StantonRam

That sums it up nicely.  Nothing illegal, a loophole exploited at the most, up to the EFL to tighten the rules if they don't like it, it's completely unacceptable to punish a club just because they failed to close their own loophole before!
Sack the EFL!
 

A few thoughts on this.
I always enjoy seeing a new player from the Academy break into the first team, and in recent years some of them have been excellent - Bogle, Lowe, Sibley, the list goes on.
If we are headed for a short term future in which we are strapped for cash, it's the only way to survive in the Championship as far as I can see, because it seems that big money purchases are out of the question for now.
The other side of the coin is this however.  Running an Academy takes money, and most of the players we produce won't make the Rams first team.  To some extent we are developing players who then get sold before we have seen them at their best, and for less money than they will soon be worth (unless we insert valuation or sell on clauses in the contract when they are sold).  Therefore, in order to produce a Bogle or a Lowe we are spending probably more money than it would cost to sign an established 25-30 year old journeyman.
One more thing that I've noticed.  All the players that have emerged from the Academy in recent years seem to be the same type of player - skilful, quick, exciting going forward BUT also defensively fragile and liable to not be in position when we are under the cosh and about to concede from yet another set piece.  (To be fair, Max Bird has proved the exception to this rule I admit).
Where are the goalkeepers, centre backs, big #9s etc coming up from the Academy?  Or do we preselect, when they are young, boys who might become the next Will Hughes but not the next Curtis Davies or Scott Carson or CKR?  Or is it that only the quick, skilful players show up for trials?  If so, what are we doing to try to find other types of young players?   We need those kind of 'solid' players coming through as well as the skilful midfielders, of which we seem to have an abundance. 
For example, would we sign up a very young version of Akinfenwa to the Academy?  People may scoff at this example, but the fact is that the guy has had a 15 year professional career and scored a lot of goals, albeit at a lower level.  Would we sign a very young version of Peter Crouch either?  Or even Gazza?
The ability to spot talent that is housed within a non-standard individual (non-standard mentally &/or physically) was surely part of the genius of Peter Taylor.  Teams used to be full of characters, eccentrics and strange looking people - Nobby Stiles, anyone?  Archie Gemmill?  Would those types get signed now, or do we always go for the slim, athletic, average to tall height, skilful rather than solid or gutsy type of youngster, and thereby miss potential in other positions in the early stages?  Are we at risk of producing an assembly line of Hughes/Bogle type clones because they are easier to spot at a young age than a potentially great GK or CB or big #9?
I don't know the answer I admit, but I have worked in education and I do know enough to know that guts, character, resilience and a determination to improve often count for more in the end than natural talent.  How then does one judge guts, character, resilience and determination in an 11 year old?  If the next Jamie Vardy turned up at the Academy would we be able to spot him?  I hope so!

A few thoughts on this.
I always enjoy seeing a new player from the Academy break into the first team, and in recent years some of them have been excellent - Bogle, Lowe, Sibley, the list goes on.
If we are headed for a short term future in which we are strapped for cash, it's the only way to survive in the Championship as far as I can see, because it seems that big money purchases are out of the question for now.
The other side of the coin is this however.  Running an Academy takes money, and most of the players we produce won't make the Rams first team.  To some extent we are developing players who then get sold before we have seen them at their best, and for less money than they will soon be worth (unless we insert valuation or sell on clauses in the contract when they are sold).  Therefore, in order to produce a Bogle or a Lowe we are spending probably more money than it would cost to sign an established 25-30 year old journeyman.
One more thing that I've noticed.  All the players that have emerged from the Academy in recent years seem to be the same type of player - skilful, quick, exciting going forward BUT also defensively fragile and liable to not be in position when we are under the cosh and about to concede from yet another set piece.  (To be fair, Max Bird has proved the exception to this rule I admit).
Where are the goalkeepers, centre backs, big #9s etc coming up from the Academy?  Or do we preselect, when they are young, boys who might become the next Will Hughes but not the next Curtis Davies or Scott Carson or CKR?  Or is it that only the quick, skilful players show up for trials?  If so, what are we doing to try to find other types of young players?   We need those kind of 'solid' players coming through as well as the skilful midfielders, of which we seem to have an abundance. 
For example, would we sign up a very young version of Akinfenwa to the Academy?  People may scoff at this example, but the fact is that the guy has had a 15 year professional career and scored a lot of goals, albeit at a lower level.  Would we sign a very young version of Peter Crouch either?  Or even Gazza?
The ability to spot talent that is housed within a non-standard individual (non-standard mentally &/or physically) was surely part of the genius of Peter Taylor.  Teams used to be full of characters, eccentrics and strange looking people - Nobby Stiles, anyone?  Archie Gemmill?  Would those types get signed now, or do we always go for the slim, athletic, average to tall height, skilful rather than solid or gutsy type of youngster, and thereby miss potential in other positions in the early stages?  Are we at risk of producing an assembly line of Hughes/Bogle type clones because they are easier to spot at a young age than a potentially great GK or CB or big #9?
I don't know the answer I admit, but I have worked in education and I do know enough to know that guts, character, resilience and a determination to improve often count for more in the end than natural talent.  How then does one judge guts, character, resilience and determination in an 11 year old?  If the next Jamie Vardy turned up at the Academy would we be able to spot him?  I hope so!

