Sweetness34

I think the top 2 will be Bolton and us, with Peterbourough just missing out and pompey 6 or 7 points adrift.

I've always thought there was not much difference between winning the league and coming second but I've changed my mind this year and would like to see us be champions.

Optimistic? maybe but I feel like we can do it!

Based on nothing other than the experience of being a Derby fan my whole life, I can just see us dropping points on Saturday, struggling but winning against Exeter, either 4 or 3 points from those two games and everyone (myself included) going into meltdown even though it's not that bad before convincingly thrashing Stevenidge and finding oursevels in 2nd because the teams around us also drop points that they don't think they should

0-0 Saturday is my gut feeling, like I say, based on nothing other than that's what happens we're in this position! 

5 hours ago, Oakwood Ram said:

Will never forget the long summer days as well, with Euro 96 games the only distraction. What a year 1996 was pal 🐏 

How could I forget to mention that! memories! 

1 hour ago, IslandExile said:

Actually, there are better photos that I should have used but, if nothing else, it will start another conversation about the badge.

Seriously though, what on earth is that Ram? I’ve honestly never seen that before. 
 

The ‘72 ram looked just like today’s beautiful creature so where did this one 4 or 5 years come from?

1 hour ago, Oakwood Ram said:

Absolutely brilliant these.

I still think that being on the BBG pitch in 1996 post Palace match as a 14 year old with my dad was my greatest childhood memory. I never knew life could be so good on that day, still not sure I have ever experienced feelings like it since 🐏 

It’s my favourite childhood memory too mate.

I was 10 but remember it as clearly as any other memory in my whole life!

later that year me and my brother got a PlayStation for Christmas and the genuine surprise at unwrapping that is my second favourite childhood memory.

1996 was my favourite year

On 09/01/2024 at 16:39, Ram-Alf said:

As you know ICF/DLF were not around then, Tho the Mile End Boys were...WHU, We had a beating in the Greyhound Pub at the back of Wembley Stadium 50 of us on the coach against many more.

Just before the game had finished we could see WHU fans leaving the ground, All Derby stayed behind to cheer Roy Mac and the lads with the Shield, By that time we got to leave the ground half of London was outside there waiting for us, It didn't look good, But we had a fella in Kev O'Reilly as hard as they come, Stood on the steps and screaming at us to move forward, We had 2 choices...do as he said and get a beating or go back in the ground and get a beating when back in town, We chose the 1st option, It wasn't very good as our numbers were still coming out of the ground but soon enough the numbers were getting on equal terms...then numbers in our favour, As you said it was the Derbyshire Miners that helped take the day...and night in Old London Town.

A very hot day with dust clouds all over the place, The police just couldn't cope, You say it lasted a few seconds not where we were concerned, It was payback for the Greyhound incident, Scaffolding poles and planks were at hand, Bottles from inside the ground were used by both sides...probably the worst violence I've seen or been involved in as a 19 year old

Years later talking to some "ICF" lads who were there, They admitted it was our day, Bill Gardner who was their top lad admitted through gritted teeth that "Derby had WHU on their toes".    

These stories are mad! I've always thoughht my dad embellished his stories but the 70s really were crazy! 

4 hours ago, ariotofmyown said:

Yeah that is right. Was probably aware of We Are Derby since mid 90s, but didn't know it was Sailing until about 10 years later!

I’m just learning it now 😂

45 minutes ago, TomTom92 said:

Derby's recruitment in the fullback areas has been diabolical in the past 30 years. If i had to make an all time XI from the past 30 years i'd be looking at Fozzy, Brayford or Bogle. All solid championship full backs in their prime, but hardly a good return. Anyway moan over, well done Fozzy. 

Jacob Laarson was player of the season

I'm amazed at how strongly some people cling on to their oppinions.

Is it pride? Because I don't mind admitting I wanted Warne out earlier in the season, peaking after the defeat at Stevenidge and then come December 29th thought he's going to take us up as champions.

Being a football fan is way more fun when you over react in both directions.

2 minutes ago, ariotofmyown said:

Didn't know that. I'm fortunate to not know many Forest fans. I think that old school thing of calling teams by their colours has faded away a bit.

Chelsea still the Blues. Maybe City Sky Blues?

