TheRamOfSwad

Why are we obsessed with bringing back old managers... would you bring back your ex wives too?
Nostalgia is a dirty liar and I think in order for Derby to move forward, they need to stop looking back!
Mel Morris, old managers or former players... nothing is as good the second time or the third or the fourth. 
Need to recreate the new Derby Identity and not have it tied up in how we played 10 years ago etc
Not played the best under Warne but give it time at least, we gave nigel clough 4 years? we've still not spent a penny, we shall see where we are by Christmas. 
Play offs this season is the realistic target still plenty to play for
If Warne is sacked he will be sacked but until then....

Sack the awful bar staff who don't know a Lager from a bitter
One match last season I asked for 2 half pints of bitter and I got asked if I'd like it in 1 glass... Jesus Christ 
Also could they not pre pour pints for fans arriving at half time so you can just tap your card and have time to drink your pint, queues of people everywhere... it's not rocket science 

Sack the awful bar staff who don't know a Lager from a bitter
One match last season I asked for 2 half pints of bitter and I got asked if I'd like it in 1 glass... Jesus Christ 
Also could they not pre pour pints for fans arriving at half time so you can just tap your card and have time to drink your pint, queues of people everywhere... it's not rocket science 

Finally got round to watching thr Fans Forum. First off, I'll apologise for jumping to conclusion based off the feedback from individuals who attended and put their own slant on responses to questions. Having now listened to the foruk in full, these are my takes on what was said:
Pearce confirmed that Clowes paid above the minimum required to creditors upon exiting administration.
Warne acknowledged the lack of RBs and CFs at the club when he took over as manager - which begs the question why we did nothing to address those areas in January despite also losing a CF. In fairness, we have got the bodies in this summer - 2 RB/RWBs signed, and now 4 CF options. Warne mentioned 4 RBs are out long term (Ward, Wilson, Rooney and Bardell?)
On transfers in general, Warne believes we've built a good squad over the summer but feels we've been unlucky with injuries which have had an impact on our start to the seaso. Thinks the team will play better once players are back from injury. Got to agree, when you have the likes of Bird and Ward missing. Warne feels we'll be at least top 6 this season, possibly top 2 depending on how the team gels and what happens with injuries.
Warne and Pearce bother referenced 2-3 years to get the academy up to speed again. There's a focus on signing 15 year olds as U21 signings are expensive.
Warne made a joke about not wanting to be quizzed on who the academy players are (faces on a wall and naming them). This has irked me, as he should make it his job to know every single one of the U18s and U21s, so he knows who's likely to get through into the first team. He did however say he wants as many players to come through the academy into the first team. Either the club generates cash from sales or they form part of thr first team. In both cases that's more budget which can be put towards the rest of the squad. Suggestions that not many academy players were involved in training last season, but a lot more already this season. Buxton tells him a lot about where U18 and U21 are in their development. I got the feeling Warne really likes DBrown, so we should see him get opportunities this season.
Warne watches U21 and U18 games, (but didn't get the score right for the U21s earlier that day). Tries to watch the first half of U21 games on Saturdays prior to first team games.
On style of play, Warne's desired style of play has been mentioned a few times on here and sounds like it will be good to watch. However, I still have reservations that we'll see that we'll see that until we move on from a sqaud with a lot of over 30s in it. Potentially won't see it work until next season.
On transfers, we haven't paid any upfront fees this summer. Sounds like we are recruiting based on stats. Club thinks it would be difficult to sign players from overseas whilst in League 1. The signings we make are with a view to disposing of them before they become a burden on the wage bill. Hard to argue with this, but you would have hoped there are more players we could have signed eith potential who would grow with the club. With Warne wanting to play 352, we should have signed another LWB with neither Elder nor Forsyth being suited to the role.
On signing Waggy, he said he didn't want to sign Waghorn mostly due to age. "Wasn't interested at all". However, he liked how he interacted with the rest of the squad when here for the testimonial. Contradictory to his previous comments regarding 'ego'. 
Sibley is back in training. Best finisher at the club. Warne thinks he will be at his best playing as a 10 (inferring a 3421). However, Warne also stated his preference for playing 352. Sibley may not be ready for Portsmouth, but likely to be in the sqaud next week. Thompson was the fittest player in the squad in pre-season. Warne didn't think he did enough in training last season and didn't deserve to play.
Hourihane said small teams raise their game when they come to Pride Park and we need to deal with them better. Felt invincible when on the good run last season and struggled to pinpoint the downturn in form (a small hint that he thinks it was due to burnout).
Hourihane wants to be in a system which results in him being around the edge of the box for shots and crosses. Waghorn doesn't want to play out on the wing. He wants to play in an attacking team playing on the front foot. Both mentioned players need to be adaptable to the manager in charge if they're to have a career in football - a strong message to academy players who want to get a chance in the first team.
 
