22 replies to this topic

[curtains]

Jim Smith appointed former Rams player Steve McClaren as his assistant in 1995/96season. Because Many of Arthur Coxs captures held their value, Smith was able to make profitable exchange deals and was not in the red until Ashley Ward arrived from Norwich in March. Smith signed Igor Stimac from Hajduk Split for 1M5z million in October. From 11 Nov to 5 March the Rams went 20 games unbeaten in the League. We beat Brum 4-1 at St Andrews ( I was there it was brilliant Dean Sturridge was fantastic and scored as did Ronny Willems signed for a snip ,Gabbiadini , and Darryl Powell)Rams 1st victory at St Andrews since 1948. R Rams won promotion to the top league at Jims 1st attempt and didn't spend much money at all by beating Crystal Palace 2-1 with Sturridge and Van der Laan scoring another cheap signing (Captain Fantastic). It was a low budget promotion. With players like Sturridge , Willems , gabbiadini,Powell,Stimac (most expensive) Dean Yates (cheap) Ashely Ward ( brilliant) Lee carsley ( watched him for Derby Reserves loads of times) Sean Flynn ,David Preece, Paul Simpson ( brilliant) Harkes. Rowett( now Burton ) Trollope,Stallard,Wassell (youth team coach Rams now) Steve Sutton ( goalie from Forest) Russel Hoult no1 Goalie. Matt Carbon Defender,Jason Kavanagh (good defender) Steve Nicholson (full back ) Kev Cooper ( was he a winger )Wrack ( believe he eventually went to Burton. Anyway to end Jim Smith was a fantastic manager who got us promoted and history spells out the rest in the Premier League at Pride Park.

[MuespachRam]

Jim was a great manager, stayed a season or two too long, but great. No one's first choice when he got the job it has to be said.

He did inherit a decent squad though, an expensive squad too, and Mr Pickering backed him when he needed backing.
he certinaly didn't put together the squad on a shoe string as you may be suggesting that is for sure.

happy days...that we are so so far away from emulating. Sad, but true.

P.S. Smith was nothing compared to king Arthur.

[trooper]

MuespachRam, on 21 February 2012 - 07:02 AM, said:

Jim was a great manager, stayed a season or two too long, but great. No one's first choice when he got the job it has to be said.

He did inherit a decent squad though, an expensive squad too, and Mr Pickering backed him when he needed backing.
he certinaly didn't put together the squad on a shoe string as you may be suggesting that is for sure.

happy days...that we are so so far away from emulating. Sad, but true.

P.S. Smith was nothing compared to king Arthur.

My only memory of cox really is we once went to Coventry away and he was there watching and my friends dad and my dad were shaking his hand and talking to him and my mates dad asking how his back was , I never had a clue who he was so asked, just to be told he is one of derbys greatest ever managers who had to retire with a bad back!! But in my terms of memory Jim smith is the greatest manager I've seen at derby, by a long way!

[SillyBilly]

Barmy Army Bald Eagle!

[blackNwhites]

Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Jimmy Smith, he's got no hair but we don't care, Jimmy Jimmy Smith.

[p.shilton]

I started going to matches in cox's days. Good times. Had my "lad" phase begin with Jim though, great days they were- ooh ahh Van Der Laan!

[curtains]

trooper, on 21 February 2012 - 07:57 AM, said:

My only memory of cox really is we once went to Coventry away and he was there watching and my friends dad and my dad were shaking his hand and talking to him and my mates dad asking how his back was , I never had a clue who he was so asked, just to be told he is one of derbys greatest ever managers who had to retire with a bad back!! But in my terms of memory Jim smith is the greatest manager I've seen at derby, by a long way!