I sadly do know a few 😞 and they can be ridiculous. They'll make sheep noises like it's some diss and I'm like "oh thanks for that mate, I didn't know a Ram was a sheep, you've really cut me deep there". Some claim to actually hate sheep because of Derby County and I'm not making that up

My sister is married to a Forest fan and I had the misfortune on going on his stag do with an awful lot of Forest fans to Benidorm and being the only Derby fan. 

It was dreadful but at least it was during the years where we were the better team. I can't imagine being in that same situation now

17 hours ago, Skin em Ted said:

.....lot of folks in their late 30's who never went to the BBG (I believe the song was introduced at the same time as the move to PP?) who have been taking their own kids to matches for some time now.

 

Without thinking, I very nearly instinctively replied saying "well as a young man myself, I have fond memories of the Baseball Ground" before thinking a little harder and realising I'm on the eve of 38 years of age and although I had a season ticket for the last 2 seasons at the Baseball Ground, I was only 11 when we left!

My brother who is 2 years younger than me barely remembers it so it's actually quite mad to think that you're quite right, there really are people well into their 30s who either didn't go or don't remember the Baseball Ground.

How depressing

22 hours ago, ariotofmyown said:

Jeez, after that diatribe, you end up with "Mull of Kintyre"! I didn't even know Forest played it.

Agree with you on the words to the bounce song though...terrible. Does anyone even call Forest the Reds?

 

Yes, their fans

Im so excited for this one.

Ive also become very confident (which scares me) 

What an overreaction to something very basic. Typical of this day and age though.

So the club have introduced safe standing but need to make it very clear to everybody that it isn't a general admision and doesn't mean you can go stand where you want like we used to on the popside.

It appears to me that in order to get that message across, they introduced more rigerous ticket checks before the very first match after the rails were installed. 

And that gets the message across. A 5 second check to make sure you're not going to stand in another block to be with your mates, nothing more and nothing less.

Give it a few matches and they probably won't be as vigerous (if they are, then perhaps it might be time to start moaning)

It seams to me that a tempory slight diruption is a small price to pay for gettting what you've been wanting for a decade or two

15 hours ago, We'll be back in 81 said:

                       Wildsmith

Nyambe.    Nelson.    Cashin.   Forsyth

Ward.      Bird.     Fornah.    Barkhuizen

                         Sibley

                       Waghorn

Play Sibley in his best position and reap the rewards.

Bring on NML in the second half when their players are getting tired.

Rest some older ones, two games in three days. 3 points in the bag.

spot on for me

I really don't want us to draw Forest U23s.

If we lose, I can't imagine anything much more depressing than my girlfriend's Dad or my sister's husband (both forest fans) making snarky comments about their under 23s beating our first team.

If we win, it'll be "so what, it was just our reserves"

Hopefully someone else knocks them out (whilst we lose at home to Stockport no doubt) 

1 hour ago, ram59 said:

Maybe someone can adjust the number 8 before it's fixed to the shirt, by cutting vertically on the left hand side of the 8 and taking out the upper and lower bulges. You'd be left with a vertical straight edge on the left side. Maybe someone could go to the club shop with a pair of scissors and do it for them, if they can't do it?

You can sort of achieve it with a 1 and an 8 but the Football league logo kind of ruins it.

I'm no creative genius so I'm so sorry if this is rubbish. I tried!

2 hours ago, angieram said:

Warne said after the game that he promised them extra time off IF they won last night but now they've got to come in for training as usual on Thursday and Friday. 

So not only are they playing in games that could have been used to blood youngsters at the same time as giving them a rest, they'll now have to work even harder in training.

I'm going to predict muscle injuries on the horizon, low squad morale.

Poor management in my eyes

1 hour ago, BondJovi said:

I see it differently.

I sensed a whole club mentality after the Wolves game. We had two ideal opportunities since to build on that. Particularly Weston. Think how good he felt after the Wolves match. We could easily have given him the last 15 -20 against Barnsley. Then last night, none of those senior players could have any complaints if they got subbed for a youngster. At 3-1 the game was perfectly set for a cup hero, no real pressue, just go out and see if you can get us back in. But no. All that good from the Wolves game wasted. That fire and desire in Weston dampened as he sits and watches players going through the motions. I imagine he feels somewhat deflated.

It just cements my opinion that Warne is not a risk taker and he sees anyone under 21/20 as a risk, with very little trust. For a club with an academy that we have done a lot of work to get back in shape it concerns me greatly.