A few thoughts on this.
I always enjoy seeing a new player from the Academy break into the first team, and in recent years some of them have been excellent - Bogle, Lowe, Sibley, the list goes on.
If we are headed for a short term future in which we are strapped for cash, it's the only way to survive in the Championship as far as I can see, because it seems that big money purchases are out of the question for now.
The other side of the coin is this however.  Running an Academy takes money, and most of the players we produce won't make the Rams first team.  To some extent we are developing players who then get sold before we have seen them at their best, and for less money than they will soon be worth (unless we insert valuation or sell on clauses in the contract when they are sold).  Therefore, in order to produce a Bogle or a Lowe we are spending probably more money than it would cost to sign an established 25-30 year old journeyman.
One more thing that I've noticed.  All the players that have emerged from the Academy in recent years seem to be the same type of player - skilful, quick, exciting going forward BUT also defensively fragile and liable to not be in position when we are under the cosh and about to concede from yet another set piece.  (To be fair, Max Bird has proved the exception to this rule I admit).
Where are the goalkeepers, centre backs, big #9s etc coming up from the Academy?  Or do we preselect, when they are young, boys who might become the next Will Hughes but not the next Curtis Davies or Scott Carson or CKR?  Or is it that only the quick, skilful players show up for trials?  If so, what are we doing to try to find other types of young players?   We need those kind of 'solid' players coming through as well as the skilful midfielders, of which we seem to have an abundance. 
For example, would we sign up a very young version of Akinfenwa to the Academy?  People may scoff at this example, but the fact is that the guy has had a 15 year professional career and scored a lot of goals, albeit at a lower level.  Would we sign a very young version of Peter Crouch either?  Or even Gazza?
The ability to spot talent that is housed within a non-standard individual (non-standard mentally &/or physically) was surely part of the genius of Peter Taylor.  Teams used to be full of characters, eccentrics and strange looking people - Nobby Stiles, anyone?  Archie Gemmill?  Would those types get signed now, or do we always go for the slim, athletic, average to tall height, skilful rather than solid or gutsy type of youngster, and thereby miss potential in other positions in the early stages?  Are we at risk of producing an assembly line of Hughes/Bogle type clones because they are easier to spot at a young age than a potentially great GK or CB or big #9?
I don't know the answer I admit, but I have worked in education and I do know enough to know that guts, character, resilience and a determination to improve often count for more in the end than natural talent.  How then does one judge guts, character, resilience and determination in an 11 year old?  If the next Jamie Vardy turned up at the Academy would we be able to spot him?  I hope so!

The fact that you're willing to forego success for the Rams in order to avoid Prog Rock means that for you the genre must be associated in your mind with a great deal of pain and/or boredom, for which I can only apologise LOL.

Can we skip the next golden age so we don't have to suffer Prog Rock?

Bruford is a very good answer, he was in 4 of those bands (Yes, King Crimson UK & Gong).
The other more obscure answer is guitarist Allan Holdsworth (also RIP) who was in UK, Soft Machine, Lifetime and Gong.
Prog lives!