Overall, I like what Warne wants to do, but I need to see more of it becoming a reality rather than just words.

Back on topic for the match, Warne has said before he doesn’t like to change a winning team, as we lost the last game he’s got chance to make changes for this game. A couple of the players should be building up their fitness after injury (mainly Sibley and Barkhuizen), the new signings have had chance to train with their team mates, so while we do still have injuries to deal with there’s the chance to put out a competitive side. I’d like to see (but don’t necessarily think this is what Warne would choose) this;
              Wildsmith
Smith  Nelson  Cashin  Forsyth
                Fornah
   Embleton        Hourihane
NML         Waghorn       Sibley
Bench: Vickers, Bradley, Elder, Radcliffe, TJJ, Washington, Barkhuizen
There’s a lack of pace at the back so would just tell them to be solid and keep it simple, Fornah to screen the back 4 and get us moving forward, Hourihane to link defence and attack, Embleton to drive forward from midfield, and the front 3 to be a bit more fluid/varied in their play. At times NML and Sibley play as orthodox wide men, other times Waggy drops deep and they fill the space…..that sort of thing 🤷🏻‍♂️ 
I realise it won’t happen that way, but it’s what I’d like to see. 

I honestly think the players we have are enough with one or two loans to be in and around the top 6 but....
3 Centre backs... it just seems to me as if no one knows who the big man is and command the box, first goal tonight all 3 nowhere near the attackers 
People talk about on here that the 3 midfielders not working but again I think it's due to formation all playing in a flat line no dynamics... who's the defensive mid, who is playing the creative passes 
I think we should either go 
4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1
Keep it on the floor and pass it round a bit, we don't play more than 5 passes in a row so no wonder we aren't confident on the ball when we get it.
You can still get crosses in the box but passing it round also gives us time to breathe...
Last season it was just Bang into McGoldrick coming deep turn 1 touch, second touch and play down the flanks worked so often... I think Waggy could do that for us this season to a certain extent
so in summary for the Fleetwood game I would play this with waggy in the hole
 
                 Wildsmith
Wilson Bradley Cashin Forsyth 
            Bird   Hourihane
NML        Waggy      Thompson
             Collins/Washington
 
My first proper post on here sorry for the waffle what we need is the opposite, just back to basics football on the floor ⚽️ Up The Rams 🐏 

I honestly think the players we have are enough with one or two loans to be in and around the top 6 but....
3 Centre backs... it just seems to me as if no one knows who the big man is and command the box, first goal tonight all 3 nowhere near the attackers 
People talk about on here that the 3 midfielders not working but again I think it's due to formation all playing in a flat line no dynamics... who's the defensive mid, who is playing the creative passes 
I think we should either go 
4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1
Keep it on the floor and pass it round a bit, we don't play more than 5 passes in a row so no wonder we aren't confident on the ball when we get it.
You can still get crosses in the box but passing it round also gives us time to breathe...
Last season it was just Bang into McGoldrick coming deep turn 1 touch, second touch and play down the flanks worked so often... I think Waggy could do that for us this season to a certain extent
so in summary for the Fleetwood game I would play this with waggy in the hole
 
                 Wildsmith
Wilson Bradley Cashin Forsyth 
            Bird   Hourihane
NML        Waggy      Thompson
             Collins/Washington
 
