Carl Sagan

This isn't strictly Mars, but it's related as part of the SpaceX push to go further out. At 1.02 am (tonight/tomorrow morning) four civilians are launching on a three-day mission in a SpaceX Crew Dragon. The mission is called Inspiration4 and it's 4 non-NASA private astronauts, three of whom effectively won a lottery and are flying with billionaire Jared Isaacman. I think they're going further out than any Humans have been since the Apollo missions, a  couple of hundred kilometres above the International Space Station so they'll have an amazing view of Earth. And they've had a special observation window (a cupola) built into the craft for the finest ever views in space.

There's a Netflix documentary about the mission https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81441273

It's testing the Dragon spaceship further out into space, continually pushing the envelope while SpaceX works on Starship in the background, sticking on the final remaining heatshield tiles before its first orbital flight.

The live feed of the launch is: 

14 minutes ago, Charlotte Ram said:

Mel won't personally be doing the DD that will be his financial advisors

Who've proven themselves so accomplished at it.

26 minutes ago, jimtastic56 said:

Looks like Wilder will come in for the weekend. But not an easy task to make points up in this league.

He's far too good for them. So hope it doesn't happen. I really want Wilder at Derby.

If (and it's a very big if) the rumours of a 9 points plus 3 more suspended are true, then it makes no sense. "Negotiating" such a high punishment means the EFL know they're on dodgy ground and cannot simply impose it. Why should we ever accept such a thing when we contend we have done nothing wrong?

The only reason I can think of, is that the decision is from Mel's potential buyers, who want a line drawn and the thing over and done with. Maybe they think, come January, they can buy their way out of trouble. But if that is the case, Mel needs to be a hell of a lot more confident in his buyers than the recent Sheik or Spanish boxer fiascos. And I'm not currently sufficiently confident in Mel that he's done sufficient (or any) due diligence.

8 hours ago, Tyler Durden said:

Typical of the lack.of balance on this forum - one good game and he's a world beater, one poor game and he's garbage.

We already knew before the game last night that Roos was a good shot stopper but doesn't command his area at all, is not comfortable with the ball played back to him and drops the occasional high profile ricket.

Nothing has changed from this since last night. 

I'm constantly perplexed by the opinion of some that Roos is not comfortable with the ball played back to him. To me he's extraordinarily good with his feet. The defenders sometimes make terrible decisions and put him under intense pressure as a result, but he's got great skill with both feet and is pretty unflappable and able to handle it in a way hardly any other Championship keepers would.

And a great shot stopper too.

I think you're right he doesn't command his area properly. With two such experienced central defenders in front of him now, I hope that will improve as they coordinate better between each other.

22 minutes ago, Ghost of Clough said:

We can't even loan them out as a game for any team would instantly make the 'of professional standing'.

What is the PFA doing about this? It's a totally absurd state of affairs having a massive detrimental affect on its members.

It's interesting that just the addition of Knight feels as if it gives us more depth. And even though Fozzy remains suspended, what an opportunity for Dylan Williams (who had the most touches by far of a Derby player against West Brom).

It was an immense effort to earn the point against the Baggies. The question for Rooney is whether he changes an undefeated team? I think he probably should, bringing Morrison into the reckoning. 

The re-signing of Davies and the signing of Jagielka look to be masterstrokes and we have a solidity at the back as a result. And building from the back is the right thing to do. But we all know, if we're to stay up we need to find a way to start scoring goals. Does Baldock do enough up front? I'd consider Stretton instead, but I'd also be open to the false number nine thing we tried against the Gumps.

56 minutes ago, Derby blood said:

Just got back in, wow my voice has gone, what great vocal support from the away end, and what a team effort to keep it at 0-0, a great point, we never gave up to night, a point deffo gained tonight, 3 points now on saturday. 

Great to be in the away end tonight, will deffo be making the trip to Sheffield United, the supporters, players and coaches all are in this together, and we are staying up. Once A Ram Always A Ram. 

The match thread for Stoke is on you now! Whenever you're ready. Hope this proves a long run for you in the role.

0-0 full time. Good point away at league leaders

Just now, Ellafella said:

5 minutes ffs! 

Ref feels he can't be too obvious but if they haven't scored he'll play 7 or 8.

Gladiators tonight. Come on you Rams!

If Ravel is fit enough to be on the bench, surely he should now be on the field? To keep the ball and help give us more of an outlet. 15 minutes left with injury time. Make the change Rooney!

