Mick Harford

Maguire can get in the feckin bin. 

Another Army chap here, weird how none of us (think it's 5 so far) wish to see The Poppy forced on anyone, it's a personal choice.
 
 

Another Army chap here, weird how none of us (think it's 5 so far) wish to see The Poppy forced on anyone, it's a personal choice.
 
 

So so sad to hear this, others have said more eloquently than me about how his enthusiasm and never faltering belief in the Rams shone through. Condolences to his family and friends, and also what a superb human being he was with his support of others in their times of need.
RIP Daniel
xx
Be more B4

So so sad to hear this, others have said more eloquently than me about how his enthusiasm and never faltering belief in the Rams shone through. Condolences to his family and friends, and also what a superb human being he was with his support of others in their times of need.
RIP Daniel
xx
Be more B4

So so sad to hear this, others have said more eloquently than me about how his enthusiasm and never faltering belief in the Rams shone through. Condolences to his family and friends, and also what a superb human being he was with his support of others in their times of need.
RIP Daniel
xx
Be more B4

Another Army chap here, weird how none of us (think it's 5 so far) wish to see The Poppy forced on anyone, it's a personal choice.
 
 

So so sad to hear this, others have said more eloquently than me about how his enthusiasm and never faltering belief in the Rams shone through. Condolences to his family and friends, and also what a superb human being he was with his support of others in their times of need.
RIP Daniel
xx
Be more B4

As an fellow veteran you reflect my feelings perfectly.

Hi Derby fans, I know you have bigger fish to fry in terms of wanting Warne out, but thought I would provide a little information on the current Northampton side to provide you a little context before tomorrows game.
We are very much a yo-yo side between L1 and L2 and as most expected we are struggling this season. We have not lost any game by more than 1 goal but that is not helping our points tally at all. Injuries have been a massive issue the last 12 months or so, its rare we have had less than 8 out injured. Whilst injuries are part and parcel of the game, when you already have a squad expected to struggle it creates a bit of an impossible task.
We are unlikely to have any of of injured bodies back for Tuesday, which means our best CB and best striker are injured. Considering both boxes is where we need to improve that is not good news! 
Our manager Jon Brady has lived in the area for decades since moving across from Australia. Played for lots of clubs in our region and then got the permanent managers job after managing the U18's. He is extremely passionate (maybe too much so as gets booked so often), but he is also passionate about the club and area which really has built a link with the fan base. He has also done a fantastic job so far in my opinion, developing our style away from just pure long ball which we have endured a lot of over the last few decades. We are not total football by any stretch of the imagination but have the ability to retain the ball far better now. That being said he is clearly getting frustrated at the lack of available bodies and the low budget he has to work with in L1. Despite our lowly position he is still pretty much universally backed by the entire fan base.
In terms of danger man you are right to highlight Sam Hoskins. He has gone from a player who was very much a marmite player amongst the fanbase to a club legend. He has always worked extremely hard and has played in every outfield position for us during his time here. The problem was his work rate would often mean that he was seemingly undroppable which meant he was an easy target. However Brady has recognised that he is comfortably our best finisher, meaning he is now less involved in build up play but much more in the final 3rd which has seen his goal tally rocket. He was the first player to score 20 goals for us since the early 90's and is now top 10 all time in appearances and goals.
Two other players that stand out for us (that are currently fit) are defenders Sam Sherring and Marc Leonard. Sherring is a young defender who is comfortable on the ball and is continuting to develop, i have no doubt he will go onto bigger and better things. Leonard is on load for the second season in a row here from Brighton and is arguably the best natural talent I have seen in the CM for us. We have had Matt Grimes and Matt Crooks here in recent years but Leonard just keeps things ticking over effortlessly.
I wonder if we may set up with a back 3/5 (I know not popular here!) Something along the lines of....
                       Burge 
           Willis Sherring Monthe
Odimayo                               Brough
               Mcwilliams Leonard
Pinnock                                  Hoskins
                    Simpson
 
I am going for a narrow 2-1 loss which is very much the story of our season. A point would be massive for us but despite your recent troubles there are still several levels between the sides.
Looking forward to being back at Pride Park and will post my thoughts after the game. Enjoy the game and rest of the season!

