DavesaRam

4 hours ago, Chesterfield_Ram said:

If we get anymore injuries to strikers could we not try him as a false 9?

He has some of the key attributes: footballing intelligence; passing ability; first touch; shooting from range.

This would give more space for the likes of NML, CBT, Barkhuizen and Wilson. It also allows Hourihane to pick them out with through balls, with them already running at goal. 

Do you mean Conor "Chris Martin" Hourihane?

At 7.10 pm 10 years ago I was celebrating like crazy! What a day! And I had the priviledge of starting the "Sign him up! Sign him up! Sign him up!" song for Gorgeous George who looked absolutely at home in that team!

In reality the thrashing had much to with Billy doing what Billy does. He had already embarked on his next exit plan, badmouthing the Forest Board for not supporting Billy Davis when Billy Davis wanted to sign more players! He picked an absolutely awful formation, and had split the squad in two, and then set them against each other. There was no way on God's earth that Forest were going to be able to compete, with the poison mini-man intending that the thrashing would bring about his sacking. What a disgusting way to treat your player and the clubs supporters to fulfil his own pocket-lining agenda. ...................... Oh well, never mind!

And yes, that match lives long in the memory, as do the coffee cup and the 10-man matches. I like living in Derby when these things happen!

3 minutes ago, Chesterfield_Ram said:

After the Bolton game I finally started to feel confident. So confident I went straight home to get tickets to see us lift the trophy as champions against Carlisle. 

Now I've seen the words 'play offs', that confidence has gone. 

Don't worry - it was posted on the wrong forum. It should be on the Bolton forum!

#

1 hour ago, jimtastic56 said:

Is that next season ? A New Government running football. Diane Abbott crunching the numbers for the Prems £Billions . What can possibly go wrong ?

I wish people would stop this snide picking on Diane Abbott. She made a gaff when she was suffering a diabetic blood-sugar problem which does mess with your thinking processes - one ,mistake - and the world has had its teeth into her ever since, going on for how many years? Think of the colossal number of gaffes from Bonzo Dog Johnson, let alone his blatant lies, yet no-one keeps taking him to task for much more serious "gaffes". The same is true for most of his many cabinet members who kept making mistakes, who continue to get away scot-free. Abbott may dress a bit oddly, but there is no excuse for continuing to do her down for one incident caused by by a health problem.

Re handball or not, and if VAR was involved: there is one VAR rule that nobody has mentioned, which is "stuff what happened, it's  Derby County, so no goal". This also works for any club that isn't one of the top 5 Premiership clubs.

32 minutes ago, Will the Ram said:

League One Play-off dates are confirmed:

The dates for the Play-Offs are as follows:

First Legs

Friday 3rd May 2024, 8pm (A)

Saturday 4th May 2024, 7:45pm (B) 

Second Legs

Tuesday 7th May 2024, 8pm (A)

Wednesday 8th May 2024, 8pm (B)

League One – Play-Off Final
Saturday 18th May 2024 Kick-off TBC

SO?

8 minutes ago, Stive Pesley said:

care to list them?

Some - yes, but "vast majority"? really? Behave

I think it would be better to say that with the players we have we should have been making a much better job of getting out of this league. It is possible that much of the discontent is a left-over from last season and much of this one, as opposed to our current performances.

I think following the watershed moments of Stevenage and Crewe when the fans turned on Paul Warne he has shown a much greater ability to change, and has produced a better form of football, with the last 3 matches looking more like football than ever before.

I was in the “critical of Paul Warne” camp, but instead of bemoaning that we should be several points clear at the top, we should draw a line in the sand and give our full backing for the remaining few matches.

There is a passage in the Bible that says “Forget the former things, do not dwell in the past, for I am doing a new thing, and it is springing up all around”. Given the change since that watershed period, I think the words are quite appropriate. 
 

COME ON YOU RAMS - LETS GO FOR IT!!!

16 hours ago, Dordogne-Ram said:

Remarkably relegated Carlisle did not lose nor concede a goal to Derby that season - won 3-0 at home and drew 0-0 at the BBG.

And given the magnitude of the match, it was incredibly dull and lifeless because the Rams were hung over with bellies full of party food. It was a curious mix of heady celebration and total disappointment! 

