archram

Wilson, Nyambe and Nelson all look like very good additions. Fornah, Washington, Vickers and even Bradley have shown they can offer something at times and it’s a long old season with plenty of games.
Let’s hope the likes of Elder, Ward and TJJ get over their injury problems in the next couple of weeks and can start to have meaningful contributions to the rest of our season 😃 
 

PAUL WARNE - - - - YOUR FOOTBALL WAS GREAT!
It’s the best we’ve seen at Pride Park for some time. The Barnsley manager said that until the 3rd goal went in it was pretty even. I disagree. Apart from Wildsmith’s early save, they had hardly had a sniff - yet Derby were creating threats right through that first half. We weren’t dominant, but well in control.
Although it didn’t feel like it at times. James Collin’s yellow card was bought for a bus ticket. If their player hadn’t rolled around like someone had put a chainsaw through his stomach there wouldn’t have been a card. When Nelson was floored by a “stray elbow” - it wasn’t stray, it went exactly where it was meant to - there wasn’t even a free kick, and I felt that there would be yet another dodgy penalty decision against us, and that Barnsley would have the full 3 points in their swag bag.
But the decision went our way, and yes it was a clear shove in the back, leaving me thinking the ref was bound to try and even things up after we had scored. A few correct decisions would have evened things up our way, but then he’d look like a decent ref, so we can’t have that, can we? Cue their keeper being bundled into the net by his own defender - free kick to Barnsley, and so it continued.
Much of the success was down to Collins being in the area when the ball was played in there - who’d have thought it? He had a great game, and it was great that the fans were backing him from the start.
Our play was a great mix of closing down, proper football and playing it long, and we had a good tempo all along. And a tactical change in the second half saw Barkhuisen playing on the break and he broke free several times, including that miss! And I am sure that Barnsley simply hadn’t expected him to play the role and didn’t latch on to him. And it was great to here the fans backing him after that miss!
The second and third goals were almost identical, so had we found Barnsley’s soft underbelly and exploited it? If so, well done Mr Warne, you tactical genius! Along with him starting to play Wilson as a winger instead of a full back! And Sibley!!! An inch lower and that would have been a stunning goal. Only he would shoot from such an outrageous angle!
Did anyone have bad game? With 4 or 5 players up for MOM, I would say no, but shout outs to Cashin, Fozzy, NML and Wilson. Oh, and Collins!
The self-belief and authority with which we played today made me think of the Clough and Mackay teams from all those years ago. Long may it continue. Imagine where in the League we would be if we’d played like that more often, because it is what we have been capable of all along. Again - long may it continue!
And finally: in his RD interview Paul Warne told the players that he wanted maximum effort, with no-one pulling out of challenges because today we are remembering all those who gave their all for us. That statement alone deserved the win!

I think the recent atmosphere at away games has been toxic. There are a group of belligerent fans who come into the ground tanked up and looking for a fight from the off -  with the players, the manager, the more positive Derby fans. 
This is a huge change to the former almost unconditional support away fans were giving the players during administration and beyond.
We've somehow got to combat this. They aren't the majority (far from it) but they are bullies.
I don't expect unwavering adulation, but the atmosphere becomes an almost self-fulfilling prophecy. It makes everyone nervous and every little mistake is magnified, which leads to more nervousness, more mistakes etc. 
Our next away game is at Port Vale, where the atmosphere was brilliant last season and we kept backing the team to the end. Look what happened there! 
The players clearly have belief in what they are doing. Look how they came back at Crewe when most had given up hope. If we can remember that and get behind them a bit more, it could make all the difference. 

All aboard the 'Warne in train'. Destination: Championship 
It feels like a big week to me. Warne's decision to play so many youngsters in the cup has helped galvanise everyone - first team, academy, fans. The U18s continued it with a controlled win in the FA Youth Cup. The first team finished the week with what I hope is the defining point of our season. We played very well and beat a top 6 side.
Under Mac in the 13/14 season, it wasn't until Feb when we beat QPR when the club started to believe 'this will be our year' and have the self belief to beat other top 6 sides. This win over Barnsley should have the same effect.

Who said there was a dressing room meltdown? I think Hourihane made it pretty clear that the players were trying their best. Just because we lost games to some poor teams doesn't mean the players weren't motivated.

