abertawe_ram

I feel there's a parallel universe in which Mel was never mad enough to bring in Rooney, allowing Cocu the time and space to develop a formidable team built on the academy, now competing around the top of the Premier League with Sibs as one of the great hopes of the coming England campaign in the Euros. Alas Mel had to be Mel, and Sibley who was streets ahead of Saka in the then biggest game of their lives for the young England championship, is now seemingly a bit part left wingback who the manager would rather not have played in League One. In this universe I still think there's a possible future for Sibs as a brilliant attacking midfielder, but I'm dubious it's with Paul Warne's Derby.

Looking back , Sibley has divided opinion over the season . Since his hat-trick V Millwall , I have been a fan of his . But I now have to admit , that even more than Max Bird , a change of scenery would be good for him .

I'll add a bit of international flavour to that post:
CM - Markus Poom - 25 yo son of the great Mart Poom, Estonian international currently on loan at Shamrock Rovers. Born in Derby no less 
AM - Onni Valakari - 24 yo son of Simon Valakari, highly rated Finnish international plays for FC Pafos in Cyprus. 
CM - Emil Bohinen - 25 yo son of Lars Bohinen, currently on loan at Genoa from Salernitana and another Derby born lad.
Must be some more I've missed?

After realising that Tyrese Campbell is the son of Kevin Campbell, and with us being linked to Devante Cole, Josh Windass, and Charlie Savage, it occurred to me that our new transfer policy is obvious: the children of 90's and 2000's UK footballers who Paul Warne & Richie Barker remember. So here's a list of suggestions.
 
GK - True Grant - Man City, 18, son of Lee Grant. Derby County link there already - terrible name, but we'll sign him when Man City get relegated to the National League North.
RB/CB - Finn Delap - Burton, 18, son of Rory. Sign Finn up first and Liam will follow.

CB - Charlie Cresswell - Leeds, 21, son of mediocre journeyman striker, Richard Cresswell. Was on loan at Millwall last season and they rated him. Recently crashed his car into police car outside Elland Road, so possibly a b*llend.

CB - Caleb Taylor - WBA, 21, son of Martin Taylor (not that one, the brute from Birmingham). Did well on loan at Cheltenham last season, played nearly 50 games. Loaned to Bolton this Feb but barely played. Contract expires next summer.

DM/CM - Jensen Weir - Brighton, 22, son of David Weir. Rated when on loan at Blackpool but game time was limited so cut it short. Played a lot on loan at Port Vale, who were bloody awful. He is soon-to-be free though.

CM - Charlie Savage - Reading, 20, son of Robbie Savage. More technical than his Dad, plus he doesn't have that stupid bloody hair. Reading have no money, so a god shout.

CM - Bobby Clark - 20, Liverpool, son of Lee Clark. We're also being linked to him! He'd be a great loan by all accounts.

CM - Donovan Lescott - 20, just released by Blackpool, son of Joleon. Probably rubbish.

CM - Jack & Tyler Fletcher - Man Utd, 17, twin sons of Darren Fletcher. Both handy centre mids, possibly we'd get a 2-4-1 deal on a loan.

AM/RW - Stan Mills - Everton, 20, son of Danny Mills. Did well on loan at Oxford than knacked his knee. Could be a good loan when he's fit. Probably hears lots of great stories from when his Dad played 2 games for Derby.

AM - Elliot Lee - Wrexham, 29, son of Rob Lee. Another Derby link, smashed it in L2 with 16 goals from midfield. We probably can't afford him though, and he's nearly 30.

AM - Josh Windass - Sheff Weds, 30, son of Bradford and Hull legend, Dean Windass. Scored 6 in the Championship for a crap Wednesday side. A bit old but possibly available on a free, let's see.

RW - D'Margio Wright-Phillips - Stoke, 20, son of Shaun. Soon to be a free agent, but did well on loan in Belgium at Beerschot, a name which makes me thirsty.
CF - George Hirst - Ipswich, 25, son of David Hirst. Did well in the Championship this season but could easily get replaced, let's see. Seem to remember he was a big-time prat when leaving Sheff Weds.
CF - Tyrese Campbell - free, 23, son of Kevin Campbell. Didn't really score for Stoke, but they are an awful, cursed club and couldn't get a tune out of Dwight Gayle either.

CF - Devante Cole - free, 29, son of Andy Cole. Two good seasons at Barnsley so worth a punt on a free.

Oxford have been known to blow a 2 goal lead but only against a really top notch team 😉
If anyone has listened to the rival league one fans views on SBW podcast, then I imagine you also won't be able to avoid a chuckle at Bolton's current plight

Oxford have been known to blow a 2 goal lead but only against a really top notch team 😉
If anyone has listened to the rival league one fans views on SBW podcast, then I imagine you also won't be able to avoid a chuckle at Bolton's current plight

Swansea have confirmed Nathanael Ogbeta is leaving as a free agent. If Bolton don’t go up (hopefully they don’t) I could see us getting being in for him as I imagine he’ll want a championship move. In his last 2, 6 month loans to league one with Peterborough and Bolton, he’s played 36 games getting 3 goals and 7 assists from left back or left wing back. He’s comfortable in a back 4 or 5 so would suit us perfectly. 
 