Edit: apparently Rooney is bringing Bird on instead. I don't see that, but hopefully it's a cue for young Max to score the winner and it be hailed as a tactical masterstroke.

Lawrence and Stretton are on for Jozwiak and Baldock in case anyone didn't realize.

Come on you Rams!

Just now, Yani P said:

jetlag mate

That's nearly as funny as your (brilliant) ABBA post. 

13 minutes ago, Sparkle said:

Getting there for 23-00hrs would be an achievement!

Why so? It's 25-30 minutes from the Hawthorns. Have I missed something?

I reported it to the Megastore who are "investigating".

Here's the team:

Not what I expected. Both Ravel and Captain Tom on the bench!

Bit late notice, but in case anyone wants to know, there's a football special running to get people home!

Well done to everyone going tonight. Hope the lads do you proud and it's one of those great away evenings with a fine win against the odds. Come on you Rams!

This week a fully civilian crew go called Inspiration4 launch into orbit in a SpaceX Dragon capsule for a few days (not the few minutes of the Branson or Bezos flights) in which they will travel significantly further away than the International Space Station. Other than the Space Shuttle crews that repaired the Hubble Space Telescope, I suspect they're going further from Earth than any Humans since Apollo. 

There's a Netflix series about it called Countdown: Inspiration 4 Mission to Space which has been well worth a watch so far. Here's the trailer:

I love the way he's able to carry the ball forward out of defence and escape from opponent's clutches. I like how he isn't prepared to be bullied by opponents and has a physical side to his game. And he has great passing ability. But @IslandExileis right about his decision making in attacking situations. That's why I've advocated playing Ravel in the CDM role. He can still help provide an attacking threat at times, but he's not the best going forward. 

He's been one of our best players so far, if not the best, and a bargain signing, and seems ideal for the George Thorne role, at least until Bielik is back. I would only play one CDM so at that point, I'd move Ravel further forward, but given Rooney's insistence on two CDMs, he and Bielik would be great talents to have there and might actually make Rooney's system work.

Update at today's presser. Out on the grass training and going to away games with the team: https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/Derby-county-kazim-richards-bielik-5909713

Not expected back until the turn of the year, but it's good to hear he's not isolated on the treatment table.

How is Chris Hughton still in a job? But I hate that Chris Wilder is being touted to take over from him. I would have Rooney out and Wilder in here in a heartbeat. Don't want Wilder joining that lot down the Brian Clough Way.

On 10/09/2021 at 22:16, IslandExile said:

Play the full backs in defence.

If you want to play them further forward, as wing backs if you will, then play three central defenders.

This tactic of the two central midfielders covering for the full backs doesn't work. They're coming from a central area, so cannot cut out the run down the wing and the cross into the area. Jagielka and Davies are way too exposed.

I used to laugh that you never saw Roberto Carlos of Brazil ever appearing in his own half. We're not Brazil and Nathan Byrne, much as I like him, is no Roberto.

I'd like to see Byrne's heat map, showing his average position. I did see, time and time again, Birmingham attacks down their left and wondering where the flip is our Nathan? Only for the camera to pan out and, oh there he is, in their half, while they're attacking our goal.

I'm not blaming Byrne. That's the well documented tactic.

It just doesn't work.

4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, 5-3-2, 3-4-3

Take your pick of formation.

But please, no more 2-2-5-1.

I recognize this doesn't address the OP which is about defence, though for me the biggest defensive issue is the crazy way we always try to play "risk and reward" and then, once we've taken the risk and broken our opponent's line, we don't even bother trying to claim the reward but instead turn backwards and start taking risks again. But that's partly because we don't have enough attacking players to hit. What we need if we're going to survive this season is to have much more of an attacking threat, and play to the strengths of our attacking players. And for that I would take 4-3-3 every time:

Roos

Byrne     Jagielka     Davies     Buchanan

Ravel

Sibley     Knight

Jozwiak    Stretton    Lawrence

Subs: Allsopp Stearman Forsyth Bird Watson Shinnie Baldock 

with Bielik coming into Ravel's place once fit and Ravel moved further forward.

Just seen the thread. Think it should have gone back to Tokyo as a thank you for standing firm and hosting the Games in empty stadiums in the face of significant home opposition to them going ahead because of Covid.

 But I might have emigrated to Australia by this point...