Ellafella

Funnily enough...
The 12 history books written on the club by its historian Neilson N. Kaufman between 1974 and 2015 suggest that the choice of the name Orient came about at the behest of a player, Jack R Dearing, who was an employee of the Orient Steam Navigation Company, later part of P&O – Peninsular & Oriental.

Pride Park Stadium – KO: 15.00
After a chastening visit to Wycombe Wanderers, next up, the Rams play host to Leyton Orient. I know the whole, ‘must win game’ is horribly overused cliche in sport, but sadly, it actually applies on this occasion, as it will do for all of our remaining games. On the basis of ability and potential, you’d fancy our chances strongly, but as has been the case through a good deal of the season, the team remains somewhat Jekyll and Hyde and it’s anyone’s guess which Derby will turn up on Saturday. Having been concerned about the Wycombe game being a potential banana skin, I’m less so for this match, but it’d taker a braver man than I to be dogmatic about the outcome.
Leyton Orient:
Founded in 1881 as the Glyn Cricket Club, they began playing football as Orient in 1888 and joined the London League in 1896 after success in the Clapton & District League. The club adopted the name Clapton Orient two years later and were elected into the Football League in 1905. Most recently and under current manager Richie Wellens, the club was crowned champions of League Two in the 2022–23 campaign and sit mid-table in this current season.
Form Guide:
In the corresponding away fixture, we rode our luck a little early on, but having scored 1st, the game turned on a somewhat controversial sending off, with Brandon Cooper dismissed for a foul on Max Bird. Derby ultimately ran out comfortable 3-0 winners and this with Collo spurning a brace of golden opportunities, but even then, I felt the scoreline flattered us a little - Please see the match highlights link below. FWIW, my view is that Orient are a tidy enough side for the grade and should not be taken lightly. Much like Wycombe, they will be able to relax a little more than our lads and we need to be controlled and alert throughout the 90 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zPSKzMlFGE&ab_channel=DerbyCountyFootballClub
 
Most recently, Orient’s form has been decent enough, with a 1-0 victory away to Stevenage followed by two losses by the odd goal only to Lincoln and Peterborough. Their last two matches, both at home, yielded a 3-1 victory against Cheltenham, followed by a 2-2 draw against Exeter.
The most obvious dangerman would seem to be the ever-present Ruel Sotiriou with 11 goals and 5 assists across 42 games played. Shaquai Forde is next best with 9 goals and 5 assists, with Oliver O'Neil chipping in with 5 goals and 4 assists. Their preferred formation is seemingly a 4-2-3-1, but perhaps someone who has actually watched them regularly can confirm, as my research yielded conflicting data.
Head 2 Head:
Historically, Derby have the edge and perhaps more significantly, we have not lost at home to Leyton since 1981, with 5 home losses in total since the clubs first met way back in 1907 in what was then the 2nd division.
Games won: 23
Games drawn: 8
Games lost: 18
Team News:
Warne again has some worries to address. Our own @Caerphilly Ram has battled manfully to keep us all informed against an ever-changing background and his latest summary suggests the something akin to the following scenario for Saturday:
Joe Ward – was said to be out for 2 weeks at time of injury – 50:50 for this match is perhaps mildly optimistic
Max Bird – was mooted as a possible for the Wycombe game – may well figure from the bench
Dwight Gayle – not expected to play this weekend, but may be available for the last 2 games
Craig Forsyth - not expected to play this weekend, but may be available before season end
Callum Elder – groin injury, status unknown
Ryan Nyambe – out for the season
Tyreece John-Jules – most likely out for the season
Jake Rooney -  most likely out for the season, but has been ‘back on the grass’ we’re told. No jokes please!
I do have some sympathy for Warne as it seems every time he has the lads playing well, injuries to key players undermine any momentum, but that said, we’re not alone in that regard and we’ll need to make do as best we can.
Line-Up:
I think PW will start with a very similar line up to the last game. I’m going to suggest a slightly controversial tweak (assuming Ward is s recovered) and a change from the MF 2 we seem to favour, to variant of an undeniably old fashioned 4-4-2 – yeah, I know, straws...clutching...much… If Ward is indeed fit, he comes in for Nate, who looks like a man in need of freshening up – perhaps he and Max might be best deployed as ‘finishers’ off the bench when legs tire and the game is more stretched, assuming we’re not winning comfortably. Likewise Barks, who could also play on the right if Ward remains out. That said, if Max is healthy enough to start, I'd be sorely tempted to switch to a 4-3-3 with he and Corey either side of Ebou and Washington dropping to the bench. Irrespective, we must control the game better than we did in the 2nd half at Wycombe, where we repeatedly left a yawning chasm in front of our back 4, for their midfielders to play into.
The front two and CM remain unchanged for me; despite both Wash and Collo looking understandably short of match sharpness, IMO, they remain our best current options. Once again, the back 4 pick themselves, as do Corey and Ebou in at CM. Joe keeps his slot, having done well enough since his return to the fold.


