Dean (hick) Saunders

I honestly think 3 wins will be enough so that’s 90 points meaning this game is a free hit and that’s how I’d approach it
Id actually go for it and try and win it …no cautious approach and take the game to pompy if we lose trying to win I won’t mind as 3 wins which  I think we will get will mean Bolton have to win virtually all of there games as would Peterborough and that’s not going to happen so let’s go for it and if we win it we have one foot in the championship 👍🏻

I think it took CBT a while to get into it, but when he did, I thought we were dangerous on both flanks which has not often been the case.

I think you have us mixed up with someone else mate.
We are marginally better than most teams in an awful division, but I'd not go any further than that.
But I don't care if we go up. I can worry about next season, next season.

Pull up a chair, this will be a long one.
Me and my wife Leanne have been together 8 years and 5 months, we have been trying for a baby for around 6/7 years. Nothing happened. Leanne has been desperate for our own little baby and seeing friends around us start families has been hard for her.
It’s been hard for myself as I later found out it was probably my fault following a sperm test.
Just before Covid we went to explore IVF options where I was given a sperm test, the results were basically I have swimmers, just not enough to put me in the “normal” range. Not impossible I could get Leanne pregnant, just harder than it would be for others.
Covid landed, lockdown, all non essential treatment and hospital appointments were cancelled, so our doctors asked us to come back once life returned to normal.
Fast forward to August 2023, we returned to the doctors knowing the clock was ticking, Leanne turns 40 this year and would already be classified as a “geriatric”, whilst myself a slightly younger Des O’Connor.
Anyway, they started testing Leanne, she was all clear, I was given another tube to fill and arrange an appointment with the hospital. Contacting them I was told there is such a backlog, we would be waiting until the new year, side note, we’re almost April and I’m still yet to receive a call back.
As I have mentioned elsewhere, October 27th our great nephews moved in with us under an emergency kinship fostering placement, since then we have been undergoing various assessments and training.
We go to the fostering panel to be confirmed foster parents on April 11th.
We was also willing to go down the SGO (Special guardianship order) route which would see them stay with us until they were 18.
Now, this is an important bit. We live in a small 2 bedroom house, me and Leanne looked at it and said maybe this is our calling, maybe we just weren’t meant to have our own and threw ourselves into the boys creating a special bond.
Monday 12th February, 2024, Leanne woke me up in tears saying we need to talk. My eyes had barely adjusted to the daylight before a positive pregnancy test was thrust into my face.
What. The. f***.
We quickly went to Morrison’s to buy another one, just to double check, this time a digital one. Both ClearBlue so super accurate.
The pregnancy was confirmed, 2-3 weeks it said.
We hadn’t bothered to be “careful” as we figured it was never going to happen naturally, but it had so now we was left with a huge dilemma. The boys were meant to be our future now. But it’s a 2 bedroom house.
It completely took the shine off what should have been the happiest time of our lives, Leanne’s family were also not fully invested into the joy with concern over what would happen to the boys.
After a few emotional discussions into the early mornings, exploring all possibilities, we ultimately decided to let social services know that we cannot be considered as long term placement if needed.
At this point and to this day, their mum is still waiting on her assessment to see if they can ever be returned.
We could not abort, we could not move as we have a small amount of debt that would prevent us getting a new mortgage for a much larger house.
March 9th, we visited the midwife who dated the pregnancy from Leanne’s last recorded period December 18th. A 12 week scan was booked for 21st March however she was told that she would be 13 weeks by then.
Sickness, tender breasts, the lot, this was all very real.
The wait for the 21st March seemed like forever.
The weekend prior, Leanne had very very light spotting and discharge which freaked us both out, quick call to the midwife and told not to worry, just come in if it’s heavy bleeding and she’s in pain.
On the 20th, I had a tattoo appointment, super excited and determined to bring some positivity to a stressed out wife, I get “Daddy” inked on my neck, at the neckline of a t shirt.  I was uncontrollably excited by this point.
Next morning we go in, soon called into the Ultrasound room, I bounce in rubbing my hands joking just the one please.
Monitor boots up, Leanne laid back with the biggest smile on her face unable to see the monitor.
I look up and the gestation sac is empty.
All life inside me just melted.
The midwife asked when we last took a pregnancy test, to which Leanne responded and was then asked if she would be happy to have an internal scan.
Whilst the midwife left the room I was in a daze, taking pictures of the screens.
Internal scan complete, we was simply told to get ourselves ready and we will be shown to the counselling room.
Both in tears, we was led away and left to sit in this room for half hour or so before another midwife appeared giving us 3 options.
Let it come out naturally.
Take medication to force it out which can be super painful.
Or surgery, which is a vacuum basically which sucks it out.
Period of silence followed and we was shown out the side door, absolutely devastated.
We sat in the car park at a complete loss. I had the announcement board ready to go, bought the little lamb rattle, we had it all planned and it was over.
After an hour we went home, packed our bags and basically ran away for the weekend leaving the boys with their Nan. We couldn’t face being “parents” surrounded by toys at this time.
Work were great, signed us both off with paid leave.
The weekend was spent crying, drinking, walking, crying.
We returned Monday, still an emotional mess but able to function at least.
The hospital rang asking if we had made a decision, on Tuesday Leanne booked the surgery for the Wednesday. That Tuesday night went to visit a friend who was questioning the dates, could they be wrong, is it earlier than we think, ask for a second scan to confirm.
On looking at the scan, the gestation sac was 1D 25mm, 2D 29mm and 3D 29mm. I’m googling sac sizes at 1am and see that is 8 weeks. 5 weeks earlier than what we was told.
Leanne’s now questioning if she forgot to record a period I said look, we’ll ask for a confirmation scan to be sure.
That morning, we go into SDEC (Same day emergency care), nurse calls us in, Leanne breaks down so I take over asking for a confirmation scan. They were great and said of course, booking us in for April 2nd.
I would have declined the 1st for obvious reasons.
We’re sat here now 99% believing we’ve lost the baby, however we need that 1% of doubt clearing away with this confirmation scan on Tuesday. Even a scan at an earlier date should have shown more than just the gestation sac and yolk sac.
I’m back to work on Monday, needing some normality back in my life, although Tuesday after the scan won’t be much fun.
This week that’s just gone, Wednesday 27th, the Boys mum had her assessment heard at panel, we’re now just waiting to hear from the social services to see how that went and would they be returned or not.
We have some difficult decisions ahead if she doesn’t, as now Leanne’s “oven has been warmed”, we’re desperate more than ever for our own little baby, yet fully aware Leanne turns 40 in a couple of months and I’m 42 myself.
It really needs to happen now, or not at all. Seeing Cameron Diaz having her second at 51 years old the other week, not sure how I feel as the old you get the more our bodies begin to tire and develop issues where running after children becomes more difficult.
All family options for the boys have been exhausted, so it’s either us, their mum or adoption. Being 2 and 3 they are the prime age to be adopted yet we would never see them again and that would f’in hurt, especially if me and Leanne are not successful in having our own.
I'm sharing this as men don't like to talk and when 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage, many men will have been in similar situations and struggle in silence. Whilst the woman will ultimately bare the most pain and need the most support, it still f'in hurts....a lot.
So yeah, coming on here reading how Paul Warne is a terrible football manager, being 2nd is pure luck and all the rest of the negative hyperbole just hasn’t been at the top of the list to absorb. 
More to life than football has never been more true.
You know the old saying though, behind every successful forum owner, behind him is a team of amazing moderators. Big thanks to them for carrying the load whilst I spend time supporting the wife.

