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IslandExile

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  1. Like
    IslandExile got a reaction from Eoin in Derby Fans On Owners survey   
    Done. Good luck.
  2. Cheers
    IslandExile reacted to Rampant in Match Thread: vs Reading (H)   
    Derby County vs Reading
    Tuesday 12th March
    Pride Park   KO 1945
     
    Opposition Bio: Reading have made more headlines off the field than on it in recent times as they find themselves in financial strife as a result of incompetency by their owner. Sound familiar? 
    The EFL have seemingly cut them more slack than they did with ourselves but their patience must be wearing thin as deadlines to deposit sufficient funds regularly pass. The latest failure to pony up saw them docked further points and their season deduction now stands at six points in total. 
    There was a further deduction of three points doled out, albeit suspended, after their understandably fed up supporters invaded the pitch and caused the early abandonment of their home match with Port Vale, the latters best result in recent months.
    Where we had Mel Morris, Reading have Dai Yongge. This proves the old adage of being wary of baldies or fake Welshmen baring gifts.
    Any sympathy we have for them should be tempered though by the thought that they are probably still laughing at us paying £3m for Nick Blackman.
    Reading FC are known as the Royals, a distinctly naff nickname acquired after a young Prince Albert played a dozen games for the club before marrying Queen Victoria. Plus they hail from the royal county of Berkshire. They are also known as the Biscuitmen due to the town's association with the biscuit makers Huntley & Palmers. 
    They are managed by Spaniard Ruben Selles and, having been relegated last season, will be looking to secure League 1 survival this season and kick on in 2024/25 under different ownership and without points deductions.
    Reading are the proud holders of two notable records. In the 1985/86 season they recorded 13 straight victories at the start of the season in what is now this division and they also hold the record for the highest points total for their whopping 106 points in their 2005/06 Championship campaign. 
    Opposition Form: Not too shabby in fairness. In the ten matches played since they beat us 1-0 at their place they have won a further four games with three draws and three defeats.
    They arrive at Pride Park on the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Wycombe and in 18th place with a record of W12-D9-L16. It should be noted, however, that without their points deduction they would be in 14th position. 
    Their away record is perhaps misleading as the bare stats of W3-D5-L10 needs to be looked at in the knowledge that they contrived to lose their first eight matches on the road. They all count obviously but their more recent form away since then reads W3-D5-L2. 
    Their away wins have been at Wycombe (2-1), Stevenage (1-0) and Carlisle (3-1). They have also managed decent draws at Oxford and Peterborough.
    In those 18 away games they have only failed to score on four occasions. Promisingly from a Rams perspective, they have only kept the one clean sheet on their travels.
    Opposition Players: Going purely off the stats it would appear their chief dangermen are top marksman Harvey Knibbs (10 goals, 6 assists), Sam Smith (9 goals, 10 assists) and possibly Femi Azeez and Lewis Wing. They also have Robbie's son Charlie Savage, the experienced Harlee Dean and the wonderfully named youngster Jacob Hammond-Chambers-Borgnis who I hope gets a runout as I'd love to see if they put his triple-barrelled name on his shirt.
    Rams vs Reading History: This will be the 48th league clash between Derby and Reading and the 54th in all competitions. The clubs' first meeting was a League Cup clash in October 1965 (1-1) but it wasn't until 22nd September 1984 that the Rams and the Royals met in a league fixture for the first time and the long wait proved barely worthwhile as we played out a goalless draw at their previous home, Elm Park. The return fixture would prove to be more memorable, for us at least, as Reading's first ever league visit to Derby in April 1985 saw the Rams win 4-1 with goals from Bobby Davison, Steve Buckley, Trevor Christie and Gary Micklewhite in front of a bumper crowd of 7,945 (really?).
    That was not a taste of things to come in this fixture though as Reading have had by far the better of it. Our record on their turf is especially poor with just four wins in 24 visits. On Derby soil, though better as you'd expect, it is still deeply unimpressive. Our last victory at home to them was a 1-0 success in September 2021 but our overall home league record against Reading is W10-D3-L10. 
    Expected Team: Same again one might think. Possibly a change in the middle to give more legs with Smith or Thompson in for Hourihane. 
    Other Fixtures of Note: Something similar to Saturday would be nice. A Derby win and at least one of our rivals for automatic dropping points please. Their games midweek are:
    Portsmouth vs Burton
    Bolton vs Oxford
    Carlisle vs Barnsley
    Peterborough vs Stevenage (Weds)
    COYR
     
