Asanovic70

Good luck to him, can't get upset about it, being in the championship will help his Ireland career and I don't feel like we've given him away for peanuts, we've got about as good as we're going to get selling a player out of league 1.
Let's just not squander what we got for him.
Ultimately, he's a good example of a typical British style box to box midfield with great energy and a reasonable amount of skill but hardly unique or irreplaceable.
 
 

Sad day. Wish he could have stayed and gone up there with us but nothing is guaranteed and think the extra year he gave us was probably to the detriment of his development. But totally admire his loyalty,commitment and attitude. 
Feel disappointed for him that it wasnt a bigger move but hope he flourishes and makes the next step up soon.
Wishing nothing but the best to him. 

Let's not forget the inportance of corners to Warne. Hourihane will now be sharing corner duty with Ward - one left footer and one right footer.
CBs and CFs needed to give them someone to aim at now.

So whoscored gave him the 16th best rating last season in league 1. 
 
7 of the players above got promoted. 
1 of the players was Cashin. 
1 of the players was McG (no longer in the league) 
1 of the players was Johnson Clark Harris (unlikely to be in league 1 due to funds needed to buy him this year). 
 
So as of the end of the season we have the 3rd and the 6th highest performing players in the division in our defence. 

Final placings of the 22/23 Prediction season.
 
Premiership
jimtastic56    72
AndyB    69
Carnero    61
Wolfie    61
BucksRam    57
DCFC1388    56
LeedsCityRam    56
Mick Brolly    56
timlondinium    56
FlyBritishMidland    55
OohMartWright    55
Blondest Goat    54
BOB BIGGS    54
HedgeEnder    54
mozza    54
Wolfie20    54
Brammie Steve    53
Miggins    53
Fla Ram    52
Ramifications    52
 
Championship

rammieib    52
Chris_Martin    51
leroyoftherovers    49
rynny    49
Jase116    48
BodminRam    47
Dordogne-Ram    47
hintonsboots    47
TF Ram    47
angieram    46
Jourdan    46
TheHospitalier    46
dcfc the 1 4me    45
TimRam    45
WharfedaleRam    45
hydraulic ram    44
Ted McMinn Football Genius    44
strawhillram    43
ilsonram12    42
sheeponacid    42
dabber    41
FindernRam    41
Foreveram    41
Kenavo    41
 
Div1

r4derby    41
archram    40
Sparkle    39
True Ram    39
BramcoteRam84    38
ColonelBlimp    38
Osbaldwick    38
REDCAR    38
StevenageRam    38
Addingham Ram    37
Asanovic70    37
Kernow    37
RodleyRam    37
Steve How Hard?    37
Topram    37
Amberram    36
Foxy Ram    36
JMC    36
EssendonRam    35
harwich ram    35
Alan Ramage 4 EVA    34
Yani P    34
cstand    33
DCFC Kicks    33
 
Div2

Premier ram    33
Rampant    33
SKHunter    33
Mckram    32
Dean (hick) Saunders    31
Woodley Ram    31
BathRam72    30
Rich84    29
Simmo's left foot    29
Jimbo Ram    28
MidWalesRam    28
Ramant62    28
Elgin_Ram    27
jono    27
DCFC4LIFE    26
Ramsamwidge    26
BriggRam    25
BarrowRam    24
europia    24
PendineRam    24
86 Hair Islands    23
CBRammette    22
gccrowdpleaser    22
DesertRam    21
 
Div3

Grimbeard    21
Van der MoodHoover    20
Elwood P Dowd    18
PrideParkhead    18
RadioactiveWaste    18
DiggerB    17
Malty    17
Mucker1884    17
1967Ram    17
richinspain    17
Johnnyoj    16
Alty_Ram    15
Andrew1    15
Scott129    15
B4ev6is    13
TexasRam    12
TomTom92    11
JuanFloEvraTheCocu'sNesta    10
StarterForTen    10
JarodyDCFC    9
Jortat    9
MadAmster    9
papa_lazarou    9
Sussex Ram    9
 
