ImARam2

😉

The Premier League Prize money table was announced at the weekend and it ranged from Manchester City banking £143.4m for finishing top.
The three relegated clubs received the following: Sheffield Utd (20th) £102.2m; Burnley (19th) £104.3m & Luton (18th) 106.5m, respectively. Forest, for finishing 4th from bottom, receiving £108.7m.
The total prize & TV money distributed to the 20 clubs was £2.455 billion = an average of £122.75m each.
The three relegated teams from the the Premier League will also receive parachute payments as instalments over a period of three years as follows:
The first payment is 55% of the broadcasting revenue which every club receives after the equal split; the second season is 45% and then 30% in the third season after relegation, respectively.
That probably works out at about £200m over 4 years - one season in the Premier League & 3 years in the Championship.
No wonder the relegated clubs retain their top players and return quickly to the Premier League with that revenue stream.
So where does that leave the likes of The Rams competing for new players with that amount of money?
 
 

I think we are the new Rotherham FC team 😂 that this point

I think Luton did better than expected, but even they were pretty abject overall. They could make a fight of it in most games, but the lack of quality and quantity in their squad really was obvious in their ability to blow leads and drop points. Look at the game against BMouth, absolutely criminal.
In all honesty, those two last minute draws against us really kept them afloat. Lose those (and without the points deduction) and we're 16 points clear of them. Burnley's home form was dreadful, and Sheff Utd have to be one of the worst teams to ever grace the PL. Even worse than their last outing. 
I see more of the same next season. As others have commented, the gap is widening, and those teams that already have established in the PL--which whether you like it or not, we've become--have a huge head start. 
Next season it'll be the bottom three plus us, Wolves, Fulham, Brentford, and probably BMouth. Palace look fantastic, why didn't we go for Glasner again? 

While it's easy to look at the negative side of things regarding the size of our budget in comparison to other clubs, there are benefits to having a smaller budget.
1 - Focus on developing youth. Clubs with lower budgets tend to have to look to invest heavily in their youth set ups. With our track record of providing first team opportunities to younger players, the club could be an attractive prospect for talented young players in the area. As well as this, young players who develop in-house tend to have stronger loyalties towards the club that developed them. This can help create a stronger sense of togetherness, just look at the impact we've seen in previous years from out younger players.
2 - Effective scouting. As we can't just go out and handpick players, the scouting system is forced to find innovative and smarter ways of identifying talent, perhaps looking to find undervalued markets to exploit. As it will be harder for the scouts they will need to improve their way of doing things, which could help them develop in the long term as well.
3 - Financial stability. As we aren't close to getting promotion from the championship, the club doesn't necessarily need to overspend on trying to get the final piece of the puzzle so to say. We've all heard and seen how DC wants to run the club sustainably, which may have some short term pain on the way to success in the long term. We may not be ready to challenge for promotion from the championship for 5 seasons or more, but when we are back we will be in a better place to succeed.
4 - Player development pathways. This is similar to my first point. A number of teams who have gone up through the leagues have focused on developing players then selling them on for profit. They then invest this profit in more players to develop then sell them on for more profit and continue doing this. We've all seen how many young players have come though our system and now we are in the championship we could demand higher fees. Didn't Bournemouth bid £9 million for Cashin a number of years ago? We have a number of good players to develop in the club, who we could potentially sell on for big money in the future, and then we can invest this in numerous players to develop further.

I think this comment from a Wolves fan on HYS summarises my thoughts on VAR very well, and note that application of technology any feeling of being victimised has not gone away - just ask our friends down the A52.
"As a Wolves fan, I’m probably a bit biased because we’ve been repeatedly robbed and mystified by VAR decisions or lack of them this year, it’s been ridiculous. But the key issues for me are the ability to truly celebrate a goal, the time it takes and the experience in the stadium. It might be OK for arm chair fans watching repeats over and again and the the commentary telling you what’s happening, but when your in the crowd your often clueless to what incident or player they are even looking at and then 5 mins later you get a decision that your mate texts you is wrong anyway, something has to change, it’s a farce!"
I really hadn't fully considered how bad it might be in a stadium as I have only watched VAR games on TV. I guess you may well be completely in the dark about what is being checked. His points are centred around the matchday experience as much as VAR's fallibility and I think that is telling.

I wouldn't rule it out for all time, but I think it needs a re-think as to the technology and how it is applied and in what situations.

After eating that I think you'll have to try a pony and trap ☺️

Couldn't think of a thread to put this in, but expect there's many who'd like to see it. And even have it running on a loop! For our delectation, the club have posted every goal of the season:
Enjoy!

