Fla Ram

Is the the EFL’s way of apologising for the officials we’ve had this season?

Lifted according to Dom on Radio Derby.....will not be spending loads and still under buisness plan but we can now trade in the market  again. 
 
 
 

Go on Warne, cop an FA charge for saying what we all think about the standard of officiating this season across the league. 
With what happened at Bristol Rovers the other week, now today, it's beyond shambolic.

Ref in the Sheffield Wednesday changing room as we speak 

Can’t fault the players effort gave absolutely everything today love to know how many points we would of had if officials did there job correctly robbed over the course of the season 
onwards and upwards 🐏
see you next season 

Penultimate update of the season, up to and including Portsmouth match yesterday.
 
Premiership
jimtastic56    70
AndyB    69
Carnero    61
Wolfie    61
BucksRam    57
LeedsCityRam    56
Mick Brolly    56
timlondinium    56
FlyBritishMidland    55
OohMartWright    55
BOB BIGGS    54
HedgeEnder    54
Wolfie20    54
Brammie Steve    53
DCFC1388    53
Fla Ram    52
Blondest Goat    51
Chris_Martin    51
Miggins    51
mozza    51
 
Championship

Ramifications    50
leroyoftherovers    49
rynny    49
Dordogne-Ram    47
rammieib    47
TF Ram    47
angieram    46
Jourdan    46
TheHospitalier    46
dcfc the 1 4me    45
hintonsboots    45
Jase116    45
TimRam    45
WharfedaleRam    45
BodminRam    44
Ted McMinn Football Genius    44
strawhillram    43
hydraulic ram    42
ilsonram12    42
sheeponacid    42
dabber    41
Foreveram    41
Kenavo    41
archram    40
 
Div1

Sparkle    39
True Ram    39
BramcoteRam84    38
ColonelBlimp    38
FindernRam    38
Osbaldwick    38
r4derby    38
Addingham Ram    37
Kernow    37
REDCAR    37
Steve How Hard?    37
Amberram    35
EssendonRam    35
Foxy Ram    35
harwich ram    35
Alan Ramage 4 EVA    34
Asanovic70    34
RodleyRam    34
Topram    34
Yani P    34
DCFC Kicks    33
Premier ram    33
Rampant    33
SKHunter    33
 
Div2

StevenageRam    33
cstand    32
Mckram    32
JMC    31
BathRam72    30
Dean (hick) Saunders    30
Rich84    29
Simmo's left foot    29
Woodley Ram    29
MidWalesRam    28
Elgin_Ram    27
Jimbo Ram    27
jono    27
DCFC4LIFE    26
Ramsamwidge    26
Ramant62    25
BarrowRam    24
BriggRam    24
PendineRam    24
europia    23
86 Hair Islands    23
CBRammette    21
DesertRam    21
gccrowdpleaser    21
 
Div3

Grimbeard    21
Van der MoodHoover    20
Elwood P Dowd    18
PrideParkhead    18
RadioactiveWaste    18
DiggerB    17
Malty    17
Mucker1884    17
1967Ram    17
richinspain    17
Johnnyoj    16
Alty_Ram    15
Andrew1    15
Scott129    15
B4ev6is    13
TexasRam    12
TomTom92    11
JuanFloEvraTheCocu'sNesta    10
StarterForTen    10
JarodyDCFC    9
Jortat    9
MadAmster    9
papa_lazarou    9
Sussex Ram    9
 
Div4

Electric Ram    8
Magicman    8
MarsdenRam    8
MickD    8
NG2Ram    8
Ramslad1992    8
taffyram    8
bimmerman    7
BrudeRAM    7
Ellafella    7
HonitonRam    7
Abu Derby    6
Lac291884    6
LittleEatonRam    6
Manchester Ram    6
Parsnip    6
plymouthram    6
Simon Bradley    6
Steve Buckley's Dog    6
Animal is a Ram    5
chewbacca    5
Gee SCREAMER !!    5
kash_a_ram_a_ding_dong    5
LERam    5
 