Im at a rather embarrassing 21.
3 PL, 9 Championship, 7 L1, and 2 L2

I went to Chesterfield v Oxford City with my grandson a few weeks ago as I was unable to get to the Reading match and the bloke sat next to me accused me of being a glory hunter!

Let's go two up top, Washington and Collins. NML and CBT as wingers and tell them to go for it with Ward and Wilson replacing them early second half, Adams and Hourihane Central Midfield. Smith at right back and Sibley at left back.
Come on you Rams!

I'd rather we win

On a tangent, but how amusing would it be to see Leicester bottle promotion after being so far ahead and with such a financial advantage over others...

The win along with the slip ups puts us in such a good position. I'm really thinking we're going to do this. I think 2 more wins and we're probably over the line given the inconsistency of everyone else. Just need to dig in and get a point against Portsmouth to keep the train going and beat Wycombe to seal the deal. 

Great interview with Ebou Adams talking about Derby County, his faith, Ramadan. Four o'clock was his last meal. No food or water since. Wonderful attitude and discipline. Fully deserves MOTM.

Even if Bolton were to win every game and finish on 93 points, which I doubt they will, that means we would only need to win 4 out of 5 which is entirely possible in my opinion. We're in a very strong position. I reckon 3 wins for us will do it now as we have the better goal difference.

IMO the bottom line is that we must assume for now that Bolton are capable of getting 15 points from 7 games, whilst still hoping that they will slip up somewhere.
As I said before, that means that if we get 12 points from 6 games then we are finishing 2nd, especially if we can keep GD superiority over Bolton.
Update - good news about today is that NML and Collins might start for us, and Jordan Rhodes is injured and won't feature for Blackpool.  That might give us the edge over them going forward and creating chances.
Most teams around us are having end of season injury problems as well, which maybe evens things up a bit.
12 points is what we need, doesn't matter how we get them or against which opposition.  I really believe that 3 wins and 3 draws will be enough.
My strategy would be to go all out for the win every game, rack up the 12 points as soon as possible and by then hopefully it will be done and dusted.
Knowing us however, in reality we will probably get a surprise win against one of the teams around us and also a surprise loss in one of the last 3 games against the bottom half teams.
Looking forward to what might well turn out to be a season defining weekend!
 

