emjem

I trust his abilities. We may not be play off contenders next season but given half decent recruiting we won’t be struggling.
 
PW and his team know what they are doing.  A small upgrade in first touch/natural ball skills, signing Ebou and a scary striker and we won’t be pushovers. 
I don’t agree with the criticism of his football style. It was designed and shaped by the necessity to get out of this league. This league isn’t pretty, the football often isn’t perfect either. We are somewhere else now. I am looking forward to the next chapter.?

Maybe I'm soft but I just can't help liking the man. Whilst it might sound like nonsence and hyperbole in interviews he has been very honest. 
He talks building a group of players, he talks about making small gains, and he has done those things. 
The football hasn't always been great, but you can see why he's a league one promotion specialist. He's managed 92 points and automatic with a squad of freebies, gambles and inherited players. 
What he's never had at Rotherham is any financial backing, you can guarantee they would lose their best couple of players after each season which is the main cause of their yoyoing. That won't be the case here (or if it is it won't be a case of losing them because they can't afford to improve their contract or £500k is too much to turn down). 
I think afforded a bit of time, and next season will not be easy, he will continue building successfully to the extent I would expect us to be back around the play offs in maybe 3 years.
A spine is being formed, let's imagine an equivalent midfield pairing to Nelson and Cash, an attacking midfielder in front of them with more knowledge of the position, movement and goals, and a striker in the mould of Collins but with more technical attributes and pace. 
Around that you have a number of gifted attacking players - NML free to be NML, hopefully a fit and firing CBT on the other side, varied attacking options and the football you play changes because of the increased options of passes and openings, and easy shifts from 352 to 442 to 433 because we have the required players. 
In the meantime set piece goals and ugly wins will do, but I do believe there will be evolution as we progress. Really looking forward to summer and some good deals to be had. 
 

Just because Gregory and Smith were the only names that got into the press does not mean they were the our only to targets.
Who knew about Leonard until it was confirmed over weekend . Same applies to CBT last summer, or signing of TJJ or Ward
Fact is we run a tight ship regards transfers so have no idea who we are interested 
Add in fact that still working with EFL restrictions with very limited transfer pots would suggest Warne (and club)  ain't doing as bad as suggested

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/derby-county-talking-points-stevenage-9107538
 
Confirms it was Harry Leonard who we were about to sign, before Blackburn's boss pulled the plug.

Be interesting to see what our best XI will be with Gayle on board…
I am guessing:
Wildsmith
Nyambe - Nelson - Cashin - Elder
Adams - Bird - Hourihane
NML - Gayle - CBT
If Adams, Bird and NML can continue their form and Gayle and CBT can get into a rhythm, it could be a very fun end to the season!

I think it's also a massive positive that he seems to just be eager to play football and contribute to what will hopefully be a successful end to the season.
He was reportedly on 35k a week at Stoke. He left by mutual consent to go and play football for a quarter of the season, when he could have just sat around at Stoke and earned 4x a much to do very little. At 34, to walk away from the most he will ever earn again as a player just to play regularly is something you don't see too often.

So relieved we've got Gayle signed up - Saturday was all the evidence needed to prove this side will struggle without a conventional forward option. Irrespective of lack of match sharpness, he has to start at Barnsley to stretch the pitch or we're going to struggle to get out of our half - if he can give us 60 mins, they will likely have tired enough by then for us to be able to escape the press.
Am not particularly concerned about his spell at Stoke - that club is a graveyard for decent managers & players and given the sheer squad size they have, must be difficult to get consistency in selection & therefore performance. Looking at the highlights reel from last few months he still has plenty of attributes that I believe will make him a success here - quick feet, great decision making, vision/awareness of other players in the final 3rd and a decent finish. Being a stocky type with a low centre of gravity, I'd also like to think he could hold the ball up reasonably well & am looking forward to seeing how he links up with Mendez-Laing & Barkhuizen. Warne will no doubt want him pressing like Collins but that might be a couple of games down the track once he is up to match fitness.

I would imagine that it’s no surprise but I am feeling very positive about this.
There are going to be a lot of tight, tense games over the next 3 months and someone like Gayle with his movement and instinct in the box could be the difference between 1 point and 3 points in many games.
Let’s hope we get him fully fit and firing and he can lead us to promotion one way or another.

I think people are focusing too much on his goals. Yes he's coming in to be a striker, but his link up play is where he shines most these days. I think he's gonna be the clever link between NML and whoever else plays in attack with him. Ofcourse we hope he will contribute to the goal tally, but he has come in and has qualities that none of our strikers do, and in this league, its a big signing even at his age.
 
