Alty_Ram

He's done an absolutely outstanding job so far. Slightly slow start but he's really got us firing now. The only thing we don't have an answer for at this stage is how potentially we will fare if we get promoted. It's perhaps understandably a slight reservation amongst some fans that he has not (yet) managed to get a team to stick having got them promoted to the Championship but that may in part be down to resources at his previous club. Who knows, he may take it in his stride but we certainly need to not carry any inferiority complex with us if we end up facing much better sides. If I'm honest I was a little disappointed in the West Ham game as we seemed to show them a lot of respect and never really laid a glove on them. I was hoping that we'd have a right go but it was a bit of a damp squib in the end.

The reality is though that if we get promoted at some stage then there will be teams that we face that will have financial resources that are beyond anything we have due to the obscene size of the parachute payments. Regardless though, these teams were our peers for season after season in recent times and our fans will be expecting us to show no fear and no undue respect.

The big challenge though is not really just about Warnes' ability to carry his philosophy and tactics to a higher level,  but with the EFL millstone around our transfer dealings we are very limited in what we can offer him to upgrade his squad in the event of promotion and that's a bit of a worry for me. It's not really just about Warne himself stepping up, what level of financial support can we give him to back up progress so far ? The negotiations with the EFL will surely be vital in giving Warne the flexibility that he needs to keep shaping the squad. There is only so much you can so with out-of-contract players from the 'surplus to requirement' pile at other clubs. We've done amazingly well in that regard but it's not really a plan for future progress.

Having said all of that, if you'd shown me the current table in the summer I'd have thought you were certifiable ! Hard not to be anything other than chuffed to bits with how it has panned out. Team, Owner and Manager are a credit to the club and themselves at the moment.

TBH I'm not seeing 'hate' for Collins at all, just a few folk expressing some disappointment at what seem to be turning out to be his shortcomings (that's OK on a forum surely ?). He's a way better option than the other tactic of playing someone out of position but he isn't blessed with pace, touch is so-so and he doesn't seem to hold it up particularly well and doesn't seem to fare that well in physical battles with big central defenders, plus his goals return is a bit underwhelming. He gives it his all but just seems a tad limited.

McGoldrick looks a picture of composure and quality in comparison IMHO and links play superbly and the ball sticks and he rarely gives it away cheaply. Obviously Collins will get everyone's full backing once he steps out on the pitch in a Derby shirt and I (like everyone) really hope he comes good and gets back in the goals again. It's just that it feels like he needs to offer us a bit more than he is doing. Maybe he can, maybe he can't *shrug*. Hopefully the former.

9 minutes ago, Caerphilly Ram said:

I would like to see less of him charging into the channels and more of him staying central, in the 18 yard box, bullying defenders and working on his movement/staying onside. If he does that he’ll probably shin one in from 3 yards and his confidence will pick up.

 

Understood. Of course, if someone leads the line well then it's not all about the exact goal tally as they create a platform and create lots of opportunity for others but for me, I'm just not seeing enough of him offering us that platform as the ball doesn't seem to stick with him nearly as well as I'd hoped, he doesn't score many goals and he doesn't seem to really threaten much in the air either.

McGoldrick's touch, guile and movement as a focal point just makes us so much more threatening as a team, particularly when we are playing snappier attacking football. With Collins we look all too predictable but not even in a good Steve Howard sort of way. i.e. you know what's coming but can you actually stop it ?

In fairness, I'm not sure if I was the head of the Derbyshire Rabbit Appreciation Society that I'd be wildly keen on an influx of new members who strongly disagreed with the basic premise of 'We are the DRAS and we really like rabbits' ?

1 hour ago, RoyMac5 said:

Yes, you have to wonder how lenient the EFL might have been without Gibson's hatred towards Mel/us 'forcing' their hand?

Interesting to see that Wigan only got a suspended points deduction this week (i.e. no deduction) for multiple breaches as regards paying players. To quote the EFL site:

"Wigan Athletic has received a three-point deduction to be suspended until 31 December 2023 after admitting to multiple breaches of EFL Regulations.

The sanction imposed is for failing to adhere to the terms of the Standard Contracts that were in force between the Club and its Players for the late payment of player wages on three separate occasions."

1 hour ago, QuestionBWFC8 said:

Cheers for the in depth mate! Yeah well if you saw, probably did, we was in the exact same situation a couple of seasons ago where we had a team playing with like the average age of 19? We was financially crippled and the players went on 'strike' rightly or wrongly it hurt us. We've come through it looking alright now! New owners haven't got he money but are backing IE as well as they can. 

Yeah, it's been a bit messy up there too I believe, for several years now.

At the peak of our crisis the lovely EFL decided that when we played some kids for a cup game due to Covid that since they had made an appearance they then would all count as senior pros would be deducted from the very small number of players we were allowed to have. Fortunately they relented but otherwise we'd have struggled to put a team out with an average age that'd get served in a pub.

