Oakwood Ram

I got married in 96. I'm saying no more.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
She doesn't read the forum, but just in case "te quiero muchísimo mi amor"*
* no not you @Mucker1884, wearing a Mexican hat doesn't make you Latin.

It’s my favourite childhood memory too mate.
I was 10 but remember it as clearly as any other memory in my whole life!
later that year me and my brother got a PlayStation for Christmas and the genuine surprise at unwrapping that is my second favourite childhood memory.
1996 was my favourite year

Amazing memory! And those of us down South who couldn’t make it, but watched on telly with hands over our eyes, were right with you! (I taped it, and still have the VHS!). 
 
Also that evening Oasis played their epics gig at Maine Road. I’ve long wondered if anyone saw Derby get promoted at the BBG, then raced to Manchester for the gig!

Absolutely brilliant these.
I still think that being on the BBG pitch in 1996 post Palace match as a 14 year old with my dad was my greatest childhood memory. I never knew life could be so good on that day, still not sure I have ever experienced feelings like it since 🐏 

Absolutely brilliant these.
I still think that being on the BBG pitch in 1996 post Palace match as a 14 year old with my dad was my greatest childhood memory. I never knew life could be so good on that day, still not sure I have ever experienced feelings like it since 🐏 

Absolutely brilliant these.
I still think that being on the BBG pitch in 1996 post Palace match as a 14 year old with my dad was my greatest childhood memory. I never knew life could be so good on that day, still not sure I have ever experienced feelings like it since 🐏 

Absolutely brilliant these.
I still think that being on the BBG pitch in 1996 post Palace match as a 14 year old with my dad was my greatest childhood memory. I never knew life could be so good on that day, still not sure I have ever experienced feelings like it since 🐏 

I've just remembered a thought that I had going into injury time tonight, I looked up into that inky black sky and said "come on B4 give us a hand", you didn't let us down, mate.🐏

Some great memories in here. Can anyone spot themselves?
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/gallery/derby-county-81-wonderful-memories-4033920
(Scroll down, don't click on the arrow on the right)

Why was it embarrassing? Paul Warne has spoken a lot about how so many little things need to happen to get a transfer over the line, even out of his hands. He could make an account on this forum and tell us who we were going to sign based on his knowledge, and he still wouldn't have a 100% success rate.
Journalists report deals that will happen all year round, this time of year it's relentless, they don't all happen. However these journalists make a living reporting this, whereas people like Big Trav post things because it hopefully brings a bit of positivity. People like signings, and like talking about them otherwise the transfer threads wouldn't attract so much interest.
I'm not a fan of people who pretend to be ITK just for a bit of attention like you see a lot on Twitter, but BT has proven he does have some contacts or inside knowledge with what he's told us before. Just because every bit of information he gets doesn't result in a signing, doesn't mean it's embarrassing or deserves constant snipes.

Well said. This poster never misses an opportunity to get a dig in - extremely boring and monotonous.

I find your constant sniping at Big Trav really irritating. 
He is only trying to tell us snippets he's heard and has got a lot more right than wrong.
Whereas what you're doing is totally negative.

Just got home. That was fun. Absolutely freezing, terrible game and had my ears bombarded all night by a large number of young people who both a: seemed extraordinarily giddy about being outside and watching a football match b: seemed to know absolutely nothing about the game they were watching and c - seemed only able to shout incoherent drivel where one out of every three words was an obscenity (not that I’m prudish about swearing, you understand… I couldn’t give a f… it was the inane nature of it that was far more troubling. Just shouting for shouting’s sake - and not in a ‘there to support the team’ sort of way, just shouting. One young person seemed to be trying to impress his girlfriend but only succeeded in making himself look silly; sadly I doubt he had the personal insight to recognise this).
I might not have noticed this too much if the football had been in any way engaging but it wasn’t and so I can only reflect on the state of our young people and consider whether I was similarly stupid when I was their age.  I can only surmise that I probably was and that makes me sad.  It also makes me realise that I’m probably closer to death than I am to their age. Which also makes me sad. 
So, yeah, thanks Paul and Co. I’ve probably got pneumonia, have become a grumpy old man shaking my fists at the youth of today and am pondering my own mortality… all because you couldn’t string two passes together against Bradford f’ing City. 

Chuffed to bits with this. Thank you Nate and thank you Mr Clowes! Nate has worked so hard for us this season. Very pleased to see his endeavour rewarded.

Proper fan.

Lovely lad…..loved watching this.
Up the Cods Vlogs.
 