The late great John Wetton RIP.
Born in Willington and lifelong Rams fan.
For those on here who know nowt about good music, John Wetton was the Bassist & Vocalist with Family, King Crimson, UK and Asia during the 70s and 80s.
In case the bands above aren't familiar, these bands also featured ex members of Roxy Music, Yes, ELP, Soft Machine, Lifetime, Gong,  and of course not forgetting the Buggles (Video Killed the Radio Star).  Special bonus point to anyone who can name the musician who played in 4 of the bands mentioned here.  Special bonus point also to anyone who can name the other 2 musicians with whom Wetton formed a short lived trio in the late 1970s that rehearsed together but never released an album.
Best places to start are:
Caught in the Crossfire (solo)
Red (King Crimson)
UK (UK)
Asia (Asia)
Greetings from the Progiverse, earthlings!

The late great John Wetton RIP.
Born in Willington and lifelong Rams fan.
For those on here who know nowt about good music, John Wetton was the Bassist & Vocalist with Family, King Crimson, UK and Asia during the 70s and 80s.
In case the bands above aren't familiar, these bands also featured ex members of Roxy Music, Yes, ELP, Soft Machine, Lifetime, Gong,  and of course not forgetting the Buggles (Video Killed the Radio Star).  Special bonus point to anyone who can name the musician who played in 4 of the bands mentioned here.  Special bonus point also to anyone who can name the other 2 musicians with whom Wetton formed a short lived trio in the late 1970s that rehearsed together but never released an album.
Best places to start are:
Caught in the Crossfire (solo)
Red (King Crimson)
UK (UK)
Asia (Asia)
Greetings from the Progiverse, earthlings!

The late great John Wetton RIP.
Born in Willington and lifelong Rams fan.
For those on here who know nowt about good music, John Wetton was the Bassist & Vocalist with Family, King Crimson, UK and Asia during the 70s and 80s.
In case the bands above aren't familiar, these bands also featured ex members of Roxy Music, Yes, ELP, Soft Machine, Lifetime, Gong,  and of course not forgetting the Buggles (Video Killed the Radio Star).  Special bonus point to anyone who can name the musician who played in 4 of the bands mentioned here.  Special bonus point also to anyone who can name the other 2 musicians with whom Wetton formed a short lived trio in the late 1970s that rehearsed together but never released an album.
Best places to start are:
Caught in the Crossfire (solo)
Red (King Crimson)
UK (UK)
Asia (Asia)
Greetings from the Progiverse, earthlings!

So now it is clear.
Roth won't win on Sat but they might draw, still not enough points even if we lose.
Wycombe won't pull off a miracle because even if they win and we lose GD would save us.
Therefore in my mind they are both down, and it really is Rams v Sheff Wed for the prize of staying up.
It's down to us, a point will be enough.
However, in order to secure the point we need to go forward, as we know we can on a good day, as often as possible, either to score or to keep the ball away from our net or both.
Sheff Wed will know that they have a task ahead, but they will also know how vulnerable we are at the back.  The fewer set pieces we concede in our half the better.  Another reason to keep it in their half as much as possible.
Therefore, we need a McClaren style performance, a 5-4 win is still a win and a 3-3 draw is still a draw.
I'm sticking to my previous prediction - a dazzling first half, 2-0 ahead at half time, then a rubbish 2nd half, Sheff Wed will score on about 70 mins, and then it's backs to the wall, a few scary moments but ultimately WE WILL STAY UP!
Keep the faith, brothers and sisters!

So now it is clear.
Roth won't win on Sat but they might draw, still not enough points even if we lose.
Wycombe won't pull off a miracle because even if they win and we lose GD would save us.
Therefore in my mind they are both down, and it really is Rams v Sheff Wed for the prize of staying up.
It's down to us, a point will be enough.
However, in order to secure the point we need to go forward, as we know we can on a good day, as often as possible, either to score or to keep the ball away from our net or both.
Sheff Wed will know that they have a task ahead, but they will also know how vulnerable we are at the back.  The fewer set pieces we concede in our half the better.  Another reason to keep it in their half as much as possible.
Therefore, we need a McClaren style performance, a 5-4 win is still a win and a 3-3 draw is still a draw.
I'm sticking to my previous prediction - a dazzling first half, 2-0 ahead at half time, then a rubbish 2nd half, Sheff Wed will score on about 70 mins, and then it's backs to the wall, a few scary moments but ultimately WE WILL STAY UP!
Keep the faith, brothers and sisters!

