Sly

For the most part, the Trotters fans who have posted on here this season have been sound dudes. Our 'rivalry' goes back to the first ever league match day in 1888, when we played each other and you raced into a 3-0 lead before we pegged you back and eventually ran out 6-3 winners. I'm definitely rooting for Bolton in the playoffs.
Incidentally, my wife's great-great uncle played in that 3-6 game (Walter Raulstone).

Thanks mate, very classy & to be fair, pretty standard from Bolton fans. Don't really recognise this recent suggestion from some that your fans are anymore entitled than any other big club. Really hoping you make it up through the playoffs - good support with lots of history & like us, had a horrible last few years. On the pitch, I also think you're by far the strongest side - Peterborough have a punchers chance in a one off game but lack depth behind that first XI & are prone to collapse, Barnsley have absolutely shot it & Oxford are tidy enough but a bit lightweight in this company.
Bet Championship are looking forward to Pompey, Derby & potentially Bolton back - probably more so than the Prem relegation teams coming down!! All the best 👍

Pompey, Derby and Bolton were clearly the best three sides in the division IMO (Peterborough are far too inconsistent), it's a shame that one of us has to go via the playoffs.
I have a bit of a soft spot for Oxford so wouldn't mind seeing them come up, but I think of the four Bolton are most likely, and would be most deserving. 
TBH, of the four, anyone but Peterborough for me. Nothing against the fans, but Ferguson trying to play smart at the potential expense of Burton and Cambridge didn't impress me. Poetic justice that they didn't get the SF they wanted (Barnsley) and instead get a more in-form Oxford who recently battered them 5-0.
Good luck against Barnsley mate 🙂

Hi all,
I just wanted to pop on and say congrats on a successful season and well deserved promotion. I know there's been some ill feeling between fans, mostly on the toxic social media platforms (not helped by a large number of idiots of which we at Bolton have f****** loads). I've scanned through your forum and a few others to regularly to check in on the thoughts of some of our promotion rivals over the season and as forums go, this one is generally positive and full of good and honest opinions. We have another fan called Wanderlust who often peruses the various forums and I feel he is a good fan for honest opinions too. I hope we can join you, I'm sure there's plenty of you hoping we stumble and end up stuck in L1 for at least another year, mainly for the fans who've been making stupid excuses for us not winning points this season. Reality is, you and Pompey were the most consistent teams over the season and thoroughly deserve your promotion, so well done and good luck in the championship next year. With your stadium and fanbase and what your fans have been through (trust me, I know what it feels like too), you deserve some good times now!
 
All the best gents (and ladies)

I don't think we're looking at quite a George Thorne scenario but I imagine we'll make series of bids, slowly rising, until one is finally accepted. I'd say absolute max £400-500k plus add ons. 
For a player they weren't using, who didn't cost them a fee, and is in the last 13 months of his contract; I don't imagine there will be too much resistance.
Cardiff, currently 10 points off playoffs are far more likely to be looking at tailoring their squad to a (unlikely) top 6 finish than looking to recall a grafter. 
Ebou seems like a good guy who appreciates the simple things - what he has seen today, the key role he has played in recent months, and the affection the fans already have for him makes me think he will want the move. Win for both teams and the player.
Also to just say the way he celebrates making tackles or winning fouls at times is one of the big moments of the season for me. I love the guys passion. 

I'm gutted that we're losing Max, but mindful that the cash he brought in secured us Ebou and Gayle and his insistence on being loaned back and the performances he's put in during that loan very much helped us to secure promotion. I think he was stung by some of the criticism he received and I'd say he's answered his detractors in the best way possible.
Nothing left to do then save for thanking the lad and wishing him every success.
Needs to return to us sooner, rather than later, mind! He's still a Ram after all.

I’m so happy for David Clowes. The man is a hero for saving our club and to see everyone standing up for him brought a tear to my eye. It was amazing when he lifted that cup. The Be More B4 also really got me, I hope Daniel’s Dad and sister managed to enjoy the day, although it must have been so emotional.
Massive thank you to Paul Warne and all his staff. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea but he’s worked so hard and fully deserves this.
Wish my dear old Dad could have been there, but I was with my son which is the most beautiful thing. It’s the first time he’s seen us achieve something and he said it’s the best day of his life! 
I bloody love this club.