My first proper post on here sorry for the waffle what we need is the opposite, just back to basics football on the floor ⚽️ Up The Rams 🐏 

Perhaps that's how he should approach it
 
Play the 3 at the back & wingbacks for the away games on the small pitches and try and play more football at home with a more tradional formation 
Would be able to naturally rotate a lot of players then for different types of games 

I honestly think the players we have are enough with one or two loans to be in and around the top 6 but....
3 Centre backs... it just seems to me as if no one knows who the big man is and command the box, first goal tonight all 3 nowhere near the attackers 
People talk about on here that the 3 midfielders not working but again I think it's due to formation all playing in a flat line no dynamics... who's the defensive mid, who is playing the creative passes 
I think we should either go 
4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1
Keep it on the floor and pass it round a bit, we don't play more than 5 passes in a row so no wonder we aren't confident on the ball when we get it.
You can still get crosses in the box but passing it round also gives us time to breathe...
Last season it was just Bang into McGoldrick coming deep turn 1 touch, second touch and play down the flanks worked so often... I think Waggy could do that for us this season to a certain extent
so in summary for the Fleetwood game I would play this with waggy in the hole
 
                 Wildsmith
Wilson Bradley Cashin Forsyth 
            Bird   Hourihane
NML        Waggy      Thompson
             Collins/Washington
 
My first proper post on here sorry for the waffle what we need is the opposite, just back to basics football on the floor ⚽️ Up The Rams 🐏 

I honestly think the players we have are enough with one or two loans to be in and around the top 6 but....
3 Centre backs... it just seems to me as if no one knows who the big man is and command the box, first goal tonight all 3 nowhere near the attackers 
People talk about on here that the 3 midfielders not working but again I think it's due to formation all playing in a flat line no dynamics... who's the defensive mid, who is playing the creative passes 
I think we should either go 
4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1
Keep it on the floor and pass it round a bit, we don't play more than 5 passes in a row so no wonder we aren't confident on the ball when we get it.
You can still get crosses in the box but passing it round also gives us time to breathe...
Last season it was just Bang into McGoldrick coming deep turn 1 touch, second touch and play down the flanks worked so often... I think Waggy could do that for us this season to a certain extent
so in summary for the Fleetwood game I would play this with waggy in the hole
 
                 Wildsmith
Wilson Bradley Cashin Forsyth 
            Bird   Hourihane
NML        Waggy      Thompson
             Collins/Washington
 
My first proper post on here sorry for the waffle what we need is the opposite, just back to basics football on the floor ⚽️ Up The Rams 🐏 

I honestly think the players we have are enough with one or two loans to be in and around the top 6 but....
3 Centre backs... it just seems to me as if no one knows who the big man is and command the box, first goal tonight all 3 nowhere near the attackers 
People talk about on here that the 3 midfielders not working but again I think it's due to formation all playing in a flat line no dynamics... who's the defensive mid, who is playing the creative passes 
I think we should either go 
4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1
Keep it on the floor and pass it round a bit, we don't play more than 5 passes in a row so no wonder we aren't confident on the ball when we get it.
You can still get crosses in the box but passing it round also gives us time to breathe...
Last season it was just Bang into McGoldrick coming deep turn 1 touch, second touch and play down the flanks worked so often... I think Waggy could do that for us this season to a certain extent
so in summary for the Fleetwood game I would play this with waggy in the hole
 
                 Wildsmith
Wilson Bradley Cashin Forsyth 
            Bird   Hourihane
NML        Waggy      Thompson
             Collins/Washington
 
My first proper post on here sorry for the waffle what we need is the opposite, just back to basics football on the floor ⚽️ Up The Rams 🐏 

I honestly think the players we have are enough with one or two loans to be in and around the top 6 but....
3 Centre backs... it just seems to me as if no one knows who the big man is and command the box, first goal tonight all 3 nowhere near the attackers 
People talk about on here that the 3 midfielders not working but again I think it's due to formation all playing in a flat line no dynamics... who's the defensive mid, who is playing the creative passes 
I think we should either go 
4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1
Keep it on the floor and pass it round a bit, we don't play more than 5 passes in a row so no wonder we aren't confident on the ball when we get it.
You can still get crosses in the box but passing it round also gives us time to breathe...
Last season it was just Bang into McGoldrick coming deep turn 1 touch, second touch and play down the flanks worked so often... I think Waggy could do that for us this season to a certain extent
so in summary for the Fleetwood game I would play this with waggy in the hole
 
