DublinRam

Think Portsmouth and Derby going up is the best result judging the season as a whole. Both too big for this league anymore. Hopefully the draw we gave Bolton today (tbh they could be right to feel bad not to take all three points) will be enough to get you guys over the line. 
 
Good result for you guys. Hopefully see you in the championship next season. 

Hang it in the Louvre

Maybe Waghorn can run around with nunchuks for added danger

These are the main comments I picked up from Matt Hale and Jake Buxton. 
Academy chances
Buxton - players haven't done enough in training to convince Warne to play them. However, he aknowledges some players need to be given the chance in the team to show they are good enoguh. He used Thompson as an example, as he wasn't a standout in the academy, but showed he was capable once given game time in the first team.
Hale - pointed out it's difficult when Warne's priority is promotion and the risk of dropping an untested player in potentially resulting in less points on the board. Harsh on those youngsters when we're 3-0 up in games and have unused subs.
Breakthrough players
Understandably, neither wanted
Hale - average age of a Premier League debut is 21. I disagree with his view that a debut at a younger age is a good achievement, espeically with us being a L1 club (and hoopefully Championship club soon)
Buxton - highlighted the young players we have in the U21 squad at the moment, with several 17 year old playing. However, Robinson and Fapetu and 19 and Weston are 20 (all should be looking at first team football either with us or on loan).
Development
Hale - Restructures our U18 and U21 setup at the start of the season, to ensure each individual player has their own session, reviewed regularly. Now in the Central League to play agaisnt older players and expereicne the importance of wins over performances and help transition to men's football. Pointed out that we need to teach them the dark arts (tactical fouls, etc)
Buxton - greater variety of games is important and gives them a different experience (passing football in PL2 and more direct in the Central League)
Hale - work with other sports to look at transferable skills (momentum was highlighted). Also work with other businesses. Applies to staff and players.
Hale - review suitability of loan (game time and suitability). May want to ask more money off the loaning club if they aren't playing as much as we like as they could be in our U21s instead. Ensure staff watch every game of players out on loan and offer support to all players (such as life skills for players who will be away from home for the first time)
On style of play
Buxton - Writing a playing phylosophy for the whole club which hasn't been fully implemented yet. He described it as "free flowing football" with a "high press". U21s are already aligned with the first team.
Hale - Added that they need to teach them when to press, when to drop off, knowing that we'll be more adaptable in the first team. Pointed out ball retention is important and correlated with league position, but also added winning the ball back is just as important.
Other comments
Hale - Derby's training ground is twice the size of Southampton's.
Hale - Vision for the academy is to be PL ready in terms of staff, players, facilities
Buxton - All staff sit with players to discuss if they will or won't be retained. If to be released, they're told early on in the season. Players will be offered trials prior to signing for the U21 squad.
Hale - a lot of scouts viewing all age groups to spot players and have a filtering process. Strong competition with other Cat 1 clubs, with Moor Farm "packed" every game to watch our games. Plans in place for reviewing contract offerings to 16/17 year olds to aid retenation. Opportunity and pathway to the first team is our USP as we can't offer the money PL clubs can.
 
Comments from Stephen Pearce and Paul Warne to follow...

Well I actually enjoyed the the football today.  We were well organised and resolute and generally made good decisions.  I like Hourihane and think he is doing his best for the team, but there's no way I would have started him in what is basically a two man midfield against Bolton. Against lesser teams our wing backs can push back their opposite numbers and wrestle some kind of control, but that was unlikely to work against Bolton.  I was definitely in favour of bringing on Smith for Gayle, even with Waggy on the bench.  One - nil to Bolton would have been a fair half time score, but the whole team deserve credit for keeping them out although Wildsmith, Adams and the back three will obviously take most of the plaudits.  The way we played in the second half was not very Derby like - complete focus at the expense of free flowing football and no slip ups.  We did go for a second goal though which I really liked, as it meant the ball was in and around the Bolton area for a spell of six or seven minutes and therefore nowhere near our goal.
Bolton are a good squad with a continuity of management and building of the team over several seasons.  To be four points above them at this point of only our second season in this division is a fantastic achievement - especially when you take into account our injury record and our inability to spend money on transfers.  Within 18 months we've gone from nearly no players to the brink of a record points haul.  Yes there are some potential areas of concern, but they can wait till the end of the season.  For now I'm going to bask in our greatest victory since L***s. UTR

I don't care about performances now - just grit, determination and getting a result.
Excellent result today, hope the week off is time enough for those carrying knocks to get fit for the next cup final...
 