31Vickers: 6.5 - Did ok despite a hair-raising attempt at playing sweeper, but while not wishing to be unkind, Joe is still the #1 for me, even after a sloppy game last time out.
35Nelson: 7.0 - Solid enough, though not at his brilliant best in a 3 - might we have tried him at RB in a 442? I don't think not having Nyambe available fully warrants the change in formation, but we've won well enough in the end, so WTF do I know!
5Bradley: 6.5 - Continues to get pelters but I thought he looked better today. He does still look a little nervous and I think if someone could just calm him down a bit, I think there's s till a player in there. I think he'll get a few more games with Ryan away and I think it's now make or break for him. Having him back in form as well as the regular starters would be huge.
6Cashin: 7.5 - Held it all together at the back and is improving leaps and bounds this season - I think playing in a settled unit with Nyambe and Nelson to learn from has improved his consistency significantly. £5.5M, 20% sell on, full season loan back please Brighton. That or you can buy him for £8M +++ when we're promoted, or you could just feck off completely.
2Wilson: 7.5 - I'll get pelters for this but was trying to think whose style he reminds me of and it's Lauren James of Chelsea and England women. Like her he has this knack for just gliding past players and I'm really not sure how he's doing it. I think it's probably some for of football juju as slowmo's reveal nothing. 
8Bird: 8.5 Received a deal of criticism for his last performance, not all of which was fair IMO as he and Hourihane were overrun in a 2-man midfield. Banished that memory today in no uncertain terms, making critical interceptions in midfield and turning provider for 2 of our 3 goals. Only Collo ran as hard. MOTM for me.
4Hourihane: - 7.0 When we were good, so was he. Coincidence? I think not. Quietly effective and probably grateful for some extra bodies in midfield this time out. He's improving his consistency which for me has been the bugbear, rather than his ability.
22Fornah: 6.5 - Limited evidence but ran hard hard and did nothing wrong. Not entirely sure why he didn't start against Boro IMO.
3Forsyth: 6.5 - Didn't look comfortable at all and was duly hooked at HT. It seems like he's got a niggle so I'm hoping it's minor and we have him available again v. soon as he's a talisman and we need him.
20Elder: 7.0 - Don't know too much about this lad and obviously seen little of him at Derby as yet. That said, I really like what I have seen. One of the few to play his football against Boro and again looked promising today. Handy if Fozzy is injured I reckon and I can see PW rotating the two players a bit moving forward which will be one less thing for him to worry about.
19John-Jules: 6.5 - A little non-descript today, but it's his first start and he'll be sharper for the extended game time. I've noticed that both Boro and this lot targeted him a bit too and I do wonder whether that's out of respect for his latent ability. I hope so, weird as that might sound.
7Barkhuizen: 7.0 - Driving me nuts as every time I'm about ready to give up on him, up he pops with a goal. I'd like to see him work as hard off the ball as on it though, but I'm being grump really as he could do no more today.
11Méndez-Laing: 8.0 - Man's a real handful and was back to his pacy and bristling best today. He's playing with a smile a mile wide this season and as someone who has had his troubles, it's great to see him looking very much at home at Derby. Contract extension in the offing Mr Clowes?
9Collins: 7.5 - Oh Jimmy, Jimmy. The old bloke with enough fire in his belly to power a small town. Literally runs himself into the ground every game, yet somehow never seems leggy next time out. Another who looks a different player with a proper pre-season under his belt, his goals have been crucial this season.
16Thompson: 7.0 - Love this lad. A proper pocket destroyer and deceptively strong for a wee lad, he's also got loads of ability and precisely the kind of never say die attitude PW loves. It's great to have him back.
Warne Watch:
Soz gaffer, but just a wee, small moan would be the formation. Not going to bang on as we've won well, but it makes me nervous when we're in game management mode. That aside, another excellent day's work and a big relief to see us bounce back immediately after the loss last time out. Well done to you and the lads! 