When I said "all we WILL need is a point", I'm assuming that Rotherham will get nothing against Luton, which I think is reasonable.
We will therefore end up in a kind of 'reverse playoff' situation in which 4 equally dreadful teams compete for the right to the 1 available place in next season's Championship.
Our 90 minute plus stoppage time mission on that day is simple...DO NOT LOSE and, more importantly, pray to every available deity that none of the other 3 teams win.
We have the advantage. 
Wycombe are essentially down even if they win, unless the scores on the day are more like those in Rugby.
I can see Rotherham drawing with Cardiff, but I can't see a Rotherham win.
The pressure is on Sheff Wed rather than us because they have to beat us to stay up whereas we just need a point.  I think we will win, I really do, and we will finish on 46 points.
All the pent up frustration of the last few weeks will be focused at Moor Farm during this week, and we will get a performance of two halves (as usual).  We will be quick out of the blocks and 2-0 up at half time but we will also squander chances to go further ahead.
SW will mount a comeback 2nd half and probably score on about 70 minutes.
The last 20 minutes will seem like 20 years, and SW will come close to scoring several more times, but in the end THE RAMS WILL STAY UP!
Keep the faith, brothers and sisters!

When I said "all we WILL need is a point", I'm assuming that Rotherham will get nothing against Luton, which I think is reasonable.
We will therefore end up in a kind of 'reverse playoff' situation in which 4 equally dreadful teams compete for the right to the 1 available place in next season's Championship.
Our 90 minute plus stoppage time mission on that day is simple...DO NOT LOSE and, more importantly, pray to every available deity that none of the other 3 teams win.
We have the advantage. 
Wycombe are essentially down even if they win, unless the scores on the day are more like those in Rugby.
I can see Rotherham drawing with Cardiff, but I can't see a Rotherham win.
The pressure is on Sheff Wed rather than us because they have to beat us to stay up whereas we just need a point.  I think we will win, I really do, and we will finish on 46 points.
All the pent up frustration of the last few weeks will be focused at Moor Farm during this week, and we will get a performance of two halves (as usual).  We will be quick out of the blocks and 2-0 up at half time but we will also squander chances to go further ahead.
SW will mount a comeback 2nd half and probably score on about 70 minutes.
The last 20 minutes will seem like 20 years, and SW will come close to scoring several more times, but in the end THE RAMS WILL STAY UP!
Keep the faith, brothers and sisters!

When I said "all we WILL need is a point", I'm assuming that Rotherham will get nothing against Luton, which I think is reasonable.
We will therefore end up in a kind of 'reverse playoff' situation in which 4 equally dreadful teams compete for the right to the 1 available place in next season's Championship.
Our 90 minute plus stoppage time mission on that day is simple...DO NOT LOSE and, more importantly, pray to every available deity that none of the other 3 teams win.
We have the advantage. 
Wycombe are essentially down even if they win, unless the scores on the day are more like those in Rugby.
I can see Rotherham drawing with Cardiff, but I can't see a Rotherham win.
The pressure is on Sheff Wed rather than us because they have to beat us to stay up whereas we just need a point.  I think we will win, I really do, and we will finish on 46 points.
All the pent up frustration of the last few weeks will be focused at Moor Farm during this week, and we will get a performance of two halves (as usual).  We will be quick out of the blocks and 2-0 up at half time but we will also squander chances to go further ahead.
SW will mount a comeback 2nd half and probably score on about 70 minutes.
The last 20 minutes will seem like 20 years, and SW will come close to scoring several more times, but in the end THE RAMS WILL STAY UP!
Keep the faith, brothers and sisters!

