Jourdan

Port Vale 0-2 Derby
Barkhuizen FRGS

Joseph Anang sent back to West Ham. We're freeing up funds to bring him home.

Can you ask for a refund. If yes I reckon I’m due thousands.

What actually is Warne-ball though? The way we played today was very different to how we’ve played for the last month or so. It was much more like how we played when Warne first came in - very direct, balls being played over the top at every opportunity etc.  There was very little effort to actually construct anything in terms of football moves (ironically our goals being 2 notable exceptions…) From a football-purists point of view, it was a pretty poor watch tbh.
The last month or so, it’s been more like Warne’s own version of Rosenior-ball - playing out from the back, through the thirds etc, but doing everything a lot more aggressively (pressing, passing etc).  
If the plan is to play like we have been doing recently, with the odd diversion into long balls for specific games (which to be fair, is what I think today probably was, given how radical the shift in styes was) then OK. If the last month has been a temporary blip and we’re intending to play like today for the rest of the season, then I’m less happy with it.

Derby 2-1 Bolton
Mendez Laing FRGS

Derby 2-1 Bolton
Mendez Laing FRGS

right mucker get thunderbird 2 warmed up... have a feeling ?
 

Los dos amigos

I think you do Warne and the players a disservice here.
In every league, there will be differences in quality and the haves and the have nots.
Yes, we are fortunate to be amongst the two or three biggest clubs in the division and that brings us a degree of competitive advantage. You’re right in suggesting that.
At the end of the day though, you still have to go out there, be professional, be switched on, and let your quality show.
The fact we’ve gone 12 games unbeaten in the league suggests to me the manager is doing a very astute job and has got the players laser-focused. It’s a testament to the manager.
If it was that straightforward and that simple, why have so many big clubs over the years struggled to get back out of the division again? How many teams went to Elland Road, the City Ground, Bramall Lane, the Stadium of Light and got the scalp they were looking for?
Even looking at the season, why did we slip up at Lincoln and Charlton earlier on in the season and why have we managed to draw so many games under Warne?
Yes, there are numerous teams that can’t match us for quality, but we still have to apply ourselves correctly to get the desired results. I think Warne deserves a lot of credit for that. There are trip hazards everywhere you look in this league.

Rosenior was completely unproven. If he was ‘already good’, why didn’t he get the job permanently?
Hull are ‘well up the league’? They were 20th and now they’re 16th. He’s meeting the brief but let’s not over-egg it. He’s doing a respectable job. Nothing more, nothing less.
All of our success is due to the squad Rosenior assembled? What a great way to undermine the job our current manager is doing!
People said Warne would have to rip the squad up to get them ‘playing how he wants’. This has proved to be untrue. People said the football would be a turn off and attendances would drop to 12k. Again, it’s untrue.
We have signed no-one and gone on an unbeaten run stretching back to October. We have played with a left back at centre back, a central midfielder at right back and an attacking midfielder at left back, and we’re 12 games unbeaten in the league. Even many of Rosenior’s signings have performed better since he left.
But of course none of that is down to the current manager, is it?
 

I was thinking about going to this one, but not now obviously.

If you are not convinced by Warne, that is fair enough. He still has work to do and plenty to prove.
Describing the support for him as verging on a cult and suggesting people are being shamed for not falling in line seems a bit much, mind you.
By comparison, those who doubted (or as you put it, critiqued) Rooney, Rosenior and Cocu and were arguably right in doing so were on the receiving end of much worse than we’ve seen in this thread.
I think even those very much in favour of Warne can see that he is not infallible and his management style is not without its faults or limitations and that his work here is very much one that is in progress. In many ways given where the majority of fans think we should be and how we should be playing, you could argue his work has not even really started.
That said, what’s wrong with enjoying the club being on the up, getting behind a manager who has an encouraging track record in this division, and a group of players who are obviously responding to his methods?
If we can’t be positive when we haven’t lost a game for almost a quarter of a year, when is the time?

Always enjoyed your posts Jourdan and this is one doesn't disappoint.
I'm nodding away, and it's not even nap time ?

We have effectively had two pre-seasons and you could probably count as many as 15 points lost due to the subsequent hiccups and slow starts under both Rosenior and Warne.
It has taken us time to build consistency, a team spirit and structure, and confidence. The top three have been consistent from the off and deserve credit for that.
We have to accept we are where we are and we should be content with a strong finish, a play-off position, and going into them playing with confidence.
Top two is too big an ask, but it’s a good target for Warne and the players to set themselves internally. We’d much rather aim for 2nd and finish 3rd than aim for 5th and finish 7th.

Let it be said, I think we have really good natured discussions and you always make really interesting and considered posts.
I apologise if I have made you or anyone else for that matter feel uncomfortable or as if your views were not valid or in some ways inferior. Perhaps my original post on the thread was more antagonistic than I first realised. Again, I apologise.
There’s nothing wrong with differing views or indeed a dash of realism here and there, but honestly I think most can see the reality of the situation.
Good times are on the way!

If you are not convinced by Warne, that is fair enough. He still has work to do and plenty to prove.
Describing the support for him as verging on a cult and suggesting people are being shamed for not falling in line seems a bit much, mind you.
By comparison, those who doubted (or as you put it, critiqued) Rooney, Rosenior and Cocu and were arguably right in doing so were on the receiving end of much worse than we’ve seen in this thread.
I think even those very much in favour of Warne can see that he is not infallible and his management style is not without its faults or limitations and that his work here is very much one that is in progress. In many ways given where the majority of fans think we should be and how we should be playing, you could argue his work has not even really started.
That said, what’s wrong with enjoying the club being on the up, getting behind a manager who has an encouraging track record in this division, and a group of players who are obviously responding to his methods?
If we can’t be positive when we haven’t lost a game for almost a quarter of a year, when is the time?

You could start a poll? ? ? #COYR

It’s nice to see that Warne is converting people from sceptics to believers.
But let’s be honest, our fanbase should have been right behind him from the very beginning.
It’s not like he fluked one promotion. He’s won three. He’s a very good coach at this level and exactly what we needed.

If you are not convinced by Warne, that is fair enough. He still has work to do and plenty to prove.
Describing the support for him as verging on a cult and suggesting people are being shamed for not falling in line seems a bit much, mind you.
By comparison, those who doubted (or as you put it, critiqued) Rooney, Rosenior and Cocu and were arguably right in doing so were on the receiving end of much worse than we’ve seen in this thread.
I think even those very much in favour of Warne can see that he is not infallible and his management style is not without its faults or limitations and that his work here is very much one that is in progress. In many ways given where the majority of fans think we should be and how we should be playing, you could argue his work has not even really started.
That said, what’s wrong with enjoying the club being on the up, getting behind a manager who has an encouraging track record in this division, and a group of players who are obviously responding to his methods?
If we can’t be positive when we haven’t lost a game for almost a quarter of a year, when is the time?