Sufferingfool

Derby-born, Hampshire-raised Pompey fan here, still feeling a bit groggy after our promotion celebrations last night but hoping the Rams will be joining us in the Championship next season.
We came to Derby quite regularly to see my family when I was young and were fortunate to go to the Baseball Ground many times in the late 1960s and 1970s in the Clough and Mackay years.
I was on the Popside in 1975 against Carlisle when the second title was celebrated, there when Roger Davies got sent off against Juventus in the European Cup semi-final, at the 4-4 drew with Man United on Boxing Day 1970.
But the most vivid memories are of the home wins over Liverpool and, particularly the Easter Saturday 2-0 win over Leeds in that 1971-72 season. Men with Pack’Em In boards urging people to move forward to let more into the ground, a guy who walked around the ground with a bell before the match to gee up the crowd and another with dozens of rosettes inside his coat doing the same. “Programmes, get your programmes”, Hot Love blasting out over the PA system at the end of games, incessant shouts of “Derby, Derby” urging the team on. 

Against Leeds Alan Durban came over to our section of the paddock beneath the main stand to take a throw in, grinning all over his face with a two goal lead and not long to go. Everyone around us screamed at him to take the smile off his face and concentrate; the game wasn’t won yet.
Hector, Hinton, O’Hare, the magnificent McFarland and Todd (jumpers for goalposts). My first game was a 4-0 win over QPR in Feb 1968, seen from the seats in the upper Normanton End, my second a 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough on Boxing Day 1968. I stood on a milk crate at the front of the middle tier of the Osmaston End.
One traumatic memory is the sight of Bob Wilson standing there in just his jock strap after ripping his shorts playing for Arsenal at the Baseball Ground. After that Easter Saturday victory over Leeds in 1972 I seem to remember watching Derby lose at home to Newcastle on the Easter Monday and thinking they had thrown it away.
But then came that win over Liverpool and Leeds tripping up. My Dad, who grew up reciting the names of the 1946 Cup winning team, had new heroes. And so did we, until living our lives in another part of the country meant going much more regularly to Fratton Park (or The Dell in my brother’s case, sadly).
But we still look out for Derby. We took my Dad to the Charlton game at Pride Park last season and I’ve been to see Pompey this season and before.
Wishing you every success and the hope that you all will have similar fond memories of Pride Park.
 
 

Well done Pompy deserved title.

It’s taken a while but I’ve got it now.
Right EVERY game Derby score fewer goals than I expect, so for Derby to win a game the opposition must score fewer goals than the fewer goals than expected Derby score. Simple it comes down to who scores the fewer goals loses…..phew I never realised this!

Nearly 20,000 home fans - I think that’s creditable given Bolton is not a big city and they’re down the road from the Manchester clubs. I respect fans who support their home town club rather than be tempted by the bright lights of big neighbours - eg fans of Orient, Stockport and - yes - even Wycombe who could easily be lured away to support a big London club.  

I hope for our magnificent travelling fans we win well on Saturday either clinching promotion or near as damn it so us homers can celebrate against Carlisle.

I hope for our magnificent travelling fans we win well on Saturday either clinching promotion or near as damn it so us homers can celebrate against Carlisle.

Well done Pompy deserved title.

Just got home. Story of our season tbh. Didn't play that well but somehow still came out with the three points and the title.
 
Appreciate the kind posts from the posters here. Bolton drew again so hopefully you guys will be joining us next season. You deserve it. 

Thank you for the gracious comments.  I'm a bit *ahem* tired and emotional - it's been a relatively long wait for us to get back in to the second tier.  I'm rooting for you to get over the line and other results this evening appear to have been in your favour.  Good luck and raising a glass to B4.

Well done Pompy deserved title.

Well done Pompy deserved title.

Well done Pompy deserved title.

Well done Pompy deserved title.

Well done Pompy deserved title.

Well done Pompy deserved title.

Well done Pompy deserved title.

Well done Pompy deserved title.

This pretty much sums up my thoughts. It’s looking like he will do the job he was signed to do. He is no fool and will be aware that this style of play will not cut it in the Championship. Maybe with money to spend on better players he can get us playing a more expansive style, maybe not, hopefully we will be seeing if this is the case next season.
 

I certainly feel this way sometimes - but could it be that the quality of the football this season has been determined more by:
- the quality of the players available to Warne (loads of injuries, especially to those with better ability)
- His restrictions regarding recruitment
- The reality of the league and the way the opposition force you into playing at times 
I’ve seen us play some horrible hoofball this season but I don’t think we can say for sure that this is all on Warne and, if we go up, he’s going to have earned the right to have a go next season with (hopefully) better players 

Warne makes no secret of how he sees the game successfully played in League One. Athletic players that get the ball down the channels and into the box. He said in an interview earlier in the season that it’s much more difficult (he may have said intricate) to create goal chances through the midfield. 
 
He’s also said that most championship sides play the same way (different to L1). If he gets us up, he deserves a chance to have a go at the Championship. He’s an honest bloke and I suspect will give us his thoughts on the style of play he wants to adopt in the championship once we get there and not before. Also, I would have thought the Clowes has had this discussion with him before he gave him the job. 

Sometimes a manager comes into a club and doesn’t like a player, or doesn’t play to their strengths, or the player themselves isn’t settled or quite right or ready for that league at that time or isn’t fit etc etc. Just because they didn’t play at their previous clubs doesn’t mean they can’t succeed for us, players progress and develop as much as decline and falter.
Catastrophising our prospects next season before we’ve even got the job done this season always seems odd to me. I recommend living in the moment and enjoying the ride of these last 2 games, then we can get on with worrying about what happens next 😁 

This pretty much sums up my thoughts. It’s looking like he will do the job he was signed to do. He is no fool and will be aware that this style of play will not cut it in the Championship. Maybe with money to spend on better players he can get us playing a more expansive style, maybe not, hopefully we will be seeing if this is the case next season.
 

One for the Metallica fans amongst us

I’m sick of this debate so once again, I’ll bow out, safe in the knowledge that I’m personally enjoying the team being second in the league, potentially two games away from promotion, record points total for a season, equalled our record away wins and could still beat it, best goal difference in the league as it stands, equal highest number of wins in the league as it stands, loads of set piece goals….theres plenty I’m enjoying and will continue to do so.
You do you friend. 

Best game I have seen Sibley have. He suits the wingback role and his tackling and covering plus decision making was much better yesterday. He looked a stronger more mature player yesterday.