I take it you are happy with Lampard as manager? In all honesty Derby are not ready for the PL and I hope Frank is given time and money to get a really effective, solid team together. Managers get sacked all the time after losing out on promotion/trophies but he has done very well in his first season at the helm.

Will the likes of Keogh, Huddlestone, Davies and Johnson be deemed good enough for another season and with Chelsea under an embargo will the likes of Mount return?

The keeper today was a liability from the very first minute until the 97th. Carson is knocking on but I don't think he would have put in as nervy/poor performance as Roos did. Every time the ball came to him he seemed to make the wrong choice and for the second goal the word unprofessional springs to mind as does Karius. Bogle owes his team an apology as well for his selfishness, 18 years old or not he cost you big time.

On the opposite side of the fence when Waghorn came on Derby actually seemed like a threat for the first time in the match.

Waggy was probably walking wounded hence he didn't start but we took a risk that it would still be game on when he came on, not 0-2, themes the fine margins.

Marriott on the other hand

Questions have to be asked.

Back from long ,contemplative walk with the hounds.

Will enjoy the debrief, but we have to go again...lots of changes..........excitement aplenty.........onwards and upwards..............COYR................Night all

Am disappointed but not gutted like 2014. I thought we’d faded away in March, but Frank turned it around and they finished strongly. There is a ‘never say die’ streak developing which bodes well for the future. Competition will be strong again next season, bring it on

Ditto Wicklow.

We can nit pick but that's for another day, what we did after the Blackburn game is right up there with any buzz I've had in years.

Not worried about losing Wilson and hope Chelsea give Mount and Tomori PL club loans, they have huge futures.

Now is the time to build our own team and bring on the likes of Knight and MacDonald just like Bogle.

It's works and they are ready for it.

Looking at the highlights, El Ghazi's goal came off his back and there was something decidedly dodgy about McGinn's goal. Did his "hand of god" touch the ball before it hit his head. Another what if day but at least we were there.

Alright Spart, good to see you in the Long Acre, I was only visiting for the toilet and had to get back to the girls next door in Subway 😂

Someone buy Roos a punchbag.

Just back;

Look, great day out, thoroughly enjoyed it and me being me (it's just the way I am) realised after ten minutes that it was not going to be us. However, in the 86/7th minutes I did sort of think 'mmmmmm....maybe...just maybe'

We did well to get there, not saying it was a privilege but to see Derby fans all round London, on the tube, Covent Garden, singing in the stations, mingling with Villa fans........just really enjoying the day out without the jaded 'seen it done it'.

It wasn't meant to be and that's that.

Any questions?

Any questions.

Can we try for autos for a change

Just in. Long day.
Will review it tomorrow after some kip

That's a very good question Igor, I'd like us to try it one year nothing fancy just 11 points ahead by Christmas and then maintain that gap till the end of the season.

In other news my U15 team got off to a flying 3-1 defeat.

Ref gave a dodgy penalty to start the ball rolling.

As one door closes another one slams in your face.



Still not too down though, these are interesting times and that was one hell of an end of season frolic in the park.

My heart sank when I saw the teamsheet and didn’t really believe it would be our day from that point on: we only managed to get into the playoffs by seizing the initiative and getting at teams but we surrendered that, choosing instead an XI mindful of Villa’s strengths rather than our own.
Marriott aside, nobody played well. The defence was shaky all match as it has been all season when exposed to crosses. Roos is not a better keeper than Carson, and I can only surmise he gets the nod to lower the average age of the side although, as far as I’m aware, there is no metric in football wherein age scores you any points.
Midfield was not good: we packed the middle to try keep Grealish and McGinn quiet but all we did was allow them the width and we know Bogle is better going forward than he is defending.
As for Bennett... he tried, he wanted to make a nuisance of himself and he gave it his all but he was a sacrificial lamb, and never going to trouble the Villa goal.

Bad day at the office for Lampard but a strong season and, assuming he stays, he’s got a great opportunity to change the squad without having to keep unwanted players on huge contracts. His management of the loanees will ensure he gets first pick of any available PL squad players next season and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Tomori back. Mount will definitely go to a PL club and make an impact, Wilson not so much. Anonymous yesterday, his influence appears to be predominantly from dead balls and when that’s not working, he’s a passenger which simply won’t be tolerated in higher leagues.