I have no voice. I'm off to a brewery to get twatted. Can't wait to read this thread tomorrow. Up the effing rams.

Listening to Radio Derby from North Wales and they're just mentioning Colin Bloomfield, then I saw this and, while a little teary earlier, I'm gone.....❤️

Bit choked reading this mate and of course everyone respects and understands your decision, but would it not be worth a thread on here, or contacting the club to see if there are other older fans in the same situation, who could perhaps get together on matchdays. It must be tough to sit there feeling lonely while among 30k fellow Rams, but there must be others in similar scenarios.
Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best and hope we'll still see you pop up on here from time to time! 

Many congratulations from Pompey. Well deserved. 

Welcome back to the championship.

This.
So much angst, I am just enjoying the feeling that this is our Club, competing.
Missing Daniel and others who haven't made the journey with us.
Enjoy your day! 🐏⚽️

Sadly this will be my last match today. My first was in 1956 as a 13year old, My dad used to take me before that but he stopped going when we went down to the third division north. My mate and I would catch the 12 oclock bus from Melbourne and be the first in the ground. We stood in the Normanton end pigeon loft, I think it was 3 shilling. To this day I remember that team. We were champions in 1957 and I ran onto the pitch after the last match against Southport, Ray Straw scored 37 goals that season, The next ten years saw me start work, get married and have two children, I had moved to Derby, and after my family, the Rams were the most important thing in my life I never missed a home game in those ten years even though we were only an average second division side. And then in 1966 after England won the world cup my mate and I decided to have a season ticket, Little did we know what would happen that season, I was at work one day and a Rams supporting work mate told me we had signed a player from Bradford Park Avenue, his name was Kevin Hector I'd never heard of him but he was without doubt the most wonderful footballer to grace the Baseball Ground I had ever seen, and because of this we wanted to see more players like him which led to Tim Ward getting the sack and BC becoming Manager, what followed was ten years of unbelievable success and enjoyment. And then things started to go wrong off and on the pitch and I stopped being a season ticket holder during Peter Taylors time as manager, i still loved The Rams of course and when I turned 65 and retired my old mate from Melbourne and I bought season tickets again. But sadly covid left my best friend of 80 years with a dementia problem and he know no longer knows me. For the last two seasons I have been going alone to the match but its just not the same for me. Therefore I am calling it a day, as I write this I am welling up as I will do this afternoon. Thank you Derby County for every thing I will love you till I die.     

Absolutely buzzing for Saturday , let’s make the atmosphere electric , let’s roar the boys on to promotion , let’s show our heartfelt thanks to David Clowes , let’s be as one the Black and White Army 
     The rebirth of our beloved club has begun 
      Believe ladies and gentlemen 
      The Rams are on the way back

I'm embarrassed to be in League One and can see where you're coming from. But given the league tried to drive us out of existence, and almost succeeded, if we do return to the Championship I will celebrate it. And hope we can right on through to the top tier. 

For those of a nervous disposition regards Saturday………here’s some chill medicine! 👍😁
Review of the match, pinched from the Carlisle forum.
Derby need a point for promotion and this can do funny things to you mentally. However, some pointers which may settle them down somewhat. There is staggering 69 point gap between the sides. They’re +78 ahead of us on goal difference. Home record for Derby, played 22, won 14, drawn 4, lost 4 – scored 39, conceded 18. Two of those home defeats came in August against Wigan and Oxford. They also lost against Peterborough on New Year’s Day and Charlton at the end of February – but since then have won their last five home games.
Last but not least, we have a Derby legend running our team. He has more appearances for the Rams and scored more goals than for any other club. Is he really going to be trying to win this fixture and potentially deny them promotion? Hmm…
Derby’s a decent away day, so those of you lucky enough to be in attendance - please take a second to take it all in, it may be a very long time before we “enjoy” a Saturday afternoon fixture in the sun at ground and club like this again, so make the most of it.

…………..all seems fair comment to me. 👍

Saw this pop up on my phone a minute ago. There’s only one name that I think should take this home.
we didn’t catch pompy as he wished but he’s carried us to nearly clinching the promotion we all want. 
 
