ramsbottom

On 05/03/2024 at 11:46, ramsbottom said:

Bolton have a stinker of a run in.  Not a good time for their form to dip.

On paper you have to say ours is looks the easiest on paper.  I reckon if we come out of the next 3 games with 7 points, it's definitely on.

Oh it’s on.  On like Donkey Kong!!! 

20 hours ago, Comrade 86 said:

Ah yes, you've reminded me that some of the characters depicted are actually featured. I'd completely forgotten that. Rare for me to revisit shows, even favourites, but I think I've watched BoB 3 times end to end. It's a stunning piece of filmmaking which is a world apart from the garbage served up this time around. I don't feel any connection with the characters portrayed in MOTA which ironically I did with a tiny super low budget movie I watched recently which despite being shot on shoestring, really made me understand the horrors endured by fighter pilots and bomber crews. I can't recall what it's called, but it was shot for under a million quid!

If you don't mind me asking, are you a historian of sorts yourself or was it a chosen field in your academic past. You seem particularly well informed. I'm not sure of your age, but it always surprised me that WW2 was not even in the curriculum I studied, yet medieval Britain was covered endlessly. 

I re-watch Band of Brothers regularly.  It's perhaps the best limited series ever made.  Plus every time you watch it you notice another star you'd completely forgot, or didn't realise were in it...

It's this situation, right now, that Clowes brought him in for.  Rosinior or AN Other may well have got us into the exact same position with 8 to go, but Warne's experience of multiple run ins should give us an edge.  I don't give a crap if his interviews are a little disjointed and waffly for some taste (I for one like 'em), but you know for a fact he knows exactly what to say to the players.

I've not been surprised at how well he's settled in, regardless of your age, you don't lose class.  But one thing that has stood out is his link up play.  He looks a lot more comfortable taking the ball with his back to goal than I thought he would, he doesn't look that small either & wins his fair share of headers.

Unlike a lot of fans I have a tonne of time for Collins, but Gayle's movement has taken our game to the next level.  NML & Barks clearly love playing with him.

1 hour ago, Tamworthram said:

So, I was at the game and have now watched the highlights.

A thoroughly entertaining game that I struggle to see how any Rams fans can’t have enjoyed. I’m not suggesting it’s a new dawn but I do wonder where some of the PW critics are this morning.

We got lucky but, based on every measure (quality of football, chances created, shots, shots on target, possession, saves the respective goalkeepers had to make etc.) it’s difficult to understand how anyone could argue it wasn’t a fair result.

Regarding the sending off, the first yellow seemed very harsh (I don’t think it was deliberate and there wasn’t much he could about it) and the second was absolutely a dive by Hourihane. Having said that, it’s debatable as to whether they should have had a player sent off for bringing down Gayle when he was through on goal. Perhaps it was only a yellow because Gayle still had a lot to do and there was another defender not too far away (but not between Gayle and the goal). 
 

Our first goal might have been ruled out if we had VAR and so may the penalty. Gayle definitely hand balled it. You could argue that the contact from the keeper came first (and may have caused the hand ball) but I’m not convinced. Having said all of that, there is no need to feel too sheepish (no pun intended) as I’m sure all of the other contenders have had their fair share of lucky breaks throughout the season.

I don’t think NML had his best game, Adams was immense (yet again) and Barks had IMO one of his best games even though he didn’t score or provide an assist. Overall a good performance by everyone. Bradly could have prevented their goal but, that apart, he had another good game.

Onto Saturday. It’s not quite a season defining game (and therefore not quite a must win game) but defeat would be quite damaging. COYR.

Had a prior engagement so only got to listen to the last 20 or so, and have had to rely on the highlights, but their keeper definitely clatters Gayle before his hand touches the ball.  Penalty all day long for me.  As for both bookings, very harsh, especially for the handball, which was fired at him at practically point blank range.  Like others have said, it may have been a culmination of his general behaviour.

1 hour ago, G STAR RAM said:

Don't think we really sat back in the last 10, best game management we've seen all season I'd say.

Typically Radio Derby made it sound like the Alamo.  Got to say the crowd sounded good in the background though.

14 hours ago, jimtastic56 said:

I’m fairly confident. Only reservation is - Has Hourihane got the “Legs” to play 3 games in 8 days ? Could be rested on 70 mins if we are 3-0 up. 

Turns out I didn't need to worry.  Easy win all round...

I hate to be pessimistic but I have bad feeling about tonight.  Everybody is building up the Bolton game as the be all and end all, and seem to have forgotten how Reading schooled us at their place.  Of course I hope I'm 110% wrong and we smash 'em, but it'll be typical Derby if we slip up tonight, if only to put more pressure on the lads come Saturday...

On 26/02/2024 at 20:04, ketteringram said:

Re Kin....

I've finally finished the second season. Great ending. 

Left me puzzled though, about the delightful Mollie from the pharmacy storyline 🤔

On 26/02/2024 at 20:08, Jimbo Ram said:

I thought the same….maybe a last fling before she got married? The only slight flaw in what was an excellent series and nearly made my top 10 😊

On 27/02/2024 at 11:45, Bob The Badger said:

Yeh!!! How random was that?

