ColonelBlimp

I moved out of Yapton in 85. Don't remember a rivalry but didn't spend much time watching the local football. 
I spent a couple of years drinking in the Cabin, but that was before you moved in, don't think I ever set foot in the Elmer, just never a pub we looked at, strange the choices we make!! 
Sorry to hear about your dad,so sad when people leave too soon!
One of my brothers got married in Middleton Church, but he is divorced now! 

Bognor. 
Oh sorry, it really is a dump.
 
I meant Littlehampton. You northern types might not know but it has a reputation for being a bit sh!t but is actually pretty decent these days. Or it was 3 years ago.
There should be a reverse thread to this, places people reckon are great but are really a bit poo.

I expect Rosenior to start Sibley. He'd be mad not to. We are the lowest scorers in the Third Division (OK, I accept Shrewsbury and Morecambe have one goal fewer, but you get the point). When we have managed to put the ball in the net, our top scorer so far this season is OG. But what I'm saying is it isn't only stupid not to start your most dangerous attacking player, it's unfair on him and that's what I can't abide. I hate it in all walks of life when managers show favouritism and don't give other workers the chance they clearly deserve. In football you will only have my respect if you give players the shirt on merit.
Against the baggies no one else came close to the same threat level - you'd have to say Sibley was five times more likely to score than any other Derby player in that his several attempts were simply far superior. Rosenior has been trying to justify his decision so far by saying Sibley is more effective off the bench. But we're not scoring any goals and when he started on Tuesday he scored after 15 minutes. How much easier did that make the game for us? Yes it's conceivable he doesn't pick Sibley and we win 5-0, but given we've only scored three league goals all season and they've all been scored when Sibley is on the pitch (two in the one half when he did start him), Rosenior would have to be the luckiest manager in history for that to happen.

Not what I heard.

Rosie reminds me of that police sitcom back in the 70's/80's
I wonder what the theme tune to that was like?

I will come back to this thread some other time. Presently there is an over powering smell of Blue Stratos and piss stained slippers.

Emma Bunton
Cheryl Cole
Natalie Appleton
Heidi Range
Mollie King

0-0

went to the cricket last time it was really hot. My mate soaked his y fronts in water, put them in the freezer overnight, then put them on under his shorts before we left for the game. Tip he got from women’s hour but the water was his idea. He said at first they were rigid so a bit scratchy - he blamed his shoes but he was walking oddly plus he said his willy was numb. Then they quickly got soggy. He claimed it was a brilliant idea but as they melted if looked from the front like he’d peed himself, worse from the back and at one stage it looked like the security guys on the gate weren’t going to let him in . He’s still walking pretty strangely and has some sort of fungal rash.
Anyway you could give that a go ?

The second tier is a great podcast, however, not relevant to us this season.

I think you're lookingat it the wrong way.
The question should be:
What kind of man, seeing 3 urinals with 2 occupied just sidles up in between them? I'll tell you what kind of man. The kind of man who becomes an internet forum moderator.
 

Strangely, now we've been saved by St. David of Clowes, I'm really pleased, in the bigger picture, that we are now in Division 1.
Back to old school football. Back to being a big fish in a small pond. 
We tried, under Mel to turn up at the casino that was the Championship with a big F off stack of chips to intimidate other players at the table. Spent fast and loose - and lost.
We needed a total reset and we got one. I can't lie, it's hurt. Being threatened with extinction was a very real prospect.
Now we've cleared the football cache and cookies, we're back to a fresh start.
I'm still haunted by the memory of all that money we wazzed up the wall. Even the least of the excesses was Anya. £4m and and £20k a week over 4 years, ergo £8m over 4 years. There were 4 or 5 others that cost £10m+ in transfer fees and salaries over 4 year contracts.
£60m minimum wazzed up the wall on 5 or 6 players, not to mention our merry go round of managers that resulted in the amount of debt that threatened our very existence. Covid didn't help, but the aforementioned was the real problem.
Certain individuals that had Mel's ear and were administrators at our club were also abusing their parallel self-interests as agents to sell us pup after pup.
Now we're back to football reality. It's amazing what team we've managed to piece together on frees and modest wages.
Loving our new reality. We can attract decent players at this level, where if we spend within our means, which is significantly above most of our competitors, we can perform well at this level. 
If we continue in this manner, we can grow organically.
What's not to love? A fantastic academy that should finance our rebirth. 30,000+ crowds, that again should finance our rebirth and perversely the EFL reining us back to a financial plan that we absolutely NEEDED. Didn't want, but definitely needed.
Oh and being rescued by the 'quiet man of football' - DC.
What a time to be alive! I'm falling back in love with football again.
The only way is up...

