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EtoileSportiveDeDerby

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  1. Haha
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to Mucker1884 in Will the last three games sell out.   
    If Carlsberg did honeymoons... 
    🥂
  2. Haha
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to B4’s Sister in Will the last three games sell out.   
    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 
  3. Clap
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to Rampant in Match Thread: vs Northampton Town (a)   
    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
     
  4. Haha
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby got a reaction from Mucker1884 in HUGE!   
    No neck, massive trunk, is that a beast from Guatemala?
  5. Like
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to Crewton in Laura Kenney   
    ...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.
  6. Haha
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to Crewton in HUGE!   
    Not too big for a waffer-thin mint, surely?
  7. Haha
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to Eddie in Match Thread: vs Bolton Wanderers (H)   
    Ebou earns every penny.
  8. Haha
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to Steve How Hard? in HUGE!   
    Had to ask for a cushion at full time to hide my modesty as it was beginning to show. 
  9. Haha
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to Carl Sagan in New joke thread (trigger alert, may offend if you want it to)   
    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?”
  10. Like
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby got a reaction from Kathcairns in Fozzy   
    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
  11. Like
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby got a reaction from Highgate in The Rugby Union Thread   
    Great game of rugby. A win against Bolton and England, if Carlsberg…
  12. Like
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to TINMANTED in Match Thread: vs Bolton Wanderers (H)   
    Massive hard fought 3 points, well done all
  13. Haha
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to Van der MoodHoover in The Rugby Union Thread   
    I watched Winchester RFC the other week against Witney.
    Didn't bear much resemblance to 6N rugby as described.
    More like formation mugging......
  14. Like
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to Amberram in B4 - for ever a Ram 🐏   
    Good work again Daniel.
    Keep it up👍👍
  15. Like
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby got a reaction from Crewton in Fozzy   
    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
  16. Like
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby got a reaction from BathRam72 in Fozzy   
    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
  17. Like
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to Derby65 in Fozzy   
    If there’s one person who deserves a promotion it’s fozzy be great if he scores the goal that takes us up
  18. Like
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to JuanFloEvraTheCocu'sNesta in Fozzy   
    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. 
  19. Haha
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to MaltRam in HUGE!   
    Ginormous. Bigger than NML's, err, reputation.
  20. Clap
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to JuanFloEvraTheCocu'sNesta in Match Thread: vs Bolton Wanderers (H)   
    Do whatever it takes to get Ebou Adams in the summer.
  21. Like
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to YouRams in Match Thread: vs Bolton Wanderers (H)   
    Wildsmith deserves a lot of credit made some huge saves, everyone defended like warriors at the end too. I don't care how we win at this point lets get out of this league!
  22. Clap
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to Ramarena in Match Thread: vs Bolton Wanderers (H)   
    It wasn’t pretty but it’s a huge result!
  23. Haha
  24. Clap
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to Wanderlust in Bolton sellout.   
    That's true. Even today we (BWFC) have a few idiots but attitudes towards them have changed substantially since Sharon Brittan saved us from oblivion and took over 4 years ago. The woman is dead set on us being a "community club" that attracts families and community groups so over 50 lifetime bans have been handed out to trouble-causing d******** so far. With more and more families coming to our home games and occasional "Community Days" where tickets cost a tenner for adults and much less for kids and other concessions (including away fans) nobody tolerates the idiots any more. Home games are like a village fete for the masses.
    That said, the club can't ban idiots from going to away games, but for the most part our away support is big, vocal and peaceful - but there's always one with ego problems, isn't there?
  25. Clap
    EtoileSportiveDeDerby reacted to Rampant in Match Thread: vs Bolton Wanderers (H)   
    Saturday 16th March
    vs Bolton Wanderers
    Pride Park   KO 1500
     