Div4

Electric Ram    8
Magicman    8
MarsdenRam    8
MickD    8
NG2Ram    8
Ramslad1992    8
taffyram    8
bimmerman    7
BrudeRAM    7
Ellafella    7
HonitonRam    7
Abu Derby    6
Lac291884    6
LittleEatonRam    6
Manchester Ram    6
Parsnip    6
plymouthram    6
Simon Bradley    6
Steve Buckley's Dog    6
Animal is a Ram    5
chewbacca    5
Gee SCREAMER !!    5
kash_a_ram_a_ding_dong    5
LERam    5
 
Div5

minesahartington    5
RamDotFi    5
ramit    5
Wistaston Ram    5
Curtains    4
Dethorn    4
Donegal Ram    4
EnigmaRam    4
erathirea    4
InstaRam    4
irobinson    4
Kinder    4
Millenniumram    4
swansea ram    4
ziggyram59    4
bcnram    3
Bris Vegas    3
Igorwasking    3
Jayram    3
MACKWORTHRAM    3
S8TY    3
sage    3
samwcave    3
Skin em Ted    3
 
Div6

Slaapwekkend P    3
The Scarlet Pimpernel    3
TomG    3
ziggazagga    3
alanmarklewis    2
Boycie    2
bucktwo    2
EraniosSocks    2
Gritstone Ram    2
jameso    2
JustOneBiblicalKazim    2
Keepyuppy    2
kevinhectoring    2
lukedcfc    2
oohmarkwright    2
1977 Ram Raider    2
Ram-a-lama fa fa fa    2
San Fran Van Rams    2
Turk Thrust    2
whaley bridge Ram    2
AlvoRam!    1
Ambitious    1
AndyinLiverpool    1
Betty Swollocks    1
 
Div7

Caerphilly Ram    1
California Ram    1
Carlin    1
CBX1985    1
Chopper    1
21CSchizoidRam    1
Dcfcsr92    1
Diego    1
Edtheram    1
EtoileSportiveDeDerby    1
gravyboat    1
Ghost of Clough    1
hales300k    1
ivo_knoflicek    1
Kokosnuss    1
Marriot Ram99    1
Needlesh    1
NorwichExile    1
NottmRAM    1
OwdGladysHinton    1
Ratpackram    1
Seth's left foot    1
simmoram1995    1
Spacehorse    1
 
Div8

Toadbelly    1
VulcanRam    1
AdamSumnerDCFC6    0
alram    0
Bill Curry    0
CabalieCap    0
Charliegeorge1962    0
Crewton    0
devonram1980    0
drgoodspeak    0
Eatonram    0
Ewethanised    0
glyn1957    0
Hoppo    0
Justa    0
lagavulinram    0
Leeds Ram    0
LeedsRam1999    0
littleover ram    0
LoughboroughRam    0
Mihangel    0
mr kia    0
Mrso    0
Oldben    0
 
Div9

one_chop    0
OssieEnd    0
PistoldPete    0
Ramarena    0
scout's dad    0
Sheff Ram    0
SKRam    0
South Ram    0
Tamworthram    0
tomsdubs    0
Tyler Durden    0
WystonRam    0
zaragozaram    0
 
FINAL PLACINGS.
 
 
Congratulations to winner @jimtastic56 ,  Well done to runner up @AndyB  and many thanks to all who have taken part in an eventful season.
 🙂

Honk Honk!

Short version here: 
 

Don't quite follow this.  First of all we didn't really compete with Plymouth and Ipswich this season over 46 games.  Second, the extra Championship money is not free cash.  It has to be used to strengthen the squad - the Championship is famously full of broke clubs in a way League 1 is not.  Staying in this League gives time to strengthen before promotion - so there are real positives as you'll see next season.

