24Charlie

The Derwent defines Derby it always has and always will. Those majestic waters filled by rivers, brooks and streams as it carves it’s magnificent path through our beautiful shire. My great-&grandparents followed that river downstream from different parts of the county looking for work but found each other. The town grew as more and more people left estates like Haddon, Hardwick and Chatsworth to turn their hand to engineering.
The football team grew too. Those people who came down from the shire identifying with the County bit as much as the Derby bit, felt a natural draw to the fledgling club. Attendances grew but we had to wait a long time for a trophy.
Wait we did 62 years in fact before the FA Cup was raised high above post-war Wembley. 
But it’s never been about trophies, it’s been about community and those deep, gritstone embedded roots, anchored, immovable, in this county.
 
 
 

The Derwent defines Derby it always has and always will. Those majestic waters filled by rivers, brooks and streams as it carves it’s magnificent path through our beautiful shire. My great-&grandparents followed that river downstream from different parts of the county looking for work but found each other. The town grew as more and more people left estates like Haddon, Hardwick and Chatsworth to turn their hand to engineering.
The football team grew too. Those people who came down from the shire identifying with the County bit as much as the Derby bit, felt a natural draw to the fledgling club. Attendances grew but we had to wait a long time for a trophy.
Wait we did 62 years in fact before the FA Cup was raised high above post-war Wembley. 
But it’s never been about trophies, it’s been about community and those deep, gritstone embedded roots, anchored, immovable, in this county.
 
 
 

I tried to explain the uniqueness of DCFC to a non football friend a few weeks ago and eventually defined us as " a soap opera with some football on the side".  When you factor in the gypsy curse, the coffee cup goal, the seemingly endless parade of criminal/corrupt/incompetent owners, the whole "Damned United" saga etc etc it does seem that way.  Maybe therefore DCFC is a microcosm of the tragicomedy of human existence, at least that's probably what a philosopher would say.
I seem to remember several years ago posting an analogy between the symbolism of the Ram as an animal and the mindset of DCFC fans in terms of the Ram as a symbol of defiance, strength, pugnaciousness etc, it's probably in the archive somewhere.
The uniqueness of the county is a product of its unique geography and history.  My house is built from stone quarried a mile down the road.  The 19th and 20th century world was shaped by technology that started right here.  The hills are green all year round except when it snows.  The sheer rugged beauty of this place finds a reflection in the inner toughness and resilience of the people, of which the Ram is an appropriate symbol.
Therefore, no one who knows the county and its people will be at all surprised by our absolute refusal to be cowed by "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune".  It's called Pride Park for a reason.
"Pride and ferocity are virtues as well as love" - Robinson Jeffers (American 20th century poet)
Good stuff this espresso!

I certainly never thought Rooney was a football genius. I don’t think he had a trick in his locker or had the capacity to make an opponent look silly. Best, Gazza, Le Tissier, Hoddle were all blessed with great vision and ability. Rooney is not in that class. But what he’s always had is the determination and winning mentality. It’s almost like his life depends on it and I don’t think I’ve seen an English player care more, ever. It’s this that sets Rooney apart and makes him an all time great.
He has shown as a manger that he won’t accept lack of effort as he shipped out Marriott and Holmes in short order. What we’ve all seen from his team is total commitment. We’ve not seen that at Derby for years and that is down to Rooney’s uncompromising view of how football should be played.
We know staying up is a very difficult task but we also know it won’t be due to lack of effort
 

I certainly never thought Rooney was a football genius. I don’t think he had a trick in his locker or had the capacity to make an opponent look silly. Best, Gazza, Le Tissier, Hoddle were all blessed with great vision and ability. Rooney is not in that class. But what he’s always had is the determination and winning mentality. It’s almost like his life depends on it and I don’t think I’ve seen an English player care more, ever. It’s this that sets Rooney apart and makes him an all time great.
He has shown as a manger that he won’t accept lack of effort as he shipped out Marriott and Holmes in short order. What we’ve all seen from his team is total commitment. We’ve not seen that at Derby for years and that is down to Rooney’s uncompromising view of how football should be played.
We know staying up is a very difficult task but we also know it won’t be due to lack of effort
 

Hell no! Not ITK or nowt, but I'm reliably informed that even the Queen has sent Rick and Trev a message expressing her distaste at this latest flagrant abuse of power.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hasn’t everyone had enough of being furious?
Surely it’s time to move on. No one is going to sue the EFL so people will not get satisfaction. It’s not going to happen and we are just going to look like a bunch of mard-arses in the eyes of the football world.
The recommendations of the fan led review regarding the EFL may or may not be implemented but that decision won’t be influenced by fans as we’ve already had our say.
The prospective buyers have been written to, the task on the pitch has become clearer and it looks extremely likely that DCFC will continue to exist so stop being furious and rejoice that we will go on.

