Rample

Great point Carl.
 
But to be honest I was expecting two in (the second possibly a loan) as you state - form the above
 
But at least the club should have nailed a Perm (6ft 3er) in this window - especially after letting CM go.
 
 

Thats all well and good, but your forgetting the seeping from its wrapper Locket that Mel's secretary gave him when he had a sore throat last December. We all find one of them in a winter jacket. That could clinch it

We've known we needed a striker since/before we made the decision on Martin, and yet somehow we've found ourselves with 2 business days to wrap up an international transfer during a pandemic, one that possibly hinges on a team replacing that player in the same timeframe before they will let him go.
Of course we don't always get our first choice, but you move down a list, however long, until you get someone. There are occasions you can defer until the next window when an option is available, but we don't have that luxury.
Strikers capable of playing in this system should have been identified and scouted for 12 months, and as soon as the Martin decision, the EFL decision, or the Bogle/Lowe sale, whichever was the catalyst to allow us to start making moves, we should have gone down that list and got someone in and settled ASAP.
If/when someone does come in now, they will come into a new team, in a run of bad form, facing a schedule of incredibly tough games, and possibly not speaking the language. 
Not including the need for players to build fitness and adapt to Cocuball which apparently can take over a year.

We've known we needed a striker since/before we made the decision on Martin, and yet somehow we've found ourselves with 2 business days to wrap up an international transfer during a pandemic, one that possibly hinges on a team replacing that player in the same timeframe before they will let him go.
Of course we don't always get our first choice, but you move down a list, however long, until you get someone. There are occasions you can defer until the next window when an option is available, but we don't have that luxury.
Strikers capable of playing in this system should have been identified and scouted for 12 months, and as soon as the Martin decision, the EFL decision, or the Bogle/Lowe sale, whichever was the catalyst to allow us to start making moves, we should have gone down that list and got someone in and settled ASAP.
If/when someone does come in now, they will come into a new team, in a run of bad form, facing a schedule of incredibly tough games, and possibly not speaking the language. 
Not including the need for players to build fitness and adapt to Cocuball which apparently can take over a year.

We've known we needed a striker since/before we made the decision on Martin, and yet somehow we've found ourselves with 2 business days to wrap up an international transfer during a pandemic, one that possibly hinges on a team replacing that player in the same timeframe before they will let him go.
Of course we don't always get our first choice, but you move down a list, however long, until you get someone. There are occasions you can defer until the next window when an option is available, but we don't have that luxury.
Strikers capable of playing in this system should have been identified and scouted for 12 months, and as soon as the Martin decision, the EFL decision, or the Bogle/Lowe sale, whichever was the catalyst to allow us to start making moves, we should have gone down that list and got someone in and settled ASAP.
If/when someone does come in now, they will come into a new team, in a run of bad form, facing a schedule of incredibly tough games, and possibly not speaking the language. 
Not including the need for players to build fitness and adapt to Cocuball which apparently can take over a year.

We've known we needed a striker since/before we made the decision on Martin, and yet somehow we've found ourselves with 2 business days to wrap up an international transfer during a pandemic, one that possibly hinges on a team replacing that player in the same timeframe before they will let him go.
Of course we don't always get our first choice, but you move down a list, however long, until you get someone. There are occasions you can defer until the next window when an option is available, but we don't have that luxury.
Strikers capable of playing in this system should have been identified and scouted for 12 months, and as soon as the Martin decision, the EFL decision, or the Bogle/Lowe sale, whichever was the catalyst to allow us to start making moves, we should have gone down that list and got someone in and settled ASAP.
If/when someone does come in now, they will come into a new team, in a run of bad form, facing a schedule of incredibly tough games, and possibly not speaking the language. 
Not including the need for players to build fitness and adapt to Cocuball which apparently can take over a year.