0-1 Collins

I am sorry, but I can’t agree. Whilst I would rather our sponsorship is anything but a betting company, the Club (and David Clowes) should not be being put under any pressure at this stage to limit where it can access revenue from. The club needs to be rebuilt, and have stability. In seasons to come perhaps we can be more selective, let’s hope so.
I am sorry to read of the OP’s loss which is tragic. 

Alright Rams, Guiseley (who?) fan here in peace.
I came to the Oxford game on Saturday with my mate (Wolves fan). 
It was our first trip to Pride Park between us and usually we pick a random game every so often. So we ended up at your place.
We had a great time, your stadium is fantastic. Plenty of eateries around the ground too. The fans we were sat near were passionate and it was infectious. We were in the North Stand which was family orientated but it was nice to see so many youngsters getting behind the team.
The atmosphere was great, the bounce by the south stand was something I won't forget. Capped with a great goal to get the win aswell. 
Only downside being, we parked at the industrial park past the south stand and we didn't move for about an hour after the final whistle. But that didn't spoil a great day out. 
All the best for the season, will be looking out for your results and will likely come back later in the season too. 

It shows the German lack of humour that they haven't handed Kampf the No.9 shirt.

Nowt for me, I was never technically gifted, Left school with little education(I could read and write)all manual work/driving, By the mid 90s I joined RR 22 years after a shed load of my mates, I moved up the Union ladder, I was big, Confident and knew how to use my mouth, Anyway, We were setting on a few workers, I was tasked with looking after them before their interviews, Giving them the lowdown and rights and wrongs at working at RR.
One lad had come from Ross Catherall Ceramics in Denby(Denby Pottery)Quiet lad but was enthusiastic and asking the right questions, After the interviews, I'm in a meeting with the 3 Managers who took the interviews and was asked how the interviewees behaved, Gave them my opinion and left.
1 Month later I'm approached by the lad from Denby who thanked me for the nice words I gave to the Managers, Only being honest fella, You must have had a good interview, My opinions were most likely the icing on the cake, He almost trebled his wage from Denby to RR.
6 months later he gave me a box, I opened it and there was a cake that his wife had baked for me, I want to thank you Alf for all you've done for me, Thanks I said but what have I done for you, Since being here he said and since I joined the Union I have had 5 pay rises or accepted cash bonuses for agreements that that Union have negotiated, We've been able to afford a mortgage and a nice car.
PS...It was a nice cake ?
 
 
 
 
    

Gives away too many free kicks and penalties, due to his poor technique. 
He puts his left leg in, then pulls his left leg out, in, out, in, out, shakes it all about.

They'd feel at home at PP, similar to their own I'm told

No. 2 weeks ago I'd have taken top 20. Now I'll take top 10

A bit like Angel de (Sister) Maria? Or more old school - like Franz Carr(dinal)?

Yeah, did it when it appeared on Twitter. Hope we win, would be massive for the area I think.

Where do you think Derby will finish in the League table this season?
Following the conclusion of the season I will put all the names in the hat that guessed correctly, the winner will receive a £40 eGift voucher which can be used against selected tickets.
To enter, you must vote for 1 of the 6 options in the poll only.
Any written answers will be for discussion only and not be placed in the draw.
The poll will close at 2pm on Saturday 30th July 2022, at which point this post will be updated with all entries with a number for the draw.
The prize will be coming out of my own back pocket, this is not being run in connection with the club.
Derby County’s eGift voucher t&c’s will apply.
If a member receives a permanent ban during the season, or request their account to be closed, the entry in this competition will be invalid and removed from the draw.
Confirmed entries and draw numbers
Champions
1 Gisby, 2 Foxy Ram, 3 Kinder, 4 Parsnip, 5 IslandExile, 6 MidwalesRam, 7 Carnero, 8 TF Ram, 9 DCFC4LIFE, 10 Simon Bradley, 11 Hanny, 12 super58, 13 Gritstone Ram, 14 chewbacca, 15 Mick Brolly, 16 G-Ram, 17 EnigmaRam, 18 Needlesh, 19 The_Sheriff, 20 rustylee, 21 papa_lazarou, 22 Elgin_Ram, 23 Rammy03, 24 Outsider, 25 I am Ram, 26 StevenageRam, 27 Rammeister, 28 Donnyram, 29 w8sey, 30 YoxallRam, 31 Yani P, 32 BriggRam, 33 Sufferingfool, 34 California Ram., 35 plymouthram, 36 darren22, 37 CapeTownRam, 38 Crazy, 39 StrawHillRam, 40 Ratpackram, 41 Donegal Ram, 42 Mucker1884, 43 Magicman, 44 dcfc62, 45 SirBrian, 46 Macintosh, 47 Curtains, 48 BD1700, 49 Simo, 50 Ramzabac, 51 CapePete, 52 oldtimeram, 53 1967Ram, 54 Ramsamwidge, 55 bucktwo, 56 NottmRAM
 
