Raich Carter

Hughes is a Prem / very top of Champ player for me (and going by his record). His wages will be the equivalent of about 8 players in L1.

I suspect he'll have a long career tho - late 30's you'd have thought given his style of play so prob got 10 years left in him.

And obviously, he'd tear-up L1 and the Champ. He'd be a cheat code. Won't happen.

7 minutes ago, Zag zig said:

Complete passenger some games, how he stayed on the pitch today baffled me.

No doubting he’s had a good career and he should be better in this team, but take away he can tuck the odd goal away around the box, his final ball can be quite poor. I’m sorry to say but far too wasteful for the calibre of player he’s supposed to be at league 1 level.

I said this ages ago and got slated. I just don't see the quality given his pedigree. Don't care what the system is, he's experienced enough where regardless of his role, he should have more impact. 

22 hours ago, jono said:

It’s a good point but Tommo is still learning, has room to grow and Fornah has real potential in my mind. Not seen enough to be certain but there is the makings of a more mobile ball winning midfield. But yes .. you do get the feeling you need a magic moment player in the mix if we are to prosper. 

Does Asanovic have a son or distant cousin...? 😉 I'm not sure PW is into flair central flair players. It's all about the wide players for him I think.

Sibs and Thomo - if they were going to kick on, they would have by now...? I rate them both and to be fair to them, they prob need a run in the side but difficult to accommodate with the competition in the squad. 

On 01/02/2024 at 12:58, Ghost of Clough said:

Midfielders (7) - Bird, Hourihane, Adams, Thompson, Smith, Fornah, Sibley
Wide players (4/5) - Mendez-Laing, Blackett-Taylor, Barkhuizen, Wilson, Ward (?)

We're perhaps a Smith/Fornah and a Ward too heavy in terms of squad size but not too bad, especially as Wilson/Ward also cover RB.
However, we would be a tad heavy at CF in a 433 once we sign someone and other players are all fit (5): Collins, New, Washington, Waghorn, John-Jules

With Bird going and Hourihane's contract up at the end of the year, I wonder if Adams + Fornah is his plan for next year? Suspect Smith will go too.

My mum grew up in a house in the 1930's that was, in my time, the car-park outside the C Stand/main office entrance. Me Uncle would store all the bikes in the back garden (had long gardens then) for a penny (or whatever the minimum currency was!).

My dad wasn't into football so I was about 15 when I first went (without my parents knowing) so circa 1987. It was so utterly frantic I don't even know who it was against but as soon as I stood in the Popside, I thought 'this is a bit of me'. It was scary, loud and the away fans were utterly nuts. I knew absolutely nothing about football at the time (some would argue I still don't) but the energy and atmosphere was just addictive. It felt like being in a movie albeit a rough one!

Was home and away most of the time until kids came along. My lad (now 21) is fascinated of my stories of the BBG - whilst he never experienced it, he says he misses it! I think that whole, raw, passionate thing has it's draw. 

1 hour ago, YorkshireRam said:

Sensationalism doesn't change the facts. I've not seen anyone saying anything daft about Collins, certainly not over-praising to the same extent he was vilified and overly-criticised before.

How many chances did he get against Cheltenham? 1... and he scored it. So from our most recent example, this argument falls flat on its face. 

Yes, compared to Messi, he's distinctly mediocre as a footballer. But for the level we're at, and what he's giving to the club, he's been a star this season, and deserves the praise he's getting. 

You can't say "Sensationalism doesn't change the facts" and then in the next breath say "How many chances did he get against Cheltenham? 1... and he scored it". You are literally using sensationalism to change the facts!

And the facts are (as illustrated above) his chance to goal ratio isn't great. The stats say it, we've seen it. 

Anyway, this is done to death. You'll hear no more from me. 

2 hours ago, David said:

It’s interesting because in the Warne out topics you will find others argue till they are blue in the face that McGoldrick and Collins have bailed Warne out.

Yet here we are in another corner of the internet where it’s not the individuals but the team that’s inflating “bog standard” players stats.

Could it not be, Warne is a decent manager at this level, Collins is a decent striker and we have a decent team hence why we find ourselves at the top end of the table fighting for promotion.