It's still a bit of a scratch team in many ways and we have no cover in some places and our players are largely young or old (nowt in between) but all things considered we were very happy with the quality of recruitment on free transfers and with an EFL approved wage cap. We are still on embargo and will be for another year after this despite new owners so Warne has very little scope to tinker with the squad. If we sell a player then we're not allowed to reinvest the money as it stands. It was a grim time and absolute oblivion was a close run thing so thankful for what we have and our legend of a new owner who 100% saved the club.

Just now, QuestionBWFC8 said:

Afternoon gents, here from the other side (although not for a spat).

First wanted to know why its purely attendance banter, is that just something you always concentrate on?

Second, genuine shorelines/predications? Who should we be wary of?

I'm desperate for the win as you have the game in hand but i don't think we can cry with a draw!

Re attendance chat, well I think we're (rightly) proud of our attendances this year (home and away) so there is a lot of focus on that as despite really tough economic times and recent club traumas our support has been great. The fans backing has gone a long way to take the pressure off our new owner (a local hero) as the fans have turned up in regular big numbers despite the fact that we could barely field a team halfway through the summer so better than expected ST sales against that backdrop were a real boost for the club. Also, personally I just love seeing those headlines that favourably compare crowds in this division to those much higher in the leagues.

Totally get the scoreline sentiment. At your place I just thought, lets at least not lose this and just keep fingers crossed that we go one better. I get that it's a chance to make ground on competitors but before a ball was kicked I'd have take that draw all day long.

As for who to watch well it's been one of the pleasing things I reckon, we've had goals shared out quite a bit. McGoldrick has been outstanding but has had the odd niggle and illness and I think we've been trying to use him sparingly. He's looked different level at times though. I'd expect him to start on Sat. Mendez-Laing down the flank is a real handful if he's on it. Despite conceding 2 last week we've been tight at the back with Cashin really starring but he'd had a slight niggle but should hopefully likewise be good to go on Sat.

Scoreline ? Toughie.. hoping we can nick this one, possibly by the odd goal (2-1?) but a draw would not surprise me as you lot are in really good form too.

I think you'll find that the nasty corrupt lot at Derby stole all their penalties... It has to be our fault somehow.

I wish Osula well. In interviews he seemed like a nice, humble guy.

7 minutes ago, RoyMac5 said:

What would be the point in selling this season as we won't be allowed to spend the money? Better to keep all the players and aim for promotion.

No, I know what you mean but I guess there are a number of factors and it would depend on what sort of value we feel would be offered with a longer contract still in place vs waiting and hoping we get promoted and possibly the player being more likely to stay. Also, are we talking about an offer from am established EPL club or just a mid-table Champ club. I guess we don't know what sort of interest and what sort of numbers are (or would be) involved.

As I say, at least with DC in charge, we are not in territory where we are just easy pickings for chancer clubs with derisory offers. We've had a bellyful of that in the last couple of years ?

Ideally (obviously) we want to be building a team around these players, but much as I'd hate to lose either of these two, ultimately if the player wants to go then we may as well sell as you don't want unhappy players going through the motions or pissed off because their big move was blocked. At all levels of the footballing tree there's an awful lot of badge-kissing these days followed by jumping ship for more money and though I'm absolutely not saying that these two in any way are those sorts of players, but if someone offers decent money, tripple wages and a nice wad for their agent then it'll almost certainly happen.

These lads (Bird and Knight) have a clear love for the club but money talks as it does for all of us. As fans we're all emotionally invested in the club and it's sometimes difficult to see it from their side. I've got very fond memories of some places that I've worked (one in particular) and still hold the people there in very high regard but I got offered quite a bit more money and couldn't really turn it down. Footballers at the top and lower reaches of the EPL and EFL will switch clubs for wages that are several times what they may have been earning, not just a healthy pay rise which is what I got.

We want to think that these players will hang around but as a league 1 side the reality is that it is largely out of our hands. DC has the clubs best interests at heart and will undoubtedly resist insulting offers and back his manager's stance on the players that he wants to keep but Warne is a realist too and has always been at clubs where if the right offer comes in then it is right and sensible to sell. What DC hopefully brings is no imperative to sell and an ability to hold out for the players value and if it doesn't happen then so be it, they remain as Derby players. We seem to have had our pants pulled down for years on transfers due to constantly living life on the financial edge and proper money for any departing star players would be very welcome to help the manager rebuild and will help negotiations with the EFL re budgets.

13 minutes ago, The Last Post said:

2023 is why Osula was sent off, The game has changed, It was called a physical game once upon a time, The physicality has been taken out, We've seen worse tackles either by accident or intent go unpunished, Footballers over the years have been coached/told how to con/cheat the official, We see it time after time and game after game, In todays rules...it's a sending off it matters not a jot which official saw it...it was seen, For me...a word in the ear and play on, But it's been said...this ref was looking to pull his red card out, Osula fell for it 

Quite. However lame the 'kick' was it is always going to get you sent off these days. The same punishment for a pathetic low-speed swish of the leg vs kicking someone as hard as you can doesn't make much sense to me but that is how seems to be and all players will know this so he has got himself niggled into a stupid decision, probably not helped by his arguing and squaring up after the kick.