🎵 Since they were were born...

The winger last night (on loan from Chelsea), Rankine showed abit of something, worth keeping tabs on

I think he did well enough yesterday, as he has done most of the games he’s been involved in the last few months. One heart in mouth moment as the ball deflected off his heel just wide of our goal, I thought I’d jinxed him by asking pre match when his last gaff was.
My only criticism is he either gets unnecessarily involved in wrestling during attacking set pieces (or is genuinely being fouled but not getting the decision 🤔).
Does make for pretty epic pics though! 

What an awesome win yesterday against Oxford. I reckon that’s just the warm up for the match against Peterborough. Bring on the New Year bounce 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

Oh what a night,
Late December 2023,
Oxford scored 2 but then we scored 3,
What a comeback, what a night!
 
PS - sorry to anyone I may have offended last night, I was a leetle bit drunk!

B4’s Sisters matchday record. Played 8, Won 7, Drawn 1, Goals For 17 Goals Against 5
…………….……im now convinced that someone somewhere is now definitely pulling a few strings. 👍🐑

B4’s Sisters matchday record. Played 7, Won 6, Drawn 1, Goals For 14, Goals Against 3 …………….……think someone somewhere is now definitely pulling a few strings. 👍🐑

This will be only the second away match I have been to! Look forward to meeting everyone who will be going. I’ve met a few already. What do we reckon the score will be? Who’s taking a flange 🤣

Until the last week it has been a long time since I had been at a Derby Match. My Dad has said I’ve probably seen some of the best football so far this season. So, this thread is starting with genuine positivity from me, as my brother Daniel (B4) would also have done. This match means so much more to the Beavis family than any result. We want everyone to wave their scraves and flanges (not literally, ladies 🙈) and raise the roof for both DCFC and Daniel. Please share the details of the applause far and wide. 
I’m reliably told I need to predict a 3-0 win to Derby. 
My dad, Andy and I, will be in the east stand, stairway 35. We’ll be having a drink before the match and at halftime. Please do come and say hello. 
 
#COYR   #GetReadyToRoar  #BeMoreB4 

I have some very sad news this evening.  Daniel (B4) died earlier this week. He was just 38.
As you know, he has been battling numerous health conditions for a long time, but always remained cheerful  and was the most loyal supporter of his beloved Rams, home and away.
He was at the match at Crewe and gave his full support as always. 
Daniel leaves behind a grieving dad, mum and sister. Our thoughts go out to them and we only hope they get a little comfort from knowing how well loved Daniel is by all who know him. 
Here are a couple of photos that his dad agreed could be shared. I'm sure many of you have others, as Daniel loved a selfie at the game.
David is hoping to arrange a more fitting tribute in time, but for now please raise a glass in his memory and a good Derby win today. I am sure that's what Daniel would have been doing tonight.
 

All I can think of is Paul Warne must have been visited by the Ghosts of Derby's past last night after watching that

When? Sat 2nd Sept
Where? Toughsheet Community Stadium, Burnden Way, Horwich BL6 6JW (Located in the Middlebrook Retail & Leisure Park).
Last Season Bolton finished 5th in League 1 last season before losing to Barnsley in the Playoff Semi-Final.
Opening 5 Matches The Trotters started the season with three straight L1 victories, scoring three goals in each game. They have since gone two without a win as Saturday's draw at Burton followed a heavy 0-4 defeat at home to Wigan.
BWFC Dangermen On paper it would appear to be their two top scorers, former Burton man Adeboyejo (four goals) and NI international Dion Charles (three goals). They have lost two fine loanees from last season though as keeper Trafford and the Liverpool RB Conor Bradley have moved on.
History This fixture will be the 136th time these two Founder Members of the Football League have met in a competitive match. In the Cup competitions it is Bolton who have had the upper hand with five wins to the Rams' two. 
In League encounters though it is Derby who have had the better of it. Of 128 League meetings DCFC have won exactly half. The overall League record is as follows:
P 128  W 64  D 23  L 41
In recent meetings between the sides Wanderers have won just once in the past dozen matches compared to the Rams' seven wins with four draws. 
Although this is an away match for us, our home record against Bolton is fantastic, with Derby unbeaten since a 0-2 loss at the Baseball Ground way back in Sept 1981. Since then the Rams have won 10 and drawn four on Derby soil. That run includes wins in the last five at Pride Park, scoring 17 and conceding three in those five games.
Connections Players who have represented both clubs include Frannie Lee, John McGovern, Jeff Chandler, Nicky Hunt and currently at Bolton is Cameron Jerome. There is also a connection through our ex-gaffer and their former player Phil Brown whilst ex-Rams player Ian Evatt is seemingly doing a fine job at Bolton as manager.
Pair of Titbits Firstly, Bolton's 73 seasons in the top division is the most of any English club without winning the title.
And secondly, and I like this one tbh, the first ever Football League goal came in this very fixture on 8th Sept 1888 on the original opening day of the season. It was scored at 3:47pm (3:45pm kick offs all round then) by Bolton's Kenny Davenport although Derby went on to win the game 6-3.
Rams Expected Line Up I'm not aware of any injuries picked up against Peterborough so we could see another unchanged starting XI as Derby seek a third straight win. 

