Derby boss fired up after derogatory Reading comments
May 9, 2008
What happens when a team who have won just one home match all season come up against a side who have won one away match in the league this term? All will become clear at Pride Park on Sunday, when Derby host Reading in a match which the visitors need to win if they’re to stay in the Premier League.
The Press Association reports that County boss Paul Jewell is far from happy with some of the comments made by Royals assistant manager Kevin Dillon ahead of the match. The latter has said the following.
“Let’s put it this way, if we can’t beat Derby, it will be hard to take.”
However, the fiery Scouser has not taken these comments lying down and Reading probably could have done without indirectly motivating a team who might otherwise have gone through the motions instead at the weekend.
“Kevin Dillon’s comments lack tact. You would think Reading had been playing Champions League all these seasons instead of down in the Championship and the Second Division where Derby and Wigan also came from.
“At Derby this year we’ve been sneered at, we’ve been laughed at, we’ve been ridiculed and I can accept it after the season we’ve had - but for Reading to say things like that is not right.
“The lads have been speaking about it and if I was Reading, who do you want to come to last game of the season? A side that have won once at home all season - but it’s a dangerous game they’re playing,” Jewell added.
Can Derby go out with a bang and drag Reading into the Championship with them? It doesn’t bode well for Steve Coppell’s men, who have failed to score in their past six matches and will be relegated if Fulham win at Portsmouth anyway. Just what is going to happen at Pride Park on Sunday?
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West Brom and Stoke - any chance of staying in the Premier League?
May 5, 2008
They’ll be dancing in the streets of Hanley and Newcastle-under-Lyme after Stoke City bagged themselves the second automatic promotion spot on Sunday. The Potters have done magnificently this season, coming from behind on several occasions to land wins or draws against Championship opponents and it’s hard to argue that they don’t deserve their place in the Premier League next season.
Quite whether they’ll stay there for longer than a season is another matter. Many have commented that this season’s Championship has been bereft of quality, with West Brom winning the league with the lowest points total for over two decades. Not that the Baggies or Stoke care at this particular moment in time, with the BBC reporting Tony Pulis, the manager of the latter, in a bullish mood.
“I have to say a special ‘thank you’ to the chairman. Peter showed a lot of character to buy this club and spent a lot of money on it.
“This is a great day for this club and an opportunity for us to build and push on for next year.”
However, the fun starts next week when Pulis and Coates have to start planning for next season. With just eleven points on the board this season, Derby County have demonstrated how promotion to the top flight can go terribly wrong and while the Rams will be much richer for their season in the big time, it’s obvious that the promoted three will be desperate not to disgrace themselves in such a manner.
The new boys will take heart from Sunderland’s efforts this season, a team who were floundering in mid-table of the Championship when Roy Keane took over and have now completed a successful season of consolidation in the Premier League. Birmingham too have shown that the gulf between the teams at the bottom of the top flight and the top of the second division isn’t that great, while the Baggies and Potters will also be confident of finishing above at least one other team - the one who is promoted through the play-offs and has less time to prepare for the new campaign.
Fulham, Birmingham, Bolton and Reading - who are your picks to ‘go down with the Derby’
May 2, 2008
There’s an almighty scrap at the top of the Championship to determine who will be playing Premier League football next season, which teams will the likes of West Brom and Stoke City be replacing? The bookmakers still don’t give Fulham much of a chance, despite their heroic comeback at Manchester City last weekend. A victory against fellow-strugglers Birmingham on Saturday would mean that their top flight safety could potentially be in their own hands!
Surely Reading fans are a touch on the concerned side, considering their team’s inability to score, let alone win a game. OK, so they managed a creditable 0-0 draw at Wigan last weekend, although the decision to bring back Leroy Lita from his loan spell at Charlton smacked of desperation, while the Daily Mirror report tension in the camp ahead of Saturday’s game against Spurs. The Royals record signing won’t play for his ’stupid team’ anymore apparently.
“It is not clever at all to suspend your own players, it is stupid,” said the 24-year-old. “The sanction is heavy - two weeks!
“I cannot understand their attitude. I refused to play with the reserves and they said: ‘Okay let us meet on Thursday’.
“But in the meantime I received a letter saying I am axed.
“They are not courageous enough to tell me things in the eyes, man to man, in five minutes.
“I am an adult, I can recognise when I make mistakes. I can also admit to people when I am wrong. The team needs all their players for the last two games.
“For sure my future is not with Reading.”
