IslandExile

What we do have, is a proven academy and probably the best outside the Premiership. Any young talent that is looking to make in football would look at Derby County if their parents had any sense.  Those who went to an Academy side in the Premiership were always up against more competition and its been proven with Luke Plange being released by Arsenal and Louie Watson at West Ham, then improving at Moor Farm.
We have created a top class youth academy that will continue to attract young talent for years to come. The man to take the credit is Darren Wassall.  The manager that brought him to Derby from Burton was Nigel Clough, so he must also take some credit, Nigel was sacked in September 2013 but had stated in the March of 2013 "The Academy should almost be ring fenced and whoever comes in next, I hope they have the sense to leave it alone and let it continue working".  I'm not going to list the players that have made it from academy status to either Premiership, Championship or lower proffesional leagues. The list is quite big, but I will mention one player who I thought could have made it with the Rams, Timi Max Elsnik who made only the 1st team in the Carabao cup but went on loan to a few clubs before being released and is mow playing for Olimpija Lujbljana in the top flight of Slovenia and recently made his debut for Slovenia in Octoberthis year.

Robin van de Laan's goal against Crystal Palace in the 95/96 promotion season and the moment when, "Nigel Martyn knew the dummies in front had let him down."

The quality of those goals, four in one match of such precision and power. 
Has there been a match with four better goals for one team since?

Mine too
 

if you get the chance the 4 scored against Newcastle in the 1/4 final of the FA cup 1976 are fantastic (on you tube)...the 4th is my very favourite ever.

Are you insinuating that he didn't mean it?

I wish we had someone as bad as him now. 

Best Thread:
1971-72 season scrapbook 
Happy memories of what this great club has achieved.
Best Poster:
Shared by @LeedsCityRam for starting that thread and updating it regularly.
@BrailsfordRam for bringing it alive with their rich memories

Best Thread:
1971-72 season scrapbook 
Happy memories of what this great club has achieved.
Best Poster:
Shared by @LeedsCityRam for starting that thread and updating it regularly.
@BrailsfordRam for bringing it alive with their rich memories

Well I am so pround young rams they stood up and be counted today and such a massive step up in class and Luke plang he was there just to tap in that shot of joswick today he had a descent game and playing in right position. But some of the hit and move football was fanstic to watch but they also showed that can do dirty side of football well. 
And with 7 first team players down with cov 19 but we manage to get the win and keeps our hopes alive to stay up.
Young players will get massive experance from the game that they will learn from but all in all it was a good performance in my eyes.
And now to blackpool fans they joined our fight against efl and they were in good voice I hope they make play offs by stopping forest and boro in there tracks and upset gibson at the same time.
Also blackpool fans who were on here please feel free make comments about the game. 
Your more than welcome back at pp any time.

In the end I didn't care enough to boo him; I was too busy applauding the efforts of our young players who once again stepped up to the mark in difficult circumstances.
Keogh could learn a bit about character from some of them. 

Yep. Curtis has always been brilliant with the younger players. Without wanting to knock Wazza who is doing his level best in impossible circumstances, I'm still mystified by the decision to make Lawrence the skipper but I suppose the likes of Curtis, Jags, Shinniesta and Knight all lead by example anyway.
Back on Curtis, he looks nailed on to make a very good coach somewhere down the line, hopefully with us. He's the very definition of a model professional and a credit to himself and the club.

IMO in recent years by far the best aspect of being a Rams fan has been the way that 'the kids' have emerged and done sterling work for us.  Had more faith been shown in them earlier under previous managers then we wouldn't have spent silly money that we didn't really have on expensive but average bench sitters, bankrupting ourselves in the process.  Now we find ourselves in precisely the situation we have been dreading all these years, heading for League 1 with a team mostly consisting of young &/or local &/or untried talent.
And you know what?  It might actually be the best thing that's ever happened to us.  OK we might lose a couple of the best young players (Knight won't want to play in League 1 as he is already an international) but there always seem to be more coming through.  And this current crop will run through walls for Wazza because he gave them a chance.
So we should give thanks to those who made this possible, get behind the kids at every opportunity and let them know that we believe in them 100%.  We are fortunate to be able to watch such a talented and hard working bunch.  This is how football should be, primarily a means for local talent to find an outlet and connect with and contribute to their home town team.
And once the new ownership is in place their first act should be to commit to continuing to invest in the Academy.  In the long run it will save us millions. 

The most crushed I've ever been at a game, over 10,000 of us, magic day.

Phil Gee, at Brammal Lane. It took us to the verge of promotion. I remember it as through on goal, and smashing it through the keepers legs, in front of our fans. 
Probably made him my idol, that goal.
He also did a great a job on my dad's plastering (a few years later).

Great choice ?

Did everyone see the attention Curtis Davies paid him when he was subbed?
Arm around the shoulder, words in the ear and then Curtis clapped him all the way off the pitch.  
Luke should feel 10 ft tall tonight, great start and he's in good hands with teammates like that.

3rd Sept 1892 Steve Bloomer first goal for Derby v Stoke aged 18. You needed to be there to appreciate it!

I have two a) Roger Davies v Leeds ( yes I was in the Normanton stand and saw it going in) b) Jack Marriott v Leeds.
The Leeds thread is no coincidence 

Charlie George v Real Madrid 
 
Kevin Hector v Benfica
 
All goals v Newcastle .. FA Cup...1976?

True to the OP’s word their backing was tremendous today made for a great atmosphere to commence the match respect to the Tangerine Army???

The irony of course being he didn't appoint a manager to specifically bring young players through until he'd decided to sell the club & we were already well on our way to implosion (Cocu post 2019 playoff final). Unusually for his reign the right strategy but poor timing & execution. 
I'd prefer to give credit to Darren Wassall, Pat Lyons & everyone at the Academy. None of the young players have looked out their depth when they've stepped up & thats testament to hard work done behind the scenes.

Their parents for… well, you know.
 
Still awks.