Red_ram

Playing devil's advocate; think of where we'd be right now without the academy. I don't know specifics of how much the academy cost vs made, but if we hadn't sold the trio last season we really would have been in serious trouble financially (as apposed to pretty serious currently lol) and if we hadn't got the academy we wouldn't have had replacements for Lowe in the shape of Buchanan etc. Yes we lurched over the safety line at the last minute, but fear without the youngsters we'd have been way off. 
IMO I think the balance is about right at the moment, it's just the finances mean the youngsters have been relied on instead of given chances at convenience, and not having the kind of dependable experience they need to be playing alongside. They all looked better players in the on the up cocu team.
And whilst the younger age group stars being picked off before the first team is frustrating, it's always going to happen unless we become a big 4, and largely pays for the academy I guess, so means any other players through are almost 'free' and pure profit if sold on.
I've still got very high hopes for our kids, especially Sibley. Just hope we can build a team that they can flourish in, instead of being mismanaged and collectively drowning under pressure.

Playing devil's advocate; think of where we'd be right now without the academy. I don't know specifics of how much the academy cost vs made, but if we hadn't sold the trio last season we really would have been in serious trouble financially (as apposed to pretty serious currently lol) and if we hadn't got the academy we wouldn't have had replacements for Lowe in the shape of Buchanan etc. Yes we lurched over the safety line at the last minute, but fear without the youngsters we'd have been way off. 
IMO I think the balance is about right at the moment, it's just the finances mean the youngsters have been relied on instead of given chances at convenience, and not having the kind of dependable experience they need to be playing alongside. They all looked better players in the on the up cocu team.
And whilst the younger age group stars being picked off before the first team is frustrating, it's always going to happen unless we become a big 4, and largely pays for the academy I guess, so means any other players through are almost 'free' and pure profit if sold on.
I've still got very high hopes for our kids, especially Sibley. Just hope we can build a team that they can flourish in, instead of being mismanaged and collectively drowning under pressure.

Playing devil's advocate; think of where we'd be right now without the academy. I don't know specifics of how much the academy cost vs made, but if we hadn't sold the trio last season we really would have been in serious trouble financially (as apposed to pretty serious currently lol) and if we hadn't got the academy we wouldn't have had replacements for Lowe in the shape of Buchanan etc. Yes we lurched over the safety line at the last minute, but fear without the youngsters we'd have been way off. 
IMO I think the balance is about right at the moment, it's just the finances mean the youngsters have been relied on instead of given chances at convenience, and not having the kind of dependable experience they need to be playing alongside. They all looked better players in the on the up cocu team.
And whilst the younger age group stars being picked off before the first team is frustrating, it's always going to happen unless we become a big 4, and largely pays for the academy I guess, so means any other players through are almost 'free' and pure profit if sold on.
I've still got very high hopes for our kids, especially Sibley. Just hope we can build a team that they can flourish in, instead of being mismanaged and collectively drowning under pressure.

“Once a ram, always a ram” feels like a recent slogan of the social media generation. Also a bit of a way to live off glories of those gone on to do better (mount, tomori etc). Though the lampard crop especially seemed to have a good team spirit and stepping stone for young players that means there’s a bit of genuine affinity there. But some players leave on good terms, some on bad, some of indifferent. Always has been the way and always will be.
The Whittaker stuff is embarrassing though. A young lad who got chopped and changed a lot (with a lot of flak along the way), gets sold, scores first league goal for new club and celebrates with not especially controversial fingers to ears celebration. Derby fans lose their mind. Probably mainly as at the time it could have been fatal to our status, but a goal made out of our own incompetence. Petty and embarrassing. I’d have gloated more if I was him frankly.  
 

