Leeds Ram

Reading that Birmingham thread is gold. Falling all over themselves for an ownership that has got them relegated, have deluded plans for a stadium expansion which they can't possibly fill and who have added little quality to a squad that struggled. It's quite odd to be honest, if it was me I'd be questioning their management and their extravagant plans. Watching them struggle on Saturday against a Norwich team in first gear who had basically 0 to play for should have made them a little humble but apparently not... They're also seemingly convinced they'll take over grounds across the country and roll over everyone in sight... Personally I don't see them getting out of there in a single season. If Sunderland, Ipswich, us, Sheffield United, Notts Forest, Sheffield Wednesday couldn't do it then I don't see why they will. Plus you've got Wrexham and Stockport both coming up who look like they have the potential to be useful at this level. Charlton had a mare of a season but you've got to fancy them for a fight back and one of Peterborough or Bolton will be staying down causing additional problems. Plus you've got Rotherham who always find a way to bounce back somehow to add to the competition. I fancy them to do an us in the first season and either steal a place in the playoffs but not go up automatically or just miss out. As soon as they don't hit the ground running and rolling over teams their fan base will turn on the owners, manager and players causing a crisis-type atmosphere. Being a bigger club (I'd put Birmingham as slightly smaller than the clubs above) is such a double-edged sword. Everyone raises their games, brings a bigger following than usual and at home they can really even up the odds with dodgy pitches, incompetent refs and dark arts tactics. You have to be absolutely ruthless to get out of it which I don't think they've cottoned on to yet.

currently reading liberalism as a way of life by Alexandre Lefebvre 🙂 it's very compelling yet easy to read. Interviewing him tomorrow about it which should be fun.

I have mixed feelings on Warne. He's done well to get us up but let's be honest we were favourites and had in-built advantages. The championship will be a whole different monster and while Warne does have a track record in league 1 he doesn't really have one in the championship. We do need to temper our expectations i think. There's little chance of a tilt at the play offs and survival is the big priority. That might be difficult to take at first... I think the big issue is recruitment. We were a big pull in league 1 but in the championship we are less so and the squad needs significant additions. Who knows if Warne is the man but we should back him until otherwise.

Nah f*** them I say. They taunted us that day and took every delight in our suffering. Absolute b******* the lot of them. Hope they're crying in the s******* they call the 'second city'.

you've got to love it haven't you.

I chose birmingham with my party hat at the ready...

Anything above relegation and I'll take it. Despite all the records and the points performance wise we're not particularly convincing against teams who can knock it around well. I think the championship will be a struggle and our signings need to be creative given the limitations on the budget side. Then again the 3 teams coming down are all terrible and if Bolton don't come up in the playoffs that'll be 1 team who'll more than likely be back down too. If Warne can get us to 52-65 points I'll say that's a very solid performance which we can build on.

It's enjoyable enough but god it is also grim playing fleetwood at home on a Saturday in an actual league fixture. This is especially the case when you don't get the win... Really respect fans of smaller clubs who follow them when the odds of success are near 0 and the carlisle fans were class tbf to them. I'm not hungry yet for Premier League football but am glad we can play some bigger teams next year with a bit more spice and hopefully we'll be a competitive outfit!

It was amazing!!! Anyone calling the pitch invasion 'tinpot' can in my view get in the bin. I've never known an atmosphere like it at Pride Park as all 4 stands really got involved and revelled in the moment. Our flag game was very strong and it was quite a spectacle. I just hope we continue to keep up this level of support next season. COYR

COYR!! you got this lads. Today is the day we get out of this damn league!

up and ready! travelling from york so a relatively short trip but getting in early to saviour the atmosphere!

I'll probably put a fiver on bolton tomorrow to go up automatically. For me it at least adds a gloss on defeat if i win a few quid. The way I see it it's a win win- either derby win in which i don't give a damn about the couple of quid or we lose and it adds something to the miserable experience of seeing us lose.

Agree! Let's hope we both get what we desire tomorrow!

not off the leash but I would say the stewards should be strict after 10 minutes of getting people off.

I wouldn't use the word selfish as I think it's misplaced and I'm not sure what money people have contributed to the club has anything to do with it. There are competing ways people express their joy and I wouldn't place one above the other which is why I hope after 10 minutes people leave the pitch and allow the players to come out so everyone can have what they would ideally like.

In all honesty if a pitch invasion is about spontaneity and an outburst of exuberance then going on 30 minutes after they've walked around kind of misses the point doesn't it....

the messaging is just so tin eared. Instead of reminding everyone to have a good time and behave themselves they have a big red map with 'dispersal order' written on it.

They may or may not. If they don't they'll have to do the celebrations as tradition is from the directors box in front of the fans. Obviously hopefully no-one will be an idiot but I'm not that worried as this will be a pitch invasion where people are happy rather than one fuelled with anger and frustration.

I'm honestly not sure how anyone could begrudge a massing of people on the pitch if we do go up. The club are saying what they need to say the same as any other club does. But it's a moment of ecstasy which almost every other club does if they achieve promotion. It's a fantastic moment (I still remember scampering onto the pitch during Southampton play off semi) and it will always linger in my head. Why would I want to deny a 13 year old their opportunity now? Yes, of course, some cannot come onto the pitch. Ideally, the club gives us 10 minutes to bask in the warmth or rain and then is strict in getting us off the hallowed turf so they can come on and do the lap of honour in front of everyone.

Nice! I do like a bit of John Boyne myself 🙂

I think this is a win win for us. Either they drop this season and all hell breaks loose or they are decimated this season and end up going down next season and be crippled in the championship.

When you think we were a week away from going under it does put everything else into perspective. I do think once David has moved on as chairman, so it is appropriate, that there should be considerations for a statue or at the very least a stand named after the man who saved us from oblivion. He'll be an excellent custodian of the club as he seems to have been thus far and we're really fortunate to have him as our owner.

The more I think about it the more confident I am we'll get it done. We looked so dominant against Leyton Orient and against Cambridge we did what was needed. I don't think we're gong to let this chance slip through our grasp.

It would have been nice if Peterborough had done us a bit of a favour and kept in the hunt but they'd obviously downed tools after Saturday. Never mind it's up to us all we need is a point after all!

read vision or mirage by david rundell on saudi arabia which i think was very good. Also reading Burr by Gore Vidal as I want to start his historical fiction series and it's good.