He’d be a great option on a free with good potential. Should it work out we have a good attacking wing back with good sell on potential ina couple of years. 

If that's what they give for the showcase teams, then I'm glad we're not one of those! 🤮
I was quite excited for the return of puma but the more recent examples of their kits I see, the more I'm thinking please come back Umbro 😆

If that's what they give for the showcase teams, then I'm glad we're not one of those! 🤮
I was quite excited for the return of puma but the more recent examples of their kits I see, the more I'm thinking please come back Umbro 😆

If that's what they give for the showcase teams, then I'm glad we're not one of those! 🤮
I was quite excited for the return of puma but the more recent examples of their kits I see, the more I'm thinking please come back Umbro 😆

As of a couple of days ago, out of the 48 championship and league one clubs only something like 24 had released their retained lists so we’re not behind everyone, and what’s out there in the public domain isn’t necessarily evidence of what the club is doing recruitment wise as we saw with signings in Jan and last summer, a lot of them were kept well under wraps from media and social media accounts. 

Yakou Meite always used to look a threat for Reading but his stats for the season just gone aren't good. If they were looking to sell he could be worth a gamble 

Here's just a few of the ones I've seen along with the source... 
  
 
 

That makes a lot of sense and pairs well with something a poster wrote in another thread about wingback. If we are going down the 343 / 352 route next season, having the option to freshen up the wingbacks after 60/70 will be a good tactic. Ward/Wilson are ideal for that at the moment on the right but I think a left wingback with more energy and attacking threat to pair with Sibley on the left would a good way to go. Hopefully the Small link has some truth to it and that's an option we're looking at. 
2 forwards, 2 wingbacks and a centre mid that are capable of coming off the bench in the 2nd half to make a difference, could be huge.
9 subs does seem a bit mental though, I would've thought 7 is fine

Birmingham, like all places has its nice areas and its not so nice areas. Birmingham City like all teams has its nice fans and its not so nice fans. Granted with Birmingham the not so nice is a slightly higher proportion than most places or clubs.
There are areas of Birmingham where property prices will be higher than anything in Derby, likewise all the Bluenoses that I know have given me nothing but support over the last few difficult years. Quite a few have come up and shook my hand and congratulated me on our promotion whilst suffering the heartache of their relegation. For these people, they have my sympathy, for the couple of thousand morons who 'graced' PP, two years ago, I'm loving it.
For those on here slating the city for being just one s******* and for saying that the entire fanbase are all morons, you are embarrassing yourselves by revealing your ignorance.
I live just outside the city and have many Bluenose fans as friends and I'm offended by many of the comments on this topic.

Tyrese Campbell released by Stoke. Good age, plenty or experience already and has it in his locker to have good seasons.
Plus extend John-Jules' loan, keep Fornah and have monopoly on all the Tyre(e)c/ses in the league!
Or think what have Tyre(e)c/ses ever done for us and try a different name.

This fella would never shirk a challenge in either of his spells. Definitely had a feisty streak but I wouldn't say a thug.
Same with Adam Bolder too.
But as has been said, we've never had a whole team of hard men and our lack of them at certain had probably been a detrement. It's never been our main tactic, even under Billy when we had a solid core that could mix it (Moore, Johnson, Howard) they were balanced out with some very decent footballers (Leacock, Jones, Lupoli)

He's hit some great form under yhe new boss. Got a good midfield partnership with Wharton developing. They support and feed the creative atrackers Olise and Eze really well 

A midfield 3 of Carsley,Powell and Van Der Laan could play but was also brutal.  Saw an interview with Powell and Carsley in Four Four Two in about 97 where their pre game ritual was to watch Scarface together.  Amused me enough to remember it.

He's hit some great form under yhe new boss. Got a good midfield partnership with Wharton developing. They support and feed the creative atrackers Olise and Eze really well 

Just seen Ipswich are on track via a Wes Burns goal, he's a great example of one of those players who looked very very average at Bristol for years, but in his late 20s its all clicked for him at Ipswich and he's had a phenomenal 3 seasons!
One reason I try not to write off players we sign before they've played a bit. You know never know who will settle and find their best form where

Just seen Ipswich are on track via a Wes Burns goal, he's a great example of one of those players who looked very very average at Bristol for years, but in his late 20s its all clicked for him at Ipswich and he's had a phenomenal 3 seasons!
One reason I try not to write off players we sign before they've played a bit. You know never know who will settle and find their best form where

Well I'm currently sat in a pub with my Brother-in-law, a Birmingham fan slowly picking away at his chips as he's just pushed his food away.
Dunno whats up with him, I'm having a great time.

Just seen Ipswich are on track via a Wes Burns goal, he's a great example of one of those players who looked very very average at Bristol for years, but in his late 20s its all clicked for him at Ipswich and he's had a phenomenal 3 seasons!
One reason I try not to write off players we sign before they've played a bit. You know never know who will settle and find their best form where