The Match:
Honestly, I’ve no idea which Derby will turn up. After Wycombe, some will want wholesale changes, but my take on what was an admittedly hugely disappointing result, is that Wycombe should have been dead and buried inside 40 minutes. I’m not sure that the subsequent slaughtering of Warne for what was to my eye, the profligacy of his forward line, is entirely fair, but each to their own. He remains the incumbent, for better or worse and whatever might happen next year, it seems a long way off right now. As such, the focus for yours truly remains the next 3 games and nothing else.
A last word, as I’ve avoided reading all bar the last couple of pages of the last thread, would be that despite the stuttering effort against Wycombe, the travelling Rams faithful were magnificent in their support for the team. It’d be grand if we could mirror that at home and all try to channel our inner B4 and help carry the lads over the line. At least remember that Warne and his players are trying their best and are just people, like all of us and hurtful appraisals will only serve to undermine their confidence further.
Enjoy the game one and all.
COYR
BE MORE B4
  

You can’t take up 2 coach seats @Anag Ram you know 😲

You can’t take up 2 coach seats @Anag Ram you know 😲

We are looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday including those who came on our first Taunton coach v Bolton and those travelling with us for the first time. You are ALL very welcome and your support is amazing!
We do have still a few coach seats still available - anyone interested should email us ASAP on:
derbycountytravel@gmail.com
Thank you and look forward to seeing you Saturday.
Come on You 🐏!!!
 
Justin Ratcliffe
Secretary - DCSCWCB
30th Anniversary 1994-2024
 
 

I’m new but will be there from Bristol. I’m so excited to be able to go to a game on my own! We’ll, with other Rams of course.

The Official Derby County Supporters Club West Country Branch are delighted to CONFIRM a supporters coach from Taunton J25/M5 for Rams v Orient on 13 April. (8.00 am depart)
Book now to join our family orientated travel. Pick ups at Bristol, Wychbold and Solihull. Executive 49s coach will full facilities. 
To book: Message on here with full contact details or email to: derbycountytravel@gmail.com 

Please indicate names of those wishing to travel and where you wish to get on.
Thank you to the brilliant group of Wedt Country Rams - some travelling 2 hours plus just to get up the meet point! 
More details on our FB page : https://www.facebook.com/share/p/VQY7aYtoBkr8mSoZ/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Justin Ratcliffe
Secretary - DCSCWCB
30th Anniversay: 1994-2024
 

He'd at the very least have started a few chants last night. Away end was well below par (a bit like our attack!) 

Hope you get it sorted…car insurance is key. 😲

Hello folks, 
A few weeks back, some of you kind people helped me get my bearings in Derby as I have started visiting regularly now my daughter has her first proper job there, after years of training in various places. She has moved to Derby and made it part of my life again. 
I say again because I have cousins in Derby and I used to be a regular visitor, often spending weeks of school holidays here, so I've been on some nostalgia trips remembering where I used to be as a child - which is where some of you helped, thank you. 
Anyway, I'm back tomorrow for another visit this weekend. This will include a trip to Pride Park for the Leyton Orient game. This is coincidental because on my school holiday visits, the end of the time would overlap with the first match of the football season. If it was a home match then we would go along. On 29th August 1981 we went along to the opening Div 2 fixture against Orient. 
Going to see Derby was a big deal then, as within recent memory they had won their second Div 1 league title under Dave Mackay. Now under Colin Addison, those big names like Franny Lee, Bruce Rioch, Colin Todd, Roy MacFarland and Archie Gemmill were all gone. Kevin Hector (who scored on that day) was back for his second spell. I lived in a no-football town so most of my league football was MotD and The Big Match ITV. 
Being the first day of the season, the Baseball Ground pitch hadn't become the famous mud pit, about 12500 were in attendance and we were in the cheapest standing up enclosure Pop Side and as one of the goal ends had lately been converted to seating we were quite packed in. I still have the match day program which was in a newspaper format rather than a magazine. 
I've been for a walkabout on the old BB ground site, which is hard to place among the houses now but at least there is a monument. I look forward to Saturday and hearing all your voices - especially as we are at the business end of the season now and there is much at stake for Rams. 
 

