FlyBritishMidland

I think to talk of splashing the cash is not really a valid claim. As part of the club's new business plan and risk management it could be argued that costs of spending on an experienced manager were part of a valid response to the risks and financial costs of being stuck in League ! for many seasons. As I recall at the time the plan was that we might be in League for 3 seasons before we were able to gain promotion back to the Championship.  Linking David Clowes behaviour as owner to that of Mel Morris, just won't do. Morris was a maverick who once he was owner did what he wanted without having sufficient people round him to advise him. The Clowes operation seems to be very different to me. What you term as Clowes's gamble  paying off might be viewed by others as careful planning delivering results.

I think the answer to that is "no" then! 😂

Can tell this is a chat gpt effort; spoken by a computer without football fan context.
frees aren’t the barrel scrapings they once were since covid made the financial bubble burst in the EFL, as we’ve seen. And loans, done well, can make the difference at an affordable rate (hello ebou Adams). Just can’t be too solely reliant else you end up like a forest team rebuilding scenario.

I didn't want to start a new thread but we lost another special fan last night. For those who know of Colin Attenborough, or remember a few months ago a message Paul Warne did for him (link below), he passed away peacefully in his sleep last night. I knew Colin by playing Poker with him - a great guy - passionate about the team - and I'm happy he was able to be with us until the promotion was secured. 
RIP Colin.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0hf96pq

Given we lost most of our best young talent in administration, I suspect it will take a while to fill that void in the pipeline!

Let’s open up that conversation again, you and those others with valid concerns that you’re undoubtedly able to articulate should put them forward now (not saying you shouldn’t have before either by the way). The season is done, the radio Derby review and preview last night included some deserved praise for what has been delivered and some fair observations on what could be better, so let’s discuss it openly as adults as you say 🍻
 
Any inappropriate comments or behaviour can be reported should there be any. 

My take is that there wasn't much of a change, aside from our ability to execute the gameplan and style of play better. All still with a mishmash assembled squad of freebies. 
That context is what a lot of us were taking into account when posting. It did seem at times, this nuance wasn't being thought about by some of the naysayers. That for me was what caused the frustration, not the difference in opinion, because it felt like some were being deliberately stubborn and refusing to acknowledge that context because they just didn't like his bobblehat or jokes or something... 

My main issue was the folk that couldn't tell where the line was between constructive debate and personal insults. I saw an embarrassing amount of vitriol online towards a manager that ultimately got us promotion in the end. I was arguing against it at the time because it was all so premature. Hopefully now those who went OTT feel a bit silly and will reign it in next time. 

What really bugged me through the season wasn't so much the post-match comments but some of the tripe being spouted as soon as the starting eleven was announced. After a poor display it's totally understandable that there's going to be some flack flying around but instead of waiting to see the actual match outcome and then commenting, it was as though a handful of posters (and I'm sure most of us can guess who) were champing at the but to stick the knife in.
For now (apart from the occasional laughingi imoji) they've mostly gone silent and I for one am enjoying the peace and serenity that a successful promotion brings.

I've always believed in giving manager's time. The only manager I can recall actively calling for the removal of was Tommy Docherty. I agreed with the removal of both John Gregory and Phil Brown because the situation was desperate at the time, though I had sympathy for the latter because of the difficulties of working under that particular regime. I always thought that calls for Warne's sacking were shortsighted and that some posters went well beyond reasonable criticism, and I think I made my views pretty clear along the way. The proliferation of anti-Warne threads were spoiling the forum. Some posters seemed to be on personal missions to get the manager out, fortunately few of them were "regulars".
The only thing that really matters is that David Clowes stayed loyal to his man, a quality I greatly admire. There's always room to improve some aspect of performance, style and results, and I appreciated the contributions of those who have identified those aspects and put their arguments across thoughtfully. I'd like to think that within the management team those aspects have also been identified and will be addressed, budget permitting in some cases, but for now let's just enjoy stage one of "mission accomplished".

You’re correct, with my patient optimism I have always been right! And some people have also always been correct in their concerns. But mainly I was right 😉 
I think the door has swung both ways with the more vocal minority on either side of the argument quick to goad, dismiss, mock, label all season long. Looking at it objectively the following concerns have been raised, some of them are valid and some were clearly short sighted and spiteful, the evidence is there if you go looking from all sides. These are summarised/paraphrased points to try and capture all sides ;
- “Warne doesn’t have any pull” (disagree here as we’ve signed some effective players this season… and gambled with some injury prone ones)
- which brings me to point two, “he’s been operating with restrictions so we should be patient.” I always felt there was some logic to this and also agree with the points made that we still could have recruited better when you look at some of the other free agents signed up by our rivals. Overall the group we had were effective and got the job done, hindsight being the wonderful thing that it is I can’t help but wonder if we’d have won the league with a couple of different options.

