RodleyRam

1-1 Washington

We have to draw at some point

Wherever he is I hope he's resolving the lax defending and making us more solid at the back.

Boro 1 - 2 Rams

FRGS Waggy

Backs to the wall shiz

On 22/08/2023 at 11:48, RadioactiveWaste said:

The signing is near now, so close you can sniff it.

This deserved more than the 5 giggles it got...

On 21/08/2023 at 23:06, CBRammette said:

That is the sort of player I really thought we would sign this summer with a few more "risks" taken on promising lower league or younger players. Although if no/very low fee and low wages not much of a risk if we are aiming for a steady sustainable rebuild.
I think the sort of player we have signed is the main reason I am so disappointed at the start of the season - not results, not style, not PW but the short-term-ism of the recruitment (not blaming anyone in particular) and the fact our youngsters who havent broken through yet only seem to get a proper chance when there is no other choice like on Saturday. Pre-season it looked as if the next batch would get their chance but I dont think they will. Despite the off-field nonsense I really felt connected to the team with blend of our youngsters and more experienced pros bringing them through over the last 2-3 seasons. By accident it seemed we had ironically found "the Derby way". But with Bird and Cashin probably off/being sold to fund more journeyman (nothing personal) I find it all a bit sad and disappointing. Would have rather built a younger more long-term team I am invested in than get a quick promotion but thats just me I suspect!

Again dont really want to blame anyone but suspect financially us getting out of this league is a priority but ironically the short-term signings with that aim may make it less likely.

Ignore my depressed ramblings, think this is the year the ramifications (no pun intended) of Mel's mess really come to fruition. And last night I watched the Leeds v Derby playoff semi second leg!

Completely agree with this PoV.

Before the trip to Spain, I thought the transfer business was solid if uninspiring and hoped we would kick on with some more 'exciting' signings once the foundations were in place. We may still do so but I really hoped the recruitment team would be tasked with unearthing some rough diamonds that we could add in to complement the solid experience.

As it is the signing I was most excited by has proven to be way off the pace (so far) and the exciting signings just haven't materialised (so far)...

I don't think anyone can say with any authority if the uninspiring window is the result of PW's stance, poor recruitment team, difficult market or a lack of genuine budget. 

As it is PW's assessment of where we are is correct. We might challenge for the playoffs but with a thread bare squad with a lack of pace and variation it's going to be a long old grind

We could end with a bang but from being quite optimistic about the initial flurry, the best signing we've made to date looks like a guy we already knew about and who happened to fall into our lap because of a testimonial!

Let's hope there are some hidden gems in the pipeline they turn out to be once in a generation talents that we can ask get excited by.

I didn't agree with the decision to remove Rosenior but I could understand the logic behind it.

I can see how PW's personality, rhetoric and track record would have been appealing. His philosophy on management, how he sells his preferred playing style and how he talks about building a culture, is all completely believable. While I don't completely buy into the brand of football and had massive reservations about the shift from LR to PW, I don't blame DC for making that call, he completely earned the right to make it! Most of what PW says added to his track record made him an entirely legitimate candidate for the stated objectives.

The issue is that he hasn't (yet) demonstrated that he can put words and track record into sustained results. It's not going well and I would say he's got 5-10 games to correct things or he loses the crowd and the players completely, it's that precarious. If you lose the crowd and the players it's only going to go one direction and the question will be whether he walks or Clowse pulls the trigger.

I hope it doesn't come to that but that's the situation as I see it.

I don't 'blame' Clowse for any of that. Sometimes decisions made for the right reasons with the right intentions don't work out. 

If we lose I predict a riot. How many bonus points for that @mozza

Rams 1 - 3 Fleetwood

Washington with ours

I haven't got a single one right so far, so I'm hoping to continue my losing streak

I can't believe he's as bad as he's looked. I had high hopes for him and still hope he will demonstrate his quality. As a CB he's only just past his prime etc.

The formation and lack of a dynamic CDM is not helping any if our CBs. None of them look confident positionally in a 3 and none of them have the pace to recover. 

It's worrying how fragile we have looked defensively given that most of us thought we would be very stingy this year.

A formation change will help but it's a worry.

17 minutes ago, RodleyRam said:

Okay so having watched Derby for many many years my prediction is that we will huff and puff, squander a few chances and get hit on the break at around 75 minutes. Following this Collins will get sent off and everyone will go home sad and/or angry.

It's the Derby way

Just the sending off to go...

Eugh. I was never a fan but I don't particularly want Warne to go. Unless he changes the system and plays to the players strengths and in a style that suits a club our size I fear it's going to end badly for him...

Thoroughly depressing.

At least we have a club blah blah

Okay so having watched Derby for many many years my prediction is that we will huff and puff, squander a few chances and get hit on the break at around 75 minutes. Following this Collins will get sent off and everyone will go home sad and/or angry.

It's the Derby way

7 minutes ago, Kokosnuss said:

...and yet Warne plays in a manner where you intentionally don't have someone performing that mobile CDM role, so the whole squad does more running to make up the deficit.

