Andrew3000

Working with Richard Stearman? Accepting low wages? Rooney had him by the balls? Seriously though it was an intriguing comment.

I think the extended highlights are available to members only this season. Which might have been an enticement but not if other clubs are providing them foc! 

They were good. Much better than the brief guff that was in Rams TV.

They were good. Much better than the brief guff that was in Rams TV.

https://www.htafc.com/news/2021/august/highlights-Derby-county-1-1-town/
 
excellent extended highlights from HTFC

It was great to have that buzz again, football is a spectator sport and our fans are massive to our team. I think without the supporters yesterday we'd have crumbled to a defeat. 
Signing Davies and Stearman was the right decision, they kept us in the game with their smart decision making. Their lack of pace was obvious to see however we defended very well for a large portion of the game. If we face lump it, kick it sides we will cope fine. When the ball gets played in behind then I start to worry. However for now, them pair are solid enough to keep us in games. 
Similar to last year, my main concern will be the lack of creativity. Lawrence did alot of hard work chasing balls down and covered alot of yards, similar to a Bryson performance. However this meant we didn't create enough chances. CKR will give it his best however we can't expect him to play every week. We have to prioritise bringing in another striker. 
In a way, having the knowledge that the team will be underdogs in most games works to our advantage. No pressure on the players, go out and give it your all etc. As much as Rooney won't admit it in his press conferences, we are going to struggle in a number of games purely on the lack of depth in the side. Mel is completely deluded on the academy players. Even when you look at Norwich who have brought through a number of fantastic talents, their success was helped by the smart recruitment of Pukki, Buendia. Whereas we've had terrible recruitment, not complementing the young talent coming through, relying on teenagers to win us big games. 
I really hope we can stay in the fight between now and January, with the hope of mote investment in the New Year. Having the supporters back is massive for this team and I don't think we'll struggle as badly this year.
 

Not often I disagree with you assessments buddy, but Hughes was massively technically gifted. In what was a very good vintage for the club, he still stood out on that score. I'd definitely agree that he's a very clever lad but I think the only reasons he's not dining at the top table, are that he lacks a yard a yard of pace and could score more often. 

Do we set up to score goals or to not concede goals? The Euros saw Gareth Southgate pick 8 or 9 defensive players every game and it worked for a while but couldn't get him over the line, with an incredible array of attacking talent on his bench. Rooney has far fewer options but a very similar mindset.
Asked in today's Radio Derby interview why Louie Sibley doesn't start Rooney effectively said he doesn't trust him defensively. Sibbo is to Rooney what Jack Grealish is to Southgate. Rooney said he didn't play Sibbo specifically because his number one priority was not to fall behind in the match.
Here's the interview https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09pv3hb with the best version of the interview at 46:30.
Derby's problem is not scoring goals. Louie Sibley is the biggest goal threat our team has. Aston Villa built their team around Grealish until selling him for £100m. If Derby are going to survive (and maybe thrive) this season we need to build our team around Sibbo, not give him a cameo in which to try to make the difference. How best to do this?
I have long argued that the 4-2-3-1 does not work for us and we should be playing 4-3-3 (set up as 4-1-2-3). With the players available at the moment we should have Shinnie shielding the defence and then we can have Morrison and Sibley as the two more forward midfielders, which gives a forward line of Kazim-Richards central and Jozwiak and Thomas wide. So much more threatening than what we have at the moment.
With a team desperate for goals, having your 5 most dangerous attacking players in the line-up seems a no brainer. Rooney needs to learn to trust Sibley, and I am certain that trust would be rewarded.

Curtis was captain when my two girls were mascots, he said to them in the tunnel; "I always head the ball as we run out... but if your too cool for that don't worry..."
Top guy! Maybe him staying is the watershed?

Adjustable though

In fairness, one game is certainly not enough to judge. Indeed, one game, plus preseason, isn't enough for the players themselves to implement the strategy perfectly.
But of those who saw the game, either in person or from their holiday villa in Spain, could you discern the foundations for a pattern of play that the team are trying to fulfill?
I'm pleased Rooney has said that having a preseason has enabled him to communicate the style that he wants the team to adopt. That's a better approach, IMHO, than just matching what the opposition do.
So what were the signs? Were there any indicators?
Play faster from the back? Long balls to the flanks? Intricate triangles from an interchanging front four? Possession football across the backline?
(Thought of posting this on the matchday thread but that's just turned into a series of posts slamming Jozwiak).

