archram

Just noticed something, we have the same amount of goals scored (34) and goals conceded (16) as top of the league Portsmouth
We are nine points below them. That’s some classic Derby County stuff.
Playing the right notes just not necessarily in the right order…

It’s never easy, Claire, but it does help (immensely) to enjoy the memories.
Rule No1 in my book is never feel guilty about smiling… or laughing… about our lost loved ones. 
Yes, that in itself may sometimes lead to tears and literal heartache, but occasionally to more smiles, and more laughter. It feels bad. It feels wrong. But in reality, it’s healthy. It’s normal. 
The next few days in particular will no doubt feel like a roller coaster… physically and mentally.  
None of us can stop the ride, but we can hold your hand and help you through it. 
 
Stay strong for your parents, for Daniel, and most importantly for yourself. 
We’re all here for you. 
You’re our sister now. 
xxx 🤍

Daniel was a big part of this forum and he will always be remembered , it is perfectly natural to be feeling how you do at the moment , but I’m sure I’m not alone on here sending you love and strength as you cope with your grief , we are all here for you if and when you need to talk

He always knew his football did B4 ❤️

It feels surreal coming on here and having so many other people ‘get’ Daniel and also feeling his loss. I’m having a bad day today with it hitting home that he’s gone. It’s a bit less lonely hearing others speak about him 😢

Sorry, but I have to ask...
Anyone know if there's anywhere to get fish and chips nearby?
 
👀🤍

#BEMOREB4

Been meaning to post this for several days, just didn’t want to appear too marrose.

It’s just not the same on here without B4!
Even though I never had the pleasure of meeting him, I just enjoyed his enthusiasm and his unwavering passion and honesty about DCFC which was clear for all to see.
😪😪🐏🐏

It would be good to meet up and possibly travel up for a match together.  I lost my wife earlier this year, and although not a football fan herself, she still made the odd journey with me to keep me company. For that reasons, I would really like to meet up and have some company when i come up. Travelling alone is not all that its made out to be. I watch and hope. COYR

Halfway through the season. Fingers crossed for another 3-0 to Derby result 🐏 

Well said .
A small group of us 63-65 year olds get together a couple of times a year for a few beers .We went out last Saturday night and got talking about the "good old days" getting the cane ,slipper, dodging the board rubber, p*ss taking, having a laugh everyday, and SARCASM. We got to pondering if there was such a thing as Herbert George Wells Time machine ,and  a 100 13-14 year olds went back to "our" old school in 1973 (At least they would see some GREAT football at the BBG).How many would cope how many would suffer with nervous breakdowns. Would all of them be offended ?
My point is we seem to have lost the ability to accept a bit of "mickey taking", and are too quick to take offence and get upset over trivial comments.
Mr thick skinned Ramage

I began frequenting a positively hostile news forum, devoid of swear filters, brimful of vicious personal attacks and threats of bodily harm, a place so mean one gets banned for being too nice.  In comparison, this forum is a heavenly oasis of tender intercourse between delightful characters bearing good will towards men and sheep.
Works for me.

I'm a reasonably diplomatic, boring, steady middle aged bloke.
I'm reasonably well educated and can write reasonably well so try to choose words on this forum that express an opinion that may be different to others, without deliberately causing offence. I certainly don't have 'poor writing' or 'poor vocabulary' as anything like an excuse if I were to cause offence.........but, without being patronising, I do understand not all so-called offensive posts are intended to be offensive.
However, it's apparent that I'm not alone in finding it tiresome that almost every single thread deteriorates into a game of point scoring, oneupmanship and, increasingly, forum archeology, in order to be unpleasant to one another.
There seems to be, in equal measure, deliberate attempts to cause offence and seek offence and it's just not great reading. I'm not in the slightest bit supportive of closing down debates or censoring differences of opinion but the number of personal spats with unpleasant language is getting beyond a joke.
I can't blame the mods because, individually, most of these posts fall below the threshold of complaint but, collectively, they make this forum so much worse than it could be.
I came to this forum for camaraderie when we nearly went under as a club - and it was a source of great comfort, information and humour.
It's got to the point where I'm considering signing off and and using the Telegraph and Radio Derby as my main non-matchday links - they have limitations but they are civil.
Any ideas what we can do?

Very interesting article
https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/i-10-minutes-away-vital-8969345

My deepest condolences to B4's family and friends.  Daniel was one of those rare individuals whose spirit leapt from the computer screen and into our lives. 3,650 miles from Derby as i write this, and I feel as though I've lost a friend that I never met. 
B4's unflagging support of Derby, even in the difficult times, always provided a lift and a smile for the rest of us.
Daniel's legacy will live forever in the hearts and minds of this virtual family.
R.I.P. 