#B4

Pride Park Stadium
KO - 12.30
Ticket Update: Forgeddaboutit
Match is  also live on Sky Sports
What it is to be a Derby fan. After Northampton, even yours truly was feeling a tad deflated. With Blackpool, Pompey and Wycombe next up, my mood was more pensive and hopeful, than upbeat, as many others seemed to feel that we'd blown another golden opportunity. In fairness, that was understandable, if only to a point. Happily though, it appears that Warne and the chaps did not get the memo informing them of their impending capitulation and decided to go on an 5 game unbeaten run instead. That effort not only cemented us in the top 2, as others buckled under pressure, but now sees us teetering right on the edge of promotion glory; agonisingly poised, we have one foot in the sunlit uplands of the Championship (*shudder), the other remaining firmly planted in the nightmarish possibility of yet more play-off induced football terrors. But need we really be worried? 
After recent history and the near demise of our great club, I think it's understandable that some Derby fans might adopt a mildly cautious outlook and demeanour. In recent years, whatever may go wrong, typically has done and in so much, it's fair to say that a robust constitution is a mandatory requirement for a group of fans who've had more than their fair share share of emotional kickings over the last decade. Most Rams will confess that in some ways, it's hard not to expect the worst, based on recent history, but then isn't the dream what it's all about? After all, if you strip away the hopes and dreams, what do you really have left? It's been a season to test our nerves, that much is clear, but despite a lot of infighting, we've hung it all together in the end and here we are, fate firmly in our own hands. Remember too, that for some of our young 'uns, Saturday is a potentially momentous day. Automatic promotions don't come around every year and many won't have experienced one in their lives to date and for our elder statesmen and women, this could be an emotional roller coaster too. 
Outside the club itself, expectations are sky high. The bookmakers have all but closed the book on our promotion chances and after all, a single point is all we require against a Carlisle side who remain 10 points adrift at the very foot of the table and with seemingly nothing other than professional pride at stake. The oddsmakers are undoubtedly right from a statistical standpoint, but playing devil's advocate for a moment, Carlisle will view this as a free hit and will play without pressure (think Wycombe) and for some, the game provides an ideal opportunity to showcase their talents in a high-profile game with the Sky cameras watching on. Summer moves may beckon, for any player who shines.
Worthy favourites then, IMHO, but doubtless a good few will still be anxiously awaiting Saturday's outcome.
Not me mind. I’ll be drunk from @noon on Wednesday.
The Permutations:
Quite simple now, on paper at least; a win or a draw and we say, 'hasta la visa, baby' and kiss this league goodbye, hopefully forever. A loss, by a single goal would leave Bolton needing to beat Posh 3-0 in order to break the hearts of the Rams faithful, snatching 2nd place by virtue of having scored more goals. Not quite the proverbial slam-dunk then, but we're strong favourites, all the same and rightly so IMO.
Elsewhere, we, along with Bolton, will be hoping Posh slip up midweek; Posh will be hoping they don't and Barnsley and Lincoln will be nervously looking over their shoulders with both Oxford and Blackpool snapping at their heels. I'd dearly love to see Blackpool snatch the last playoff slot! 
 


