FKANorwichExile

12 minutes ago, Amberram said:

Wonder where he is now?

Uzbekistan?

He's not short of a few bob. I know he sold candy crush years back, but Microsoft just paid £68.7 BILLION to buy Activision Blizzard, pretty much solely because they wanted Candy Crush. People thought of him as a business genius, but he was a chancer who just happened on a magic money tree. Reckon he had a football style sell on clause?

On 01/08/2023 at 23:18, Inverurie Ram said:

I’ve mentioned this song a few times over the years and in 2023/24 it looks like Derby County may have eventually stopped nicking songs off Sheffield Wednesday and with Inverurie Ram’s massive Hull Kingston Rovers influence………and Inverurie Ram has finally landed a song for Pride Park & Derby County.

Up The Rams & The Robins!

 

I love this! Being a Derby fan is basically like being in an abusive relationship, so a little respect would be nice!

Tom Davies would be a cracking signing and I'm shocked he's not been picked up already. Financially I could only see it happening if Bird goes, but he'd fit the profile for the perfect Warne player.

Anyone know what Daryl Powell is up to these days? 

On Dobbin, it would have been interesting to see what would have happened last season if we'd kept Osula. He was incredibly raw but was also much more threatening in the box. We might not have been so heavily reliant on Didzy and an out-of-form Collins. I'd have him back for sure.

I've totally come around on the idea now. Get him signed up, on his day he's the best of the players linked. Couldn't ask for a better platform to relaunch his career either.

Nope. No thanks. Do not want. Losing Knight AND Bird in the same window, with us finding the market this tough, would be horrendous. There just aren't replacements available in our budget range.

I've liked the look of Radcliffe and wouldn't be against him having a regular spot on the bench, but if Bird or Smith get injured, I wouldn't be confident with him as first replacement. Onomah would be ideal, but probably out of our price range. 

Even if the stuff with the fans (and him being a Bamford) didn't exist, I'd *still* be against this sort of signing. At least Savage put himself about, Sharp hasn't chased a ball in anger in about 4 years. Can't we dig Mikkel Beck up?

It's interesting that Barkhuizen doesn't seem to have a roll in the squad whatsoever. I thought Warne would keep him around for wingback cover, bits he's openly stating he wants a new lwb.

Similar vibe to Washington. I'm fine with him coming in, he strengthens the squad, known quantity, great for player morale in the dressing room... Just, please, for the love of Stimac, NOT as our marquee signing. 4th choice is fine, but we really need someone with pace yo get excited about.

7 minutes ago, DesertRam said:

A player I've always been impressed with is Marc Albrighton, he's 33

now but would be fantastic as a season long loan from Leicester.

Don't think he's had much game time under current manager!!

He's 33?! I swear he's been 33 for the last 6 years!

I always quite liked Pearson. He was as lightweight as they come, but he had a bit of a spark in the final third that gave you a bit of hope that something might happen. I can't think of many players in that squad who had that. I certainly thought we would always look weaker when he picked up one of his million injuries, due to being made entirely of wet bogroll.

Warren Barton was the worst Ram i've ever seen. Not from lack of ability, but pure lack of interest. A walking red card who couldn't give a flyer for what happened to the club. His mate Rob Lee was the exact opposite and should have been a prime example of what an older player should offer a club.

23 minutes ago, EraniosSocks said:

Do we have any trialists ? 

We'll be waiting on a lot of those at Championship clubs to finish, unfortunately.

If enough of us sign it, can we have Brannagan? Seems like a fair trade to me... 🤔

Matty Carbon... That's a blast from the past. So much hope!

Could rotate in Lewin Nyatanga, James Bailey and big Pablo Mills too.

With dietary changes, sports scientists and improvements in training and coaching methods, you could argue that a player's "prime" of being 29-31 has been extended to 33, or even later. It turns out if you're not pickling your liver every weekend and living off a diet of kebabs and cocaine, you can play for longer. Who knew?!

I've come around enough now that I'll actually be a bit disappointed if he doesn't sign, and I can't tell if it's wishful thinking (that he isn't completely washed up) or if I'm just that desperate for signings.

7 minutes ago, Old Spalding Ram said:

Pinched from the Huddersfield forum regards Rhodes.

Hopefully he gets a decent L1 club that plays two up front and he can start banging them in again. He's looked decent for us even playing as a loan striker but asking him to tear around up front on his own just doesn't play to his strengths. Be good to see him scoring again at the right club. Scored some vital goals for us in his second spell.

 

…………………………………..seems a fair comment. 👍🐏

That's a solid review, and gives me a bit of hope for the season. Plus, the people saying he's a 1 in 6 striker recently would have said the same about McGoatdrick too.

Although if you'd have told me at the end of last season that we'd be pinning our hopes on Washington and Rhodes as out front two, I wouldn't exactly be enthused...

Is there a rehab program for new signings? 'Cus I'm starting to get the itch man... Just a small striker fix, just to get me to the start of the season...

Suicide is now the biggest killer of men below 40. Instead of questioning what people have to be depressed about, how about we recognise that not every injury is physical and that a lot of people can't just plaster a fake smile over the top and get on with their lives.

Anyone brave enough to admit that they're struggling is brave enough for our respect and support.

Radcliffe looks like he can ping a pass about. What a ball out wide for the goal.

I start feeling uneasy seeing Rams around golf as the last time I saw them holding putters was at the mini golf in the Derbion, (clearly worse for wear) on the day Lawrence's Range Rover found a tree...

If we're going for throwback strikers, can you imagine how many goals a fit Sturridge would have gotten in League One?!

3 hours ago, StaffsRam said:

I wouldn't wish the heartache or the stress on anyone, but the sense of humility and dose of realism that came from that experience I think 99% of football fans could do with. 

Last season, and this pre-season, have been a breath of fresh air for me, even despite missing out on the playoffs on the final game of the season. I'm just happy that the club exists and that I can still go and watch a game of football on a Saturday (or any other day) that I'm emotionally invested in. Had Derby gone bust then that would have been the end of football for me. so I'm relieved that I still care about the game (through Derby). 

Football, these days, in general, is predominantly a rat race. Everyone desperately chasing the dream of untold riches from the next league up and often going way beyond their means to try and get there. 

Hand in hand, it's the general distribution of wealth across the league pyramid, and a (extremely) poor governance model that purports to "protect" clubs that both drives extremely bad behaviours and tolerates them (perhaps even encouraging them). 

Football in many ways is better than it was in yesteryear, but in others, it's a million miles away from where it should (and needs) to be. 

I largely agree. My appreciation, enthusiasm and love for the club grew exponentially with the takeover. I'm more invested now than I have been since the late 90's because, like you, I was so close to losing football as a whole. There was literally no way I'd ever follow another team, it's part of who I am.

There's a part of me that'd love to see all the clubs who stuck the boot in feel the stomach churning nausea of nearly losing something as important as your club (especially Wycombe. f*** Wycombe.), and realising how precarious every side outside of the top flight is a real eye opener. There has to be an revolution of how finances in football are handled, else people will always gamble on hitting the premier league jackpot and fans and small business creditors will always be the ones to suffer. Capitalism sucks.

He'll definitely benefit from having attacking wingbacks who can whip in good crosses. I wouldn't be that surprised if he had a 15 goal season, especially if we play two up top, but I still wouldn't be confident going in to the season with him as our main goal threat.