jono

1 minute ago, Srg said:

Good to see Darren Robinson involved… but Fornah really is on the naughty step for whatever reason. 

Yes, odd that one. Fornah has ability and offers something different, surprised he doesn’t seem to be getting a look in. 

2 hours ago, oodledoodle said:

 

Looks a bit like a darker haired Ole Solskaer 🤪 

1 hour ago, DerbyAleMan said:

Great news, will ve watching on TV. 

All those going get behind the lads and make it 11 wins out of 13, i believe with your support it will get us over the line, going for a 2-0 , Rams victory, time to keep another clean sheet. Once A Ram Always A Ram. 

Is it on Rams TV ? Just trying to figure it out. Says not available for live streaming according to EFL rights ? Oh yes, duhhh 3.00 Saturday so can’t be, is that right ? 

16 hours ago, Chellaston Ram said:

I won’t be clapping, Reading took the pi$$, never paid the players on time yet signed players just before transfer embargo’s were applied 

What amazes me is not the EFL or Reading in those circumstances. It’s the players! Why would you sign or let your agent persuade you to sign for a business that is failing to pay wages and has been in difficulties for some time. ?

This sounds hopeful. I can almost hear the matchday announcer saying “and the goal scorer for the rams is Corey ….Blackett… TAYLOR”

yeah, ok I’ve been re reading my Roy of the Rovers comics …… again 

Pass me my coat would you ?

2 hours ago, Poynton ram said:

Didn’t see much solidarity in our darkest hour, Blackpool aside. Were any other club supporter groups supportive when admin loomed at PP? 

I hope Reading come out of this ok, for the sake of the real fans. As to the yobs (that all clubs have)  that were drooling with delight while we were under the EFL cosh ? Do one.

I won’t be clapping on any minute. I will be thinking, I wonder if the EFL will apply the same vindictiveness that we were visited with. 

9 hours ago, Comrade 86 said:

Missing two of our preferred back four is not ideal, but I think folk may have misjudged Elder and I'd not be surprised to see his performance levels climb sharply. Yes, he did look exposed at times against Burton, but he looks to have a fair amount of technical ability for this level and he may just needs minutes.

I also agree that Sibbo is a very solid 1st choice / back-up at this level and I'd probably look to start Louie and aim to give Elder 30 mins if we can. I suspect Warne will back his man though and I'd not argue with that either. In general terms, I'm more concerned about the right flank than the left, least until Nyambe heads home.

Absolutely ! The game he had early season left me unimpressed. Looked slow to react and a bit lightweight. Since his return he has looked a different animal. Purposeful and front footed with a decent levels of ball control. A mistake is a mistake and they all make them. I don’t think he is a superstar but, as you say, there is a lot more in there and he will surprise some as the season continues. 

Well I don’t know that much but he looked pretty good to me and if fit I’d be very pleased to have him in our current match day squad. He’s got pace, strength and a reasonable scoring record. He looked powerful and put the wind up CB’s 

Yes he’s getting on a bit, his injuries have been sad for him and disappointing for us but we are currently a 3rd tier club so given the pros, cons and this present status what exactly do people expect ? 
 

Hope he’s fit soon and will be there to help us get over the line. 

25 minutes ago, tomsdubs said:

Popular player L1 clubs are looking to sign? Add Derby County to the list to drive more engagement and clicks.

No chance we spend more than probably 350k on a single player IMO.

I think you’re right but add ons related to promotion will be in the mix. That said we are all speculating, it’s pure guess work and that includes the journalists. 

3 hours ago, Turk Thrust said:

Agree in part but remember that “gotten” is good old English, meaning a recent acquisition such as “I’ve got a car“ ( I have or own a car) and “I’ve gotten a car” (I’ve just bought a car).  Lost in UK now but still there in “forgotten”. “Guys” is another. Dropped out of  use over here in the late 1700s but has made a comeback. The single digit gesture is Italian in origin.
Right, English lesson over, back on your heads

Language is magical and thanks for reminding me about gotten - I know but it’s revival via the bombast of US culture just narks me as a certified old goat. I like the Italian 2 fingered one - the two central fingers folded back with the extreme ones raised = cuckold. I am told, don’t do this in Naples if you value your wellbeing 🤣

10 hours ago, oldtimeram said:

Why do nearly all of these players have really odd/silly Christian names.  What ever happened to John, Dave and Alan?