When I said "all we WILL need is a point", I'm assuming that Rotherham will get nothing against Luton, which I think is reasonable.
We will therefore end up in a kind of 'reverse playoff' situation in which 4 equally dreadful teams compete for the right to the 1 available place in next season's Championship.
Our 90 minute plus stoppage time mission on that day is simple...DO NOT LOSE and, more importantly, pray to every available deity that none of the other 3 teams win.
We have the advantage. 
Wycombe are essentially down even if they win, unless the scores on the day are more like those in Rugby.
I can see Rotherham drawing with Cardiff, but I can't see a Rotherham win.
The pressure is on Sheff Wed rather than us because they have to beat us to stay up whereas we just need a point.  I think we will win, I really do, and we will finish on 46 points.
All the pent up frustration of the last few weeks will be focused at Moor Farm during this week, and we will get a performance of two halves (as usual).  We will be quick out of the blocks and 2-0 up at half time but we will also squander chances to go further ahead.
SW will mount a comeback 2nd half and probably score on about 70 minutes.
The last 20 minutes will seem like 20 years, and SW will come close to scoring several more times, but in the end THE RAMS WILL STAY UP!
Keep the faith, brothers and sisters!

Rotherham to win on Saturday, Derby to sneak a draw, Wednesday to draw. Rotherham lose to Luton on Tuesday.
 
Derby draw with Wednesday, Cardiff beat Rotherham. Derby stay up by 3 points from Rotherham
 
Rooney to come out and say he's glad he managed to get us past the safety mark of 42 points. Someone will then point out that's for the Premier League, and he'll look confused.

Unbelievably gutted today.  2 more soft goals to add to our huge collection this season.
The only saving grace is the equally bad performances by the teams below us, so despite this debacle things are essentially unchanged with only 2 games to go, and in fact, bizarrely, it could actually be argued that we are in a slightly better position than we were at 3pm.
Rams 43/44, Roth 39/42
Let's assume for a moment that they will lose to Brentford and Brum as we will to Swansea.
Rams 43/45, Roth 39/44
However, they could sneak a point against Luton.
Rams 43/45, Roth 40/45
Which would bring us, as I said before, to a final day showdown in which (fortunately) any permutation except a Rotherham win plus a Rams loss would see us staying up.  The tension mounts...

What I take from today's results is that as someone just said above it's now us v Rotherham for who finishes 21st & 22nd.
Let's take a look at the run in.
Currently we are 4 points ahead but they have a better GD and 2 games in hand.
We play Preston on the 20th - a win would see us pull away but a draw is more likely IMO, Rams 44 pts Roth 39
They play Boro on the 21st - I think they will lose, Rams 44pts Roth 39
We play Brum on the 24th - another draw probably, Rams 45pts Roth 39
They play Barnsley also - they may well get a point, Rams 45pts Roth 40
They play Brentford on the 27th - I think they will lose, Rams 45pts Roth 40
They play Blackburn on 1st May, they may well win this as Blackburn will be safe by then and probably half asleep, Rams 45pts Roth 43
We play Swansea the same day, I think we will lose, Rams 45pts Roth 43, still not mathematically safe
They play Luton on the 4th May, they could get a point, Rams 45pts Roth 44
So it will as I suspected come down to the LAST DAY!
They play Cardiff, they may get a point, that will put them level on points with us BUT their GD will probably still be better, which means...
All we will need is a point against an already relegated Sheffield Wednesday...
Wazza will come in for some criticism because he will opt to play an attack minded team in a 3-4-3 or similar, but it will come up trumps because we will WIN and finish with 48 points!
After which thousands of Rams fans will consult their doctors with bleeding finger ends, no fingernails left and needing urgent surgery...

What I take from today's results is that as someone just said above it's now us v Rotherham for who finishes 21st & 22nd.
Let's take a look at the run in.
Currently we are 4 points ahead but they have a better GD and 2 games in hand.
We play Preston on the 20th - a win would see us pull away but a draw is more likely IMO, Rams 44 pts Roth 39
They play Boro on the 21st - I think they will lose, Rams 44pts Roth 39
We play Brum on the 24th - another draw probably, Rams 45pts Roth 39
They play Barnsley also - they may well get a point, Rams 45pts Roth 40
They play Brentford on the 27th - I think they will lose, Rams 45pts Roth 40
They play Blackburn on 1st May, they may well win this as Blackburn will be safe by then and probably half asleep, Rams 45pts Roth 43
We play Swansea the same day, I think we will lose, Rams 45pts Roth 43, still not mathematically safe
They play Luton on the 4th May, they could get a point, Rams 45pts Roth 44
So it will as I suspected come down to the LAST DAY!
They play Cardiff, they may get a point, that will put them level on points with us BUT their GD will probably still be better, which means...
All we will need is a point against an already relegated Sheffield Wednesday...
Wazza will come in for some criticism because he will opt to play an attack minded team in a 3-4-3 or similar, but it will come up trumps because we will WIN and finish with 48 points!
After which thousands of Rams fans will consult their doctors with bleeding finger ends, no fingernails left and needing urgent surgery...

