Cobblers v Rams

[swaledale]

Tbf…it’s not just ‘whenever we lose’. My ‘wee bit’ of pessimism isn’t based on results alone…it’s based on the nature of the performance which in the last three matches - none of which I’ve seen - appears to have been, respectively, lucky, fortunate and shockingly poor…and our current injury situation which is partly horribly unlucky (Gayle, Fozzy and now NML) and partly very predictable (Washington, Waghorn and JJ)…imo.

I do have reservations about Warne, and not just at Championship level. Now however is not the time to voice them and I have never been someone who shouts negative comments at players or the management team from the stands, least of all when there remains everything to play for. Getting us in the top 6 isn’t though the ‘reason he was recruited as Derby manager’ imo. Getting us UP is the reason, and repeatedly stated aim, and he has been (relatively) heavily financially backed this season to achieve that.

The time to judge is at the end of the season. My feelings at the moment are that I have found some of the formations and selections very puzzling and the signings very ‘hit and miss’. I’m not sure Warne has been as deprived of resources as you make out - who else at this level could have added Adams and Gayle not to mention the £300k plus for CBT at the mid way point - but, despite the continued roller coaster of disappointment you are right to point out that we remain 2nd and are virtually nailed on for the play offs at least…so all still to play for.

I wouldn't have expected you to be shouting negative comments from the stands, but its obviously different to discussing such matters on here. I'd agree that some formations and selections seem strange, but of course we neither know the managers thoughts or a players form or fitness, so one needs to be circumspect. I've queried the 3 at the back strategy, but then we seem to win more games than we lose using it.

Surely lucky and fortunate are the same thing? Mm I keep seeing reading this Derby were lucky to.... yet the league table doesn't lie and being 2nd at this stage of the season isn't down to pure luck, I mean that's stretching credulity a bit far, a team doesn't grind out results on luck alone.

The other teams at this level who have spent money, include Peterborough - £1.17 million, plus 4 "undisclosed" fees and a loan fee in excess of £500k for the season.

Portsmouth £90K and 6 "undisclosed" fees Bolton £1.18 million and 2 undisclosed.

Derby, have paid £350K, plus unknown fees for Fornah, Washington and Wilson - though Wilson came through Knight's sale. I doubt the other 2 exceed another £300k together.

There is a wage cap in play compared with what other clubs in L1 could pay as well, so yes Warne has operate on reduced resources and Derby's team has not been built up over a number of seasons or had the benefit of academy players to bring through.

Yes your right Warne was appointed to get Derby promoted, but as any realistic football fan knows, whether that happens can come down to factors beyond the control of the manager. Injuries being just one of them. The minimum expectation is that the manager builds a competitive team with a realistic chance of promotion and Warne's done that and improved on last season.

Roller coaster of disappointment? WTF? On the basis Derby haven't pissed the league and now don't sit 10 pts clear with promotion a certainty?

I mean come on, we have climbed steadily up the table since before Christmas and have been 2nd for a good while. IMO your expectations are beyond what is realistic.

[ramAnag]

I wouldn't have expected you to be shouting negative comments from the stands, but its obviously different to discussing such matters on here. I'd agree that some formations and selections seem strange, but of course we neither know the managers thoughts or a players form or fitness, so one needs to be circumspect. I've queried the 3 at the back strategy, but then we seem to win more games than we lose using it.

Surely lucky and fortunate are the same thing? Mm I keep seeing reading this Derby were lucky to.... yet the league table doesn't lie and being 2nd at this stage of the season isn't down to pure luck, I mean that's stretching credulity a bit far, a team doesn't grind out results on luck alone.

The other teams at this level who have spent money, include Peterborough - £1.17 million, plus 4 "undisclosed" fees and a loan fee in excess of £500k for the season.

Portsmouth £90K and 6 "undisclosed" fees Bolton £1.18 million and 2 undisclosed.

Derby, have paid £350K, plus unknown fees for Fornah, Washington and Wilson - though Wilson came through Knight's sale. I doubt the other 2 exceed another £300k together.

There is a wage cap in play compared with what other clubs in L1 could pay as well, so yes Warne has operate on reduced resources and Derby's team has not been built up over a number of seasons or had the benefit of academy players to bring through.

Yes your right Warne was appointed to get Derby promoted, but as any realistic football fan knows, whether that happens can come down to factors beyond the control of the manager. Injuries being just one of them. The minimum expectation is that the manager builds a competitive team with a realistic chance of promotion and Warne's done that and improved on last season.

Roller coaster of disappointment? WTF? On the basis Derby haven't pissed the league and now don't sit 10 pts clear with promotion a certainty?

I mean come on, we have climbed steadily up the table since before Christmas and have been 2nd for a good while. IMO your expectations are beyond what is realistic.

The ‘roller coaster of disappointment’…just a reference to the way in which Derby repeatedly get themselves into a good position only to fail to build on the foundations and take advantage…aka, ‘The Derby Way’. Nothing to do with ‘pissing the league and being 10 points clear’, I’ve never expected or suggested that.