On TV
Wildsmith   7  Made one great save, kicking better than normal.
2Wilson   5  Gave the ball away too much.
35Nelson   6  Ok but still not at his normal levels.
6Cashin   6.5  Similar to Nelson.
17Sibley  5  See Wilson
11Méndez-Laing   4  Not sure whether the captaincy effects him or not, but very average perfomances lately.
12Smith   6.5  Worked hard and played one excellent pass through.
16Thompson  5.5  Busy when he came on.
32Adams  7  Usual hard working self.
27Blackett-Taylor  3  Missed a complete sitter, doesnt look interested half the time.
4Hourihane  5.5   Tried to influence the game when he came on.
14Washington   6  Our most dangerous player.
7Barkhuizen   5  Did little when he came on.
9Collins   4   Never got into the game, i forgot he was playing.
10Waghorn.   5.5  See Hourihane.
Very very lacklustre performance, whenever we get the chance to push on and give ourselves a bit of daylight, we FAIL!!

1Wildsmith  6
2Wilson  4
35Nelson  6
6Cashin  6
17Sibley  5
11Méndez-Laing  3
12Smith  6 
16Thompson  6
32Adams  8
27Blackett-Taylor  3
4Hourihane  4
14Washington  5
7Barkhuizen  5
9Collins  6
10Waghorn. 6

RTV
1Wildsmith  7.........one great save, one strange header after a bad mistake and slip
2Wilson  5.5........not his best night going forward but clean sheet and always tries to make things happen
35Nelson  6.5.......clean sheet, played well
6Cashin  7.......clean sheet and tried to get us moving forward
17Sibley  6.5.......got pelters in the match thread but clean sheet and thought he did OK, especially first half
11Méndez-Laing  5.....bad miss, some poor end product but doesn't hide
12Smith  6.5......another game where he looks good but hardly has any touches (32 in 77 mins) which isn't going to control influence any game. Don't blame him because he showed what he can do with the pass for NML's golden chance......must be frustrating playing as a proper central midfielder for a manager who only really wants them to defend
16Thompson  6.......OK...not much time
32Adams  7.5......really strong performance. He IS a midfield destroyer
27Blackett-Taylor  3.5......bad miss and hid. (16 touches in 59 mins). Possibly time to leave him out of the squad and try again next season in either another league or with another manager. Quality player in there but this isn't working.
4Hourihane  6.......should've started with Smith and Adams imo. Gets on the ball and tries to make stuff happen (27 touches from 59 mins onwards). Showed defensive weakness but showed defensive savvy.....he was the recipient of JW's last second header. If he wasn't there we may have lost. But.......that free kick...... FFS
14Washington  5.5.......strange one. He was our main outlet and threat but just isn't quite good enough. When he's fresh he's a threat with clever runs but when he's tired he's a passenger. Watched the highlights and I think the pass to CBT was actually quite cute....I think the pass on the ground would have been cut off so the chip-through was clever
7Barkhuizen  5....not involved.....but would start him on Sat. 
9Collins  5......hardly involved but seemed to be playing almost as a 10 which is a thankless task in a team told to avoid using midfield, and a role he's frankly not very good at
10Waghorn. 5.....sadly, added nothing. See Hourihane for thoughts on that free kick!
Another game where my ratings sort of taper down from back to front. It would be good if RD or Rams TV could ask PW if he is deliberately not using centre midfield as an offensive option - it drives me mad because a) we have players in the squad capable of dominating games at this (low) level and b) it gives the opposition something to think about rather than knowing full well we are going long or wide

Wildsmith - 7.5
Wilson - 5.5
Sibley - 5.5
Nelson - 6
Cashin - 6.5
Adams - 8 
Smith - 6.5
NML - 4
CBT - 3.5
Wash - 4 
Collins - 4.5
 