1 hour ago, Chris_Martin said:

Hourihane was not injured, he came off at HT

 

His legs have gone, so its a gamble nowadays whether what he can still bring to the team outweighs his lack of mobility, particularly when he is in a two-man midfield. It was clear that he wasn't offering enough on Saturday. My only complaint is why Thommo doesn't feature more, as he helped turn the match around on Saturday, and should be starting ahead of Hourihane.

Quote

 

2 hours ago, BramcoteRam84 said:

Well I really enjoyed yesterday. Haven’t seen pride park like that in years. What an atmosphere!! Even the west stand were noisy 😉. Loved how Warne laid down the gauntlet to the fans post match saying just like the players the fans can’t drop their standards now after that!! 

The performance wasn’t vintage and we’ve played much better recently, but credit must go to Bolton who look a decent outfit. I don’t think they battered us, think the first half was pretty even although overall they edged it, second half we were second best until we scored although they didn’t create loads, a couple of routine saves for Wildsmith and one excellent save (after his worldie save in the first half). Think a defeat was definitely harsh on Bolton. However the concern I would have as a Bolton fan is when we scored they never looked like they were going to equalise. Yes we had to defend at times but we closed the game out relatively comfortably. I don’t think Bolton react well to things going against them and I question if they have the minerals.

We can question Warne tactically (think the three subs at halftime were slightly unnecessary and we couldn’t get going, agreed with Thommo coming on for Conor but thought Ward and Barks should’ve stayed on although Kane did get the winner arriving where ward wouldn’t have done) but we won that yesterday primarily because of the band of brothers mentality this team, the heart spirit and togetherness created by the amazing dressing room environment Warne has created, and I think it’s this that will ultimately get us through and over the line 🤞 

The reason that Barkhuisen and Ward we t off is that they had both suffered slight muscle pulls and Warne didn’t want to take any risks. It might have backfired, but playing on with an injury could gave done so even more, especially with our existing injury record.

4 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

OK just for you, it was handball.

But the reality is we created the better chances and didn't take them, and a lot of credit has to go to your goalie. Equally, the responsibility lies with our strikers who are simply not as ruthless as our usual starters, especially Dion Charles.

As I mentioned during the match when we were battering you but couldn't score in a brothel, it was obvious that you'd get a scabby goal to win it which you did, but that's football folks - you don't always get what you deserve, and we didn't deserve to lose that, not that you care.

The irony is that it was Kane Wilson who was credited with the goal - a player we'd agreed a fee with Brizzle to sign, but didn't in the end as his personal terms and wage demands were too high for us, so he came to you instead.

Anyhoo, onwards and sideways.....

Thanks, Wanderlust for your contributions to the conversation. No nasties, just occasional bits of “tetchy”. And as you said your strikers were not as ruthless as ours have been, although having strikers who have the chance to be ruthless would be nice - all we have left is one old boy just coming back from injury and not up to speed yet!

As I said in my match comments it was a nice change to be playing a decent team. Best wishes for the rest of your season.

1 hour ago, angieram said:

Wasn't noticed elsewhere. Where do you sit? 

South Stand, high up behind the goalposts. There was an extra “injection” of yellow coats at the south end of the East Stand, and the applause simply didn’t seem to want to start, then gradually got going.

Thanks to all who joined in.

It was such a shame that the applause was compromised by a bone-headed home “fan” kicking off and getting thrown our of the ground. The applause still won, though. RIP Angie

What a great day out at the Park! The atmosphere was already stoking up while we were outside the South Stand for pre-match supping, and the fans were terrific all match long! Well done you Fans!

It was a fascinating game of football, and it makes a change to see a good team out on the pitch with us. There wasn't a lot in it, and we started well, dispelling my fears that Warne would get us sitting back trying to keep Bolton out and then nicking a win. Only he did, didn't he? The bright start was just a smokescreen, and especially after Gayle went off we were sitting deep. So what? Smith coming on changed the pattern of the game as we started to get more influence in midfield.

The triple substitution could have backfired, but such is the team nowadays that we soldiered on, and at times I thought Thompson was vying for man of the match. A lot of people didn't think he did much, but actually he started knitting the play together, and was having massive influence, because he is high energy, doesn't waste the ball and can spot a pass and can spot an interception. Putting Wilson on was also a great substitution - Bolton didn't know what to do with him - a bit curious because it turns out they tried to sign him a while ago!