Also got one of the highest rated youngsters in the country in Chris Rigg.
Just a shame that the top talents go from the likes of us, Sunderland, and Reading (who have a few ex players in age groups) to the bigger teams for what is essentially peanuts in the big scheme of things.
Why I reckon a % of future transfers, say 10% a year, go to clubs that have developed players post 12/13, don't care if it means that player A moving from say, Man Utd to Chelsea costs £40m, if he'd been at Derby for 2 seasons before going to Man Utd then the developing club should get £8m of that as standard.
EPPP was a disaster for Football League clubs and the sell to survive mentality.
 

Also got one of the highest rated youngsters in the country in Chris Rigg.
Just a shame that the top talents go from the likes of us, Sunderland, and Reading (who have a few ex players in age groups) to the bigger teams for what is essentially peanuts in the big scheme of things.
Why I reckon a % of future transfers, say 10% a year, go to clubs that have developed players post 12/13, don't care if it means that player A moving from say, Man Utd to Chelsea costs £40m, if he'd been at Derby for 2 seasons before going to Man Utd then the developing club should get £8m of that as standard.
EPPP was a disaster for Football League clubs and the sell to survive mentality.
 

Yeah good point, @Bald Eagle's Barmy Army  at age of 15 I was playing for Derby (school of Excellence back then!) , then went to Chesterfield (for games, as Derby GK was far better), then to Norwich (who had just finished 3rd in fledging PL) and basically I was not good enough, but highly rated with England trials.
Highest I played at senior was Northern Counties East, so being good at 15 is not the same as being a world beater.
Which is why I like hearing about Harry E and Thompo doing well, when I was at the club we had another great England U15 keeper called Jon Thompson, he was eventually deemed too small and joined the Navy, I know this as I joined the Army and met him a few years after!
Eric, still rates me though 😀

Exactly, I'm a Derby fan, love Derby and my old man was mates with the 70's lot, Rodger even had me playing for the Ex-Rams Allstars, but as a kid you have to go for the highest level available as far as I am concerned.
Beating Derby 1-0 at U16 was one of my fave memories, sorry Rams, but you look after your career, ability to play and money, who you support is very very down the list.
I know we hate it as Rams fans, but it's true.
I love the talk from @Brailsford Ram and @ExiledinDerby from two very very good keepers, I have a mate who was at Everton and now at Farnborough , Pat Nash, I'm almost certain that both of our keepers could perform really well at NL leve like he isl, I know the difference from an 18 year old challenging you to a man doing the same, in fact it's why I was let go from Chesterfield as they didn't know how well I'd do against Dion Dublin in the Central League. *spoiler I'd have been wrecked*
 

Bloody hell 

I think back to the playoff semifinal away at Brighton. We knew that we were light years ahead of them. Yes they had a nice new ground with comfy seats and guest ales, and yes they scored first, but we never doubted we would overcome them. We did and then some. If you'd told me then what our relative positions would be now, I'd have thought you'd lost your mind.
Brighton are one of several very well run clubs with great planning and business models who have risen up the leagues and are now established in the Prem. Of course they had some luck when it was needed, something we have fallen down on. But sometimes you make your own luck. If you're Eirin Cashin and you have the chance to go, and to try to prove yourself in the top flight, and an opportunity for the riches a club such as Brighton can now offer, you jump at it in an instant. You'd be mad not to. For our sake, I love watching Eirin for us and hope he stays and we can rise up through the leagues together. The way he plays all over the pitch even reminds me of McFarland, sometimes on the left wing! I'm not suggesting for even a nanosecond he's at that level, but equally I scoff at anyone who believes he's already reached his ceiling. What madness is that?

Personally I think Brighton are an excellent example of how to recruit and run a football club, obviously I have no idea of wages but they get youngsters with potential in and develop/loan them out either for their first team or for a profit. Read articles with their scouts about the recruitment of Ferguson and Moran, two Irish youngsters and their recruitment and development, they also have a plan for development which involves loaning out as part of a players development, not to mention at first team level they sell high and have succession planning for every role at the club in place.
Latest thing they are doing is signing young English keepers, as the Chairman/club have decided that that is where the next big value in the market is, Rio Ferdinands lad is there, they have 2 age group England keepers and one Canadian (previously English, but switched) 
Taking my Derby glasses off for a second if I was a Derby player playing in the 3rd division on a restricted contract and Brighton wanted me, then I'd be off both financially and professionally, if it doesn't work at Brighton then a sale to the Champ looks a good bet, would you risk that against us rising up the leagues at the moment (no slight on where we are, it is what it is) 
A sale with loan back sounds great in my view, especially if as Eric Steele says there are possibly add ons, and may help us get more quality (midfield) in the side.
I'd love Cash to stay, but a deal away may suit everyone really.
All my opinion of course.
 

