Jourdan

I am not saying it will be easy but surely Clowes came into this knowing that he would need to finance a tilt at staying in the Championship at some point?
Surely by bringing in people like Hale to improve the academy infrastructure over time and Thomas to improve recruitment over time, this is part of his efforts to make it more viable that we can stay in the Championship initially?
Surely by spending £3-400,000 on Blackett Taylor and spending to secure the likes of Cashin, Nyambe and NML on longer term contracts, he is showing commitment to the cause?
Ipswich and Sunderland competing for promotion in 2023 and 2024 surely gives us inspiration. Plymouth being 15th and comfortably clear of the bottom three surely gives us realistic hope.
Coventry coming back from similar financial turmoil and stabilising in the Championship and trusting Mark Robins to grow and evolve as a coach in a similar way that Warne will have to surely gives us even more hope?
The Coventry model could be one we very well emulate…

Bolton, Barnsley, and Peterborough all finished last season above us and they are all in contention again this season. They are good teams. They are the benchmark for us this season. We knew that if we wanted to get promoted, it’s these teams we would have to outperform.
There is no contradiction. I am saying they are good teams in a competitive league. If the league wasn’t competitive, these teams and indeed ourselves would be dropping points far less frequently.
More waffle? I’ll put be putting Brussels out of business at this rate. I express my opinions plenty, if you disagree with them or can’t comprehend them, that’s fine.
How much of an advantage have we had with Wigan and Reading being in financial difficulties and having points deductions really? Reading and Wigan have beaten us this season. Reading have pipped us to transfer targets. Surely it’s the likes of Portsmouth, Oxford, Blackpool and Stevenage who have profited from this?

I think if we get promoted in 15 games’ time and finish above one or more of Bolton, Barnsley and Peterborough, then we’ll be better.

Bolton, Barnsley, and Peterborough all finished last season above us and they are all in contention again this season. They are good teams. They are the benchmark for us this season. We knew that if we wanted to get promoted, it’s these teams we would have to outperform.
There is no contradiction. I am saying they are good teams in a competitive league. If the league wasn’t competitive, these teams and indeed ourselves would be dropping points far less frequently.
More waffle? I’ll put be putting Brussels out of business at this rate. I express my opinions plenty, if you disagree with them or can’t comprehend them, that’s fine.
How much of an advantage have we had with Wigan and Reading being in financial difficulties and having points deductions really? Reading and Wigan have beaten us this season. Reading have pipped us to transfer targets. Surely it’s the likes of Portsmouth, Oxford, Blackpool and Stevenage who have profited from this?

FYI for anyone in and around Exeter today and tomorrow:
Good pubs
Ship Inn, Turk’s Head, White Hart, Old Firehouse, Mill on the Exe, Prospect Inn on the Quay
Good cafes
Exploding Bakery, Zuki’s, Tiny Tasting Room, Chococo, Grow Coffee House, Eat on the Green
Good fast food
Hubbox for burgers, Red Panda for Asian food, Hook for fish and chips, Eat the Bird for fried chicken
Good restaurants
The Ivy
 

# your only dead once 😂
#Actually I’m in bed now 😉

Roy, sorry to be personal, it isn’t really my style but you are like a dodgy cop. Make the evidence fit the story. Ok you don’t like Warne .. I think we all know that now. 
 
For the record no manager knows how to get the best out of their players week on week and certainly not in L1. Some managers are better than others, some players are better than others. The league table gives a good idea how both bits are working. I’d probably be agreeing with your arguments if we were in 17th place. But we aren’t .

FYI for anyone in and around Exeter today and tomorrow:
Good pubs
Ship Inn, Turk’s Head, White Hart, Old Firehouse, Mill on the Exe, Prospect Inn on the Quay
Good cafes
Exploding Bakery, Zuki’s, Tiny Tasting Room, Chococo, Grow Coffee House, Eat on the Green
Good fast food
Hubbox for burgers, Red Panda for Asian food, Hook for fish and chips, Eat the Bird for fried chicken
Good restaurants
The Ivy
 

Do teams never get promoted and overachieve the following season?
Is such a phenomenon exclusive to League 1?
Didn’t Sheffield United and Wolves not long ago finish in the top half of the PL following promotion?
If it’s possible in the PL, why should we be surprised to see it in League 1 where the margins are much finer?

