Tamworthram

So, I was at the game and have now watched the highlights. A thoroughly entertaining game that I struggle to see how any Rams fans can’t have enjoyed. I’m not suggesting it’s a new dawn but I do wonder where some of the PW critics are this morning. We got lucky but, based on every measure (quality of football, chances created, shots, shots on target, possession, saves the respective goalkeepers had to make etc.) it’s difficult to understand how anyone could argue it wasn’t a fair result. Regarding the sending off, the first yellow seemed very harsh (I don’t think it was deliberate and there wasn’t much he could about it) and the second was absolutely a dive by Hourihane. Having said that, it’s debatable as to whether they should have had a player sent off for bringing down Gayle when he was through on goal. Perhaps it was only a yellow because Gayle still had a lot to do and there was another defender not too far away (but not between Gayle and the goal). Our first goal might have been ruled out if we had VAR and so may the penalty. Gayle definitely hand balled it. You could argue that the contact from the keeper came first (and may have caused the hand ball) but I’m not convinced. Having said all of that, there is no need to feel too sheepish (no pun intended) as I’m sure all of the other contenders have had their fair share of lucky breaks throughout the season. I don’t think NML had his best game, Adams was immense (yet again) and Barks had IMO one of his best games even though he didn’t score or provide an assist. Overall a good performance by everyone. Bradly could have prevented their goal but, that apart, he had another good game. Onto Saturday. It’s not quite a season defining game (and therefore not quite a must win game) but defeat would be quite damaging. COYR.

Absolutely. It may not quite even out (or at least we don’t think it does 😉) but we’re quite capable of performing the dark arts at times. The only thing I would say is that I suspect Hourihane went down easily in order to win a free kick in a dangerous area, not necessarily to get a player sent off. He may not have realised who the player was or remembered that he was already on a yellow card.

Your comment “but I can’t see how we could afford to sack a manager……..it would totally destroy our business plan” confused me. I thought you were implying we should have sacked him but our business plan wouldn’t allow it.

We don't need to have sacked him if you agree.

I'm not so sure. I reckon PW got it right when he said both teams will be trying to win but the most important thing is not to lose. I reckon Bolton will view it the same.

I only wish they could but how could they do it? They can't assume the keeper is faking it and they can't make them go off for treatment.

I agree but I imagine Posh thought they had it in the bag last year in the play offs, not long ago we only needed a draw in the last game at home against lowly Reading to reach the play offs but we managed to lose the game and didn't Forest mess it up from a winning position fairly recently? It doesn't matter what the bookies say, only a fool would celebrate until it's certain and only a bigger fool would brag.

“We don’t know the destination” doesn’t mean it’s all down to fate. It means we don’t know, at this moment in time, where we’re going to finish simply because none of us do. “Down to fate” means it’s out of your control. Has he said that? ”We’re going to fail together” doesn’t mean he is abdicating responsibility and isn’t prepared to carry the can. It means it’s a joint responsibility which it would be. Same as you wouldn’t expect him to take sole credit if we did get promoted.

Your first sentence is of course stating the obvious as is the statement that the period since administration becomes irrelevant once the personnel is settled. But, given we’ve been restricted in whom we can sign and some of the current squad aren’t PW’s signings (I’m not blaming LR by the way. I think he did an excellent job building a team with limited resources and within an even more limited time period), I’m not sure you can really say the “personnel is settled”. Unless of course you are only referring to the management team in which case, the period since administration (and any subsequent restrictive business plan) is very relevant. Regarding your final paragraph, I’m not sure anyone is suggesting DC’s four year plan is the reason we didn’t get promoted this season (assuming we don’t). Just some of us may be suggesting his being a realist. Regarding this year, well nothing is guaranteed yet but I would suggest we are probably looking reasonably good for a top 4 finish. Assuming we achieve that, I guess you wouldn’t be calling for PW’s head then given he would have achieved within the range of your expectations?

