Stripperg-ram

Well happy with that! We have things to work on, but have plenty to work with!
It was actually quite a good game of football, especially the first half, and felt at times that there was quite a difference in quality between the two teams. Our opening 20 minutes was especially good. And for the first 45 minutes was happy with the notion put forwards in the forum pre-match that Oxford were a footballing side. Even so, there was plenty of "thug" about their play, and they had definitely singled out our key players - Max Bird was clattered heavily on 3 or 4 occasions, needing 2 lengthy bouts of treatment, and they had a go at Jason Knight as well. 
Oxford only made a half hearted attempt to press our playing out from the back, and we quickly established a pattern between Davies, Wildsmith and Cashin, which followed the same pattern during the entire match, and what it did was create space further up the pitch, something which Oxford never really addressed, and for a change our playing out from the back didn't create any danger. Conversely, when we did pick the ball up at the back, there was an almost complete aversion to trying to catch Oxford out with a breakaway. Maybe something to work on there.
Once again the match officials displayed their allegiance to their EFL masters - we actually got 45 - 50 minutes of reasonable officiating, although the ref couldn't wait to book Collins. Our striker puts himself about a bit, and after his first hefty challenge the ref had a lengthy chat. He completely ignored the constant barging and pushing off the ball by their centre forward and centre half, and fell for several dives as soon as Derby player got within a yard or two of an Oxford shadow.
Second half and Oxford were clearly sent out to rough things up, with 3 really nasty challenges, all gong un-noticed. But when Collins challenged their left back(?) he didn't make any contact, but the defender flew through the air like he'd been hit by an Exocet missile, and out came the yellow card like it was on steroids. Moments later Knight was clattered with a challenge that lifted him 2 feet in the air, but the ref didn't even give a free kick. Towards the end, Davies went in hard and was carded almost immediately, with what was his first offence, and yet again there were at least 3 Oxford players who should have been carded.
It was getting to be frustrating, and then Sibley came on, and immediately Oxford tried to wind him up. And suddenly his running was pulling their defence all over the place and making spaces, and it was only a matter of time  before we scored. There were 3 consecutive bagatelle sessions in the Oxford area, and the inevitable goal duly arrived. And isn't great to get that feeling back? What is also great is the universal acknowledgement of Sibley's impact. Here's to a great season, Louie!
Despite the criticism from a West stander, the noise from the South Stand was tremendous for long periods, especially in the first half. The pre-match noise on the concourse was louder than for the Brighton play-off semi!
Its great to be back. Thank you David!
COME ON YOU RAMS!!!

Hulking journeymen?
Rapid youngsters?
A mix of the 2?
3-4-3? 3-5-2? 4-4-2? 
Because we have mainly/some championship quality players, is that enough? Or does all form and quality go out the window when Fleetwood Town just decide to kick the cr*p out of you?
Should we buy players that know the league? 
Fittest team wins?
Biggest team wins?
Play like Brazil?
or Play like Allardyce?
Snatch it with a set piece and shut up shop?
Or play like Shteve Mc era 1 and score 4 if they score 3?
 
How the hell do we get promoted in a oner?
 
Answers on a postcard…..
??

Hulking journeymen?
Rapid youngsters?
A mix of the 2?
3-4-3? 3-5-2? 4-4-2? 
Because we have mainly/some championship quality players, is that enough? Or does all form and quality go out the window when Fleetwood Town just decide to kick the cr*p out of you?
Should we buy players that know the league? 
Fittest team wins?
Biggest team wins?
Play like Brazil?
or Play like Allardyce?
Snatch it with a set piece and shut up shop?
Or play like Shteve Mc era 1 and score 4 if they score 3?
 
How the hell do we get promoted in a oner?
 
Answers on a postcard…..
??

Hulking journeymen?
Rapid youngsters?
A mix of the 2?
3-4-3? 3-5-2? 4-4-2? 
Because we have mainly/some championship quality players, is that enough? Or does all form and quality go out the window when Fleetwood Town just decide to kick the cr*p out of you?
Should we buy players that know the league? 
Fittest team wins?
Biggest team wins?
Play like Brazil?
or Play like Allardyce?
Snatch it with a set piece and shut up shop?
Or play like Shteve Mc era 1 and score 4 if they score 3?
 
How the hell do we get promoted in a oner?
 
Answers on a postcard…..
??

Hulking journeymen?
Rapid youngsters?
A mix of the 2?
3-4-3? 3-5-2? 4-4-2? 
Because we have mainly/some championship quality players, is that enough? Or does all form and quality go out the window when Fleetwood Town just decide to kick the cr*p out of you?
Should we buy players that know the league? 
Fittest team wins?
Biggest team wins?
Play like Brazil?
or Play like Allardyce?
Snatch it with a set piece and shut up shop?
Or play like Shteve Mc era 1 and score 4 if they score 3?
 
