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On 22/05/2024 at 09:51, jimtastic56 said:

Sibley has divided opinion with us Rams fans . My view for what it’s worth - Sibley will start more Championship games next season than Bird .

You could well be right on that. 

On 02/06/2024 at 11:35, Crewton said:

I agree it's a minority, but I didn't want to pick out individuals. I understand fans' desire for us not to be left behind, but I find the eagerness to become yet another club snapped up by US owners a bit sad. When we were in trouble and going under, the best America could do was Kirschner. GSE were responsible owners, but having dealt with Americans in business, I'm not a fan.

Yes I had experience with a group of so called venture capitalists from the US, dreadful attitude to the workforce and totally disregarding of uk employment law. Basically a bunch of gung-ho mavericks in for a quick buck and after cocking everything up, couldn't get out quick enough leaving a trail of bad debt. Unfortunately any change of football club ownership comes with enormous risks, and for now I hope we can have a long period of stability without having to experience the likes of Kirchner, the Fake Sheikh, Alonso, Ashley etc etc, 

On 27/05/2024 at 08:55, Crewton said:

It wasn't to balance the books as such, it was to ensure we received a decent fee for a player who was out of contract in the summer and who'd made it clear he wanted to move on, with the bonus that we could loan him back and use some of the money received to sign CBT and Ebou on loan. It was a pragmatic decision under the circumstances.

I'm fairly sure the club needed the income from the sale of Max Bird. Yes, perhaps it was convenient if he wanted away from DCFC, but he's hardly stepped up career wise. If it worked out OK for all parties, all well and good. 

It's probably fair to say that there are 'smaller' clubs in the PL than Derby County, but many of those mentioned are better performing clubs on and off the field, and that's what counts if we are measuring levels of success. 

Just an observation also, regarding the geographical aspect, considering the likes of Bournemouth, Brighton, Palace, Fulham, Brentford. Perhaps considered more attractive for investment, player recruitment etc, due to southern location? 

On 24/05/2024 at 09:05, MadAmster said:

Surely that "extra £8M" would only mean we break even rather than lose money?

That would be the most optimistic scenario. With the increased wage bill, the clubs outgoings will most probably exceed income. Last season an underwhelming fee for Max Bird was accepted, understandably to help balance the books. Sadly that scenario is likely to be repeated, should any of the young talent attract interest.  

Many championship clubs carry an eye watering amount of debt, a combined total of circa £1.6 billion(2022), presumably underwritten by the owners. It's a very precarious business model, as all DCDF fans are well aware. 

Possibly be just 2 or 3 million, which being realistic isn't going to go very far. I read somewhere that the parachute payments to relegated clubs is circa £90m, so that puts things into perspective. Obviously, if we get £40m for Cashin and £25m for Dajaune Brown things may look a little different 😉

1 hour ago, YouRams said:

I can't say I disagree with this article. I commented in a thread a while ago when people were saying PW couldn't attract players that moving to Derby city isn't the most attractive place for a young lad to move his life to.

Its such a shame our city is in major decline

Successive city councils have been guilty of gross incompetence for decades. Essentially, as a city it's become a good place.....to leave.

On 19/05/2024 at 20:00, sage said:

Ipswich are an exception but they built well over a few seasons in the League One. Spent a fair bit.

 

Ipswich Towns success is a good story, and sometimes things just fall into place, like when Leicester won the Premier League. Derby's immediate future is about re establishing as a Ch'ship club. So keeping out of the drop zone is the primary objective next season, and mid table the following season. Beyond that, maybe the club will push on if significant investment comes into the club. It should be fresh in everyones minds that the club has been selling some of the young talent to balance the books. 

14 hours ago, BWFCNick said:

Honestly guys, that last 20 mins was horrendous, my poor heart haha

One positive I can take from it is that we got the job done despite never really playing well in either playoff game (partly because barnsley arent great) and also that I think Oxford suits us better than Posh (and tbh as much as I'm desperate to win, if we do lose, I'd rather lose to Oxford than Darren Ferguson).

 

Fingers crossed we turn up and get it done. Our last 2 trips to Wembley are Bolton 4-0 Plymouth last season and Bolton 0-5 Stoke in the FA Cup semis about a decade ago so could literally be anything based on our history.

 

Got some Rams fan mates who were at your QPR Wembley trip that I sympathised with and was gutted for at the time so I hope more than anything we don't experience that kind of pain and we get a good day out, the boys give it their all and make us proud

Best of luck, I'm sure Bolton will be joining the Rams and Pompey in the Ch'ship next season 👍🏽

On 03/05/2024 at 19:27, TomTom92 said:

Was just starting to go through the gears and then he missed that sitter at Wycombe. The fact we drew and at the time it looked a costly error probably didn’t do him any favours. 
 
Then he fell out the team and the nature of the rest of the matches meant he hardly got a kick. 
 
