Carl Sagan

17 hours ago, Caerphilly Ram said:

He had a move to Blackpool lined up last year, wonder why it didn’t happen? 🤔 

The article says this was down to Mick McCarthy leaving. 

Presumably this signing would be for the U21s, not the first team. 

Collins is a player transformed and doing so well right now. But if he were to get I jured, or his form dipped, how would we be? Is Waghorn going to step in to see us over the line? Or Dajune Brown to come from the U21s? Or even have Washington to lead the line? 

A loan for Smith sounds a sensible insurance policy. Even though I would love Brown to get some game time, but he would then likely go out on loan for that. 

We shouldn't be held to ransom by Charlton. They need money for their purchases, and have tried to start a bidding war, but few clubs have a transfer kitty at our level. Plus the player wants to come to Derby. 

Walk away, move on to our other targets and have Charlton come running after us. 

1 hour ago, StarterForTen said:

So we know now that a two-goal victory takes us into the top two and one point off top.

Come on Derby; step up and grab the prize.

We never seem to step up and embrace the pressure of these moments. Instead in the past we have shrunk from them. Today there were wins for Barnsley, Oxford, Peterborough and Stevenage. We're at home against a team low in the table. To remain on track, we also have to win or we will have fallen back into the pack. If we are victorious, I think it will indicate something of a turning point in the mentality of the squad - that we are not afraid of fully entering the promotion battle. And it would be amazing if we were to move into second spot as our reward. I'm intrigued to see how the players react and if they will seize the day. This should be their time.

Come on you Rams!

48 minutes ago, roboto said:

The staff in Poppies (very overrated IMO) won't understand any requests that aren't on the menu. I tried before when I used to work around there.

Good knowledge, and it was a day of wonder when Poppies opened on a street I used to live. Fascinating you worked around there - Sandra got a gong in the NY Honours. For running a pub! 

But you're right, very overrated, and has gone even further downhill since Pat who owned it died a year or so ago. I'd moved on to Jack the Chipper long before, but now have discovered the wonder of Wicked Fish. Try it if you're back in the area! 

1 hour ago, Dean (hick) Saunders said:

I like to ask if I can put salt and vinegar on the chips first and then peas on top after. Don’t want a vinegar swamp on top of the peas.

I applaud you Dean. It's very important to be precise about salt and vinegar in this context. I am a lover of malt vinegar. Might be a trip to a Spitalfields chippie tonight, so I'm tempted to ask for a pea mix and see what happens...

Warne says it's almost sorted that we'll extend the loan till the end of the season:

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/derby-county-paul-warne-latest-9028056

Apparently we made an offer and Arsenal countered, but both parties are close.

I believe TJJ's contract is up at the end of the season and the article then says, once we get to May (presuming the lad has stayed fit) it will be to Warne to convince him to stay (hoping he's done well).

9 hours ago, Gee SCREAMER !! said:

I know youy fibbing now...no one outside Derby has ever heard of a pea mix 

Genuine question - what is it?

I'll be delighted if he continues to win Manager of the Month awards for the remainder of the season. Well done for this one, which we needed to put ourselves in the mix.

Burton are reportedly bringing in 20-year-old centre forward Jordan Hugill on loan from Man Utd. 

Apparently returned to us "with a heavy heart" after 22 appearances and his first goal on Boxing Day. 

https://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/2024/january/odurohreturnsderby_jan24/

Have we brought him back to sell him, or loan him elsewhere, or compete for a starting berth with Nyambe away? 

So we might as well take it seriously and win this "tinpot" tournament?

1 hour ago, Ghost of Clough said:

Wildsmith

Nelson   Cashin   Forsyth

Wilson   Bird   Hourihane   Sibley   Elder

Collins   Mendez-Laing

 

Subs: Bradley, Ward, DRobinson, Thompson, Barkhuizen, John-Jules, DBrown

I would bring Wildsmith back, but defo have Vickers on the bench. Wildsmith can do daft things (imagine if he'd been sent off when conceding that first-minute penalty against Oxford), plus while rarely used, not having a keeper on the bench sows seeds of doubt in your mind in terms of how you should play. With Nyambe at the African Cup of Nations, I think this is our strongest and most balanced starting lineup.

