Wistaston Ram

Rams
Are
My
Sunshine ... my only sunshine...

Reparations
Accepted 
Mate
See ya!
(I have to stop doing this now)

Apologies I missed it!  Good response though.

Repeating
Another's
Message
Sucks
(see page one)

It has been a pretty good November for the rams (Crewe aside). DavesaRam mentioned in another thread about how we  traditionally do well in November.  It is something I have long suspected, certainly in my time following Derby since the late 70s, so while idly flicking through my copy of the complete record I thought I would see how true it is.  Apologies to our younger viewers, I have only looked at the 80's and early 90's so far (1979-1990). A very turbulent time in the history of the club with a fall and rise in fortunes over the the decade.
Out of a total of 53 games played in November we won 26 (49%) drew 18 (34%) and lost 9 (17%). Some memorable home wins during that period were v Forest 4.1 (1979), v Lincoln 7.0 (1985), Man City 6.0 (1989).  Away wins included v Stoke 2.0 (1986), v Southampton (2.1) v Spurs 3.1 (1988),2.1 (1989), v Villa 2.1 (1988).  I was lucky enough to have gone to most of these games, which is probably why I think November is such a good month as a Derby fan.  Be interesting to see if the theory still holds for more recent seasons, but I cannot be arsed! 
 

We went 6/6 in the Billy Davies season.
McClaren went 7/8 in the 2013/14 season, while winning six on the spin in his return after Nigel Pearson.
In 2014/15 and 2015/16 after somewhat slow starts we really hit form in November and topped the league around New Year. Both seasons we beat Ipswich away 1-0 around that time too.
Throw in Rowett and Lampard where we also surged up the table and late autumn, early winter has mostly been a good time for us.
The only one where I can think of the opposite was under Nigel Clough after Kuqi left. 

Derby have certainly gone on runs of good form in the late Autumn/early Winter in the past. It’s been noted by some managers successful of promotion in the past that a side need at least 2 good runs of form in a season to give themselves the best chance at going up. One is around the time we do it, the other run should be March onwards as the season starts to wrap up. That’s where our issues have been recently.
I’d like to think our good run currently can carry on into the new year, but it will be important that this team pick up form again in the Spring

Phew, just managed to get one!

Phew, just managed to get one!

Phew, just managed to get one!

oh good we can continue to chant 'how s**t you must be you be, you sit down away' to the poor unfortunates in the lower tier.

It has been a pretty good November for the rams (Crewe aside). DavesaRam mentioned in another thread about how we  traditionally do well in November.  It is something I have long suspected, certainly in my time following Derby since the late 70s, so while idly flicking through my copy of the complete record I thought I would see how true it is.  Apologies to our younger viewers, I have only looked at the 80's and early 90's so far (1979-1990). A very turbulent time in the history of the club with a fall and rise in fortunes over the the decade.
Out of a total of 53 games played in November we won 26 (49%) drew 18 (34%) and lost 9 (17%). Some memorable home wins during that period were v Forest 4.1 (1979), v Lincoln 7.0 (1985), Man City 6.0 (1989).  Away wins included v Stoke 2.0 (1986), v Southampton (2.1) v Spurs 3.1 (1988),2.1 (1989), v Villa 2.1 (1988).  I was lucky enough to have gone to most of these games, which is probably why I think November is such a good month as a Derby fan.  Be interesting to see if the theory still holds for more recent seasons, but I cannot be arsed! 
 

Tired of endless replays for VAR?
No longer enjoying goals for fear of them being ruled out seven minutes later?
Then come to Pride Park in good old League One!
Rediscover the joy of calling officials a cant, a nib jacky or a winker as they make good old-fashioned mistakes.
No sign of technology being used, except from the morons who forget they’re at a live event and live their life through their phones.
No place here for Lineker and his tired old chums trying to decide whether having your shorts flap slightly closer to the goal gives you an unfair advantage.
Gasp as the ball reaches some eighty feet in the air, revel in the expert time-wasting and become one of many fans more expert than the managers.
You’ll never go back to Premier League and its robots.
 

I'm assuming that away tickets will be sold as either standing upper tier or sitting lower tier. If you buy a standing ticket then at least you'll expect to have to stand before you go.

Changes on their way:
Safe Standing

Rams
Are
My
Sunshine ... my only sunshine...

Rams
Are
My
Sunshine ... my only sunshine...