Clean slate for next season and hopefully he can do a job in some capacity.

I imagine he watches the video of that miss from behind the sofa.....

Warney has proven to be a very good coach in L1. Hopefully he can get DCFC to finish in a respectable position in the Ch'ship. However to do so, a lot of things need to fall into place. No doubt about it, recruitment will determine our fate next season.  

41 minutes ago, Gee SCREAMER !! said:

We took just over a million for Bird with 3 championship campaigns under his belt, an U18 premier league winners medal and an EFL apprentice of the year award at championship level, on the understanding we may well have got less at tribunal.  It will be less for Burrows if it's on a criteria basis.  Either way, I suspect emphasis to be on midfield pace and goals, strikers and a quick centre half to compliment the ones we have.  Not every player can be outside our budget or we have an issue.

We have a bad habit of selling players on the cheap. Just over a million for Bird is pittance. 

On 28/04/2024 at 11:49, jimtastic56 said:

Collins will be 34 in December and scored 3 goals in his last Championship season . Agree Smith is not the answer . To finish mid-table , we could do with 3 strikers that can get 10 goals each . They won’t come cheap . 

Absolutely, but this is where our recruitment team need to earn their money. Needs to be remembered that much of the squad that won us promotion was put together by Liam, so let's see what the recruitment strategy is moving forward. 

Thanks as always mozza. 4th in PL for me this season, so I'll take that.

Well done to leroyoftherovers, Dordogne-Ram & RadioactiveWaste 👏 

5 hours ago, Day said:

 

Although for me, if you give the manager the summer, got to give them until Christmas then barring any complete and utter disaster situation which we saw under Pearson.

All in my opinion of course. 

Yes this would be the correct strategy. Warney has had plenty of Ch'ship experience and his understanding and analysis of previous failures with Rotherham may turn out to be a strength, moving forward, rather than a weakness. Time will tell....

As one would expect for the third tier, some not so great football on display at times. However in terms of authenticity of the clubs and sincerity of majority of fans, it's head and shoulders above the Sky VAR Premier League, with newly promoted clubs barely able to keep up, and the likes of ManCity buying up the silverware, Newcastle attempting to emulate that model. The Ch'ship obviously somewhere in between and a bit cut throat, as clubs obsess with the prospect of promotion and untold riches. 

Just to say a massive well done to Warney and all the players involved this season. Not only have they achieved a hard fought promotion back to the Ch'ship, but they've restored pride in the club. Amazing!

On 24/04/2024 at 11:09, Simmo’s left foot said:

His brother seems to have gone very quiet? Not seen anything of him of late.

Well down the pecking order at Liverpool. Most likely end up at a Ch'ship club. 

Quietly confident that the players will do what is required of them tomorrow. 

Rams 2 - 0 Carlisle                   frgs  Collins 

1 hour ago, jimtastic56 said:

It does seem incredible -17 years without a promotion , and it’s not unusual for teams to spend 20 years in the Championship. So it’s imperative that we enjoy the moment on Saturday.

There have been many disappointments since and including that 2007-08 capitulation. Hopefully, Saturday is the start of better things to come. We will do OK in the Ch'ship next season, and significant investment could follow on from that. With the right leadership, it's not inconceivable that DCFC could then be competing at the top end of the Ch'ship. 

Cambridge 0 - 1  Rams           Collins 

-Liam Thompson ✅ 2 years + 1 year op
- Louie Sibley ✅ 2 years + 1 year op
- Martyn Waghorn ❌
- Dwight Gayle ✅ 1 year - dependent on fitness assessment 
- Joe Wildsmith ✅ 2 years - If he actually wants to stay at the club 
- Conor Hourihane ❌  a very good player, past his prime now
- Korey Smith ✅ 1 year for depth
- Craig Forsyth ❌  
- James Collins ❌ the club will probably offer JC a contract, but I don't see as a Ch'ship player 
- Scott Loach ❌ get a young lad as third choice 
- Darren Robinson ✅ 3 year + 1 year op and get him out on loan 
- Tom Barkhuizen ✅ 1 year 

9 hours ago, Ram-Alf said:

That celebration was...dare I say was...that's what I can do! 

Not everyone's cup o tea but a job done 👍

 

or perhaps 'that's what I can do .....on a good day'  

It was a good 2 goal performance from SB, no question. But that nonsense at Northampton was unnecessary and unprofessional. 

1 hour ago, MackworthRamIsGod said:

I see us finishing 3rd. The last 3 games are completely winnable, just like Northampton and Wycombe were.  For some reason we fail to perform against struggling teams when it matters.

Prove me wrong Paul.

 

The main problem finishing 3rd, is the team going into the play offs with a negative mindset. Would Warney be able to lift them, having been so close, but ultimately failing to clinch an auto spot? Perhaps, the teams finishing 4th 5th or even 6th better placed, psychologically.