- “he only signs old players/cloggers/former Rotherham players” biggest short sighted load of nonsense out of all the criticism for me and one point I’ve been at pains to counter for the last 2 seasons. It’s a generalised and ill informed view that ignores the restrictions at play and also the likes of Nyambe, Adams, Nelson, Wilson, Elder, Ward, TJJ, none of whom are ancient or cloggers or former Warne players.
- “players don’t want to play for him/he’s a glorified PE teacher/fitness coach” always felt this was unfair and it’s clear by the end of the season that this squad did want to play for him and he’s got a little more about him than some would credit. His man management seems to be a big strength and one people have been quick to dismiss, surely he deserves credit for getting the team over the line even if they are “the best players in the league” and he’s “just done what’s expected of him” 😉 
- “he’s tactically limited” this is one of the big ones and hard to fully pick apart without a good dialogue from all sides. Part of me agrees and sees it from the football purists point of view that we don’t typically control the ball and control games so see why folks have issues there. But also he has adapted all season, used different shapes, different combinations and still got the job done. It seems to be a case of pragmatism over style which then comes down to preference as many have expressed, it’s not for them that’s fair enough, and others (like myself) are happy seeing us score goals and win regardless of style (which is also fair enough). Though my biggest and remaining complaint with him will seemingly always be his timing of subs, a couple of times this season he’s nailed it (can’t remember specific games) but there have been others when a change was desperately needed and he’s done nowt….come on Paul, save my blood pressure next season please. It’ll be interesting to see how he adapts in the championship with Derby, but I think he’s earned that right.
- “the football is dire”, another difficult one to reconcile personally for me as I’ve enjoyed it but I get that people want more control in midfield, more passing etc so again it’s a complicated point to discuss with more nuance. Personally I’ve enjoyed winning lots, scoring plenty, improving away and ultimately going up automatically but it could have been smoother sailing for sure.
- “he doesn’t trust young players”, another of the biggies that so far seems to be evident and is more a wait and see thing for me. He definitely could/should have used the pizza cup to blood a few more youngsters this season then perhaps they’d have been ready to plug gaps when injury struck. However I also see Warne’s point about not throwing them in and “ruining them”, he’s essentially done the job this season but given the investment in the academy and his key it in theory will be to the clubs future this is one he must do better on.
- “his interviews are *insert positive/derogatory comment*” this is all down to personal preference, some like his interview style and some don’t, if that’s how you feel it doesn’t make you factually wrong it’s just an opinion. 
 
- “give him time”, seems so far to have been the right shout, earlier in the season understandably more and more people had concerns, I even had my own mini wobble, but essentially the patience appears to have paid off (for this season at least….what happens next we have to wait and see).
There may be other points but I’ve got to do the school run so feel free to pile on and tell me what I missed and where I’m wrong. My point here is that there are valid concerns all round, and plenty to discuss respectfully, we all want what’s best for the club. 

I think those comments came in the immediate aftermath of the defeat at Shrewsbury. Whilst the sentiments might have been valid at the time, the way some people expressed them were not. Perhaps a reason why we should all take a moment before posting after a disappointing defeat rather than ranting whilst emotions are high.

No names, but some of the comments in the "Warne Out Out" thread are just embarrassing.
 
 
 
 
 
 
That's just from the first couple of pages. No further comment from me required.

I quite like Warne. He has a nice sense of humour and seems to have a vision. Truth is, before he became our manager I'd never heard of him.  Clowes rated him so that was enough for me. He was given one objective: get us up.  He's achieved that.
There are many who don't like him - whether it is is football, his David Brent jokes or his bobblehat.  That I have no problem with; I am no loyalist to him only the club. 
What I personally find frustrating is these points are masked with constantly moving goalposts - "players won't sign for him"... when they do it becomes: "he needs to stop media interviews, he is alienating them"... "we are losing, he doesn't understand tactics and is "naive" "... when they win it becomes "we were always going to win this league, he doesn't have the ability to win a league above - he's not a Championship specialist".  Just like a doomsday cult, when midnight arrives and the worst doesn't happen the deadline can move rather than admit, maybe, we need to rethink our position. Maybe he will fail, but he has been successful so far.   
What we need to do, in my view, is stick on what we want - and make that tangible and definable.  Without that, debate is hard as the grounds for that debate will shift as easy as sand in the Sahara.   Before writing this I read some of the season predictions. Promotion with second was a success for practically everyone.  What has changed?
 

