Ellafella

I know exactly what you mean… at Port Vale the other night the hi-viz brigade were going to town on every Derby fan prior to entry to ground doing full body searches for drugs/knives/flares/ etc. I had concealed about my person a can of coke & was ready to have it removed but when it came to the chap looked me up & down then said “you can go through”. For some reason, that disappointed me…clearly thought I was too senior to be dodgy I reasoned, as I snorted a line of coke* in the toilets minutes later 👀 * I lied about snorting coke.

Assuming you get through Customs @sage ... "Did you pack this suitcase yourself Sir?" <Thwack!> {sound of rubber glove being put on by Customs Official> {Bead of sweat appears on Sage's forehead and starts to meander downwards...slowly} 😧

I didn't want to be that man who pointed that out so great that you did @David 😲

Hey @Van der MoodHoover you do know your R-squared from your elbow .

“We’re on our wayyyy, we’re on our way! To the championship we’re on our way, how will we get there I don’t know, how will we get there I don’t care, all I know is Derby’s on their way…”.

I’m 75% up {upper quarter} after 3 seconds, white coat arms behind my back and it was a hairs on the back of my neck moment as the volume of 3,000 Rams hit 11 on the scale.

Excellent post @On the Ram Page and very helpful evidence to fuel the debate…one key caveat is the fixtures ie Have we played against a comparable homogeneity of teams. Should be random and therefore of negligible difference season on season; detractors will argue teams generally are poorer this season so not “like with like”. But, a very helpful tool nonetheless.

Love this ^ . You even can spot me …”We’re on our wayyyy! We’re on our way…”

https://t.co/yjM6SI1TVF

Love these high-brow esoteric references.

Love this @Andrew3000.

1Wildsmith 6: shots-wise had the night off but had to srcummage & punch on a few crosses. 24Nyambe 6.5 Had to work hard to repel his opponent. 7Barkhuizen 6 Late fresh legs 35Nelson 8. Colossal. 6Cashin 9 MotM. Marked the pterodactyl Ikpeazu out of the game with a masterclass of stout resistance. 3Forsyth 6.5 Slotted back in seemlessly. 4Hourihane 6.0 In the quarter-back role; busy. Some of his dead balls were short and wasted. 17Sibley 6.0 Late fresh legs. 2Wilson 7.5 Mercurial feet danced his full-back into successive spins and a few telling crosses. Brought a good save from Ripley. 22Fornah 7.0 Brought constant presence and possession but tired notably. 8Bird 7.0 Always in the thick of a midfield battle; got very little time or space. 11Méndez-Laing 7.0 Quiet by his own high standards but teed up JJ for the winner. 5Bradley Late fresh legs. 9Collins 7.0 Huge endeavour at the coal face & unlucky not to bag a scruffy goal. 19John-Jules 7.0 77 minutes first touch BANG! Pre-destined & Deserved for overcoming relentless injury frustration. Could JJ launch his season from here-on. Derby deserved the 3 points built on a rigid and immovable defence, relentless defiance and sufficient attacking opportunities. 4 wins on the spin but only 1 where the game was controlled {Barnsley} mean it’s always on a thread. Fans in fine fettle made their presence heard with consistent support.

Half-marks allowed; please rate all subs. Closes Thursday @ 18:00. Results by Thursday 22:00. Average is 6.00. Therefore, when a sub steps on the pitch he is on 6 -that'sthe baseline. Also indicate ATG (at the game) Or Tv. 1Wildsmith 24Nyambe 7Barkhuizen 35Nelson 6Cashin 3Forsyth 4Hourihane 17Sibley 2Wilson 22Fornah 8Bird 11Méndez-Laing 5Bradley 9Collins 19John-Jules

