Derby County FC

Red_Baron · 28th April 2008, 09:48 PM

I have just watched said team play a nonchalant Arsenal yet still managed to get beat 6-2.

Derby's defending was a joke at best and the passing wasn't much better. It was embarrassing.

However it got me thinking. What was the point of getting rid of Billy Davies?

As things stand he got more points in his time there than Paul Jewel. Did the board really think they had a chance of staying up?

It also got me thinking, perhaps the gulf between top of the EPL and the top of the Championship is much greater than the gulf between the top of the SPL and the top of of the 1st Div.

I also think English football is on a slippery slope where the top 4 will start to run away with it every year without challenge and the rest of the fans will loose interest. See Blackburn attendances for example.

Good to see a sellout at Pride Park......Derby's fans should get an award for best fans of the season.

PeteRoe · 28th April 2008, 10:02 PM

I think quite the opposite actually.

Yes, United, Arsenal, Chelsea will probably win it every year...I think the gap can only close.

Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester City all have wealthy owners with high expectations which means a challenge for Champions League football is the minimum requirement of these teams when they finally get their shit together. Spurs I believe having the best chance to do this at the moment. League position currently is irrelevant as they gave that up as soon as they won the Carling Cup.

It is a common thing to have 2 or 3 teams dominating every year in any league. The Premier League is actually quite lucky that they can have 3 teams mathmaticaly win the league with only 2 games left. Porto in the Portugeese League are 20 points clear in theirs.

This probably all sounds gibberish right enough but you might get my jist. Agree or disagree if you may.

but yeah...Derby are reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllly shite.

Adebayor has great moves though!

RiseAgainst · 28th April 2008, 11:40 PM

which leagues have had more than 3 teams constantly challenging for the title in the last 10 years?

Italy has a huge gulf in class between Seria A & B, France has a gulf in its own division, La Liga has Barca and Real, with the occasional attempt by another team, Holland has PSV, Ajax and Feyenoord (and in recent times AZ Alkmaar)

look at the premier league of 10-15 years ago, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Blackburn, Leeds, Everton, Tottenham have all had good seasons with top 5 finishes, they then seem to buy utter garbage and fall away.

PeteRoe · 29th April 2008, 12:10 AM

With Spain you have had Valencia as very recent winners. Twice under Benitez in fact.

If it were not for things beyond their control, Sevilla would once again been challenging too.

Portugal, you have Sporting, Benfica, Porto as main challengers to the league. I shall give you not this year however!

You mentioned the main leagues there and as you point out in your post there are 3-4 teams that do challenge.

And yeah, those teams do seem to falter in the end for various reasons. Cannot put my finger on it though. Baffles me when you see the quality of some ofthe players they all have had.

RiseAgainst · 29th April 2008, 09:30 AM

For one of the big 4 to not win the Premier League id argue is impossible. To see a side like Arsenal and Liverpool unable to put a strong challenge in suggests its not changing anytime soon.

The match fixing scandal in Italy took out Juve & AC but Inter still won the league (in fact, it made the league worse as Inter won by a country mile)

still, Derby need 4 points to match Sunderland's record breaking season

Rosco the Bosco · 29th April 2008, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red_Baron

I have just watched said team play a nonchalant Arsenal yet still managed to get beat 6-2.

Derby's defending was a joke at best and the passing wasn't much better. It was embarrassing.

However it got me thinking. What was the point of getting rid of Billy Davies?

As things stand he got more points in his time there than Paul Jewel. Did the board really think they had a chance of staying up?

It also got me thinking, perhaps the gulf between top of the EPL and the top of the Championship is much greater than the gulf between the top of the SPL and the top of of the 1st Div.

I also think English football is on a slippery slope where the top 4 will start to run away with it every year without challenge and the rest of the fans will loose interest. See Blackburn attendances for example.

Good to see a sellout at Pride Park......Derby's fans should get an award for best fans of the season.

I think your right about the gulf between the 2 divisions being not as much in Scotland.

Look at QoS being in the final against Rangers, and St Johnstone getting pretty close too.