  3. COYR
    IslandExile reacted to plymouthram in DERBY COUNTY RECORDS   
    The most league wins away in the clubs history was equalled today (12), with 4 away games to play will we beat it.
    Also, most league wins in a season is 28, back in 1955/56 season in Division 3 North. Currently on 22 with 9 matches to play (It's possible).
    Most league points in a season was 2013/14 with 85, can we get 14 points or more with 27 points still at stake.
  4. Clap
    IslandExile reacted to Jimbo Ram in Paul Warne   
    Cocu was the right Manager at the wrong time. Everything was stacked against him from day one. Very decent guy too.
  5. Haha
    IslandExile reacted to JuanFloEvraTheCocu'sNesta in Match Thread: vs Bristol Rovers (a)   
    The run in between Barnsley, Bolton and Derby is like watching three bald men fighting over a comb. 
  6. Cheers
    IslandExile reacted to Ramarena in Match Thread: vs Bristol Rovers (a)   
    HT 
    Bristol are seriously poor, but are starting to get a grip on midfield and coming into the game a bit more. 
    We started fairly well, but there’s no real link between attack and midfield. Hourihane is playing some decent passes, but we miss Birds mobility to link up with the attack. 
    Hopefully we can find a way to get a bit more cohesion in that final third. An obvious solution would be to bring an extra midfielder in.
    We need to offer more threat!
  7. Cheers
    IslandExile reacted to Caerphilly Ram in Match Thread: vs Bristol Rovers (a)   
    3-4-3/3-4-2-1 again with Hourihane replacing Bird. Hopefully we don’t feel his absence too much but I don’t feel Hourihane offers the same mobility.
  8. Clap
    IslandExile got a reaction from MickD in Might we lose...   
    I only caught a glimpse, in the second half, but weren't they doing the ole cheers for a passing move?
  9. Clap
    IslandExile reacted to LeedsCityRam in Might we lose...   
    I agree its unlikely we'll ever lose the 11 point record but Sheff Utd are very fortunate there is another team struggling just as badly pointswise (Burnley). 2007/08 was such a strong division & we were so much worse than the 19th best team hence the total. We also had a manager who seemed to be sabotaging the squad from the outset in some strange power game with the board. A perfect storm.
    As others mention, the way we rallied around such a poor team was different class & won us a lot of respect from Prem clubs & media. Am really struggling to think of a fanbase that dial up their support when times are so grim...we saw similiar in 2021/22 when in administration. Probably why the 'entitlement' accusation has so infuriated me this season, like we're not ever allowed to demand success even after such a garbage last 20 years.
  10. COYR
    IslandExile reacted to Donnyram in Stefano Eranio future coach?   
    Great to see the Stefano interview on the club website…. he clearly still has a love for the club.  Commented how he has a hope that he can play a part at the club in the future as a coach or even manager.  He’s been a part of Milan’s Academy coaching set up since 2005 so no real senior coaching experience but his knowledge and approach to the game would be intriguing to see.
  11. COYR
    IslandExile reacted to Eoghan1884 in Academy thread 23/24   
    Dajaune Brown scored again tonight 
  12. Like
    IslandExile reacted to B4’s Sister in B4 - for ever a Ram 🐏   
    Pride Park is Daniel’s special place. Even when the football is bad it’s full of life. That brings so much comfort. 
  13. Like
    IslandExile reacted to B4’s Sister in B4 - for ever a Ram 🐏   
    29 March is the first match after the brick is set. Dan’s birthday is 12 April. There’s a match the next day. Anyone who wants to give him a wave, pay respects, say happy birthday is welcome to do so 
  14. Haha
    IslandExile reacted to B4’s Sister in B4 - for ever a Ram 🐏   
    As B4’s big sister it is my job to wind him up so it would definitely be pink 😂
  15. Like
    IslandExile reacted to B4’s Sister in B4 - for ever a Ram 🐏   
    We are having a brick set for Dan at Pride Park soon with similar text. Every time Dad and I go to a match we will walk past it 🐏❤️
  16. Clap
    IslandExile reacted to angieram in B4 - for ever a Ram 🐏   
    Not pink, though! 
  17. Like
    IslandExile reacted to B4’s Sister in B4 - for ever a Ram 🐏   
    I think the Derby badge with the text B4 at the top/corner, and Forever a Ram at the bottom. With some colour on it somewhere would be lovely 🥰 
  18. Haha
    IslandExile reacted to Mick Harford in Might we lose...   
    Chanting 'Lets pretend we scored a goal' against Villa at home was chuffing brilliant to be fair, then celebrating wildly when nothing had happened on the pitch.
     
    I'm weirdly proud of that season, attending every home game apart from one and a few away, guess which was the only home game I missed? as me and my mate, Tim, decided to watch it on TV  instead.
  19. Sad
    IslandExile got a reaction from LeedsCityRam in Brian Clough 20th September 2004   
    Cried my eyes out 😭 
    As I did the day he left the club and the day he didn't come back 😭
  20. Sad
    IslandExile got a reaction from Wignall12 in Brian Clough 20th September 2004   
    Cried my eyes out 😭 
    As I did the day he left the club and the day he didn't come back 😭
  21. Like
    IslandExile reacted to Comrade 86 in B4 - for ever a Ram 🐏   
    A hearty 'yes' to the flag idea and obviously more than happy to chip in. As for the content, I think less is more for these things. My suggestion would be just go with 'B4', or perhaps something that honours him, like the 'BE MORE B4' tag which commemorates both Daniel and his outlook on life.
    That said, anything that would elicit a smile or a chuckle from all who remember him so fondly, would be lovely. I'd like to think B4 would bloody love this idea.
  22. Sad
    IslandExile got a reaction from SKRam in Brian Clough 20th September 2004   
    Cried my eyes out 😭 
    As I did the day he left the club and the day he didn't come back 😭
  23. COYR
    IslandExile reacted to Rampant in Match Thread: vs Bristol Rovers (a)   
    Bristol Rovers vs Derby County
    Saturday 9th March KO 3pm
    Memorial Stadium (BS7 0BF)
     
