baiano27

I can see the reasoning for Rooney doing this as he is hoping it will improve his performances. However I've not seen any leadership qualities from Tom and I think its another poor decision from Rooney. We are going to need a captain that can lift the team through the difficult times we are going to face. We are going to have to fight for every point. I just can't see what Lawrence can offer....

I can see the reasoning for Rooney doing this as he is hoping it will improve his performances. However I've not seen any leadership qualities from Tom and I think its another poor decision from Rooney. We are going to need a captain that can lift the team through the difficult times we are going to face. We are going to have to fight for every point. I just can't see what Lawrence can offer....

Not seen a player made captain in the hope you may get an improvement in the basics of the game. They normally need to show there better at the basics than everyone else first. What a very odd choice . 

Sounds desperate.
It might give Lawro better focus and consistency, but it could just as easily put so much pressure on him that it stops him being effective at all.
Not seen much to dictate he is captain material, even by example. Has he ever captained us? I can name 5 or 6 who have, and a few others better qualified.
All I can see is that he's the most likely to be a nailed on starter each week where others positions are less certain.
12 months on his contract, can you really see him taking a 50% cut to stay on, no matter what we offer in token gestures.

I can see the reasoning for Rooney doing this as he is hoping it will improve his performances. However I've not seen any leadership qualities from Tom and I think its another poor decision from Rooney. We are going to need a captain that can lift the team through the difficult times we are going to face. We are going to have to fight for every point. I just can't see what Lawrence can offer....

I can see the reasoning for Rooney doing this as he is hoping it will improve his performances. However I've not seen any leadership qualities from Tom and I think its another poor decision from Rooney. We are going to need a captain that can lift the team through the difficult times we are going to face. We are going to have to fight for every point. I just can't see what Lawrence can offer....

I don't buy the latest kit anymore as I've got enough although I am a sucker for the retro ones. What concerns me is the childrens kit price. If they wack those up then my son will miss out this season.

DH Gate fella 

Best to trawl the US/ Canadian sites and find a friend to post it over. I got a blue jays shirt for £35 including postage when it's something like £80-90 excluding postage on fanatics...

An interesting debate.  There are times in the past when I’ve thought about not renewing but I have, not necessarily because of the football but, as others have said, the day itself.  Meeting your mates, few beers and a bit of a laugh.  I’ve renewed for this year and will get excited once August comes round.
That said, the last year has made me take stock a bit.  I guess I’m becoming a bit disillusioned with professional football at the top levels - champ and prem.  It can be difficult to get to some games, particularly midweek and Sky mess about with so many moving games to Friday night and Saturday lunchtime, which is also a bit tricky.  And when you see the money in the Premier League and the struggles lower down it a bit disheartening.  We all know the situation we’re in and chasing the dream and spending big back in 2015/16 hasn’t helped that.  And situations like Macclesfield, Wigan, Bury and there are probably many more too show that it’s quickly becoming unsustainable, if it isn’t already.  And the gap is widening.  There’s been lots of debate about the relegated clubs and the level of parachute payments making it easy for them to go straight back up and it’s a valid point.  Before too long it’ll be a virtual closed shop - the three coming down will keep going back up.
I am seriously thinking I might enjoy watching my local non-league team instead.  The quality and atmosphere won’t be as good but it won’t be about the money, it’ll be closer to a level playing field, 3:00 kick off on a Saturday afternoon and I might feel like I’m helping out where it counts. Will that mean I’ll care any less about The Rams? Absolutely not!!  Will it mean I won’t go to some games I want to and know I’ll be able to attend?  Of course it won’t.  It’ll just be a personal choice based on my frustrations with how the game is run.  Sorry for the long post!!

It was actually much later than that. I bought one as I play the sport and they sent the attached signed photo with it. We had American owners at the time so I always felt it was something to do with them. Wouldn't mind Nigel's shirt as that is a one-off!
 
 
 
 

And that’s the problem! Right here!! You slag off Mel because of the position we are in now yet why are we here?! Because he tried to compete against teams with parachute payments. Went about it the wrong way but he tried. Wednesday did exactly the same look where they are. Reading will be the next one, if they don’t get up next season I would then say the red dogs would be next. 
 
Run the club sustainability- no ambition sack the board. Spend money trying to get promotion against teams with more resources - sack the board.
We all need a reset of expectations because ultimately we want a football club to support at the end of the day that we feel connected to, whatever division we are in.

Until Erik shows us the colour of his money I don't think his opinion is worth a dime.

Quite common in most clubs. The candidates all had suitable CV’s ... None of us were fundamentally opposed to any of the appointments at the time. We might have had a dislike of either Pearson’s 1970’s PE teacher mode or the razzmatazz of Lampard but they were all typical of football. We have had every variety with the exception of trying to recruit the sort of tough guy agricultural manager with a “proven record” (although Pearson might fit that bill) . where everyone would have moaned about the lack of ambition.
The transfer policy “errors” started with Bryson and Hughes being injured in the same match which lead to panic buying at inflated prices. At the time, these were seen as bold, supportive and positive moves. Your are eating hindsight by the KFC family bucket load.
The financial state of the club ? .. Mel filled it with money .. some spent well, some badly .. We haven’t had a fiscal mismanagement situation or anything “taken” from the club by Mel. We got in a mess on FFP and Mel coughed up by buying the stadium and paying the club money for it.
Sam Rush ? Is Mel really responsible for another man’s ethics ? ( or lack of them ? ) 
The fiasco ? .. Someone broke their pledges or didn’t meet their obligations .. it wasn’t Mel. Maybe Mel shouldn’t  have trusted them but good business and life is defined by trust. You have to start somewhere. Has anyone thought about Mel here ? He has obviously had some serious health issues yet he hasn’t flinched from being a DCFC man 
yes, for sure, be sceptical or wary of new owners, we all are, we care about our club, but Mel has been a straight shooter from day one. Some of the things he’s done or wanted to do didn’t work out but he is trustworthy beyond doubt . Now maybe those he has trusted are sharks .. but that’s a different story. 
 
I cannot believe how you have such a judgmental attitude to a guy who has given his best efforts and a shed load of money to this club. Your judgement is littered with an astounding lack of logical analysis.