Couldn't agree more. The moment has gone.

I also think outside of giving the youngsters a run out, it wouldn't have hurt to give the senior players who have played 5 games in 3 weeks a game day off. Fast forward 6 short weeks to Christmas, there's every chance we'll be missing players here and there through injureies that might not have happened if they'd not played every game.

So it's detromental to the development of young players and increases the risk of injury to our senior players, and where did it get us? Losing to Crew over 2 games in the FA Cup first round.

At least they get a break now (assuming they're not running themselves silly in training)

3 hours ago, Bald Eagle's Barmy Army said:

Over 9 years ago I took my lad to his first away game. Charlton, midweek in the 6 weeks holidays. 
 

A game I’ll never forget. He was only 5 at the time. I could see that as soon as we walked into the ground, he might struggle with just how loud it was. We got to our seat and the game just about to kick off and everybody standing. He was only 4 foot tall so I told him to stand on his seat. He still couldn’t see properly but at least it was better. The next minute, a friendly face appeared offering us both a sweet, unbeknown to me at the time it was B4 - my lad then fell down the back of his seat hurting both his legs. B4 was straight there making sure he was OK and for the next 90 minutes made regular check ins with him to see if he was OK and reassuring him not all games are like that. 
 

At HT we spoke at length and swapped user ID’s on dcfcfans. The next day I received the below message direct from Daniel. It epitomises everything about the guy and from that moment, he’s always held a special place in my heart and always will do. Not many like him but I’m so glad our paths crossed that night. 
 

RIP buddy, DCFC won’t be the same place without you. 💙💙
 

This made me cry. Such a beautiful soul and to echo what everyone else has said already, he’ll be sadly missed.

I never met him but I did see him from a distance in town once and I text my mates saying “you’ll never guess who I’ve seen” - makes me laugh now that I’m reflecting upon it, he was like a celebrity!

So passionate, so blindly hopeful and also I like to remember he was very inspirational when it comes to things like his battle to overcome dyslexia.

absolute legend, I don’t even know why I’m surprised at how very sad this has made me. I never met you, but I feel a deep sense of loss so you obviously had an impact
 

RIP B4

Some harsh comments on Rooney's time at Derby.

I feel like he did a really good job with what circumstances surraounded the club and to even have had a chance of survival going into that Friday night game against Fulham was a good achievment. One of my favourite nights at Pride Park

I wish him well

This topic makes me sad because I've just sat and thought really hard about it and there isn't a single thing.

That's not me over reacting, without agenda, the reality has just sunk in that absolutely 100% of the footballing side of our club is worse than it was.

I was bored at the match on Saturday. And barely felt the excitement of a 85th minute penalty because deep down I knew there was a chance that our players would be tired enough to give them a few chances. I still think it was a point stolen rather than 2 lost given how bad we were.

Pride Park is dead. That's not because the fans have just suddenly turned rubbish, it's because like me, once optimistic people are just expecting nothing.

It's the worst it's ever been. I'll never not go, but it's hard to get enthused and last week for the first time ever, it felt nice to have a weekend without Derby County being at the forefront of my Saturday.

I think I'm depressed by how bad it is. I was more optimistic when we were on the verge of going bust. 

And to end on a slightly more positive note, I still think this squad is good and should be a top two team, we just have a manager making them look dreadful and it'll only get worse. 

- favourite Rams Player? Igor - I was 9 years old when he signed, my first year with a season ticket with my Dad and I just idolised him

- stupidest journey to see Rams play? Burnley away in 2004. I believe (might be wrong) it was Leon Osman's last game for Derby. Anyway, journey there was alright but coming back, the coach wouldn't start so had to stand outside Turf Moor for what felt like forever for a replacement bus. Was well fed up by the time I got home

- funniest match moment? I can't even think of one. I used to think it was funny when we cheered the opposition goals during the 11 point season but looking back it was just sad!

- favourite away ground visited and why? Craven Cottage for the day out. Get the train, lots of pubs, easy day out

- proudest moment as Rams fan? The togetherness during the hard times year before last

59 minutes ago, RamFan13 said:

That’s fair enough but I’d rather decline for a few years than us not being a club at all

They're not the only two options - it's perfectly ok for people to want to be a successful club without being constantly reminded that being terrible in league 1 is better than not existing at all!

Derby 2 Wigan 0 FRGS Bradley