ck-

Nelson made a very shaky start from memory but has been immense the last 3 quarters of the season.
I had him down at fault for the Portsmouth first goal.
Cashin same for me, a dodgy start but, as he forged a partnership with Nelson, has been excellent. 
However, I do think back to Lincoln where Cashin has his pants round his ankles for most of the game.
Wildsmiths form has been up and down but he has more than played his part, especially considering that he saved his best performance of the season for Bolton at home.

For me, watching sports such as cricket, golf and yes (for my sins), some football on SKY I class as entertainment. However, I go to watch Derby County because they are a passion in my life and give me a feeling of inclusion, no matter the level we happen to be playing at. Do I prefer for us to be playing exciting, attacking football - of course, who doesn't - but after a poor performance do I think to myself was I entertained? Never! Frustration and a certain level of annoyance definitely but those feelings fade as we get closer to the next match and we go again.

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.
 

Coventry goal against Manchester United. Attacker’s left little toe nail was 1/2cm closer to the goal.
Surely that isn’t what the offside rule is for? 

Coventry goal against Manchester United. Attacker’s left little toe nail was 1/2cm closer to the goal.
Surely that isn’t what the offside rule is for? 

That’s true. And I accept that wherever you draw the line, there will be millimetre decisions. 
My point was that this isn’t what the offside rule was for. It was to prevent persistent goal hanging with a defending team just hoofing the ball up to a player who was dawdling near the goal. 
This seems to be against the spirit of that. 

Coventry goal against Manchester United. Attacker’s left little toe nail was 1/2cm closer to the goal.
Surely that isn’t what the offside rule is for? 

When go on about goals being disallowed, because of VAR tight calls are ignored as it will be checked.
Without VAR, there's a good chance the lino would have flagged it offside.
VAR is one of those things like Brexit and children, most people wanted it until they had to live with it.
 

That’s true. And I accept that wherever you draw the line, there will be millimetre decisions. 
My point was that this isn’t what the offside rule was for. It was to prevent persistent goal hanging with a defending team just hoofing the ball up to a player who was dawdling near the goal. 
This seems to be against the spirit of that. 

Coventry goal against Manchester United. Attacker’s left little toe nail was 1/2cm closer to the goal.
Surely that isn’t what the offside rule is for? 

That’s true. And I accept that wherever you draw the line, there will be millimetre decisions. 
My point was that this isn’t what the offside rule was for. It was to prevent persistent goal hanging with a defending team just hoofing the ball up to a player who was dawdling near the goal. 
This seems to be against the spirit of that. 

That’s true. And I accept that wherever you draw the line, there will be millimetre decisions. 
My point was that this isn’t what the offside rule was for. It was to prevent persistent goal hanging with a defending team just hoofing the ball up to a player who was dawdling near the goal. 
This seems to be against the spirit of that. 

I agree. I’ve been so frustrated with the way he ducks under the ball for headers, but yesterday he was immense. I don’t think he lost one, and he really powered through them. 

Thought he was immense yesterday especially 2nd half , well done Sonny

Coventry goal against Manchester United. Attacker’s left little toe nail was 1/2cm closer to the goal.
Surely that isn’t what the offside rule is for? 

That’s true. And I accept that wherever you draw the line, there will be millimetre decisions. 
My point was that this isn’t what the offside rule was for. It was to prevent persistent goal hanging with a defending team just hoofing the ball up to a player who was dawdling near the goal. 
This seems to be against the spirit of that. 

Coventry goal against Manchester United. Attacker’s left little toe nail was 1/2cm closer to the goal.
Surely that isn’t what the offside rule is for? 

That’s true. And I accept that wherever you draw the line, there will be millimetre decisions. 
My point was that this isn’t what the offside rule was for. It was to prevent persistent goal hanging with a defending team just hoofing the ball up to a player who was dawdling near the goal. 
This seems to be against the spirit of that. 

It should be… if any part of the attacker is onside, they are  onside. Would feel a lot more acceptable getting rulers out for this than the current situation. 

I really hope that we get promoted on Saturday but I’m not sure that I want to ever go back to the premier league. Never being able to properly celebrate a goal until all checks are complete is not what football is about (for me, anyway). 

Makes no difference. We're a League One side playing League One opposition. If we were in the Championship or PL then it would be PL or Championship opposition - you can only beat those at your current level and to have beaten so many of them on their own home turf is a special achievement, not worthy of a cheap comment.

He'll never achieve owt by staying young!  

I was pathetic enough as it was!

My dad came close to tearing up a few times but it didn’t feel sad. It was very much a celebration. I have my moments but I’m very much a glass half full person. I was joking about what Daniel would have been saying to all the players. Our table was laughing about Nick Blackman turning up in the pink kit with Dan’s award 😂 It was a lovely night. 

I heard you actually asked him that! 🙊