JMC

This
It has been BBC strategy for some time to concentrate their limited resources on radio and TV on the very age group that doesn't want to listen to them, because the BBC are worried if that market doesn't listen to them now then they never will.  It's why all the older, more experienced, better presenters have been shoved out for the younger and less competent (but probably cheaper) ones.  I've long since stopped listening to the National stations as output has got worse and worse and less and less aimed at me.
A very rough check on BBC sounds suggests there are 41 local radio stations, all no doubt with their own presenters and programming, plus 4 Radio 1's - Radio 1, Radio 1Dance, Radio 1 relax, Radio 1 extra, one radio 2 and 3, 3 radio 4s, 2 radio 5s, 1 radio 6, an Asian Network (are Asians the only racial grouping to deserve their own network?), a world service, 4 for Scotland, 3 for Ireland, 4 for Wales (including 2 in Welsh, which most of Wales doesn't speak) and, for some unknown reason, a CBeebies Radio station - big radio consumers are toddlers. That's roughly 67 radio stations, national and local, no doubt with all their own presenters, researchers, managers, technicians, buildings/studios, equipment, expense accounts, HR departments, online presence, podcasts, uncle Tom Cobbly and all.
And that's before you count the number of TV channels and the back office support that keeps the whole thing running. It's an organisation that is a bloated mess following the wrong strategy, but then I'm over 30 so they're really not interested in me.  As a result I'll fill my time with Sky, Virgin, Netflix, Apple TV and the internet.

For those suggesting Stearman... he will not play RCB in a back 3 for Derby. He'll either be the RCB in a back 4 or the CB in a back 3. If it's a back 4 he won't be starting, but may in a back 3 with Cashin RCB.
I can't see it being anything other than Smith, Cashin, Forsyth, Roberts today.

The thing with the academy is, there's something like a 5-10 year lag on actually seeing real results.  You want to be picking up 10-12 year olds (no sniggering at the back...) and developing them so they break through as 18-20 year olds.  Obviously with a bit of recruiting older players to fill gaps, or when we spot a genuine talent etc.
If you look at what the academy has been producing lately, it's mostly been fullbacks (Lowe, Bogle, Buchanan), wingers (Festy, Ebiowei) and small technical midfielders (Bird, Thompson,  Robinson).  None of those types of players really fit into Warne's preferred high-intensity 352 system.  So we either carry on with the academy as it is, and accept that there's no real path into the first team (which hampers recruitment of young players), or re-tool the academy in the hope that we're still playing that system in 5 years time and haven't switched back to a possession-heavy 433 or something.
if you *really* want your academy to work, you have to have a rough style of play in mind for the entire club, and recruit players for it (senior and academy), recruit managers that play it and so on.  if you chop and change every 5 minutes, you may as well not bother having an academy.

Will be an interesting watch this one. Wendy fan at work very impressed with Bristol Rovers other night, says their front 3 are excellent & they play good, energetic football. That said, they've come off a few days playing Plymouth & Sheff Weds and I wonder whether their energy levels will sustain another big occasion. They also played a day later than us.
Gven our CB injury issues & how much better we looked with 4 at the back on Tuesday, I'd be surprised if we went for 3 at back/wing backs again. Bristol pretty much matched Wendies & Plymouth for possession so think we need a bit more presence in midfield, hence I'd like to see Jake Rooney make his first league start at DM with Smith at RB & Roberts at LB. If we can get on top of them early, I believe we can tire them out

I really hope they go back 4 in a 4 3 3..Rooney in a defensive role so it kind of can go to a back 3. 
Wildsmith 
Smith, Cashin, Forsyth, Roberts 
Rooney
Bird, Sibley 
Mendez lang, Collins, Dobbin 
 

Too often Hourihane and Knight are too wide and Bird is isolated. When they were a little more central v Cambridge we looked better 
 

Plymouth went up that season too..midtable with two home defeats and 17 points after 12 games.. 

The irony that some were saying nine games was not enough to judge Rosenior and yet Warne is getting pelters after two.
It’s conceivable that we would have had a easy six points from six if not for two game changing errors of judgement today, the kind of which coaching, tactics and style of play can’t really influence.
Playing volleyball in our own box and our star striker turning MMA fighter, how can Warne be blamed for that?

Well, Steve Cooper in line for his P45 and Chris Wilder already got his. 
Forest and their dodgy Wembley win and Boro with their ‘proper’ chairman (fat Greek is also well dodgy) excuse me while I feel they deserve what has come home to roost. 
I should be better than that, but I’m not, I love it 

I just want to say how lucky you are to have Paul Warne as manager. I've supported the millers for 69 years. Obviously, I've seen managers come and go during that period. As far as I'm concerned, and many other fans Warne is the best manager we've had.
Like Derby fans we went through some dark times. Administration points deducted, lost our ground, forced to play in Sheffield in an athletic stadium. No atmosphere, 4 years in the 4th division.
Paul has many qualities. Excellent staff management, a workaholic. He's articulate, honest and will live and breathe Derby County.
I thank him for all the memories, 3 Wembley wins 3 promotions and I wish him well and as a consequence wish the Rams well. I've never had a second team, but for the first time Derby County will be my second team. I look forward to seeing Paul succeed. 
Hopefully Derby will be promoted and we survive in the championship and look forward to see you at the New York stadium.
All the best.
 
