football on TV website

I predict a long match thread unless we win by scoring  5 beautifully crafted goals, with 50+ passes in the build up to each.

Plus 2-1 to Watford  FRGS Bradley

2 hours ago, jimtastic56 said:

Again with “Big =good”.  Beilik was the “Beast that guarantees promotion”. And he was £10 mill wasted .  Let’s not pile too much pressure on J Z. He has not played many games for a 26 year old , and let’s not be quick to write him off if he doesn’t have a great game v Watford . 

Steady on @jimtastic56!

I’ve genuinely not said big=good, let alone said it previously.

I think he’ll start as he’s been bought to be number 1 and I noticed on Saturday that he was a big unit.

Believe me, if we signed Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden on loan, I’d be doing cartwheels.

1 hour ago, The Scarlet Pimpernel said:

If I go to the Netherlands for instance this weekend can I watch on RamsTV?

Club website says 'International' so, if you are lucky/tactically astute enough to be across the channel on Saturday afternoon, it's possibly a goer.

2 minutes ago, Comrade 86 said:

Think it's the featured game on Sky Sports+ bud, so possibly not.

Maybe head down river?

Are Sky showing 3pm Saturday afternoon games now? Didn't realise that.

I reckon JWZ will start.......he looks a right unit.

I'd have played Fozzy instead of Elder v Boro but Elder deserves to keep his spot.

Collins' stats weren't great on Saturday but he worked his socks off and was a pain in the neck for the Boro defence - thought Matt Clarke had his hands full but played well. Don't know anything about Watford but, on the basis Yates may not be match fit, I'd start with Collins and swap at half time.

They've scored 3 goals per match.in the league plus 5 in the league cup.....so a re-run of Boro will do me.

6 hours ago, Ghost of Clough said:

I expect this 2nd one to be a flop. He's offered very little to his team other than goals this season. Last season (in the 2nd division) he scored 9 goals, the first time abive 3 in his career.

Now 29, he's scored 15 in 21 games in the top division. However, his xG would suggest 8 is a fairer reflection of the chances given to him. Doesn't shoot very often and doesn't even get on the ball in the box. Poor chance creation for others, poor dribbler, poor defensive contribution. Blackburn must be hoping he's suddenly found his shooting boots and could be a top finisher - I doubt it given his history.

Perhaps it’s a chum signing for the first signing to help him bed in ?

A bit like when we signed Thingy alongside Wanchope. Solis?