Kinda what I said. In my mind, at least. 

2 hours ago, YorkshireRam said:

2018/19 Collins scored 25 goals at this level for Luton, Didzy's best season was likely 20/21 where he scored 8 in the PL, each goal there is worth 3/4 at this level. 

It's a bizarrely reductionist argument to try and discredit individual achievement. Rather we should be grateful to have had 2 players that are capable of hitting 20+ league goals a season? 

<sigh>Ok, Collins is the new Drogba. Not a pretty average L1 striker. And McG was misunderstood his entire career apart from 2 seasons where he had a good goal scoring record. In 15+. Kinda getting away from my point but I'm not discrediting - just trying to temper the over-the-top comments about Collins, that's all. 

Honestly, I'm just saying that he's getting plenty of chances so let's not make him out to be something his not. That was it. 

A Ford Focus is a bog standard car. He's a Ford Focus of a player. He's 33 and playing in League eff'ing One! It might be harsh but it's true. Yet he's a million times better player than I'd ever be - harsh but true! 

On 29/01/2024 at 09:45, David said:

Struggling with this one.

He will probably get 20 goals this season, but he's ok, no more than that? Literally every summer there is the demand for a 20 goal a season striker, then when we potentially have one, here we are.

Kinda is slating a 20 goal a season striker, calling them bog standard. He's only 3 goals off the top scorer in the league Devante Cole who has played 2 more games than him.

If Collins is as you say just ok and bog standard, how many goals would say a very good League 1 striker need to be scoring, even an excellent one?

Like McG who got 20+ for us the season before. And if we stay in League One and put another bog standard forward up front next season, he'll get 20+ in a season too. Which is kinda my point - Collins and McG have both had their best seasons ever* in this team. The common denominator is the team. Ergo, it's the team, not the player.

They're ok players - made to look better by having decent supply albeit in a team that's not quite gelled.

Based on what I've seen of Collins, he's ok at this level but let's not carried away over one good finish as he's missed loads - that's all I'm saying. But it's fine - you lot crack on making out Collins to be Didier Drogba. I'll stay over here in my reality corner.

*Admittedly, Collins had a decent scoring record in League One in a good Luton side previously but my point is based on what I've seen of his general play.

On 29/01/2024 at 11:13, RIMBAUD said:

He had one chance on Saturday. And buried it. 

And missed how many in the last 2 seasons... Makes me laugh how fickle folk can be! He was roundly slated on here until recently. 

At this level, he's ok but no more than that. Obviously he's scored a few of late and to be fair, is doing a decent job but let's not get over-excited - he misses plenty and can't win headers for toffee due to awful positioning and anticipation.

He prob will get 20 this season but he's playing plenty of games in a team challenging for the title (albeit with room for improvement) - I think I'd get 10 in this side with the chances we're creating.

I'm not slating the lad - just being realistic. He's a bog standard forward who misses quite a few and only gets the odd unexpected goal (e.g. the finish about is excellent). 

1 hour ago, Gerry Daly said:

I think 2 years is a year too long to be honest. Sorry to be a bubble burster 

Suspect it's based on 2 things:

1) Reduced weekly rate vs 1 year deal

2) Sports science team will have a proper view on his biological age, etc so they know

33 minutes ago, Chellaston Ram said:

How much did we end up getting for Buchanan and Ebowi ?

Not enough. Nothing close to their value (at the time, at least).

23 hours ago, Gary Teale said:

Riggott played over 200 premier league games and in a UEFA cup final. Not sure Cashin is better all round either. 

I meant as in Riggs early days at Derby. Can't predict the future youth 🙂

16 minutes ago, Red Ram said:

How do we think Cash compares with Chris Riggott? Tempting to think Cash is better because he's here now but Riggott became an established Premier League player whereas Cashin is in League One at the moment.

I was thinking that as I typed but I feel Cashin is better all round and as Srg says, Riggs was injured a lot. Although it's true that obviously they played at very different levels so guess the jury is still out until Cash plays at a higher level.

