EtoileSportiveDeDerby

Neither. Can’t stand them.

In Valencia as we speak, very nice but Sevilla is a lot nicer. Sevilla is very pretty and pleasant.

The Northampton game is an important one psychologically for us. Win and we’re 2 points behind Portsmouth and 7 in front of Bolton. This could pressurise both teams as 1 slip up from Portsmouth could leave them in second place, and a slip up from Bolton could finish off their promotion push.
Yes they’ll have a game in hand, but there are very few easy games left for Portsmouth and Bolton already have to rely on us dropping points and them gaining them.

As Dom Dietrich might say, these are “take it or leave it” stats. Below is my attempt at showing the league position of the opponents our direct competitors face on the run in:
Portsmouth- 12 2 17 3 5 11 7- average 8.14
Derby- 14 9 1 12 10 20 24- average 12.9
Bolton- 8 18 13 1 17 23 4- average 12
P’Boro- 24 10 23 6 22 13 21 3- average 15.3
Barnsley- 20 19 16 8 18 1 9 14- average 13.1
I haven’t considered home or away ties, but on the face it Portsmouth have by far the hardest run in, playing us, Bolton and Barnsley. My personal preference would be for them to beat Barnsley and Bolton, let them take the title, and it gives us more breathing space on the final day. But looking at it another way, if we can beat them on 2 April and other results go against them, might we be looking at a title push?? I would love that, for B4 if nothing else.
Peterborough have the easiest run in and face all three bottom teams, although I noticed they are one of only four teams to play midweek before the final game of the season- which for them is a massive 6-pointer against Bolton.
Our games seem to get “easier” as time goes on, whereas others are more mixed. Portsmouth finish against one the form teams of Europe (I’d guess?) in Lincoln. Let’s see if the Imps are still averaging three goals a game by then- if they are, they might well finish 4th or 5th!
Final point- our GD is 4 better than Portsmouth, 7 better than Bolton and P’Boro and 13 better than Barnsley. That could well be the half point advantage that makes a difference come 27th April…

For clarity purposes, is that nice, or nonce?
 
 

Love the mystery around Banksy , like other posters have said there is a message and meaning to his art , am I a fan , yes I suppose I am

If Carlsberg did honeymoons... 
🥂

Loved the atmosphere yesterday. Managed to blag myself a flag/flange by telling the person giving them out I was only five 😂 Most enjoyable match of the season for me 

Saturday 23rd March
Northampton vs Derby
Sixfields Stadium (KO 1500)
 