Americanitis. Other symptoms include saying “I’ve gotten”, “Can I get” and the single finger gesture ! What was wrong with good old two fingers. 🤣

4 minutes ago, Tamworthram said:

I thought he did well (for most of the game) and possibly his best game for while in my eyes. Funny how we can see things differently. I guess that's football for you. 

He frustrates me. You get flashes of what he could do if he just stepped on the gas more often. He has the ability to do more surging runs through the middle. It’s almost as if he has had some natural instincts coached out of him and then in odd games or specific moments he goes ..” hey I can do this” steps over 2 tackles and charges forward breaking lines and making a difference. You can’t do it all the time but a coup,e of times each game is better than once every 2 games ! 

6 minutes ago, May Contain Nuts said:

I actually like Elder and think he will come good. Just not under Warne and in the way he's played. 

Apart from one error I think he looked better today than when he came. Looks stronger and has a bit of pace. I think he’s a good footballer. Overall I think he had a good game 

21 minutes ago, Rich3478 said:

Yeah, I heard radio derby being very positive of burton on the way home. Personally thought we were just sloppy but they did punish us well. Don’t think burton offered much at all.

I felt the same. We made 2 mistakes, got punished and then contributed to Burtons “revival” by panicking/rushing/ getting in to hoof ball and head tennis. . Burton were plucky and worked very hard but it was our individual errors that let them get as close as they did. Why can’t  we get a young Manchester United kid on loan who can score on his debut ? 
 

Anyway .. it’s 3 precious points. That’s all that matters. Still lots of games to play. Still in a great run of form and had the spirit to keep playing. 

5 hours ago, Sheepinthedales said:

Interesting thanks. I've not read that so my assumption was based on Hourihane and the perhaps naive expectation/hope that the financial aperture between the prem and L1 wasn't as big as I thought. I'd be interested to know the wages of top earners in the champ. I'd expect that to have increased this season with Leicester holding on to a fair few of their PL players

There will always be a distortion when clubs like Leicester and Fulham drop. My gut feeling (with zero empirical evidence 🤪) is that wages in L1 and L2  for a mid ranked player in a mid ranked team have stagnated. The money just isn’t there. Oh yes, for a one off at a big team - there will always be a rate buster, but the every day reality is a different matter.

4 hours ago, Sheepinthedales said:

Pretty sure Hourihane is on £12k a week which was the limit imposed on us by the league. I accept he dropped divisions but players producing close to double digit goals and assists demand that easily in L1 now

I think the 12k is an exception - an enticement in difficult times to get an aging player of his pedigree when there was little else available . The market has changed. I’d bet our regulars are probably earning 4-6 K with the older “stars” on shorter contracts at 6-8 K. There might be room for a 1 off 10k player but you can bet your life there will be terms and conditions. 
 

I read somewhere that the average (for the top 100 players ) is just over 7k .. remember that average is for the top 100 not all league 1 players. 

Can we use a different short cut for his name ?. I find CBT somewhat unsettling.

5 hours ago, ram59 said:

I think that you could have put that a bit better. I personally prefer my cheaper car with heated seats and a nice paint job compared with next doors' more expensive motor with a bigger engine, after all we are both restricted to the same speed limits.😁

I probably could have but it’s an interesting comparison. I love to have grunt under the bonnet, not to exceed speed limits, simply to have the reserves in emergencies and the waftability of an engine that is less stressed. Each to his own.

In simpler terms though .. if it’s a question of 3k a week verses 6k a week then of course money talks; but if Derby are offering say 10/15% less dosh than “AN Other”  perennial L1 club that has a regular attendance of 7,100. Which would you take ? 

8 minutes ago, ariotofmyown said:

I think it's less pressure knowing Portsmouth have lost and Bolton not played rather than them both winning and us feeling like we have to win to not lose ground.

What happens after a game is abandoned ? Just a straight replay at another date ? 
 

Anyway I reckon you’re right Bolton will have games in hand but a lot of pressure on them to get results in a cramped fixture list .. and haven’t they got an FA cup replay too ? 

9 hours ago, jimtastic56 said:

We all have dreams of putting the white shirt on and scoring in front of the South stand. Are players bothered about the size of the crowd or the value of the contract ?Sorry to say it’s about the ££££’s or why would Knight have gone ,and more to follow.

Oh yes, for sure but Knight had tasted it and was wanted by a team in a higher league.  I was thinking more about those players currently in L2 or L1.