I was at Port Vale last night and the last word I'd use to describe it is boring! 
There was a great atmosphere among the Derby fans from kick off. We were brought together by the shared endurance of traffic jams, crap facilities (again), lack of organisation and over-officious stewarding pre-match.
I thought we played well and always felt confident of the win. Yes, they had some possession in midfield with neat and tidy play that contributed to a good game but they created very little,  whereas we looked dangerous every time we attacked - direct and strong. Their goalkeeper was clearly man of the match (didn't he have a stormer against us at our place last season, too?) Another night, one of those early chances goes in and the scoreline would have looked more comfortable. As it was, I felt sure we would score eventually as they tired. 
Wilson is rapidly becoming one of my favourite footballers. You can tell he's revelling in being fit and playing in front of the biggest set of fans of his career. But everyone played their part; I don't get the hate for Collins as he worked his socks off again and could have had two on another night.
What a dollop that Ikpeazu is! Referee should have booked him early for his wrestling/diving, would have cut it out. Instead it just gave Cashin an opportunity to make him look clumsy, which he did with aplomb. 
Hourihane needs to let someone else onto set pieces occasionally as the lack of delivery is noticeable.  He worked hard across the rest of the pitch though against their busy midfield and closed down well.
What a classy goal to decide the game. Barkhuizen's harrying won the ball back, a peach of a low cross from Mendez-Laing and JJ finished with aplomb. Anyone else would have took a touch and the defender  cleared it. But that young man has quality and he showed it just when needed. In his celebration right in front of us he looked quite emotional,  another player hoping to put his injury demons behind him. I hope he does, because if he can keep fit he could help fire us to promotion this season.
Come on you Rams! ⚽️ 

Out of interest, I took a quick look at their ticket prices for their home game against Lincoln and it looked to me as if it’s £25 for adults everywhere in the stadium.

I love sinking a few titanic beers.

I didn't really get that feeling at the BH last season tbh, though sound advice from yourself certainly, but I never wear colours away for the simple reason that it makes it harder to get into some pubs and some home fans don't like in-yer-face shows of club affiliation in their boozers, though it's much rarer nowadays amongst those old enough to get served. 
The only sniff of 'aggro' I noticed last season was a couple of small groups of local 'yoof' running around the Market Place area after the game looking for like-minded Derby fans. They were well outnumbered by police though.

I agree. The Bulls Head has a good range of Titanic beers including the wonderful Plum Porter, but it felt very much like a home pub last year. A random PV fan bought me a pint, probably not realising I was a Derby fan! so probably best advised not to wear colours (unless it's a generic B & W scrave) if you plan to visit this pub.

Last season, the excellent Bursley Ale House, just off the Market Place in Burslem, was selling basic burgers and hotdogs from their beer garden at the front of the pub. All the pubs round the Market Place were welcoming and served good beer.

1Wildsmith 7.5: That 5mm of glove material that Joe got on that goal-bound shot on 44 minutes to deflect it onto the right-hand upright was as significant in terms of the result as NML's surging drive into the back of the net on 90 minutes. Fine margins indeed.   
24Nyambe 6.5: Solid, firm and forceful. let's hope he likes the Derbyshire countryside & chooses to stay around come the New Year. 
35Nelson 7.5: An outstanding presence, but defence must take a collective -0.5 for allowing what we all predicted pre-match.  
6Cashin 7.5: Blocked, headed tackled. Always an offensive threat at corners with his rabbit-like spring but must learn to time it so his headers are not gentle lobs to their keeper.
17Sibley 6.5: Solid in defence albeit beaten on a couple of occasions. Switched position and arguably should have finished off the 1v1. Needs a run of games as any player does.   
4Hourihane 6.5: A couple of lovely balls into the box from corners but we need more defence-splitting passes as an option 2 rather than constant balls outside to the wings.
7Barkhuizen 5.5: His cut inside and sideways running is becoming habitual. Needs to re-set his own game-plan. 
2Wilson 6.5: Should've been introduced sooner; showed his obvious threat quickly and helped to unsettle Gas defenders.
12Smith 5.5: Too frequently bossed off the ball I'm afraid & provides insufficient amends elsewhere. 
22Fornah 7.5 Power, big appetite and great assist for the winner. If Rams are to continue upwards trajectory Fornah has to start. No question. 
8Bird 7.0 The CPU of the Team; some delightful and often subtle contributions that go unnoticed. Central to our fortunes. 
5Bradley 6.0 Some sky-scraper hoofs late on to kill off the resistance. 
11Méndez-Laing 8.5 MoTM Burned the Gas defence off with pace and power when pushed further forward 2nd half. NML is the new McDick and his fitness and wellbeing is crucial to Ram's season. 
9Collins 6.0 Huffed and Puffed in vain.
10Waghorn 6.0 Late legs to see it out.
 
This game will always be in my memory for B4 who epitomised and personified what supporting a football team means. May his memory and example live on in perpetuity.  "Always remember this our club".  

ATG
1Wildsmith   7.0  - Important save just before H/T, but not very busy.
24Nyambe 6.0 - OK
35Nelson 7.0 - Fairly solid game
6Cashin 7.0 - some great tackles, occasional sledge hammer pass when a bit more finesse was required
17Sibley 6.5 - Had a better second half after switching position. Did not look comfortable at left back.
4Hourihane 6.0 - Just feel he has so much more to offer, but often takes the easy option
7Barkhuizen 5.5 - Largely anonymous
2Wilson 6.5 - Added another option to our otherwise predicable attacking play
12Smith 5.5 - Did not not impose himself in midfield and largely out muscled
22Fornah 7.0 - Great to see him set up ML with a great pull back. will do his confidence the world of good
8Bird 6.5 - Mixed bag
5Bradley 5.5 - Did not seem to know his role at the F/K that led to the equaliser, trying to get guidance from the management
11Méndez-Laing 8.0 - A great display of power and pace, nice finish for the winner.
9Collins 6.0 - Worked hard on scraps in the first half
10Waghorn 6.0