I touched on part of this in the match thread, and I am gutted to miss out although I feel like I'm less disappointed because of the circumstances. It's strange, if we'd completely capitulated and looked gutless, then I'd be fuming, but because it was down to an individual error/officiating error (again), it almost feels like well what could we do... We actually played really well, given the circumstances, deserved at least a point and showed a lot of fight. For me it's a lot different to previous seasons where we've just missed out on the top 6. I don't think "bottling" it comes into play this year. We just couldn't finish our chances, we could've won a hell of a lot more points without playing any better or any worse, just by putting away our chances. I also don't care what people say about bad decisions evening themselves out over a season, I think if someone did a case study on our season, it would show that's very far from the truth...
But other reasons to be positive:
- We'll have our first season in a long time where we can go into the pre-season with a bit of stability and certainty. We can look to build on the squad we do have with a manager who has had long enough to decide what we need to go up a level. It's not going to be perfect because of the circumstances we find ourselves under, but I think we should be in a much stronger position come August than we were last year. At least we won't have to wait another 2 months to know if we're going to be taken over, and start from scratch then. We won't have to miss out on signings and we can get started right now.
- The circumstances... we'll still be under the business plan, but we'll be into our last year. There's talk it'll be 'relaxed', Nixon (yes I know) has linked us to actually spending Great British Pound Sterling on a player, whether we will or not, when was the last time we even could?
- We're still a bigger fish in a smaller pond. I know we can't take anything for granted and big teams get 'stuck' down here. We have to take any opportunity we can to get out of this league BUT, we will be in a position where we are going to be a much bigger draw for players at this level than 90% of the opposition, and will be able to afford to pay them more too. In the Championship where we still have restrictions, I think we'd really struggle to build a squad and pick up results at the same time. I hope that just one more season at this level will set us up to have a much stronger future than a season of probably scrapping to stay up.
- Experience at this level. The novelty will have worn off a little, for us, and for the opposition, the first trips are mostly out of the way. We can learn from naivety, errors and mistakes made this season where we've dropped silly points. Wigan, Reading and Blackpool shouldn't pose as much of a challenge, the competition this year has been fierce. Wednesday getting 96 points and only finishing 3rd is crazy, the top 3 in League 1 are far stronger than the bottom 3 in the Championship this season in my opinion.
It's naturally disappointing to miss out however it happens, but I'm already looking forward to a busy summer and August rolling around again. It's been a long time since we've finished higher than 3rd in any division, wouldn't it be nice if this time next year that changes.

I didn't know that, it's only fair & reasonable that he'd stick up for his brother. As for an apology, I'm sure he & his brother must have shared a wry smile as things imploded under Morris and said, 'See? I told you so.'
I would say though that Paul Clement's career as a manager has disappointed. He came across as a gentleman. Of course, it was disappointing that things didn't work out. He can certainly feel a bit aggrieved at getting sacked with the club sitting 4th in the table. Most clubs sack a manager when they are 4th from bottom.
 

Not really. 
Paul Warne apparently said to someone he's going to sign three big centre halfs for next season, which makes me fear for Cashin's future. He is happy here, now feeling he's a valid member of team, last year said he didn't quite feel he should be there. Curtis Davies is so pleased that Orient going up and he jokingly said if he can't get a contract here, he'd love to go and play for them. 
Got chapter and verse about his ins and outs of the team this season, he's a great bloke. Very erudite and chatty.
Sibbo thrilled to be back in the team playing further forward; Bird very quietly spoken and appreciative of any compliments; Knight buzzing around everywhere, I never caught up with him! 😂
Roberts also very polite, loving being here but not looking beyond the next few games. He was very aware his form is good for his future wherever that might be. 
Joe Wildsmith loving it here, appreciating being in the first team and said how it was difficult at Weds not to still be seen and treated as one of the "loyal" academy lads. Said could see similar with the way our academy lads are here. He was asked who he wanted to win at Hillsborough and emphatically replied "us of course" clarifying that by us he definitely means Derby. He was one of the last players to leave. 
We spoke to a gaggle of players together - McGoldrick, Hourihane, Mendez-Laing - about the new formation, all loving it and much praise for Sibbo and Bird too in how that combo is working. Mendez-Laing was very witty and amusing! 
McGoldrick is much less shy face to face and was chatting about family, playing in black and white, and grateful for the praise coming his way. Got a bit of ribbing from the others about the attention he's getting. When Warne announced SC player of the season he said "in ascending order, third David McGoldrick, second David McGoldrick and the winner is ..." Made everyone laugh! 
Corey Smith is also really chatty and quite philosophical about his role in the team, happy to play anywhere, unlike Mendez-Laing,  who suggested I popped over and told Warne how much I loved the new formation! 😂 I didn't,  though sorely tempted! 
A bit of photo spam (sorry!) Didn't take many photos, unless players offered,  just happy to chat with them, tbh.
Also spoke to Stephen Pearce, David Clowes and Mrs Clowes at some length. 
Everyone was very open and approachable and Lynn and the Supporters Clubs did a great job in organising as usual.
 

