Pikeyram

Not that it really means anything but Rotherham were relegated by 4pts in the 2018/19 season and by 2pts in the 2020/21 season.  Last season PW left them towards the end of September in 8th place and they managed to stay up with 50pts.  This season, their first full season without PW in a long time, they are currently a massive 20pts adrift at the bottom.
Normally wage budget is a good indicator of where you'll finish at the end of the season and Rotherham prove this time and again.  Didn't Nigel Clough hail Burton Albions success at remaining in the Championship for one his greatest achievements?  I don't know what Rotherhams Lg1 budget is like compared to the rest, but for PW to get them promoted 3x (and us 1x hopefully!) and keep them in contention throughout a Championship season shouldn't be underestimated imho.
I did say that normally wage budget is a good indicator of where you'll finish, but I think the circumstances of us coming out of administration counter that argument a little.  Did LR have a choice of player or did he just get who was available?  PW came in and inherited a squad of older players that needed to be managed and younger players that needed time to grow - one of his first interviews highlighted a lack of players in their prime.  
During his time with us his hands have been tied financially and he's managed an injury prone squad to the brink of automatic promotion.  I personally think if we go up at the weekend we're ahead of schedule.  Next season would have been his first legitimate attempt with a bit of financial muscle - hence DC giving him a 4yr deal.
Next season is going to be tough, we aren't an Ipswich who built a squad over several seasons and just need to add a few players to go again.  Its another rebuild with limited funds, we were warned at the recent Fans Forum that we'd be looking for stability first and foremost and to me that means just avoiding relegation next season.  Unless we get some outside funding I won't be shouting for PWs head at Christmas if we're struggling.  Bottom 6 at the end of the season would be a good building block to kick on from if we've got a core of players we can then add to. 
We're not throwing money around risking our existence like we used to.  Slow, steady and realistic progress is the way forwards.

Fortunate we now have a sensible owner who chose Paul Warne has backed Paul Warne and on Saturday will be proved right(🤞) and will go on supporting him next year and rightly so. 

When you think we were a week away from going under it does put everything else into perspective. I do think once David has moved on  as chairman, so it is appropriate, that there should be considerations for a statue or at the very least a stand named after the man who saved us from oblivion. He'll be an excellent custodian of the club as he seems to have been thus far and we're really fortunate to have him as our owner. 

Is that every blade of grass from the whole pitch? 😉

I must be easily pleased, as I'll be celebrating like a mad thing if we clinch promotion on Saturday and right now I couldn't care less about Premier League football.

I understand your frustration at wanting to see exciting, flowing football through all areas of the team with midfield dominating and passing through the lines. But I would argue we just haven’t had the players to do this the way you want.
The first point I would make is that you are assuming that at every stage of every game, the players are doing exactly what is asked of them by the management team. I don’t believe this. They don’t encourage players not to pass to each other - they don’t encourage them not to attack the opposition. I have lost count of the number of times in his interviews after the game where he has “criticised” his players for not being braver on the ball and in games. The matches at the end of the season are slightly different as all that matters is gaining 3 points (e.g. Cambridge).
the fact is that our midfield (until Adams arrived) was weak - physically, aggressively and pace wise too. We were bullied off the ball too much, waltzed around by younger, quicker players (Peterborough). We just did not have the right players in there to compete. Before Adams arrival we didn’t have anyone in there who could be aggressive, have any pace or could tackle. Fornah was tried for a while but ran out of steam and made mistakes. At least playing 3 at the back, gives you more potential bodies in midfield with the wingbacks available to help out, but even them, unless it was Forsyth or Nayambe, they we’re not tacklers. Added to this was poor movement off the ball and poor passing. Unfortunately, Hourihane is no longer mobile enough to dominate midfield and we have looked better since he has not been in the side.
Our midfield needs a complete overhaul in the summer. Hopefully we can get Adams in permanently but we need others of similar ilk and also a good playmaker. I think Warne was trying very hard to get the right midfielders in, but it just didn’t happen until Adams arrived.
Finally, I would add that with all the injuries we have had this season (Ward, Elder, Forsyth, Rooney, Bird, Waghorn, Washington, Nyambe, JJ,Embleton,Thompson,Gayle,Barkhuizen), Warne has done a remarkable job in patching us up but still managing to pick up points. Admittedly, not in the exiting way we would all want to see, but there have been some good footballing performances too. Plenty of goals have been scored too (9 more than last year despite losing our talisman McGoldrick). 
All in all, I think we have done pretty well, but I think you are wrong to lay all the Blame on Paul Warne for our less exciting displays - much is down to the players too. I am sure we will recruit well during the summer.

