A loveless marriage

[Parsnip]

4 hours ago, Ram-a-lama fa fa fa said:

trade it in for a younger model and watch u23s and u18s ?

He does. He did a thread about it. 

Think it got deleted.

[Mucker1884]

4 hours ago, Steve How Hard? said:

Does Muckerette know that this is your thought process? ?

Why would she?  She has absolutely no interest in football!  ?

[TimRam]

Also supporting local non league team has it's ups and downs....check this out. Top last season by 7 points and only a few games left. Cancelled season. This season, top after a few games and things looking good again. Cancelled season.

Never a dull moment being a footie fan! At least we won't get bored like Man C fans winning every game. I am staying on this rocky train for sure.

[angieram]

3 hours ago, RamNut said:

By that I meant what was the last really good game you attended.

the really enjoyable games seem to be few and far between nowadays. The last one I remember was the win over blackburn with the Louie Sibley goal. Before that.......

So the last really good game you attended was the last game you (or any of us) attended? 

That's not bad, just tells me that Football Needs Fans! 

[strawhillram]

To be honest I’m not missing the football during this break. Glad for the respite from the hippie turning to disappointment every game.

Sad it is but the passion has gone and replaced by ambivalence. 
I hope something happens to dispel the disillusionment.  Need the football equivalent of viagra.

[superzak]

I think this pandemic has proved especially to us older people that football isn't as high on the essential agenda as we once thought. For me it's not the football I miss but the couple pints before and after the game with my lads .

[Ram-Alf]

34 minutes ago, superzak said:

I think this pandemic has proved especially to us older people that football isn't as high on the essential agenda as we once thought. For me it's not the football I miss but the couple pints before and after the game with my lads .

You find out at a certain age that football isn't the "B" all and end all, There are other opportunities to enjoy, Especially when a Woman appears in your life ☺️

[BaaLocks]

I was a bit like that with football a few years back, I'd just got out of the rhythm of it, was travelling in from out of town so often was doing large parts of it on my own. Frankly, it wasn't much fun. I was just about to give up when a mate of mine decided to get tickets for one game - that game was the 5-0 Forest day out and you realise why you bother.

But football, to many peoples observation, is not a marriage for me any more. It is now a series of one night stands - I go to the game, I love it (sometimes I find myself staring at the roof of the stadium wondering why I bothered) and I come home at the end without any commitment to be there next week. If I fancy what's on offer I'll be there, if not I no longer have any guilt if I miss it.

Like my mate's dad once said, after coming out of hospital "why should I go and watch them, they never came and saw me when I was bad?"

[RamNut]

21 hours ago, angieram said:

So the last really good game you attended was the last game you (or any of us) attended? 

That's not bad, just tells me that Football Needs Fans! 

I think you are missing the point. We had one really good game just before lockdown but these games are few and far between now. And seem to have been for rare for a long time.

Leeds away under Frank was an absolute classic.

I can’t remember too many memorable games under rowett, Pearson, or Clement

so since Mel took over how many really great games have there been?

[europia]

On 26/03/2021 at 00:24, Steve How Hard? said:

Sounds like you need a second honeymoon to revive the passion. Hang on in there buddy. That second honeymoon is just around the corner. Not long now and we'll be back inside ( the stadium). 

Within the next 48hrs ? Or maybe Christmas? Or never.....

[FindernRam]

On 26/03/2021 at 13:22, Mucker1884 said:

She has absolutely no interest in football!

So a keen follower of DCFC then.

[WhiteHorseRam]

On 25/03/2021 at 20:50, Norman Hull said:

The club has signed every useless clumsy player over the years

FTFY

 

Have to say I feel exactly the same. I think we had a big chance with SuperFrank, now seem headed towards the Doldrums.

 

[FindernRam]

On 26/03/2021 at 14:11, angieram said:

So the last really good game you attended was the last game you (or any of us) attended? 

That's not bad, just tells me that Football Needs Fans! 

Discussing this in the sun yesterday with my Brother in law. He is firmly in the camp of, a good game is one we win irrespective of entertainment if it leads to the promised land of promotion.