Runner Up
1 Fla Ram, 2 Louby, 3 Ramifications, 4 Foreveram, 5 JRW1611, 6 Allanthediver, 7 Ambitious, 8 Alan Ramage 4 EVA, 9 SSD, 10 zaragozaram, 11 True Ram, 12 REDCAR, 13 scout’s dad, 14 hydraulic ram, 15 europia, 16 willm, 17 RodleyRam, 18 erathirea, 19 Geriatram, 20 ivo_knoflicek, 21 Addington Ram, 22 InstaRam
 
Play Offs
1 angleram, 2 BodminRam, 3 archram, 4 Kernow, 5 DCFC1388, 6 Big Al, 7 Ramant62, 8 Kuskus, 9 Westcumbrianram, 10 RoyMac5, 11 DublinRam, 12 48 hours, 13 CBRammette, 14 Dean (hick) Saunders, 15 Nuwtfly, 16, Rampant, 17 BramcoteRam84, 18 Black (‘n’ White) Sheep, 19 Steve How Hard?, 20 LeedsCityRam, 21 richinspain, 22 OohMartWright, 23 uttoxram75, 24 ImARam2, 25 ram.in.a.van, 26 68 Guns, 27 Old Spalding Ram, 28 JuanFloEvraTheCocu’sNesta, 29 TringRam, 30 ramtique, 31 A Ram for All Seasons, 32 Ramslad1992, 33 Ram a lamb a ding dong, 34 San Fran Van Rams, 35 sage, 36 Ram1988, 37 DesertRam, 38 mickey lewis right foot, 39 I DONT MIND, 40 BoylestoneRam, 41 hintonsboots, 42 admira, 43 Ram84, 44 Spacehorse, 45 cstand, 46 Dordogne-Ram, 47 TexasRam, 48 Lac291884, 49 Mr. P, 50 Premier ram, 51 Elwood P Dowd, 52 Woodley Ram, 53 BarrowRam, 54 DcfcMatt, 55 Hawaiian, 56 ariotofmyown, 57 SEAO, 58 Dethorn, 59 Mckram, 60 RadioactiveWaste, 61 Hoppo, 62 Olson Ram, 63 Ilsonram12, 64 CollyerDCFC, 65 kevinhectoring, 66 mozza, 67 SaffyRam, 68 Mostyn6, 69 richgee1976, 70 blue texel ram, 71 dcfc the 1 4me, 72 Papahet, 73 rainram, 74 swadieram, 75 StarterForTen, 76 Inverurie Ram, 77 ram59, 78 maydrakin, 79 Chilwellram, 80 Boycie, 81 Bill Curry, 82 Amberram, 83 MickD, 84 John Doe, 85 Keepyuppy, 86 Brammie Steve, 87 Yeoey, 88 gfs1ram, 89 RAM1966, 90 Electric Ram, 91 gravyboat, 92 timlondinium, 93 KGDCFC, 94 TimRam, 95 ramboy63, 96 Eddie, 97 DJAY, 98 Ted McMinn Football Genius, 99 Miggins, 100 Bovril, 101 Toadbelly, 102 Lurky, 103 SuffolkRam, 104 Marriot Ram99, 105 DCFC1976, 106 spondon_ram, 107 CroRam, 108 LERam, 109 DCFC Kicks, 110 Unlucky Alf, 111 r4derby, 112 taffyram, 113 BucksRam, 114 DanskRam, 115 Jourdan, 116 maxjam, 117 Edtheram, 118 Rob, 119 Termite, 120 StevoRam, 121 BathRam72, 122 Rams forever 
 