Div5

minesahartington    5
RamDotFi    5
ramit    5
Wistaston Ram    5
Curtains    4
Dethorn    4
Donegal Ram    4
EnigmaRam    4
erathirea    4
InstaRam    4
irobinson    4
Kinder    4
Millenniumram    4
swansea ram    4
bcnram    3
Bris Vegas    3
Igorwasking    3
Jayram    3
MACKWORTHRAM    3
S8TY    3
sage    3
samwcave    3
Skin em Ted    3
Slaapwekkend P    3
 
Div6

The Scarlet Pimpernel    3
TomG    3
ziggazagga    3
alanmarklewis    2
Boycie    2
bucktwo    2
EraniosSocks    2
Gritstone Ram    2
jameso    2
JustOneBiblicalKazim    2
Keepyuppy    2
kevinhectoring    2
lukedcfc    2
oohmarkwright    2
1977 Ram Raider    2
Ram-a-lama fa fa fa    2
San Fran Van Rams    2
Turk Thrust    2
whaley bridge Ram    2
alanmarklewis    2
Boycie    2
bucktwo    2
EraniosSocks    2
Gritstone Ram    2
 
Div7

jameso    2
JustOneBiblicalKazim    2
Keepyuppy    2
kevinhectoring    2
lukedcfc    2
oohmarkwright    2
1977 Ram Raider    2
Ram-a-lama fa fa fa    2
San Fran Van Rams    2
Turk Thrust    2
whaley bridge Ram    2
AdamSumnerDCFC6    0
alram    0
Bill Curry    0
CabalieCap    0
Charliegeorge1962    0
Crewton    0
devonram1980    0
drgoodspeak    0
Eatonram    0
Ewethanised    0
glyn1957    0
Hoppo    0
Justa    0
 
Div8

lagavulinram    0
Leeds Ram    0
LeedsRam1999    0
littleover ram    0
LoughboroughRam    0
Mihangel    0
mr kia    0
Mrso    0
Oldben    0
one_chop    0
OssieEnd    0
PistoldPete    0
Ramarena    0
scout's dad    0
Sheff Ram    0
SKRam    0
South Ram    0
Tamworthram    0
tomsdubs    0
Tyler Durden    0
WystonRam    0
zaragozaram    0
 
 
T.B.C.

Full-time!
Back in to the top 6, a 4-goal swing in the goal difference with Peterborough, firmly back in our hands.
I don't think today could have gone too much better for us. COYR.

It was because they were miles better than us at 0 0 and after the goal were easily able to keep us at arm's length.  If we did that to a top 6 side away from home we would rightly be saying what a good job we had done.

The worst thing about this afternoon was how predictable it was (yes, I did get the pre-match prediction right)
It's common knowledge how ineffective we are against the better sides in this division. Its also no secret that when the opposition overload the midfield areas, we have absolutely no answer & this is precisely what happened in the second half today. Peterborough gave our midfield 3 plenty of space first half & all three were prominent but frustratingly, very few chances created. Just like Plymouth away, their manager then tweaks his formation to crowd us out in midfield & up the intensity and we then lose our foothold in the game & eventually lose. Barnsley & Fleetwood didn't even bother to give 45 mins grace, they just went at us from minute one & again, no answer.
All we really needed today was a point - a win would have been fantastic but it was essential we did not lose. After the first half, it was apparent that a) they had to change it, b) we probably had missed the boat by failing to punish them first half & c) as an ageing squad, we would be struggling for gas the longer the game went on. They then come out of the blocks firing but there was no tactical tweak from our side to combat this, we just let their midfield numbers take control & tried to trade blows as the tide went against us.
What could Warne have done? Well, he had Jake Rooney on the bench who could've sat in front of the back 4 to shore up our midfield & allow our full backs to push on to match their 3-4-2-1 when out of possession. Or at RB with Smith moving centrally (I don't see Rooney as a RB personally). It would have meant sacrificing an attacking player but frankly, entertainment was secondary to strangling the game & securing a point. Warne could also have looked at removing McGoldrick who struggled all game & put on Collins - a forward much more suited to chasing lost causes & pressurising defenders.
I accept the limitations of the squad & the restrictions of the business plan. but Warne's lack of pragmatism & ability to react effectively to opposition changes is starting to irritate. As things stand, we're struggling to finish top 6 but even if we do manage it, I would rate our chances in the playoffs as low. I don't doubt Warne will have players more suited to his style next season but I will never accept this season was a 'free hit' - given where we are now, it is an opportunity & it's about time some flexibility was introduced to squeeze results in important games. None of us want to stay in this division longer than necessary.
Honorary mention for today - thought Hayden Roberts was excellent all game. Offered real impetus going forward & in midfield areas. Should be starting LB until the season end.