What I take from today's results is that as someone just said above it's now us v Rotherham for who finishes 21st & 22nd.
Let's take a look at the run in.
Currently we are 4 points ahead but they have a better GD and 2 games in hand.
We play Preston on the 20th - a win would see us pull away but a draw is more likely IMO, Rams 44 pts Roth 39
They play Boro on the 21st - I think they will lose, Rams 44pts Roth 39
We play Brum on the 24th - another draw probably, Rams 45pts Roth 39
They play Barnsley also - they may well get a point, Rams 45pts Roth 40
They play Brentford on the 27th - I think they will lose, Rams 45pts Roth 40
They play Blackburn on 1st May, they may well win this as Blackburn will be safe by then and probably half asleep, Rams 45pts Roth 43
We play Swansea the same day, I think we will lose, Rams 45pts Roth 43, still not mathematically safe
They play Luton on the 4th May, they could get a point, Rams 45pts Roth 44
So it will as I suspected come down to the LAST DAY!
They play Cardiff, they may get a point, that will put them level on points with us BUT their GD will probably still be better, which means...
All we will need is a point against an already relegated Sheffield Wednesday...
Wazza will come in for some criticism because he will opt to play an attack minded team in a 3-4-3 or similar, but it will come up trumps because we will WIN and finish with 48 points!
After which thousands of Rams fans will consult their doctors with bleeding finger ends, no fingernails left and needing urgent surgery...

Oh dear.
So now we need 2 wins and a draw from the last 4 to reach the magic 50.
We now have to hope that:
(a) 46 or 47 points will be enough (1 win and 1 draw from 4 games is still possible I think)
(b) Rotherham fail to capitalise on the games in hand
(c) the other teams around us all draw with each other and all lose to the higher placed sides
Let's also console ourselves by reflecting on the fact that in recent years quite a few big clubs have dropped into L1, come storming back, and are now in the PL or Championship.  If that were to happen then we wouldn't be the first 'big' club to do that and probably not the last.
Maybe there'd also be a healing effect to be had from a season of (hopefully) mostly winning rather than mostly losing, with a new line up of hungry, fit, ambitious players (and a proper pre season) looking to make their mark or prove themselves, talent that we could really get behind, explore some unfamiliar places (anyone here ever been to Accrington? me neither LOL) and in some cases outnumber the home supporters.  A successful L1 campaign might then provide the springboard for a subsequent Championship to PL promotion push, in the style of Bournemouth & Sheff Utd for example.
Mel tried to buy us promotion and we got very close but in the end it didn't work.  Whatever league we end up in come August, maybe it's time to try a different way based mostly on home grown talent, of which we have an abundance, plus Wazza using his contacts to find us another Mount & another Tomori on loan, plus a few shrewd purchases.  Too often in recent years we have spent £10 million buying 5 journeymen when we should have instead spent that money on 2 proven match winners.
Adam Bolder made an interesting point last night on the radio.  Even in L1, there must be many young players out there who would jump at the chance to work with Wazza, we would just need to find them.
Footie to me is about roots and identity and loyalty.  Any fool can 'support' a team that's rich &/or successful.  We're all here because that kind of fickleness is not for us.  Once a Ram always a Ram, simple as that.
Roll on next season, and wherever we end up let's sell out all the home games and out-sing the home fans wherever we go away from home.  
Having said all that I still believe we can avoid the drop.
da da     da daaaaaaaa da da da          da daaaaaaaaa da da daaaaaaa da daaaaaaaa (Great Escape tune)...