Parking: There is apparently parking available at the ground (NN5 5QA) for a fiver or at a place called Duston Mill (NN5 5FP).
Opponents Bio: Founded in 1897, Northampton Town are well known by their nickname, 'The Cobblers', a nod to the town's historic shoe-making industry. Previously based adjacent to Northamptonshire County Cricket Club, their move in 1994 now sees them play home matches at the 7,798 capacity Sixfields Stadium.
The swinging 60's was quite the decade to be a member of the Shoe Army as Northampton started the 1960/61 season in the fourth tier of the English game before three promotions and three relegations saw them back in Division 4 (ask your parents kids) in time for the 1969/70 campaign. Their one season in the top division was their only appearance at that level in their history so far. Indeed, since their relegation in 1966/67 from what is now the Championship, the Cobblers have played each of the subsequent 56 seasons in either the third or fourth tier. That run could have been broken in 1993/94 when they finished bottom of League 2 but they had a reprieve as Kidderminster Harriers' ground wasn't deemed suitable for the Football League.
This season sees Town looking to consolidate a League 1 berth after their promotion from League 2 in 2022/23 and sitting in 14th place and well clear of the drop zone they have comfortably achieved their initial target. A decent run of results could see them finish in the top half as they are one of four sides on 50 points before this weekend.
Opponents Gaffer & Dangermen: They are managed by an Australian, Jon Brady, who I know nothing about. 
Top scorers for Northampton this season are Sam Hoskins (14 goals), Kieron Bowie (eight) and Mitch Pinnock (six, plus seven assists). They also have Huddersfield loanee Tyreece Simpson and another loanee is a certain Tony Springett who played a few times for ourselves last year.
Other Titbits & Links to DCFC: Notable names associated with Saturday's opponents include former managers Herbert Chapman (of Huddersfield and Arsenal fame), Tony Barton (European Cup winning manager at Villa), Chris Wilder (when he was good), Ian Atkins (coming good again at Tranmere maybe), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Aidy Boothroyd and Graham Carr (father of comedy twins Alan and Jimmy). Their most famous ex-player is probably former Liverpool and England full-back, Phil Neal.
Derby links include Kevin Wilson (managed them) and those who played for both clubs include John Gregory, Ian Taylor and Marco Gabbiadini.
Opponents Form: They've struggled over the past five games, picking up just two points from draws against Charlton at home and Cambridge away. They've lost two on the bounce, both without scoring, with a 1-0 defeat at home to Blackpool followed on Saturday by a 2-0 loss at Wycombe. 
Their league record at home is respectable overall, reading: W8-D5-L6.
Rams History vs Northampton: We tempted fate against Bolton by highlighting the fact that they had never won in the league at Pride Park in 10 attempts. Lets be bold again by stating that;
Derby have never lost a competitive fixture against Northampton.
It's true. Six FA Cup ties (four original and two replays) and seven League matches is the sum total of the two clubs' historical matches against each other but the Rams have managed eight wins and five draws thus far. 
In League matches only, we currently stand at W4-D3-L0 with an away record of W2-D1-L0 on their turf.
The match earlier this season at Pride Park saw Derby run out comfortable 4-0 victors in a game where we saw the best of Conor Washington and a brace by Max Bird.
Likely Rams XI: We can possibly expect a change or two. Or maybe three? Assuming we maintain the back three then Warne has to decide between a recall for Sonny Bradley after illness or sticking with Fozzy. I'd be amazed if he didn't stay with Craig Maldini tbh. 
There are obvious doubts over those withdrawn against Bolton. Gayle is surely out and Barkhuizen and Ward are possibly struggling too. The gaffer also needs to make a decision on Hourihane as we look better with either Smith or Thompson in the middle (or both ideally for me) alongside Ebou Adams who must surely be our transfer target #1 for the summer. 
A return to the 18 for Conor Washington (MotM in the reverse fixture) would be welcome.
Other Notable Fixtures: None. Certainly not as far as those chasing automatic promotion is concerned. We are the only one of the five involved in that battle for a top two finish to be playing so it's a perfect opportunity to apply pressure on those now playing catch up with us. Seven points with a game in hand has to seem psychologically further away for Bolton than the current four points and equal games played so hopefully we can turn that screw.
COYR
 

No neck, massive trunk, is that a beast from Guatemala?

...has announced her retirement from competitive cycling.
I thought she deserved her own thread as one of Britain's greatest Olympians and greatest cyclists of either sex, but also as the epitome of a grounded, modest superstar. She and her husband Jason are no 'Posh and Becks' just great examples of how to deal with sporting success and all that comes with it.

Not too big for a waffer-thin mint, surely?

Ebou earns every penny.

Had to ask for a cushion at full time to hide my modesty as it was beginning to show. 

I confess I have never seen that as a requirement, so have circumvented any complicated problems. Meanwhile:
A teenager brings her new boyfriend home to meet her parents. They’re horrified by his haircut, his tattoos, his piercings.
Later, the girl’s mother says, “Dear, he doesn’t seem to be a very nice boy.”
“Oh, please, Mum!” says the daughter. “If he wasn’t nice, would he be doing 500 hours of community service?”

At this level with his experience and quality with Nelson and Cash either side I had no worries about him replacing Sonny. Solid as a rock

Great game of rugby. A win against Bolton and England, if Carlsberg…

Massive hard fought 3 points, well done all

I watched Winchester RFC the other week against Witney.
Didn't bear much resemblance to 6N rugby as described.
More like formation mugging......

Good work again Daniel.
Keep it up👍👍

At this level with his experience and quality with Nelson and Cash either side I had no worries about him replacing Sonny. Solid as a rock

At this level with his experience and quality with Nelson and Cash either side I had no worries about him replacing Sonny. Solid as a rock

If there’s one person who deserves a promotion it’s fozzy be great if he scores the goal that takes us up

Over ten years of service, never a problem in the entire time he's been here, seen off every left back we've signed since he arrived, flexible enough to cover multiple positions.
A club legend. No doubt about it. 

Ginormous. Bigger than NML's, err, reputation.