I like the occasional random, meaningless plotlines.  Bosch was good for weaving those in.

I do wonder if it will resurface in the next one though

I read a few pre-season 2 interviews with the writer, after I'd watched it, and in a couple of them he says Bren wasn't going to be as big a part of season 2 at that point, so he seems he likes the story going off in unexpected directions to what he originally planned.  So I have a feeling she'll reappear in season 3.

Really great show, did anybody else scream at the telly to stop Frank at the end of the last episode???

7 minutes ago, Stive Pesley said:

I used to think that, but if the extrapolated predictions that @MadAmster makes come true - they are unlikely to pick up any more points this season. Especially as they seem to have lost the fans and the changing room is also gone. So they'd finish on 13 - which I think was the previous low points record that Sunderland had? 

On that basis - it's still highly unlikely our record will be broken, but I wouldn't say impossible. I think we may see a few more teams crumble under the financial pressure of expectation as the Prem gets sillier and sillier in terms of money

 

I can't see it ever happening.  Even if they tried to do it on purpose, there's no way a manager could assemble such a ill-suited and downright crap squad for a Premier League campaign as King Bill-eh did.  Look at Luton, even they've been able to chuck a decent chunk of money at it.  For an experienced old head who's been around the division they turned to Ross Barkley, we signed Andy Todd...

On 02/03/2024 at 21:55, plymouthram said:

There's going to be a lot of dropped points by the current top 7 teams in the run in, simply because they all have games against each other. E.G. POMPEY have Peterboro (a), Barnsley (h), Derby (h) and Bolton (a). DERBY; Bolton (h) and Pompey (a). BOLTON; Barnsley (a), Oxford (h), Derby (a), Stevenage (a), Pompey (h) and Peterboro (a). BARNSLEY; Bolton (h), Pompey (a) and Stevenage (a). PETERBORO; Stevenage (h), Pompey (h), Oxford (a) and Bolton (h). STEVENAGE; Peterboro (a), Bolton (h), Barnsley (h) and Oxford (a). OXFORD; Bolton (a), Peterboro (h) and Stevenage (h).

Blackpool and Orient are still within range of getting a play-off place, so they could have a say on some games against the top 7. BLACKPOOL Have Pompey (h), Derby (a) and Barnsley (h). ORIENT; Derby (a), Peterboro (h) and Stevenage (a).

LINCOLN in 10th place are not an easy team to beat or score against (only lost 10 and conceded the 2nd least goals with 32). They have Pompey (h), Barnsley (a) and Oxford (a).

Bolton have a stinker of a run in.  Not a good time for their form to dip.

On paper you have to say ours is looks the easiest on paper.  I reckon if we come out of the next 3 games with 7 points, it's definitely on.

Our record for lowest ever points tally will never be broken.  However I take comfort in the fact that the tree dwellers up the road are technically the worst ever premier league team for finishing dead last 3 times.

As for United, they appear to be completely devoid of humour.  You'd think they're well past the point of taking the rest of the season seriously, but they have this opinion that they should be doing better than they are.  I think that idea expired for us around September of that season...

4 hours ago, On the Ram Page said:

Our display in the first half was anything but toothless. Initially we had to match or better their aggressive play (which we didn’t do at their place) which was achieved. It didn’t “almost” work - it did. I didn’t think Nyambe was “gassed out” as you say. I think we had mainly won the physical battle which meant we could slightly more offensive. Warne has got things  tactically right, on the whole, for quite a while now.

Exactly this.  Warne and the players got pelters in the reverse fixture for not being able to cope with their style.  So on Saturday he sets us up to counteract it.  Going way back, everyone was up in arms with McClaren for having no plan B and only having one formation, now we have a boss who can set up in many ways, with whatever players he has at his disposal, and is still able to win games, yet still gets abuse from some quarters.  The bloke can't win...

I have no idea why people don't rate/like him.  If we'd brought back Chris Martin in the summer, and had the exact same output fans would be creaming all over themselves, saying how good he's been.  I reckon it's just a case of his face not fitting.

I for one love the lad, he's everything you want in a League 1 striker.

29 minutes ago, MadAmster said:

Agreed. I think we should pair either Fornah or Tommo with Bird at DM and play CH in the #10 role to which he's better suited. As I've said many times, I'd be even happier if Sibs was given a run there to see if he can push on.

 What you're suggesting could work but Warne seems reluctant to play an actual midfielder in the No 10 bar Bird earlier in the season, he's much preferred NML or John-Jules (!!??!?!) in behind Collins.  Personally I'd like to see us with a proper 3 in the middle, Bird holding then Hourihane with Thompson/Fornah pushing on but I think that in turn will isolate Collins even more.  We've looked at our best when he has someone in behind him.  Whatever the formation I just want the midfielders to be in midfield, so many times we build up play and both of them are tucked in between the full back & winger and yards from each other, which doesn't help with picking up 2nd balls cause they're nowhere near their positions when the ball breaks into that area.  Cheltenham were picking up our clearances from their long balls so easily and if they had more creative players, they'd have done some real damage...

I'm gonna say 4th, and lose in the PO final.  It's The Derby Way...

