RodleyRam

B4 would be highly disappointed you've gone at all... Priorities all wrong!

Wilson is better defensively for me (or at least has the pace to compensate) Smith and Adams as a holding 2 gives me a bit of confidence that they will cover for our very attack minded full backs too. I'm hoping for 3 or 4 early goals to us to settle the nerves and give us a chance of holding out for a draw...

Like everyone else he had played his part in our good league position but he's probably more guilty than most of costly errors. I thought he would be an excellent signing, exactly the kind of leadership we needed but he's been disappointing overall. The red card, given the injuries we have and the point in the game, is particularly difficult to overlook. Even if he didn't nut their player, he's clearly lost his head and got involved. It's inexcusably rash behaviour at a point in the game when we're desperately banging on the door for an equaliser. Really disappointing. For all his detractors, and I don't hold a candle for him, in the same kind of position Hourihane's sole focus would be getting on the end of something to clinch a draw. It's a stark comparison for me.

Rams 3 - 1 Pool FRGS Sibley Rise ye sunken ships

For once I'd like us to avoid being Melchester Rovers in the days when Roy got fat and addicted to painkillers. For once it would be really nice to have it wrapped up well in advance of time without killing off fans of a nervous disposition. Just once in my lifetime! It's not much to ask!

Well that was an unmitigated disaster. I have no words right now. The ONLY thing one can say as a positive is that winning last week have us the cushion to absorb a result like that... Why is nothing ever straightforward with this club?

NT 0 - 1 Rams CBT with ours

This season we've seen more contributions from the whole squad rather than a reliance on one or two. Lots of us said that would need to be the case after losing Didzy and Hourihane had absolutely played his part. He also clearly fits the profile of a Warne player - determined, cares, supports his team mates and shows up when the chips are down. I'd be inclined to think carefully about which games he starts, so that we can make the best use of what he's got left in the tank and throw him on to get the winner if we need to. He will contribute to the points total at some point over the next 7 games. He could end up being the difference.

Rams 0 - 2 Bolton No FRGS 😢

Only change I would consider is Smith for Hourihane but I think you've got to go unchanged and build on the recent victories. Two ways this could go... Game scenario 1 I would want us to look to get on the ball, dominate possession and push for an early goal. That will really get the fans onside and we would then want to keep that momentum to kill the game off as early as possible. Let's say 4 up at half time and sensible substitutions to rest key players for Saturday. Game scenario 2 I've watched us for so many years now, what I actually expect is for us to huff and puff with little end result for 60 minutes, concede a goal from a counter attack and then another late on as we push for the equaliser. That sound as the opposition fans celebrate as the quiet click of seats flipping up as the stands empty is forever etched in my memory... Scenario 1 please chaps...

Rams 1 - 0 Reading Gayle

Rovers 0 - 2 Rams FRGS GAYLE

Rams 4 - 1 Vale FRGS Birdy

All well reasoned points and I don't fundamentally disagree. I share some of the disdain for where we are Vs where I think we could be in terms of having a much more coherent, exciting long term strategy to make this club great again. However, it wasn't posts like yours I was being provocative about. Moreso posters who rant on with one line negativity exclusively about Warne any time we drop points. Obviously that's their right, I just don't understand the singularity of that line of argument. I don't think we've played particularly well all season and I keep expecting/hoping it will click but it's difficult to argue that we haven't been effective at accumulating the points we need to challenge for autos. On that score alone I find it difficult to understand how anyone can call for him to be sacked at this point. If we don't get promoted then it's a different story and I think we should think very hard about whether he's the right man for the project. As it stands I think we've got to see how it plays out.

Last season I would agree with you regarding the chaos, there seemed little plan other than run about a lot. Loads of gaping holes and no plan other than give it to Didzy. This season I completely agree with others, we've not played well consistently in a way that I would want to see us play, it's been mostly percentages. More often than not though, we've looked more solid and less chaotic. We have find ways to win by changing things up to suit situations. Don't want anyone to misunderstand me, I am not enjoying it but the primary objective is get out of the league and we're broadly on track. That's why I say pragmatic. We've delivered functional performances relatively consistently to accumulate enough points. Whether that works long term remains to be seen. If we get promoted I can see us grinding it out sufficiently well to stay in the championship. Will it be pretty? Probably not but again I would think it would be enough to accumulate enough points to stay up. There's loads and loads I want to see us doing differently/better but on the primary objective of getting out of the league it's difficult to argue he's not fulfilling the brief at this point. If we don't get promoted then I think we need to think very seriously about the longer term plan and whether Warne is the right man to rebuild and take on that project. The main objection I have is people clamouring for his removal at this point.

Okay, I'll be that guy... Were we terrible tonight?! I don't think so. To my eye we looked the better team and should have won. Not inspiring by any stretch but still the better side with more than enough opportunities to take 3 points. On Saturday at Barnsley we were equal to them. I accept we play a fairly pragmatic brand of football under Warne, it's not my idea of entertaining football but not every dropped point has to be used as a stick to beat him with. It's league 1 in the winter, it's going to be ugly at times. Some people's expectations feel unrealistic given all the circumstances. We are not going to win every game playing total football. People calling for him to be sacked whilst we're second in the league or because their crystal ball says we'll be crap in the championship is frankly bizarre! I agree that he has to stop tinkering with 3 at the back and stick with some version of 4-3-3 but I don't see that as the primary reason we lost tonight. We are still second, it is still all to play for. Tin hat on.

Rams 3 - 0 Charlton FRGS NML

Barnsley 2 - 0 Rams Sobering defeat leading to Warne resigning and the out-crowd leaping about like a parade of drunk frogs...

If this is the case then why does every club in the football pyramid do it? We've benefited from some exceptional loans over the years who have come in, performed for us and then gone back to their parent clubs with greater experience, confidence and improved abilities. The fact that most of the players we've loaned out haven't gone and performed like this suggests more that they aren't great players rather than the concept of loaning out youngsters being a bad idea generally, which is what you seem to suggest. Also there is benefit in youngsters going out, gaining some independence, testing themselves, building bonds with new team mates etc. If they seize the opportunity, absorb it and learn from it should all help them to mature and develop resilience beyond just getting minutes on the pitch.

Rams 2 - 1 STEVENage Collins FRGS

Exeter 0 - 0 Rams Turgid

Anyone who's watched Derby play in the last 20 years will not be at all surprised by this result. Chance to put some breathing space between us and the chasing pack against a strong, disciplined side who we rarely beat. It had disappointing draw or worse a defeat written all over it. This result is by far from the disaster some are making out. I wish we looked more convincing at home though, it doesn't breathe confidence. I think 4-3-3 is the way to go though.

Rams 2-0 Shrews FRGS Sibley

1-1 Collins FRGS

It'll be close but I think we'll finish 4th, grind out the play off semis and lose in the final to a more dynamic Pompey. I'd have taken that at the start of the season as an improvement on last but I'll be super frustrated if that's how it ends as I think we have a huge opportunity for autos with the right approach.