DavesaRam

The promise of someone being played in their best position?

It will be interesting to see how he fairs alongside Adams.

Think back to last season when Paul insisted on 3/5 at the back which didn't work, and we limped from one poor result to another for a while. But then injuries meant that we had to go to 4 at the back, and then went on the good run for several matches. But as soon he could, we reverted to 3 at the back, and the run ended. We have had similar this season, and as you intimate a certain group of matches acted as a watershed, with some sections, especially at away matches, turning against the manager. But this was followed a change in style, with crosses into the box being lower down, even at foot or knee level at times, and a degree of playing though the midfield, and yet again we went on a run of good results. This was aided by the arrival of Ebou Adams, which enabled us to go to Warne's preferred wing-back system. But once again we started reverting back to by-passing the midfield, noticeably against Northampton and Wycombe, and once again our results faltered. Especially when it became clear that teams had sussed that if they double up on our wide men, we have no answer, because to us midfield didn't exist. These were points thrown away. We could argue that maybe even if we did play through the middle we may have had the same results, because football is full of imponderables and opinions, but after finding that 3 in midfield benefits the team, I am baffled why we moved away from it again. I understand the concept of adapting to counter or exploit the opposition's strengths and weaknesses, the Leyton Orient game being a good example, but several times the "adapting" has been inexplicable. Cheltenham away, where they had been outplayed in midfield all season, let goals in for fun and were metaphorically stood in front of a barn door with a banjo in their hand, and no idea what it was for, but we decided to vacate midfield. They were there for the taking, but instead of imposing ourselves on them we retreated into our shell. There are a number of matches like this one which were crying out for us to impose ourselves, but which we let slip through our fingers, and represent points which would have made a huge difference. We really could have been secure in second place, and we really could have had an eye on top place. But in these last few matches I have been happy for us to grab points however we can to make sure - I am not confident of us surviving the play-offs successfully - and am also happy for Paul to do his stuff next season, although I hope he doesn't pull another "Cambridge second half" on Saturday. Although the defence was outstanding at the weekend, it was an awful demonstration of non-football. We are better than that. However, we have got the results we needed, for which Warne should be congratulated, but we have been helped to a degree by there being a load of worse teams, but again, we are better than that. We are blessed as a club because of the phenomenal commitment and loyalty of the fans, because the numbers are there despite what keeps getting served up year on year, because it clearly goes beyond entertainment. And indeed if all I wanted was entertainment, if all I wanted was free-flowing football, I would have given up my season ticket ages ago. But apart from a short period post-Newman, I have been around "since I was a lad", and have renewed for next season. So here's to next season, the great unknown because we have no idea who will be playing for us, or how they will be playing. And here's to Paul Warne for actually doing what David Clowes employed him to do.

It doesn't matter who scores on Saturday, just that we get at least a point. We do have to be "means to an end" at this stage, and I am looking forwards to next season to see how we go. Onwards and upwards, or to quote the Honda ad from a few years ago "More forwards, please!"

Sorry to keep repeating myself - I am on board with what Warne has achieved, but there really wasn't any need for us to be having to hang on to second place. It should have been secured weeks ago, and we should also have had a real good chance of top spot, which would have been much better for all concerned. Let's hope that the way we have played to get us this far was simply a means to an end. I'm fine with that, but really hope that we tackle the challenge of championship football with a bit more than the percentages. What we will be capable of depends entirely on the rebuild, so I wait in hope. Note the last two words.

No, but it highlights how we seem to spend most of every match being outplayed by poorer and weaker teams. And it suggests that we could play more football to add to the effectiveness of our non-football. It wouldn't take much to get everybody on board so that even on a bad run there would be n o flack flying around Paul Warne's head. And, if we had added to our effective style, as I have said several times, we wouldn't have spent the last few matches scrabbling around trying to hang on to second place, we would have been clear at the top. Unless of course Paul Warne has completely stage-managed the whole season to take us right up to the last match of the season to maintain everybody's intertest. In which case he is a genius!

You are correct, Kathcairns, the word is that he allegedly knew absolutely nothing about football at all, although word is that he tried to carry an air of being keen on football.

yes, and most of them try to stop us by outplaying us. With actual football.

A pretty good analysis, Jono, although Warne was obsessing about getting lots of crosses in before our midfield deficiencies became apparent. And in many ways our midfield deficiencies was largely because he kept playing a 2-man midfield, but without a ball-winner in there. Oh, and by-passing it whenever possible.

I reckon we Rams fans may have a song we dust down and to sing to the EFL come Saturday on behalf of Gateshead, and specially for Mr Brown!

in the second half in particular, 80 - 90% of our passes and clearances went to Cambridge players because we'd got all our players back in our own half, hanging around our penalty area. Our sole tactic was a big lumping ball as far upfield as possible, with running like stink trying to catch up with it in case a Cambridge defender made a mistake. Even though we don't play anywhere near Mac 1 levels, we ar better than what we did yesterday. But it got us the win, which in this league at this stage of the season is all that matters.

Come on guys! Paul Warne has got to be good. He got us a win yesterday with us only playing football for 30 minutes! That second half was absolutely terrible, probably worse than the fiascos against Stevenage, Wycombe and Northampton. And yet again we have spent most of the match being outplayed and even dominated by a team right at the other end of the table. BUT - he Has got us the win, and he has got us promoted, bar a catastrophe next Saturday. Most of the brick-ends thrown Paul's way are because of his intransigence, particularly last season and the first part of this one. He only had one way of playing it, and he was determined to play it, even if it didn't work, and even if he had found other ways to set the team up that did work - twice! And yes, I threw quite a few myself. But what has emerged is that he has grown into the job, and has been prepared to learn and develop, so that there are now occasional flashes of football, which show that actually we can be quite good! It still isn't the silky, smooth liquid football that we would all love to see flowing all over the pitch, well not yet, anyway, but we have seen on the pitch better than what we had to put up with in the earlier days. So for someone who was so stubborn to be prepared to change is quite refreshing, and tough to do, so thank you, Paul! And yes, when we are promoted and I am happy for him to get the chance at last to take on the Championship with better resources than he has ever had before. COOME ON YOU RAMS!!!

WE DUNN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I'm worried. Lyle Taylor coming on

I couldn't possibly comment!

I'll take winning ugly today>

At least Bird has a close up view of the ball as it wizzes past him

Good grief this is grim from us!

Got a feed - sent to me via Whatsapp. We are a bit rubbish this half, aren't we?

What cameraman?

RD suggested that it drew blood

NML scores!

Ooohhh NML hits the bar from 30 yards!

I should have waived, I have been there twice today!

I'm listening to the radio version, sat just outside the VPN Airport in Allestree!