5 years to become an established Championship team??? Hell's teeth not exactly setting his ambitions high is he? 

It is proving to be a bit of a repetitive issue. Opposition change things and our Mr Warne doesn’t seem to have the ability to counter it. 
It is a problem. 

Warne has been tactically found out in the past 10-12 games. We’ve won 3 out of the past 10. We looked up to top 2 at one point now we’re 1 point from 7th spot and defiantly are not getting playoffs. He needs to sort his poo out

Pace and power. They have it and we don’t. Unfortunately it doesn’t come free, which is all we have.
A manager who understood in game management and tactics would be nice as well because he increasingly seems unable to do this which is more of a worry long term. 

Well rubbish drive home in pouring rain, of course today. Been mulling it over and muttering on drive home. Still gobsmacked by that. Just where was the effort at all? Its like a totally different team. I generally dont mention just one player but if James Collins could concentrate on actually playing football and trying to read the game and intentions of team mates and not fouling, gobbing off and narrowly avoiding fights he may offer more

For some reason we keep getting sucked in to kick and rush tactics. I think you will find that has been Paul Warne’s modus operandi for the last 7 seasons. 

But few games ago forum full of people saying "we'd have lost that under Liam or last season". Unfortunately small squad who look very tired now in second half of games. One of their players when interviewed mentioned their manager had said we concede a lot of goals after 60 minutes and they went for it. Our coaching team need to look at and address this as becoming game plan for other teams

At least we know now for sure, top 2 is gone. For the rest of the season we need to solidify our position in the top 6, making sure we are in a good place and in the shake up to be promoted via playoffs.

Need Bird back, no coincidence since he’s been out of the team our results have been really poor.

European Cup 2nd Round 2nd leg – Wednesday 8th November 1972 & the return leg with Benfica at the Stadium of Light, Lisbon
Despite their commanding 3-0 win two weeks previously, the trip to Lisbon was still a daunting challenge for Derby to navigate in order to reach the Quarter-Finals. They were greeted by 60,000 hostile Portuguese fans & facing a team with an absurd home record – Benfica hadn’t been beaten at home in the league or Europe since the 1965/66 season & had defeated both Sporting Lisbon & FC Porto there in recent weeks.
Derby managed to withstand considerable pressure in the first 30 mins to secure a goalless draw & their place in the last 8 of the European Cup, largely thanks to a superb display from Colin Boulton. Match report below;



 

 
Like Derby, Benfica also had their own newspaper – this was the edition of ‘O Benfica’ on the eve of the match;

 
Full round up of results from Round 2 below – as expected, Real Madrid reversed their first leg deficit to overcome Arges Pitesti in the Bernabeu. Celtic (1967 winners & 1970 runners up) were beaten emphatically in Hungary though to leave Derby as the sole British representatives in the competition
 
The draw for the Quarter-Finals saw Derby paired with Spartak Trvana of Czechoslovakia (European Cup semi-finalists in 1969) whilst heavyweights Ajax & Bayern Munich were drawn together – Johan Cruyff v Franz Beckenbauer and two clubs who would win 6 consecutive European titles in the 1970s between them. First legs to be played 7th March 1973;

European Cup 2nd Round 1st leg – Wednesday 25th October 1972 & the visit of mighty Benfica to the Baseball Ground
Fair to say that short of Real Madrid & Ajax, Benfica were probably the most glamorous & storied European club Derby could have drawn in the 2nd round of the European Cup. In the 17 years the European Cup had been in existence, Benfica had won the title twice (the first winners of the tournament other than Real Madrid) & had been runners up on 3 other occasions.
On top of that pedigree, Benfica were in the middle of a 29 match consecutive winning run domestically which saw them clinch the 1972/73 Portuguese title without losing a single game (still a European record) & still had the great Eusebio in their ranks – he would win the European Golden Boot at the end of the season.
All that said, Benfica stepped onto the (soggy) Baseball Ground pitch 50 years ago today & were promptly torn apart on one of the greatest nights in Derby County’s history. Action from the game;
 