. The Bald Eagle certainly landed in a big way. The previous season 94/95 the then Manager the great Roy Mcfarland had to sell Paul Kitson to the Geordies for 2.25 M and Gary Charles with Tommy Johnson to Aston Villa for a joint fee of 2.9 M and we had finished 9th. That season Martin Taylor (Rams Goalie coach now). Suffered a double leg fracture and didn't play for 29 months after being ever present the season before. Point is we were sliding nowhere and Lionel Pickering was looking for a different route. That season Craig Short at Rams now was player of season but he also left. 1st season in Prem at BBG (last ever at BBG) was great with the likes of Wanchope. Asanovic , Laurson ,Chris Powell,Mcgrath (from villa never trained ) etc. 102 Years ended at BBG with final match against the Gunners. We lost 3-1 Ashley Ward scores. BBG still played Reserve games for a period before it was demolished. Bald Eagle then moved the Team to Pride Park opened by the Queen for some fantastic Eranio/ Biano champagne football

[p.shilton]

and look at us now.....

[curtains]

MuespachRam, on 21 February 2012 - 07:02 AM, said:

Jim was a great manager, stayed a season or two too long, but great. No one's first choice when he got the job it has to be said.

He did inherit a decent squad though, an expensive squad too, and Mr Pickering backed him when he needed backing.
he certinaly didn't put together the squad on a shoe string as you may be suggesting that is for sure.

happy days...that we are so so far away from emulating. Sad, but true.

P.S. Smith was nothing compared to king Arthur.

. King Authur was a great Manager with Players like Oooooohhh Mark Wright. Saunders and Goddard I could go on. I think I will Tin Man(Ted Mcminn) Gary Micklewhite etc etc. Special Mention for the late great Rob Hindmarch.

[SillyBilly]

No nostalgia here, Jim Smith's era was simply a really great time to be a Rams fan. Its probably the height of what this club can expect to achieve now. "Barmy Army Bald Eagle" has to be one of my all time favourite Derby chants, getting a long rendition of that going was immense.

[curtains]

Would like more Nostalgia at Pride Park

[SillyBilly]

And yeah, he did have a bit of money but we've seen many managers waste it or build boring unattractive sides (Pulis, Big Sam etc.). The style of football under Jim was what it was all about.

[sageisback]

curtains, on 21 February 2012 - 10:13 AM, said:

Would like more Nostalgia at Pride Park

Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

[curtains]

Silly Billy said:

And yeah, he did have a bit of money but we've seen many managers waste it or build boring unattractive sides (Pulls, Big Sam etc.). The style of football under Jim was what it was all about.

. His
achievements should not be forgotten at Derby he achieved fantastic things for us fans along with Pickering and Gadsby etc.

[inglorious02]

In his very first season, it shows what can be achieved on a tight budget. He wheeled and dealed. I believe the likes of Van Der Laan, Ron Willems, Daryl Powell and co were either frees or relatively low fees. Plus, he cast the net abroad. Willems made the attack work and Stimac galvanised the team towards the end of the season. If only Nigel were half as good a manager, we might get somewhere!

[MuespachRam]

inglorious02, on 21 February 2012 - 10:48 AM, said:

In his very first season, it shows what can be achieved on a tight budget. He wheeled and dealed. I believe the likes of Van Der Laan, Ron Willems, Daryl Powell and co were either frees or relatively low fees. Plus, he cast the net abroad. Willems made the attack work and Stimac galvanised the team towards the end of the season. If only Nigel were half as good a manager, we might get somewhere!

He spent a decent amount of money, lets not make any bones about it, and also had Gabbiadini etc still here from the big spending days of chasing the dream.....having said that....what a team he put together....and please don't forget the reason it all worked..Stevie Mac....without him we wouldn't have had any of those happy days...that will never be repeated.

[emjlc02]

To be fair he brought in most of the money, he sold C Short and got Rowett thrown in, he sold P Williams and got Flynn thrown in. He sold the players on the big wages and got cheaper players in but then pulled the rabbitt out of the hat with Igor and it all came together. His teams always played with freedom which were why they were so good to watch.

[MuespachRam]

and somehow he managed to get Sturridge to look like a half decent forward.....on rare occasions i must add (they still couldn't teach him to trap a bag of cement)
Willems was a massively unapreciated signing, he made all the forward line tick in the promotion season.

[Dangerous]

it is also worth remembering that the fans were shouting" smith out" after half a dozen or so games in charge.Amazing how times change.

[VulcanRam]

yes, it was a slow start to that season and only when Igor came in did it all click. That front line of Gabbers (power) and Sturridge (pace), with Ronnie W (craft) sitting just behind, was outstanding.