    This match as a song by The Smiths: Some Games Are Bigger Than Others
    Opponents Bio: I had the honour of starting the match thread for the reverse fixture so may be repeating some of these nuggets of insignificant trivia. So in the hope that the forums' collective memory is worsening here we go again.
    Bolton Wanderers are, like ourselves, proud to be one of the twelve original founder members of the Football League. Not only that, the opening round of fixtures back on 8th September 1888 saw the two clubs meet for the first of 136 encounters (129 league, five FA Cup and two League Cup). Furthermore, Bolton winger Kenny Davenport has the distinction of being the first scorer in English Football League history as he netted after just two minutes of the game. The Rams did come back to win an opening day thriller 6-3 at Pikes Lane, Bolton in front of an estimated crowd of 3,000. 
    Bolton can proudly boast that they have spent more seasons in the top flight of the English game than they have outside of it and have seen giants of the game like Jimmy Armfield, Nat Lofthouse and Michael Ricketts sport their colours over the years.
    Bolton are commonly known as one of three nicknames; The Whites, due to the colour of their home kit, Wanderers, as it's their name, or The Trotters, chosen by their first owner who made his fortune selling laxatives.
    They have former Ram Ian Evatt as manager and also had a run of three successive bosses with Derby links between 1992 and 1999 as they were led by Bruce Rioch, Roy McFarland and then Colin Todd. Players who have represented both clubs include Franny Lee, John McGovern, Jeff Chandler and Andy Todd.
    Opponents Dangermen: Chief threat is 13-goal Dion Charles although he is doubtful with a knee injury. Victor Adeboyejo has ten goals but is likely out for the season which leaves Bolton with three principal goal threats; Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, ex-Ram Cameron Jerome and Aaron Collins whose five goals and ten assists make him a man to be wary of in our third. Josh Sheehan also poses a threat from midfield.
    Opponents Recent Form: Wanderers will rock up at Pride Park in third place, one position and one point behind ourselves and buoyed by an impressive 5-0 demolition of playoff chasing Oxford on Tuesday night. They are, however, winless in their last four away fixtures since winning 2-1 at Cambridge. Defeats at Blackpool (1-4) and Wigan (0-1) followed that victory and their most recent away games have seen them draw 2-2 at both Barnsley and Exeter. Whilst we're looking for positives, they have conceded at least once in their last eight road games. Their overall away record for the season is decent enough with nine wins, five draws and five defeats.
    Derby vs Bolton History: Derby have had by some margin the upper hand in the head-to-heads with Wanderers. In 129 meetings our record stands at W64-D23-L42. One statistic stands out in the meetings on our turf though and it is this:
    Bolton have never won at Pride Park.
    There, I've said it. 
    Since we moved to Pride Park, Bolton have visited us ten times in the league and drew on their third, fourth and fifth visits but went back up the M6 with nil points on the other seven occasions. We are P10: W7-D3-L0 with 24 goals scored and just five conceded when the Trotters come to town. They haven't scored more than once in any game at Pride Park and, alongside two victories by a one-goal margin, we have merrily spanked their chubby Lancashire backsides 4-0 twice, 4-1 twice and 3-0 once. Now if that isn't tempting fate I don't know what is.
    Expected Rams XI: Possibly same again do we think? Maybe Smith for Hourihane if the latter is still feeling the affects of Yiadom's brutal tackle in midweek.
    My Tuppence Worth: I mentioned it elsewhere but we have winnable looking (I know, I know) games against Blackpool, Orient, Carlisle, Northampton, Wycombe and Cambridge to come in the run-in. If we can do the business in those then a couple of draws in the games against Bolton and Portsmouth will be enough for an automatic place. What I'm suggesting is that given the respective fixture lists of ourselves and Bolton, a draw wouldn't be such a bad result on Saturday. If it's a must win game for either side then, in my opinion, it is more so for Wanderers than it is for us.
    Other Fixtures of Note: It's a significant round of matches as apart from second versus third in our match, it's fourth against first at London Road.
    Peterborough vs Portsmouth
    Barnsley vs Cheltenham
     
    COYR
     
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