The way I view it is this. If the police change the speed limit on a road from 50 to 30 and I have seen the speed limit sign, it doesn't matter what I think the speed limit should be - it is what it is.

53 minutes ago, richinspain said:

I'm still waiting for the page to load.

I can probably fill that bit in for you... "NSPCC break their silence..." ?

32 minutes ago, Ellafella said:

#5 is gassing out so have a sub entering the fray. 

Is that blood on the table ?

1 hour ago, littleover ram said:

How many penalties will we concede here? Do they use VAR at this stage in the cup?

Ooh ooh ! Let's have a sweepstake. I'm calling 4 minutes and 13 seconds for the first penalty and 2 minutes 37 seconds to make the decision.

On 02/11/2022 at 13:19, Rich84 said:

That'll be a 4 minute watch then as 30x is quickest fast forward you can do isn't it?....

It's probably sounds strange to some folk but I just am not that bothered. England losing will just not remotely ruin my day in the way that Derby losing does. I have probably watched say 20% top of England games over the last few years and when I have watched it, it feels like watching Palace vs Fulham, which is a hefty dose of 'meh'. Maybe 20 years ago I used to watch every game but these players are just not something that I have a bond with.

I'm not trying to be smart or make any particular point, but I do wonder how average Joe is supposed to care about people who weekly earn the value of many fans houses, and the fans of PL clubs are expected to pay £50-60 a head plus travel to see them frequently underperform. The comparison with seeing Cash and Knighty absolutely buzzing after scoring for League 1 Derby is a different story for me at least.

In some ways it kind of feels like it is fashionable to mock the England National Team but to mock something you have to actually care about what happens to it, and I'm afraid that I just don't really care that much. I feel like I probably should, but I just don't ?

I'll tell you what else suffered badly through administration... Rammie's head. Couldn't help noticing on Saturday that bits of the horns were starting to peel off ! Now assuming that this isn't some natural phenomenon and just part of prep for tupping season, can someone just buy the poor guy a new costume !

1 hour ago, Kokosnuss said:

If a 4 year contract means we finally stick with something and see it through, allow a manager his poor spells and give him the opportunity to work through them, rather than panicking and dropping the axe at the first sign of trouble then no, it's not a mistake.

(Unless we actually get relegated, but that's not going to happen)

(Please don't screenshot @ or quote me on that in 7 months)

I think there is a perception that when players don't like a manager these days that they just wait them out and stats for how short-lived management appointments generally are tends to back that up. With a 4 years contract for Warne and his backroom staff, just in financial terms it would be impossible to send him packing any time soon. Maybe Clowes feels that sends a message, i.e. the manager is here to stay, now crack on.

Ipswich 3 Derby 0

Accrington 2 Derby 0 no rfgs

2 hours ago, Yoxoram said:

I don't have to think about this question. It is the Rams everytime for me. I find most international football pretty boring. I tend to watch the National Anthems and the start of a game but often lose interest quickly and look for something else to watch or go do the washing up.

Much the same really. I don't know whether it is because we have been out of the top flight for so long but I have rarely if ever seen these England players in the flesh (Apart from Mount obvs) so no real connection. Last England game I saw live was an age ago vs Greece at Old Trafford in early 2000s with Beckham et al.

To be fair it gets a bit more engaging when England progress in a major tournament but compared to Derby doing the same it just doesn't measure up for me at least. My current ST is in South Stand, metres from the players celebrating goals. England are small white stick men on a TV screen.

I'm never going to miss a Derby game for a game involving any other team so not an issue for me. Just not that invested in England games in truth. Club over country every time.

Cheers rojo. It was nice to see (from our perspective at least) that the whole thing seems to have been handled professionally and respectfully too. Our new owner (local man and fan) has made a big point of saying that after the carnage of the last couple of years that left a bad taste in everyone's mouths, that he wants the whole club to conduct itself with some integrity and that the character of the manager was a big part of that and why he went for Warne. We have not selected a shirt sponsor yet because the right kind of offers are not there yet and he doesn't want to just sell the clubs soul to just another betting company. Looks like we are going down the charity route for now which is great.

Really hoping that Warne is a big success here not just as a Derby fan but because I want to see the right people do well and that includes our owner and Warne himself. Good luck in the Championship, you've made a very solid start !

Erm.. really ? (genuinely puzzled). There have been some questions and some reservations expressed in certain quarters about the current situation in terms of how Rosenior's departure came about and the nature of football that might potentially be played under the new manager and whether our squad will suit it but I'm really not seeing much in the way of hysteria that you seem to hint at and besides, debating such developments is surely the point of a forum.

David Clowes remains an absolute legend in my eyes and the same as far as I can see from everyone who seems to have an opinion on here.  Likewise, Paul Warne will have our full backing (as any new manager would) and I'm sure we all wish him every success don't we ?

Er.. Come on you Rams ? *shrug*