    Opponents Form: Decent recently with three wins in their last four matches including their last two. They currently sit 11th in the table albeit with no realistic playoff aspirations or relegation concerns. Whilst their home record in L1 this season is a reasonable W7-D5-L5 it should be noted that they have lost four of their most recent six matches on their own patch with wins over Carlisle (2-1) and Oxford (3-1) dampened by defeats to Blackpool (1-2), Exeter (0-1), Fleetwood (0-2) and Burton (1-2).
    Opponents Bio: Rovers are managed by Matt Taylor who is in his third managerial role. After an impressive four years at Exeter he was the man chosen by Rotherham to take over the reins after the departure of our own Paul Warne to Pride Park. Taylor's spell there lasted 13 months before he parted company with the Yorkshire club in November 2023 as the Millers were struggling in 22nd place. Within three weeks, however, he found himself in the Bristol Rovers hotseat replacing the ever-delightful Joseph Barton. 
    The club have played their home matches at the 11,000 capacity (3,000 seated) Memorial Stadium since 1996 after leaving their previous home in Eastville. They are officially known as the 'Pirates', reflecting Bristol's maritime history. Or because they just arrrr. Or maybe because their form is historically patchy. They are of course also known as the 'Gas', a nickname which was given them by opposition fans originally but was cheerfully adopted by the Rovers' followers who refer to themselves as 'Gasheads'. The name came about apparently due to their former stadium being sited next to a gasworks which produced a distinct aroma which would waft over the ground. Anybody who sits near a few of our more dedicated drinkers at Pride Park will no doubt relate to that.
    Opponents Player Watch: Only one place to start here as the Rams go up against our former beau, Christopher Hugh Martin. The Wardrobe has scored 15 goals this season and is joint fifth in the top scorers chart for the division. Second top scorer after CM9 is Anthony Evans with half a dozen goals. Other notable players are ex-Rams youngster Luke Thomas, experienced former Swansea, Celtic and Preston man Scott Sinclair and Chelsea loanee Harvey Vale who I think we were linked with during the summer. I'm not sure if he's their number one or not but they also have a goalkeeper called Jed Ward who you can only sympathise with.
    Rams Record vs Opponents: There have been three FA Cup ties between the two clubs but we'll focus on the 27 league matches there have been between Bristol Rovers and Derby County. The first meeting was on 29th August 1953 at Bristol so hats off to any Ram or Rover who remembers that match over 70 years ago. During the early years of the fixture it was Bristol Rovers who held sway with the Pirates winning the first three encounters, four of the first five and six of the first nine overall. Since then though it is the Rams who have had much the better of it. The overall league record for Derby against Saturday's opponents is as follows:
    P27: W12-D7-L8
    Away at Bristol Rovers our record  is: P13: W3-D4-L6   Whilst that isn't impressive it should be pointed out that we lost on our first five visits and since then we've gone W3-D3-L1 on their turf and are unbeaten in our last four visits.
    Since our relegation to L1 for the 2022/23 season the Rams have recorded home wins against Rovers in both fixtures at Pride Park (4-2 and 2-1) whilst last season we conceded a debateable late penalty in a 1-1 draw at their place.
    Other Saturday Fixtures Of Note: We will either be second or third going into the match depending on the outcome of Barnsley vs Bolton on Tuesday night. Peterborough are at home to Northampton on the same evening. On Saturday our priority is of course to earn three points in the south-west but we will be hoping for favourable results in at least one of the following games:
    Blackpool vs Portsmouth
    Exeter vs Bolton
    Barnsley vs Lincoln
    Burton vs Peterborough
    Expected Team: My guess is that Derby will be unchanged from the 3-0 win against a desperately struggling Port Vale. With fit full-back options rarer than a salad in the City Ground boardroom I suspect it'll be a back three plus the two wing-backs who played well yesterday. 
     
    Safe journey to those who make the trip and COYR.
  24. COYR
  25. Cheers
    IslandExile got a reaction from TINMANTED in Paul Warne   
    We've been over this so many times. But you clearly cannot grasp it and feel you have to surface whenever the first team win a game.
    Ok, here it is again, please try to understand it this time....
    We do not "hate" Warne.
    We just believe he should do better with the squad he has, the resources that he has available and make better use of the academy.
    We do not agree with many of his team selections, his tactics or his substitutions.
    Yes, we beat a very poor, low lying Port Vale, rah, rah, rah but can you look further than that - at the longer term future of the club?
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