 

Remember this from back in the day.  If we'd beat Villa we'd have been top,  Very tight game from what I remember and should have gone a couple ahead with Delap and Sturridge.  Whisper it quietly but during the current incarnation of the Premier League we've done alright, spent 7 years there and only got 11 points once having spent nearly 2/3rds of our history in the top division at that point.  We even won a couple of times, finished runner up a couple of times and qualified for Europe a few times.  Never understand the worry of getting back to this level.  Half the teams in it aren't fit to wipe the sweat of our sack. Let's get cracking.
 

Am not sure that it still haunts me but it still is used to this day as a case study on how NOT to do things when you get promoted from the Championship.
The 11 point yardstick still gets used every year when a team at the bottom of the Premiership struggles upto Xmas to match that points tally. 
To be fair it's still a huge embarrassment to the club and anyone associated from playing staff to managers to board should have considered ritual hari-kari as a consequence.

Surprised Rolls Royce haven’t done it before. There must be a huge untapped market of football fans unsure of where to buy their jet engines from who would surely be swayed by seeing the logo on the shirts of a third tier club on ITV4. Especially seeing as Rolls Royce is a brand virtually nobody has heard of before.

Alright Rams, Guiseley (who?) fan here in peace.
I came to the Oxford game on Saturday with my mate (Wolves fan). 
It was our first trip to Pride Park between us and usually we pick a random game every so often. So we ended up at your place.
We had a great time, your stadium is fantastic. Plenty of eateries around the ground too. The fans we were sat near were passionate and it was infectious. We were in the North Stand which was family orientated but it was nice to see so many youngsters getting behind the team.
The atmosphere was great, the bounce by the south stand was something I won't forget. Capped with a great goal to get the win aswell. 
Only downside being, we parked at the industrial park past the south stand and we didn't move for about an hour after the final whistle. But that didn't spoil a great day out. 
All the best for the season, will be looking out for your results and will likely come back later in the season too. 

Most important part of that statement is - 
“As with every aspect of the club, David Clowes and his team are taking their time to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the football side, and to consider all structural options” 
to me that reads, we don’t want to commit to giving an untested manager a 2 year contract etc when finances are the most critical they’ve ever been. If he smashes it, we’ll reconsider, if he falters then we may look to bring in a DOF / someone more experienced to help him out or just replace him. I.e continually review the structure to ensure optimal results. 
I think it’s very clever and sensible  
 

I think Brentford has kept the same kit as last season. 

Scott twine went for 4/5M. Never played above L1! 
Knight not only a full international, a key player for an international side made up from Premier league and championship players so yeah I would expect way more than 5M or we have been robbed yet again!

Hulking journeymen?
Rapid youngsters?
A mix of the 2?
3-4-3? 3-5-2? 4-4-2? 
Because we have mainly/some championship quality players, is that enough? Or does all form and quality go out the window when Fleetwood Town just decide to kick the cr*p out of you?
Should we buy players that know the league? 
Fittest team wins?
Biggest team wins?
Play like Brazil?
or Play like Allardyce?
Snatch it with a set piece and shut up shop?
Or play like Shteve Mc era 1 and score 4 if they score 3?
 
How the hell do we get promoted in a oner?
 
Answers on a postcard…..
??

There’s a place down Raynesway we could use. Might have get cracking with a strimmer  though. 

I’m actually getting a wee bit excited about all this. 
 
Yes, team on the brink, Manager leaving so close to pre-season, and all that. 
 
But Derby County will be playing football with a new chairman, boss, and a trimmed down squad. All without much expectation. They all just get to build, take chances with players/tactics, and let the team grow organically. 
That is something I’ve been wanting for a few years now. The team turnover of managers and bloated team sheets have been such a headache for a few years.
It will be nice to just have a humble team left alone to grow and become successful again. ?‍♂️
coyr

Absolutely spot on. 
It's worth bearing in mind that perhaps David Clowes never intended to own DCFC, but has been moved to step in after the collapse of other bids, the non-appearance of meaningful bids from other PR-hungry interested parties and the very real prospect of liquidation. Whatever, if he's seriously close to having a bid accepted that is acceptable to the preferential creditors, the EFL and that will also reunite the stadium with the club, what more could any of us want at this point? 
 

Portsmouth fan here in peace. 
I'm guessing that some of you will have seen that we have previous with Andronikou involved as an administrator with us; and fair to say that those of our support who remember him hold him in utter contempt. 
I sincerely hope you manage to rid yourself of Morris' tenure and are able to move on properly from all this without him having any control over any of the assets your club needs to move forward.
Look after yourselves - and hopefully when we meet next season things will be on a bit more of an even keel for you.

I don't think "swoop" is the right word. Engaging with a new PB sets us back weeks. Less of a swoop - think more of a turtle mounting us 

The takeover will be confirmed late on Monday evening and new players will be announced throughout the week ?
CK is keeping us updated in good faith, it’s Quantuma who have repeatedly set and then missed deadlines with a little help from the EFL.
The time is going to drag but at least that gives us time to add more pages to this thread… along with numerous puns ?

Now remastered and brought up to date. This has been mentioned many times, usually in reference to the old cassettes it came on, but here it is, available for all.