21 hours ago, Jimbo Ram said:

Todd, Roy Mac and Mark Wright for me…

In my era, it would be McG, Stimac and I'm struggling for a stand-out beyond those. Plenty of decent players but those two stand out as class for me. Perhaps Larsen or Craig Short. Yates was good albeit injury did for him. I feel like I'm forgetting someone... 

Cashin - I really rate him. It's not often that CB's are this good, this young. He's a very good all rounder too - can pass, head, good timing, etc.

7 hours ago, caymanram said:

Interesting how Cash would react if he decided to go but we exercised that 1 year option… 

Don't think it works like that really. The 1 year extension is an insurance policy to protect against players going on a free so it's no difference if he was on a 5 year contract - if he wants to go (and I suspect it'll only be money that makes him want to move - can't blame him), it doesn't really change anything as we're protected by his contract. 

FWIW - I think either Bird or Cashin will go for reasonable (£3m-£4m with add ons (also suspect it'll be an undisclosed fee to avoid us being fleeced when buying)) sums to allow us to improve the whole squad. I suspect it'll be Cashin as Bradley is an expensive bench warmer at the moment and I think PW will be thinking that Bradley will come in and do a job but we'll have the funds to get a new midfielder and striker. Plus another CB prob.

In short, I imagine he's looking for an overall squad improvement at the expense of losing one player.

And, very importantly, they'll prob be some money left over to extend contracts for those that are running out. 

Selling our best players is not about a lack of ambition - it's about big picture stuff. We need a striker and have the money to retain or extend those that PW wants to keep for next year.

On 10/12/2023 at 17:58, Crewton said:

10,000 crowds and League 2 football? 

Where's the catch? 🤔

From average attendances of 4,000 in 2020... It's not about the 'today', it's about the 'tomorrow' / growth. And as we know from Man U fans, fans can be from anywhere. I think the whole 'local' thing is on the slide.

I, quite rightly, had no choice but to support DCFC 'cos I'm from here. Same for my son. Zero choice. None. Not an option.

19 hours ago, Gabby&#x27;sThighs said:

I'd forgotten about Mikkel Beck. Christ, he was crap.

£500k. I remember hearing we'd signed him. I was gutted. Awful, awful player.

That's very, very sad. I'm not a regular poster/visitor but B4's posts always stood out as he was was always very positive and his love for the Rams was evident in every single post.

Best to his family and friends. 

Connor Washington came across really, really well in his interview. Smart, sensible comments and came across as a bit brighter than the average footballer. Seemed to talk, albeit briefly, about aspects of the game that PW just doesn't but perhaps that's just a style thing - i.e. PW says it in a more... layman's fashion whereas I think as fans, we actually want to understand more about the tactical side in detail.

Anyway, CW - gone up in my estimation.

Collins however - missed some sitters.

On 30/10/2023 at 14:49, Raich Carter said:

The Footballing gods dictate that this will be comprehensive win for us to keep PW in a job... for now. It's akin to an ex-player (even a goalkeeper FFS (Poom)) scoring against us...

Derby 3 - Cobblers 0

Just sayin'.... 😉

1 minute ago, The Last Post said:

The Yew Tree at Ednaston, Both liked a drink 😁, I believe LP bought the pub 🤷‍♂️then bought a Taxi company in Ashbourne to ferry him home to Ednaston Hall...his Son on the other hand 😡

Yeah, he defo owned the pub. Not heard about his son...?

1 hour ago, duncanjwitham said:

They know because it's published in every club's annual accounts.  Admittedly it's total staff costs for the entire club (including all employees etc), but player wages will dominate that anyway.  Presumably we'll find out what our wage bill for last season was when our next set of accounts are produced.

Also, clubs can link sponsorship fees, attendances and merchandise sales to revenue + bigger clubs typically get on TV more therefore more £.

The other factor is we don't really know how many L1 clubs are running a la Mel Morris with borrowings.

1 hour ago, RoyMac5 said:

Lol. They could have gone down the pub.

Which is apparently where Lionel and TBE had a lot of their meetings - didn't turn out too bad did it (for us, not so well for poor Lionel).