Hasn’t everyone had enough of being furious?
Surely it’s time to move on. No one is going to sue the EFL so people will not get satisfaction. It’s not going to happen and we are just going to look like a bunch of mard-arses in the eyes of the football world.
The recommendations of the fan led review regarding the EFL may or may not be implemented but that decision won’t be influenced by fans as we’ve already had our say.
The prospective buyers have been written to, the task on the pitch has become clearer and it looks extremely likely that DCFC will continue to exist so stop being furious and rejoice that we will go on.

Hasn’t everyone had enough of being furious?
Surely it’s time to move on. No one is going to sue the EFL so people will not get satisfaction. It’s not going to happen and we are just going to look like a bunch of mard-arses in the eyes of the football world.
The recommendations of the fan led review regarding the EFL may or may not be implemented but that decision won’t be influenced by fans as we’ve already had our say.
The prospective buyers have been written to, the task on the pitch has become clearer and it looks extremely likely that DCFC will continue to exist so stop being furious and rejoice that we will go on.

I certainly never thought Rooney was a football genius. I don’t think he had a trick in his locker or had the capacity to make an opponent look silly. Best, Gazza, Le Tissier, Hoddle were all blessed with great vision and ability. Rooney is not in that class. But what he’s always had is the determination and winning mentality. It’s almost like his life depends on it and I don’t think I’ve seen an English player care more, ever. It’s this that sets Rooney apart and makes him an all time great.
He has shown as a manger that he won’t accept lack of effort as he shipped out Marriott and Holmes in short order. What we’ve all seen from his team is total commitment. We’ve not seen that at Derby for years and that is down to Rooney’s uncompromising view of how football should be played.
We know staying up is a very difficult task but we also know it won’t be due to lack of effort
 

Hasn’t everyone had enough of being furious?
Surely it’s time to move on. No one is going to sue the EFL so people will not get satisfaction. It’s not going to happen and we are just going to look like a bunch of mard-arses in the eyes of the football world.
The recommendations of the fan led review regarding the EFL may or may not be implemented but that decision won’t be influenced by fans as we’ve already had our say.
The prospective buyers have been written to, the task on the pitch has become clearer and it looks extremely likely that DCFC will continue to exist so stop being furious and rejoice that we will go on.

Hasn’t everyone had enough of being furious?
Surely it’s time to move on. No one is going to sue the EFL so people will not get satisfaction. It’s not going to happen and we are just going to look like a bunch of mard-arses in the eyes of the football world.
The recommendations of the fan led review regarding the EFL may or may not be implemented but that decision won’t be influenced by fans as we’ve already had our say.
The prospective buyers have been written to, the task on the pitch has become clearer and it looks extremely likely that DCFC will continue to exist so stop being furious and rejoice that we will go on.

Since we're now just posting any old shyte on this thread, here's a dog under mortar fire chasing an exploding cat

I certainly never thought Rooney was a football genius. I don’t think he had a trick in his locker or had the capacity to make an opponent look silly. Best, Gazza, Le Tissier, Hoddle were all blessed with great vision and ability. Rooney is not in that class. But what he’s always had is the determination and winning mentality. It’s almost like his life depends on it and I don’t think I’ve seen an English player care more, ever. It’s this that sets Rooney apart and makes him an all time great.
He has shown as a manger that he won’t accept lack of effort as he shipped out Marriott and Holmes in short order. What we’ve all seen from his team is total commitment. We’ve not seen that at Derby for years and that is down to Rooney’s uncompromising view of how football should be played.
We know staying up is a very difficult task but we also know it won’t be due to lack of effort
 

Just sat and watched this at work...
I think only now, I'm starting to appreciate just what kind of man is behind the name.  What kind of man the boy has become.
His attitude.  His commitment.  His determination.  His perfect imperfections.  
It's clear he maybe wouldn't have got to this point without "C'leen", but he most certainly wouldn't have got to this point if he himself hadn't been... well... himself!
It was a special insight into a special man.
My overriding reaction to all that is that right there... right at the end... I saw The Ram.  I saw my club.  I saw PPS.  I saw my seat!  That's how close we are to this legend-that-hasn't-finished-yet! 
We have an extraordinary man here.  We need to go to extraordinary lengths to ensure he stays, ensure he wants to stay, and we need to cross our fingers that some of his extraordinariness rubs off on this otherwise fair-to-middling club of ours.
He may never be "Our S'Ralex".  He may never be our next Mr Clough.  But with luck... admittedly a lot of luck... he will end his football career as "Derby County's Wayne Rooney".  One of a kind... and One of our own.
 
?
 