I am sorry but how is us possibly getting promoted to the Championship under Warne in any way comparable to us getting promoted to the PL the previous time over 15 years ago?
In 2008, the board and the manager were reportedly at odds and the board were seemingly unwilling to invest in summer 2008 to improve the team sufficiently. We couldn’t compete with the other promoted sides never mind the 17 others. The step up to the PL was huge back then. Is the step up to the Championship really anywhere close to that?
Consider that Clowes appears to be nothing but in full support of Warne and consider that once the restrictions are lifted and with the additional revenue streams to follow from promotion, we’d be able to compete financially with anyone else who gets promoted and probably around 6-10 other Championship clubs as a fair estimate. Surely that’s a far better place to be in?
What’s there to stop us from improving and adapting to the Championship well? Not only footballing sides do it. Luton and Coventry did it. In fact, if you look at Wigan, Barnsley, Peterborough and Blackpool as recent reoccurrences, it’s footballing sides who more often tend to go back where they came from.
This fearmongering is outrageous. 

I am sorry but how is us possibly getting promoted to the Championship under Warne in any way comparable to us getting promoted to the PL the previous time over 15 years ago?
In 2008, the board and the manager were reportedly at odds and the board were seemingly unwilling to invest in summer 2008 to improve the team sufficiently. We couldn’t compete with the other promoted sides never mind the 17 others. The step up to the PL was huge back then. Is the step up to the Championship really anywhere close to that?
Consider that Clowes appears to be nothing but in full support of Warne and consider that once the restrictions are lifted and with the additional revenue streams to follow from promotion, we’d be able to compete financially with anyone else who gets promoted and probably around 6-10 other Championship clubs as a fair estimate. Surely that’s a far better place to be in?
What’s there to stop us from improving and adapting to the Championship well? Not only footballing sides do it. Luton and Coventry did it. In fact, if you look at Wigan, Barnsley, Peterborough and Blackpool as recent reoccurrences, it’s footballing sides who more often tend to go back where they came from.
This fearmongering is outrageous. 

I think if we get promoted in 15 games’ time and finish above one or more of Bolton, Barnsley and Peterborough, then we’ll be better.

I am sorry but how is us possibly getting promoted to the Championship under Warne in any way comparable to us getting promoted to the PL the previous time over 15 years ago?
In 2008, the board and the manager were reportedly at odds and the board were seemingly unwilling to invest in summer 2008 to improve the team sufficiently. We couldn’t compete with the other promoted sides never mind the 17 others. The step up to the PL was huge back then. Is the step up to the Championship really anywhere close to that?
Consider that Clowes appears to be nothing but in full support of Warne and consider that once the restrictions are lifted and with the additional revenue streams to follow from promotion, we’d be able to compete financially with anyone else who gets promoted and probably around 6-10 other Championship clubs as a fair estimate. Surely that’s a far better place to be in?
What’s there to stop us from improving and adapting to the Championship well? Not only footballing sides do it. Luton and Coventry did it. In fact, if you look at Wigan, Barnsley, Peterborough and Blackpool as recent reoccurrences, it’s footballing sides who more often tend to go back where they came from.
This fearmongering is outrageous. 

And we are on track to do that 

FYI for anyone in and around Exeter today and tomorrow:
Good pubs
Ship Inn, Turk’s Head, White Hart, Old Firehouse, Mill on the Exe, Prospect Inn on the Quay
Good cafes
Exploding Bakery, Zuki’s, Tiny Tasting Room, Chococo, Grow Coffee House, Eat on the Green
Good fast food
Hubbox for burgers, Red Panda for Asian food, Hook for fish and chips, Eat the Bird for fried chicken
Good restaurants
The Ivy
 

Do teams never get promoted and overachieve the following season?
Is such a phenomenon exclusive to League 1?
Didn’t Sheffield United and Wolves not long ago finish in the top half of the PL following promotion?
If it’s possible in the PL, why should we be surprised to see it in League 1 where the margins are much finer?

I am sorry but how is us possibly getting promoted to the Championship under Warne in any way comparable to us getting promoted to the PL the previous time over 15 years ago?
In 2008, the board and the manager were reportedly at odds and the board were seemingly unwilling to invest in summer 2008 to improve the team sufficiently. We couldn’t compete with the other promoted sides never mind the 17 others. The step up to the PL was huge back then. Is the step up to the Championship really anywhere close to that?
Consider that Clowes appears to be nothing but in full support of Warne and consider that once the restrictions are lifted and with the additional revenue streams to follow from promotion, we’d be able to compete financially with anyone else who gets promoted and probably around 6-10 other Championship clubs as a fair estimate. Surely that’s a far better place to be in?
What’s there to stop us from improving and adapting to the Championship well? Not only footballing sides do it. Luton and Coventry did it. In fact, if you look at Wigan, Barnsley, Peterborough and Blackpool as recent reoccurrences, it’s footballing sides who more often tend to go back where they came from.
This fearmongering is outrageous. 