Bargain basement signing out of necessity.
We're playing hardball because we can't afford to go higher.
We've already emptied our pockets on the table and found just under £1m in cash, a few euros left from our holiday, a post office receipt, a button, a conker, and an extra strong mint covered in fluff. 

Give Derby a call mate, you clearly have much more of a clue on how to run a club than those useless clowns running Derby. They’ll probs give you the job hey

It's a nice plan. The problem is that these plans so rarely actually work out. Players don't improve linearly. Successful players and managers leave for other clubs. Tactics have a shelf life before other teams work out exactly how to combat them - even if the tactics are effective to begin with. Managers choose tactics that can never succeed in the division, thus making any success actually impossible. Young players don't necessarily fit with the tactics, are often inconsistent and their inexperience often leads to them making mistakes (one or two youngsters often add energy and can be a real positive, but too many at once is a recipe for failure). Players get injured, fall out with each other, go to the pub and get caught drunk driving etc. Owners change, existing owners run out of cash/patience. The EFL decide to sabotage the club.
To succeed you would need the right manager, the right youngsters, the right signings, the right tactics, the right coaching, the right owner/chainman, the right medical staff and luck with injuries consistently over a four year period. Even one of those things being wrong would stop the plan from working. Those things sometimes align for a while, but never over a long timescale. In the real world there are too many variables for any long-term plan to actually work out.
By far and away the most successful model is:
Old manager leaves - new manager comes in and gets more out of the existing squad, signs a couple of good players and gets promotion within the first full season.
It's a couple of years since I looked, but when I checked, from the last 30 promotion from this division, 22 were from clubs with managers in their first full season, two were promoted clubs getting promoted again and one was a relegated club sticking with their manager. Of the other five, four had been in the play-offs in the previous season and that season had been the manager's first. 
My conclusion is that success (which for us must be promotion) comes quickly or not at all for a manager in the Championship.

If I have a plea to the club at the moment, it is to give us better match reports on the academy games with full team news, starting 11 and subs. 
Without being there and with no access to the teamsheets we picked up at games it is really difficult to keep track of the young players. 
There are so many people associated with the club pitchside on matchdays it wouldn't be too much to ask, would it? I noticed Waggy was loitering at the Moor Farm game - good to see by the way - maybe he could diversify a little? ?

Finally managed to work out who is who from this season’s first-year scholars.

Left to right: Harvey Randle, Charlie Rutt, Cian Kelly Caprani, Eli Christie, Alfie Roberts, Dylan Williams, Olamide Ibrahim, Rhys Brailsford, Marko Borkovic.

I know it was only Kidderminster... but duck me, our Academy lads play some good football!
Tyree Wilson (number 10) is going to be one hell of a player. It's rare to see close control and vision like that at this stage in a footballer's career.

It looks purely a business decision. 
Lawrence and Bennett fit to play and with resale value kept, Keogh who will be out for over a year  and nearing retirement/too old for this level of football when he returns let go. 
One rule for one and one for another, and maybe a little bit harsh on Keogh, but definitely in the interest of the club. 
Be interesting to see where player power stands now. Not saying Keogh was divisive (amongst the players) but he did always seem to be mentioned in the group of players that went to Mel to complain etc. 
Anyway, best of luck with your recovery Rich, thanks for the effort and for actually caring over the past few years.

He’s obviously been told by his lawyer that it won’t stand up in court. Club have probably been told the opposite.
Hopefully he’s gone sooner rather than later.

Sounds horrible but, unfortunately, the reality is that footballers are assets. Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett are still young(ish) and are assets with potential resale value (should their form drastically improve), which could be beneficial to the club. 
Keogh is heading for the wrong end of 30 and will likely never play again. He's certainly not going to be able to play anywhere near to the standard we have seen in the last few years. His resale value is now £0.
Again, this sounds horrible. But is the reality of the industry that is football. 
Derby are doing what is in the best interests of the club itself, as opposed to Richard Keogh. 

