Jim Smith

[SithHappens]

30 years ago today Jim joined Derby

What a great season (well from November on) , be nice to get a repeat next season.

[macstheman]

30 years ago today Jim joined Derby

What a great season (well from November on) , be nice to get a repeat next season.

Bit of a slow burner and then whoosh.
Great memories, can it be repeated that's the Hughie Green question?

[swaledale]

Bit of a slow burner and then whoosh.
Great memories, can it be repeated that's the Hughie Green question?

Eustace will have Derby competing at the top of the table next season

[Ramshank72]

30 years ago today Jim joined Derby

What a great season (well from November on) , be nice to get a repeat next season.

Don't make them like Jim anymore. Great memories

[ramAnag]

30 years ago today Jim joined Derby

What a great season (well from November on) , be nice to get a repeat next season.

All helped massively by the astute signings of Powell, Van Der Laan (they don’t have to be world beaters) and, of course Stimac, along with the twenty goals of Sturridge.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Ah RvdL, remembered by me with as much positivity as you with Leon Osman. Sadly didn't quite cut it at top level but still a '"hero"

[SithHappens]

If it was today I dare bet online socials would have been calling for him to be sacked pre stimac signing.

Indeed had Mel been in charge he may well have been sacked.

Maybe a lesson to give people time.

[Andy_Faber]

If it was today I dare bet online socials would have been calling for him to be sacked pre stimac signing.

Indeed had Mel been in charge he may well have been sacked.

Maybe a lesson to give people time.

I?ll put my hand up and say I wanted him gone after the Tranmere game. But by three games later, after two wins, a straightener from a pal who?d seen those games and a rare visit to an away game, the 4-1 win against Birmingham (rather stupidly attending despite having two post op fluid drains in my torso) I?d changed my mind. Fickle bloody fans, eh

[SithHappens]

I?ll put my hand up and say I wanted him gone after the Tranmere game. But by three games later, after two wins, a straightener from a pal who?d seen those games and a rare visit to an away game, the 4-1 win against Birmingham (rather stupidly attending despite having two post op fluid drains in my torso) I?d changed my mind. Fickle bloody fans, eh

We don't seem to start well do we. Look around our promotion or near misses, promotion under Smith we were struggling, promotion under Davies we looked poor, season seemed to kick start with Oakleys screamer against west brom. Play offs under Burley we didn't hit top 6 till Xmas time from memory, obviously under McClaren we were down the league pretty well when he took over.

But then we have had good starts, looking nailed on under McClaren January only to finish 8th and flying under Clement to fall apart in January.

And the less said about 'you've only come to see the champions' season.

[Andy_Faber]

We don't seem to start well do we. Look around our promotion or near misses, promotion under Smith we were struggling, promotion under Davies we looked poor, season seemed to kick start with Oakleys screamer against west brom. Play offs under Burley we didn't hit top 6 till Xmas time from memory, obviously under McClaren we were down the league pretty well when he took over.

But then we have had good starts, looking nailed on under McClaren January only to finish 8th and flying under Clement to fall apart in January.

And the less said about 'you've only come to see the champions' season.

I?ve seen every one since the Mackay promotion, to me the 95 96 promotion was the best, for 2/3 of the season we were clearly the best team in the league, or, when not the best on the day we won by working harder and overpowering the opposition, just a naturally very fit team. Seldom mentioned but my favourite that season was attacking midfielder Ron Willems, he scored some crucial goals in single-goal victories and was as clever as heck on the ball

[ramAnag]

If it was today I dare bet online socials would have been calling for him to be sacked pre stimac signing.

Indeed had Mel been in charge he may well have been sacked.

Maybe a lesson to give people time.

He also had a luxury that current managers don’t have…the ability to make crucial signings (eg Igor) in the autumn. Nowadays if the summer signings don’t quite gel you they have to wait until the season’s half over before there can be any further tweaking/strengthening.

[SithHappens]

He also had a luxury that current managers don’t have…the ability to make crucial signings (eg Igor) in the autumn. Nowadays if the summer signings don’t quite gel you they have to wait until the season’s half over before there can be any further tweaking/strengthening.

Our scouting must have been good then, I mean who had heard of stimac, asanovic, wanchope, baino, eranio and so on

[MadAmster]

13 goals in 59 appearances for Derby, following his retirement, Ron Willems was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

I always thought of him as a #9.

[Andy_Faber]

13 goals in 59 appearances for Derby, following his retirement, Ron Willems was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

I always thought of him as a #9.

I always saw him as deeper lying than that, probably wrong as usual, and whatever he made a great impact