Walter Roulstone (1866–1953) was an English footballer who played for Derby County.[2]
William Roulstone was signed in 1886 by Sawley Rangers F.C. Very little is known about Sawley Rangers except they were founder members of the Derbyshire Football Association. Albert Williamson was only at Sawley Rangers for one season, 1886–87. Albert Williamson was on Derby County's books for the one season prior to the start of the Football League, 1887–88.[2][3][4]
Walter Roulstone made his League debut on 8 September 1888, playing at wing–half, at Pike's Lane, the then home of Bolton Wanderers. Derby County defeated the home team 6–3. Walter Roulstone appeared in 21 of the 22 League matches played by Derby County in season 1888–89. As a wing-half (20 appearances) he played in a midfield that achieved big (three–League–goals–or–more) wins on three separate occasions.[3]
He was the first player to make 100 league appearances with Derby County. His brother Frank was also a footballer. Although Derby County had had a poor season (1888–89), Roulstone was retained to play alongside the more experienced professionals being brought in during the close season in 1889. Roulstone stayed with Derby County for seven seasons leaving in 1894. He played 118 games becoming the First Derby County player to play 100 games for the club. He went to local non-league club Heanor Town in 1895.[5]

For the most part, the Trotters fans who have posted on here this season have been sound dudes. Our 'rivalry' goes back to the first ever league match day in 1888, when we played each other and you raced into a 3-0 lead before we pegged you back and eventually ran out 6-3 winners. I'm definitely rooting for Bolton in the playoffs.
Incidentally, my wife's great-great uncle played in that 3-6 game (Walter Raulstone).

I've always liked Bolton - a grand old club that plays in black and white and has survived a real scare like ourselves. 
And as a woman, love your modern stadium with good views and excellent facilities. 
I'd be happy to play you again next season. 

Couple of side notes to add -
 
My 1 gripe with Evatt is that he is a bad loser and needs more grace when things don't work. I hate excuses and as I've learnt from reading other forums, every set of fans thinks they're hard done by by the referee every week and sometimes just accepting that we didn't take our chances is a better way to learn, move forward and grow.
The other side note is that I live in Stockport, have various friends who are rams around here and have a soft spot for you, especially as someone who went to Uni in Nottingham and developed a great dislike for Forest, mainly over their arrogance in referring to themselves as "the famous club"

Time to break out a classic:

I've always believed in giving manager's time. The only manager I can recall actively calling for the removal of was Tommy Docherty. I agreed with the removal of both John Gregory and Phil Brown because the situation was desperate at the time, though I had sympathy for the latter because of the difficulties of working under that particular regime. I always thought that calls for Warne's sacking were shortsighted and that some posters went well beyond reasonable criticism, and I think I made my views pretty clear along the way. The proliferation of anti-Warne threads were spoiling the forum. Some posters seemed to be on personal missions to get the manager out, fortunately few of them were "regulars".
The only thing that really matters is that David Clowes stayed loyal to his man, a quality I greatly admire. There's always room to improve some aspect of performance, style and results, and I appreciated the contributions of those who have identified those aspects and put their arguments across thoughtfully. I'd like to think that within the management team those aspects have also been identified and will be addressed, budget permitting in some cases, but for now let's just enjoy stage one of "mission accomplished".

You’re correct, with my patient optimism I have always been right! And some people have also always been correct in their concerns. But mainly I was right 😉 
I think the door has swung both ways with the more vocal minority on either side of the argument quick to goad, dismiss, mock, label all season long. Looking at it objectively the following concerns have been raised, some of them are valid and some were clearly short sighted and spiteful, the evidence is there if you go looking from all sides. These are summarised/paraphrased points to try and capture all sides ;
- “Warne doesn’t have any pull” (disagree here as we’ve signed some effective players this season… and gambled with some injury prone ones)
- which brings me to point two, “he’s been operating with restrictions so we should be patient.” I always felt there was some logic to this and also agree with the points made that we still could have recruited better when you look at some of the other free agents signed up by our rivals. Overall the group we had were effective and got the job done, hindsight being the wonderful thing that it is I can’t help but wonder if we’d have won the league with a couple of different options.