Oh dear.
So now we need 2 wins and a draw from the last 4 to reach the magic 50.
We now have to hope that:
(a) 46 or 47 points will be enough (1 win and 1 draw from 4 games is still possible I think)
(b) Rotherham fail to capitalise on the games in hand
(c) the other teams around us all draw with each other and all lose to the higher placed sides
Let's also console ourselves by reflecting on the fact that in recent years quite a few big clubs have dropped into L1, come storming back, and are now in the PL or Championship.  If that were to happen then we wouldn't be the first 'big' club to do that and probably not the last.
Maybe there'd also be a healing effect to be had from a season of (hopefully) mostly winning rather than mostly losing, with a new line up of hungry, fit, ambitious players (and a proper pre season) looking to make their mark or prove themselves, talent that we could really get behind, explore some unfamiliar places (anyone here ever been to Accrington? me neither LOL) and in some cases outnumber the home supporters.  A successful L1 campaign might then provide the springboard for a subsequent Championship to PL promotion push, in the style of Bournemouth & Sheff Utd for example.
Mel tried to buy us promotion and we got very close but in the end it didn't work.  Whatever league we end up in come August, maybe it's time to try a different way based mostly on home grown talent, of which we have an abundance, plus Wazza using his contacts to find us another Mount & another Tomori on loan, plus a few shrewd purchases.  Too often in recent years we have spent £10 million buying 5 journeymen when we should have instead spent that money on 2 proven match winners.
Adam Bolder made an interesting point last night on the radio.  Even in L1, there must be many young players out there who would jump at the chance to work with Wazza, we would just need to find them.
Footie to me is about roots and identity and loyalty.  Any fool can 'support' a team that's rich &/or successful.  We're all here because that kind of fickleness is not for us.  Once a Ram always a Ram, simple as that.
Roll on next season, and wherever we end up let's sell out all the home games and out-sing the home fans wherever we go away from home.  
Having said all that I still believe we can avoid the drop.
da da     da daaaaaaaa da da da          da daaaaaaaaa da da daaaaaaa da daaaaaaaa (Great Escape tune)...

So, to summarise:
Every game between the bottom 8 teams is now a massive 'cup final' & a '6 pointer'.
Ours especially.
So, poo or bust, death or glory, we shall fight them on the beaches etc etc etc.
Almost all of this squad have things to play for - loan extension, academy player catching the eye, possible purchase, a contract here, a contract elsewhere.
No one wants a relegation on their CV!
I stick by my previous prediction that we will be kept sweating until the last day because our lot will probably find a way to draw 3 of the remaining games, possibly from winning positions, but then pull it out of the bag with 2 wins, one of which will be Sheff Wed.  However, we still won't be mathematically safe on goal difference until the 95th minute on the 8th May.
Time to buy an extra set of underwear.
COYR!

Had another look at the table just now.
Let's assume for a moment that Rotherham will go above us once they have played the same number of games but that Coventry will still be below us having failed to capitalise on their game in hand.
Our task then is to ensure that either Brum, Hudd or Cov take Rotherham's place in the bottom 3 and not us, with Cov being the most vulnerable I think.
Here's how we do it.
WIN 2 out of the 4 games against our rival teams in the same zone - Blackburn, Preston, Brum, Sheff Wed, I think that is doable.
DRAW one of those 4 games, also reasonable I think.
That gives us 50 points, which I think will be enough, and with 2 wins and 1 draw then even if we lose the other 2 of the 5 remaining games we still stay up.
We also need to maintain the better goal difference that we currently have relative to Brum/Hudd/Cov whatever happens just in case.
A 1-0 loss to Swansea would not see us going down, but a heavy loss might if it leaves our goal difference worse than that of those 3 other teams.
If we win only 1 of the 5 remaining games then the other 4 will need to be draws to be sure of getting the magic 50 points.  Difficult but not impossible.
I think that the Rams will pull their usual trick of putting us through hell and then pulling it out of the bag right at the end by not beating Blackburn or Preston (although draws are quite possible), not beating Swansea (although again a draw is probably on the cards), but then thumping both Brum and Sheff Wed, each by a 2 or 3 goal margin, to end the season in 18th or 19th place on goal difference with 52 points.
I used to sell crystal balls for a living, but I couldn't see any future in it...