Rambling

You’re going to be gutted this morning, and rightly so.
But it ain’t all bad.
When we dropped out of the old 2nd division into the 3rd in 1984 things were in many ways, worse.
We didn’t (quite) have the financial issues, but we had a horrible team and the entire season was utterly depressing and devoid of hope in a way this season hasn’t been.
My personal highlight of an utterly depressing season was meeting Dave Watson in a Little Chef on the A1 after we spanked Cambridge away 3-0 in the FA Cup. That was pretty much it for ducks sake.
AND we had not just relegation, but the ignominy of losing to Plymouth in the FA Cup quarter-final to contend with after we had dragged them back to the BBG.
We all thought that we’d bounce right back when we did get relegated and the arrival of Arthur Cox just emboldened that belief.
An opening day away loss to Bournemouth, when Bournemouth then were more like the equivalent of Exeter now, didn’t dissuade us.
Of course, we didn’t bounce back and ended up outside the top 6.
But we had some BRILLIANT away days that season, Hull, Lincoln, and the last game of the season at Newport spring to mind.
It was a whole lot more fun than the previous season because we were, for the most part, competing and you could see what Arthur was trying to do.
There’s something fun about going to smaller clubs and taking the place over. Those of you who travel to away games know that the camaraderie is special.
In fact, the adversity that we have faced this season has developed that camaraderie, only it’s done it at home.
I work online and use social media a lot and the admiration for Derby’s support, especially those of you who travel away is a delight to read. I’ve even read genuine Forest and Leeds fans say they’re impressed.
And what’s not to be impressed about?
Forget the trolls who are loving this, the REAL football supporters appreciate and understand what Rooney has dragged the club through and the guy is universally respected, exponentially more so than when he was merely an excellent player.
He’s now an excellent ex-player and an excellent human being. Time will tell if he can become an excellent manager, but the signs are promising.
The second year under Arthur we did come up and that season was even better for road trips..
I’ve seen Derby beat Benfica, Real Madrid, every top English club multiple times and Forest many times. But if I were to list the best 5 games I’ve ever attended, Derby at home to Rotherham in the old 3rd Division on a Friday night would be up there.
That game with that penalty that took us back up to what would now be the Championship was a raucous, intense and then delirious atmosphere ending in an effing celebration comparable with any I have witnessed - although to be fair, my memory is a tad blurry because we did hit the pub hard.
I doubt there was a Liverpool fan that got anything like the joy from beating Man City in the cup semi or will get more if they win the thing, than we Derby fans got from squeaking past Rotherham that night.
The fact is, winning is just fun, no matter what division you are in. And beating adversity is fun too. So much more satisfying and enjoyable than just delivering on what’s expected.
Somebody posted that they hope we're not that team that thinks they will bounce back up.
I don't really care if fans think that. It's totally irrelevant.
What is relevant is what WR thinks and what he allows his staff and players to think.
And I have no doubt whatsoever that he'll not allow that entitled type of mindset to creep in.
The good news is we have renewed hope for a stable club, a very promising manager in place, an Academy that is flourishing even if it is being pillaged and some wins to look forward to.
We are where we are, so we may as well embrace it and have fun. And you will have some fun, I promise.

All the very best for the coming season and beyond.I hope Rooney sticks by you with a decent owner on board he has a good a chance as anybody to get you back up.Your fans have been superb through this crap period.Things can change very quick in football and sometimes for the better, look at us in the so called best league in the world the Premier league for another season.Although my opinion of  the PL ( I’ve missed 2 games this season )is it’s the fatal attraction of clubs who risk everything to get to the tv cash when for us fans it’s a bland predictable bore fest unless you are a top 4 club the rest just make up the numbers.I won’t shed a tear when we eventually get back to the championship a far better and more competitive league to play in.Hope to be playing you at Pride Park again soon.

He hopes it achieves exactly what he says in the video, that it sets an example to the other young players

I don’t think it’s strange. Sure MM was wreckless and then Covid spoiled his escape route. He was the instigator of our woes. No doubt about that,
 But the EFL ? Supposedly the even handed governing body has kicked us, kicked us again and spat in our faces at every turn. Where were they in the farce that was Boro and Wycombe ? How come we were forced to field kids in a cup game or couldn’t re sign loaned veterans on short term deals. How come when judgements - made according to their own procedures - by their independent panels did they express “regret” or “reluctantly” accept decisions ? Mel made a mess but the EFL wanted to make an example of us and at the same time has been craven and dishonest in submitting to pressure from the likes of Boro. It’s rank hypocrisy and damned nasty 

I've seen DCFC win 2 League Championships.
Reach European Semis by thrashing Benfica.
Win Texaco and Watney Cups.
Wait until us old uns have died off before killing our history stone dead...
 

