FlyBritishMidland

The club have a retro shirt from the 2001-03 era on sale.  It’s on display in the shop window.  That was made by errea but it doesn’t have the manufactures logo on so maybe it’s self produced.  It would be good if they did the sand for some of the old Puma kits.

3 minutes ago, richinspain said:

Why? NML although not playing at his best as a second striker (I'm not sure that playing there is the main reason) is doing ok and CBT is a very good straight swap. Barks is currently getting the nod as the substitute replacement, but he's on a very good run of form compared with earlier in the season. CBT when on song I believe is better than Barks. NML won't be playing for even, or even a 46 game season. I believe that CBT may actually thrive on being played more centrally, where with his power and pace will be able to go either side and have more room.

And you could play with 2 Nr 10’s in a 3-4-3 formation.  CBT plus NML with a target man up top and they make runs beyond.

A confident and comfortable performance yesterday.  The only thing missing was a goal from open play but that doesn’t worry me.  Both yesterday and at Wycombe, particularly 1st half, we created some really good ones.  The defence never looked in trouble and I thought we controlled midfield.  Smith had a really good game, he was comfortable on the ball and always available to receive it.  Collins looked more like himself and put his usual shift in.  Kane’s goal was right in front of me, definitely his.

I might be in a minority but I don’t mind Bradley.  Personally, I think he plays better when he’s captain, he seems to thrive on the responsibility.  Yes, he made some mistakes early on but Warne acted on it.  Pleased he got his goals and hope that gives him a lift for the last 2 games.

2 hours ago, i-Ram said:

Thanks Ilkley. I don’t get Radio Derby down here in the tropics, so didn’t hear the piece.

Of course Rooney was a freak injury, and even Lazarus’s doctor would probably be shaking his head with TJJ, but the number of players unavailable with day-to-day knocks does seem very high to me. A few recently being made known when the team sheet is announced. I may be wrong, I often am, but it would be interesting to analyse his time with Rotherham and Derby to see if players were spending more time on the treatment table under his watch, than other times in their career.

Injuries is interesting.  This weeks episode of the Rams Daily podcast building up to the game is worth a listen.  Injuries is discussed and Martin Fisher said it seems to be a problem in all the divisions this season.  They discussed the stop start nature of the game now affecting muscles, etc and the length of injury time.  The Orient chap they spoke too alluded to the same.  Their manager has said the extra injury time at the end of matches has had an affect on his players fitness.  Particularly at the start of the season when players were still building up their fitness and they haven’t recovered from this.

Derby 3 Orient 0

FRGS Collins

51 minutes ago, RoyMac5 said:

I wonder who we spent on, wasn’t it all loans or does it include CBT?

It’s agents fees.  And includes signings, loans and contract renewals.  From academy to 1st team.  Basically everything.

3 hours ago, Foreveram said:

Also 4 points from third, with a game in hand.

Good point.  And just like 10:00 on Wednesday night when the general assumption was that Bolton would win their game in hand, we must assume the same for Rotherham.  Therefore, that would take to the, 4th or 5th, 3 points off automatics.

It’s also more relevant to compare to the top than bottom because of the number teams between them. Getting in the top 6 relied on a couple of teams losing.  Dropping to the bottom 3 relied on 13 teams winning.

We’ve had posters saying Rotherham stayed up because Warne left, but forgetting their start and his far better ppg than his successor.  This season they’re down with 23 points so far, worse than any season under Warne (40 in 18/19 and 42 in 20/21 when he was in permanent charge although it was 23 when in interim charge).  It could be said that it’s more to do with the resources available to them than any particular manager.

14 minutes ago, BramcoteRam84 said:

He won’t resign if we don’t go up. Clowes won’t get rid of him either. Clowes loves him and think it was quite clear from the fans forum that Pearce loves him. The people side, the environment, the culture, Clowes is big into that in terms of running his company (that’s a good thing by the way I’d want to work for a company with a good culture and think I do for the most part which is probably why I’m still there after 13 years). No one can deny Warne is very strong in this area. Warne is going nowhere and I think some need to realise that. I think he’ll be in charge for at least next season and probably the rest of his contract.

Personally I still think we’re going up so this is moot, but if we were to stay down, I think it would be counter productive to sack Warne and could risk keeping us down here for a few more years. He knows what it takes in League 1 as he’s won 3 promotions,  we’ve improved this season from last and I know a lot of people struggle to accept this but we have been hampered by restrictions compared with our promotion rivals both this season and last. This summer with no restrictions he’s best placed to know what we need to be promoted next season, a new playing style and building something new again could keep us down for longer IMO. 

