FlyBritishMidland

I think this was a win and type of performance you need to get out of this division. I’ve enjoyed the last 2 games, both professional performances. 13 points out of 15 since Reading, opened a gap on 3rd and applied a bit of pressure. What’s not to be happy about?

So we are 2nd on luck after about 2/3 of the season? Luck wins cups where you have be good on a one off. Luck doesn’t get teams at the top end of the table.

That’s pretty much how I saw it. Bradley had his best game in a Rams shirt, I wonder if being captain gave him more confidence? I think Warne picked the best starting 11 he could given he’d lost Collins on Wednesday and being a bit careful with others coming back. I also thought his subs were spot on. Smith allowed Bird more freedom and a bit more positivity on the right with moving Wilson there. I think if we want Sibley to play in a more attacking role, he’s best as an impact sub and it worked today. Full credit to Warne, I’ve been critical of his use of subs in the past, but not today. I’m sorry but I really don’t get this place sometimes. We’ve taken 6 points this week and opened a gap on 3rd and 4th. They have games in hand but they’re under pressure to win them and it this stage of the season I’d rather have the points. We win 3-0 on Tuesday and we didn’t deserve as we only had 30% possession. We win today and we only had 2 shots on target. They were organised at the back and did OK at nullifying us and we lost our focal point up front in the week. I despair!!

He looks someone arrives at East Mids airport dressed like that for 2 weeks in Tenerife. In February. Then you’re sat next to him on the plane. You get there to find he’s in the same hotel. And hunts you out at every opportunity. And, in his opinion, your families got on so well he insists on swapping phone numbers and meeting up when you’re back home.

And maybe BT’s sources has said he’s fine but go and put it out there that he’s done for the season. All mind games 🤞.

Derby 3 Stevenage 1 FRGS Barkhuizen

My point was, we weren’t just looking at Sheffield and we did think we had a striker over the line until the last hour or so.

You need to listen to the interview with SP. He said there were 3 targets, 2 in the PL and 1 in the Championship. The players in the PL started getting games. A deal was done for the 1 in the Championship and all the paperwork was sorted. Then his club changed their mind at something like 9:30.

They did indeed. There’s also been Alan Curbishley and Steve Gritt at Charlton and Coventry won the cup with John Sillett and George Curtis as joint managers. Even our own Roy McFarland any Colin Todd had a spell together at Bolton as joint managers.

And yet we did win. And then you say xG adds nothing. I’m with @Caerphilly Ram, why are people looking for reasons as to why we shouldn’t have won? Totally baffled!!

Professional performance last night away to a team in form. 3 excellent goals, all well taken. I agree with Bird being MoM but it could easily been a few others. I think Adam’s has been key to an improved Bird. He’s been that reliable rock in front of the back 3/4 allowing Bird to focus on being further forward in the role Warne wants him to play. Fornah was signed for the same role but it hasn’t quite worked. Hopefully he’s watching and learning from Adam’s.

Well I suspect they’ve had a discussion about how they want to work together. And it wouldn’t be unreasonable for SP to say he doesn’t like being micro-manage and wants freedom to do his job. Within specified limits, obviously.

Get where you’re coming from. With DC’s comment about him being allowed to do his job it may infer that MM didn’t allow him to and interfered. And he’d really like to say what it was like, but can’t. Which is a shame cos that might be interesting!!

Exeter 1 Derby 1 FRGS NML

Totally agree. I seem to remember an interview with David Clowes (can’t remember if it was just after he’d taken over or the one last summer) but he said something along the lines of SP being very good at his job and he’s being allowed to do his job. David Clowes obviously trusts him or he wouldn’t be here.

To the outside world we must look a bit mad. A team sat 2nd in the league and we have a thread about sacking the manager that reaches 120 pages. And about 13.5, over 10%, of those pages since going into 2nd place. This must be some sort of record amongst fan forums. Most fans would be delighted to be 2nd in their respective league. A lot of the concern and debate is about the football. I get it may not be pretty all the time, but I also don’t think it’s as bad as portrayed in here. It reminds me of Mel sacking Clement and coining the infamous “Derby Way” phrase. I also get the concern about PW in the Championship. What I would say is, he’ll have far more resources to build a team to stay there than he ever had at Rotherham.

I listened to the RD Shrewsbury build up podcast this morning. Dom started saying this is coming and that there are legal agreements in place on certain subjects.

Derby 2 Shrewsbury 1 FRGS Bird

Probably because we’ve had to rebuild the recruitment staff since administration. The Head of Recruitment only started in the summer and Warne also said that they’re looking to improve the scouting network abroad.

Forest appointed Cooper in September and Jones is a good manager in Luton, hasn’t worked so well outside of there so far. And as @Kernow has said, they’d pretty much need to win every game.

It happens all the time. Team goes in a goal down at half-time, manager issues a rollicking, they come out fired up for the first 15mins or so of the 2nd half.

I think we’ll be top 4. Then it’s who can be most consistent. If we can manage that, Top 2 is definitely on. We’ve steadily improved our league position and since getting into the Top 6 we haven’t dropped out. I do wonder if our injuries have come at the right time. The bench yesterday was probably the strongest it’s been all season with some coming back. Getting Washington and maybe Waggy and Foz back later this month will add that bit more quality, depth and experience for the the last couple of months. Signing CBT means we can be a bit less nervous about NML getting injured. Adam’s looks like he’s given us a bit of an edge in midfield. I seem to remember Mac1 saying that Fergie used to say you don’t need to be top but be in touch going into Feb, and then kick on in the final third. Being 2nd, others do have games in hand, after the 1st weekend in Feb is a nice place to be.

Charlton 1 Derby 1 FRGS Collins

So you make the cat have the tap end??

I’m either going insane or had too much to drink. Are we really debating whether a penalty should be counted in goal stats, it inflates stats, the taker may not be involved in the build up, a tap in, blah, blah, bleedin’ blah? Can’t we all just accept that Collins is having a very good season. Goals win games no matter how they’re scored or who by. Did we get a bonus point for his volley last week? No. If we win 1-0 to tomorrow and it’s a 90th minute penalty do we only get 2 points? No. Give me strength!!