Rotherham Away – When Good Times Go Bad

After what seemed like a very long international break, I think all Derby fans were chomping at the bit for yesterday’s trip to Rotherham.

A relatively local and winnable fixture, The Rams in fine fettle, a sold out away end and the Lampard effect in full motion. Not even a flash train strike could spoil the anticipation.

What could possibly go wrong?

Advertisements

Notts County – Post Match Bullets

Yesterday I went to see The Rams at Notts County in the first pre season friendly of 2018/2019 season and, of course, the first of the Frank Lampard era.

The sun was shining, 4000 Rams fans were in good voice and you will know the team won 4-1. Whilst its clearly stupidly early days, here’s a few thoughts on yesterday’s proceedings.

Gary Rowett Summer To Do List

Following Monday nights defeat to Fulham the focus has swiftly moved to what’s next for The Rams and specifically this summers transfer activity.

Whilst no-one can doubt that Fulham deserved to win the tie over the two legs, it’s also a fair observation that Gary Rowett actually won the tactical battle, but simply didn’t have the quality of player or legs in the final third to execute his plan.

Thus, once again, The Rams enter a summer trying to work out how we turn a decent season into an ultimately successful one. Against a backdrop of stated austerity from Mel, Rowett’s “to do” list is lengthy. Here’s what on it.

Step Up The Morphine

The EFL scheduled season proper has come to a close and Derby have achieved their minimum stated objective of the play offs whilst significantly reducing their net transfer spend.

With a previously all conquering, but now somewhat out of sorts Fulham side due to visit Pride Park on Friday, it’s definitely all to play for in the final sprint.

The Downer Hour

For the first time this season, I really wasn’t looking forward to yesterdays game. Even with no other commitments and a clear run for some pre-match beers, I was fearing the worst but hoping the Rams would prove me wrong.

Unfortunately, the game went absolutely as you would have expected it to, with Fulham racing into an early lead and Derby huffing and puffing but not even blowing down the picket fence, never mind getting anywhere near the house.

Here’s ten points on yesterday and the current state of the Rams nation.

When Does the Cricket Start?

The Rams stormed into 2018 on a tidal wave of feel good vibes. Carson was biblical, the defence was impregnable, Vydra was on fire and we had the best manager in the league.

But what about Derby’s new year curse? “Not with this team” they said, “Rowett won’t let that happen” they said, “Too much know how” they said.

Fast forward 6 weeks, as Derby stumble into Spring wondering where the next win is coming from, its tough for even the most ardent of Rams fans to not be thinking, “here we go again”.

How Much is that Winger in the Window?

Following last week’s piece on Darren Bent, I’ve all but finished follow up Departure Lounge pieces on JR and Shacks.

I was intending on posting one tonight and another next week. However, over the last few days, post transfer window and post Brentford, I’ve done a few tweets that have had an unusually large (for me) take up in terms of likes and responses.  Thus, in the interests of staying on topic, I’ve pulled some of the thoughts together here in slightly expanded form.

Departure Lounge – Darren Bent

As a bit of light relief from the feeding frenzy/ bullshit that is the end of the transfer window, here’s the first in a short series of articles on the dearly departed from DCFC.

Since his arrival at the club Rowett has openly spoken about his desire to reduce the squad size (and associated wage bill). He did a bit in the summer but is really starting to get somewhere in this window. The Ramspace Departure lounge is absolutely open for business, so let’s welcome our first guest to the entrance to the exit, Mr Darren Ashley Bent.

Birmingham Preview & Gary Rowett

Happy New Year to all Rams fans. Lets hope its a prosperous one for DCFC.

Earlier this season I was asked to write a preview piece for the Birmingham game for Blues website/blog http://www.wearebirmingham.co.uk For some reason they’ve asked me to do it again. here’s the piece with a small addition regarding Rowett’s contract.

Derby County Fanspotting

If you were looking for a set of UK football supporters that have been through the mill more than Derby County fans in the last five years you would do well.

Yes, we’ve not been relegated, been in financial difficulty or been rinsed by foreign owners like several clubs, but, as the saying goes, it’s the hope that kills you. After the horror of Wembley, it seems the Rams capacity to emotionally destroy their fans knows no bounds with the rollercoaster results this year doing little to halt the trend.

Any Derby County online group or feed and often the away end at any given game is currently not a nice place to be, with the word “toxic” regularly being used. Civil war is raging between fans at levels not seen since the Clough days but its maybe not as straight forward as happy clappers v wrist slashers.

Here’s how we break down the factions.