How the hell do we get promoted in a oner?
 
Answers on a postcard…..
??

What a lovely, lovely thread this is tonight. After everything we've had to put up with. Brings a tear to the eye and makes you think there is some loyalty in football and players like Cashin and Thommo genuinely love this club. Hopefully the brand new signings (Barkhuizen and Wildsmith etc) will come to feel the same. 
Derby are back!

I could name 5, but then I'd be ignoring the rest. Full list is here: https://www.efl.com/clubs-and-competitions/efl-retained-list-squad-numbers/

Wednesday fan here.
Joe Wildsmith first broke into the first team at a very young age about 5/6 years ago when Kieran Westwood got injured.
It was the season we got to the playoff final and Joe was very impressive when he played for us, tipped by many to have a bright future in the game.
Since then we have had a whole host of managers, the side has got progressively worse and when he has played in recent seasons, he’s had a pretty woeful defence protecting his goal. As such his confidence has taken a bit of a battering and he has made the odd error.
That said, if he can get a run of games at Derby and you can get him anywhere near what he was like a few seasons ago, he’ll be a very capable a league 1 keeper for you this season.
Also he’s still relatively young for a goal keeper.
Best of luck to you with the takeover, really hope you can get things sorted and start to move forward as a club again.

Good game. Well deserved 3 points
No one put a foot wrong. Even the ref seemed to let a lot go so the game went well.
Byrne was really good.
Festy’s greatest strength is his ability to maintain possession. Little bit concerning when he was storming into the box and then froze and laid it off. I love him and he’s young etc, but the end product needs to come and then he’ll be next level good.
Cashin struggled with their big front man but he’ll learn from it.
Overall a good day in the office and keeps the hope alive.
COYR

4-3-3 could work.
Time to invoke the spirit of Mclaren 13/14
Cashin is our Bucko.
Davies can run into midfield a la Keogh
Bielik is our Thorne
CKR can be our Wardrobe
That’s the spine right there
everyone else just run like buggery off them
attack attack attack
balls to the wind
 
COYR

4-3-3 could work.
Time to invoke the spirit of Mclaren 13/14
Cashin is our Bucko.
Davies can run into midfield a la Keogh
Bielik is our Thorne
CKR can be our Wardrobe
That’s the spine right there
everyone else just run like buggery off them
attack attack attack
balls to the wind
 
COYR

4-3-3 could work.
Time to invoke the spirit of Mclaren 13/14
Cashin is our Bucko.
Davies can run into midfield a la Keogh
Bielik is our Thorne
CKR can be our Wardrobe
That’s the spine right there
everyone else just run like buggery off them
attack attack attack
balls to the wind
 
COYR

4-3-3 could work.
Time to invoke the spirit of Mclaren 13/14
Cashin is our Bucko.
Davies can run into midfield a la Keogh
Bielik is our Thorne
CKR can be our Wardrobe
That’s the spine right there
everyone else just run like buggery off them
attack attack attack
balls to the wind
 
COYR

4-3-3 could work.
Time to invoke the spirit of Mclaren 13/14
Cashin is our Bucko.
Davies can run into midfield a la Keogh
Bielik is our Thorne
CKR can be our Wardrobe
That’s the spine right there
everyone else just run like buggery off them
attack attack attack
balls to the wind
 
COYR

Was going to share this as well, the family of the young lad are friends of my partner's family.
 
I appreciate emotions are running high at the minute and will be even more so on Saturday with barbs about our current situation no doubt coming out way from the forest fans but would implore all rams going to the game to respect this and to even join in if possible.

24.500

This guy...

totally superb point
 
hold your heads up high lads - thats all we want to see 100% dedication to the cause...every one a Ram
 
Just brilliant...

Get in 

Goallll get in
 
Baldock lovely set up by lawrence

Derby fans in full voice already
 
COYR

Hoping to come to this one. My first of the season. Of course Bradley Johnson will score, but I’m hoping we’ll win this one.
If we’re gonna climb out of the hole then we need to beat teams like this at home.
 
UTR

Hoping to come to this one. My first of the season. Of course Bradley Johnson will score, but I’m hoping we’ll win this one.
If we’re gonna climb out of the hole then we need to beat teams like this at home.
 
UTR

Hoping to come to this one. My first of the season. Of course Bradley Johnson will score, but I’m hoping we’ll win this one.
If we’re gonna climb out of the hole then we need to beat teams like this at home.
 
UTR