ramtique

Results aren’t going well so people are looking for someone to blame. Naturally the manager is going to get it, it’s always the most obvious target. We question his tactics, the same tactics we won 6 in a row with and while drawing with Wednesday putting up a performance that on another day would’ve beaten them. We question his in game tactical changes, Peterborough changed and started controlling the game why didn’t Warne react? React with what? What formation and what personnel changes could’ve changed what happened in the second half? A rapid powerful centre forward of the bench maybe? We have a 33 year old target man to replace or play with a 35 year old. We’ve played all season without a right back, with one natural centre back two ageing centre forwards, taking Knight out of squad today then leaves us with minimal midfield options. It’s looking like the season is taking its toll on some players now sadly, but seriously what did people expect?
At some point the excuse of only having 5 players into a short preseason and nearly not having a club will no longer be valid, but it is absolutely 100% valid this season. We’ve done well to be where we are and hopefully we can get in the playoffs (we still have a great chance of this btw) and then anyone has a chance in the playoffs. But most people thought this would take 2 years. We are not one of the three best teams in this league.
As for today, excellent first half but we lacked belief in the final third and it cost us massively. They score on a counter attack with first shot of the game - white pressed well won the ball but Bird and Hourihane were too slow backing him up allowing them to pick us off and hit us on the counter. Poor defending and keeping for second I think although Sun was in my eyes. Looked a pen on White and he was unlucky not to score. Bird and Hourihane who were outstanding first half were chasing shadows in the second. Cash and Foz struggled second half, Dobbin’s end product continues to frustrate, Mendez going off the boil and think he got a kick as well. Players to emerge with credit in my view are White who was excellent, Roberts and I thought both Sibs and Collo did well coming off the bench.
We can question team selection and subs and tactics. Thought Warne got it right with how we played first half, we didn’t have the belief to get the goal, we then concede and didn’t have enough to get back in it with players who are running out of steam and a lack of sub options which are all much of a muchness. 
We need to start winning at home, we do that and pick up one win on the road that should be enough.
 

The worst thing about this afternoon was how predictable it was (yes, I did get the pre-match prediction right)
It's common knowledge how ineffective we are against the better sides in this division. Its also no secret that when the opposition overload the midfield areas, we have absolutely no answer & this is precisely what happened in the second half today. Peterborough gave our midfield 3 plenty of space first half & all three were prominent but frustratingly, very few chances created. Just like Plymouth away, their manager then tweaks his formation to crowd us out in midfield & up the intensity and we then lose our foothold in the game & eventually lose. Barnsley & Fleetwood didn't even bother to give 45 mins grace, they just went at us from minute one & again, no answer.
All we really needed today was a point - a win would have been fantastic but it was essential we did not lose. After the first half, it was apparent that a) they had to change it, b) we probably had missed the boat by failing to punish them first half & c) as an ageing squad, we would be struggling for gas the longer the game went on. They then come out of the blocks firing but there was no tactical tweak from our side to combat this, we just let their midfield numbers take control & tried to trade blows as the tide went against us.
What could Warne have done? Well, he had Jake Rooney on the bench who could've sat in front of the back 4 to shore up our midfield & allow our full backs to push on to match their 3-4-2-1 when out of possession. Or at RB with Smith moving centrally (I don't see Rooney as a RB personally). It would have meant sacrificing an attacking player but frankly, entertainment was secondary to strangling the game & securing a point. Warne could also have looked at removing McGoldrick who struggled all game & put on Collins - a forward much more suited to chasing lost causes & pressurising defenders.
I accept the limitations of the squad & the restrictions of the business plan. but Warne's lack of pragmatism & ability to react effectively to opposition changes is starting to irritate. As things stand, we're struggling to finish top 6 but even if we do manage it, I would rate our chances in the playoffs as low. I don't doubt Warne will have players more suited to his style next season but I will never accept this season was a 'free hit' - given where we are now, it is an opportunity & it's about time some flexibility was introduced to squeeze results in important games. None of us want to stay in this division longer than necessary.
Honorary mention for today - thought Hayden Roberts was excellent all game. Offered real impetus going forward & in midfield areas. Should be starting LB until the season end.