Not exactly what you need when you’re teetering on the edge of the drop zone, although perhaps this will galvanise the rest of the Reading squad, who face a last-day trip to Derby after the weekend game against Spurs. Bolton are in action at home to Sunderland and will at least have the comfort of the Black Cats having nothing to play for after their 3-2 win over Middlesbrough last weekend.
Do you agree with PFA Team of the Season?
April 28, 2008
Especially the decision to not include a single Chelsea player in the line-up? After all, this is a team which could still quite feasibly win the Premier League title, while they are favourites to beat Liverpool and make it to the Champions League final.
Team: James (Portsmouth); Sagna (Arsenal), Ferdinand, Vidic (Man U), Clichy (Arsenal); Ronaldo (Man U), Gerrard (Liverpool), Fabregas (Arsenal), Young (Villa); Adebayor (Arsenal), Torres (Liverpool).
Are there any glaring omissions from the XI selected? Naturally, these things are always subjective, although it’s difficult to argue that any of the above haven’t stood out for their teams this season. Chelsea’s Frank Lampard and John Terry might have had more of a look-in if they hadn’t been injured for chunks of the season, while the likes of Joleon Lescott, Gareth Barry and Glen Johnson have all performed extremely well for their respective clubs.
Who would feature in your team of the season?
Who is your PFA player and young player of the year?
April 14, 2008
It’s likely that Cristiano Ronaldo will win both awards this season, but who else do you think deserves recognition for their outstanding performances? Surely David James is currently playing the best football of his career at Fratton Park and is a central reason why they stand on the verge of winning the FA Cup and a top six finish in the Premier League?
What about Fernando Torres? He’s been pretty pretty good throughout his first season in English football, ever since he turned Tal Ben Haim for Liverpool’s opener against Chelsea in August. The Guardian reveal the nominees for both awards:
Gordon Taylor, the PFA chief executive, yesterday paid tribute to each nominee in his association’s two categories. Of Ronaldo he said: “The debate about whether he’s as good as George Best will go on and on but for him to have broken George’s goalscoring record from a wide position is phenomenal.”
Taylor also had unstinting praise for Torres: “There have been many great Liverpool No9s down the years and he has carried on the tradition this season, responding brilliantly to what was a massive challenge. All of which speaks volumes about his strength of character as well as his ability.”
On the subject of James, Taylor said: “It is a tribute to David that goalkeepers are rarely nominated but he fully deserves to join the elite list because he continues to be a top-class keeper - the most consistent in the Premier League this season - and an excellent role model.”
Player of the year
Cristiano Ronaldo Man Utd
Fernando Torres Liverpool
Steven Gerrard Liverpool
Emmanual Adebayor Arsenal
Cesc Fábregas Arsenal
David James Portsmouth
Young player
Ronaldo
Torres
Adebayor
Gabriel Agbonlahor Aston Villa
Ashley Young Aston Villa
Micah Richards Manchester City
Are there any glaring ommissions from the list? Micah Richards aside, there’s a distinct lack of defenders in the list. Richard Dunne has played out of his skin for Manchester City this season, while Nemanja Vidic has also been excellent for United. What do you think?
Bolton defender tries to convince himself that shunning Birmingham was a good move
April 8, 2008
Birmingham City thought they had the transfer in the bag. Gary Cahill appeared to be on the verge of making the short journey from Villa Park to St Andrews during the January transfer window, thereby bolstering the Blues defensive line-up for the relegation scrap. However, the centre half instead plumped for Bolton (maybe it was the lure of European football?) and has been part of a Trotters team without a league win in seven matches.
Nevertheless, according to the Manchester Evening News, the player has no regrets about signing for a team who are looking nailed-on to drop into the Championship. He’s even claiming that his transfer was not a bad decision as he’s improved as a player. Clearly not enough to help steer his team away from the drop zone.
“I’d be devastated if we went down because I’m happy and settled here. Everyone wants to play in the Premiership and I’m no exception.
“I’m not looking at it as a bad decision. I’ve improved as a player.
“I needed regular football and as long as I keep doing that I might prove a few people wrong.”
Is this his way of saying that if the team get relegated, he will be on the look-out for a new Premier League club? Surely that’s the central reason why players want to stay in the Premier League, especially if they’re getting a shoeing every match. After all, some fans of Derby and Fulham might even enjoy next season when they’re seeing their team win more matches than lose.
Moyes still believes that he can bag 4th!
