Ram@Lincoln

Are we still able to sign free agents after the window closes? So in reality with our current circumstances, the window isn't that much of a restriction as we're only going for frees and loans anyway. Likes of Andy Carroll being a free agent can wait?

I'm reading into no rumours or links today, whatever happens happens. I've put the official Derby twitter page on notifications, when anything comes through I'll have a look. We are ultimately powerless and have no influence whatsoever regardless of opinions on this and that player. If someone signs for us, I'll back them 100% as a supporter ought to do.

36 minutes ago, chezzyram said:

It's really interesting how opinion varies so much amongst fans. I have friends and family who are diehard blades and they all rate him highly, raw but a better long term prospect than Jebbison. They also think that the Burton link is plausible as the club were impressed by Jebbisons treatment and development whilst on loan there. 

I just took my mates opinion similar to how I view Stretton and Cybulski, both got bright futures ahead - tried their best in cameos but desperately need senior experience regardless of the level just to find their feet and confidence. Carlisle will do Stretton the world of good and could come back all fighting, likewise with this Osula chap.

Look at the difference between the first few senior games Max Bird and Liam Thompson each played for us. Bird was completely out of place as a young boy in a mens team. Out powered/muscled/fought on everything, rabbit in headlights. Thompson came in flying and was great from the off, then trailed off like in the Boro away game - regardless they both have great futures ahead.

Asked a Blade colleague about him, "Looks to have good potential but incredibly raw, rabbit in headlights in his sub appearances, needs roughing up in lower leagues to find himself like Jebbison did at Burton."

Darren Robinson insight:

For most away games this season it seems supporters will mostly have a choice, seated or standing. @B4ev6is, if you wish to stand, go in the terraces. If you wish to sit with the folk that want to sit down, go in the seats. It would be rather ignorant to stand in the seats if given a choice. If not, again, be courteous and gauge the vibe around you. If you're sat say middle onwards to the front, sit down for those who can't stand.

At Fleetwood, I wished to sit down so went in the seats with everyone else seated. At Morecambe I'm standing as going with work colleagues who are rowdy chaps. 

1 hour ago, MackworthRamIsGod said:

He said 2 names were close 5 weeks ago. He then said last week that he is confident that by the end of the window we will be where he wants us to be.

Now he has said 2 names are close, he is trying everything he can to get us where we need to be but there are no guarantees.

If its true we have enquired about Gregory and then Jutkiwicz, I'd say we are doing our age old tactic of ringing every tom dick and Harry in desperation to see who they have available. 

 

 

I'd be concerned if we didn't have a list of multiple targets and fully concentrated on just the one, then eventually didn't get him and had no time for others. I'd assume for every position we're recruiting for or for every player signed they have countless others ready and waiting. Gregory or Jutkiewicz would definitely strengthen us and score goals in this team. Both proven at the league above and plenty experienced to pass on their wisdom to the kids.

2 hours ago, Jimbo Ram said:

Oduroh can play as a striker??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Bad grammar by me, was referring to Patterson.

15 hours ago, Donkey Derby said:

If Callum Patterson available might be worth a look

Can play  right full back or as a back up striker who usually scores against us.

Also only 27 and not in Wednesdays plans, so more likely they would be looking to get rid

Doubles up the cover for only one wage. Cracking player, the like that runs his heart out every game. Frees up Knight to move forward but doesn't stop Oduroh's progression since he can play as striker too. 

4 hours ago, Tamworthram said:

It's a shame the survey wasn't adapted for football before actually being used for football.

Exactly this. If you're going to use something, make sure it's made for that reason. You'll get a better response (be that quantity or quality) as the respondents won't get annoyed or bored going through it. This is just very shoddy and half arsed by sending out a survey that's not completely fit for purpose.

My vegetarian partner was accosted on the street yesterday by someone trying to sell a meat subscription box. If the first question was "do you eat meat?" not asking what subscriptions does your household have, talking about supermarkets in general and how to save money on shopping you'd get a better reply. 

4 hours ago, Jimbo Ram said:

Didn’t stand out at non league level in the SPL….can’t see him doing anything much for us ?

Agreed, he had a dreadful record in his three full seasons at Celtic;

16/17 - 25 goals and 10 assists in 50 games.

17/18 - 18 goals and 17 assists in 55 games.

18/19 - 17 goals and 6 assists in 55 games.

Overall - 60 goals and 33 assists in 160 games - 93 goal contribution in 3 seasons is dreadful. 

Wildsmith 6

Knight 6

Stearman 7

Cashin 6 

Roberts 5

Smith 5

Bird 7

Hourihane 6

Mendez-Laing 6 

Barkhuizen 7

Collins 6

Sibley 7

Dobbin 7

Forsyth 6

McGoldrick 5

Definitely be on board with Fozzy starting tonight, Roberts had a rough time for me and struggled. I haven't seen anything of his distribution to the forward areas, Fozzy showed his evergreen ability of delivering a killer cross vs Mansfield for the first goal. As already said, Shrewsbury will be big and physical in our faces, Roberts is a fine footballer but for now I'd take experience.