Also, this season, Dundee embarrassed Motherwell at Firpark, and scared the shite out of Celtic at Dens.

You wouldn't see 2nd, 3rd and 4th spot championship teams doing that to the big 4 EPL teams i don't think.

However, that might be total shite considering what happened in the FA cup this year...

PeteRoe · 29th April 2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiseAgainst

For one of the big 4 to not win the Premier League id argue is impossible. To see a side like Arsenal and Liverpool unable to put a strong challenge in suggests its not changing anytime soon.

The match fixing scandal in Italy took out Juve & AC but Inter still won the league (in fact, it made the league worse as Inter won by a country mile)

still, Derby need 4 points to match Sunderland's record breaking season

Only 2 games left as well...

NO CHANCE!

RiseAgainst · 29th April 2008, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosco the Bosco

I think your right about the gulf between the 2 divisions being not as much in Scotland.

Look at QoS being in the final against Rangers, and St Johnstone getting pretty close too.

Also, this season, Dundee embarrassed Motherwell at Firpark, and scared the shite out of Celtic at Dens.

You wouldn't see 2nd, 3rd and 4th spot championship teams doing that to the big 4 EPL teams i don't think.

However, that might be total shite considering what happened in the FA cup this year...

like say a side battling relegation in the championship beating TWO European Cup semi finalists?

mon the Barnsley!

gord · 6th May 2008, 11:11 AM

I wish people would stop calling it the EPL.

I think it's funny how all the teams that sacked their managers actually ended up getting worse afterwards (or at least didn't improve) - Bolton, Wigan, Derby, Birmingham and Fulham. Makes you wonder what Man City think sacking Eriksson will solve.

Pubic Wig · 6th May 2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gord

Makes you wonder what Man City think sacking Eriksson will solve.

I think that is an unbelievably massive mistake on the owners part like. Man City have done reasonably well this season, and most managers need at least a season to get kinks worked out with their squad.

Red_Baron · 6th May 2008, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gord

I wish people would stop calling it the EPL.

Why? It seems a reasonable acronym to use for the English Premier league when someone can't be bothered to type the full phrase. Granted "PL" would be more correct but I feel the extra adjective "English" is required when discussing it alongside other premier leagues

Interestingly Keegan has also raised some worries about the power of the big 4. He's gone as far to say the "EPL" could become boring

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Newcastle United | Power of top four concerns Keegan

Pubic Wig · 6th May 2008, 12:27 PM

Yeah man i saw that earlier today and then read this thread. I have to be honest, for most of the season i've been on the edge of my seat to see if Everton can beat Liverpool to the no. 4 spot...for 2/3 it lloked like they might actualy do it...now they are 1 point off getting 5th (or Winning the EPL outside the big 4 as Keegan put it) so in that sense i have enjoyed the season.

PeteRoe · 8th May 2008, 05:26 PM

EPL is something I would never call it. Seems to americanised that way and I am sure the first time I heard it was on ESPN in America. Each to their own and all but no way for me.

I just call it the Premiership.

Keerin · 8th May 2008, 05:49 PM

I say premiership but sometimes I'll type EPL if it is a general football discussion, same way as I would type lol or haha or stfu.

28th April 2008, 09:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Red_Baron Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Dundee/Alyth hybrid Posts: 1,481 Band: 15 Minutes	Derby County FC I have just watched said team play a nonchalant Arsenal yet still managed to get beat 6-2. Derby's defending was a joke at best and the passing wasn't much better. It was embarrassing. However it got me thinking. What was the point of getting rid of Billy Davies? As things stand he got more points in his time there than Paul Jewel. Did the board really think they had a chance of staying up? It also got me thinking, perhaps the gulf between top of the EPL and the top of the Championship is much greater than the gulf between the top of the SPL and the top of of the 1st Div. I also think English football is on a slippery slope where the top 4 will start to run away with it every year without challenge and the rest of the fans will loose interest. See Blackburn attendances for example. Good to see a sellout at Pride Park......Derby's fans should get an award for best fans of the season.