Yer buyers just aren't interested in us, we're like a 10 to 2 bird at the local disco. 

I think Byrne has been one of our best players in the last few games. Unreal at times for a right back. 

Well predicted 3-1. Wish I’d had a bet now!
Excellent performance. First time in a while we played with some real verve and swagger at times, alongside high energy and high intensity, we out ran them in the first 50-60 mins. Rooney won’t have been happy with some of our play at 3-0, we were pushing for the 4th and gave the ball away a lot lost control of the game and conceded a poor goal, then we regained some composure and saw out the game ok in the end. 
 
Can’t think of anyone who played badly. I really like Allsop in goal at the moment, he’s playing really well. Byrne was outstanding, Foz had a good 60 mins then iffy finish, Buchanan excellent at centre half Davies doing what he’s done all season. Lawrence excellent, Ebosele given MOM which I probably agree with, electric performance, Knight excellent, but Bird and Bielik make a huge difference in the middle of the park, thought the latter got better and better as the game went on before he started to tire. He gives us the platform to play. He’s vital. 
 
The fans were also amazing tonight. Special atmosphere. This season could be one of the most memorable in our history. The great escape is on!

Absolutely mad the difference in points gained in that time between the clubs!
Reading 1pt
Cardiff 8pts
P’ Boro 4pts
Barnsley 1pt
The Mighty Ducking Rams 17pts!!

To quote Ron Atkinson
"Either side could win it, or it could be a draw"
That's about the shape of things

Won’t listen, it’ll just wind me up.
Like Ron Atkinson once said :
I never comment on ‘owners’ and I'm not going to break the habit of a lifetime for that prat.

Fair play to him coming on, and well done to Radio Derby getting him to a microphone.

I managed to catch the whole thing. It felt like an incredibly powerful moment, and very moving at times to hear everyone talk so passionately about our football club's future.
All the right points were hit, unanimously sympathetic to our situation and critical of our opponents.
 
A huge thanks must go out to Pauline Latham for getting us on the agenda, and to all the supporting local MPs for helping drive the issue.

I'm guessing that many of those who were in the chamber this afternoon have a favourite club or have a close relative who is a fan of one team or another and know just how important that team is to those who support it. They have an idea of how they would feel if it was their club in Derby's position and the impact it would have on the beating heart of their town. They might also have been wondering which team will be next for punishment or demolition. I thought they all spoke very well and I was impressed with the level of understanding and support shown to us and the politeness and civility shown to each speaker. There's hope for politics yet.       

I really, really hope we get sponsored by BUPA now!  ?

The sky commentary after the goal was superb!
“This is a club which is not feeling sorry for itself, this proud old club from this proud old city, are making these people proud” 
I bet the morons at the EFL are absolutely devastated by the outpouring of admiration for this club tonight.
love it 

Fab. He was great for us. #COYR

It's about time some of the no shows got over whatever it is that's stopping them coming to games (unless it's cash or health concerns of course) and support our team but, in truth, it doesn't really matter in respect of atmosphere because we've got the best support in the division right now. 

I just can’t help smiling, I kind of bounced along the river back to the car. What a performance and what a great game to watch. Like others I had a tear or two on the way home. Great day. 
I said in another thread .. 3 points from the next 3 games would give us some heart and any win would be magic. 
 
Done it at the first try, AND 3 goals AND a penalty. Epic performance. Triumph to disaster and back to triumph all in 95 minutes.
 
Every player gave everything. That Curtis sliding tackle in front of the south stand !  Shinnies shear bloody mindedness battling round his man to get in the box. Festy never say die perseverance , Lawrence, a couple of slide rule passes, a dream of a goal and a solid penalty. Jags marshalling out big number 9’s. Buchanan diving in at the end without a hesitation. Big Colin all bristling muscle, Jason Knight, fearless brave heart who can do it for 90 minutes, extra time and whatever gets thrown at him. He never stops. Roos awful gaff but kept his head, caught a great cross late on and took out half the defence when determined it was “MY” ball. That takes courage ! 
 
Then we get Liam Thompson … a real CM .. not a wannabe No 10 or a DM spraying passes from deep. Nope ! He’s a terrier, quick feet, first time passes, moving the ball quickly, grabbing opportunities to move it the right way. Composed too. Looked like he’d been a first team footballer for sometime. I think he added real balance to our midfield. 

Bourmouth .. one moment when they cut through us with ease but apart from that pretty bang average and if that is 2nd in the league hoping to go top today then this makes Derby Count class of 2021 a worthy outfit to watch. The fat lady may be in the tunnel, the absolutely dreadEFL orchestra is playing …. but she hasn’t sung yet.