nick_d

Will make nipping to the toilets during the game a whole different experience at least.

At least we are all experts in administration, accounting, P&S, stadium valuations, council funding, leasing arrangements and character assassinations now

Re: Mel Morris health...
First, I know Mel Morris elected to ruin DCFC's finances (ironically after providing them all!) by dumping the club into administration - and the consequences are deep and damaging - but I do get exasperated when I see implied slurs based on health grounds ?
Yes he has been very ill, for sure. Cancer and Covid he has suffered I'm sure played a part in his abandonment of DCFC - I know he didn't have to quit, and has great personal wealth, blah....but time is precious - and money can't buy that. 
He's a villain because of his actions but respect the individual, please. 
Ask yourself...if you had notoriously tried to reform the EFL re: the TV deal, and parachute payments imbalance, and failed - to then find those self-seeking barestewards at EFL HQ lining him and his club up, with help from the demon Gibson, for years of disciplinary proceedings and debilitating restrictions which stripped the club of competitiveness, would you feel like quitting?
The audacious (or crazy!) signing of Rooney added further controversy, jealousy and ho!y but hypocritical opprobrium from peers (because of the 32Red sponsorship) added fuel to Mel's 'notoriety' and defiance of conventions...as did the amortisation method! I'm sure it all took its toll. 
Coming into old age, infirm, also having promising managements poached (McLaren, Rowett, Lampard) by predatory clubs, with the club's potential unravelling before his eyes despite the investment, it's worth understanding that personal fatigue and ill-health.
Yes, Mel took a wrecking ball to the club in what he chose to  do last September - but the EFL have been piloting the controls for four years to 'get their man' and as anyone would, he wished to value his remaining time and move from the spotlight.
We wish he had not done so (not all of us!) due to the depletion of the club, but IMHO it was, finally, a case of 'enough is enough'.
[Dons tin hat]

Absolutely agree with all of this other than "to save a few £" - think it's going to be a lot more than a few!
There seems to be a bit of a fans' narrative that the admins have just been sitting on three perfectly reasonable, fully-formed bids while stroking their beards and counting their cash. I strongly suspect what's actually been happening is that they have been desperately trying to a) convert "interest" into solid bids, and b) negotiate these bids into a position where they allow us to exit administration, preferably without an extra 15 point penalty. And that isn't just a matter of negotiating with the "bidders" but with HMRC, too.
I would agree that their communication has been poor but in truth, what are they supposed to say? If the situation is worse than we think then does it really help to start announcing that publicly? Will that encourage higher bids, or will it do the exact opposite?
We all want there to be a villain here, a block, a nice simple scapegoat who is to blame for us being unable to get out of the situation. The sad fact is that the main problem now might simply be that no one is going to pay the amount we need to move forward, at least without a 15 point penalty next season. We are in a financial mess and our remaining "assets" (including players we'd like to secure on contracts, but can't) are losing value by the day. 
Maybe it isn't the admins fault we can't find someone to pay £50m for a stricken championship club who are very likely to be playing in the third tier next season. Maybe it just isn't possible.

Mighty. That was mighty!!! 
I was a little apprehensive because Barnsley were supposedly the form team, ripping up the league. So who were we playing today? There was a bit of a flash at the start where they zipped the ball around, but it was only a flash. Maybe the ref clamping down giving a free kick for a hefty challenge, then booking the next Barnsley Chopper nipped the heavy stuff in the bud. Its amazing what happens when a ref does what he is paid to do! From then on we controlled the game - Barnsley only had one real effort on goal in the first half. And our first goal was well deserved and was an absolute beauty. I really love goals when they are chipped over the keeper. And yes, it looked like Morrison was offside. 
So a ref clamping down on fouls early on, a dodgy decision going our way - it's almost as if Wayne's pointing out the refereeing deficiencies last week has had an effect! Second half carried on in much the same way, and Derby looked so comfortable, almost all match long. Oh, and suddenly the ball has started falling kindly for us - Tom rattled the bar and it fell right into the path of Ravel who dispatched his shot with aplomb. So how come Rooney, who has known Ravel for years, didn't know that he plays best further forwards? My hart sank when I saw that he was ahead of Sibley and Watson yet again on the team sheet when we have been crying out for someone who plays with a bit of forwards momentum. But that is exaclty what we got today!
I struggled about Man of the Match because just I had singled out Max Bird who was terrific from the start, I notice Ebosele was putting in a shift both attacking and defensively, or Ravel, obviously, or the unflappable Davis, or Allsopp came to my attention. Nobody had a duffer today, but I am going to single out Cashin. He misplaced a couple of passes, but he was up against a bruiser today, and the only reason he wasn't in Cashin's back pocket is that he was too big to fit in there. How many times Cashin pinched the ball in a tackle when he should have been well beaten reminded me of Colin Todd. He didn't seem to let anything go past him. A superb display.
And the ref - I wold dare to suggest he was the best we have had for maybe a coupe of seasons. Well done Wayne!