And although Bolton seemed steady and composed, when we attacked and put the pressure on, their backline looked like it was on the verge of panicking, and most certainly weren't comfortable with high balls. It is hard to single players out because no-one was holding anything back today, but Wildsmith, Fozzy and Adams deserve our thanks.

And the ref - I know you are all waiting for this! Well, it was 28 minutes before I booed him! He did pretty well, although there a few poor decisions, the main one being Adams getting hauled to the ground on the edge of the 6 yard box late on in the match. Oh, and chasing after Fozzy for his first offence immediately after dipping out of a run of 3 or 4 handball decisions in a row. But given that in a match of this importance we can normally depend on the ref to cost us, he did just fine!

My only regret is that we have come across a way of playing the works, that wins games and actually looks like football. But today we took several steps back to Warne's percentages football. Again, so what? We won. But please, Paul, don't abandon the football, because we are good enough to play that way and win.

We are in a very strong position now, effectively making 2nd place all our own, and ours to lose or throw away. We are going up! And we have left our closest rival trailing in our dust!

COME ON YOU RAMS!!!

Anyway, back to today. There have been big calls for Derby fans to make it a "Black and White Saturday", so I'm doing my bit. I've dug out my old Avon Tyres Rams shirt, with Avon now being used to advertise my beer gut, a black and white Derby hoodie, and some black and white socks my daughter bought me for when we have a family get together to watch an away match on Rams TV - while the match is on the three women there are blathering on about anything but football, then at key moments want me and my son to stop watching and explain what is going on. My constant reminders that "we are here to watch the football, so stop blathering on about plant pots, dusters and hamster's toe nails" have meant that my daughter had the socks marked with "SHHHH - The Match Is On". Haa very Haa!

But today, the match is on, but DO NOT BE SHHHHHH!!!!!! I'll be in the South stand as part of a wall of sound!

 LOADS OF NOISE PLEASE!!!

1 hour ago, Wanderlust said:

You know I try to be fair in my comments and I have to point out that I hope you do play like you did last week, because every other referee on the planet would see what everyone impartial fan in the country saw and would have sent the cheating, handballing con man Gayle off and you wouldn't have won leaving us ahead of you in the league. Is that not fair or are you going to convince me he didn't handball it and dive into the goalie?

 

The handball is a distraction. Your keeper was taking him out come what may, and he did it the way Reading had been doing their "Don Revie" tactics all night long - heavily disguised, but very  effective fouling. As you have already been reminded, you only beat us at yours because of the same ref - who not only gave a wrong red card, breaking FA rules and procedures in the process, he also disallowed a perfectly good goal, and turned down two of the most blatant penalties we've seen all season, and believe me, we've seen a lot of blatant penalties turned down in recent years.

For the first two goals Oxford's defending was appalling - almost non-existent. There was also a lucky deflection, and two reasonably well crafted goals, so not as awesomely dominant is it might appear. Saturday depends on which Der y County turns up (and of late its been the good one), which tactics Paul Warne gets us playing, and which ref turns up. We've already had our customary good ref for the season, and mot out of character for the EFL we had a ref favour us with his decisions, so the match officials are likely to be back to normal again, so its anyone's guess as to what is going to happen. But if the Rams carry on with the way they've been playing, it will go well.

5 hours ago, WystonRam said:

I bet you’re very good at conspiracy theories !

Are you watching me? 👀

The drip-feeding of the last remaining tickets is in part a marketing ploy to make us think the tickets have almost gone so that fans will grab the last ones available “while they still can”. If they show all remaining tickets it removes the urgency to buy, and sales will slow down.

8 hours ago, Rambam said:

Reading fans accusing Conor of diving. Yiadom here clearly is NOT upset with Hourihane. So he did catch him. 
Never a booking though. 

The booking was for how he protested, yelping away like a spoilt brat of a child. There was contact - only slight, typifying Reading’s cynical approach.

I have the claim to fame of starting the “Sign him up, sign him up, sign him up” chant for George Thorne on his home debut. So on Saturday, shall I?

9 hours ago, Old Spalding Ram said:

#metoo………….👍😁

I reckon that out of an average attendance of 28,000, give or take two people either way there would be 27,998 others the same as you!

