posted Nov 28, 2007

Derby were the 6th best team in the Championship, and therefore stand no chance of survival this year. I think Pearson is rightly thinking ahead to next year, when I suspect he will leave you in the lurch, having pocketed himself £30mil for getting you relegated. He won't spend a penny in January, he would be mad to.

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posted Nov 28, 2007

Paul Jewell is a good appointment but I'm surprised he rejected the chance to go to Wigan to join Derby instead don't get me wrong both will struggle with relegation but Wigan have a much better chance of avoiding the drop, It was probably down to a good fan base which he didn't have at Wigan.

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posted Nov 28, 2007

Saints fan HOW were we. Yes we diddn't play the best but we beat you and came third. Yes we arn't a good side in the prem but hopefully Jewell will do some good.
As for you lot 12th isn't exactly promotion winning form?
Is it?

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posted Nov 28, 2007

I think this is a very touching story. Next year, Mr. Jewell and Derby, will get the opportunity to compete against his old team Wigan, when they are both playing in the Championship Division.

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posted Nov 28, 2007

i still can't see Derby staying up!!

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posted Nov 28, 2007

6th best team ? didn't we finish 3rd ? I'm guessing you are a Southampton fan. Sour grapes by any chance ?

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posted Nov 28, 2007

i was sorry to see billy go, though it was on the cards since day 1. he's one of those people that could have a fight in an empty phone box. but he was passionate about what he did, genuinely worked hard for the team, inherited a club in a real mess and made something of it and i think will do well for another club at another time.

the unfortunate reality is that we are still in something of a mess, even with pearson and jewell.

jewell doesn't have his backroom staff sorted out yet and it will take him some time for he and the players to sort out how they train, how they play, what he wants them to do at set pieces etc etc

off the field we still don't have a fully functioning scouting system and we're not out of the financial woods yet by any imagination - though still light years ahead of where we were and not in the position where we have to sell someone in january simply to survive. the rest of the club though - from marketing/sales/corporate stuff to the board - looks reasonably strong and so much better than a couple of years ago.

the smart money is still on us going down. we will almost inevitably have to be one of the few (?only) team at the bottom at christmas to survive but at least jewell has some time to work with and at least there are some other teams with similar points totals with, no doubt, at least one other to start falling away as well. so there's a chance, which for those of us who watched the everton and west ham games, didn't seem possible a few weeks ago.

i'm impressed with pearson and jewell, so far. a club with a chairman and manager on the same wavelength is essential for strength - liverpool do well because of their good players but you can bet that behind the scenes the club isn't happy with itself at the moment. for weaker sides, and clubs, off field strength is essential. so good luck to them both. onward and upward, hopefully!!

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posted Nov 28, 2007

paul jewell is the man to pull derby off the bottom of the table this man has talent,and thats coming of a true evertonian but paul has the talent to do it good luck paul

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posted Nov 29, 2007

he mite do well at derby, but not this season i am sure you are going to go down!

wigan, derby n birmingham relegated!

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posted Dec 1, 2007

Hope for Derby fans! All is not lost, and I write this before the Sunderland game! Derby are not stranded at the bottom just yet, and I fancy that this season may well be the lowest points total needed to stay up. So long as they can keep in touch, they have a chance, but Derby must tighten up at the back first, then the goals may start to come at the other end.

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