For me, as a supporter, I am in absolutely no rush for promotion this season other than the fact it would be great to experience as a fan. In terms of next season, though, I'd definitely enjoy a competitive year in League One than I would a mid-table finish in the Championship. Why on earth anyone would be in a rush to go back playing the likes of Preston, Blackburn, Birmingham, Hull, etc is beyond me - especially given the EFL restrictions and the fact we would probably be going to back to those as underdogs still under the watchful eye of the Football League. 
Commercially, however, promotion is worth £10m and that would go a long way to replenishing the state of the club in the long-term. I don't believe there would be a huge difference in free agents that we would attract in truth - the increased revenue in the Championship would allow a greater volume of players we could bring in. However, I feel we would be competitive against the bottom half of the Championship for free agents anyway - especially if we can offer more than the £12k a week than we have done this season. Haydon Roberts, for example, he will 100% have interest and offers for teams in that position but I'm still confident that in League One we could sign him permanently. Championship clubs, not all the time, typically have higher revenues and I don't expect anyone would take a poorer deal to come to us in the league below, but with a competitive wage then I anticipate we would win more than we lose.  
The hope is that with promotion becomes a review how we can attack the transfer market, allowing us to pay fees, etc. It might be a long shot, but with the amount of other clubs under scrutiny and us potentially turning a healthy profit - there could be a negotiation to be had whereby we can use the money made this year on transfer fees or at least funds from sales. Who knows. 

Why do we need to look attractive to new owners, DC seems to be enjoying ownership of the rams. I think he is in it for the forseeable future.

Eh? The play-off win at Wembley was special, but 2007 put us back several seasons and led to another relegation battle. There was no infrastructure in place. Jewell wasn't just to blame, he is a convenient scapegoat for a number of ills: Davies' rotten buys and a limited budget.
The OP's argument isn't necessarily a popular one, but I think the present owner is the most important person at our club. He's appointed a manager who has a proven record at getting a side out of this division. He's the one setting in place an infrastructure that will hopefully yield results (recruitment). Why can't people have faith in him to play the long game? I remember his recent interview where he said he was pleasantly surprised by our current form with the suggestion that he expected Warne to have us making a concerted challenge next season.
I don't think he will leave & if he does sell us on/other investors come in, he will try to stay in some capacity to oversee things & avoid the last dire situation we found ourselves in.
If we can reach the play-offs, after all the restrictions we have been operating under, it just shows the disparity that exists between clubs in this division in contrast to the Champ'ship, and that promotion ought to happen sooner or later, and within three seasons once we get shot of all the restrictions. Historically it's taken two seasons each time we've found ourselves at this level. We didn't operate under restrictions under Cox's tenure in the old Third. 
As for the sides fighting the drop in the Champ'ship, several of the bigger hitters, vis Birmingham, Cardiff, Reading, Huddersfield (two of whom have been in the moneybags PL) are all sides with financial problems/limited budgets akin to our present situation, but one where we are shedding historic debts (agents fees) & starting from a clean slate.
It is frustrating to be in this division, but I am quietly optimistic about the future under this owner. It just won't happen in the present moment, but we are looking upwards because it can't get any worse. We had two or three seasons of instability after Lampard left and now are gradually building.
My heart says promotion now and wants us to finish 6th etc, my head says that I want us to be a sustainable club and to put faith in the owner. He is ultimately the most important person at Derby at the present moment.
 
 