2 hours ago, Comrade 86 said:

I agree Grumpy, but that's not the point I'm making. To listen to some on here you'd think we didn't deserve the 3 points. We're constantly told that we are all Rams and we all want the best, but some do give the strong impression that at very best, they're indifferent. We've had a couple of decisions go bang in our favour, but how many times have officials copped a blind one to stonewall pens in our favour this season? I think the ever meticulous @Ghost of Clough was keeping a count early season and I'm pretty sure he had us in double figures with less than a 3rd of the season played, so I'll not be joining the pearl clutchers on this particular occasion. Likewise, we don't know what Yiadom may or may not have chirped to get himself sent off, but along with Lewis Wing, he was in the ref's ear all night. Had he not been, he might not have been sent off and frankly, Wing himself should have been sent packing inside 60 minutes.

Anyway, we've now sucked the joy out the game (not you mate, but others in spades), so I'm just going to look forward to the Bolton game. If others want to wring their hands, that's their prerogative. I'm enjoying the run in and will happily grab any luck going with open arms.

Well last night's ref turned down 4 or 5 stonewall penalties in the previous two matches he was "in charge of", if that is anything to go by. We're only about 30 penalties down now over the last three years!

4 minutes ago, G STAR RAM said:

Didn't the penalty come from a long ball into the channels? 

I thought we went long far too often after they went down to ten men actually.

It's amazing how results can change people's perception of the game!

We might have gone long from then on, but we were being very clever, because we were playing the ball around from one side of the pitch to the other making Reading run around chasing the ball and tiring them out so that mistakes come later on in the match. Kudos to the Rams! Last night was the best game management I've seen from us for some time!

It was great getting home last night having watched 90 minutes of football instead of a few minutes of footy and the rest of "kick and rush" percentages play!" People said that Saturday was the best we've played all season - I couldn't watch it, and won't justify having to pay for the full 90 video. But last night I think was at least as good - the best I've seen all season, for sure! Well Done You Rams!

There are lots of opinions about the ref, and guess what? I've got one as well! He was absolutely awful, but I am also sure that he was very aware of his past demeanours. Because it wasn't only the Wildsmith red card against Bolton - he turned down clear penalty shouts as well. But he was also guilty in the away match at Plymouth last season, with a penalty against us for a non-foul outside the box, and again 2, maybe even 3 clear penalty shouts turned down. He has cost us 6 points and a big goal difference swing against, so he had to be "careful". Even so, last night he did very little about Reading's own "dark arts" until later on, and in the end their tactics were their own downfall. So Sybley getting clattered and not even a free-kick very early on, plus the non-red card for the Gayle foul got me worried, but showed Reading's game plan to stifle and disrupt and hopeful nick a point. How sad. The red card was the result of persistence - there were cynical and even nasty challenge going on all match long, which should have resulted in a lot more yellow cards than did happen, and as has been said, more than just the one red card. I could be forgiven for thinking that Don Revie had come back to life and gone to Reading as a "dark arts consultant".

So did Hourihane dive? Maybe, but as we saw with Bradley for their goal, it doesn't take much of a contact to put a person off their stride, so given the dirty nature of Reading's play, a kick on Hourihane's heel may well have happened. And while our first goal may have been offside, the penalty was the right decision. Anyway, that's enough about the buffoon in the middle.

As many have side there was only one side going for the win, and the result was well deserved. I was surprised by how early the substitutions happened, and also pleased that, although it may have changed our play, it didn't affect our control of the match. I was also well impressed with how we saw the game out. We did maybe sit back a little at the end, but instead of hiding around our own penalty area and saying "Come and get us" we carried on playing, and used the ball to make Reading run around chasing us. It was very measured and very controlled - well done, you Rams! I was sad that Sibley got himself his first silly booking of the season, but he had just been clattered (again) with nothing given, so went and got his own retribution. But he played well again. I don't know who got the official Man of the Match, but I would give it to Barkhuisen, who was awesome. Since he came back into the team its been like having a new signing!

So bring on the Bolton. I know they got a hatful, but benefitted from some awful defending and a luck deflection, and one well-worked goal. Well be Orl Rite!

Lets Do This!!