I certainly never thought Rooney was a football genius. I don’t think he had a trick in his locker or had the capacity to make an opponent look silly. Best, Gazza, Le Tissier, Hoddle were all blessed with great vision and ability. Rooney is not in that class. But what he’s always had is the determination and winning mentality. It’s almost like his life depends on it and I don’t think I’ve seen an English player care more, ever. It’s this that sets Rooney apart and makes him an all time great.
He has shown as a manger that he won’t accept lack of effort as he shipped out Marriott and Holmes in short order. What we’ve all seen from his team is total commitment. We’ve not seen that at Derby for years and that is down to Rooney’s uncompromising view of how football should be played.
We know staying up is a very difficult task but we also know it won’t be due to lack of effort
 

I certainly never thought Rooney was a football genius. I don’t think he had a trick in his locker or had the capacity to make an opponent look silly. Best, Gazza, Le Tissier, Hoddle were all blessed with great vision and ability. Rooney is not in that class. But what he’s always had is the determination and winning mentality. It’s almost like his life depends on it and I don’t think I’ve seen an English player care more, ever. It’s this that sets Rooney apart and makes him an all time great.
He has shown as a manger that he won’t accept lack of effort as he shipped out Marriott and Holmes in short order. What we’ve all seen from his team is total commitment. We’ve not seen that at Derby for years and that is down to Rooney’s uncompromising view of how football should be played.
We know staying up is a very difficult task but we also know it won’t be due to lack of effort
 

A good recap of his career and a reminder of just how good he was so young, he came from a caring family but was obviously a boy of the streets, maybe if he hadn’t of had football in his life it could have worked out very differently with his admissions of alcohol and his temper, he obviously had the right people around him in David Moyes and later on Alex Ferguson but it is very apparent that he owes everything that he has to Coleen, she has been a massive rock for him through everything and stuck by his side, she understood him from when they were kids and has pulled him back into line many times.

Colleen saved him. From an early age is was a proper scallywag and could quite easily have ended up with a life on the wrong side of the law, but she was there to steady him.
Even through his many indiscretions as a footballer she didn’t desert him. Without her forgiveness and guidance he could well have gone the way of Best and Gazza.

I certainly never thought Rooney was a football genius. I don’t think he had a trick in his locker or had the capacity to make an opponent look silly. Best, Gazza, Le Tissier, Hoddle were all blessed with great vision and ability. Rooney is not in that class. But what he’s always had is the determination and winning mentality. It’s almost like his life depends on it and I don’t think I’ve seen an English player care more, ever. It’s this that sets Rooney apart and makes him an all time great.
He has shown as a manger that he won’t accept lack of effort as he shipped out Marriott and Holmes in short order. What we’ve all seen from his team is total commitment. We’ve not seen that at Derby for years and that is down to Rooney’s uncompromising view of how football should be played.
We know staying up is a very difficult task but we also know it won’t be due to lack of effort
 

I certainly never thought Rooney was a football genius. I don’t think he had a trick in his locker or had the capacity to make an opponent look silly. Best, Gazza, Le Tissier, Hoddle were all blessed with great vision and ability. Rooney is not in that class. But what he’s always had is the determination and winning mentality. It’s almost like his life depends on it and I don’t think I’ve seen an English player care more, ever. It’s this that sets Rooney apart and makes him an all time great.
He has shown as a manger that he won’t accept lack of effort as he shipped out Marriott and Holmes in short order. What we’ve all seen from his team is total commitment. We’ve not seen that at Derby for years and that is down to Rooney’s uncompromising view of how football should be played.
We know staying up is a very difficult task but we also know it won’t be due to lack of effort
 

Colleen saved him. From an early age is was a proper scallywag and could quite easily have ended up with a life on the wrong side of the law, but she was there to steady him.
Even through his many indiscretions as a footballer she didn’t desert him. Without her forgiveness and guidance he could well have gone the way of Best and Gazza.

Colleen saved him. From an early age is was a proper scallywag and could quite easily have ended up with a life on the wrong side of the law, but she was there to steady him.
Even through his many indiscretions as a footballer she didn’t desert him. Without her forgiveness and guidance he could well have gone the way of Best and Gazza.

Colleen saved him. From an early age is was a proper scallywag and could quite easily have ended up with a life on the wrong side of the law, but she was there to steady him.
Even through his many indiscretions as a footballer she didn’t desert him. Without her forgiveness and guidance he could well have gone the way of Best and Gazza.

Colleen saved him. From an early age is was a proper scallywag and could quite easily have ended up with a life on the wrong side of the law, but she was there to steady him.
Even through his many indiscretions as a footballer she didn’t desert him. Without her forgiveness and guidance he could well have gone the way of Best and Gazza.