Personally I think Brighton are an excellent example of how to recruit and run a football club, obviously I have no idea of wages but they get youngsters with potential in and develop/loan them out either for their first team or for a profit. Read articles with their scouts about the recruitment of Ferguson and Moran, two Irish youngsters and their recruitment and development, they also have a plan for development which involves loaning out as part of a players development, not to mention at first team level they sell high and have succession planning for every role at the club in place.
Latest thing they are doing is signing young English keepers, as the Chairman/club have decided that that is where the next big value in the market is, Rio Ferdinands lad is there, they have 2 age group England keepers and one Canadian (previously English, but switched) 
Taking my Derby glasses off for a second if I was a Derby player playing in the 3rd division on a restricted contract and Brighton wanted me, then I'd be off both financially and professionally, if it doesn't work at Brighton then a sale to the Champ looks a good bet, would you risk that against us rising up the leagues at the moment (no slight on where we are, it is what it is) 
A sale with loan back sounds great in my view, especially if as Eric Steele says there are possibly add ons, and may help us get more quality (midfield) in the side.
I'd love Cash to stay, but a deal away may suit everyone really.
All my opinion of course.
 

Personally I think Brighton are an excellent example of how to recruit and run a football club, obviously I have no idea of wages but they get youngsters with potential in and develop/loan them out either for their first team or for a profit. Read articles with their scouts about the recruitment of Ferguson and Moran, two Irish youngsters and their recruitment and development, they also have a plan for development which involves loaning out as part of a players development, not to mention at first team level they sell high and have succession planning for every role at the club in place.
Latest thing they are doing is signing young English keepers, as the Chairman/club have decided that that is where the next big value in the market is, Rio Ferdinands lad is there, they have 2 age group England keepers and one Canadian (previously English, but switched) 
Taking my Derby glasses off for a second if I was a Derby player playing in the 3rd division on a restricted contract and Brighton wanted me, then I'd be off both financially and professionally, if it doesn't work at Brighton then a sale to the Champ looks a good bet, would you risk that against us rising up the leagues at the moment (no slight on where we are, it is what it is) 
A sale with loan back sounds great in my view, especially if as Eric Steele says there are possibly add ons, and may help us get more quality (midfield) in the side.
I'd love Cash to stay, but a deal away may suit everyone really.
All my opinion of course.
 

Listened to an interview with their Chief Exec on Saturday. He said they look to buy young players ahead of when they need them (planning ahead) and then develop to sell at profit. Interestingly he made no mention of developing any home grown talent. But equally contradicted himself with the statement about buying ahead before they need the players, but they try to sell them anyway.

So we sell at a high price and get a free loan for the season? If that's how we intend to do business it might be good for the Club. I wonder what Cash really thinks?

Personally I think Brighton are an excellent example of how to recruit and run a football club, obviously I have no idea of wages but they get youngsters with potential in and develop/loan them out either for their first team or for a profit. Read articles with their scouts about the recruitment of Ferguson and Moran, two Irish youngsters and their recruitment and development, they also have a plan for development which involves loaning out as part of a players development, not to mention at first team level they sell high and have succession planning for every role at the club in place.
Latest thing they are doing is signing young English keepers, as the Chairman/club have decided that that is where the next big value in the market is, Rio Ferdinands lad is there, they have 2 age group England keepers and one Canadian (previously English, but switched) 
Taking my Derby glasses off for a second if I was a Derby player playing in the 3rd division on a restricted contract and Brighton wanted me, then I'd be off both financially and professionally, if it doesn't work at Brighton then a sale to the Champ looks a good bet, would you risk that against us rising up the leagues at the moment (no slight on where we are, it is what it is) 
A sale with loan back sounds great in my view, especially if as Eric Steele says there are possibly add ons, and may help us get more quality (midfield) in the side.
I'd love Cash to stay, but a deal away may suit everyone really.
All my opinion of course.
 

Such a top bloke

Such a top bloke