Totally agree with everything you say.  His strength is in building the right culture and environment.  You only have to listen to Adams talk about how everyone has treated him, etc.   Look at Hourihane when he hasn’t been playing, he’s cheering and encouraging from the sidelines.  That’s all down to Warne and the culture and environment he’s built.  That can’t be underestimated.

I half expected that and, I’m glad we didn’t lose.  I was nowhere near as nervous through the game as I was against Pompey because while we didn’t look like winning, we didn’t look like losing either.  That said the performance was not where it needs to be.  Again, too many off days at the same time.  Abject is probably a good description. 

If CBT’s chance goes in, we would probably have gone on to win comfortably but I think that affected not just him but the team too.  And NML at least has to make the keeper make a save.  I have some sympathy with Washington’s chance as the ball was bouncing and difficult to control.

My glass half full position (and helped by sleeping on it) is this happens, even to Liverpool!!  When we slipped up at Northampton, no-one else took advantage.  I had this as a draw and Pompey as a defeat, so 1 point up.  I think Pompey will beat Bolton win both promotion and the league, that’s come at a good time for us.  Posh will slip up in the next 5 and away to Oxford on Saturday isn’t easy.

3 wins, and I believe we can do it 🐏.

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t really that fussed about this.  I did listen to the Rams Daily podcast yesterday which is a shortened 45min version and I quite enjoyed it.  Is the full version on BBC Sounds?  If so, I might give it a go and skip through the bits I’m not so interested in.

I used to know the kit man’s dad and have a pint with him before the game.  He once arranged for Mrs FBM’s Rams shirt to be signed by the first team squad.  I reckon that was around 2002/03.

Wycombe 1 Derby 2

FRGS CBT

No doubt this is a big game, not just for us but the chasing pack too.  In particular if we lose, it’ll give them a bit of hope.

Something I’ve been thinking about since Portsmouth is the GK position.  I wonder if PW may switch to Vickers for the last 4 games.  There were some moments with Wildsmith in the last game that I think will have caused some debate at Moor Farm, and none of them related to the goals.

Firstly, the handball.  Not that specifically but being there in the first place.  My initial reaction when I saw him coming out was that he’d give a penalty away as it was almost identical to the Oxford & Charlton games.  Then the chance they hit over the bar.  Wildsmith didn’t judge the flight of the ball in the conditions, didn’t claim the cross and it led to a chance.  And finally, right at the end, he caught the ball and Cashin went down under a challenge, clearly wanting to slow it down.  Wildsmith released the ball quickly, something he rarely if ever does, and losing possession could have cost us.  Cashin wasn’t very happy.

I think it’ll come down to who Warne trusts the most for the run in.  Who does he have more confidence in to keep their head?  It’s a big call but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a change between the sticks.

It’ll be something like RD have the broadcasting rights for the next x years.

On 03/04/2024 at 13:55, CBRammette said:

A colleague said to me "you're up now arent you" this morning - then treated him to a long lesson on the years of Derby disappointment and blowing it at the last moment. Feel he will never mention football to me again 😂

Please Derby 🤞🤞🤞

I had a similar chat with a mate last night.  I explained how we couldn’t even win the league easily back in ‘72 and had to wait for others to finish after we’d played all our games. If there’s a hard way, The Rams will find it!!

17 minutes ago, IslandExile said:

Black socks - shudder.

History.....Blue shorts.....now you're talking....

I do think that as next season is 50 years since we were last Champions of England (and let’s face it, it’s unlikely to happen again 😢) we ought to have blue shorts just for 1 season.  We can then revert to black with no change to club colours.

1 hour ago, ap04 said:

Another thing I haven't said (yet)

We’ve got that to look forward to?  Can’t wait!!

1 hour ago, ap04 said:

No, what I'm saying is that I can use the metric I want for Derby but have no time or interest to watch 11 other games a week so I have to go by the next best (models).

 

It works both ways though, remember at Northampton everyone saying how we were a disgrace and deserved nothing from the game, guess what that was nonsense too.

First point, what you’re saying is you’ll go by commonly used statistics for the rest of the league but make your own up for Derby’s matches to suit what outcome you’re trying to prove.  So you’ve proved my original point.

Second point, we lost against Northampton.  I get criticism when we’ve lost and not played particularly well.  You seem intent on making things up to prove we shouldn’t have had a positive outcome when we have.

