Chopper

I'm in the hoping P'boro and Bolton both with a chance in the final game camp, it'll make it a bit more competitive. That said P'boro need a massive gd swing so they may stick with play offs anyway and rest players. 4th gets managerless Barnsley? Just a feeling but I think that Bolton may do their job on Saturday, they may even get a 3-4 goal swing done themselves. Meaning Derby only have to lose for Bolton to make it. I can see us either drawing or being 1 down for the longest time on Saturday too, how it ends? Who knows all I know is I'm getting a few tipples in either way.

Today is my in laws 50th wedding anniversary, we are due to go out for dinner. I have saved up over 20 years of hanging around waiting for Mrs. Chopper to be ready, and the kids taking at least 30 trips to the loo before we go anywhere, so now it's my turn. I'm listening to it, in my room and I'll leave when I'm ready!

Glad Portsmouth have gone up, if Southampton (who admittedly are going well) don't go up that'll be a nice local derby to have on TV. They deserve it. As far as Bolton fans are concerned, yes I think like all clubs there are some who really should not be advocating for their club. I also think that they went on a decent run, a run that ultimately sowed the seeds of a cramped fixture list, dropped points, and hopefully their downfall; but during this run a few of their fans suffered from hubris and got over excited about their sides quality (think us pre-Feb in a Steve Mac season). Claims of "the best team in L1" have only been matched by claims that "Evatt is a numpty", let's see them join us though. Get a Bolton, Burnley, Blackburn mix to go with Pompey/Soton and Derby/Notts.

Cambridge 1 Derby 0 S.Bradley og Go into absolute meltdown especially when Bolton win 3-0, a thread on Bradley hits 50 pages before 7pm.

Predicting no change to the starting line up, injuries allowing. Adams, Thompson, Smith as a centre midfield three should give us the freedom of the ground, if Cambridge are already on the beach. Earn the right to play, an early goal and we could repeat the Orient performance, concede and 2 up top may not be enough. Let's get it done, win here and Bolton will need snookers! Lose and I'm going to need some WD40 for my squeaky bum.

Anymore pun infested threads and I'll keel over. Hangs head in shame.

3 set piece goals and a clean sheet for our defenders, that'll do me. Bradley did have a ropey start with us, suffering a bit when Hourihane was made Captain, we went to a four and got results with him out of the team. If fit Nelson and Cash (sounds like they should be crimefighters, or lawyers) are the defensive 2, that's obvious. When he came back a little while back I saw promise from him, and I saw the potential for a dominant Centre Half in the middle of a 3, then he lost his head and got himself banned. I'm not too angry about that, it happens, but I can also understand the frustration. He is the middle of a back three, in Derby terms: McGrath, Stimac, Carbonari, heck even West when he wasn't off building churches. Dominant, intelligent, reads the game being 3 moves ahead of everyone else, a real leader, no rushes of blood. Even equating for the L1ness of our situation, expectations for that position might lay heavy, at least amongst us lot - although I might be projecting a bit. If we stay down, with a good preseason he might help us dominate next year, if we go up ... I'd want to see who else is out there anyway, but I have a feeling we might not have to write him off next season, in a 3 alongside Rooney, Cash, Nelson and 1 more (a big 'un).

Think if we get promoted Warne might go for physicality but hopefully the quality of player will be higher than at Rotherham. Either way if it happens we will have to see. One piece of great news, we now have plus 1 Derby fan, my friends lad loved his first game even doing some bouncing in the West Stand, choosing his favourite player: "The guy with the shoulders" Nate, obvs! and wanting to go again as soon as possible. It made today exceptional for me, you dont get to introduce a new fan everyday. Anyway, pressure is on Bolton now they've got to win the last 3 in a row surely. Impressed with Thompson today, might see the 3 central midfield combo for the last two now, Bird, Thompson Smith, Adams, 3 out of those four should dominate possession in L1. Less attackers maybe but pragmatism will be the order of the day.

I struggle with the whole "punishing those having a go" narrative in Forests defence, 30 players for a 25 man squad? I can't get past that, its reckless at best, gaming something for Olympiacos' benefit at worst. I can say that, I dont own a bakery. Another thing, that bloke coming onto the pitch to intimidate referees giving them the eyes and sharing pictures of how he epitomised manliness by smashing a TV. Jees, what a proper numpty. The reduced to 4 points for cooperation, that is now over thing so it could be increased, was a product of my fever dream, I'm not convinced it'll happen like that but if Calsberg did appeals ... 2 years ago they were sure that they'd never play us again the gap was too big, I'd just love it if...

