Ramrob

I like to share Johnny Russell's progress in USA as he was a good player, all round nice guy and a fan favourite when here. 
He is club captain and has carved out a similar space in people's hearts over there.
I never compare his time out there to how he was here, but every time I post a goal (and there are plenty of them) somebody comes on to pour scorn on the level of football. 
I don't care and am not particularly interested in what he would be playing like if he was still here. I am just pleased to see him doing well.

Following on from the "Operation Fill The Ground" Thread, and various discussions regarding drumming up some much needed business/extra income for the club, I've been doing a little digging with regards to a few of us spending a little more than normal to attend a game in hospitality, upgrading our usual matchday spends, and meeting a few new faces from the forum, to boot.
(Thanks to @uttoxram75 for the initial mention of this, as far as I'm aware?)
 
All very informal at this stage, and very much an exercise in gauging any interest, and see if it's worthwhile taking it a step further.
 
My initial thoughts/preference was a 10 seater executive box, and in all honesty, that remains my personal preference, as whilst obviously being more expensive, we'd have a better opportunity to introduce ourselves to fellow forum strangers!  That's purely from the "Forum meet up" perspective of course, but the extra dosh would no doubt be appreciated by those still lucky enough to be clocking on at the club!
I'm not, however, averse to the "lesser options", in the various suites, effectively mixing with others.
I've now spoken directly with the lovely Sarah in Hospitality (Thanks Sarah, if you're reading!) and have a better idea of costs, and what to expect for your money.
Obviously the opposition/game category affects prices, but just throwing some typical figures out for now.
I think all options include arrival from 2 hours before KO, to 1 hour after final whistle.
I'd say the executive box option needs to be fully attended by 10 of us, price split equally, to make it financially viable.
This would be in the NW corner, below the main scoreboard, and almost certainly the second tier down, not the very top tier.  
This option includes, amongst other little bits...
3 x free parking spaces between us, in the main West Car Park
4 x course pre-match lunch (Served in the box, not out in a busy restaurant).
Waiter/ess service for any bar drinks etc.
Ooh... hang on... 
"Executive Boxes:
Our Executive Boxes provide an intimate and impressive environment, with seating for up to 10 guests and a superb view from your own private balcony.
Your experience includes:
Executive balcony match view padded seats.
Dedicated member of waiting personnel.
Licensed betting facilities.
Satellite LCD TV including live match feed.
Hospitality options:
Four course choice menu, Chef’s pre-match cheese board or use of box and drinks service.
Parking at £10.00+VAT per person"
https://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/executive-boxes-matchday
 
The other options are in shared suites, less expensive of course, but possibly more suitable if less than 10 of us are interested, as smaller groups can be accommodated.
Briefly:
"The Pedigree Suite:
The Pedigree Suite is our largest suite at Pride Park Stadium and all seats can be accessed directly from the room, with many offering panoramic views of the pitch.
When dining in this Suite you can enjoy locally-sourced traditional cuisine that has been specially prepared by our team of Executive Chefs.
Each fixture is priced differently to keep things current and interesting each matchday."
https://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/pedigree-suite
This suite is in the SW Corner.
Two-Course Plated meal, at designated tables/seats.
Match Ambassador/Former player meet & Greet type thing.
 
 
"The Captain's Club:
The Captain’s Club is a relaxed matchday hospitality experience in contemporary surroundings offering one of the best vantage points in the stadium and regular visits from Derby County Captains, past and present.
Enjoy being with fellow fans, share a few laughs and watch the footie!
Package includes:
Unlimited hot buffet selection.
Dessert station with cheese and biscuits served post-game.
Premium match view seating available on the balcony directly outside the suite or standard seating in the West Upper.
Tea and coffee station.
Cash bar facility.
Tables are unreserved and are available on a first come, first served basis."
https://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/matchday-captains-club
 
 
I think a Saturday game is the way forward, rather than a mid-week evening game?
I quite fancy the Sheff Utd game on Sat 15th Jan, purely to give this enough time for any questions/organising etc?
But of course, all is up for debate/comments/queries and further discussion(s), so please fire away on here. 
Don't bombard me with puns (you pun guys can be REALLY annoying!), quips, and general testicular-based comments.  This is serious!  This is no place for tyre kickers, time wasters, or former club owners who just wants to get back with the lads, on the cheap!  That horse has bolted, sir!   
 