Nope , not alone , I’ve already stated that since the meltdown Im enjoying going to games in a way that i havnt for years , im engaged and enjoying the ongoing fight back , I don’t need us to be playing prem football against prem teams , for over 55 years derby have been my team and derby fans my tribe , that’s all I need and being competitive at whatever level we are and striving for better does the trick for me , I will be at pp again on Saturday desperate for a win and buzzing if we get one 🤷🏻‍♂️

I would happily have taken the position we are in a week before christmas, 3 points off automatic promotion back in August.
Plenty of room for improvement but winning is a nice habit and confidence will give us an extra boost going into the next few games.
We won't win them all, we will lose one or two soon enough but thats when you need to go on another run. The other teams wont win every game either.
Its all to play for, enjoy it! Look forward to a proper scrap for those top 2 positions over the coming weeks and months.
COYR
 

I just don’t think you see the full picture. L1 isn’t vastly different from the Championship. A few weaker clubs yes, some lack of consistency certainly. Yet there are good footballers in this league, many of whom would prosper in the championship. Those few percentage points that move you from average to serious contender are very small. Add in that many of our signings that were “designed” for PW’s vision had injuries and left us both thin on the ground in numbers and having to adopt a compromised style. It hasn’t been an easy ride. There isn’t a huge cheque book, 25k every week a saying we are DCFC also doesn’t cut it when there are 11 strong men in the opposing half who are busting a gut to put one on us.
This is sport, we are in our roller coaster car with all its dints and scratches. I am just enjoying the competition and thank goodness we are at the very least a competitive group. My attitude would be different if we were below half way … but we aren’t . I seriously doubt there is a manager out there who would guarantee any team promotion with the obvious strictures they would be under given our current level of strength and stability. This isn’t happy clappy this is competition, reality, oh and support.

@Mucker1884 Would it be ok to use your poem in the funeral service? Also, what is your name to add to it? 

Getting stabbed might have had something to do with it. Never the same player after that. Dread to think the impact that episode would’ve had on his mental health.

He’s quirky and interesting to me. He’s had a helluav job .. watching the pennies and at the same time the overwhelming expectations of this club. 
 
Looking at where we are now, I am happy as the famous Larry. I wasn’t earlier in the season, we had games when the players looked disinterested and lacked passion, a system wasn’t in place or working. Thing is, he has worked on it and the players have bought in. As to the humour .. excellent, love it. Bored to tears of managers who either rant and blame or alternatively sound like a mega corporations PR department. 

1Wildsmith - 7.0 how many clean sheets is that in the last 10? Not always had much to do but does what he needs to dependably
23Ward - 6.0 Understandably looks a little rusty
7 Barkhuizen - 6.5 Will be popping Nate on his Christmas card list, so badly did he need a goal. Confidence boost perhaps? I hope so as he's a decent squad player when on it and he's not been for a little while now
35Nelson - 7.5 Loving our defence right now and this lad is a hefty part of the reason why
6Cashin - 6.5 not his best game, but tidy enough
3Forsyth - 7.0 Man crush
4Hourihane - 8.0 Best game in a while. When you see him passing the ball the way he did yesterday, you wonder why he doesn't do it more often, but with the team committing more players forward, perhaps he'll prosper
22Fornah - 6.5 - Solid enough cameo
2Wilson - 8.0 - He and Nate the standouts for me. Close control to die for and he gets folk on their feet every time he runs at a player. A cracking signing.
17Sibley - 7.0 - Quietly effective, but that goal! Has to deliver consistency but perhaps netting will give him the confidence to do so. He's a very talented lad.
5Bradley - 6.5 - See 'Fornah'
8Bird - 7.0 Lad's a Rolls Royce. Not his strongest outing, but some of his passing was excellent and he looks in prime form
11Méndez-Laing - 9.0 the heartbeat of the side right now. Takes the ball on the turn and looks to trouble defenders every time. Putting Barks in for goal when he'd likely have netted himself shows he's very much about the team and he's in the form of his life right now.
39Brown - 6.5 - Got a run out but little chance to shine. Was busting a gut to get forward though so he gets a half over the median from me
9Collins - 5.5 Horrid day for Collo. Missed a couple that were easier to score, then took a nasty cheap shot right in the face. Worked very hard, but this was an outing to forget in all other regards.
19John-Jules - 6.5 Very unlucky not to maintain his super-sub streak. This lad brings some real pace to side and seems to strike the ball sweetly with almost no back lift. I think he'll score plenty in this league assuming we keep hold of him.
Warne Watch: Another good day at the office. On another day, we might well have conceded, but generally speaking, he has sorted out a defence that looked quite porous and we're also now seeing some style and understanding from the attacking players. I also think this is probably the fittest Derby side I've seen in yonks. Six players charging up the pitch with only minutes to go and the game already well won is really quite noteworthy.

Neither has the criticism Warne has faced.  

Have you listened to the interview? He praised Sibley plenty as well as making his usual jokey comment, it’s not like he was digging Sibley out or anything 🙄 

I have heard that Clowes is looking for investment and in talks with 1 that I know of. A couple of American investors looking to get into football and turn Derby into the ‘next Wrexham’ with a certain Derby supporting global superstar as the face of the club. Clowes will not Sell unless he is involved in the running of the club still.