0-1 Orient No Rams Goal scorer, I drive home listening to questions over "how have Liverpool got on?" whilst listening that Bolton have tanked Portsmouth 3-0. Having a pessimistic day.

Taking a friends lad to his first game for this one, just hoping for a good performance and a few opportunities to bounce to help get another Ram on the board (it's either us, or Liverpool, or whomsoever Messi is playing for .. shrugs) A win is going to be crucial, I feel the titles gone, and as such Portsmouth could do us a favour too, but if we lose and I'll start thinking playoffs. So the pressure is on, Warne will need to earn his money for this game, to not only drill the team to get past a resolute defence but to prevent us from being our own worst enemy, psychologically speaking. Maybe not my selection but I'm predicting: 3 at the back, 3 in centre midfield including Hourihane, CBT on the bench, Nate and Collins up top. We will get a few shots off early as Warne will not have liked the stats v Wycombe. Solid line up designed to dominate possession and through sheer wait of odds and shots eventually score. Leyton Orient? I know very little about them. I dont doubt they will be exotic, exciting, and I'll be very interested to see them, but ultimately given where they are from, not quite as capable as those from around our parts.* *That was a really bad demonstration of an Orientalist, forgive me , I'm hardly Edward Said.

1-0 Wycombe, incredibly frustrating night. Parasites play like an absolute toilet for 30 mins due to a hang over but we miss a lot of chances. Couhig starts litigation on the EFL due to Derby being allowed to register NML whose 8" is a full 7.5" more than his measily effort, thus bringing his masculinity into disrepute, a big deal for people who probably falate blow up dolls of Donald Trump during the half time break. EFL dock 3 points immediately just in case. 70 odd minutes gone they scape a goal off of some randoms butt, who they signed because he was offering a good deal on car park extensions. I melt down Mrs. Chopper makes me sleep on the settee until I find my senses again.

Agree it could prove difficult. The only chance is with promotion, and the second we do that Cardiff are selling to a rival and you either make them pay over the odds or the player has walked. It'll be unlikely but I'd love to see it. The nieve part of me hopes that Warne is just being respectful to Cardiff and something is already in place, or a plan at least. Up front we have "moneyballed" the loss of McGoldrick somewhat, spreading his goal contributions amongst other players, if we go up we need those goals that Collins has given us. I see four alternatives: Collins steps up, moneyball those goals with increased contributions again from other players, invest in a new forward to step up, or my personal favourite 20 goals from a hitherto unlooked for source within the club. I remember a rather nondescript forward not doing much, hanging about the reserves. He had a productive loan spell with Torquay (although not amazing) came back, got a chance, 20 goals later we go up and he goes on to score v Arsenal, Leeds and ManUre first season up. Dean Sturridge, by the way. Perhaps we have a young fella on loan somewhere this season to offer that explosive difference? Stunning us that he can make the step up.

RVdL, Pearson, crucial goals from hardly prolific players being the hero, will this year be the same?* Hourihane freekick. Forwards, defenders from set peices all fail as we get increasingly tense, then a moment of quality and then elation... *On the understanding that RVdL our captain fantastic was key in 95-96, if not for goals.

Given our finances, and the fact that we aren't going to be in the 'speculate to accumulate' phase, it'll be a bit moot over quality, most of who we have will have to step up, and improve. That said, I think there is much to be said for taking momentum into the next season, and there may be player, who struggled last time in the Championship getting released, but with the momentum if we get promotion that'll change them. Attacking options I feel may be our weakest area, 3 of our 4/5 in defense will be fine, even a bit of depth RB/RWB. By the way, if, and a massive if we go up I'd hope we can come to an agreement with Cardiff re Adams. Listening to Adams on Radio Derby today, I think he's genuinely touched by how he has settled in here. With the euphoria of a promotion, alongside a connection with the club and the fans he may be willing to stay and personally I cant wait to contribute to a George Thorne level thread. We may be a good fit for him personally, let's face it we've seen it before.