plymouthram

I think our Academy may have not produced many top Premiership players as much as the like of Chelsea & Man City, but the amount of players we have put through the door that's compared with other clubs is quite high. Even though most have been average Premiership or good Championship, we produce a lot more than plenty of other clubs in the Championship and some of the Premiership clubs. Then you get players like Plange who was binned by Arsenal and Malcolm Ebiowei binned by Chelsea, Arsenal and Rangers who are now with Palace. Players like this not making progress/impressions at a bigger club will be enticed to come to Derby's Academy on the strength of our reputation in the last 10 years or so. What we need to do now we are out of administration is tie down the best ones into 2 or 3 yr contracts.
I take my hat off to previous owners of the club who invested in our Academy and a lot of credit goes to Darren Wassall.

Interesting debate.
FWIW I think our academy does a great job.
The issue seems to me that players invariably leave us often too early to then not really feature in the Premier League. This makes these players appear to be at worse unsuccessful or at best not as good as we thought they were.
Had these players stayed longer with us, gaining more competitive games rather than playing what is effectively reserve football I believe they’d be far better equipped to make the step up.
Premier League clubs go round hoovering up talent and often then sell them on if they don’t fancy them further down the line. I think it’s sad that Plange went to Palace after getting a lot of game time here, to probably now getting an occasional bench spot at best. Kaide Gordon looks a real talent- and I know our finances probably dictated he went to Liverpool, but would he have been better served staying here getting game time and learning from Rooney?
It’s all a bit sad. I hope the young lads that are still here and have come up through the academy realise that the grass isn’t always greener elsewhere. The challenge here is to ensure that we are still able to give them opportunities despite having signed more experienced players, should they warrant them.
 

Its too early to predict the starting 11 for the Oxford match, there's more incoming players before the kick off on the 30th. That's nearly a fotnight for players to sign and train with the squad prior to Liam picking his starting 11. Lets hope the coach's have watched video's of this season's opponents, because that could be a deciding factor to our set up/formation and starting 11. It's easy to guess that Wildsmith, Davies, Hourihane, Barkhuizan and Bird will probably start providing they are fit. That leaves 6 other slots up for grabs and with the new rule that allows you to make 5 subs in a match, it gives Liam chance to use 16 players in a match.

Yes he was the stand-out player. Very clever and brings other players into the game and is a presence even when he hasn’t got the ball he occupied the defenders. Hourihane too was like quicksilver playing “liquid football” all around the park with a wand of a left foot. Collins looked ring rusty. Max Bird looked superb and his long-range passing, arrowing down the flanks with seamstress’s precision. Knight and Thompson have both beefed up and Thompson danced his opponent into submission with clever turns and quick feet.
Pride Park pitch was lush, flat and even, with the ball moving over the surface with speed and even bounce. 

No. 1 new keeper kept out a certain goal 2nd half and Scott Loach got a Vg reception when he came on. 
 
A hot day, several pleasing Brunswick beers, liquid football at Pride Park and a 1-0 win for the Rams. If Carlsburg did Saturdays…

Hourihane feels the most surprising. 
But the cheesy answer is that first raft of signings and new contracts a couple days after Clowes took over were critical. It sent out the message that we'd stabilised, that players are safe to come to us and that the players we have here aren't for sale for peanuts.

She needs to be better on her efforts then. or change her personal trainer. Personally I don't think she will get a contract with the Rams.

You mean last year when he was starting to break through before getting injured ?
Because if so I think we can perhaps cut him a bit of slack before completely writing him off.

Curtis Davies (Player/coach role)?

Curtis Davies (Player/coach role)?

Curtis Davies (Player/coach role)?

Get some of the out of contract youngsters signed up before we lose some more.

Get some of the out of contract youngsters signed up before we lose some more.

Get some of the out of contract youngsters signed up before we lose some more.

Get some of the out of contract youngsters signed up before we lose some more.