1Wildsmith 7.5: That 5mm of glove material that Joe got on that goal-bound shot on 44 minutes to deflect it onto the right-hand upright was as significant in terms of the result as NML's surging drive into the back of the net on 90 minutes. Fine margins indeed. 24Nyambe 6.5: Solid, firm and forceful. let's hope he likes the Derbyshire countryside & chooses to stay around come the New Year. 35Nelson 7.5: An outstanding presence, but defence must take a collective -0.5 for allowing what we all predicted pre-match. 6Cashin 7.5: Blocked, headed tackled. Always an offensive threat at corners with his rabbit-like spring but must learn to time it so his headers are not gentle lobs to their keeper. 17Sibley 6.5: Solid in defence albeit beaten on a couple of occasions. Switched position and arguably should have finished off the 1v1. Needs a run of games as any player does. 4Hourihane 6.5: A couple of lovely balls into the box from corners but we need more defence-splitting passes as an option 2 rather than constant balls outside to the wings. 7Barkhuizen 5.5: His cut inside and sideways running is becoming habitual. Needs to re-set his own game-plan. 2Wilson 6.5: Should've been introduced sooner; showed his obvious threat quickly and helped to unsettle Gas defenders. 12Smith 5.5: Too frequently bossed off the ball I'm afraid & provides insufficient amends elsewhere. 22Fornah 7.5 Power, big appetite and great assist for the winner. If Rams are to continue upwards trajectory Fornah has to start. No question. 8Bird 7.0 The CPU of the Team; some delightful and often subtle contributions that go unnoticed. Central to our fortunes. 5Bradley 6.0 Some sky-scraper hoofs late on to kill off the resistance. 11Méndez-Laing 8.5 MoTM Burned the Gas defence off with pace and power when pushed further forward 2nd half. NML is the new McDick and his fitness and wellbeing is crucial to Ram's season. 9Collins 6.0 Huffed and Puffed in vain. 10Waghorn 6.0 Late legs to see it out. This game will always be in my memory for B4 who epitomised and personified what supporting a football team means. May his memory and example live on in perpetuity. "Always remember this our club".

Went to RamsTv full 90 & ffwd’ed to 38 minutes when Collo crossed from the left which flew high & wide & a lovely tribute from fans and @Owen87ITK “…a minute’s applause for Daniel Beavis who passed away …known affectionately online as B4 …& you will never meet another more infectiously enthusiastic Derby County supporter, travelled home & away to watch his beloved team & will be sorely misssed by friends & family …& this is a lovely tribute…” <crescendoes of applause & camera pans around showing fans applauding >. Very moving and will live in our memories forever. 🥲

Took my scrafe yesterday for B4 and it was cold. Remember a remarkable game last year so will be at this one too. The team is heavily reliant on NML {he got the 94th minute winner last season IIRC} so I suspect given how quickly this game is coming legs will be tired from yesterday. I’d keep Fornah in to start and we need Barks & others to step up. We are 4th in the form table compared to Port Vale’s 2nd bottom so the extrapolation predicts a win for Derby. I’d like to see us win but a point would be acceptable. A defeat not acceptable if we have ambition but as we know Madam Football is a fickle mistress. 😲

Undoubtedly NML is a game-changing match-winner. Yesterday is proof positive of that. Warne needs to chaperone him carefully because we totally fire blanks when NML is absent. A huge January window ahead because without some significant incomings the odds are currently loaded against us being promoted this season. NML cannot keep shouldering the burden.

Half-marks allowed; please rate all subs. Closes Thursday @ 18:00. Results by Thursday 22:00. Average is 6.00. Therefore, when a sub steps on the pitch he is on 6 -that'sthe baseline. Also indicate ATG (at the game) Or Tv. 1Wildsmith 24Nyambe 35Nelson 6Cashin 17Sibley 4Hourihane 7Barkhuizen 2Wilson 12Smith 22Fornah 8Bird 5Bradley 11Méndez-Laing 9Collins 10Waghorn

Well done @Owen87ITK 🐏

Come on @B4ev6is rallying call now🐏

It’s all for @B4ev6is today Derby County fans & players. Do it for Daniel. 🐏

Apologies @DavesaRam. Senior moment. 🙏

@B4’s Sister May I say that inspirational posts obviously run in the B4 family genes because your contributions are superb. I believe that as well as the applause every fan’s dream is to hear our names sung out {ie we are all failed football players and when we were 10 dreamed that would happen some day}. So, I’d like to second @LeedsCityRam’s (I think 🤔) idea of applauding on 38 and singing “B4 is watching, helping the fight! Guiding our heroes in black n white…”. I think that’s so apt. B4’s passing is so awful because he symbolises Derby County Fan-dom. Hundreds of fans have responded with words of profound connection with B4 before adding “…eventhough I never met him”. That’s an incredible testament to B4’s character. It’s profound in itself. I know you’ll be immensely proud of that. Everyone will miss him. Your call. No worries if you don’t go with this. Total respect.