Looking forward to seeing his first game 👌

He’d do a job in the last 1/3 of the season.  He could come in, play 10-12 games and maybe get around 5 goals, give or take.
Couple of things I picked up on Warne’s interview.  He said we’d been working with the EFL on the deal ahead of submitting it on Friday.  Given our new improved relationship with them, I’d like to think we’ve put something together that meets their criteria and this gets done early next week.  He also said Waggy’s fit enough to play 20mins, another week of training and he could be on the bench next week 🤞.

This thread does remind me a lot of the Jordan Rhodes thread when we were linked to him in the summer. Similar concerns and arguments around the signing and he’s 18 g/a in 25 games now. 
 
I think he’ll come in score a couple goals start the odd game be useful off the bench and then leave in the summer. Decent deal.

I think with Collins out and him being our only number 9, that we will syart to see more of a 3412/3421 like we finished with yesterday meaning Gayle would likely be in a front 2 with NML until Waggy & Washington are fit. We could switch to 343 with Barkhuizen, Sibley & CBT.
In the next few weeks our attacking options could well be Gayle Waghorn Washington NML CBT Barkhuizen Sibley Wilson so thats still alot of good attacking options at this level

Todays game was one I thought beforehand would be very difficult and I thought we may get a draw. Stevenage are a typical hard tackling, aggressive side which Derby sides have struggled to play against for many a long year - N Clough, McClaren etc etc etc. we struggled at their place and were well defeated, having been bullied off the park.
News that Collins was not fit also made team selection extremely difficult, as he is the one who normally takes the brunt of aggression from the opposition defence. I can totally understand the team selection today, which I think was initially to standup to the bullying, aggressive tactics. Having 4 particularly strong defenders in Nyambe, Bradley, Nelson and Cashin set the tone, with Adams and Elder also being strong too. I think this initial part of the game, although not exciting, was necessary. Although not entertaining, I admired our courage and grit.
We did try to attack where possible in the first half, but it didn’t happen. Our passing, fluidity up front just wasn’t there. MNL wasn’t at the races in the first half and I don’t think Barkhaizen is particular effective when the opposition is aggressive. We had a couple of near squeaks 1st half but we played them very well - they were probably surprised by our performance.
The 2nd half continued in the same vein but we then became a little more adventurous and the Smith substitution improved matters, freeing Wilson to start attacking more. Not much in the game but I thought we deserved to win in the end due to our courage to stand up to them early on in the game.
Not sure Hourahane was totally fit to start but we seemed to be more mobile in midfield as a result. Everyone got stuck in today, so very pleased with the effort. Sure we will have more productive games going forward soon. We just had to get through today - it was so important that our confidence levels did not drop. Some of our opponents in the promotion race would have loved the 3 points we won today.
Warne has taken a lot of stick on here for his tactics and team selection - not sure what else he could have done under the circumstances he found himself in.
Also a shout out for the referee today, who was not intimidated by the pre-match comments, and Ibthought refereed he game vey sensibly and well on the whole.
we now have a week to work on a formation and tactics for another difficult game on Saturday.
I for one, was pleased with todays showing.
 
 

Mendez-Laing has had the most productive League season of his career. 8g 14a beats his 16/17 season best of 8g 12a. Collins was on course for his best goalscoring season since 19/20. Warne took an unfancied McGoldrick and gave him his best ever season.
The team have the meanest defence, and are joint 2nd on goals scored - a team that has largely been assembled on a shoestring, closely monitored budget.
Yes, the football has rarely been sparkling, but who in this division is? Peterborough looked far and away the best team to come to Pride Park this season, and we now have a 10 point gap on them.
We are second to a team in Portsmouth, who - much like Ipswich and Plymouth last season - have been in this league a while and been building to it.
I've been critical of Warne this season, and had lost faith at one point. I'm glad to have been wrong. 

Can we please have this one thread as a place where people can come in to enjoy the after glow of matches we get a good result for fans that enjoy that kind of thing between now and the end of the season , it’s not a big ask , it’s not trying to ban anyone and if your not a troll or someone just out to spoil the mood or enjoyment for others  then I’m sure you won’t want to post in here ,
today feels great to me, if you feel good about today post away and post in here till season end ,
Roll on next Saturday 

Jono , don’t bow out , I’ve felt exactly like you for some time but miraculously todays match thread has totally changed that ,,,, it’s trolling pure and simple by a small number , just laugh and post what you want mate , don’t let a small group spoil the enjoyment of wins , chasing promotion, our club rising from the ashes ,
a few want to spoil the feel good factor NO MATTER WHAT, once you see that clearly ( which today has shown me ) it loses any credibility and or ability to effect you negatively 

Was there a lesson to be learned at PP today?
The crowd really seemed to step it up mid way through the second half and the team seemed to respond, maybe we have a role to play in the run in?