Took a bit of time out to gather myself, have a bath, listen back to Radio Derby and get a glass of my special occasion drink (White Peak Distillery cask rum, summit local). I hope everyone is having whatever it is they want to drink.
Can’t really add anything that hasn’t already been said. All my thanks for everyone’s efforts last season. From Rooney and Rosenior, the players and staff who kept the club going in the darkest days. You can all hold your head high for what you did.
The fans who did everything they could, from filling the stadium to organising marches etc etc. Also the supporters groups who tried to get answers.
The journalists who kept us informed as much as they could, this was a mess from start to finish and was impossible to report accurately on. Many lessons will be learnt but we should appreciate all their efforts from Nixon, Percy, @The Baron,Simon Stone and everyone else I’m forgetting about. Colin Murray, Dan Roan and the national journalists who gave #savederbycounty national coverage. 
Special mention to Ed Dawes and Radio Derby, who has lived this far longer than any of us realise because Morris was in his ear with his mess 2-3 years ago. He didn’t get it right all the time, I’m sure he can admit that, but he stood up when it mattered and deserves a pat on the back from Derby fans. Also let’s not forget Chris Coles who after so much crap Derby related news deserves his little moment tonight too!
Team Derby! Forkin, the council and the MPs who helped keep this in the spotlight and did a lot of background work. They have helped create a huge positive day for the city.
Thanks to @David, @Boycieand all the moderators on the forum for all their work and giving us the platform. Special mention to @Animal is a Ram for giving us ‘up to the second’ updates (and all those who sought to beat him, yes you @RoyMac5). Thanks everyone for the laughs in here, at some of the most frustrating times they were some genuinely funny days in here that made everything a bit easier. 
Finally, thankyou Mr Clowes. I hope despite inital reluctance this ends up being the best decision you ever make. I hope as fans we respect your privacy, but only after hearing your name being rang out by a sell out crowd on July 30th. 
I’ve probably forgotten someone, despite going on worst than one of those popmaster contestants who won’t shut up and go away, but I’m tired and wanna finish my drink and read transfer rumours like a normal football fan, so apologies to anyone who is forgetten.
Have a great night everyone, it’s much deserved 

One thing this period has taught us, us fans can influence matches at Pride Park. We have given the team proper undying support on the pitch, in 52 years I can't remember such an atmosphere of blind faith and no criticism. Let us all try to keep that going, even when matches are going against us.
The players were lifted by this support, they weren't nervous about making a misplaced pass and that gave them the confidence to perform above their supposed ability.
You didn't hear booing and murmers of discontent at PP last season, even the likes of Man City and Liverpool fans voiced their discontent on televised games at times last season.
So let us create our own brand of superfan and let it become known that Derby fans will back their team through thick and thin.

I'm going to need a wee soon with the beer I'm drinking to celebrate a new dawn for the Rams

This needs to be sung loud and proud next season!

What about "Yesterday" or for Quantuma "Band on the run" and for all Derby Fans "Maybe I'm amazed" For our Academy "Junior's farm". For this season "With a little luck" and for David Clowes "Listen to what the man said".
Sorry but I'm a big Paul Mccartney fan

Have they left the building yet?

What about "Yesterday" or for Quantuma "Band on the run" and for all Derby Fans "Maybe I'm amazed" For our Academy "Junior's farm". For this season "With a little luck" and for David Clowes "Listen to what the man said".
Sorry but I'm a big Paul Mccartney fan

So...
I went to the shop shortly after the announcement to grab some 'celebration juice' for tonight and met a guy in a Derby shirt holding a 4 pack of Bud and asked him if he was celebrating as well.
'Celebrating what?'
'Takeovers done mate'
'Seriously?'
'Yeah, just been announced'
He then puts the 4 cans back on the shelf and picks up a box of 24 ?
If you're on the forum mate, have a great evening!!!

Get some of the out of contract youngsters signed up before we lose some more.

I can't get my head around it, Clowes have put money in to pay the June wages and run the club for the start of the season. Why can't the EFL (who are now in the loop on whats going on) state ok, start selling season tickets and we will also lift the transfer embargo. With this intent, the fans would commit to buying tickets, players would sign on, new players would come in. Even if we sold around 15000 season tickets, thats over £5m into the club funds COME ON EFL SHOW YOUR BACKING OF HELPING DERBY