Meryl Goodrum

9 hours ago, Mike Hunt-Hertz said:

We want Leicester to turn up?

No-one can dispute what a lousy season this has been. Management has been poor and the squad have been even worse. But can we please stop the drama about "suffering fans" needing "care and empathy!! It's a football game for God's sake. You win some, you lose some..Nobody died!! I hope City go out there today and shred the opposition but I won't be needing counseling if they don't. Keep it real. COYR

10 hours ago, havanatopia said:

Good day everyone.

"It's historical, it's geographical, it's in the blood. Some places have it, some don't." Tony Francis, Daily Telegraph sports journalist, noted of football fans from Derby.

During the 2007–2008 Premiership season Derby County fans were repeatedly referred to as the best in the country due to their loyalty despite the club's disastrous campaign. We all remember that, well I do, and the mantle is well deserved especially when we remind ourselves how awful that season was for them:-

20

Derby County (R)

38

1

8

29

20

89

−69

11

For the size of the city, 249,000, Derby County is indeed one of the best supported football teams in the country garnering significantly more support than their east Midlands rivals, Nottingham Forest, 16 miles to the east. Back in the Baseball Ground days they occasionally recorded crowds of over 40,000 and at Pride Park they often sell out with over 32,000 crammed inside the stadium. Football is as passionate in the East Midlands as anywhere in the land but they were certainly made to suffer in that fateful season, of 2007-8, with Billy Davies relieved of his duties by November and Paul Jewel unable to turn the fortunes of the club. Apart from a draw and a win in the first two games of the season County remained rooted to the bottom of the table for the entire campaign and are the only club in Premier League history and only the second in the entire history of the top flight to be relegated by March. They are also the only club since Loughborough to win only once in a football league season and that was back in 1899-1900 season which also happened to be their last.

So why are Derby called County? Like many clubs they were formed from a cricket club and in this instance the rather illustrious Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1884 with their nickname 'The Rams' adopted due to the wealth of history of the woollen trade. Derby County were one of the 12 founding members of the Football League in 1888.

I have written about other more celebrated times for Derby before such as the Clough/Taylor era including their 1971/2 title as well as the McKay title year of 1974/5 but it has been a rollercoaster since including a second dip into the third tier for two seasons in the mid 80's that followed seasons in the top flight unable to participate in Europe following the Heysel disaster. Derby were unlucky in that regard and almost went out of business as they slipped into Division 3.

City head to Derby today reflecting on what we all hope will be the chance to add momentum to the end of a dismal run and yet we have a very poor record against Derby and have not won at Pride Park since April 2011. In a total of 68 meetings between the clubs City have won only 17 times and currently Derby have the meanest defence in the Championship since McLaren took over in October so City will certainly have their work cut out today trying to break that defence down. Stranger things have happened like a Brian Tinnion wonder goal at Anfield for example so we can always pick up a back to back win; not done that in a while have we? And if you get chin wagging with a Derby County fan and he says "Dunna wittle, most a bin up all naight wee a badly rabbit" you know City might have a cat in hell's chance of winning. It means "don't worry, most have been on the beer and had a bad night" . Assuming he is talking about the players taking part that is.

And ask for a 'Cob' with your beer not a 'bread roll' as you might get a wee smile with your service.

Enjoy the long haul to the East Midlands folks; I hope a 1,000+ contingent make it . That would be a truly marvellous effort; 135 miles each way.

And I just hope it is not this rammed for ya'll today.. The good ole' Baseball Ground with that sand covered pitch.

UTC.

 

 

 

 

 

I know Derby will put out a better team than they did against Leicester, but we can still beat them today. Come on you Reds!!!!! Still luv ya!!!

3 hours ago, havanatopia said:

Good day everyone,

It has been exactly five score years and 10 since Bristol City hosted Sheffield Wednesday in a football league match and won when the year ended in a 7; 1907 was that year. A completely useless, irrelevant and boring factoid that nobody, not even me, has the slightest bit of interest in.

And this is about as demotivated as I have ever been doing a match day thread. I really could not care less and so regrettably, for tonight, I am going to leave you with your own thoughts. I stopped making whimsical predictions long ago about match results but a draw seems a likely outcome. Lose and a few fans, might reflect, express anger or simple shake their head.

Later on, when reality sinks in that Lee Johnson is still the manager, it might look a bit like incredulity..

Short and sweet. Goodnyt all.

p.s. I hope the outside lights of two new Stands do not illuminate like a Vicarage Road stick of rock tonight.

 

Just what we need, a bit of positivity!! Come ON you Reds...Get 'em!!!!