1Wildsmith 7 Significant acrobatic save horizontally to his right 1st half. At that point he could’ve picked up a book & read for the remainder. 
24Nyambe 7 None shall pass-by this granite-rock right-back. Took a knock. 
5Bradley 6 Barnsley were spent when he saw out the last 10.
35Nelson 8 Stultified Cole completely. 
6Cashin 8 Perpetual motion of heading blocking & left-footed drives down the fairway.
3Forsyth 7 Vintage. Made in Scotland from Girders. Punctured any fight Barnsley might summon by killing the game with the 2nd goal. His piledriven shot became the 3rd goal. 
4Hourihane 6.5 Sufficient.
7Barkhuizen 5.5 Must do better and not waste gilt opportunity.
17Sibley 6.5 Brought a cutting edge late on and rasped the bar. 
12Smith 6.0 Contributed with short passes here & there.
8Bird 🦅 6.5 Not as dominant as we have come to know but won possession regularly 
11Méndez-Laing 7.0 Active & sharp but took a knock and was withdrawn.
2Wilson 7.5 Ran the full-back a merry dance with nutmegs, swivels & pirouettes a plenty. Joy to watch. Crosses never quite found white. 
9Collins 8.5 Takes MotM with 2 goals and a bullish performance. A penalty and a chested goal. 
 
Barnsley never had a sniff and were dispatched by a mentally strong Rams outfit. 
 
Today I type with tears in my eyes; I am devastated to hear the news of B4’s passing. I had the good fortune of meeting B4 on 3 occasions which I’ll never forget. His passion and indefatigable support were inspiring and on this Forum he led us countless times with his rallying calls and with his own brand of words. Let’s have a sea of black and white for B4 v Bristol Rovers. God Bless B4.

What sad news. It has brought a lump to my throat when I read this. 
This lad was Derby through and through. He always brought a smile to my face when giving a rallying call and when he had felt hard done by at an away game and woe betide any opposition fan or steward upsetting him.
I had a look back at the PM’s I have had from him. These probably best describe the person he was. One message during Covid asked if I was ok and he said maybe I can help you when he sensed I was feeling down. Another giving me some friendly advice on the new James Bound film and his last message regarding his arthritis and my missus’s hip replacement. 
I never met him although I saw him regularly at away matches giving his full support to Derby, however it felt like he was my friend.

Over 9 years ago I took my lad to his first away game. Charlton, midweek in the 6 weeks holidays. 
 
A game I’ll never forget. He was only 5 at the time. I could see that as soon as we walked into the ground, he might struggle with just how loud it was. We got to our seat and the game just about to kick off and everybody standing. He was only 4 foot tall so I told him to stand on his seat. He still couldn’t see properly but at least it was better. The next minute, a friendly face appeared offering us both a sweet, unbeknown to me at the time it was B4 - my lad then fell down the back of his seat hurting both his legs. B4 was straight there making sure he was OK and for the next 90 minutes made regular check ins with him to see if he was OK and reassuring him not all games are like that. 
 
At HT we spoke at length and swapped user ID’s on dcfcfans. The next day I received the below message direct from Daniel. It epitomises everything about the guy and from that moment, he’s always held a special place in my heart and always will do. Not many like him but I’m so glad our paths crossed that night. 
 
RIP buddy, DCFC won’t be the same place without you. 💙💙
 

That’s brilliant @Mucker1884 😭 

A stranger we had yet to meet.
Our paths had never crossed.
And yet, it seems, we knew him well,
A dear friend we have lost.
A heart of gold, a Kindly soul,
A friendly word to each.
A clumsy gaff may oft appear,
But ne’er offence be reached.
A call to arms, a plea for fight,
A positive embrace.
Defiant stance, a pumping fist,
A smile on his face.
Hatred of pink, and all things red,
More strangers for him to meet.
“A sea of black and white” he’d call,
“Let’s all stand at our seat”!
A disregard for marriage,
for relationships of two,
“Never, ever” he would wail,
“That would never do”!
Yet he loved all, and we loved him.
His quirks always forgiven,
His stubbornness frustrated,
But missed, now he’s in Heaven.
The truest Ram, amongst us all,
Now gone for evermore.
For Daniel, for DCFC
Let’s all be more B4
xxx
🐏🤍

When I heard this sad news last night, I was absolutely gutted, B4 was such a positive man, an optimist in times of mediocrity, a true believer who only faltered once, when we were on the brink 16 months ago. The thought of losing his beloved Rams, filled him with dread.
However, it is only tonight, reading everyone's tributes, with an unashamed tear rolling down my cheek, that the bigger picture emerged. Tales of chats at service stations and concourses, his passion at at games and most tellingly, the private messages of encouragement or empathy when other posters were going through a tough time. Even when he had his own troubles, which would have left most of us exhausted and probably would have prevented all of us attaining his relentless positivity.
The reason behind those chats and messages, as well as good human nature, is we are family. We have something which binds us together, a shared love, a community. We live in a polarised society, where politicians, media and social media seek to expose and amplify any divisions and isolate us. However, we have an attachment, a forum, a club, a badge, a team to rally round and no-one rallied round The Rams more than B4. For those, like B4, who may find life hasn't always been kind or easy, that sense of attachment is even stronger and more important. 
They say you die twice in life, once when you stop breathing and again when people stop remembering you. Daniel, we will remember you, we will remember your rallying cries, your kindness to others and most of all the purity of your faith for the team you love.        