The key fixtures for the final rounds, with promotion hopefuls underlined, are as below:
Tuesday 23/04-2024
Cheltenham vs Peterborough - 19.45
Saturday 27/04/2024
Barnsley vs Northampton - 12.30
Exeter vs Oxford - 12.30
Lincoln Vs Portsmouth - 12.30
Peterborough vs Bolton - 12.30
Reading Vs Blackpool - 12.30
My guesses are Posh to beat Cheltenham and draw with Bolton. Barnsley to beat Northampton, Oxford to turn over Exeter, Lincoln and Pompey to draw and Blackpool to beat Reading. Make of that what you will! 
Our Opponents – A Brief History:
Founded in 1896 as Shaddongate United, Carlisle United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Cumbria, who have played their home games at Brunton Park since 1909. The club's traditional kit is blue with white and red detail, whilst the badge takes elements from the city's coat of arms by including two Wyverns. They are nicknamed the "Blues", due to their kit, as well as the "Cumbrians". The club is the northernmost English professional football club seated close to the Anglo-Scottish border. Crowned Lancashire Combination, Division Two champions in 1906–07, they entered the North Eastern League in 1910 and went on to win the league title in 1921–22, before being elected into the Football League in 1928. 
Head to Head:
Sadly, Carlisle have a pretty decent record against our beloved Rams. Twenty-three competitive fixtures have seen Derby win 9, draw 6 and lose 8. Our first fixture, in the old Division 3 North back in 1955, saw Derby win 3-0. More recently, the two teams have met three time in the last decade with Derby bookending the decade with 2-0 wins, with a 1-1 between them.
Games Played: 23
Games Won:9
Games Drawn:6
Games Lost:8
Our last Meeting:
The corresponding fixture at Brunton Park was way back in September with a James Collins brace giving the game a rather more comforting veneer than was perhaps warranted. Carlisle looked tidy and Gibson and Moxon in particular, gave Derby plenty to think about. On that performance, you might have been forgiven for thinking Carlisle would do ok this season, but it’s fair to say that things have not gone well for the Cumbrian outfit and their relegation was a formality from some way out.
Carlisle United - Recent Form:
Carlisle's recent form has been distinctly patchy, with their last 5 games comprising a 3-1 home loss to that awful club near Henley, another home loss by the odd goal to Blackpool, a hard-earned away win at Cheltenham, before consecutive losses to Northampton and Lincoln. 
Saturday 20th April
Carlisle United 1 Wycombe Wanderers 3
Saturday 13th April
Carlisle United 0 Blackpool 1
Tuesday 9th April
Cheltenham Town 0 Carlisle United 1
Saturday 6th April
Northampton Town 2 Carlisle United 0
Monday 1st April
Carlisle United 1 Lincoln City 3
Carlisle United - Key Players:
Quite a relief that we won’t be facing Owen Moxon, snapped up by Pompey in the January window. Most of what was good about Carlisle seemed to start with him, but in Jordan Gibson, they still retain some meaningful threat. He's tricky with ball at feet, looks to attack and has a shot on him. He tops the scorer’s chart with 7 goals and 3 assists whilst Sam Lavelle with 4 assists is a goal provider to note. Mellish with 5 goals and Butterworth and Garner with 4 a piece, round out the principal Carlisle goal threats. it would be remiss not to mention also that their current manager, is none other than the much respected, Paul Simpson. Nudge, nudge, wink wink, Paul! The other ex-Rams fun fact would be that Luke Plange had a brief and unremarkable spell with the Cumbrians this season, before seeking warmer weather with HJK Helsinki.
Rams Team News:
Some will be itching for change after a stuttering performance at Cambridge. My own thoughts on that game are that Cambridge fought ridiculously hard and we had to try and match that extreme intensity before we could even think about playing our game. The pitch looked both short and narrow to me had clearly been subject to a hosepipe ban and I think all of these factors led to a feisty and extremely combative game, from which we did well to emerge with maximum points. Back on home soil, a larger pitch and a (marginally) better surface, I’d expect us to look rather more fluid.
Sadly, this will be the last time we get to watch young Max Bird play for the club. There’s been some really silly stuff written about our most technically gifted footballer and I have to confess that seeing him leave for Brizzle will be like a kick to the gut. That said, the fee garnered enabled some key signings and it could be argued that in hindsight, this was smart business. Nah, I'm not convinced either, but needs must? Quite possibly. Irrespective, I’d love to see him among the starting 11 for his swansong. I’m sure the Derby faithful will give him the send-off he deserves, in what may be a somewhat bittersweet celebration, for both us as fans and Max himself, lest we forget.
With that in mind, here’s my team selection, which will of course in no way resemble the gaffer’s:
 

 