I am sorry but how is us possibly getting promoted to the Championship under Warne in any way comparable to us getting promoted to the PL the previous time over 15 years ago?
In 2008, the board and the manager were reportedly at odds and the board were seemingly unwilling to invest in summer 2008 to improve the team sufficiently. We couldn’t compete with the other promoted sides never mind the 17 others. The step up to the PL was huge back then. Is the step up to the Championship really anywhere close to that?
Consider that Clowes appears to be nothing but in full support of Warne and consider that once the restrictions are lifted and with the additional revenue streams to follow from promotion, we’d be able to compete financially with anyone else who gets promoted and probably around 6-10 other Championship clubs as a fair estimate. Surely that’s a far better place to be in?
What’s there to stop us from improving and adapting to the Championship well? Not only footballing sides do it. Luton and Coventry did it. In fact, if you look at Wigan, Barnsley, Peterborough and Blackpool as recent reoccurrences, it’s footballing sides who more often tend to go back where they came from.
This fearmongering is outrageous. 

Meaningless corporate waffle? Sure, yes, I report back to Stephen Pearce every evening. 
The point being discussed was that we are only where we are because the league is poor. If that was true, why aren’t Bolton, Barnsley and Peterborough taking advantage and running away with the league?
What makes a league strong or weak, much like what makes a football team good to watch, is purely subjective.
It was 2014-15 the last time none of the relegated teams competed for promotion or play-offs. What is the relevance?
This season, only Blackpool have an outside chance of promotion through the play offs. Maybe I am looking at it the wrong way but that just lines up with the thinking that this is not a straightforward league to get out of.
There are countless other examples of relegated teams (Bolton, Ipswich, Wednesday, Charlton, Sunderland) who have not adjusted to League 1 so easily and there are teams that have taken years to rebuild and get out of the league. Some are still stuck here.
But yes, please continue downplaying the quality and competition levels in the league if you must. It won’t stop the champagne flowing when we go up.

There were loads of people on here saying we should have kept Rosenior. I can’t be bothered to go back and look, but if you don’t believe me (or Returning Ram , go and have a look for yourself, sure you will find plenty of examples.

FYI for anyone in and around Exeter today and tomorrow:
Good pubs
Ship Inn, Turk’s Head, White Hart, Old Firehouse, Mill on the Exe, Prospect Inn on the Quay
Good cafes
Exploding Bakery, Zuki’s, Tiny Tasting Room, Chococo, Grow Coffee House, Eat on the Green
Good fast food
Hubbox for burgers, Red Panda for Asian food, Hook for fish and chips, Eat the Bird for fried chicken
Good restaurants
The Ivy
 

FYI for anyone in and around Exeter today and tomorrow:
Good pubs
Ship Inn, Turk’s Head, White Hart, Old Firehouse, Mill on the Exe, Prospect Inn on the Quay
Good cafes
Exploding Bakery, Zuki’s, Tiny Tasting Room, Chococo, Grow Coffee House, Eat on the Green
Good fast food
Hubbox for burgers, Red Panda for Asian food, Hook for fish and chips, Eat the Bird for fried chicken
Good restaurants
The Ivy
 

What does that even mean? It just sound like meaningless corporate waffle. 
When was the last time all three relegated Championship teams weren't challenging for promotion the following season?

Already spotted a few Rams in Exeter by the train station!
Looking forward to tomorrow! Wishing everyone a safe journey.
@S75 Ram and @Foreveram, any advice needed, just let me know!

You make a good case but I remain convinced that our inconsistencies lie much more with simply making too many individual mistakes. That said we are in second place. 
The football looks bad at times, no denying that, particularly in midfield but I suspect it wouldn’t if we made fewer mistakes or took more opportunities. I don’t think Warne is a genius but I believe he does know what he’s doing / coaching but at times the players aren’t adjusting as well as perhaps they might. One thing for sure there isn’t a manager with a magic wand. If you’re not fond of Warne long term, I could get that, but in the ebb and flow of life as a Derby fan right now ? He’s doing and saying the right stuff within reasonable parameters. (And acknowledging most of his errors when they happen )