We already have weapons at the club am afraid no need for anymore....

Said if before and I’ll say it again… there’s not a lot to be proud of or positive about at the minute but Curtis is and absolute legend in my eyes.
he won’t get the plaudits of ex players who achieved a lot more but for the Wednesday game and sticking with us since I’ll always remember him as one of the best ?

We have to have more players. 
It's really that simple.
We need Jagielka, and Mengi then the options at centre half are fine.
But more so now we absolutely need another striker and a winger.
5-6 more and we can compete.
 

Seems a bit of a knee jerk reaction to write off Joz after one game of a season, especially considering he hasn’t had a full pre season. 
 
I feel it is fair to judge after 10/15 games when he has reached full fitness.

Welcome to Derby Ravel, now go and show us what you can do ???

A positive substitution earlier than the last 10 minutes?! Come on Sibbo!

A tactical sub on 52 minutes?!
Sibley will at least get a decent amount of time to impress today then, on for Louie Watson.

tbf I have 100% solidarity with them, great historical club, my most visited away ground, buggered by financial rules. I genuinely hope they come straight back up.
 
(might also be biased as a lot of my mid 90's nights out were in Sheffield)

Let me try this again, I was forwarded your post and just online replying to say thanks, and I appreciate the concern. Posted and the topic was merged and my post lost as I submitted it. Cheers mods.
I have an apology and what exactly has happened post which will follow the report from the meeting, I don't not can't want to go into detail now. 
What I would say is, this is not the clubs fault, anyone using it as a stick to beat the club with are doing so without the full facts, which is unfair and not helping myself personally as I try to fix the situation and get the information out to you.
I, David, has handled the situation poorly, been naive and been busy working my hardest to get back to you all with what you want.I would like to think that over the years we have built up some mutual respect, if you don't want to believe me that's fine, but please just stop until you have read what I put out.
You must also all understand that the club staff are ridiculously busy right now working long hours on other important issues, whilst I feel somewhat in limbo, I'm more happy that we have an extra 2 defenders in the squad than missing out as they need to read through my emails.
As for tomorrow, I am excited more than you will ever know, football is back, Derby are back, fans in the stadium, perfect.
I'm just gutted I can't be there, but I'm doing the next best thing, taking a flight out of here so I can watch on RamsTV with a. few beers that are chilling in the fridge.
Those that are going, regardless of your thoughts on the ownership, club, put all that to one side and get behind the team, we have a young team that doesn't deserve to play under a negative atmosphere. 
Drop any protests, Mel chants, anti EFL or anti and sarcastic Rooney chants, focus on positive support for the team, this is when they need us the most, the atmosphere is all on us nobody else, if we crush those lads with booing and all that baalocks, we will have to shoulder some of the responsibility.
I'm sorry for the lack of communication, I just didn't have anything to add and felt it would be best to stay offline. But please, regardless of what you think of me, the club, just read the above and take it from a fan that loves this club and wouldn't be saying any of this if I didn't mean it.
?
 

I wasn't too happy about the possibility of having Gregory as the 2nd striker but Baldock excites me even less.

True, I couldn't quite formulate what was bugging me about this. Otherwise its just, "hey, I can recognise good players you know!"

can we charge him training fees for the use of our pitches and lockers?

Although I'd consider myself to be in the 'Rooney out' camp, and despite the recent negative publicity involving Rooney, I do have admiration for him on the back of this.
I've said before I have no idea why he's still here. He's clearly being messed around, and his reputation in his first ever managerial role is going to be the frontman for the circus that is going on behind the scenes, and ultimately on the pitch.
Plenty would have walked. I admire him for not doing that. Arguably, we wouldn't be worse off if he goes and Wassall or Walker, or somebody like that comes in. The person that will likely be worse off for staying, is Rooney.
It's either blind loyalty, blind optimism, or some unfound confidence he has in being able to turn this around. If Stearman and Davies have signed, then on paper we shouldn't really expect to get battered in August with the fixtures we've got. Our starting XI is ok. There's no depth, but for this level, the eleven we can put out are an OK team. Nothing more.
He must have confidence that more will come in before the window shuts, he just has to. Otherwise why would he endure a season of this? Whether that's the likes of Jagielka, Aluko, Morrison etc. joining the ranks, or he's calling in favours from Manchester United to chuck us a few players to make a difference, I don't know.
It's all very confusing, he's said he's staying, but I'd love to know the reasons in his head for why he thinks that's the right decision.