The defence really needs to remain unchanged. A more determined and obdurate back 3 you’d struggle to find. Wildsmith retains the #1 jersey, despite some idiosyncratic ball distribution. To my way of thinking, he makes saves that matter and that outweighs his wayward passing.
I’ve drafted in Bird to replace Korey Smith, who would perhaps be hard done by should Warne follow suit. Max would partner the irrepressible Ebou Adams, a pairing that ought to give us a solid foundation in midfield. Working hard on the flanks, I’d have Wilson and Sibley, two players I absolutely love. The latter especially, has really matured over the course of the season, proving yours truly and others wrong in the process and he has oodles of ability if this progress and work ethic can be maintained.
Thommo is also retained and will hopefully sit a little higher and rat like his life depends on it. He and Collo put in Herculean shifts against Cambridge, doing the work that seldom attracts the plaudits, but is often key to our success. He can also interchange with a front two of Collo and Nate, who should give Carlisle plenty to think about. Barks, Gayle and Smith appear the obvious change-ups, with Hourihane, Vickers and Elder in reserve, but much will depend on who is truly healthy on the day.
And that, ladies and gentlemen is me done for the season. I’m fancying us for a decent performance, with a little style on show after an early goal to settle the nerves. 3-0 is the call with Collo, Nate and Sibs my fancies as the scorers. After some 55 games across the season, this one has definitely felt like something of a marathon, but in spite of the divided fan base, I’ve enjoyed seeing us tough it out. The football has been mildly bipolar, great one week, not so much the next, but I think all sides at this lowly level are inconsistent, only us and Pompey slightly less so than the others. Should we progress, of course we will face different challenges, but we will also have a very different playing roster. Doubts about the style of football will persist, but personally, I don't think Clowes will even contemplate letting Warne go and as such, Warne will retain my support until such time as he doesn't! 
Here’s hoping then,  for a resounding win, a respectful but joyous celebration of an important and healing day for all connected with the club and one that the majority can safely enjoy. Also, calm and stress-free journeys for any fans travelling significant distances and a bright and shiny, new future for Derby County Football club.
COYR
BE MORE B4
 

We don't know where it will end but we all know how it started. David Clowes is a hero.

I have always liked PW but at one stage I passed over to the just about had enough of this side of the argument after a negative spell but never stopped supporting and wanting us to win. But then I stopped doing the matchday prediction thread and Adams was signed. Not sure which had greatest effect! 
With the injuries he has had, especially to forward players, PW and his team have had a brilliant run-in. Hope we get the dream end next week with a win. Saw some idiot post thanks for promotion now bye bye on twitter. Words fail me.  On the injuries front couple of weeks ago heard a radio discussion on EPL and how many coaches were linking increase in certain injuries to the additional time being played and general delays in games this season. Sure this will be discussed more
 
Should have stuck with my initial view of PW that he is just what we needed post admin. Looking forward to him being the boss next season wherever we are. 

Come on guys! Paul Warne has got to be good. He got us a win yesterday with us only playing football for 30 minutes! That second half was absolutely terrible, probably worse than the fiascos against Stevenage, Wycombe and Northampton. And yet again we have spent most of the match being outplayed and even dominated by a team right at the other end of the table. BUT - he Has got us the win, and he has got us promoted, bar a catastrophe next Saturday.
Most of the brick-ends thrown Paul's way are because of his intransigence, particularly last season and the first part of this one. He only had one way of playing it, and he was determined to play it, even if it didn't work, and even if he had found other ways to set the team up that did work - twice! And yes, I threw quite a few myself.
But what has emerged is that he has grown into the job, and has been prepared to learn and develop, so that there are now occasional flashes of football, which show that actually we can be quite good! It still isn't the silky, smooth liquid football that we would all love to see flowing all over the pitch, well not yet, anyway, but we have seen on the pitch better than what we had to put up with in the earlier days. So for someone who was so stubborn to be prepared to change is quite refreshing, and tough to do, so thank you, Paul!
And yes, when we are promoted and I am happy for him to get the chance at last to take on the Championship with better resources than he has ever had before.
COOME ON YOU RAMS!!!

We not sacking him this week ? 

I’d love to go on the pitch to have a moment to celebrate. I think the draw to do so is to be part of the ‘we’ that is always referred to. No seats and stairs in the way of celebrating with everyone around and being able to stand on the turf where promotion was won. I sit up right at the top of the upper stand so there’s probably zero chance I would be even get near the pitch anyway 😂 But I can guarantee B4 will be there on the pitch 😉