Not sure how you can describe my expectations as ‘beyond what is realistic’. They’re the same as yours - and the majority’s - were before the Northampton match…to build on a four point lead, extend to seven and go up automatically. Unfortunately, from all I’ve heard, we didn’t turn up and our injury situation has worsened. Now we’re under pressure again on Friday and that’s not something we seem to handle very well.

[swaledale]

The ‘roller coaster of disappointment’…just a reference to the way in which Derby repeatedly get themselves into a good position only to fail to build on the foundations and take advantage…aka, ‘The Derby Way’. Nothing to do with ‘pissing the league and being 10 points clear’, I’ve never expected or suggested that.

Not sure how you can describe my expectations as ‘beyond what is realistic’. They’re the same as yours - and the majority’s - were before the Northampton match…to build on a four point lead, extend to seven and go up automatically. Unfortunately, from all I’ve heard, we didn’t turn up and our injury situation has worsened. Now we’re under pressure again on Friday and that’s not something we seem to handle very well.

My expectations as I've consistently said all season is that Derby will finish in the top 6. I hope we get automatic promotion and I am disappointed with the loss to Northampton, but I didn't expect Derby to not drop more pts between now and the end of the season, so on that score maybe I'm more of a realist?

[ramAnag]

My expectations as I've consistently said all season is that Derby will finish in the top 6. I hope we get automatic promotion and I am disappointed with the loss to Northampton, but I didn't expect Derby to not drop more pts between now and the end of the season, so on that score maybe I'm more of a realist?

Hmmm…after the Bolton match and the Gayle injury you said, ‘I think we’ll be fine, just keep it tight and nick 1-0’s for the last few matches’.
I think that’s what most of us anticipated, certainly at Northampton, and I didn’t expect Derby ‘to not drop more pts’ either which is why I predicted us picking up 16 of the last 21 points available.
So…not sure why you want to become competitive over it, but I’d say that in terms of hopes, disappointment and realism we are very similar.
All I’ll add is that, in terms of automatic promotion, Friday will tell us a lot and a repeat of the away league victory, rather than the early season Cup performance at PP, would be very welcome.

[swaledale]

Hmmm…after the Bolton match and the Gayle injury you said, ‘I think we’ll be fine, just keep it tight and nick 1-0’s for the last few matches’.
I think that’s what most of us anticipated, certainly at Northampton, and I didn’t expect Derby ‘to not drop more pts’ either which is why I predicted us picking up 16 of the last 21 points available.
So…not sure why you want to become competitive over it, but I’d say that in terms of hopes, disappointment and realism we are very similar.
All I’ll add is that, in terms of automatic promotion, Friday will tell us a lot and a repeat of the away league victory, rather than the early season Cup performance at PP, would be very welcome.

I'm not being competitive, just having a discussion. Yes I did say that, but it was more in hope than expectation!! Also back in September when you were moaning about Derby being mid table and Warne's tactics being cr@p and his signings being rubbish, I was quite sanguine and confident that Derby would be in the top 6 by the end of the season. Which would suggest I'm a tad more philosophical about Derby than you are, or at least how your posts make you seem.

Friday isn't make or break, it would be nice to get a win keep 2nd spot and knock another game off, I still think it will be a nail biting finish to the season, its the derby way!

[ramAnag]

I'm not being competitive, just having a discussion. Yes I did say that, but it was more in hope than expectation!! Also back in September when you were moaning about Derby being mid table and Warne's tactics being cr@p and his signings being rubbish, I was quite sanguine and confident that Derby would be in the top 6 by the end of the season. Which would suggest I'm a tad more philosophical about Derby than you are, or at least how your posts make you seem.

Friday isn't make or break, it would be nice to get a win keep 2nd spot and knock another game off, I still think it will be a nail biting finish to the season, its the derby way!

Lol…let’s save the discussion about his signings till the end of the season…but ‘sanguine’ is one thing you’re not.

You’re right of course, Blackpool isn’t ‘make or break’, but it’s kind of stating the blindingly obvious to say you ‘think it will be a nail biting finish to the season’…and a win on Friday would help enormously…not just in terms of points.

[swaledale]

Lol…let’s save the discussion about his signings till the end of the season…but ‘sanguine’ is one thing you’re not.

You’re right of course, Blackpool isn’t ‘make or break’, but it’s kind of stating the blindingly obvious to say you ‘think it will be a nail biting finish to the season’…and a win on Friday would help enormously…not just in terms of points.

I'm certainly sanguine regarding Derby! I'm obviously keen to see an automatic promotion place secured, but I've been confident that we'd be in the promotion mix come the end of the season since last September.

The majority of signings can't be that bad, given most have contributed to where the team is in the league!

Actually I'm laid back about everything else really, its just fun with certain people to be a bit agitated!!