Eh? The play-off win at Wembley was special, but 2007 put us back several seasons and led to another relegation battle. There was no infrastructure in place. Jewell wasn't just to blame, he is a convenient scapegoat for a number of ills: Davies' rotten buys and a limited budget.
The OP's argument isn't necessarily a popular one, but I think the present owner is the most important person at our club. He's appointed a manager who has a proven record at getting a side out of this division. He's the one setting in place an infrastructure that will hopefully yield results (recruitment). Why can't people have faith in him to play the long game? I remember his recent interview where he said he was pleasantly surprised by our current form with the suggestion that he expected Warne to have us making a concerted challenge next season.
I don't think he will leave & if he does sell us on/other investors come in, he will try to stay in some capacity to oversee things & avoid the last dire situation we found ourselves in.
If we can reach the play-offs, after all the restrictions we have been operating under, it just shows the disparity that exists between clubs in this division in contrast to the Champ'ship, and that promotion ought to happen sooner or later, and within three seasons once we get shot of all the restrictions. Historically it's taken two seasons each time we've found ourselves at this level. We didn't operate under restrictions under Cox's tenure in the old Third. 
As for the sides fighting the drop in the Champ'ship, several of the bigger hitters, vis Birmingham, Cardiff, Reading, Huddersfield (two of whom have been in the moneybags PL) are all sides with financial problems/limited budgets akin to our present situation, but one where we are shedding historic debts (agents fees) & starting from a clean slate.
It is frustrating to be in this division, but I am quietly optimistic about the future under this owner. It just won't happen in the present moment, but we are looking upwards because it can't get any worse. We had two or three seasons of instability after Lampard left and now are gradually building.
My heart says promotion now and wants us to finish 6th etc, my head says that I want us to be a sustainable club and to put faith in the owner. He is ultimately the most important person at Derby at the present moment.
 
 

If we are unable to convince the EFL to ease the restrictions on our spending this summer, would we be better staying in this division and being a big fish in a small pond.
It seems to me that we would find it very difficult to compete in the Championship without the ability to add a few quality players to the squad

I keep reading posts online that DCFC agreed to the EFL business plan. Wrong. DCFC wrote a business plan to which the EFL agreed.

The restrictions are in place because the football club didn’t pay the full amount owed by the club to survive - we have to be seen to not be spending recklessly. It’s nice not to see us wasting shed loads of money on useless players - even if a signing doesn’t work out currently it doesn’t cost us a fortune.

Forest Green Rovers v Derby County
 
5pts
BramcoteRam84    30
BucksRam    45
hintonsboots    42
 
3pts
Alan Ramage 4 EVA    31
Andrew1    14
Brammie Steve    46
Carnero    56
DCFC1388    50
EssendonRam    28
europia    16
hydraulic ram    38
ilsonram12    41
Kernow    31
leroyoftherovers    47
Mick Brolly    52
MidWalesRam    25
OohMartWright    42
Osbaldwick    33
plymouthram    6
Premier ram    29
sheeponacid    37
Simmo's left foot    25
Slaapwekkend P    3
Sparkle    38
Wolfie    48
Woodley Ram    28
 
2pts
RodleyRam    26
 
1pt
Addingham Ram    33
Amberram    26
AndyB    61
archram    36
Asanovic70    28
BarrowRam    23
BathRam72    30
BOB BIGGS    46
cstand    29
dabber    40
dcfc the 1 4me    35
Dordogne-Ram    38
Elgin_Ram    26
Elwood P Dowd    11
FindernRam    35
Fla Ram    44
FlyBritishMidland    50
Foreveram    33
Foxy Ram    25
86 Hair Islands    20
HedgeEnder    44
JMC    28
Jourdan    39
LeedsCityRam    53
MadAmster    9
MarsdenRam    3
Miggins    46
mozza    43
1967Ram    14
Ramsamwidge    24
Steve How Hard?    34
StevenageRam    32
StrawHillRam    32
TF Ram    44
TheHospitalier    41
timlondinium    49
TimRam    38
True Ram    35
WharfedaleRam    38
Yani P    34
 
Forest Green Rovers 0 Derby County 2,  Collins = FRGS.
 

While relying on the academy to develop players is a sound strategy, it's not a guarantee of success. Having a mix of academy graduates and experienced players can provide balance to the squad and help achieve success. While a consistent playing style is important, it's also important to be adaptable and able to adjust to different opponents and situations. Therefore, appointing warne who is implementimg a consistent style while also being flexible was essential. Warne has brought fresh ideas and perspectives to the club. The key is to ensure that the style and philosophy are aligned with the club's long-term vision. Ultimately, the success of a club depends on a variety of factors, including financial stability, strong leadership, a clear vision, and a willingness to adapt and evolve over time