I was at the game and loved every minute from hitting the Neptune at 0930 and leaving the Brunny about 2030 en route to my hotel where I had another couple before hitting the hay, having been up since 0300.
I've just watched the full 90 plus all the shenanigans on the pitch afterwards. Congratulations, Owen. You didn't melt. You stayed very professional and did a sterling job. Your voice was so chock full of emotion, you could have been forgiven for having a meltdown but you soldiered on. Like a true Ram, fighting till the end. Thank you for your coverage, not just from last Saturday but also from the other 38 games where this expat watched and listened to #RamsTV just outside of Amsterdam. Already looking forward to next season's offerings and hoping I can, again, get over for around 8 of the games.
Ewe Rams!

I find some of this debate a bit demeaning to PW. This is the guy who negotiated himself a 4 year contract with a very clever business man! He then took over the football at a club that was almost dead, with very limited resource and in 2 seasons got us up.
Look at that record as an unbiased outsider and you see a very sharp cookie.
I'm sure if he wants an extension he will know just when to ask, equally DC will offer one when the time is right.

If I were Clowes I’d be leaving Warne (and his staff’s) contract as is. Warne probably also content with that. There’s still 2 years to run, probably had some sort of bonus or % increase written in should he achieve promotion. Wait and see how we go and if there’s a need to discuss a new deal it can happen later in the next season. 

On Sportscene they said this is the best record in the whole of the EFL.  That’s some record.

On Sportscene they said this is the best record in the whole of the EFL.  That’s some record.

On Sportscene they said this is the best record in the whole of the EFL.  That’s some record.

Remember when there was a clamour for Rooney to be given the Freedom of Derby??  This man really deserves it.  He stepped up when others couldn’t, or wouldn’t.   In doing so, he paid local business more than the minimum amount.  He recognised the importance of DCFC on the fans and the community.  He saved our club 🐏.

As much as it’s been easy to bash Bradley after his calamitous start, he’s been excellent for the past few months in both boxes (bar the silly sending off)

Thing is with Fozzy is he has a football brain, is flexible enough to be LB, WB, CB and will perform whether it’s raining, a heat wave, Covid, He is boots on the ground that don’t leak. Oh yeah ..  he’s been there before and  if anyone is a RAM it’s Fozzy. I reckon he would be delighted to have another year and without an ego he’ll sit on a bench standing guard for the mighty Rams

David Clowes is the owner I always hoped we'd end up getting one day.
A lot of fans seem utterly fixated on the respective spending power of owners but unless you have materially more wealth than all of your competitors (extremely rare), the differentiator becomes how you manage your club. What culture are you looking for? Do you back your managers when things get tough? Do you have a long term plan? Quite apart from the extraordinary sacrifice David Clowes undertook in grossly overpaying for Derby County, everything since has been an exercise in how to run a club properly. He is an elite level owner & best of all, he cares - he's one of us.
Its no secret I'm a Warne-sceptic but I had to admire Clowes sticking by Warne during his decidedly dodgy autumn. Sitting outside the playoff spots as late as 24th November would have had many chairmen pulling the trigger but there was absolutely no sense Warne was even on his final warning - he was given time & Clowes was utterly vindicated by the subsequent promotion. That is the kind of responsible stewardship successful clubs need & that we have so often lacked in the past.
Tales of his humility elsewhere in this thread endear him even more, as does that open letter on the official site today. A successful businessman, a qualified pilot & now a successful football club owner - that is a bloody rare skillset & all credit to him that he lets his actions do the talking rather than resorting to the egocentric approach of many of his peers. I'm genuinely excited to see how he approaches the challenge of competing with clubs with bigger budgets & more reckless strategies - I strongly suspect this is where the backroom structure he brought in 2 years ago starts to bear fruit - quality recruitment, quality youth progression & a tight, respectful culture that gets the best out of everyone in the building. Progressive ownership is the only sensible game in that snakepit of a division & Clowes is smart enough to realise this.
Most of all, I hope he's enjoying it. I loved seeing him get the limelight on Saturday - the fans singing his name & him picking up the trophy - he deserves every accolade going. I hope David Clowes stays with us for many years, I'm certain he will steer us back to the Prem if he does.