1Wildsmith 7.5 Not to blame for any of the goals. Pulled off 2 Gold standard saves and other in the silver bracket. 2Wilson 6.5 Rather wasted at right-back in the first half. A good thumping tackle but not as fleet of foot as previous game. 35Nelson 6.5 More mobile with the ball at his feet and robust. 6Cashin 6.0 Some stray passes; mobile and energetic but exposed a couple of times. 3Forsyth 5.5 Running on vapour after Saturday's travails; tired-leg passes in evidence. 5Bradley 6.0 His introduction was a roll of the dice. 4Hourihane 5.0 The left-foot wand was a bit of a flappy-paddle; awful pass to their dynamo who galloped away unchallenged and whacked it in. 42Fapetu 6.0 Difficult circumstance to be introduced to. Filled the middle well and sure passes but mostly sideways when we need forward thrust. 7Barkhuizen 6.0 Goal will give him confidence but his subsequent play was sideways and his cut-inside has become a little predictable and he runs across the middle, keeping possession and seemingly looking for a pass with little obvious option. 12Smith 4.5 His positional play is often awry & askew; he tracked the chap who scored their opener but got no-way near close enough before the guy pulled the trigger. Thereafter he tended to play simple passes without taking responsibility for a creative output. Smith has a gargantuan task given our style of play and often looks solitary in a very key midfield spot. 10Waghorn 6.0 Tried to effect the game but fed off scraps. 8Bird 🐦 6.0 Lost possession a couple of times & the more he tried to impact the less effective he seemed to be. 17Sibley 5.5 A great start by robbing the full-back on the press but faded quickly. Was that tackle some kind of frustration-vent and it produced the inevitable yellow. Red mist followed by yellow? 23Ward 5.0 Not mobile enough for me and whilst his crossing-gait is stylish, his crosses flatter to deceive. I counted 4 crosses which their keeper caught in regulation fashion; one good pin-point corner into the uncertainty-spot; too eager to cross at times but suspect he's being directed to control then cross in one movement. 9Collins 6.0 One good header which brought a good save; could see the frustration on his face about the lack of decent service; I try and treat the twin imposters just the same. I don't blame the team or individuals but I do hold the coaching staff to account. Hindsight-assisted of course but perhaps a good Crewe side who have some good players were bound to have that much more zip - clearly 3 days after a tough victory last Saturday was not enough down-time to re-charge for our players. That is an insight/judgement that the coaching side failed by not using more "untried" Youth who would've matched Crewe on fresh energy. My main concern though is the one-dimensionality of our play; crosses into the box, time-and-again with no real aim; if defences are tall and brave, its a very unsophisticated issue to deal with and lots of teams seem more than capable given how few crosses seem to pose any danger. This style - flank the ball as soon as possible for the cross - neglects midfield. It becomes so much more obvious when we haven't got NML to be the player who unnerves the opposition and raises defenders' doubts. Consequently, if Smith has advanced there is ripe-green grassy space in the back-pocket between our defence and midfield. I could even see it from behind the goal in the South Stand last night. I suspect Warne sees it too and if I didn't imagine it I think I even heard him articulate it "as a risk". Yet it's more than a risk; it's a structural defect to our team. We have a Fornah and now arguably a Fapetu who both could do the CDM role and be more able to thread that eye-of-a-needle pass, so I'm curious why Warne doesn't mitigate the risk. Plan B needed. Football is a very simple game, complicated by fools with formations and marker pens on white boards, so I get the need to persist and do the basics repeatedly; but there comes a time when you have to look again and tweak rather than rinse and repeat. Without NML we have zero enigma and a gaping hole 30-45 yards out. Crewe deserved their victory but our Achilles heel (that better @sage? 😜) gave them a big opportunity which they devoured wholesale.

B4 - loved Derby County; pink turtles not so much 😲.