31Vickers 6.5 I liked his quicker distribution on occasions, otherwise on a par with Wildsmith
35Nelson 6 seemed to suffer most from the change to a back three
5Bradley 6.5 decent but not fully match aware yet. Will it come?
6Cashin 8 imperious, Sky TV loved him! 
2Wilson 8 such an exciting player that I don't even mind when it doesn't quite work out cos I know he's going to try again next time he gets the ball. Did some useful defending too.
8Bird 8.5 statistically his best game this season and a joy to watch
4Hourihane 6  occasionally creative, tires too quickly and our manager needs to recognise that.
22Fornah 6 a great 3.5 minute cameo 😉
3Forsyth 5.5 struggled a bit to stop their attacking flow, right decision to substitute whether injured or not
20Elder 6.5 better, but again not yet match fit. Shows promise.
19John-Jules 6 a bit disappointed with his contribution, needs to be a bit more mobile, again building fitness. Has a lovely first touch so I'd like to see him use it to turn away from defenders rather than in to them.
7Barkhuizen 7 contributed little then is in exactly the right place to score the winning goal. Proved me wrong! 
11Méndez-Laing 8.5 a powerhouse who is loving his football now. Is this his most consistent run at any club? 
9Collins 8 "looks good looks fine" and proving all the doubters wrong week in week out.
16Thompson 7 showed industry and persistence just at the time we needed it. If we'd introduced him a bit earlier it might have been a more comfortable second half.
Warne - a good opportunity to try his three at the back and it worked out in the end. Jury is still out on its long term potential. 
On a plus point, that attacking lineup is seriously threatening though. If you're keeping one of the creative players quiet it frees up another one. 
So, would like to see us try it again before we completely ditch it.
ATG

3 points away from home. Tough gig against a physical team with a new manager and we did what we had to do. Some attempts at playing nice football on a horrible narrow pitch that never really came off but we dug in when needed and always looked capable of scoring whilst admittedly not very secure at the back.
Promotion seasons are built on games like this.
 
Onwards and upwards. 
COYR.

Agree with this. Collins has won me over with his workrate and goals. Not sure what type of player we were judging him with but we are where we are and he is doing his best.
Collins is a grafter who is giving his all and winning games for us.

ATG
Vickers 6.5 - sound replacement but not as assured as Wildsmith which is to be expected as lacking game time. Still second choice keeper in my opinion 
Nelson 7
Bradley 6
Cashin 9 - MOTM for me, only player on the pitch who retrieved what looked like a couple of lost causes. A colossal performance 
Wilson 8.5 - I love this guy, strongest performer in the first half
Bird 8.5 - Composed, hard working and two much needed assists 
Hourihane 7
Fornah 6
Forsyth 6
Elder 7
John-Jules 6 - Disappointing performance, hopefully not working too hard to avoid injury which could hamper his chances of a return move? Hopefully I’m wrong on this one as I feel he would be a major asset for the remainder of the season 
Barkhuizen 6.5 - flatters to deceive despite the late goal. Not showing the same work ethic as his teammates 
Mendez-Laing 8.5 - Strong performance, excellent taken goal, worked hard to get back and releases the pressure with lung busting runs which sometimes goes unnoticed. Our most influential player with the exception of Cashin
Collins 8 - underrated. Absolute work horse who is contributing more quality and goals to the team. Hold up play also improving. Keep up the good work Collo.
Thompson 7 - Very effective when introduced, he was going to be introduced a few minutes earlier just as they pulled a goal back. Determined and relentless, with underestimated power and technically impressive. Will have a big part to play for us this season.
A big shout out to all players and coaching staff who took the time to have their photo taken with my lad as they arrived of the team coach, much appreciated 🐏

ATG
Vickers 6.5 - sound replacement but not as assured as Wildsmith which is to be expected as lacking game time. Still second choice keeper in my opinion 
Nelson 7
Bradley 6
Cashin 9 - MOTM for me, only player on the pitch who retrieved what looked like a couple of lost causes. A colossal performance 
Wilson 8.5 - I love this guy, strongest performer in the first half
Bird 8.5 - Composed, hard working and two much needed assists 
Hourihane 7
Fornah 6
Forsyth 6
Elder 7
John-Jules 6 - Disappointing performance, hopefully not working too hard to avoid injury which could hamper his chances of a return move? Hopefully I’m wrong on this one as I feel he would be a major asset for the remainder of the season 
Barkhuizen 6.5 - flatters to deceive despite the late goal. Not showing the same work ethic as his teammates 
Mendez-Laing 8.5 - Strong performance, excellent taken goal, worked hard to get back and releases the pressure with lung busting runs which sometimes goes unnoticed. Our most influential player with the exception of Cashin
Collins 8 - underrated. Absolute work horse who is contributing more quality and goals to the team. Hold up play also improving. Keep up the good work Collo.
Thompson 7 - Very effective when introduced, he was going to be introduced a few minutes earlier just as they pulled a goal back. Determined and relentless, with underestimated power and technically impressive. Will have a big part to play for us this season.
A big shout out to all players and coaching staff who took the time to have their photo taken with my lad as they arrived of the team coach, much appreciated 🐏

Made it over myself as well, very fitting tribute to a great man 🐏 
 

Made it over myself as well, very fitting tribute to a great man 🐏