1 hour ago, ap04 said:

I am not mixing anything up, just saying that this is one instance where xG is not a reliable performance indicator, as in a goal being the maximum in performance scales (perfect attacking/worst defending).

Also not sure why you think it's either goals or chances (for evaluating not xG), ideally you want an analogue 0 (no threat) to 1 (goal), including execution and all non-shot events. In fact some later models use post-shot ball tracking or even goals as a 'boost'.

What you’re saying is you’ll choose to use whatever metrics you want to create and make up to suit your narrative.

I’m sorry but I’m really struggling to understand how any fan can go to such lengths to try and justify why their team shouldn’t win/draw/get a positive outcome from a match.

Great result and performance.  A point away at the top of league in horrendous conditions is not to be sniffed at.  I thought Ward took his goals well, especially the first.  He hit it first time, no need for a touch to control it and that probably caught them out.  CBT had his best performance in a Rams shirt and showed what he can offer now he’s over his niggles and settled in.  Sibley did well against one of the best wingers in the league.

Adams - my MoM, although Cashin ran him close.  I thought we might need a 3rd man in midfield but having him as 1 of the 2 is like having 3 in midfield.  The amount of ground he covers is superb, he tackles, he supports the attack and good on the ball.  How he plays with that energy during Ramadan I’ll never know.

I thought we were tactically spot on in the 2nd half and played the conditions well.  No point in closing down, risk a slip that lets them through or gives away a free-kick.  We made them go long and the ball skidded out on a slippy surface.  It took a bit of luck (handball) and a cracking strike to equalise - Wildsmith was a bit unlucky with that.

4 to go, 3 wins should do it.  April could feel like a long month!!  COYR 🐏.

Portsmouth 1 Derby 1

FRGS CBT

Crikey I’m nervous - not just tonight but for the next 5 games.  I think we’ll need an extra body in midfield so I’d bring Thompson in, maybe for NML as he’s had a knock recently.  Ward and CBT in the wide positions and Collins up front, if he’s fit enough.

With yesterdays results we have to go for it, playing for a draw doesn’t tend to end well.  And PW, his staff and players keep talking about trying to catch Portsmouth.  If that’s the aim, and why shouldn’t it be, we have to try to win.

COYR 🐏.

Another professional performance.  NML and Washington were used (and I use that word as a tactical instruction) as players coming back from knocks.  No relentless pressing but more effective, at the right times.  The midfield looked balanced and the defence was solid, as it usually is.  For all their possession in the 2nd half, Wildsmith only had the free-kick to save.

The results went for us.  Just like our little wobble last week it was the same for the rest yesterday.  1 month and 5 games to go 🐏.

Derby 2 Blackpool 0

FRGS Sibley

8 hours ago, Charliegeorge1962 said:

Beat Blackpool on Friday and Stevenage do us a favour too.

Pboro will have a one too many games in a short period and blow it.

I actually think will get a draw at pompey.

Wins against Orient Carlisle and Cambridge

Loss against Wycombe.

13 pts

Finishing up with 91 pts

That’s what I reckon (hope!!) too.  If we can get 91 points, it means others have either got to win 6 out of 7 (Bolton) or 7 out of 8 (Barnsley and Peterborough).  I can’t see Bolton beating all of Stevenage, Peterborough and Portsmouth.  Barnsley are very inconsistent and have Stevenage and Portsmouth to play.  Peterborough are the trickiest having an easier run in.  Bolton aside, Oxford in the middle of April is probably their toughest and they’re still battling for the Play-offs. But they do have a lot of games in a short space of time, 9 in 30 days including the EFL cup final so fatigue could play a part.

Friday is a big game 🐏.

Reflecting on yesterday, it wasn’t great, but I don’t think it’s the end of the world.  It really comes down to the first half.  We settled down after the first 10-15mins and got on top.  The problem is we didn’t take our chances in that spell.  We had 3 good opportunities and on another day at least 1 goes in.  There was also a foul on Wilson for the goal - the ref was poor all game.  They still have to get up the other end but we’re then dragged out of position but credit to their striker, he finished well.

The 2nd half was incredibly scrappy and their gamesmanship of stopping play every 2mins got to us.  The most disappointing thing is Bradley getting sent off, not for yesterday but for the impact on the next 3 games, especially with Fozzy out.

It’s still in our hands, although tighter than we’d like.  All other teams around us will also drop points as it’s a busy period.  Hopefully having less games will work in our favour as we can be better prepared and players have more recovery time, especially as we’re a bit threadbare for the next 2-3 weeks.  This team is resilient and bounces back.  We just need to do it one more time for a final push.