Knowing a situation and being able to effectively navigate it aren’t guaranteed. 
This is not going to be a quick win, even if we manage to go up through the play offs this season we will be at a disadvantage, that’s why it’s about context and perspective not an excuse. We are not yet able to compete in the same way as other clubs off the pitch. Warne’s appointment was part of that process, this summers recruitment will be another part of that. 
Say Clowes does part ways with Warne now, then we have to find another manager, potentially the back room staff who have been added with the longer term project in mind have to change, potential transfer targets become the wrong people for what we want, as rubbish as this situation is currently, changing things now for the sake of it will make it worse. We are not going to get relegated, we might or might not get promoted, another season at this level won’t destroy anything or cause any major problems to anyone’s lives other than having to visit a few more clubs and stadiums without the facilities of some champ clubs. 
I appreciate your view on the whole thing but I genuinely think people need to find a way to temper their disappointment and expectations, keep perspective of the club’s situation for a little while longer. If next season continues to be inconsistent in this same way I think that’s a little fairer to question. 

We needed a striker with pace in January and didn't get one.  We needed a better full back than Smith- who was awful today with aimless passes to nobody all afternoon.  Restrictions may have prevented that.  Either way, that's the issue that will cost. 

I don't think it was done because he thought Warne could guarantee promotion without building a team for himself, it was done for a long term plan of having someone with a fresh outlook who can build a sustainable team, not someone who just signs big time Charlies for big time money, because its that mentality that ruined us in the first place. Warne is about building an honest hardworking team, atleast let him have the opportunity to build one

I think this season it would have applied to LR if he’d still been manager too, at least it would have for me.
Lets not play it down, the clubs been through absolute turmoil in the last year or so.
As next season progresses then we can certainly ease back on it.

I thought the football we played in the first half was as good as anything we have done all season. Rooney panicked for the penalty after he got caught on the wrong side of his man .Warne has a 4 year contract and knows what he has got to add to the squad. If he doesn’t get us up this season . I am sure he will do it next year.

I'm feeling so frustrated after that. First off, on Shrewsbury, I've not seen such an unlikeable team for quite a while. Absolute sh**houses with no football ability in their team. I'm amazed they've left with a point today, and it makes it even more disappointing that we couldn't bury them. 

First half, we looked very comfortable, even if extremely slow and a little sloppy. If we were on it, we'd have been 3 or even 4 up. Didzy looked classy as ever, Dobbin was running them ragged and they looked unable to contain any player with a bit of pace. We moved the ball around and stretched the pitch and they barely got out of their half.
Second half, it comes from a Forsyth mistake and foul leading to a freekick. Still not sure how the ball crossed the line as both the wall and Wildsmith didn't do their jobs well. Wildsmith is starting to make a fair number of mistakes now, I can point to at least 6 over the past 4 games. We started hoofing the ball, losing it easily and looking susceptible as they had a bit of pressure but not creating much besides the odd set piece. The penalty is a mistake from Rooney and he'd had a couple of issues with his positioning before which this time caused the error to be made. Then the game descended into a stop start one and we didn't do enough to win the game. 
The referee had an absolute shocker but that's been and gone. I'm not sure if it was a handball at the end or not, but I've rarely seen the north stand so animated. We miss chances going forward, Dobbin whilst quick and good on the ball cannot finish for toffee. We are overreliant on Didzy to get us the goals and perhaps need someone else tbh. Defensively, the cracks are showing. Cashin gets too tight to his man and Forsyth doesn't have the legs to cover. This inevitably creates problems for us when someone is a bit quicker or stronger than Cashin. We really struggled with the crosses today when they did come in and that is again an area we need to work on. 

Currently, i can't see us getting promoted this season. We'll make the playoffs but there are just too many vulnerabilities lurking throughout the team.

Gave them a win is more accurate. 

This. Total lack of intensity. Haven’t approached it like a Cup tie.. v disappointing. Worrying lack of creativity in final third. If Dobbin had a final product he’d be some player (and wouldn’t be at Derby!)