Great performance today. In particular Allsop, Bielik and Morrison all stood out but everyone played well and played a part. Some really good football, positive play. Great link up Morrison / Plange for the first goal. Allsop was very commanding and Bielik was vital in cutting stuff out today. 

Would you really want to loan a copy of 50 Shades from a library? Just imagine what that book's been through!

One of the best quotes I heard a lad say from my army days.....I went to bed with Sharon Stone.......I woke up with 20 stone ???

Wasn't there an agreement where the EFL and Q agreed there would be no more penalties if Q agreed the final 9 points deduction?, Now could Q have been better at releasing information or at least no conflicting information, "imminant, Hopefull, 10 working days, Quick ending now" have all been used by Q, It's us and the media that have stripped and rebuilt their quotes.
Now assuming the EFL and Gibson had a "cunning plan" up their sleeves ie Boro sueing the EFL, The EFL not helping DCFC when Gibson issues threats of action if DCFC didn't pay up, And Moonpig jumps on the bandwagon as a makeweight, There's little to no reason as to why Q would know this until the EFL one Friday says...until you settle with Gibson we can't accept your PB, Pretty sure that Friday Q were very much caught off guard, And this is where we all believe where the colusion of the EFL and Gibson was born
Q have legal responsabilities to the crediters, Dragging it out as you say would mean the crediters get less of their loot, As Q are working for the crediters and IF the crediters feel that Q are for the want of a better word "taking the piss" then they could take Q to court.
The PB will be announced as and when all the T's have been crossed and the I's dotted
 

Ed Dawes on Radio Derby said "I was forced to watch Forest on Sky last night" 
Jamie Ward straight back at him "I was forced to play for them!"
Once a Ram! 

Christ we can't afford this, catch the old bugger! ?
 
 

I know people are down on Lawrence for his idiocy but he's win us more points than most. Don't disagree that he's a tit but he's actually been great over the last 4 months so let's keep some perspective and togetherness about it.

Yes it was stupid and before this season I’ve not been a fan of his but I’m going to say here and now I will not get on his back for it , he’s won us lots of points this season , been full of passion for the shirt and the fans , massive pressure game big loud crowd ,,it happens , wish it hadn’t but it does , Tom L consider yourself forgiven for that mad moment by this fan at least??‍♂️

There’s a first time for everything and today is the day. Today is that once a season day where the ball bounces in our favour, we win the 50/50 balls, the ref is consistent, the tricks and flicks come off and their goalie has a mare. 
 
God I hope this ages well .. don’t screen shot me ?

Bloody Putin.

Had a similar response to my email to which I have responded as follows, with Margaret Beckett again CC'd:
Dear Mr Parry,
You infer that bar Derby County, every club in the country adheres to straight line amortisation policies – this is simply not true and it’s staggering that you would suggest as much. In 2015/16 Aston Villa were relegated from the Premier League, which allows a P & S loss of £105 million over three years, which then tapers down to £39 million over three years in the EFL Championship. It was therefore in Villa’s interests to put as many costs into their 2015/16 accounts to be absorbed by their Premier League P & S limit. Villa achieved this by charging an extra £79.6 million as a cost in the expense for impairment of the stadium and players (labelled ‘intangible assets’ in their accounts). No investigation was deemed necessary and no sanctions applied. There are too many other instances to list so I simply offer this particular one to illustrate that where the juggling of player values is concerned, there is one rule for Derby and another for everyone else.

If, as you claim, this amendment has been introduced ‘so there is no room for doubt’, does this not clearly infer there was doubt at the time the policy was in use? And given this has now been highlighted as a rather grey area, do you still maintain the sanctions applied are fair and fitting? Might I also ask what the EFL stance is on club’s selling their debts? Likewise, the pricing of players moving between clubs under the same ownership? The fact is that the EFL has spent over 2 years and no small amount of member club funds bringing Derby to task when a simple amendment, akin to that applied this week, could have been made as early as 2018 along with a request that Derby adopt a straight-line amortisation policy from thereon out.
It is also worth pointing out that the EFL, who claim to have ‘several accounts monitoring practices in place’ was made aware of the fact Derby County were using the ERV amortisation policy in 2018, yet chose not to bring this up with the club itself until 2020 by which time the relevant P & S period had closed. Had you not delayed the process until the 3-year period had elapsed, Derby would have been in a position to address the P & S threshold breaches through player sales or other means. Waiting until 2020, when the EFL was itself under threat of litigation from Middlesbrough FC, meant that Derby were not afforded any opportunity to bring either their accounting practices or their FFP overspend into line. With these facts in mind, I ask you again, do you still maintain the sanctions applied to Derby are fair and fitting?