My view is completely opposite. A win after 400 sideways passes and a nicked set-piece is basically defrauding the paying public. Yes Blackburn was good but I wonder if we are being nostalgic, and certainly cannot really remember a previous game I enjoyed.

The problem is more than just Derby. Watching the England games against minor teams it was the same old boring stuff. Premier league is a bit better, but not a lot. 

The game is overcoached these days and with VAR to suck the joy out of it, you then have a chore rather than fun. And don't get me started on the proposed changes to the champions league.

I spent some season ticket cash on a BT Sport sub (I already had Sky). I may not bother next season. 

 

[Carnero]

30 minutes ago, FindernRam said:

Yes Blackburn was good but I wonder if we are being nostalgic, and certainly cannot really remember a previous game I enjoyed.

Blackburn 3-0, Stoke 4-0 & Birmingham 3-2 are the games that spring to my mind from last season that I enjoyed.

[jono]

On 26/03/2021 at 14:11, angieram said:

So the last really good game you attended was the last game you (or any of us) attended? 

That's not bad, just tells me that Football Needs Fans! 

It’s two fold isn’t it .. Regardless of results ... I just know we will all feel better when we are in the stadium and see the ball hit the back of the net.

I’ve had some really glum days like everyone. We haven’t had that live community feeling that only match day can bring. We have now had 2 seasons as a low scoring side. it’s a double dose of of sour medicine.

It will get better.

My prediction is that Tom Lawrence is going to make us all love him as the season comes to a close. All will be well and come August/ September we’ll be ready to dust ourselves off ready to go again. The Polish Tank will be back, Duncan is going to be the sensation of 2022. COYR

[secretsquirrel]

I certainly havent missed the cold wet nights and afternoons through winter-infact i thought watching on Rams TV was a fanatastic option.

[VulcanRam]

17 minutes ago, secretsquirrel said:

I certainly havent missed the cold wet nights and afternoons through winter-infact i thought watching on Rams TV was a fanatastic option.

I'm minded to agree. But today the sun is shining, and what better than a couple of beers, wander along to the game and sit in the sun. I was always an advocate for summer football and a few years ago tried to get the local junior leagues to trial it. Got somewhere, but not far enough. 

Anyway, part of all this has been convenience, and having more time before and after a game (on the telly) when you're not sat in traffic, which I appreciate as someone who spends most of their time dashing around at weekends. 

Part of it I do miss though, the camaraderie with people you don't really know but you've sat next to for years, beer or two beforehand, and just that wonderful feeling of walking into a ground and getting the first glimpse of the pitch, which I still get a buzz out of. 

 

[Ram-Alf]

4 hours ago, FindernRam said:

Discussing this in the sun yesterday with my Brother in law. He is firmly in the camp of, a good game is one we win irrespective of entertainment if it leads to the promised land of promotion.

My view is completely opposite. A win after 400 sideways passes and a nicked set-piece is basically defrauding the paying public. Yes Blackburn was good but I wonder if we are being nostalgic, and certainly cannot really remember a previous game I enjoyed.

The problem is more than just Derby. Watching the England games against minor teams it was the same old boring stuff. Premier league is a bit better, but not a lot. 

The game is overcoached these days and with VAR to suck the joy out of it, you then have a chore rather than fun. And don't get me started on the proposed changes to the champions league.

I spent some season ticket cash on a BT Sport sub (I already had Sky). I may not bother next season. 

 

I didn't watch either game, We played 2 teams that were poor, Not their fault it's just how football is now, Poland tonight I might watch as we have Jozwiak there.

[BucksRam]

On 26/03/2021 at 07:19, RamNut said:

When was your last really good shag?

 

'Bout 90 mins ago actually ?

[GangwayD]

On 26/03/2021 at 09:34, Unlucky Alf said:

My 1st game Derby 1 Preston 2 1966, I was born in Chaddesden and I was given 1s and 3d pocket money, A s 10 year old back then Chadd park was my playground, So off I went to mess around, Got bored so decided to walk into Derby, Down Nottingham road passed the cattle market and off the Cockpit hill to buy some sweats, Just pass the Ye Olde Boat cafe loads of people were walking in the opposite direction, Never gave it a thought, Sweats in hand i'd watch and listen to the market traders with their speil.

