Steve Bloomer's Washing

Signed by Jim Smith in December 1999, Branko Strupar was a European top goalscorer who arrived in England as ‘The Belgian Beckham’ due to his freekick prowess, with Rams fans hoping he’d rejuvenate a side struggling to score.However, despite a formidable goals-per-minutes record when he was fit, Strupar’s time at Derby was ravaged by injury…… Continue reading SBW Meets: Branko Strupar

Remember when football was fun….? As Derby slip to a seventh game without a win, leaving relegation a distinct possibility, Chris, Richard and Anton look back on the lifeless loss at Stoke, along with the credible point at Brentford and where it leaves the Rams’ survival chances. We also catch up with the Daily Telegraph’s…… Continue reading SBW 107: Wayne’s winless woe

Chris, Cutch and Tom unpick Derby’s downturn in form that included away defeats to Cardiff and Coventry City. What is going wrong, and will they have enough to stay clear of relegation as the season enters its final phase? They also discuss the importance of Derby’s latest stand against discrimination and play some Rams geography-based…… Continue reading SBW 106: Cardiff & Cov calamity

The Rams edge another couple of games closer to survival, despite a 2-1 defeat away at Watford, off the back of resilient wins over Wycombe and Middlesbrough. Chris, Richard and Tom look back on the loss at Vicarage Road and rue more poor officiating, salute Andre Wisdom’s late winner and hail CKR’s right foot. There’s…… Continue reading SBW 105: Hornets & Chairboys

As a three-game winning streak lifts Derby away from trouble (for now), Richard, Tom and Anton salute the key players behind Rooney’s Rams’ new-found resilience. It was also a manic January Transfer Deadline Day… but with five new faces, how many will actually get game time, and who will be most important?

Tom and Chris caught up with 2005/06 Player of the Year Tommy Smith to hear his favourite memories from his two-year spell at Pride Park. From spotting George Burley in a nightclub during a pre-season tour, to playoff heartache, Phil Brown’s ‘1000m Club’ and surreal contract negotiations with Billy Davies, it’s a fascinating chat with…… Continue reading SBW Meets: Tommy Smith

Yet another woeful attacking performance sees Derby remain in the bottom three on goal difference, after losing 1-0 at home to fellow strugglers Rotherham United. With relegation now a very real threat, Richard, Tom and Anton dissect Rooney’s first game as permanent Rams boss and ask the simple question, ‘Will Derby stay up?’ There’s also…… Continue reading SBW 102: Dogfight disaster

In typical Derby County fashion, the Rams see off the trash fire that was 2020 by climbing out the Championship bottom three… only to end up back in it on January 2. Chris, Tom and Anton look back on the triumphant 4-0 win at Birmingham, along with the infuriating away defeat at Sheffield Wednesday as…… Continue reading SBW 101: Owls & Blues

Chris, Cutch and Tom unpick Derby’s recent improvements, who the stand out players are and whether Wayne Rooney should be given the manager’s job full time. In their 100th episode, they answer listener questions on ‘Peak Derby County’ moments, worst players of the decade and best away day experience. There are also special messages from…… Continue reading SBW 100: Rooney’s Ram revival

Derby have finally won again! After nine long weeks, Chris, Tom and Cutch are able to bask in the glory of three precious points, as Jason Knight’s second half goal proved enough to move the Rams off the bottom of the Championship.There’s discussion too on the sickening scenes which saw Millwall fans boo players as…… Continue reading SBW 99: Knight tames Lions

Chris, Cutch, Tom and Anton dissect another crazy two weeks for the Rams and a defeat to Bristol City in the first outing for the managerial foursome that is Wayne Rooney, Liam Rosenior, Justin Walker and Shay Given. How will we remember Phillip Cocu’s reign and where does the club go from here?

Bleak. Abject. Excruciating. Just three of the more polite words we can use to describe Derby County’s start to the 2020/21 campaign, as yet another defeat (that’s seven in 11 games) leaves the Rams propping up the Championship. Chris, Richard and Tom are joined by Ryan Conway from The Athletic to assess just how on…… Continue reading SBW 97: Rock bottom Rams

As more dodgy officiating denies Derby victory over Forest (sound familiar…?), Chris, Richard and Anton dissect an East Midlands Derby which saw the Rams finally bag at the City Ground after three long years, along with a freekick peach, a legitimate winner ruled out and plenty of positives which will likely ease the pressure on…… Continue reading SBW 96: Trees & Terriers

Chris, Cutch and pod debutant Robbie Jones analyse the Rams’ latest home defeat to Watford and assess Derby’s transfer window, including the signing of Colin Kazim Richard and what could have been with Harry Wilson.

With half a dozen competitive games out the way this season, Phillip Cocu will have a better idea of how his Rams squad is shaping up, how signings are settling in, and where improvements need to be made. In an updated, second instalment of our ‘Rams Ladder’ opinion series, guest blogger Simon Truckle ranks the…… Continue reading The Rams Ladder: Derby’s most important players ranked

With the Rams on their latest international break, SBW takes a stroll down memory lane to look back on the club’s fortunes over the past 20 years. To help with our Rams retrospective, we’re joined by Ryan Hills, the author of ‘Pride: The Inside Story of Derby County in the 21st Century’. Ryan described the…… Continue reading SBW 94: Derby County 2000-2020

Is Derby’s woeful start about to get worse before it gets better? As the Rams are trounced at home by Blackburn in Cocu’s lowest moment, Chris, Richard and Tom assess an unacceptably passive display. Who was to blame for the 5-minute collapse? Who starts our next game given Derby’s appalling start to the campaign? There’s…… Continue reading SBW 93: Questions four Phil

An anticlimactic opening day sees Derby slump to a 2-0 home defeat to Reading, leaving Richard, Tom and Anton wondering if season expectations have changed as a result. There’s analysis of Derby’s apparent lack of leadership with several first team players still absent, as well as reaction to possible transfer incomings and the sales of…… Continue reading SBW 92: Royally rumbled

Chris, Cutch and Tom react to Derby’s EFL charges being dismissed and debate what impact it will have on the season, assess the Rams’ chances in 2020/21 and assess the strengths of our promotion rivals. Can Derby once again crack the top six, or will we once again remain socially distanced from the Premier League?…… Continue reading SBW 91: Cocuball 2.0

The SBW gang are finally reunited in person to reflect on Derby County’s rollercoaster 2019/20 campaign. In a season which was arguably more dramatic off the pitch than on it, Chris, Tom, Richard and Anton analyse whether Phillip Cocu has improved the Rams since last summer, as well as awarding our own Player of the…… Continue reading SBW Season Review 2019/20