Merely as examples at this stage, a brief look at potential prices:
For the Cat Silver game v Blackpool - Sat 11th December:
Exec Box:  £1,250 + vat = £1,500 divided by a full quota of 10 = £150.00 each.  
Pedigree Suite:  £99 + vat = £118.80 each
Captains Club:  £50 + vat = £60.00 each
 
For the Sheffield Utd game on Sat 15th Jan:
Exec Box:  £1,490 + vat = £1,788 divided by a full quota of 10 = £178.80 each.  
Pedigree Suite:  £129+ vat = £154.80 each
Captains Club:  £80 + vat = £96.00 each
 
Further costs hinted at here, presumably updated as we approach the later matches...
 https://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/hospitality
 
There's been a fair bit of talk about throwing a few extra quid in the clubs coffers.  Let's see if this forum can do its little bit to help?
All questions, and certainly comments, will be very much appreciated.
Who's up for it?  
So far, we have... erm... well, there's me... and erm... 
 
?
 

It’s @David - he’s been on the DET Journo half-day virtual workshop course. He’ll “break silence” on it tomorrow, in an exclusive click-bait scoop. Stop press! ?

Who is the headline writer for the DET, why is talking now called “Breaking Silence”, sensationalist slightly?
 
Headlines as original as the articles

If when the appeal gets heard if I was sitting on an appeals panel I would be asking the EFL to give ten examples of how a club can win an appeal against administration from their viewpoint before the hearing took place, the answers would be very interesting. The EFL should be able to answer that question or their appeal system could easily be questioned in law as being unfair.

Remember watching this on Sky round a friends house. Happy days.
That Wanchope 'shot' and Keller rooster-up ?
How big were those shirts too?!

Just thought I'd say hi. 
Been a long time visitor to this forum and enjoyed reading your comments (most of them anyway!). Decided to finally become a member so I can share my own thoughts, after what has been a whirlwind couple of weeks for the Rams (not to mention the couple of years leading up to it). Whether you enjoy my comments remains to be seen...
A bit about me – I was born in Burton but have spent the most of my adult life living and working in the East (Anglia that is). One of my earliest memories of the Rams was watching the Tin Man warming up at the BBG by nonchalantly curling the ball into the net from the corner flag, which to my 10 year old eyes was very impressive. The only thing I remember about the game itself was that it was 0-0, so McMinn's corners were probably  the most exciting thing about it.
Currently living near Ipswich so would be good to meet any fellow Suffolk Rams over a pint (ale not lager please). Not seen many Derby shirts down this way but know from this forum that there are a few.
Regardless of the situation we're in, loving the fight we're showing this season (and better football). Hope things get resolved soon so we can look to the future, whatever division that may be. 
COYR!

I am writing this, largely out of frustration, but I feel I need to get it off my chest.
My dad was a season ticket holder for 50-odd years and he died of cancer in September. (I joined him as a season ticket holder from 1987)
He had renewed his ticket for the 2020-21 season before the pandemic hit which was carried over into this season.
In April, when he knew he was too poorly to go again, he wrote to the ticket office advising as such and would therefore prefer a refund to the ticket for 2021-22.
He received a response saying that the club could not provide a refund as the deadline had since passed.
As a result, I wrote to the club in July to see if an amicable solution could be found to transfer his ticket to my friend who would pay the difference from a 65+ ticket to a standard adult one, then paying my dad for the rest of the ticket.
I heard nothing.  I chased again twice and still heard nothing.
In an attempt to try and sort it out before the season ticket deadline (after my dad had recently died and after Derby had gone into administration), I went to the ticket office and was advised the process would be that my friend would have to buy the ticket in full and my dad could get a refund on his seat, due to his death.
I therefore paid for my friend’s seat (which was my dad’s seat) in full for my friend and gave details with regards to getting a refund.
This week, the SLO contacted me to say that it would be possible to upgrade his seat to my friend and to contact the ticket office accordingly, in response to my email sent in July.
When I explained what I had already been told by the ticket office, I received another email advising that due to the administration events, no refund could be given at all.
So, Derby County have taken my dad’s money and my friend’s money for the same seat, have given me conflicting information and are now reneging on returning my Dad’s refund (which would have obviously gone to my mother).
I have requested that I get his season ticket back but for a different seat, as I can either bring someone else, or sell it on to recover some of the cash, but have had no response so far.
I can’t express how poorly I have felt Derby have handled this, (effectively costing me over £300) and it shows how much they valued my dad as a “customer”, when their lack of providing the correct information or acting in a timely manner could have seen this resolved.
Overall, I’m really saddened that this becomes my Dad’s final legacy with the club that he loved.

