Shipley Ram

I went for a drink after yesterdays game and took a nasty tumbe in Vines.
 

I went for a drink after yesterdays game and took a nasty tumbe in Vines.
 

I went for a drink after yesterdays game and took a nasty tumbe in Vines.
 

I went for a drink after yesterdays game and took a nasty tumbe in Vines.
 

A really good result & a really good performance - the most unexpected league result of the season so far for me.
The tone was set with the line up - the decision to go with Knight & Roberts as wingbacks gave the side much better balance & playing Mendez-Laing off McGoldrick gave the attacking side much needed variation & pace. I was a bit surprised by the negative reaction to the first half on here - aside from a dodgy 10 mins around the 20 minute mark, I thought we had control of the game albeit we were moving the ball around too slowly to hurt them & were too deep at times. We did look comfortable in the main though & fashioned some decent half chances, most notably Knight (who played well at RWB) & Sibley.
Second half our attitude & work-rate were excellent though. Got on the front foot right from the kick off & our intensity surprised them - they barely got into the game that first 30 mins after half-time. I really liked the interplay between Mendez-Laing, McGoldrick & Sibley & think that's a promising attacking unit we should be fielding again. Also thought Hourihane was very good, both defensively & with his forward passing/crosses.
Two fantastic goals from McGoldrick - funnily enough he had been quiet first half but his quality thereafter showed just how lucky we are to have him. Second goal in particular - such a delicate touch from Mendez-Laing's pass to make the space for the finish. Wonderful. It was such a shame that we had an absolute brainfart a couple of minutes later to gift them a goal - no idea what Wildsmith was trying to do but it was totally undeserved for an Exeter side that had been chasing shadows since the break. Fortunately we managed the game really well to the conclusion & the subs were well chosen & well timed - Collins and Dobbin to chase their defenders down and Smith to add another body to the midfield.
I'm a lot more enthused after that. Same line up & intensity for Saturday please. Well done Derby & yes, well done Paul Warne 👏

Perhaps players would respect refs if this happened more often
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65183032

This just popped up on my youtube.
 

Ince sacked by Reading.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65239073

Cooper was saying how beneficial he would be to their transfer business in Jan.
https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/transfer-news/nottingham-forest-transfers-filippo-giraldi-7981273
 
 

Cooper was saying how beneficial he would be to their transfer business in Jan.
https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/transfer-news/nottingham-forest-transfers-filippo-giraldi-7981273
 
 

Cooper was saying how beneficial he would be to their transfer business in Jan.
https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/transfer-news/nottingham-forest-transfers-filippo-giraldi-7981273
 
 

Ince sacked by Reading.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65239073

Ince sacked by Reading.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65239073

He never quite lived up to the hype, but I'll aways love him for this
 

I've promised the Mrs I'd do some gardening today but I'm enjoying the batting too much.

The Guardian are bigging us up in their pre season review
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2023/apr/05/county-championship-2023-team-by-team-guide-to-the-new-season
"DIVISION TWO
Derbyshire
Captain: Leus du Plooy Head of Cricket: Mickey Arthur Last season: 5th
Derbyshire were hard to beat in 2022; this year, says Mickey Arthur, they’ve got to work out how to win. Last year’s surprise package have lost their run-machine and all-round good guy Shan Masood to Yorkshire, but have tempted over the talented Haider Ali, who wants to learn how to bat long. Suranga Lakmal returns and Zak Chappell’s arrival from Nottinghamshire should give Sam Conners, who was awarded his county cap and won England Lions recognition over the winter, some much needed backup. Wayne Madsen will need another season to remember. Expect a team steeped in Arthur acumen.
Prediction: 1st"

The Guardian are bigging us up in their pre season review
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2023/apr/05/county-championship-2023-team-by-team-guide-to-the-new-season
"DIVISION TWO
Derbyshire
Captain: Leus du Plooy Head of Cricket: Mickey Arthur Last season: 5th
Derbyshire were hard to beat in 2022; this year, says Mickey Arthur, they’ve got to work out how to win. Last year’s surprise package have lost their run-machine and all-round good guy Shan Masood to Yorkshire, but have tempted over the talented Haider Ali, who wants to learn how to bat long. Suranga Lakmal returns and Zak Chappell’s arrival from Nottinghamshire should give Sam Conners, who was awarded his county cap and won England Lions recognition over the winter, some much needed backup. Wayne Madsen will need another season to remember. Expect a team steeped in Arthur acumen.
Prediction: 1st"

Never been so happy to see Leeds win, I feel conflicted.

Perhaps players would respect refs if this happened more often
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65183032

NottsRam answered, it was David McKellar, it made me check out his career. This is part pf the explanation for his wierd career, he went to Happy Valley, in Hong Kong, as Brentford had cancelled his contract but held on to his player registration. Seems like a bit of tight move by Brentford to me.
"McKellar made a career-high 50 appearances during the 1981–82 season,[13] but fell out with manager Fred Callaghan during the 1982 off-season and had his contract cancelled, though the club held his registration for the duration of the 1982–83 season.[12] McKellar made 96 appearances during just under two years as an active player at Griffin Park.[12]"

I was under the impression he feared the he and Roy would get the sack, they were under pressure after not delivering on the big signings, so he get a bad back to leave giving Roy a run as manager. 
 
I was 16 when Cox was appointed his years are those I remember most fondly, having had mostly misery in the previous six years the climing back up leagues was elating. 

Don't hit cars at 35 MPH.

Don't hit cars at 35 MPH.

Don't hit cars at 35 MPH.