For me the division we play in is secondary to still having a club and a stadium to play in.

For those of a nervous disposition regards Saturday………here’s some chill medicine! 👍😁
Review of the match, pinched from the Carlisle forum.
Derby need a point for promotion and this can do funny things to you mentally. However, some pointers which may settle them down somewhat. There is staggering 69 point gap between the sides. They’re +78 ahead of us on goal difference. Home record for Derby, played 22, won 14, drawn 4, lost 4 – scored 39, conceded 18. Two of those home defeats came in August against Wigan and Oxford. They also lost against Peterborough on New Year’s Day and Charlton at the end of February – but since then have won their last five home games.
Last but not least, we have a Derby legend running our team. He has more appearances for the Rams and scored more goals than for any other club. Is he really going to be trying to win this fixture and potentially deny them promotion? Hmm…
Derby’s a decent away day, so those of you lucky enough to be in attendance - please take a second to take it all in, it may be a very long time before we “enjoy” a Saturday afternoon fixture in the sun at ground and club like this again, so make the most of it.

…………..all seems fair comment to me. 👍

Just so you know, it ain't cool to bear grudges.  It ain't mature to swear in public.  It ain't uplifting to dwell on previous negatives.  It is not sagacious to disrespect the hierarchy.  
 
But come Saturday, from 90:00 and throughout the additional minutes... with the resuscitated Rams on the verge of a new life... throw all that in the bin, and let's give 'em the rousiest, passionest, Black & Whitest, most heartfeltest rendition of "They docked us 21 points..." British football has ever... EVER... witnessed.
 
To hell with dignity!  🐏

After 45 games it all comes down to this. Us or Bolton? The Rams the red hot favourites, with the best defence in the division playing the team bottom and long-since relegated. And needing only a draw. You can see why the bookies have us 1000/1 on but as a Derby fan I'm still nervous and feel it's going to be a long week.
Thrilled to be there. Will be thinking of Daniel who I never met, but who I exchanged posts with on this forum, and whose calls to arms I always loved. Will be remembering being at the BBG 49 years earlier to see the Rams lift the First Division title against Carlisle. Am with some of the same friends who came to the Derby Crystal Palace game with me, and we recreated Robbie van der Laan's header with on the pitch afterwards. Will be remembering the time Stephen Pearson scored his goal to send us into delirium at Wembley.
Will be thanking David Clowes for saving our club when all seemed lost. Darkest before the dawn. He deserves a fantastic day in which, yet again, and for only the third time in our history, Derby lift themselves out of the third tier after a two-season stint. But we have to do it first. Let's hope the players keep their eyes on the prize, backed all the way by long-suffering fans who do deserve some joy after the last few years.
Come on you Rams!
 

Stability...Integrity...Progress... 👌

Emotionally gearing up for the massive weekend ahead 🙏🏻 Again, thank you David for saving our club 

 
 

Saturday can’t come soon enough. I am driving my wife crazy…
Me: I have something to tell you.
Wife: What is it?
Me: It’s important. It’s big. It’s life changing.
Wife: Tell me.
Me: Promise me you won’t be angry or upset.
Wife: OK. Tell me.
Me: Are you sure?
Wife: You’ve lost your job?
Me: No.
Wife: You want a divorce?
Me: No.
Wife: You’ve been having an affair?
Me: No.
Wife: Well, what is it?
Me: RAMS ARE GOING UP, OLE OLE! 🎵
😂
 

Imagine if Forest were in Burton’s position. I imagine they simply wouldn’t accept it and would be considering all their options 

Looking forward to seeing Simmo - boy he scored some bangers for us…

Thanks, and Aye, but what I am saying is we didn’t really have the natural  ball winner and the 2 weren’t really suited to rough a tumble league 1. So what was he to do ? Then add in that his mission is to get us out of this league, he had a proven system.
I think he was a touch obsessive early season, was desperately wanting to make wingers in to wing backs and play 3 at the back. The new players that could do that got injured, the remaining flank players were somewhat aging in the leg department or not very adept in the defensive component of their game. At that point he’d barely been in the job for a year.
When we had that good run mid season it was when he switched to 4 at the back because of the players he had left. It  showed me he could change his spots .. he still hankered after his preferred system, true ! but was pragmatic enough to accept he couldn’t have it. …. The ball winner you mentioned, arrived in the form of Adams. At least that’s how I see it 
I suppose it’s easy after the event to be sage and analytical. Just hope we can have a party on Saturday and for me he has a clear run without threat for at least half a season, as long as we are mid table”ish” on an improving curve; I am saying what I said 7 or 8 months ago. Patience before pitchforks 

If ever there was an advert for 'not playing football', this is it.
Teams trying to stop us by playing football - W 10, D 8, L 27.
If that's the best anti-Warne argument you can come up with, don't bother.