9d spent, 3d for bus fare home so 3d still left for some sweats, Walking through a side street that takes you to St Peters street again I swa lots of people walking, So I followed, 30mins later I was stood outside the Baseball Ground, I'd heard about the Club from my Dad who was born in Joseph Street a 10 minute walk from the ground, To get in was more than I had left, So I messed around with the other kids out there, Around 4-30 the gates would open and the kids would go in, It was the kids pen, Ihad a birds eye view of the wall and the grass at aye level, The keeper Ken Oxford was really the only player I could see.

The game finished and a walk back into town for the bus, I was fasinated with it all, In 1966-67 I managed to go to 12 games, 67-68 a full season, The next season we were Champions losing 1 game at home in mid week to Crystal Palace, Coming home almost in tears, Mum and Dad standing on the doorstep and Dad saying to Mum you'd best turn the gas off don't want him killing himself, Everton, Chelsea at home in the league cup queueing in the eary hours for a ticket, Losing 1-0 to Swindon town, 1st season in the 1st division beating all and sundry only to lose out on Europe for money issues...again.

1971-72, 1974-75 were magical seasons, Real Madrid, Benfica, 13-0 at home to Finn Harps, Brian Clough leaving to be replaced by Dave Mackay, Travelling up and down the country in all weathers, Being bullied by the police, Being thumped/chased by away supporters, Being hearded onto the Ramaway and kept in the station until the police were ready to escourt you all to the ground, Being served absolute crap food at all football matches, Those wet hamburgers outside the Baseball Ground by those guys with the burger carts would ask if you wanted onionsif not to late they were in your burger.

Football violence at it's peak in the mid 70s, WHU in the charity shield it was manic outside in the car park on a hot Saturday in August, One man Kev O'Rielly stood against all WHU fans on the steps encouraging all to follow him, Then the Derbyshire miners followed and a battle ensued, The Mile End Boys took a beating as Bill Gardner admits in his book.

The 80s with Mike Waterson, Chelsea/Leeds ripping the Ossie terrace seats out, Derby youths fighting back, Crowds were treated as animals, We were at Newport when the tragedy of the Bradford fire started, Stopping off in Worcester rumours about that there were several deaths, Getting home in the early hours off to bed, Getting up the next Morning I was transfixed to The TV screen to see those several deaths had turned into 50+, I was in tears watching in all unfold, I remember seeing a man on the pitch with his hair on fire,, Horror isn't enough to explain what we saw.

 

The 80s and 90s, Arthur Cox Jim Smith both brought success to Derby, Eranio, Biano, Wanchope, Stimac, Assanovic players that were a different class, Moving to a soulless stadium, The floodlights breaking down and the match abandoned against Wimbledon, Later to shouts of a conspiracy from the east to a betting organisation, Nothing came from it.

3 playoff finals, Driving back home to Derby after the Leicester defeat was god damn awfull, The WBA game a terrible day weather wise cold and wet, But winning 1-0 made up for it, Losing to Villa unexpected after the Leeds result, But still I believe FL made a mess of it with his team selection.

Covid-19 has almost killed football, VAR certainly has for me, Players wasting time with their gamesmanship, Referees not using common sense, 90mins turning into 100mins +, No fans at games into what i'd describe as a game fit for nowt without us in there, I've seen it all, I've got all the T shirts, Supporting your home town team for 55 years with great memories good and bad, I've now done with football, No season ticket next season, Sky not to be re newed.

Being a fan of DCFC all these years is like being on a roller coaster of love and hate.

Enjoy the ride folks, I'm getting off.

 

Thanks for the post. Enjoyable read and memories. 

Mine picked up mid-80's but I feel much the same as your concluding paragraph, albeit I will still go and still watch and will try to enjoy the ride.  Hope you have a re-think and just treat the days as beers with mates with the football as the excuse.

All the best

Gangway D from the terrace