Authentic footage?

Every time Scott Parker looks at that award, he will see Wayne Rooney.
We all know the real manager of the month.

Without wishing to go over old ground, the frustration with Nigel was the players who he binned off without explanation (Cywka, Jacobs, Bailey, Maguire, Moxey, Freeman, Stocks) or whose careers eventually went backwards under him (Addison, Croft, Dave Martin), and his habit of finding a winning formula and suddenly unfinding it because something upset him (Kuqi). 
There's no argument though that, despite many, many misses - he left us with some real bargains. 

Good shout

A pint of O’Hare of the Dog please.

Jackie Stamps

A pint of Keogh, you can drink as much as you like and it doesn’t impair your judgment.

I like Steve Bloomer's Washing's own reply: "11 pints"!

This season we do look like scoring though..we create plenty in most games..just haven't got anyone that can hit a bulls arse with a banjo at the moment..we need to keep playing like we have been and hopefully the goals will come..

We weren't as bad as some make out. I had been slightly concerned that we'd need to put in another really big shift and I did actually think we looked pretty leggy yesterday. Swansea were also a lot better than I'd expected them to be, but fortunately, they too lack cutting edge in the final third. For all their possession, they could have lost the game too. 
Some time to freshen up players now and get another couple of weeks' work into Bielik, CKR and even Festy and Knight who will still be rusty and shot of match sharpness. I think we miss Jags too to be honest. I'm still more than hopeful.
COYR
 

Being a long serving player he sometimes gets taken for granted. Several managers have bought in replacements and even promoted youngsters to his position.
He’s seen them all off and he is just getting better with age. He’s been much over-looked for Scotland which, when you think they’ve even played Anya at left back is a travesty.
 

I am a big fan. Considering he has had three serious knee injuries, I am amazed he is still playing to such a high standard. His strength of character is going to be important to this team for the rest of the season.

I think Fozzy, who has taken a lot of stick the past few seasons has really stepped up to the plate in the last few games. Showing how much he cares. Deserves recognition for showing the young uns a real example. Showed his worth today when replacing Stearman.

I agree largely with @jono's view of the game, and for me it was a good point coming at the end of a three game week in atrocious weather conditions. 
It's easy to say after the final whistle, and I can understand Rooney wanting to keep together a winning side as much as he could, but I would have liked to see him use someone with fresher legs to inject some energy into our game from the kick off.
Presumably the intention was to introduce that attacking energy during the second half, but an early injury to Stearman and a much- needed tactical change to a back three meant we had to use more defensive substitutes.
Dylan Williams demonstrated just how important that energy is, another very bright performance from him. Also full credit to the defence, who adjusted well to the changes and still managed to keep another clean sheet. Our defensive solidity is becoming trademark and Allsop contributed to that with another very assured game. Davies in the last ten minutes flinging himself at every header, so determined to keep our record intact. Well done to all of them.
That left just one attacking substitute at Rooney's disposal to try and create a chance on the break. Ebosele was obviously chosen for his pace but I think he is a brilliant wing back in the making, not a forward. I would have brought Sibley on, but I can understand why he didn't! 
The last few minutes I thought the draw would be the fairest result, much as I wanted Festy to score an unexpected winner.
Dust yourself down lads, have a rest and go again in two weeks. You're doing us proud.

Bloody hell! Those games, that league table! I wonder if we'll ever get close to that again.
Thanks for a great thread @LeedsCityRam

Matchday 11 – Saturday 2nd October 1971 & a visit to St James Park, Newcastle
Newcastle came into the game in 16th place & the Rams justified their superior placing with Alan Hinton’s goal giving them a 1-0 win in front of 32,040.
Match report suggests the scoreline probably flattered the Geordies a smidge..



Programme of the day at St James Park...

 
Derby’s win on Tyneside kept them in 3rd place. Elsewhere, the top of the table clash at Old Trafford saw Man Utd beat Sheffield Utd 2-0 to end the visitors’ unbeaten start to the season. That result left Derby as the only unbeaten side in the division after 11 games & cut the gap to Sheffield Utd to 2 points;