- “he only signs old players/cloggers/former Rotherham players” biggest short sighted load of nonsense out of all the criticism for me and one point I’ve been at pains to counter for the last 2 seasons. It’s a generalised and ill informed view that ignores the restrictions at play and also the likes of Nyambe, Adams, Nelson, Wilson, Elder, Ward, TJJ, none of whom are ancient or cloggers or former Warne players.
- “players don’t want to play for him/he’s a glorified PE teacher/fitness coach” always felt this was unfair and it’s clear by the end of the season that this squad did want to play for him and he’s got a little more about him than some would credit. His man management seems to be a big strength and one people have been quick to dismiss, surely he deserves credit for getting the team over the line even if they are “the best players in the league” and he’s “just done what’s expected of him” 😉 
- “he’s tactically limited” this is one of the big ones and hard to fully pick apart without a good dialogue from all sides. Part of me agrees and sees it from the football purists point of view that we don’t typically control the ball and control games so see why folks have issues there. But also he has adapted all season, used different shapes, different combinations and still got the job done. It seems to be a case of pragmatism over style which then comes down to preference as many have expressed, it’s not for them that’s fair enough, and others (like myself) are happy seeing us score goals and win regardless of style (which is also fair enough). Though my biggest and remaining complaint with him will seemingly always be his timing of subs, a couple of times this season he’s nailed it (can’t remember specific games) but there have been others when a change was desperately needed and he’s done nowt….come on Paul, save my blood pressure next season please. It’ll be interesting to see how he adapts in the championship with Derby, but I think he’s earned that right.
- “the football is dire”, another difficult one to reconcile personally for me as I’ve enjoyed it but I get that people want more control in midfield, more passing etc so again it’s a complicated point to discuss with more nuance. Personally I’ve enjoyed winning lots, scoring plenty, improving away and ultimately going up automatically but it could have been smoother sailing for sure.
- “he doesn’t trust young players”, another of the biggies that so far seems to be evident and is more a wait and see thing for me. He definitely could/should have used the pizza cup to blood a few more youngsters this season then perhaps they’d have been ready to plug gaps when injury struck. However I also see Warne’s point about not throwing them in and “ruining them”, he’s essentially done the job this season but given the investment in the academy and his key it in theory will be to the clubs future this is one he must do better on.
- “his interviews are *insert positive/derogatory comment*” this is all down to personal preference, some like his interview style and some don’t, if that’s how you feel it doesn’t make you factually wrong it’s just an opinion. 
 
- “give him time”, seems so far to have been the right shout, earlier in the season understandably more and more people had concerns, I even had my own mini wobble, but essentially the patience appears to have paid off (for this season at least….what happens next we have to wait and see).
There may be other points but I’ve got to do the school run so feel free to pile on and tell me what I missed and where I’m wrong. My point here is that there are valid concerns all round, and plenty to discuss respectfully, we all want what’s best for the club. 

Just when I thought I’d got past the crying stage.
he’ll always think about his old seat and the people he sat with.
at the risk of sounding like an emotional wreck, Saturday was definitely a time of thinking of those no longer with us. Friends, family, ex players and managers. 
 
it’s more than a game of football, that’s for sure 
Ps. When do the pre season start! 

https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2024/04/a-message-from-derby-county-owner-david-clowes

B4 was Daniel Beavis. A lifelong DCFC supporter who died suddenly in November, just hours after attending the Crewe away match. He was only 38 and had held a season ticket for almost 30 years. B4 was his username on this forum where he was well know for his unique take on all things DCFC and his kindness to others. Despite the situation of the club or inconsistency of results, he was unbelievably positive. Dan had learning difficulties and despite what he may have typed on here at times, he was actually quite vulnerable and his world was quite small. His whole world revolved around his beloved Derby County. His death has been a shock to us but his passion and love for DCFC has left an effect on many who knew him, in person or virtually. He was also my brother. 
 

We all are.

Not sure if I am alone in this today but I feel an overwhelming sense of closure after yesterday’s achievement. What a relief to be back in the Championship. But it’s more than that.
It feels like all the hurt over the last couple of years: the administration, the points deductions, the financial turmoil, the humiliation, the relegation; it feels like we can finally turn the page on that sordid chapter of our history. Like we can move on. 
I’m not sure why I’m sharing this, but it feels even more personal for me than that, too. In the summer of our relegation, I lost my grandmother to cancer. She was the major connection to Derby for me. My whole ritual of going to the matches involved staying with her for the weekend. For some reason Derby County, the city of Derby, the supporters bus that would pick my Grandad and I up from outside The Gate in Swanwick, the cone of chips before the game, all just seemed to have disappeared.
I know it sounds strange but I feel like I lost my connection to the club in so many ways that summer. 
Yesterday, watching everyone celebrating and the tears and David Clowes and Ed Dawe’s’ tears, just felt like closure. The end of the trauma and the start of something new. It felt like moving on.
Thank you, Mr Clowes, for all of that 🐏

My head hurts and I've lost my voice!!

My head hurts and I've lost my voice!!

It also coincides with the same day in 1946 when Derby County won the FA Cup at Wembley, 4-1 against Charlton Athletic. 
Let's have the same score line today.
COYR's

It also coincides with the same day in 1946 when Derby County won the FA Cup at Wembley, 4-1 against Charlton Athletic. 
Let's have the same score line today.
COYR's

It also coincides with the same day in 1946 when Derby County won the FA Cup at Wembley, 4-1 against Charlton Athletic. 
Let's have the same score line today.
COYR's