Don't forget the ballions!

So sad, such a legend.
Even with all his issues he still messaged me with support when my close family were/are suffering with illness.
Always Mr Positive.
He is the light that will never go out.
R.I.P fella.

Hugely sad news.
I always loved the energy he would muster up for the most banal midweek winter evening game. He would come here and write paragraphs of prose on how we should turn Pride Park into a fortress and sing our hearts out and show the lads we support them and then after that we'll go on a title charge etc etc
In the nicest way possible, you'd be thinking "steady on there mate, it's only Peterborough at Home!" But it meant that much to him. Every single game. He never took a single game of football for granted. It was his passion and he gave it his heart and soul, and he never ever took it for granted. 
I like to think I'm a passionate Rams fan but I'm a mere armchair casual in comparison.

The only thing he hated more than Nick Blackman, was Nick Blackman in a pink shirt.😂

This is news that just stops you in your tracks. There’s really nothing more to say than has already been said but I hope his family, in the midst of their anguish, are able to feel proud that they gave the support to B4 to enable him to be the positive influence that he was.
His enthusiasm and spelling will live forever on this forum.
RIP B4, I’m so pleased to have known you through this forum.

This is news that just stops you in your tracks. There’s really nothing more to say than has already been said but I hope his family, in the midst of their anguish, are able to feel proud that they gave the support to B4 to enable him to be the positive influence that he was.
His enthusiasm and spelling will live forever on this forum.
RIP B4, I’m so pleased to have known you through this forum.

This is news that just stops you in your tracks. There’s really nothing more to say than has already been said but I hope his family, in the midst of their anguish, are able to feel proud that they gave the support to B4 to enable him to be the positive influence that he was.
His enthusiasm and spelling will live forever on this forum.
RIP B4, I’m so pleased to have known you through this forum.

This is news that just stops you in your tracks. There’s really nothing more to say than has already been said but I hope his family, in the midst of their anguish, are able to feel proud that they gave the support to B4 to enable him to be the positive influence that he was.
His enthusiasm and spelling will live forever on this forum.
RIP B4, I’m so pleased to have known you through this forum.

This is news that just stops you in your tracks. There’s really nothing more to say than has already been said but I hope his family, in the midst of their anguish, are able to feel proud that they gave the support to B4 to enable him to be the positive influence that he was.
His enthusiasm and spelling will live forever on this forum.
RIP B4, I’m so pleased to have known you through this forum.

This is news that just stops you in your tracks. There’s really nothing more to say than has already been said but I hope his family, in the midst of their anguish, are able to feel proud that they gave the support to B4 to enable him to be the positive influence that he was.
His enthusiasm and spelling will live forever on this forum.
RIP B4, I’m so pleased to have known you through this forum.

This is news that just stops you in your tracks. There’s really nothing more to say than has already been said but I hope his family, in the midst of their anguish, are able to feel proud that they gave the support to B4 to enable him to be the positive influence that he was.
His enthusiasm and spelling will live forever on this forum.
RIP B4, I’m so pleased to have known you through this forum.

This is news that just stops you in your tracks. There’s really nothing more to say than has already been said but I hope his family, in the midst of their anguish, are able to feel proud that they gave the support to B4 to enable him to be the positive influence that he was.
His enthusiasm and spelling will live forever on this forum.
RIP B4, I’m so pleased to have known you through this forum.

This is news that just stops you in your tracks. There’s really nothing more to say than has already been said but I hope his family, in the midst of their anguish, are able to feel proud that they gave the support to B4 to enable him to be the positive influence that he was.
His enthusiasm and spelling will live forever on this forum.
RIP B4, I’m so pleased to have known you through this forum.

That’s not a bad legacy.
”We should all be more B4.”
Stick that on a banner, cos it’s bloody true.
A bit of unwavering positivity goes a long way. 
This a real kick in the nuts. We all knew he had health problems based on his posts here, but I had no idea they were so serious. He was so positive and passionate about everything, even, it turns out, in the face of his own problems. Jesus, he had every reason to be down, more than most, but it seems absolutely nothing could bring him down. 
Just imagine a world where we were all a bit more B4.