plymouthram

Chester had 45 mins on Monday 20th against Stoke, then Friday 24th had approx 60 mins against Middlesboro for the U21s. I would not be surprised if he made the bench on Saturday.

You can look at graphs, take in stats, look at form but nobody's going to predict exactly what will happen in every remaining fixture. We can all guess and I've done that loads of times. I stated a while back that the current top 6 (yes it's still the same 6 teams) will remain in the top 6. What positions they will finish in is even hard to predict now, but a few matches ago most were saying Sheff Weds was nailed on for automatic promotion (agree they are still favourites with the bookies).

         Wildsmith in Goal, Back 3 of Forsyth, Davies and Cashin. Wingbacks of Knight and Roberts, central midfield Bird & Smith. Mendez-Laing on the right flank and Sibley on the left. McGoldrick up front.

Subs: McGee, Rooney, Chester, Hourihane, Barkhuizen, Springett and Dobbin.

12 hours ago, Tyler Durden said:

The easiest thing to do to prove or disprove your assertion is to get a series of timemachines (to obviously make it a fair test) then port in Rosenoir over the same period you're sampling plus a number of other League 1 managers - then compare the outcome with that of Warne so see how many managers have a more favourable or unfavourable record. 

If we could get a timemachine in, I would'nt bother swapping and changing managers around. I would just bring in Peter Shilton, Roy Macfarland, Colin Todd, Archie Gemmill, Charlie George and Kevin Hector.

I think Cashin would shine better in a trio of centrebacks, so if he does his little bursts out from the back we would still have 2 central defenders covering. Is it time try Rooney or Chester in the team being that extra central defender to allow Cashin show more confidence.

It bothers me to think we look good in recent games in the 1st half and should have scored maybe one or two goals. Then the opposing manager makes changes to his teams formation/tactics which improves their team. Yet our manager and his coaching staff must see the opposing teams improvement but don't have the answer by switching our formation, tactics, style to keep on top.

Unfortunately James Collins is under contract with the Rams until 30th June 2024.

19 minutes ago, Tamworthram said:

Today’s win for FGR, Peterborough’s loss at home to Cheltenham and ours against Fleetwood shows how hard it is to predict what is going to happen. Add to that the fact that we play Sheffield Wednesday and Peterborough play at Barnsley on the last day, one or both  of whom may have already determined their fate by then or might still have big stakes to play for, just adds to the uncertainty.

Probably the thing we can be most certain of though is that our biggest threat is likely to be our own lack of form.

All teams have dips in their form throughout a 46 match season, let's hope ours picks up going into the last 5 or 6 games prior to playing in the play-offs. It's also the business end of the season where teams at the bottom half of the table start putting in more effort in trying to avoid the drop. I personally think Sheff Weds will be promoted prior to us playing them, let's hope they are already champions and they have nothing to play for. With Peterboro playing Barnsley last game, I think Peterboro will be mathematically out of contention for a play-off place by then. I would be more worried about Wycombe if the Rams continue to stutter in the next 8 games.

I do believe it's been suggested that there will be some scope to review the current business plan with the EFL at the end of the season. I think this is based on the finance and budget is being run well by the club and they (Derby's owner & EFL) did not expect the amount of revenue the club have generated through season ticket sales and gate attendances being that large on the original forecast made back in July last year.

20 minutes ago, Gerry Daly said:

Hales played at the top level for us and was a bad fit with our other players. We weren't a third division team then

Derek Hales was signed by the Rams having smashed in 28 goals in 1975/76 season for Charlton in the old 2nd Division (now Championship). He had scored 72 goals in 129 apps for Charlton and at Derby managed 4 goals in 23 apps. We off loaded him to Westham where he faired a little better by scoring 10 in 24 apps. He went back to Charlton in 1978 and scored another 76 goals in 191 apps. Most famous for having a fight with his strike partner Mike Flanagan in a cuptie with Charlton in 1979. Also famous at Derby for missing absolute sitters on numerous occasions.

I've looked at Peterboro remaining fixtures and think they will get 14 points, so maybe the bigger threat will come from Wycombe who might pick up more points, looking at their fixtures they could get 16 -18 points. So it does look like me may need to finish on 80 points. But we must not forget Bolton could be caught by the chasing teams in 7th & 8th place. Mind you, looking at their remaining fixtures they could also get around 16 - 18 points. Lets hope our goal difference stays better than Peterboro's and Wycombe's in the remaining 8 games.

9 hours ago, Needlesh said:

Not quite as far GD. I do remember Bobby Campbell and Steve Biggins though. 

What about Derek Hales

15 hours ago, SirBrian said:

Kevin Hector was already at the club before Clough and Taylor arrived.

Tim Ward bought him from Bradford.

Yes, I do believe that Zac was Tim Ward's last signing.

On 23/03/2023 at 16:30, Foreveram said:

Nobody fancy nine wins on the bounce to take us automatically then 😂

It's possible, maybe even 8 wins and a 3-3 draw at Sheff Weds to clinch 2nd spot.

Automatics is a 4 horse race and only 2 can claim it.

2 minutes ago, plymouthram said:

4-2 to Barnsley

What a run they are on, since beating us 4-1 they drew 0-0 away at Bristol, beat Portsmouth3-1, Plymouth 3-0, Wycombe away 1-0 and now beat Wednesday 4-2.