8th May 2008, 05:49 PM	#14 (permalink)
Keerin UGS Site Writer Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: probably work Posts: 6,204 Band: Welcome Home, Explorer; Vulsellum; Altruist	I say premiership but sometimes I'll type EPL if it is a general football discussion, same way as I would type lol or haha or stfu. __________________ Welcome Home, Explorer \|Vulsellum\|Scum Killer http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...6/scan0002.jpg

28th April 2008, 10:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
PeteRoe Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Kirriemuir Posts: 1,055	I think quite the opposite actually. Yes, United, Arsenal, Chelsea will probably win it every year...I think the gap can only close. Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester City all have wealthy owners with high expectations which means a challenge for Champions League football is the minimum requirement of these teams when they finally get their shit together. Spurs I believe having the best chance to do this at the moment. League position currently is irrelevant as they gave that up as soon as they won the Carling Cup. It is a common thing to have 2 or 3 teams dominating every year in any league. The Premier League is actually quite lucky that they can have 3 teams mathmaticaly win the league with only 2 games left. Porto in the Portugeese League are 20 points clear in theirs. This probably all sounds gibberish right enough but you might get my jist. Agree or disagree if you may. but yeah...Derby are reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllly shite. Adebayor has great moves though!

28th April 2008, 11:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
RiseAgainst rambling boy of pleasure Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Work id presume Posts: 2,960 Band: Cheat To Win	which leagues have had more than 3 teams constantly challenging for the title in the last 10 years? Italy has a huge gulf in class between Seria A & B, France has a gulf in its own division, La Liga has Barca and Real, with the occasional attempt by another team, Holland has PSV, Ajax and Feyenoord (and in recent times AZ Alkmaar) look at the premier league of 10-15 years ago, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Blackburn, Leeds, Everton, Tottenham have all had good seasons with top 5 finishes, they then seem to buy utter garbage and fall away.

29th April 2008, 12:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
PeteRoe Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Kirriemuir Posts: 1,055	With Spain you have had Valencia as very recent winners. Twice under Benitez in fact. If it were not for things beyond their control, Sevilla would once again been challenging too. Portugal, you have Sporting, Benfica, Porto as main challengers to the league. I shall give you not this year however! You mentioned the main leagues there and as you point out in your post there are 3-4 teams that do challenge. And yeah, those teams do seem to falter in the end for various reasons. Cannot put my finger on it though. Baffles me when you see the quality of some ofthe players they all have had.

29th April 2008, 09:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
RiseAgainst rambling boy of pleasure Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Work id presume Posts: 2,960 Band: Cheat To Win	For one of the big 4 to not win the Premier League id argue is impossible. To see a side like Arsenal and Liverpool unable to put a strong challenge in suggests its not changing anytime soon. The match fixing scandal in Italy took out Juve & AC but Inter still won the league (in fact, it made the league worse as Inter won by a country mile) still, Derby need 4 points to match Sunderland's record breaking season

6th May 2008, 11:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
gord of the rings Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Dundee Posts: 2,726	I wish people would stop calling it the EPL. I think it's funny how all the teams that sacked their managers actually ended up getting worse afterwards (or at least didn't improve) - Bolton, Wigan, Derby, Birmingham and Fulham. Makes you wonder what Man City think sacking Eriksson will solve.

6th May 2008, 12:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
Pubic Wig Dark Lord of the Sith Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Scumdee and Stirling Posts: 1,884 Band: 'Im The Juggernaught Bitch!' - working title	Yeah man i saw that earlier today and then read this thread. I have to be honest, for most of the season i've been on the edge of my seat to see if Everton can beat Liverpool to the no. 4 spot...for 2/3 it lloked like they might actualy do it...now they are 1 point off getting 5th (or Winning the EPL outside the big 4 as Keegan put it) so in that sense i have enjoyed the season.

8th May 2008, 05:26 PM	#13 (permalink)
PeteRoe Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Kirriemuir Posts: 1,055	EPL is something I would never call it. Seems to americanised that way and I am sure the first time I heard it was on ESPN in America. Each to their own and all but no way for me. I just call it the Premiership.