A little bit of Daniel at Pride Park forever ❤️ Give him a wave when you pass the east stand 🐏

I'm going to assume promotion for this and we'll go with a 3412/3421...
Loans for: Evans, Rooney, Fornah, Radcliffe, Weston
Extensions for: Forsyth (backup and in-game coaching for U21s), Sibley, Thompson and DRobinson
Meaning we retain the following squad:
GK: Vickers
RCB: Nelson, Nyambe
CB: Bradley, Forsyth
LCB: Cashin
RWB: Ward, Wilson
LWB: Sibley, Elder
DM: -
CM: LThompson, DRobinson
RW: -
LW: Mendez-Laing, Blackett-Taylor
CF: Washington, DBrown
In my squad, that would leave gaps at GK(x2), CB, LWB, DM(x2), CM, RW(x2), CF(x2) - 11 signings
GK, 1st choice - Chris Walton (free, Ipswich)
GK, 3rd choice - John Ruddy (free, Birmingham) May want to go somewhere he will get game time which would rule us out. He's at the age where he should be stepping back, and he wouldn't have to move too far if he were to join us.
CB, 1st choice - Sam Stubbs (free, Bradford). A risky option, but he's still only 25, dominant in the air, and a good defender. He is slow so could struggle with stepping up a couple of divisions. Saying that, I thought he played very well in his game against us in the EFL Trophy.

LWB, rotation - Sam McCallum (free, Norwich)

DM, 1st choice - Ebou Adams (£?). Makes our team click without doing anything fancy. Difficult to say what Cardiff would want for him.

DM, 2nd choice - Nohan Kenneh (£?, Hibs). He would often train with the first team at Leeds under Bielsa, so you know the type of player he is. A 21 year old version of Adams.

CM, 1st choice - Herbie Kane (free, Barnsley). Would take over from Hourihane as the main set-piece taker.

RW, rotation - Tyrhys Dolan (compensation, Blackburn). Versitile, coming through as a winger at Blackburn before moving more central this season. The type of player you need in a squad to give the flexibility between formations depending on opposition and injuries within the squad.

RW, rotation - Femi Azeez (compensation, Reading). One of the best wingers in the league, with a high goal contribution output. Will be in high demand, so an unlikely signing.

CF, 1st choice - Harry Leonard (loan, Blackburn). A good all-round forward who creates as well as scores. We were apparently close to signing him in January, so I can see us going back in for him in the summer.

CF, 2nd choice - John McAtee (loan, Luton). More of a #10, but is another hard worker and one of the more creative CFs in L1.

 
A final squad of:
GK: Walton, Vickers, Ruddy
RCB: Nelson, Nyambe
CB: Stubbs, Bradley, Forsyth
LCB: Cashin
RWB: Ward, Wilson
LWB: McCallum, Sibley, Elder
DM: Adams, Kenneh
CM: Kane, LThompson, DRobinson
RW: Dolan, Azeez
LW: Mendez-Laing, Blackett-Taylor
CF: Leonard, McAtee, Washington, DBrown

Great shout! I liked him in Hook too! It’s a yes from Smee! 

According to Dom Dietrich Warne has said Collins will be involved against Blackpool, as will NML but needs further assessment. 
I know how important Friday could be, but I really hope we don’t take risks with NML. It’s not ideal but I’d play him from the bench on Friday, give CBT chance to show what he can do with Ward or Wilson on the other side then only use Nat if needed. 

Put it this way, if we don't finish 2nd now then it'll be the worst bottling since last season.

Nobheads have appealed it.
(Forest that is)

Adam Thorley is back at Derby
Derby County's academy has been strengthened with the return of the highly-rated Adam Thorley. Thorley was poached by Chelsea back in 2021 when he became their under-15s coach.
But it is understood he has now returned to Derby where he has been appointed head of technical development for under-nines to under-16s. Thorley initially started his career at Derby having joined the club in 2010, but had a short stint at Wolves where he was YDP coach for eight months.
He was Derby's under-18s coach and professional development phase coach before leaving for Premier League Chelsea. During his time at Pride Park, the club cultivated a number of players to come through the academy including the likes of Kaide Gordon (Liverpool) and Liam Delap (Manchester City).

Seeing as 50% of prem teams are struggling with ffp. Ditching their #2 or 3 keeper on £30-40k pw and hiring a competent replacement on a free offering £15k could be quite attractive?

Wildsmith
Smith         Nelson       Cashin         Elder
                         D.Robinson
             Adams               Thompson
   Wilson          Washington            CBT
(Loach, Ward, Sibley, Hourihane, Radcliffe, Waghorn, Collins)
Weston, Fapetu, Allen, K.Robinson and Cox on standby. 
 

Seeing as 50% of prem teams are struggling with ffp. Ditching their #2 or 3 keeper on £30-40k pw and hiring a competent replacement on a free offering £15k could be quite attractive?

It's interesting to see how a lot of people are now suggesting 3 at the back rather than a back 4 that people have been saying is how we should be lining up. I've liked the idea of having a back 3. It allows us more players to attack, but gives us 5 at the back when defending. 
Big game today. No complacency please. We have to be professional and get the job done and not assume it's 3 points in the bank. Northampton will likely raise their game against us. 
COYR!