Because, as you say, Man United are one of the biggest names in world football (and have had a bit of a change in ownership) and Derby are the only other team of any consequence that has had a change in ownership recently.😀

Didn't work in some cases though did it? 😀 Seriously though, of course we all want to get out of this division as soon as possible but maybe DC is a pragmatist and realises that promotion last season would have been outstanding, promotion in season two is a realistic hope (although we're still under the restrictions of the business plan we had to get agreed etc.), promotion by the end of season three (at the latest) is the expectation. That's where my thinking is. The only things that may have brought forward a possible parting of the ways (sacking or "by mutual consent") IMO is if we'd been way off the pace and not close to being contenders in years 1 or 2.

They can but it would mean them winning all of their remaining games including v Wigan. Which would mean Wigan can't overtake us. So, it's as you were. 😀 The reality is that, taking into account the fact that teams have to play each other and therefore you can't just do the maths to see which teams could still catch us in order to work out our lowest possible position, it's far too complicated. I haven't got the time, energy or brain power to work out all of the possible scenarios but I'd guess we can't finish below something like 11th - possibly even higher.

Is he implying it or are you just interpreting it in that way? I thought he had conceded not getting promoted last season (let alone this year) was a failure. The problem in my mind is that some people think (are clinging to the hope) that failure = the sack when it doesn't always have to as it's dependent on: 1) The degree of failure [finishing mid to low in the table probably would have been enough but probably not if we just fall short in the play offs] 2) The confidence levels that next season we'll have a good/better chance [I get that a lot of folk are not enjoying the football and worry about the quality of the league being a bit better next season but, we're not likely to miss by much this season (unless the wheels really come off over the next 9 games) and we'll (hopefully) be a stronger team next season as well] 3) What targets and timescales have been set by the owner [PW said last year was a failure and, despite what you're implying, will probably say the same this year if we miss out but it's what DC thinks that really matters]

I am confident (but not sure. How can you possibly be sure?) hence why I said “unless it’s mathematically certain” but, there are various scenarios whereby we could be going into the last two games with it all still to play for even if we won our next seven. Imagine if Barnsley and Peterborough both won all of their games prior to the last two. They’d only be 2 and 1 points behind. They may be unlikely scenarios but are they any less likely than Derby winning every game? Even if Portsmouth lost against us, Peterborough and Barnsley but won all their others they’d only be 3 points behind. Essentially, don’t celebrate too soon.

I would hope he wouldn’t unless it’s mathematically guaranteed. Even then, I would hope he’d have a bit more class and talk about celebrating at our final home game rather than “brag”.

Done, and there's no need to publish his name anyway.

Done

I’ve just got a ticket for Northampton from the waiting list so there is hope for others still.

I wouldn’t be totally shocked if this were true but is there any credible evidence that it’s happening?

When was the last time we made a profit and were therefore subject to CT? CT isn’t an issue for football clubs because, by definition the club must have done OK financially that year (possibly due to player sales). When they get in a mess is when they don’t set aside money to pay their VAT and other tax liabilities.

Surely there is no chance of resting “a few” players especially with Bird already being out. We need to keep up the winning momentum and, I know PW gets flak from some on this forum for publicly showing respect to the opposition, we can’t take this game for granted.

Yes but I’m sure someone 😉 will be able to “prove” we don’t “deserve” to be second.

My proven (unreliable 😀) predictor has changed after Barnsley collapsed yesterday (and dropped point last Tuesday) and we won when I was only expecting a draw. It’s gone from 1) Barnsley, 2) Portsmouth, 3) Derby to 1)Derby, 2)Portsmouth and 3) Barnsley. This tells me three things. We can catch Pompey. It’s probably going to be very tight. I know nothing.

At last, we can put the speculation to bed. The poster known as RoyMac5 MUST be female. 😀

I’m not sure how poor Bristol were and you can only beat the team that’s in front of you but I wouldn’t describe them as an in form team. Certainly not at home. Since the turn of the year, before yesterday, they had lost 4 out of 6 home league games including against Burton and Fleetwood. If we can back up two comfortable wins against less good teams with back to back home wins (I haven’t checked our head to head record but Reading always seem to cause us problems and, of course Bolton should be a tough game) then we’ll be in the box seat. COYR.