Chasing The Tail Of A Dream

Friends, it’s been a while.

When you choose to write a blog about something you care about, its generally because that thing regularly causes very strong positive or negative emotions, which inspire you to share your thoughts with fellow  enthusiasts of your chosen topic.

In a season where Derby County have, unbelievably, been finding even more new ways to be Derby County off the pitch, matters on the pitch have, frankly, been a bit dull. But after Saturdays cracking win over PNE, are we now seeing that there may actually be some substance to the constant ‘jam tomorrow’ rhetoric?

Post Match Thoughts – Stoke Away

Yesterday, I went to my first live Rams game this season and witnessed a lively 2-2 draw with Stoke at the Bet365 Stadium.

This was a game that both teams will feel they could have won, but equally both could have lost and a draw was probably about right in the end.

A point away from home is never to be sniffed at and there were certainly plenty of points to ponder for Rams fans. Here’s my thoughts on what went down.

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.

Derby County – New Season Barometer

Over the last few years, each new Derby season has been heralded as a new dawn only for Rams fans to be served with the same old, from exactly the same group of players, against the backdrop of a procession of managers, relieved of their duties.

With the sale of our two star players in Tom Ince and Will Hughes, some canny signings and early signs that we may have a keeper in Rowett, this season genuinely does feel like a fresh start for The Rams.

Thus, what better way to see in the new season and new era with a well overdue return for the classic Ramspace Barometer. Enjoy.

Ramspace World Soccer Season Preview 2017

With players starting to return from holiday and the transfer market starting to come to life, the next month should be a very busy one for Derby County after a very encouraging start.

Before it all properly kicks off, regular readers will know that each year we write the DCFC contribution for the official World Soccer UK season preview special.  As ever with these pieces, there’s nothing you don’t know here, but herewith an un-edited version of this seasons submission.

Rinse, No Repeat – Part 1

Following the back to back disasters of the Bristol City and Cardiff games, Steve McClaren appealed to Rams fans not to over react and pointed to the great turnaround in form since his arrival.

Whilst Steve has undoubtedly pulled up trees to even get the Rams in the mix at all, this same group of players are again having the same collapse in form at the same time of year.

At the time of writing, Derby sit 11 points outside the play offs (which looks a lot of ground to make up when you consider the teams above them) so thoughts are inevitably turning to next season.

I think most Derby fans would agree that something now must give with this group of players who on their day are great, but simply do not have the X factor required to get us out this league. Thus in the first of a series of articles this week, we consider who stays and who goes, starting with the goalkeepers and defenders.

The Futureheads

I always think that international breaks are blogging Valhalla as it’s the one time you can safely post to your hearts content, without a Rams game two days later or, more recently, a bit of DCFC internal drama to make your whole article irrelevant.

Whilst I always think this, I never really walk the talk so following the double header of U-23 games I went to before the Wolves game, here’s a quick update on the Rams next generation.

Derby County Nextgen Update

On Monday night I went to watch the U21’s score a win out of nowhere with two late goals to beat Swansea. This was the second time I’ve seen the 21’s this season following the previous home game against Villa.

On the back of Mel Morris recent statement of his hopes for more home-grown players in the first team, I thought an update on the progress of some of our youngsters would be timely.