TV

On TV
Wildsmith   6.5
2Wilson   5.5
35Nelson   6.5
6Cashin   7
17Sibley  6.5
11Méndez-Laing   4
12Smith   6
16Thompson  6
32Adams  7.5
27Blackett-Taylor  4
4Hourihane  5
14Washington   5.5
7Barkhuizen   5
9Collins   5
10Waghorn.   4
Entertainment 0

On TV
Wildsmith   6.5
2Wilson   7
35Nelson   7.5
6Cashin   7.5
17Sibley  6.5
11Méndez-Laing   4
12Smith   6
16Thompson  6
32Adams  8
27Blackett-Taylor  3
4Hourihane  7
14Washington   5
7Barkhuizen   6
9Collins   5
10Waghorn.   5

On TV
Wildsmith   7
2Wilson   7
35Nelson   7
6Cashin   7
17Sibley  7
11Méndez-Laing   4
12Smith   6.5
16Thompson  6
32Adams  7
27Blackett-Taylor  4
4Hourihane  6
14Washington   6
7Barkhuizen   5
9Collins   4
10Waghorn.   6

1Wildsmith  6
2Wilson  5
35Nelson  6
6Cashin  6
17Sibley  6
11Méndez-Laing  5
12Smith  7 
16Thompson  6
32Adams  8
27Blackett-Taylor  3
4Hourihane  6
14Washington  4
7Barkhuizen  6
9Collins  6
10Waghorn. 6

1Wildsmith    6   made an important save in second half and was brave with the calamitous back pass in last min
2Wilson   5       flattered to deceive a bit last night 
35Nelson   6   had a tough game against a strong forward
6Cashin    6.5   had a reasonably good game 
17Sibley    5  needs to look after the ball more some of his passing was aimless
11Méndez-Laing    6   poor game for his standards 
12Smith        7  some good passing and think was one of our better players 
16Thompson   6  looked lively when came on but didn't have much time to get more thn a 6
32Adams    7  solid dependable and covered at the back also puts his head where some wouldn't
27Blackett-Taylor    5   poor display and should have  scored
4Hourihane    5  no real impact on game Smith was doing well 
14Washington   6.5 works hard and set up CBT but should've done better with his chance 
7Barkhuizen    5 no real impact and didn't get into the game 
9Collins    6  worked tirelessly but had little impact up front where we need him 
10Waghorn    5.5   not enough time really to impact the game but won a good header from NML cross
 

1Wildsmith.....one excellent save and one last gasp hilarious header..... 7
2Wilson.....kept knocking but got no answer..... 6.5
35Nelson.....had his hands full but solid again..... 6.5
6Cashin.....fine performance..... 7.5
17Sibley.....steady without setting the game alight..... 6.5
11Méndez-Laing.....frustrating night but never hid..... 6
12Smith.....a couple of lovely passes and tidy throughout..... 7
16Thompson.....lively when introduced..... 6.5
32Adams.....always involved and combative throughout..... 7
27Blackett-Taylor.....costly miss early on and lacked the thrust of his previous performance..... 5.5
4Hourihane..... did alright..... 6
14Washington.....couple of decent moments and looked lively but lacks composure..... 6
7Barkhuizen..... struggled to get involved..... 5.5
9Collins.....some nice touches but no chances created for him..... 6.5
10Waghorn.....was that a manbun? 6

On TV
Wildsmith   7
2Wilson   7
35Nelson   7
6Cashin   7
17Sibley  6
11Méndez-Laing   3
12Smith   6
16Thompson  5
32Adams  8
27Blackett-Taylor  2
4Hourihane  7
14Washington   4
7Barkhuizen   4
9Collins   4
10Waghorn.   4

Wildsmith - 8 
Wilson - 6
Sibley - 6
Nelson - 7
Cashin - 7
Adams - 8 
Smith - 6
NML - 3
CBT - 3
Wash - 4 
Collins - 5

Whatever we were playing resulted in 2 great chances being created and squandered so it was effective to some extent.
But as @DavesaRamand @Ellafellahave alluded to it was another game where the clear plan was to avoid playing on the deck through midfield which I just don’t understand.
The ball from Smith to NML was a beauty but suspect he was off-script.
Yes, missed chances but PW to blame overall tonight imo.
 

We always seem to drop our standards to the team we’re in front of & not impose our game…when we played on the ground we cut through them but that was twice all game…hoof it for the other 99%. Technically 1 point away and 3 at home will see us up…but 7 shots & 0 on target for a team away to a hoof-ball side is stark.