Really don’t get all the vitriol I’m seeing online.
Any other night it finishes 0-0 and we go home relatively happy with a point away from home against a side in the top 2 with two home games up next.
The performance wasn’t horrific some are making out, I’m not having that. We stood strong defensively in the main other than Davies’s misjudgment which lead to the goal.
We’ve got a cobbled together squad fresh out of 18 months of hell which included an administration yet some think we should be this perfect team and club. There is really no point sticking the knife in after every defeat or disappointing performance.
Huge amount of perspective is needed IMO.
Onto Tuesday night where we look to put things right. ?
 

A solid 8.
Started off really well with some smashing signings for League One.  Fell away a bit towards the end, LR himself said he wanted 3 or 4 more signings which I assumed to mean key first teamers, not the younger loanees we ended up with.  2 or 3 more good signings and we'd have a real shot at the top 2, as it is I think top 6 if we're consistent and stay clear of injuries.  
I guess it boils down to what the aims were for this season - if it was to rebuild and stabilize, lay the groundwork for next season, then its job done 10/10 given the starting point.  If it was to have a crack at the top 2 then imho I think we fell a couple short - I'm not complaining, just giving an honest assessment, although I have known to be wrong.  Frequently ? Hopefully we'll be in a strong position by Christmas and able to bring in any players to keep pushing.

Bitter sweet. No use moaning about injustice. I am bursting with pride. My Team, its manager and back room staff have given everything and some more. A roller coaster of a season. I just think about Friday and how I felt. I think about 6’ tall 37 year old Curtis Eugene Davies and 18 year old 5’-6” Liam  Thompson as either end of of the foundations and ethic of this unbreakable group of warriors it fills me with hope. Up the mighty Rams. 

My feelings too. It will be so nice to compete on an equal footing with other teams (hopefully) and for Wazza to be able to bring in a few new players. I actually think our youngsters will do great in League 1….if we can keep them. Will be getting my map out and plan a few away games next season, although I am old enough to have attended away games the last time we were in Division 3 ?

It was -21 points.
just take a moment to let that sink in. Let the absurdity of such a penalty, combined with the transfer embargo, just mellow in your mind.
The fact the boys and the backroom & all the staff even had us in with a chance of surviving is nothing short of phenomenal. 
 
League 1 will be tough, but genuinely getting out of this shadow of admin, points deductions etc, could be the best thing for the club after the ship-show of the last few years. A line can (hopefully) be drawn and the club can move on. 
 
It’s not how we wanted to get out of the championship, but heck it’s something different for a lot of supporters. League 1 could be fun, new away days, new opponents, a new competition. 
 
Bring it on.

Tonight was a classic case of an experienced Championship manager and a typically well-drilled and organised team knowing how to get a result and spoil the fun.
I hope it will be a lesson for Rooney and the players, because whichever league we are in next season, there will be plenty of teams who will follow the same blueprint. Birmingham almost did the exact same job on us 3.5 weeks ago.
I am not too despondent personally. I expected us to win tonight, but we have to remember this: would it be DCFC if we didn’t make life especially difficult for ourselves?
I just hope we see a reaction in the next two or three games. It’s a bad result but you can always counterbalance a bad result by getting a good one elsewhere. Going to high flying Luton and winning and a night like tonight is quickly forgotten.
It really comes down to Rooney and the players now to dig deep. How much do they have left to give?
Do they want to be the nearly men who threatened to do the impossible, burned brightly and faded rapidly? Or do they want to be the guys who came firing back yet again and found a way?
 

Good point but I’ll not be too happy about it until I’ve had confirmation that Steve Gibson won’t be appealing to the EFL to let them have all three

The problem was, before the start of the season we did not have a striker that would score us goals, hence why we were one of the lowest scorers in th league. That was down to Cocu/recruitment/scouts etc. Wayne had one window which was held up by an embargo and to be honest the chances of finding a striker was slim to none. So I would give him another chance and see where we are by December before passing our comments on whether he should stay or go.

Over the last few years it feels like we have known the price of everything and the value of nothing. The dealings of the last few weeks have only enhanced that view for me.