1 hour ago, VulcanRam said:

"One thing I didn't get" is the start of a sentence that could go on for a very, very long time.

 

 

The past few weeks have started to remind me of late stage Clough Jnr, where you were either for him, in the belief that he'll get the squad firing, or you were saying he should go as he should be doing a lot better with the players he had at his disposal.  I think the majority of fans have the former outlook, but that's only because we've been winning, and being 4th without ever really being on top form (Oxford away being the exception) can't be sniffed at.

For what it's worth I'm willing to give him more time, because you can see in flashes what he's trying to do, (I don't think for a second he's wanting us to swing it in from the side line 30 yards out, more flash it across from the edges of the box) but it does make you wonder why he's been unable establish what he wants after a full pre season, and half of it gone.

58 minutes ago, trappatoni said:

Yes I can see that happening but how much help will any of that front 4 give a midfield 2 - then people will say Hourihane and Bird aren't good enough because they get played through too easily.  

Seems the tactics are just too basic - stick loads of attack minded players on.   If we have wilson or CBT on one side maybe Ward  or even Thompson on the other provides better balance even at the expense of leaving out a "better" player . 

 

This is the thing.  At the moment I don't think Warne is too fussed about playing through midfield, they're just there to pick up the scraps and cover for the full backs bombing on.  The back four are doing the distribution for them...

14 minutes ago, Ghost of Clough said:

To be honest, I'm expecting a shift to 343/523 sooner or later:

Wildmith
Nyambe   Nelson   Cashin
Wilson   Bird   Hourihane   Elder
Mendez-Laing   Baclkett-Taylor
Collins

Looks good on paper.  I wonder if 3 at the back will work better with Nyambe being more mobile than Bradley? Something needs to change, cus we can't have too many more repeats of last night.  And when I say a few, I mean none...

9 minutes ago, VulcanRam said:

Even a badly defending Ward which allows Wilson to play on the wing is better than playing Wilson at RB. We've only got 2 creative players anyway, now one of them is lost to defence, leaving us NML, and as we saw last night, if he's not on it, we struggle to create.

I'd put Ward back in and play Wilson higher up against Cheltenham. Other than NML, he'd walk into my team ahead of anyone in that position.

The potential reward outweighs the risk.

 

 

One thing I didn't get was when Ward came on, why was NML still on corners??  TBF to the lad, his dead balls are very good, and there keeper was iffy all game.  Why were we leaving them to Nat when he barely cleared their man at the front post?

24 minutes ago, Ghost of Clough said:

Defensively, Wilson's making just as many tackles as Nyambe at RB (dribbled past a fraction more. He's also making more interceptions and commiting fewer fouls. The big difference is the number of crosses Nyambe blocks compared with Wilson (he blocks crosse 3 times more often). Given Smith's contribution in his 1 game at RB was lower than what we've seen from Ward there this season (although less liekly to give away penalties), I would be reuctatnt to use him there either.

It's less about Wilson's attacking output being wasted and more about trying to stay as defensively solid as possible. It hasn't helped that we've relied on just Barkhuizen and Mendez-Laing on the wings for the past few games with no-one on the bench to freshen it up - a factor mitigated with the Blackett-Taylor signing. It'll hopefully be just 1 more game of Wilson at RB before Nyambe.

See below

18 minutes ago, MadAmster said:

IMO, When Nyambe is back, neither Ward nor Wilson will start. We now have NML, Barks and CTB for the 2 wide berths and 2 of the 3 will get the nod over either of the W's for a starting place.

Once Nyambe's back we'll hopefully see Wilson pushed forward and NML moved in behind Collins.  We know he's not a natural No 10 but a lot of our unbeaten run was with him more central.

I don't think it's even worth investing in another midfielder because they'll still be asked to play in the same way, which is to recycle the ball as quickly as possible and get it to the wide players.  There's nothing wrong with that in theory but it's just not working.  I don't know if I'm the only one to have noticed but Bird & Hourihane are never really in the middle of the field, they're always operating miles apart from one another.  When either of them managed to play a 1-2 it's rarely with each other, and more likely to be either a full back or winger

On 20/01/2024 at 09:06, EssendonRam said:

He is but the Niners have the NFC’s measure.

Now as a longtime Ravens’ fan, I’m so nervous about the Texans, it’s unbelievable. Baltimore’s history of top seed one-and-dones is really weighing heavily. Much of the squad hasn’t played for two weeks.

Surely it can’t happen again….can it?

Turns out you had nothing to worry about.  Me on the other hand 😬

On 16/01/2024 at 13:13, MaltRam said:

To be honest, I hadn't heard of it, no. Googled. Dubious. Adding the fish to it is not going in  the right direction either. Chips and gravy? OK. Cheesy chips, OK. Beyond that, I'm out. Tutting, and out.

Like you I was sceptical about Poutine but then I had some from a van at Bustler market and it was a game changer.  But I'm not going as far as  @David and whacking fish into the mix.  battered sausage maybe...

Back to the point of the thread, taking into account we haven't played to our maximum 95% of the season, we've had plenty of injuries, and the fact we supposedly have a s**** manager is pretty outstanding...