 

 
Pre match copy of the Ram;

 
Summary of results from elsewhere in Round 2 – Gerd Muller scored 5 as Bayern Munich crushed Cypriot minnows Omonia 9-0 whilst there was a surprise in Romania, as the mighty Real Madrid were beaten 2-1 by Arges Pitesti. Second legs to be played 2 weeks later on 8th November;

Following our first title in 1971-72, this season marks the 50th anniversary of Derby’s European Cup debut & the start of 4 very eventful European campaigns up to the end of 1976. Like the 1971-72 season scrapbook last season, I’ll be looking to mark each game 50 years on with match reports, TV footage (if available) & as much info and memorabilia as I can glean. Of course, nothing will beat having been at the games themselves so recollections & memories are most welcome.
To set the scene, Derby’s qualification for the European (Champions) Cup was at a time when only the league winners (and the European Cup holders) qualified for the tournament. At that stage, only one English club had even reached the final, let alone won it – that being Manchester Utd in 1968 under Sir Matt Busby. Therefore Derby were bidding to become only the second English club to be crowned Champions of Europe – no small challenge considering our European debut had been delayed following disqualification from the 1970-71 Fairs Cup for ‘financial irregularities’.
50 years ago today then, we began our 1972-73 European Cup campaign against the Yugoslav champions FK Zeljeznicar at the Baseball Ground. Zeljeznicar were based in Sarajevo in what we now know as Bosnia & like Derby they had also won their maiden title the season before, beating the challenge of illustrious names such as Red Star Belgrade, Dynamo Zagreb, Partizan Belgrade & Hadjuk Split.
Here are the beaming first XI of Zeljeznicar with their suitably austere Communist-era title trophy;

 
Onto the game - despite the pretty physical opponent, Derby were able to secure a 2-0 advantage going into the second leg in Yugoslavia - goals coming from Roy McFarland & Archie Gemmill either side of half time. Match report below;

 

 
John O’Hare closely marked by two Zeljeznicar defenders during the match;

 
Programme from the match to mark the occasion;

 
Full round up of results elsewhere in Round 1 – second legs due to be played two weeks later on 27th September;

Anyone who is worried by current form, think back to the magic 80.
Wycombe need 26 points, Shrewsbury need 28 points, Peterborough and Portsmouth need 29 points. It’s a minimum of two points per game across 12-13 games and 7-8 wins minimum. If any of the four are to overtake us, it will require something special.
We have to forget about the top two. I can understand the frustration because we have wobbled at a time when we needed to apply some pressure.
If we’re honest, it was never really on. Sheff Wed are breaking records and Plymouth have set the pace since very early on. We had to be absolutely relentless. That was never really likely with a squad of 21-22, the majority of whom have played 30-40 games with a possible 15 more to go.
We’re at a stage now where we need to hold our nerve. It‘s that simple. We have 12 games to go and need six wins to guarantee a play off place, possibly fewer if the chasing pack stutter.
We’re having a wobble. There’s no getting away from that. But prior to that we had won six in a row and had gone 15 games unbeaten. You have to take the rough with the smooth and realise the standard we had set was an unsustainable one. Under normal circumstances, we would have added 3-4 more to the squad and avoided any hiccups.
March going into April will probably be our toughest run of games all season. Three away games in five and Plymouth, Ipswich and Peterborough all to play. Brace yourselves because we have to be prepared for a bit more suffering.
Ultimately though I don’t think now is the time to dig out Warne or the players. Fair enough if we end up in 7th or fair enough if we ship 3 to Ipswich or Barnsley and don’t do ourselves justice in the play-offs.
But as it is, the manager and players are giving everything in difficult circumstances. I wish it was more straightforward but the end goal is still very much in our hands and the team will need our support to get over the line.