Yes it does … and why ? … because the “opposition” seem quite comfortable with using descriptions like clown, PE teacher, Small time manager. You reap what you sow. .There will always be an equal an opposite reaction.
I get really stroppy these days and am considering bowing out because the anti Warne stuff from about half a dozen posters is so toxic and inaccurate, it disturbs my karma. I wonder if you would caution those who say clown or describe our manager as inept or make mockery of his desire to have honest players with heart and character rather than just money grabbers after a pay cheque 
Not having a go at you personally but just pointing out that it is a two way street. 
 
We were nearly gone 18 months ago. Now we are in second place and have just won 3 tough points with a fantastic supportive crowd, yet because of the dripping poison from a certain merry band this is a 10 year forum low for me. It isn’t about folk having ideas or opinions or differing views, it’s a mindset that’s ugly and needs to be challenged. So well done @Stive Pesley 
 

Just back from the game. First half not at it couldn’t string the ball or make passes but loved how we got into them with the rough and ready approach. Seasons past we go in two nil down and get outmuscled. 
 
the game changed for me on two decisions. Wilson moving to rwb and korey smith coming on. Love nyambe but he’s not a rwb he’s much better at right back. As soon as sibley came on I turned to my dad for some reason and said he will score a last minute winner just had the feeling. 
 
The team might not always be the best to watch and believe me I could have had a nap first half but I love the work out of possession and the hard work for the shirt. And the crowd second half was the best I’ve witnessed since relegation and I loved every minute of it 

That’s pretty much how I saw it.  Bradley had his best game in a Rams shirt, I wonder if being captain gave him more confidence?  I think Warne picked the best starting 11 he could given he’d lost Collins on Wednesday and being a bit careful with others coming back.  I also thought his subs were spot on.  Smith allowed Bird more freedom and a bit more positivity on the right with moving Wilson there.  I think if we want Sibley to play in a more attacking role, he’s best as an impact sub and it worked today.  Full credit to Warne, I’ve been critical of his use of subs in the past, but not today.
I’m sorry but I really don’t get this place sometimes.  We’ve taken 6 points this week and opened a gap on 3rd and 4th.  They have games in hand but they’re under pressure to win them and it this stage of the season I’d rather have the points.   We win 3-0 on Tuesday and we didn’t deserve as we only had 30% possession.  We win today and we only had 2 shots on target. They were organised at the back and did OK at nullifying us and we lost our focal point up front in the week.  I despair!!

I haven’t seen the game so can’t comment on how we’ve played but I have to say I don’t get this whole ‘we should be beating Stevenage’ line, as if they are canon fodder. They have occupied a top six spot for more of this season than Derby, have a top three away record and set up in a way that many ‘ better’ sides struggle against.
As the old adage goes, you have to earn the right to win a game before you win a game. That appears to be the case today. 

They were a decent, well drilled outfit and you can see why they are up there.
I thought we battled hard and tried to get the ball on the ground.
We obviously were lacking a focal so it was always going to be difficult.
Bradley was absolutely Head and shoulders MOTM. That one bit of skill second half was worth the admission price alone.
Hats off to the management team for making the necessary tweaks as they worked.
The atmosphere second half was the best since relegation. Everyone knew the team were up against it and came together as one.

Job done, no number 9, and 3 points in the bag, great atmosphere at PP today, fans backimg the club from start to finish, Well taken goal from Sibbo, great performances from the back 3, Adams worked his wot sits off, NML second half caused them problems, Bird good again Barks also good and a big well done to Corey Smith when he came on, a very happy Ram tonight, we never give in, looking forward to Barnsley away now. 

Just back from a game that I actually really enjoyed....the team really grafted that victory against a horrible bunch of players with a even more horrible manager.
Bradley was outstanding today I thought but there was no one I could really criticise a great deal.
Warne,overall,picked the right team and played the right tactics with this one and in doing so,nullified Stevenage.
Another 3 points well earned,spot on.
Oh,I forgot to mention the crowd today,we were outstanding 😁
 

Steve Evans interview, penalty, penalty, penalty, referee, penalty …….
then quite complimentary about the build up to the goal, the finish, the crowd  Paul Warne and the club.