Warne said (Bradford post match) we're close to getting two in at the top end of the pitch who we'd be buying to start, not to be squad players. 

Sounds like the Crewe game. We're obviously lacking at times, and can't maintain the levels required to win match after match. In which case, if we bounce back and win the next 4 or 5 league games, it's fine. Our fragility evident tonight. Disappointing but it focuses the players and manager now. There is only one remaining objective.

13 hours ago, Steve Buckley’s Dog said:

We are going to win this trophy.

The simple reason is that I am going on holiday across the date of the final. We are therefore bound to get to Wembley and bound to win it. We will lift the only cup trophy we will ever win in my lifetime and I won’t be there to witness it. It seems inevitable. 

I hope you all enjoy your day out. 

You and me both! Very disappointed when I saw the final date, but my Rams Wembley record is W1 L3 so it might be for the best.

Think Warne will try again with the 3 central defenders thing, so will give the same lads more practice:

Vickers

Nelson     Bradley     Cashin

Ward     Thompson     Fornah     Elder

Sibley     Collins     Barkhuizen

Bench: Wildsmith  Forsyth  Wilson  Bird  Fapetu  John-Jules  Brown

I don't think John-Jules will be fit enough to risk him starting another game so soon, and I don't think Warne will start with an academy centre forward instead. Resting Hourihane and Mendez-Liang completely.

Unless there are first teamer coming back who will be put in for fitness, such as Smith, Waghorn, Washington. If any are ready, they'll play a part.

On 06/01/2024 at 14:42, Ellafella said:

Half-marks allowed; please rate all subs. Closes Thursday @ 18:00. Results by Thursday 22:00. Average is 6.00. Therefore, when a sub steps on the pitch he is on 6 -that'sthe baseline. Also indicate ATG (at the game) Or Tv.

31Vickers 6 Not faulted for the goal, but we missed Wildsmith's presence

35Nelson 6 Struggled in a back 3

5Bradley 5.5 Lost his man for the goal and struggled throughout

6Cashin 6.5 Best of a defence that gave a lot of chances away

2Wilson 6.5 Always great intent

8Bird 7.5 Two assists, but quiet the rest of the time

4Hourihane 6 One assist but largely invisible

22Fornah 6 Not on long enough to have an impact

3Forsyth 6.5 Very good start, but faded. Asked to play high up the pitch

20Elder 6.5 Seems pretty solid

19John-Jules 6 Disappointing, but didn't get injured and should have had a penalty

7Barkhuizen 6.5 Scored but largely invisible

11Méndez-Laing 7.5 His stamina has improved massively, to last 90 minutes here. Key first goal

9Collins 7.5 A player transformed. Lovely goal and strong contribution

16Thompson 6 Not enough impact to add points

 

 

On TV

Derby women had come from behind to be leading Liverpool Feds 1-2, but the game was abandoned with 10 minutes to go after what must be a serious injury to Derby's Megan Tinsley

Hope she's OK.

I had forgotten he even existed. Very much hope we can cancel the loan now the window is open.

600 up for John Brayford. And an excellent player for us.

Original story comes from Nixon in The Sun:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/25271364/danny-ward-sheffield-united-transfer-news-leicester-euros/

"Elsewhere, Derby  are watching Blades midfielder Ollie Arblaster, 19, who is back from a loan at Port Vale.

Arblaster may be out for a month with a gashed knee suffered in the Carabao Cup against Middlesbrough last month.

So the Rams will have to leave it late to check on his recovery."

I think having a cup competition is excellent for keeping the full 18 fit, giving them extra confidence and blooding a few youngsters. So far this season it's really helped us. Academy players have got game time and for instance, I'm sure Collins' goals in the league were helped by freely scoring in the earlier rounds. 

17 minutes ago, Ken Tram said:

1.96 points per game isn't too shabby!

Bear in mind this is the division of haves and have nots where you need to be flat-track bullies to have even a whiff of going up. Last season ended up:

1 Plymouth 2.20 ppg

2 Ipswich 2.13 ppg

3 Sheff Wed 2.09 ppg

4 Barnsley 1.87 ppg

So 1.96 isn't too shabby, but is only playoff form and still some way off the automatic pace (Bolton, currently in second, are on 2.13 ppg).