6 minutes ago, Psycho Billy said:

Had a few quotes and grounds around a hundred miles away are coming in at £1000. That’s for a 50 seat bus. 
 I’ve been organising/sourcing trips/holidays etc for small groups of people for the last 12years or so, so have a bit of an understanding of what’s involved. The danger with larger groups is everything costs more to pay for, before you get any money in
 

Sounds like you've got it under control with your experience. As you'll know it isn't as straight forward as booking a coach as otherwise everyone would be at it! Getting the confirmed numbers will be the pain, perhaps a upfront payment to confirm a seat booking priced assuming a low turnout but still worthwhile operating? If you sell less than a minimum turnout, refund, if you sell out, either put the profit towards the next bus or refund the difference. Maybe put the profit towards running a "free" end of season bus that's fully paid by the profit throughout the season.

If it's organised you'll have to be in dialogue with the football police to coordinate the time of stops, where you're stopping, the route you're taking and the estimated arrival time to each ground. Lots of things to organise etc that you wouldn't exactly think about from the off. Probably best to email the supporters liaison officer to enquire about this and ways of going about it. Parking at the stadium could be discussed too, people on the various branch coaches park there for away games.

A friend of mine recently organised a coach for his daughter's dance school to go to a competition in London, with petrol prices and labour costs going up they were looking at over £2000 for the full day out. Just covering costs on a 50 odd seater you're at £40 each. That was for a multi stop pickup in the early morning, drive to the Excel in London then pickup again in the early evening to arrive back around 9/10pm. I'd imagine an away day, pick up in the morning from PPS, travel and stop off, arriving at the away ground, game, then return travel would be a similar full day out so cost similar money.

I'm sure the supporters branches like Alfreton and the like how long standing relationships with the coach companies to get preferential rates but still I'm sure their costs have rocketed this season with the fuel crisis. 

3 hours ago, B4ev6is said:

Not harsh at all you can not do that unless it is our players then it is fine.

But the thing is still that no punches were thrown.

41 minutes ago, Ghost of Clough said:

The closest I can think of is the little push on Collins when he was on the ground after he missed that excellent chance.

Ah yes, two players coming together in a 50/50 to compete for the ball. Nothing in it. Collins unlucky not to score. 

When abouts in the game was this? I can't recall this incident.

33 minutes ago, roboto said:

It is slim pickings at the moment, but I hope the recruitment team can pull a rabbit from the hat somewhere.

I had a check in on the players you've listed.

Christie - Not again for me. Although might be the best of a bad bunch.

Torraj - Only 18, think we have our young RB sorted with Oduroh

Gibson - Left footed apparently, so wouldn't be suited to RB

Jeanvier - Another centre back, but he also signed for Auxerre last month

Dendoncker - Appears to only played 6 games while on loan at St. Johnstone last season and got sent back after only half of the loan period.

As I said earlier, Todd Kane is wanted out by Coventry and Oxford fans reckon he's joining them. Surely we can beat them to him, attacking right back, good age and experience.

Don't all the American teams have to publicly release exactly how much each player gets paid and what they bought them for? If so we'll no doubt quickly see what the deal is all about.

43 minutes ago, Foreveram said:

Shrewsbury tickets on sale to members 20+ this morning total allocation 1,652 sold so far 525. Remaining total 1,127.

Wowzers some going Derby supporters for a Tuesday night game!

I'd be all over Todd Kane for the right back slot, not wanted at Coventry to cut their wage bill. Decent age at 28 (soon to be 29), lots of experience at Championship level. Definitely more of an attacking full back like Byrne was to get those crosses in for the strikers. With Coventry wanting him gone, perhaps a freebie deal like Collins was with Cardiff. Looking on Twitter it seems like Oxford fans think they're signing him so he's obviously open to dropping down a league.

Capping sales at 4pm on Saturday to keep the membership numbers limited somewhat.
https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2022/08/away-ticket-membership-update

4 minutes ago, EnigmaRam said:

It’s al gone quiet in Robertson. I thought he looked a great prospect. Hopefully we’re still gonna sign him

@Big Trav said he's been offered a contract so hopefully that gets sorted soon. Steal the march ahead of Sheffield United.

45 minutes ago, Big Trav said:

Ah here we are again! Been told that Dobbin and Joseph are “pretty much done”. Kevin McDonald being brought into the club to play a similar role to Stearman and McDonald will be mentoring Bird and Robinson and this season will aim for Darren Robinson to be a first teamer. Told Knight won’t leave unless a big bid comes in. Knight doesn’t want to leave but cannot be playing in league 1 for ages. Not 100% confirmed this but apparently there’s a gentleman’s agreement with Knight saying that if we’re not up there in the league he will be allowed to leave. Rosenior is pushing hard for Knight and Bird on new deals too. 

Is Joseph that Swansea youth on the permanent deal? Then Dobbin the young Everton lad on load? Sounds good stuff to me.

Also says that Palace have offered only £30k for Ebiowei so it's going to tribunal and we've received £290k for Ebosele. Sickening really. Thanks Mel.