BathRam72

I’d like to say thank you @Bob The Badger for the content of this post but also for the way you’ve laid it out.
I find it so much easier to read when there are spaces between thoughts rather than a solid block of words.
It may just be old age but that was a pleasure to read compared to many posts.
 
Just saying!!

I’d like to say thank you @Bob The Badger for the content of this post but also for the way you’ve laid it out.
I find it so much easier to read when there are spaces between thoughts rather than a solid block of words.
It may just be old age but that was a pleasure to read compared to many posts.
 
Just saying!!

I know a lot of people are down on the Rams and the job Cocu has done, but I’m not one of them.
I think it’s really important to understand and accept the steep learning curve he and his staff were, and still are, going through. 
He’d never played, nor managed in English football, and he was walking into a dressing room full of players I doubt he’d ever seen play live before the speculation started - I’m presuming he watched a lot of film when it looked like he was coming - but that’s not the same.
I’ll not get into the Frank leaving debacle and who is, or isn’t, to blame, but that surely didn’t help matters. Neither did having players like Shinnie imposed on him.
I got shot down for saying I thought we were lucky against Huddersfield and that I thought the defense were exposed down the flanks way too often. 
If their strikers hadn’t been so profligate we could have lost that game after two world-class goals from Lawrence.
I think that win was a blessing and a curse because of what it did to supporters expectations.
but, it is what it is and I’d rather have the 3-points.
Since then we have played some dreadful football, but other than at Brentford (and those games happen, think Villa last year and Sunderland at home 2 or 3 yard ago) - we have also played some nice free-flowing football.
At times you can clearly see what Cocu is building even if at other times you want to scream, ‘get it forward’.
It’s light years ahead of Rowettball irrespective of the results.
Similarly, we got result under the poison dwarf, but jeez it was uglier than a warthog licking urine off a nettle at times.
I asked a few times before he broke through, what the deal with Max Lowe was, but nobody seemed to know.
It seemed like Derby wanted him away. For that reason and that reason only, we could see the Bogle injury as a bonus in months to come because it pushed Lowe into the fray.
He’s young and raw and he’s playing on the wrong side, but the signs are promising.
Wednesday was the first time I was happy with Cocu’s team selection. Sure Malone was in, but he is a threat going forward and I thought he had one of his better games.
Dowell has bothered me a LOT. I’ve a good friend who’s an Everton diehard and he raves over him.
I’ve seen nothing.
NOTHING.
I know Tomori and Wilson took time to settle in, but there were signs before they started to play with consistency. 
As I say, I liked the team. Clarke isn’t the Mark Wright-lite that I thought may be the case and his inability to use his right leg concerns me at times, but when he bothers to, he can bring the ball out with pace and threat.
You’d not describe either him or Keogh as quick, but they are bothy long striders and can ghost past players that may seem faster with surprising ease at time - the Leeds goal was a classic example of that.
And Biliek, I mean come on?
I posted in the game thread that I think we can put to bed any talk of where his best position is.
Without playing brilliantly he showed touches and moments where you can clearly see the potential to be a stand out player - at least in this division.
I’m going to repeat something that I posted after the game - I think this team is close to being good.
We absolutely need Bogle back and Lowe on his natural - but those two alone will terrorize a lot of championship defenses.
Bogle could be that Igor spark that somebody mentioned last night
Unlike many, I also think Huddlestone is playing well. The problem is that he hits a lot of balls that many players on’t attempt and when they go awry it looks awful.
I do think he’s a calming influence and that moment he brought the ball out when we were under intense pressure last night was pure class.
Roos otoh, is anything but a calming influence and  worries me more than any other player. 
He’s punching way too often and that is either because he lacks confidence in his handling, or he’s learned bad technique. There was one cross last night that I with me with my dodgy achilles and girl sized hands could have caught while simultaneously scratching my nut sack.
I’ll not dwell on that though because I see us as becoming more  and more attack minded and the opposition can’t score from their own half. 
Unless that is, you have Wayne Rooney in your team (see the goal he scored against Orlando City this season).
I’m not a  wrist-slasher and I’m not a happy clapper - I try to be objective when I can. 
But, I rarely have this level of confidence. I could look like a fool come next May and be gently retreating from the board hoping nobody will notice, but I think we could be on the cusp of something pretty exciting.
If that is, Cocu can stick to the plan, find his best team  and get everybody fit. And the supporters let him breath.
And on that note and a final note. I thought the fans were brilliant last night. You all deserve a pat on the back because nobody would have complained if PP had been like an undertakers office on their day off.
Come on you Rams, to Leeds and beyond!
PS. Don't be confused that there was no Part 1 and 2, it was just an Ian Dury hat tip for those of you old enough to remember.

Some body was asked this question on talk sport on Friday. CoCu is going nowhere, I don’t expect promotion this year, he will see the gaps and recruit for his system for next year. I expect a full tilt for promotion next year. Rooney is not an option as manger at the moment. 
We need continuity in managers, players and system. Once we have that instead of the continual changes we have had for the last 5 or 6 years we will be fine.
the promoted sides all have one thing in common ( apart from Wolves who bought above their level) they have built a side on the same system with the same manager.
need to be calm this season, we will be up there but feel next season will be our year. We need to keep Cocu. 

I agree. Cocu is a) starting to get the injured players back. Holmes looked good tonight.
b) because he is getting his injured players back , he is starting to get his formation right.
c) he now needs to get a few games together with the same players and hopefully it will start to click.

I agree, cardiff were poor

I agree, cardiff were poor

I love positive people like you. So early in the season 

I love positive people like you. So early in the season 

I agree. Cocu is a) starting to get the injured players back. Holmes looked good tonight.
b) because he is getting his injured players back , he is starting to get his formation right.
c) he now needs to get a few games together with the same players and hopefully it will start to click.

I agree. Cocu is a) starting to get the injured players back. Holmes looked good tonight.
b) because he is getting his injured players back , he is starting to get his formation right.
c) he now needs to get a few games together with the same players and hopefully it will start to click.

I agree. Cocu is a) starting to get the injured players back. Holmes looked good tonight.
b) because he is getting his injured players back , he is starting to get his formation right.
c) he now needs to get a few games together with the same players and hopefully it will start to click.

Really? I didn’t see that at all. 

A lot to be pleased with.
 

Martin!!! I would like to see him with Marriott 

Martin!!! I would like to see him with Marriott 

If he scores from there it would be hell of a shot

The move to St Mary's was a strange one. The Kosovan fans must of been dreaming of a trip to Wembley for the 1st time in their short history, and the FA move to Southampton. Id of been gutted. 

If he scores from there it would be hell of a shot

I think you missed my point!!  😁

Well!!! I do have to point out that Gestapo is a name and as such should be written with a capital G.
 
Just saying.

Well!!! I do have to point out that Gestapo is a name and as such should be written with a capital G.
 
Just saying.

And tripitaka

I did realise but couldn't resist the link from SW to the day.

Sandy was the water monster (essentially a fishy cannibal)