Love these stories, they're interesting enough about our legendary old timers, but they have also highlighted and in this case rectified long held injustices. 
Congrats to both you and of course Jimmy.
Will there be a book at the end of it? You write quite eloquently, and maybe DCFC could help with images and publication. 

Love these stories, they're interesting enough about our legendary old timers, but they have also highlighted and in this case rectified long held injustices. 
Congrats to both you and of course Jimmy.
Will there be a book at the end of it? You write quite eloquently, and maybe DCFC could help with images and publication. 

Love these stories, they're interesting enough about our legendary old timers, but they have also highlighted and in this case rectified long held injustices. 
Congrats to both you and of course Jimmy.
Will there be a book at the end of it? You write quite eloquently, and maybe DCFC could help with images and publication. 

Personal experiences - a close family member's attempt was triggered by not dealing with something from their past. They held on to it, not telling anyone, and eventually the weight of it got too much. Opportunity was there at the right/wrong time and they took it.
Second person I know was triggered by such a shocking accusation that they just did it. Not sure to this day if it was the enormity of the accusation or that it was true and that was their escape plan.
Personally, I came within days of mental breakdown not too long ago, no real reason, I guess life had beat me down for a few years, several family and money issues, unhappy at work, stressed, and always something at the back of my mind. I just noticed that I had become a zombie, unable to think or process things, almost like my head was full, and I was anxious of everything. Next day I took myself to the doctors and got put on citalapram. The next week was hell, almost as soon as I'd realised I had a problem it went into overdrive - always a taste in my throat, pounding head, nervous of everything and everybody, unable to go into busy places. Took 3 weeks off work, gave up anything that made me stressed in any way, and it calmed down a bit over that time before flaring up again. Now on escitalipram which is stronger and proving more effective. 
Thing is everybody I've shared that with is on/has been on/or has someone close on antidepressants. There really shouldn't be such a stigma. Life can get tough, if you need a helping hand coping there is medication available and it does work.
Just to add I also feel I hold my wife back and she'd be better without me on my really bad days, but that's just not true- she married me because she loves me and wouldn't change that no matter what I say. Talk to your wife and I'm sure she'll reassure you.

Morning chaps,
Just to let you all know I'm doing a lot better.  Had a good chat with the Mrs, had a little cry, had a couple of days off and celebrated my lad's birthday as a family.  Certainly made me appreciate the little things a lot more, and I'm feeling stronger for it.
Thanks for advice and letting me know I'm not alone in feeling like this from time to time.  You're a good bunch...

Personal experiences - a close family member's attempt was triggered by not dealing with something from their past. They held on to it, not telling anyone, and eventually the weight of it got too much. Opportunity was there at the right/wrong time and they took it.
Second person I know was triggered by such a shocking accusation that they just did it. Not sure to this day if it was the enormity of the accusation or that it was true and that was their escape plan.
Personally, I came within days of mental breakdown not too long ago, no real reason, I guess life had beat me down for a few years, several family and money issues, unhappy at work, stressed, and always something at the back of my mind. I just noticed that I had become a zombie, unable to think or process things, almost like my head was full, and I was anxious of everything. Next day I took myself to the doctors and got put on citalapram. The next week was hell, almost as soon as I'd realised I had a problem it went into overdrive - always a taste in my throat, pounding head, nervous of everything and everybody, unable to go into busy places. Took 3 weeks off work, gave up anything that made me stressed in any way, and it calmed down a bit over that time before flaring up again. Now on escitalipram which is stronger and proving more effective. 
Thing is everybody I've shared that with is on/has been on/or has someone close on antidepressants. There really shouldn't be such a stigma. Life can get tough, if you need a helping hand coping there is medication available and it does work.
Just to add I also feel I hold my wife back and she'd be better without me on my really bad days, but that's just not true- she married me because she loves me and wouldn't change that no matter what I say. Talk to your wife and I'm sure she'll reassure you.