We sang a David Clowes song in the south stand at the Leyton Orient match.
David Clowes my lord, David Clowes
David Clowes my lord, David Clowes
David Clowes my lord, David Clowes 
Oh lord David Clowes.
Saved our club my lord, saved our club
Saved our club my lord, saved our club
Saved our club my lord, saved our club 
Oh lord David Clowes. 

The opportunity to win promotion at Pride Park, in front of a sell out crowd, after what the club has essentially gone through the last four years, is something that could create memories that will last a lifetime.
If, and hopefully when it happens, I'll definitely spare a thought for B4 and others who marched through the city to help keep the club alive but sadly won't be here to see this significant step in our rebuilding process. 

Just.....
 
                                 WIN
 

I've no idea, saw the ones waving flags yesterday and didn't recognise any of them. Believe they are all South Standers, though, and hang out in The White Horse with Joey Greener pre-match. 
They are fairly organised, have a website and all. 
I think they're doing a great job so far.
https://www.popsiderams.com/menu/events

Passion! 
BTW, if you're on X, Georgia Knight is well worth the follow. Takes some great photos.

It's not that there's anything outrageous about this statement, there isn't. Of course, he's right, but it's also blindingly obvious; loans going back and contracts expiring - we'll need those signings regardless of the league we find ourselves in.
It's that it consistently happens in the wake of a win, which makes it look like Bris is content to urinate on everyone's chips and bring the mood down. All people want to do is enjoy the good feeling 3 points bring, and be excited about promotion.
Let us worry about next season after (hopefully) basking in the glow of a first promotion in 17 years. I'm going to enjoy it and praise the good job Warne has done this season. Record points tally, record away wins in a season... it is about time the club and fans had some good times.
 

Two of David Clowes’ aims when he took over the Club were to bring integrity and also establish ourselves in the Championship within 5 years. We didn’t get promotion last year, much to many fans angst. On reflection, it was probably a good job we didn’t. We would still have been working to a strict business plan which would have tied our hands in the transfer market to some degree and made the season very difficult.
We have recruited quite a few players this year who will be able to play in the Championship next year. Some recruits haven’t been quite so successful. We will have a reasonable pot for transfers this year we have been told. Probably, Wildsmith, Nyambe, Cashin,Nelson,Elder,Ward,Wilson,Mendis-Laing,Blackett-Taylor,Sibley,Forsyth,Rooney should be ok in the Championship - I personally have more concerns about Smith, Collins, Barkhaizen, Thompson, Fornah, Gayle, Washington, Vickers.  We will lose Bird and Adams (for now?)
I think, with some shrewd business, we should be able to put together a competitive squad.
in terms of integrity, I think our progression has been amazing. There has been hardly any, if at all, negative news regarding our club in the media. The Management team all absolutely appear to be working together to a common goal. We have recruited (not to everyone’s like) good people, who want to play for the shirt, not just here for the money, as in the past. The Academy has made good progress in its rebuild and the are a few players who look to have good futures, hopefully as Derby players.
At our best and most confident, we do play some exciting football, score goals and don’t concede many. Yes, we would like to see more of the exciting times but our main aim has been to get out of this difficult league this year. Too often in the past we have had a soft underbelly and have struggled against strong, aggressive teams. We currently have a side, which mainly, doesn’t buckle against this type of side.
So I am happy with the progress of Derby County this last two years and look forward to what will happen next. David Clowes is a quietly shrewd business man and I think Paul Warne is an intelligent manager, who is a lot shrewder and football wise than many give him credit for. Not only this but he is a fantastic man-manager and team spirit builder.
Can’t wait to see what happens next.
 

If you've only been entertained by 2 out of 22 home games, I think your expectations might have been a little too high, and if you're only attending Derby games in order to be entertained, then I can understand why you're not renewing. But for many fans, the entertainment factor is only one of many aspects that draw them to Pride Park. For a payment of what is effectively only £8/week, I get an awful lot more than entertainment out of it.