Frankly, if the EFL is to retain even a shred of credibility, the sanctions applied to Derby County need to be reviewed immediately as the punishments far outweigh the ‘crime’. Failure to do so would result in the not unfair assumption that the current EFL board has brought the League into disrepute and that as such, those in question ought to be considering whether or not their positions remain tenable.
=====================================================================
The way I see it, this is absolutely NOT the time to be easing up on these clowns. Their actions this week yet again compromise the club's chances of survival in the Championship and as long as they continue to act in this fashion, we must keep boots firmly on their throats.
We fight to the end!
 
 

Yes, in stages. Another three points back tomorrow.

Love the childish idea from Boro that Gibson is a flawless character standing up to Derby for Boro and the good of football generally. 

Why are you on here?

Can I ask when the bastion of football fairness will be taking action against Bournemouth for hammering FFP on their way up, taking 4 points off you.  Take them off Bournemouth and give them to you and your automatically promoted, no playoff lottery or anything.  I'll wait with interest.
 

I can't disagree with this statement as I can't prove otherwise, by the same token I'm not sure this is something you can prove either.
Having visited the Sheffield Wednesday forum there isn't a lot of love on there for Steve Gibson, I would image Liverpool fans would also not agree having been on the end of his legal action along with other clubs. There is also a small matter of the Man United fanbase that have been questioning the claims in their support for Wayne Rooney.
You can only base your views on what you see and hear, and right now Forest, Leeds and bizarrely Bristol City fans have been very vocal in their support of Steve Gibson, although this will be down to rivalry....except for Bristol City which is once again just bizarre.
I don't know the guy, won't claim to know his life story and the shenanigans he may have been in, but what he has done against this club is unforgivable. 
Make no mistake, he is not responsible for the position we are in, he has been responsible for prolonging the situation with his frivolous claims which let's be honest, the club were never the intended target in all this, it was Mel Morris.
Let's also not forget, nowhere would you find Boro fans complaining at the time in 18/19, Tony Pulis was the target of your frustrations and rightly so, only now that Gibson's claims became public are Boro fans out in force to support their owner, which is commendable. 
We have seen the benefits of a siege mentality ourselves recently, even clubs such as Leeds which we dislike with a passion, you have to applaud the way they defend their club and anyone connected.
End of the day, it's quite possible the club could have been sold long before we entered administration had we not had these claims over us, they have been the main stumbling block. That's 12 points back on the board, no Embargos and we could potentially be challenging the top 6 with you this season. 
I know Boro fans will argue justice has been served, especially if we go down, but relegation is not a punishment the EFL can just hand out.
If you want to hear tales of how great Steve is, what a gentleman and upstanding person in the community, you will not find that on here, so don't be shocked to read plenty of vitriol aimed towards Gibson and in our eyes it's fully deserved. Every single bit of it.

Overall, yes, he is well regarded (still) and in terms of protecting Middlesbrough's interests he's gone above and beyond to atone for giving Tony pulis parachute payments to play with.
I'd just wish he wouldn't try to moralise about his actions which were a) give MFC an advantage b) his personal beef with Mel Morris and c) his continuing objection to a charge DCFC were cleared of any wrongdoing over (sale of pride park) d) pressuring the regulator to "get derby or I'll get you' e) attempting extortion of a club in administration, and intentionally letting the matter act as an inhibitor to exiting administration and f) getting p&s rules changed to suit his club. Not to mention the borderline slander (don't worry I'm sure his lawyers checked the wording) contained in some of the statements
Apart from that,top guy.

This as a defence just doesn't make sense to me. If it took "a huge amount of time and money" to prove that we were wrong, the bloody rules weren't obvious in the first place, were they? 
With other loopholes, they have changed them retrospectively after clubs were found not guilty. 
But with Derby they just appealled until they got the result they wanted. 
The question now should surely be why did they spend such a huge amount of time and money on it?
And why do they need to change them if they were written correctly?
No agenda against Derby? Pah!
 

I wil be issuing a short a statement tomorrow in response to the EFL's statement.
Along with, I suspect just short of 30k other Rams fans. You know the one.
And I hope the players make their statement on the pitch too.
 
Along with the

My reply.
I understand I'm pissing in the wind with this, just want us to be treated fairly which I feel we are not.
With regards to the review of our points deduction, I looked at the judgment and it was a loss of £1.96m above the upper threshold for 20/21 where a £5m covid exemption was allowed. Last nights statement was £2.5m with immediate effect to the 21/22 season.
Wouldn't change the deduction at all would it @Ghost of Clough?