7th - 10th
1 Sussex Ram, 2 ColonelBlimp, 3 Srg, 4 Ellafella, 5 bimmerman, 6 leroyoftherovers, 7 SKHunter, 8 Pikeyram, 9 LE67, 10 Rich84, 11 AndyB, 12 Jase116, 13 Jimbo Ram, 14 LazloW, 15 JMC, 16 BOB BIGGS, 17 dingleram, 18 Rabid Ram, 19 Iniestagram, 20 Steadybreeze, 21 ramit, 22 Tamworthram, 23 FindernRam, 24 Geoff Parkstone, 25 Seth’s left foot, 26 Blondest Goat, 27 Heisenberg, 28 Grimbeard, 29 Sheff Ram, 30 hiltonram, 31 ck-, 32 dc24, 33 Carl Sagan, 34 RamuelLJackson, 35 Crewton, 36 Gaspode, 37 rynny, 38 Wolfie, 39 Animal is a Ram, 40 Patrick Rams, 41 Ken Tram, 42 RamBeaulV, 43 Phoenix, 44 johnnymw, 45 Sinistra ram rousse, 46 JamRam, 47 TaiwanRam, 48 Mrso, 49 Wolfie20, 50 silhillian, 51 sheeponacid, 52 PrideParkhead, 53 Steve Buckley’s Dog
 
11th - 20th 
1 AndyinLiverpool, 2 one_chop, 3 Norman, 4 Cisse, 5 dabber, 6 Osbaldwick, 7 Ram Logan Josh
 

It’s an interesting debate, and one I’ve thought about before. Is our academy really as good as some fans make it out to be? Do we get overexcited about our young stars who aren’t really as special as we think they are? Those really are open questions btw, because I’m really not sure what I think.
You can look at Forest for example, much as I don’t want to. A lot of our fans say we’ve got the better academy, but have we? They’ve had players like Cash, Burke and even Brereton go for absolutely huge fees, far larger than what we got for players like Hughes and Bogle. Players like Lascelles and Darlow have also had established Premier League careers, whereas even Hughes and Hendrick have hardly torn it up after leaving us. And I’m pretty sure they were only a category 2 academy until fairly recently. That doesn’t reflect well on all the investment we put into our academy in my view - very few players have left for 10m+ and established themselves in the Premier League. 
We can look further than that as well, how many of the players we’ve let go have made particularly great careers for themselves? Hanson, once regarded as a “hot prospect”, has been released by Oxford. Farrend Rawson, due to be our next big CB, is at Morecambe. Zanzala plays for Newport. These were once regarded as our best young talent, and look at them now. Our academy has hardly churned out a load of top quality players. 
Now, I don’t want to come across overly critical of the academy. Without the players they brought through, we wouldn’t have even put up a fight last year. In fact, we wouldn’t have even had a team to put up a fight. We should be hugely thankful to academy staff like Wassall, who has found some brilliant external talent to bring in and develop, and the coaches that got these players ready to play for our first team when we desperately needed them (many of these coaches are now gone, sadly). 
But I do feel our fans have got a bit over-excited about this current crop that have come through, based on their performances when we won the U18 Premier League. First team football is a totally different proposition. Yes it’s amazing how many have come through at once, but this was through necessity rather than every player being absolutely ready.
Bird being linked with Coventry is no surprise, for example, that’s his level. A good Championship player, nothing more. And that goes for Knight, Buchanan etc as well. I don’t think any of them will go onto have established Premier League careers. Might flirt with the top flight now and then of course, but I think they’ll all spend the best part of their careers in the Championship (I’m not even sure Sibley will manage that). Not that there’s anything wrong with that of course, a Championship career is a damn good career, which will set them up for life. Plenty of good players who’ve done similar in the past. But they’re not as special as some believe in my view.
Not really sure what my point is here. We’ve been at Championship level for most of my lifetime, so producing Championship level players is really all we should expect from our academy. So this is certainly no slight on them. But you sometimes can’t help but feel, with all the investment in our academy, we should be producing the odd player who’s really special, and goes for huge money to the Premier League. To be honest, I think we might have had a couple of those go for free in Ebosele and Ebiowei, thanks to Mel Morris and Quantuma. Do all the others get snapped up whilst they’re still 16, like Gordon and Delap? Maybe, but is there something we can do to persuade them to stay? Or are the big clubs just impossible to compete with? I really don’t know.
TL,DR: Our academy has done a brilliant job, but maybe we should expect more for our investment. Or maybe not. There might be more we can do to persuade our best talent to stay. Or maybe not. Basically I don’t know. This whole post was pointless. Thanks for reading.

Live in Chandlers Ford now.... Shamrock Quay eh? Blimey that was up there with ocean Village for attracting the braying tvvats ?
I was more Bedford place or Oxford Street. Trad (but a bit camp) ?