I’d give Lampard a firm 7/10 for the season and hope he’s learned enough to push us on next season.

Over the last few years, we’ve not be able to build on the previous year, I thought we would kick on in mcclarens 2nd season but fell away badly after Ibe left. This will be Lampards test and opportunity next season

Lampard got it wrong yesterday.

If his plan was to get Marriott / Waghorn on late to nick one at the end, it worked, just a pity it was 2-0 to Villa at the time.

Wicklow has it right. There are occasional teams who can come out of nowhere to win promotion but the majority do it by stability of style and philosophy. Partly through intention and partly through necessity Lampard has opened the door to young players coming through the ranks and into the first team. Roos made a costly error yesterday but some of us are looking back at Carson through rose-tinted spectacles. He hasn't invariably been Mister Reliable. Where two players for one position are roughly the same standard then it's right to go for the younger one who has the ability to improve. The same for Bogle over Wisdom. The annual flinging of cash and a new manager at it and hoping for a one-off storming of the Championship has finally ended. What cash is available can be used to strengthen with solid performers who will help the younger ones to learn on the job. With Lampard we will surely get the very best of the loan talent available and while we might not like the fact that they aren't "our own", Villa have gone up relying even more heavily on loan players than we have. It's very likely to be the case that if you go up with loanees that you will keep them for at least the first season in the top flight and players of the quality of Mount are simply not available any other way unless you happen to have them in your Academy.

Obviously retention of Lampard is crucial to this. We don't know if he needs reassurances that there will be at least SOME money to play with, or whether his head would be turned too hard regardless by Chelsea should they come calling. I suppose we will find out pretty soon. If he stays then I think he will have learned plenty that will stand us in good stead next season. Maybe he over-thought it yesterday - I would love to know if he would have gone with the same team if Holmes had been fit - but in the last few games he has shown adaptability and pragmatism in his use of Johnson that suggest to me at least that he can add to his undoubted qualities of inspiring team spirit and collective will. Good times are still coming, one day.

comment by lastapostleofvidal (U1491)
posted 6 minutes ago
Wicklow has it right. There are occasional teams who can come out of nowhere to win promotion but the majority do it by stability of style and philosophy. Partly through intention and partly through necessity Lampard has opened the door to young players coming through the ranks and into the first team. Roos made a costly error yesterday but some of us are looking back at Carson through rose-tinted spectacles. He hasn't invariably been Mister Reliable. Where two players for one position are roughly the same standard then it's right to go for the younger one who has the ability to improve. The same for Bogle over Wisdom. The annual flinging of cash and a new manager at it and hoping for a one-off storming of the Championship has finally ended. What cash is available can be used to strengthen with solid performers who will help the younger ones to learn on the job. With Lampard we will surely get the very best of the loan talent available and while we might not like the fact that they aren't "our own", Villa have gone up relying even more heavily on loan players than we have. It's very likely to be the case that if you go up with loanees that you will keep them for at least the first season in the top flight and players of the quality of Mount are simply not available any other way unless you happen to have them in your Academy.

Obviously retention of Lampard is crucial to this. We don't know if he needs reassurances that there will be at least SOME money to play with, or whether his head would be turned too hard regardless by Chelsea should they come calling. I suppose we will find out pretty soon. If he stays then I think he will have learned plenty that will stand us in good stead next season. Maybe he over-thought it yesterday - I would love to know if he would have gone with the same team if Holmes had been fit - but in the last few games he has shown adaptability and pragmatism in his use of Johnson that suggest to me at least that he can add to his undoubted qualities of inspiring team spirit and collective will. Good times are still coming, one day.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Has Roos improved though..?

He’s cost us two trophies now with his abject inability to boss his area: the dropping ball at Forest and the error yesterday with a ball of similar looping trajectory. Carson lost his place for less and, coupled with Roos’ refusal to sign the offered contract, then I don’t believe it’s right he kept the shirt.

