Anag Ram

Imagine beating Cambridge and celebrating on the pitch, only to be deducted three points for doing so 😩

Our issue for many seasons was that we were a soft touch in physical games away from home. There were certain fixtures I used to dread because we had little chance of coping and would concede possession from start to finish.

Warne and the staff have addressed this, albeit in a low league. We are more robust now and competitive in every league game.

No team in League One has played good football consistently this year. That’s largely down to a lack of quality.  

Just now, minesahartington said:

perhaps my gender needs to be a bit more fluid…👀

Can we choose ‘fluid’ as our gender now?

1 hour ago, Chester40 said:

The Bolton result was massive, we had no room for error before then.

Now, even worst case scenario and we lose and Bolton win. We still play the bottom of the table at home, needing to win and improve our goal difference. And a draw keeps it totally in our hands.

It's almost a free hit tomorrow,  which for our stress levels and their mentality is massive. No early goal or even a goal against us tomorrow isn't panic stations, as a draw is still 'fine'.

I just can't see us not winning at least one of those 2 games and that will be enough I think regardless. 

We can go out confident but not desperate, gradually put the squeeze on them (they would take a draw I'm sure), don't give them any chances and go for the win but with an eye on not conceding. 

Can't see us changing much. 

Back 3 worked, Sibley and Wilson give us an outlet. Also gives us the option of 3 in the middle. Can't see us throwing Bird straight in, Hourihane is being edged out. Adams and Smith have been great. Thompson gives us energy, why change it.  Collins starts...

NML hasn't been as good as he can be and ends up out of position,  but Collins and Washington looked dreadful the other week...so we go again and can change style with CBT coming on wide with NML, Barks can come anywhere along the line and Washington or Waghorn give us more goal threat if needed or a more obvious 2 up top.

Can't see any reason anything can go wrong.....

 

It did against Orient, but Bradley’s selection was more to do with aerial power from corners, an area of weakness in the opposition spotted by the coach.

Prior to that a back four was also effective. I think Tommo might start in a three man midfield with Barks supporting NML and Collins. That will put them under far more pressure.

Collins and NML on their own created very little. We won’t be lucky enough to score from multiple set pieces again. We need more creativity.

However, I moaned like hell about Bradley’s inclusion against Orient, so what do I know? 😊

Unlikely but we could be one day from escaping League One.

Tantalising.

I’m surprised Liverpool and Man City aren’t allowed to join at the semi final stage.

53 minutes ago, StantonRam said:

Sombreros...I turned up in mine last time to find that only about 6 people in the whole place had also bothered, so stuff that for a game of soldiers.

Me too!

People just don’t take you seriously when you pitch up like this 

The Regime on Sky.

Arse gravy at its most watery.

Just watched the first episode of Mammoth on BBC.

Gym teacher from the 70s comes back to life after being frozen in the snow for 45 years.

Resumes his role with the same attitude and values. Good fun.

9 minutes ago, Scott129 said:

I do think there is a bit of an attitude and entitlement with some Bolton fans though. A lot of them seem to think they're the best side in the division, based purely on the attractive brand of football they play.

Even on here, we had that one Wanderlust bloke, who was extremely salty during/after the match. 

I think there’s a danger of extrapolating the views of a few fans as a representation of a more general sentiment.

After all, there are a few on here we wouldn’t want to be our emissaries.

I think we have heard from fans of both Portsmouth and Bolton that their team has been inconsistent and often underwhelming.

The league has been decided by the team that survived its blip the best.

Portsmouth also did good business in the window.

Bolton have been hit with injuries like us and have been struggling towards the finish line.

I hope that if we do get second place, Bolton are the team that makes it up from the playoffs.

11 minutes ago, mozza said:

Who is the official FRGS? Wilson or og? 

Had to be Kane’s shins

Warne pretty much admitted that Bradley‘a inclusion on Saturday was because his coach Matt H had identified a weakness Orient had from corners.

Cambridge won’t be as obliging.

I’d revert to 4-3-3

                         Wildsmith

  Wilson      Nelson     Cashin     Sibley

             Smith   Adams   Thompson   

Barkhuisen       Collins   Mendez-Laing

Is Jordan Pickford really England’s number one?

1 hour ago, B4’s Sister said:

A massive thank you to everyone who has wished Daniel a happy birthday, promoted his birthday fundraising, generously donated, and kept Daniel’s memory going. You have raised around £500, taking the total up over £1100.

The first birthday without Daniel being here was very hard for the whole family but my parents have asked me to let you know that on the donations and well wishes helped make the day easier for them. They are genuinely overwhelmed by your generosity. 

I sometimes feel that I might be banging on about losing Dan too much on this forum but all the kindness you guys have shown has helped me through the hardest time of my life and is appreciated more than you will ever know.  Thank you again. 
 

Let’s all keep a bit of B4 positivity going in all aspects of life as well as the football 💖

#BeMoreB4

Banging on is bang on. Keep it up!

I think the combination works best. 4-3-3 so midfield doesn’t get overrun.

Difficulty there has been getting the right combination. Adams and Smith has worked well lately but in Bird’s absence we don’t have an automatic third (Thompson was okay on Saturday but Orient were rubbish)

If we had Bird with Smith and Adams for protection, we’d have quicker ball to the wide players so crosses are more effective.

Ideally we’d have slick first time passing, except our players have the limitations of League One quality so sometimes passes go astray. That’s not ideal in a tense, must win run-in so it doesn’t happen.

Pragmatism has worked this far. The target was promotion and we are within touching distance.

11 hours ago, cstand said:

There are cave drawings of that joke 😊

9 hours ago, MaltRam said:

It won't happen, at least not for Will's next contract, but he remains my favourite player this century.

He’s a good player, but what we’re asking is that he leaves his job in the City to go back to McDonalds where he enjoyed work as a younger man.

Sadly, I think his financial expectations are far beyond what we could offer him.

Great trip again yesterday. Thanks to all who made it possible.

Would recommend it to anyone in the region who wants a different routine on match day.

Lots of amiable chat amongst Rams fans, a spot of lunch and a drop off closer to the ground than you’d get by car or train.

The organisers guarantee a home win every time the coach operates (may have made that last bit up but two from two recently!)

With Lincoln’s challenge fading do we think Joe Taylor might be a realistic target? Would be great to have a striker with genuine pace.

11 minutes ago, AndyB said:

Is it a tiny bit harsh to suggest that Mel had had a couple of tinctures before his chat on the Pitch at HT?

We said the same.

Purely medicinal I’m sure 

ATG

1Wildsmith 6

35Nelson 7

5Bradley 7.5 (for the goals)

6Cashin 7

2Wilson 6.5

12Smith 7.5

23Fornah 6

32Adams 7.5

10Waghorn 6

17Sibley 7.5

16 Tommo 6.5

4Hourihane 6

9Collins 6.5

14Washington 6

11Méndez-Laing 6.5

7Barkhuisen 6.5

Difficult to assess Derby’s performance when Orient were so poor but the application was there. 

Glad they had a Subbuteo goalkeeper 😁

Super day, erasing the memory of Wednesday.…..

and relax.

6 hours ago, RoyMac5 said:

Ayia Napa, early season. But fortunately I'm too old for the 'nightlife'! 😆

I’m sure there must be bingo and a quiz somewhere 

Another great opening sequence and theme 

Steptoe and son.

Derby should run out to it.