4-2 to Barnsley

Peterboro, Wycombe and Portsmouth, the 3 teams outside the play-offs have like us 9 games left. Two are 4 points behind with Portsmouth being 7. Everyone seems to be forgetting Bolton, they only have 8 games left and all 4 teams below us have worse goal differences. Currently 2 of them 4 teams would have to climb above us between now and by approx 1.55pm on Sunday 7th May. I will agree, that Bolton could finish above us with an easier remaining fixture list, but can the others ?  I reckon 4 wins and 3 draws will put us clear of the chasing trio. Peterboro still have Barnsley, Ipswich after playing us on Saturday, they also have a tough away game against Shrewsbury to play. Wycombe still have Ipswich to play and Portsmouth away last game of the season. If we get 4 wins and 3 draws both Wycombe and Peterboro would need 20 points out of 27 available.

On 15/03/2023 at 10:09, ramsbottom said:

I still back us over 2 legs against those who currently occupy the play off berths, bar maybe Barnsley.  We gifted Ipswich the win at their place and we've had the better of Bolton home & away.  

Plus I don't think Warne would be stupid/negative enough to try and defend a semi 1-0 aggregate lead, by putting 11 men behind the ball like The Snake did against Fulham.

Not being funny, but it's possible that Barnsley might not be in the play-offs, could be Plymouth if the Tykes keep up their form and pinch 2nd spot.

Wycombe and Peterboro both won tonight putting Wycombe 3 points behind Bolton with a game in hand over them. Peterboro also have a game in hand over Bolton but are 6 points behind. Bolton have Sheff Weds away Friday night followed by Plymouth at home and then Exeter away. Wycombe have Barnsley at home followed by Charlton away and MK Dons at home before travelling to Ipswich.

Still going to stick with the current top 6 staying in the top 6(what positions still hard to predict). So we could have either Plymouth, Ipswich, Barnsley or Bolton to play in the play-offs. Might have a better idea in 5 games time.

On 09/03/2023 at 09:43, DavesaRam said:

No its not a penalty. A penalty is awarded when a foul has been committed. A brushing together of the leather of two football boots is NOT a foul.

That's the best description of what actually happened. To make matters worse, if there was a bigger contact the player would have gone down quicker putting his arms forward to break his fall. This player put his arm up and turned away from White and fell gently on his backside to cushion is fall.

9 minutes ago, Jourdan said:

Of course it would be a surprise, but it doesn’t mean it’s not possible.

With 10-11 games to go, anything can happen.

The last thing we want to do is get complacent and think our work is done.

Fortunately we still need 5 wins and a draw to reach 80 points so you would hope the boys are still laser focused!

If any team gets overalled in the current top 6, it would be Bolton. Wycombe have the best chance being in 7th spot and 2 games in hand over Bolton.  Bolton travel to Sheff Weds on Friday night following that up with a home match against Plymouth. So it's not just about us hanging on to a top 6 spot. But if Wycombe don't win on Tuesday night, they will be running out of fixtures to close that gap which currently stands at 6 points. 7 points gap behind us, but you look at Wycombe's goal difference over the top 6, they would need to gain 7 points over Bolton and 8 over us with their +14 compared with Bolton's +21 and the Rams +24.  Games in hand are only good if you can win them. With current form Wycombe have gained 4 points over the Rams in the last 10 League games, so they would have to find momentous difference in their form.

There's a few on here still being cautious and thinking Wycombe could get our play off place. They are 7 points behind and a massive 10 goals difference in the goal average meaning they would have to pick 8 points over us in their 11 remaining games. Six of them are away and they have already lost 7 on the road. It would take a massive uptake in their form, with us dropping lots of points for them to close the gap. What's not helped them, is Ainsworth leaving at the business end of the season. If they do grab a top 6 place, it will at Bolton's expense and not ours.

4 hours ago, JPRamFan said:

If Wycombe win their game in hand on Tuesday, they will only be 4 points behind us. Still a long way to go.

They will have to improve their away results and their goal difference, be very surprised if the top 6 changes, Wycombe, Peterboro and Shrewsbury all lose to many to sneak a play-off place.

On 11/03/2023 at 18:50, Carl Sagan said:

One down, 13 games go, with 10 to the end of the regular season. We've a 7pt cushion inside the playoffs (though Wycombe have a game in hand) so today's win and the ambulance chaser's loss puts us in a much more secure position for the run-in.

Warne began his experiment with 5 changes, starts for Rooney, Davies, Sibley (and in midfield), Springett and Collins. With Davies coming in, Fozzy switched to left back and Smith moved into midfield. Bird, recovering from injury, came on towards the end. McGoldrick and Knight have minor injuries. 

I thought it was interesting Warne stuck with a back four. That suggests he's committed to that formation with this group of players. We have a choice for RB of Smith, Rooney, Knight and Chester. Then, will Davies become the class defender we know he has been if Warne gives him a run of games there? Or should we revert to Cashin and Fozzy? Who is our most effective LB out of Fozzy, Roberts or Sibley?

It looks as if we will perm 2 from 4 wingers. Did Springett do anything today to earn another start? 

The main lesson from today is that we won a tight game because we played Louie Sibley in his natural position as an attacking midfielder. But we also have Smith, Hourihane, Bird and Knight wanting to play in midfield and there are only 3 places. It seems to me Smith is our best holding midfielder and anchor if playing a 4-3-3. And Sibley has to keep his place for now after his goals. That would leave one of Bird, Hourihane and Knight for the final place. I would play Knight and have him and Sibley as the two attacking, box-to-box options. I expect Warne will always play Hourihane, so is it possible he will move Knight to RB when fit? 

Intrigued to see what the team will be for Fleetwood. Will the boss shuffle the pack again?

I think Warne will shuffle the pack for the Fleetwood game, it looks like the short term plan against teams in the bottom half. This will keep the players rested and refreshed to go again when called back in to start a match against the tougher teams (Peterboro, Ipswich, Portsmouth and the last match against Sheff Weds before going into the play-offs).