Caerphilly Ram

Yep, just listened to the Rams Daily podcast on bbc sounds for the pre match presser, only provided updates on Gayle and TJJ. Said Gayle is rejoining training today ahead of schedule because he wants to be involved on Saturday (Warne did make a comment about not taking a risk as if the worst does happen on Saturday he’d need him for the playoffs but I think that’s a bit of gamesmanship from Warne). He also said John-Jules was the best in training on Tuesday. So we could have a strong squad to choose from for Saturday.

T. John-Jules has trained well and is in contention for Saturday too according to Warne (via the DET)

Zip your fly’s up, that normally helps

It was how I interpreted this comment; "They’ve done their job though and we’ve got today out of the way and done our job to get the home leg of the semi-final second. Now I can rest all of the players that have been playing regularly at Cheltenham. It’ll be a completely different team.” My take on that comment is he’s content that they’ve secured a playoff spot and would now rest players accordingly, in other words “we won’t catch Derby now so we won’t bother trying”. I appreciate on a second read he didn’t specifically say they were playing for 4th place so my earlier post was inaccurate, but there’s a big ol’ insinuation in what he said and what he subsequently did this evening.

Bants away then, just checking 😉

Seems genuinely unreal that, he’s openly said he wants 4th place for the second leg to be at home 🤯

Is there something I’ve done to annoy you Jimbo? This isn’t the first time I’ve had such a reply from you of late?

Warne possibly/probably won’t change it. However for me Bird is the better footballer than Thompson and I would play him in the midfield alongside Smith and Adams. He has more guile and creates goalscoring opportunities, that’s why I would like to see him play, that’s my opinion, you don’t agree fair enough.

Saturday? But yeah, I think we’ll see many changes to the side and squad over the summer. Really don’t get the sentiment of those who don’t want Bird to play because he’s moving on, he’s one of our best players and can help seal promotion, would rather use his ability on Saturday than not.

Because he’s a good player, who has contributed well to the cause over the last few years and could still play one final part in getting us promoted… For reference, as it stands Adams, Hourihane, Sibley, Smith, Thompson and Bird are all “going” so we should maybe just play Fornah in midfield on Saturday 😉

The information available suggests that all restrictions/EFL approved business plan on the back of admin end this summer, meaning we are free to trade within the club’s means. What that looks like only Clowes and Pearce will know for sure I guess. There was accounts info published recently that was discussed by people in this thread, that might help; My own thoughts are that we’ve maybe got some money sat in the bank from the Bird sale, if we go up will have guaranteed increased revenue for at least a season in the championship through the better tv money, have some high earners potentially moving on, so should see some recruitment of free agents AND some fees being spent “normally” for the first time in years. It’s quite exciting.

There’s been no official word on ramstv yet, the article (see below) announcing the sky coverage says; “Details relating to RamsTV streaming will be communicated to supporters in advance of the game.” That was 2 days ago so it’s a case of wait and see at the moment, if I was to hazard a guess I’d say ramstv coverage will be available outside the UK.

Yes, entertainment should be derived from sport, what that entertainment is for each person is subjective. As has been discussed many times before with regards to football and specifically Derby County, some may prefer possession based teams who retain the ball and use the close control and movement of their players to pass their way through sides before scoring goals. Some may prefer a more direct approach of out working a team then getting the ball forward as quickly as possible to score. Some may prefer a side that absorbs pressure then counter attacks. Some might enjoy the sides who show great defensive and organisational resolve to see out games 1-0. It’s the same across all sport, Boxing for example some might just want to see 2 heavyweights going for a knockout, others might prefer the lighter weight classes engaged in a more technical boxing match looking to win on points. Snooker was given as an example, the perfect break might be what some want to see whereas others might want a game of tactics with each player outthinking the other and using snookers to their advantage. I watch an awful lot of Australian rugby league as a neutral, because the sport entertains me and I don’t have the emotional attachment that I do to a Derby. It’s a different relationship, that’s a sport I watch for amusement, to see two teams crashing into each other alongside pace, power and skill. I watch Derby because I was taken along to the baseball ground as a kid by my Dad, Uncle and Grandfather, it’s an attachment to them and their legacy as much as it’s the entertainment element of sport, I want the club to succeed within reason, but more than that I want it to be there to carry on that connection as my grandfather isn’t around anymore, my uncle lives thousands of miles away and my dad is hundreds of miles away….yet talking about Derby and the club brings us instantly closer together despite the physical distance. So yes, it should be entertaining, for me this season has been as I’m content seeing the team score plenty, concede less and chalk up the wins irrespective of style of play. But it’s also about more than that in my opinion, if someone feels so strongly about the entertainment aspect then they choose not to go all power to them, that’s their choice, but it doesn’t automatically make everyone else wrong for feeling differently.

What absolute pelters are people getting? I’ve looked back over the last few days of this thread, myself and a couple of others responded to Bris’ post(s) from Saturday offering alternative opinions in a pretty respectful manner and tone. I did respond to Bris in the match thread as he seemed at pains to point out how rubbish we are compared to Watford and Hull during one of the most important games of our season, the timing of which struck me as odd and I stand by that. The worst seems to be a suggestion to @BaianoPOTY98 that he should try for a Man City season ticket, a bit mean spirited perhaps but not sure it counts as “pelters”, if he/she/they don’t feel entertained by Warne’s football there’s a decision to make which seems to have been made, I respect that even though I don’t agree. I don’t however feel the dialogue on here the last few days has been anywhere near as confrontational and divisive as at other times this season, but again that’s just my view and I may be wrong. EDIT - forgot to say there was some worrying bread based accusations at one point. No knead for that