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Our special relationship with Carlisle
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Back
in the late nineties Derby enjoyed a well publicised 'special
relationship' with Carlisle United. However when a player of genuine
Premiership quality emerged in Matt Jansen, despite getting first
refusal, The Bald Eagle opted to overlook him in favour of Boets and
Rory Delap!!!!!
Our Millenium season signings
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In the
post Wanchope, Baiano era the Rams lost their way in the
premiership. DCFC chose to take out a further £10m plus loan to be
spent directly on the playing squad. Short term, this worked as the
Rams stayed in the Premiership. Medium to Long term, the additional
loan and contracts dished out on injury prone prima donas Strupar,
Burley, Morris & Kinkladze would bring the club to its knees. |
After being told
Carlisle had a player who
turned like Cruyff, a case of serious mistaken
identity ensued.
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Summer 2001 contract
negotiations
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Due to
his high maintenance off field lifestyle (note based on religion as
apposed to sex, drugs and rock n'roll) Jim Smith opted not to offer
the majestic Taribo West a contract extension. Alternately it was
seen as a good idea to offer notorious soccer mercenary Fabrizio
Ravanelli a 2 year deal. The Rams went down like a stone and I think
we might still be paying Ravanelli now!
Our Purple training kit
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As
part of various madcap ideas to stamp his mark on the club JG
commissioned a range of bright purple training kits and tops. He
thought it was cool. Away fans thought they'd arrived at a David
Icke convention!
Being strong in the transfer market
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In the
same summer, marking out a steely determination to return to the
Premiership at the first attempt, the Rams rejected bids of £6m for
Christie and £4.5m for Poom. Bugger.
The CO-OP bank
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As
DCFC's financial position reached the point of no return, the co-op
bank opted to ignore the solid local money of Gadsby for the quicker
immediate dollar and 'business plan' from the 3 Amigos. 2 years
later, with the club in an even worse state, they end up
writing off a load of their debt, just to get the people in who
they could have had to start with.
Dean Holdsworth
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After
spending 2 months promising an experienced assistant, Phil Brown
inexplicably appoints Dean Holdsworth, citing him as a "winner".
Holdsworth's occasional on field appearances and pub league physique
soon make him one of the biggest joke figures in recent DCFC
history. To be fair this didn't even seem a good idea at the
time!
Rams Giant Flag
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Inspired by the giant flag paraded by Rangers fans at the Ted
testomonial. Ramstrust commission a giant flag for DCFC. Missing the
key point that most Scottish football crowds are largely good
humoured, very enthusiastic and inebriated, the flag is a damp squib
amongst your average, apathetic Pride Park season ticket holder. Now
used by Jill Marples as weather protection for her helicopter. |
Rams fans were
universally elated when we
signed Rav. A year later his contract nearly killed
the club.
The Co-op bank's handling of DCFC's account did
much to enhance their reputation in the town. |