Derby has to be more appealing than Wycombe or Orient and that appeal must be more valuable in terms of 10% less in salary terms ? Hey I don’t know but I’d sacrifice heated seats and metallic paint for a bigger engine even if it cost me a few quid

14 minutes ago, TomTom92 said:

Fair enough then, I’ll give you your dos McGoldrick hasn’t proven to be a loss. But I can’t help that think without 2-3 good additions we could end up falling away. Even if we get play offs, if we don’t go up it’s a failure. 
 
Like I said, I’m relaxed about our January so far, none of our competitors have set the world alight either. But I just find the unnecessary comments irksome.

Ultimately Warne can only spend what he’s got, but unfortunately for him if it goes wrong it’ll be his head on the block not Pearce or Clowes.

It’s the name of the game isn’t it. Bottom line we are a good side, we have earned our position, our players have given at least as much as any one of us could ask. It’s a a bit of a lottery 2 players, in the right place, with the right skill set could tip a balance and we could be kings and emperors at our level.  But do they sign, are they the right ones ? Do we lose some disinterested pieces elsewhere.

Funny thing is without being biased, this is L1 and if you  were a player with ambition, would a few percentage points in salary and contract terms mean that much if it was .. play for DCFC / 25,000 home crowd every week - pure theatre ..  and Wycombe wanderers with a dodgy car park policy? Perrrrlease ! . So you are Wayne Champney Fortesque  .. 21, young gun, lots of utube highlight reels .. want to sign for Crawley, Wycombe or, oh maybe Derby County ? .,🤣. Come on .. call me entitled .. don’t give an F .. Dreams man, have dreams

1 hour ago, Comrade 86 said:

Spot on mate and I suspect Curtis would be delighted to be talked of in such terms. He'll never have to pay for a drink in Derby again, that's for sure.

I have tendency to spout polemics when it comes to sporting heroes. Not many spur me to this. A few handfuls over a lifetime but the good ones need to be recognised. The world has become very cynical. I just like remembering what it’s like to have ideals I suppose 😊

On 15/12/2023 at 09:43, Srg said:

It's about finding balance. You can just about manage to carry the likes of Hourihane when he's the only one you're having to carry. With Korey Smith injured, the midfield has worked much better than it had done with both Smith and Hourihane in it. We still do need a bit more pace though, we would be in serious trouble if NML got injured.

I simply am not clever enough or knowledgeable enough to get too deeply in to this but if our midfield needs anything it is a player who can control a ball with his first touch, make space to play a useful pass. We talk about someone who can “break up play” or a breaker of lines or a “general” But For me it’s kind of Idiakez .. those players who own the ball and decide what they want to do with it. It ought to be Hourihan but if I am honest with my own feelings, he is solid and tidy, organised and has a decent shot on him. Maestro pulling strings ? Nope, and not is Max (and he should be by now) I suppose that’s League 1 but we have needed a special player in the middle for a long time. 

On 10/10/2023 at 21:32, Comrade 86 said:

Said it before, but I still hope he finds his way back to the club at some point, I suppose most likely a coaching role, though I understand it's not terribly likely. Players come and go, but Curtis really took to Derby and the club and us fans took to him. One of the few players of recent times over whom I remain quite wistful.

Like everyone else, I wish him all the best.

I really am an aging newbie when it comes to DCFC. 10 years a fan and ST holder but that means little compared to most on here who have it in the blood from an early age. 
 

But for what it’s worth, Curtis is the most “right” player I have ever seen in a Derby shirt. He was no youngster when he joined. We were his Indian summer and boy did the sun shine. Sure there were days when he got out paced by some young guns and he wasn’t a silky ball playing CB. But as a man who read the game, stood tall gave absolutely everything on the pitch… and some…., Curtis is my favourite player by a huge margin. Some skill but more than that .. pride, integrity guts. Bloody love the guy.  
 

If I could have been a player I would have liked to be like him.

On 09/01/2024 at 10:38, therealhantsram said:

Sorry to say, I don't see a great deal here to excite me. He certainly run at pace with the ball at his feet, but beyond that, not much.

Reminded me of Abdoul Camara's highlights reel.

 

Me too ( in respect of those highlights) . Multiple shots of the same goals.  Might be a real ace but didn’t see enough of his touch under pressure to judge if he has THE magic. Finishing looks good but you need to see what a player does when he has two on him and either plays the right pass or loses them. Or has a sublime trap the ball thing or drifts in to places when no one saw him. I knew 100% that Ebiowe was class, the ball belonged to him. There is something about certain players. Those highlights were sound enough but didn’t light my fire. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t got it, just that the reel tells little.