“Once a ram, always a ram” feels like a recent slogan of the social media generation. Also a bit of a way to live off glories of those gone on to do better (mount, tomori etc). Though the lampard crop especially seemed to have a good team spirit and stepping stone for young players that means there’s a bit of genuine affinity there. But some players leave on good terms, some on bad, some of indifferent. Always has been the way and always will be.
The Whittaker stuff is embarrassing though. A young lad who got chopped and changed a lot (with a lot of flak along the way), gets sold, scores first league goal for new club and celebrates with not especially controversial fingers to ears celebration. Derby fans lose their mind. Probably mainly as at the time it could have been fatal to our status, but a goal made out of our own incompetence. Petty and embarrassing. I’d have gloated more if I was him frankly.  
 

“Once a ram, always a ram” feels like a recent slogan of the social media generation. Also a bit of a way to live off glories of those gone on to do better (mount, tomori etc). Though the lampard crop especially seemed to have a good team spirit and stepping stone for young players that means there’s a bit of genuine affinity there. But some players leave on good terms, some on bad, some of indifferent. Always has been the way and always will be.
The Whittaker stuff is embarrassing though. A young lad who got chopped and changed a lot (with a lot of flak along the way), gets sold, scores first league goal for new club and celebrates with not especially controversial fingers to ears celebration. Derby fans lose their mind. Probably mainly as at the time it could have been fatal to our status, but a goal made out of our own incompetence. Petty and embarrassing. I’d have gloated more if I was him frankly.  
 

“Once a ram, always a ram” feels like a recent slogan of the social media generation. Also a bit of a way to live off glories of those gone on to do better (mount, tomori etc). Though the lampard crop especially seemed to have a good team spirit and stepping stone for young players that means there’s a bit of genuine affinity there. But some players leave on good terms, some on bad, some of indifferent. Always has been the way and always will be.
The Whittaker stuff is embarrassing though. A young lad who got chopped and changed a lot (with a lot of flak along the way), gets sold, scores first league goal for new club and celebrates with not especially controversial fingers to ears celebration. Derby fans lose their mind. Probably mainly as at the time it could have been fatal to our status, but a goal made out of our own incompetence. Petty and embarrassing. I’d have gloated more if I was him frankly.  
 

“Once a ram, always a ram” feels like a recent slogan of the social media generation. Also a bit of a way to live off glories of those gone on to do better (mount, tomori etc). Though the lampard crop especially seemed to have a good team spirit and stepping stone for young players that means there’s a bit of genuine affinity there. But some players leave on good terms, some on bad, some of indifferent. Always has been the way and always will be.
The Whittaker stuff is embarrassing though. A young lad who got chopped and changed a lot (with a lot of flak along the way), gets sold, scores first league goal for new club and celebrates with not especially controversial fingers to ears celebration. Derby fans lose their mind. Probably mainly as at the time it could have been fatal to our status, but a goal made out of our own incompetence. Petty and embarrassing. I’d have gloated more if I was him frankly.  
 

“Once a ram, always a ram” feels like a recent slogan of the social media generation. Also a bit of a way to live off glories of those gone on to do better (mount, tomori etc). Though the lampard crop especially seemed to have a good team spirit and stepping stone for young players that means there’s a bit of genuine affinity there. But some players leave on good terms, some on bad, some of indifferent. Always has been the way and always will be.
The Whittaker stuff is embarrassing though. A young lad who got chopped and changed a lot (with a lot of flak along the way), gets sold, scores first league goal for new club and celebrates with not especially controversial fingers to ears celebration. Derby fans lose their mind. Probably mainly as at the time it could have been fatal to our status, but a goal made out of our own incompetence. Petty and embarrassing. I’d have gloated more if I was him frankly.  
 

“Once a ram, always a ram” feels like a recent slogan of the social media generation. Also a bit of a way to live off glories of those gone on to do better (mount, tomori etc). Though the lampard crop especially seemed to have a good team spirit and stepping stone for young players that means there’s a bit of genuine affinity there. But some players leave on good terms, some on bad, some of indifferent. Always has been the way and always will be.
The Whittaker stuff is embarrassing though. A young lad who got chopped and changed a lot (with a lot of flak along the way), gets sold, scores first league goal for new club and celebrates with not especially controversial fingers to ears celebration. Derby fans lose their mind. Probably mainly as at the time it could have been fatal to our status, but a goal made out of our own incompetence. Petty and embarrassing. I’d have gloated more if I was him frankly.  
 