If we don’t finish in the play-offs, we just go again next year.
Let go of the entitlement you are obviously carrying and show the league some respect. Promotion has to be earned, not given.
You make it sound like every club of our size and stature dominates the division and goes up at the first time of asking and there are countless examples of actually quite the opposite.
We were in the top six from November to April and we are only out of it on goal difference. We have been competing at the top end of the division, but we are not the only good side in the division and it is no disgrace to be where we are.
Ask the likes of Darren Moore, Kieran McKenna, Steven Schumacher, Michael Duff and Ian Evatt to compete under our restrictions and the response you’d get wouldn’t be a kind one.
Just because we have the best stadium, the best training facilities and the biggest crowds doesn’t mean we are in the best position to succeed.
We are competing against sides who yo-yo between the Championship (Barnsley and Peterborough) and sides who have spent several years coming together (Bolton, Plymouth, Wednesday and Ipswich).
We have no divine right to success in this league.

I voted for the 2nd option on day 1 but taken my time to post, largely to collect my thoughts and in the hope I don’t cause offence!!  I do find the timing of this a little odd as we’re in a poor spell. If a poll was posted in the middle of the unbeaten run no doubt there would comments about him only being in the job 5 mins, new manager bounce, etc.  We’re having a wobble, all teams do and it was inevitable.  For what it’s worth, I still think we’d have had a wobble with LR in charge due to the fact that the preparation was so late through no-ones fault (well, no-one at the club anyway).  To use a running analogy - it’s like the other 23 teams have prepared for a marathon properly and then we’ve decided to give it a go half-way through the training programme and doing our best to keep up.
I get the points about still having a club, etc but they are facts and will have a longer lasting impact than just this season.  Personally, I like Warne’s style of football, much in the same way I prefer watching Liverpool when they’re at it than I do Man City.  I do think he needs a full pre-season and at least 1 summer transfer window.  I say 2 summer windows because I think we can right off the January’s window while we’re under the business plan.
Regarding the academy, it doesn’t bother me he’s not going to games.  Just because he might not be at a game, doesn’t mean he’s not interested.  Maybe he’s meeting Wassall and his staff regularly?  Is he watching them in training?  Is he talking to them during the week?  We don’t know the answers to those questions.  He’s not operating at the club in a “normal” situation.  Let’s not forget he’s had bring in Head of Recruitment, Performance, Analysis, etc. too and, rightly, that had to be his focus in the short-term for the greater good.

How do you know that Warne does not view the videos of the Academy games? He often states that he is away watching Division One opposition - can he be everywhere? Our Academy was ransacked last year by the Administrators - which players do you want to include immediately in the 1st team squad?
 
We have employed someone to head our Recruitment Team, surely he is the one who should be looking out for new talent for the Academy - sorry Islandexile, I just don’t buy the fact that he is not interested in the Academy.
As for tactics, does anyone know how he actually wants to play until he gets his own players?
 

I am not sure what this thread was really meant to achieve.
It strikes me as poorly timed and entirely designed to galvanise a certain section of the fanbase and sustain anti-Warne sentiment from self-appointed Warne sceptics.
We’re in the middle of a run where we have lost six in 12 and five in our last eight and we’ve dropped from 4th to 7th.
That sounds a really sensible time to give fair and genuine appraisals, doesn’t it?
Not in seven games’ time when the season is finished and we’ll know our fate, of course.
If it was May and we had finished 7th or 8th, take aim. But we still have seven games to go (potentially 10) and can still have a successful end to the season, why not let things play out?

You ask this, whilst the other day claiming not to be a fan of 1 of our 2 strikers, the other being old and wouldn’t be able to play Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday.
Also left back, Forsyth hasn’t got it in him to get up and down the left side like he once did, Roberts been asked to do a job there, a player that has only played left back for 976 minutes prior to joining the club, 10 games in game time.
We’ve even had a spell of our AM Sibley playing there and Knight our CM at RB. Just to throw in here Smith is no RB.
Centre back, Davies, love the guy but clearly past his use by date, only recently returned to fitness. Chester, blink and you’ve missed him, which leaves Forsyth learning a new role at centre back alongside a young inexperienced Cashin and Rooney.
If Warne was to play his favoured 3 at the back, we have literally no real cover back there.
Midfield we’re ok, although now in our attacking positions Springett is done for the season, we’re left with Dobbin, NML and Barkhuizen to cover 2 positions. Not ideal but manageable I guess.
If that’s not unbalanced and severely limited in options, I don’t know what is.