I'm still not sure how he managed to have such a good defensive record if he played this way in his last season at Rotherham though, surely it can't be as limited and as obvious as it sounds, there must be more to it.

Either that or it just took teams by surprise that season and now some have figured it out.

I agree with you on that. I seem to recall someone saying he did have a beast in front of the defence, someone with better knowledge will be able to clarify that.

For now I think Smith can do that job but I'd prefer to see us strengthen that specifically and it could be a key piece of the jigsaw. Even a John Eustace type would do. It's also about game management.

To everyone else, I'm sorry for going off topic. At least I haven't made a pun...

1 hour ago, Mountain Ram said:

I keep seeing comments about us needing a proper defensive midfielder. Surely with 3 at the back that shouldn’t be a necessity? I could understand someone who’s a bit of a ratter like Shinnie, but not sure about needing an out and out defensive midfielder. 

Or, is this just an indictment that we don’t have the right CBs for playing 3 at the back?

First game of the season tonight, so I’m looking forward to being able to make some more informed opinions 😊 COYR 🐏 

For me it's about making sure you can get the best out of the wingbacks and other midfielders and a recognition that a back 3 is susceptible to being pulled apart. A mobile CDM is just going to give you that cover so that you can capitalise on the advantages of the system. Without that kind of player you either end up playing with 5 at the back or leaving huge gaps to exploit (Wigan did a number on us here)

1 hour ago, angieram said:

I persothink we'll have a great season if we just do the first two of those.

You're probably right. I'm broadly happy at CF, LWB we can cope. I can't help feel we need more pace and guile to give us an option at no. 10 or wide forward but I accept, Sibs and Barks are yet to feature and are both good for goals and assists if used correctly.

A mobile CDM beast is a gap for me. 

I like Bird in that advanced role. I hope he stays as I think he could have a very productive season. 

Unless we strengthen in midfield Smith can/should play that deep lying role but I can't help think we would be improved significantly with a mobile destroyer type to protect the back 3 and give Bird, Hourihane and the wingbacks license to bomb on. Without that we are exposed and the CBs aren't quite mobile enough IMO. The squad gaps elsewhere are well documented and I do think we need to address them with permanent signings or quality loans (easier said than done obvs)

So in summary:

Keep Bird

Get CDM

Get LWB (we could survive without)

Get CF

Get another no. 10

Get champagne on ice...

Rams 1 - 0 Ox

Bird FRGS

Brewers 0 - 0 Rams

Snorefest

Last season I was one of this forum who expressed some concerns about the way we were set up tactically and how PW went about footballing matters.

Since then he's grown on me in lots of ways and I quite like his approach to building culture etc.

I don't know if the seeming lacklustre transfer window is down to a difficult market, restrictions or poor recruitment practices on our part. Clearly there is something holding us back from recruiting players with the kind of characteristics we obviously need but I doubt it's fair to let the entirety of blame for that at PW's door unless he's completely blind to the obvious.

I can't fully compute the rationale behind the formation and tactics given the relative strengths and weaknesses of our personnel but I don't think 2 games is sufficient to fully judge the new squad, though I do have genuine concerns which date back to last year on his tactical ability and in game management. I hope he can re-evaluate a little and adapt.

I really want him to do well and I like all the players brought in as people, so I am trying to be optimistic that we will have our 'Igor' moment when it all just clicks into place and we all wonder what the fuss was all about.

Great to see so many Rams fans gleefully rejoicing at the current score line.

2 hours ago, DCFC1388 said:

Hopefully previous good relations & loans from Brighton put us in a good position.

I would say Portsmouth are probabky favourites in terms of location & playing style.

Reading have the London factor if that is something the young lad wants but like the article says, they have signed a number of centre mids.

We can offer I would think the best training facilities, home game experiences & potentially the more successful season of the 3

 

Is it possible to retrospectively cancel a game I wonder?

Well that's a depressing anti climax!!

Still first game, team not yet complete and we will get better.

Impressive wins for potential rivals but it's a long old season!

Rams 2 - 0 Wiggo 0

FRGS Collins

COYR

I'm a little surprised by this to be honest, more so the statement that Max is keen to move. I'm not sure I buy that, he seems far more at home here than most other players, lots of history and a genuine connection with the manager at a critical time in his career.  I would expect him to buy into the season ahead with a view to being a dominant force.

I would be gutted to see him go. Knight I have come to terms with but Bird is lovely to watch and I think could be a surprise package next season in terms of his ability to influence games.

Still, every player has a price. If he goes and we can replace him and strengthen in a couple of positions then it is what it is!

1 hour ago, Caerphilly Ram said:

Read a bit more about the man, for anyone interested and brave enough to navigate the DET website.

My eyes are bleeding...

Great article though. Thought he was hugely impressive in his interview on the OS too. Keep him fit and he will be worth a fair few points on his own I would guess.

Shame he's just a standard league 1 player with no experience of playing at a higher level...

Cult legend?