“Once a ram, always a ram” feels like a recent slogan of the social media generation. Also a bit of a way to live off glories of those gone on to do better (mount, tomori etc). Though the lampard crop especially seemed to have a good team spirit and stepping stone for young players that means there’s a bit of genuine affinity there. But some players leave on good terms, some on bad, some of indifferent. Always has been the way and always will be.
The Whittaker stuff is embarrassing though. A young lad who got chopped and changed a lot (with a lot of flak along the way), gets sold, scores first league goal for new club and celebrates with not especially controversial fingers to ears celebration. Derby fans lose their mind. Probably mainly as at the time it could have been fatal to our status, but a goal made out of our own incompetence. Petty and embarrassing. I’d have gloated more if I was him frankly.  
 

“Once a ram, always a ram” feels like a recent slogan of the social media generation. Also a bit of a way to live off glories of those gone on to do better (mount, tomori etc). Though the lampard crop especially seemed to have a good team spirit and stepping stone for young players that means there’s a bit of genuine affinity there. But some players leave on good terms, some on bad, some of indifferent. Always has been the way and always will be.
The Whittaker stuff is embarrassing though. A young lad who got chopped and changed a lot (with a lot of flak along the way), gets sold, scores first league goal for new club and celebrates with not especially controversial fingers to ears celebration. Derby fans lose their mind. Probably mainly as at the time it could have been fatal to our status, but a goal made out of our own incompetence. Petty and embarrassing. I’d have gloated more if I was him frankly.  
 

“Once a ram, always a ram” feels like a recent slogan of the social media generation. Also a bit of a way to live off glories of those gone on to do better (mount, tomori etc). Though the lampard crop especially seemed to have a good team spirit and stepping stone for young players that means there’s a bit of genuine affinity there. But some players leave on good terms, some on bad, some of indifferent. Always has been the way and always will be.
The Whittaker stuff is embarrassing though. A young lad who got chopped and changed a lot (with a lot of flak along the way), gets sold, scores first league goal for new club and celebrates with not especially controversial fingers to ears celebration. Derby fans lose their mind. Probably mainly as at the time it could have been fatal to our status, but a goal made out of our own incompetence. Petty and embarrassing. I’d have gloated more if I was him frankly.  
 

“Once a ram, always a ram” feels like a recent slogan of the social media generation. Also a bit of a way to live off glories of those gone on to do better (mount, tomori etc). Though the lampard crop especially seemed to have a good team spirit and stepping stone for young players that means there’s a bit of genuine affinity there. But some players leave on good terms, some on bad, some of indifferent. Always has been the way and always will be.
The Whittaker stuff is embarrassing though. A young lad who got chopped and changed a lot (with a lot of flak along the way), gets sold, scores first league goal for new club and celebrates with not especially controversial fingers to ears celebration. Derby fans lose their mind. Probably mainly as at the time it could have been fatal to our status, but a goal made out of our own incompetence. Petty and embarrassing. I’d have gloated more if I was him frankly.  
 

Reading up on him the last few days, the 24 year old Colin doesn’t seem half the man or player we have on our hands now. From spats and homophobic controversies and being a bit part player, he seems to have really matured to be a fantastic influence on and off the pitch. So all in all, I think we’re actually getting his prime, just a late one. I get the sentiment of longevity, but hopefully a lot to offer still on the next 18 months.

Reading up on him the last few days, the 24 year old Colin doesn’t seem half the man or player we have on our hands now. From spats and homophobic controversies and being a bit part player, he seems to have really matured to be a fantastic influence on and off the pitch. So all in all, I think we’re actually getting his prime, just a late one. I get the sentiment of longevity, but hopefully a lot to offer still on the next 18 months.