                 Wildsmith
Wilson Bradley Cashin Forsyth 
            Bird   Hourihane
NML        Waggy      Thompson
             Collins/Washington
 
My first proper post on here sorry for the waffle what we need is the opposite, just back to basics football on the floor ⚽️ Up The Rams 🐏 

Perhaps that's how he should approach it
 
Play the 3 at the back & wingbacks for the away games on the small pitches and try and play more football at home with a more tradional formation 
Would be able to naturally rotate a lot of players then for different types of games 

I honestly think the players we have are enough with one or two loans to be in and around the top 6 but....
3 Centre backs... it just seems to me as if no one knows who the big man is and command the box, first goal tonight all 3 nowhere near the attackers 
People talk about on here that the 3 midfielders not working but again I think it's due to formation all playing in a flat line no dynamics... who's the defensive mid, who is playing the creative passes 
I think we should either go 
4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1
Keep it on the floor and pass it round a bit, we don't play more than 5 passes in a row so no wonder we aren't confident on the ball when we get it.
You can still get crosses in the box but passing it round also gives us time to breathe...
Last season it was just Bang into McGoldrick coming deep turn 1 touch, second touch and play down the flanks worked so often... I think Waggy could do that for us this season to a certain extent
so in summary for the Fleetwood game I would play this with waggy in the hole
 
                 Wildsmith
Wilson Bradley Cashin Forsyth 
            Bird   Hourihane
NML        Waggy      Thompson
             Collins/Washington
 
My first proper post on here sorry for the waffle what we need is the opposite, just back to basics football on the floor ⚽️ Up The Rams 🐏 

I honestly think the players we have are enough with one or two loans to be in and around the top 6 but....
3 Centre backs... it just seems to me as if no one knows who the big man is and command the box, first goal tonight all 3 nowhere near the attackers 
People talk about on here that the 3 midfielders not working but again I think it's due to formation all playing in a flat line no dynamics... who's the defensive mid, who is playing the creative passes 
I think we should either go 
4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1
Keep it on the floor and pass it round a bit, we don't play more than 5 passes in a row so no wonder we aren't confident on the ball when we get it.
You can still get crosses in the box but passing it round also gives us time to breathe...
Last season it was just Bang into McGoldrick coming deep turn 1 touch, second touch and play down the flanks worked so often... I think Waggy could do that for us this season to a certain extent
so in summary for the Fleetwood game I would play this with waggy in the hole
 
                 Wildsmith
Wilson Bradley Cashin Forsyth 
            Bird   Hourihane
NML        Waggy      Thompson
             Collins/Washington
 
My first proper post on here sorry for the waffle what we need is the opposite, just back to basics football on the floor ⚽️ Up The Rams 🐏 

Perhaps that's how he should approach it
 
Play the 3 at the back & wingbacks for the away games on the small pitches and try and play more football at home with a more tradional formation 
Would be able to naturally rotate a lot of players then for different types of games 

Its the general direction of travel I'm not keen on. Signing journeyman players on short term deals, they don't extend their deals (shock horror they are all in it for the money), no resale value, continue to let youngsters get too close to the end of their deals and go for peanuts. Rinse and repeat. How do we as supporters connect to these players because with the exception of Fozzy and maybe Cashin I'm struggling to see any of these as Derby players if you get where I'm coming from, this is a means to and end for most of them for a little bit. Bird won't be here for much longer sadly. That's not being melodramatic that is the reality of this philosophy we seem to be going with. 

Didn't we fire managers at the first difficulty under Mel? How did that work out for us? "But this is different". No, it isn't. It's time for us to learn our lesson as a club.

Cheers Mucker! 
Think I may take your advice and do it the old fashioned way!