No beard
No Rotherham connection 
Under 30
 
WTF is going on ?

Date: Saturday 26th August, 3PM
Venue: Weston Homes Stadium
Form Guide: Peterborough have started the season well as they aim to put their playoff nightmare from last season behind them. Their 1-0 defeat at Northampton ended the 100% record they opened up with in their first three matches. Impressive wins at Reading (1-0) and Barnsley (3-1) came either side of a 1-0 success over Charlton in their only home match to date. Nine points out of twelve sees them handily placed in third position albeit just three points ahead of ourselves.
Danger Men: Mason-Clark, Poku and Clarke-Harris are perhaps the trio most likely to get on the scoresheet. Often the most free-scoring (and conceding) of teams at this level, it is perhaps a surprise that their four matches thus far have only yielded seven goals in total (scored five, conceded two). Their current top scorer this season is midfielder Kyprianou with two.
Rams vs Posh History: The two clubs didn't meet competitively until 1963 and it was another decade until the second clash between the sides. Both those matches were FA Cup games and were both won by Derby.
The clubs first met in a league fixture on the opening day of the 1992/93 season when heavily fancied Derby lost 1-0 at London Road. Posh completed the double over us that season with a 3-2 success at the Baseball Ground, a victory which remains their only win on Derby soil.
This is a fixture in which the home side has largely dominated. Only 14 league games have been played with near-identical records for the teams.
Rams Record vs Posh
Home:  P 7   W 5   D 1   L 1    F 13  A 7
Away:   P 7   W 1   D 1   L 5    F 8  A 13
Six wins for each team then with a couple of draws thrown in. Derby are looking to avoid a fifth straight defeat away to Peterborough, with the Rams conceding ten goals in those last four visits. 
Derby's only victory on Peterborough territory came courtesy of a 3-0 win in January 2010 with the goals being a Steve Davies penalty followed by a brace from DJ Campbell. 
Derby Team News: It would be a tough call predicting the XI Paul Warne selects as - to the best of my knowledge - there are injury doubts about Joe Ward, Kane Wilson, Max Bird and Tom Barkhuizen. There is also the possibility of transfers this week. Whatever the personnel available, most Derby fans will be expecting Liam Thompson and Jake Rooney to be given the chance to further showcase their abilities after both added plenty to the overall Derby performance against Fleetwood. The feelgood factor watching the younger Rams play well was the biggest boost I left the ground with today and hopefully next to get league minutes will be Dajaune Brown. To that end, a spot on the bench for him at Posh would be lovely please Mr Warne.
Summary: This is a tough match and if I'm still rolling for the trip to Bolton which follows then I'll be pleasantly surprised. We shouldn't fear anyone in this division but I think it's fair to acknowledge that Peterborough are a more settled team than us right now and that a draw - and especially another improved performance - would represent a decent return as well as ending that four-match run of defeats in this particular fixture.
 
 

RamsTrust

4. Expats. I live in the Netherlands. 10 years ago I could, for a Saturday game, fly in on the Friday morning, 2 nights hotel, match ticket, 3 days food and drink, travel from and to the airport and back home Sunday evening all for a mere £250. Fast forward to pre covid and the cost had gone up to £350. Last season it was up to £500 (did 5 home games) and the 2 away games I came back for (hospitality at FGR and Barnsley) cost closer to £800 a pop. It's not a question of "plum" games, it's a question of having the money and it not clashing with life over here. Looking at between 6 and 8 home games this season, one a month roughly. Quite sure there'll be a plum one in there somewhere but there'll also be a Wycombe/ Cheltenham/Fleetwood/Stevenage or two to compensate.
5. There'll be those with shift patterns that don't permit a season ticket as well or dependants for whom they care......

He's also said Kane Wilson this week... who's going Bolton. Throw enough s**** at the wall and some tends to stick.