All said though it was small margins rather than a drubbing: it’s not as if we didn’t fashion good possession in the final third but wrong options were often taken. Bogle’s first cutback rather than glory-seeking led to Marriott’s goal, Keogh put a free header over the bar, and in general we didn’t threaten their goal which was unfortunately a common theme in latter stages of the season: it even took us a match and a half before we had a shot on target against Leeds in the playoffs. I can understand the decision to not keep the attacking intent that humbled Leeds as Villa had hit us for 7 unanswered goals in the regular competition but it still stank of the Young Nige favourite tactic of ‘keeping it respectable’ rather than trying to win.. it’s a one-off game and as we learned against WBA and QPR at the same stage, being “better overall” doesn’t count for much at Wembley.

I think Roos has played 20 games which is a tiny number, especially for a keeper. I agree he needs to be dominant and with his height he should be. Carson is certainly not a keeper who bosses his area - he's pretty weak in the air - though he is a great shot-stopper. I've no idea whether Roos has "refused" to sign anything but as ever thanks for the hyperbole.

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/latest-kelle-roos-contract-talks-2720745

Apologies for assuming a so-called ‘fan’ would keep abreast of such trivialities such as first-team players not signing offered contracts: my mistake.

I was taking exception to the word "refused", 666. According to that report, Lampard suggests he wanted Roos to focus on his football and not on the contract, and to leave discussions to his agent. I imagine his agent would have wanted to wait and find out what division we would be playing in before suggesting Roos sign anything.

Anyhow, I was using Roos and Bogle simply as examples of trying to use younger players on the up where possible. I agree Roos has shown some promise but not yet nailed down the position. We have been linked with a few keepers lately but whether these might be to replace one or both of the current pair I don't know.

The whole game was a bit scrappy; it was a hugely important final and that was reflected on the field. In the first half neither side wanted to be the first to concede. Probably reflects how Lamps approached it. Our first goal changed it, our second made it very difficult.

A close game but probably our all round strengths told. Dean did a good job in the January window turning one of the worst defences in the division into one of the best, and we can usually score goals.

Due to a mixture of time constraints and lack of inclination (of yet), I have not found time to read the comments above, apart from some of the later ones.

I agreed with the initial assessments of 2 of our former PoTYs, until of course, it all went pear-shaped. Reminded me of the old days, it did.

I can't really add to the combined wisdom already expressed, so will only make a few observations from my son's & my personal experiences of the day. Apologies for the repetition of any previous comments.

The overriding feeling remaining is one of frustration, rather than the devastation of 5 years ago. I was frustrated, mainly, that we hadn't grasped the opportunity, which had been so hard-earned in the game v Leeds and clearly, we didn't deserve to win the game this time.

My other frustrations occurred as follows:

I was frustrated that we couldn't get a drink around Wembley, without having to queue up for tinnies at Sainsburys. Anyone would think they hadn't coped with crowds this size drinking beer before.

Frustrated that we couldnt meet up with more if the JA Faithful, before (& after) the game.

Frustration, like everyone else, at the team selection. That we were set up to stifle, rather than impose ourselves on Villa, although I recognise the probable reasons for the decision. As we have proved this season, if we bring our 'A' game, we are capable of beating (almost) anyone.

Frustrated that we were the only section in the lower tier who took it on themselves to sit down throughout the game and that my son & I were castigated for getting off our posteriors, to join in the bounce.

Frustrated that our fans couldnt be roused enough to get behind our team in the way that the Villa fans did, especially as it had been so lively outside the ground. Several justifications maybe, but you only get one shot at it.

Frustrated that some of our fans directed their anger at individual players, rather than the collective. I didnt see a Derby player who didnt try his utmost yesterday, just those who, for whatever reason, were less effective during the game or made unfortunate errors.

Frustrated that I'd booked late train tickets and didnt get home until after midnight, in the hope of a post-game celebration.

Anyway, time is a healer they say and those frustrations will fade. My son & I were grateful to be able to watch Derby play at Wembley for the 2nd time in 5 years. These events come around too rarely in life and you must fix them and store them in the memory bank. It would be horrible not to have had those experiences. Imagine what bitter and twisted minds we might develop, if we had not had an opportunity to watch our team compete for one if the biggest prizes in football, at Wembley.  

In conclusion, I'd just like to apologise to the distraught young Derby fan, whom I kissed on the head, while trying to console him after the game. My son said it was inappropriate and I had no wish to compound his misery  

So Ang apart from those minor points and a bit of minor child abuse for good measure, a good day out? 😀