April 7, 2008
Everton’s ginger Braveheart Davie Moyes still reckons that his boys can overtake Liverpool and bag fourth place for themselves - despite the fact that Liverpool have a veritable cakewalk of a run-in - with Everton still having to play Chelsea and Arsenal.
Although Rafa’s men got a surprise point against Arsenal at the Emirates, Everton beat Derby 1-0 to stay just three points behind (technically four points given Everton’s rancid goal difference).
Moyes said:
“We are optimistic, we believe we can still catch Liverpool.
“We are having to push them towards the end of the season, to keep them going. It has been a long, hard campaign.
“We can put pressure on Liverpool, and if we do that and win at Birmingham next weekend it will be our highest points tally in the Premier League, that is the first objective.”
Is Moyes in cloud cuckoo land - or do the Toffees have a realistic chance?
Robbie Savage looking forward to the Championship
March 31, 2008
Not every player would love being relegated from the Premiership and even fewer player would actually love playing in England’s second tier.
But Derby County’s Robbie Savage says that he would love life fighting in a very competitive Championship. Derby’s relegation from the Premiership was confirmed this weekend after they drew 2-2 with Fulham and Birmingham City beat Manchester City.
Savage rages:
I’ll love it. I like being captain and what comes with it.
I will be there to be shot at next year and I am looking forward to it.
The lads tell me it’s one of the most difficult leagues to play in as there are two games a week.
But I’m looking forward to that too because I’d rather play than train, you don’t train too much when you play so often.
We’re going to be there to be shot at, brilliant, that’s what you want.
Sour grapes?? Seems so.
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Bolton striker: ‘It’s a good time to be playing Arsenal’
March 27, 2008
Forty-one points seperate Arsenal and Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League table, yet it’s hard to be too confident about Arsenal’s chances of victory at the Reebok on Saturday. While it’s clear that they’ve had a fantastic season, the Gunners have clearly tailed off in recent weeks, with no wins from their last five league games. The Trotters are also scrapping for survival at the foot of the table and Sky Sports reports that striker Kevin Davies has identified the weekend match as one that they can win.
“They have stuttered a little bit and I think it’s a good time to be playing them,” he said.
“Hopefully, we can get a full house and , with the fans behind us, lift our game and get the result we need.
“Arsenal are a team we’ve got results against in the past and this is the one we’re obviously looking forward to now.
“We always seem to raise our game against the big boys.”
Indeed, Bolton have beaten Arsenal three times in the past two seasons and will also be aware that Wenger’s team have an important Champions League date with Liverpool on the horizon. Will they effectively end the North London club’s title dreams on Saturday, leaving the Gunners to focus on Europe? This match is sure to go a long way in deciding who eventually wins the league and which team will be relegated with Fulham and Derby.
Fergie concerned with Manchester United’s lack of goals
March 17, 2008
It took 76 minutes for Manchester United to find a breakthrough against basement boys Derby County on Saturday, while the previous week had seen them huff and puff but fail to blow the house down against Portsmouth in the FA Cup. Sporting Life reports that Sir Alex Ferguson is getting frustrated at seeing his team fail to convert the many chances that are currently falling their way. With some crucial matches on the horizon, is the Scot right to be concerned?
“Last Saturday, missing chances knocked us out of the cup, and against Derby we made it hard for ourselves because we missed so many again,” said Ferguson on MUTV.
“We were really charitable - it was a lot of chances. Maybe it’s a little sticky spell, but we want to get over it.
“We’ve big, important games coming up, Bolton at home on Wednesday and then Liverpool on Sunday, and we want to start taking chances.
“We are making them, and I suppose that’s the biggest bonus of all.
“If we keep making them, you know at some point someone’s going to suffer. We just have to keep going with that.”
Will Bolton be the team that’s on the receiving end of the backlash on Wednesday night? Ferguson rested Carlos Tevez for the match at Pride Park and the Argentine will be keen to return to scoring ways after a barren spell for the Red Devils. However, it’s possible that they’re continuing to rely far too heavily on Cristiano Ronaldo for crucial goals, with the rest of the team struggling to find the back of the net.
Derby’s Robbie Savage in ‘nice guy’ shocker!
March 5, 2008
It’s fair to say that Robbie Savage has made a fair few enemies throughout a long and relatively successful football career. The Welshman, now at Derby County, has been involved in countless unsavoury incidents over the years and seen a flurry of yellow and red cards while wearing the shirt of many football clubs. However, the Derby Evening Telegraph reveal a softer fluffier side to the midfielder, after Savage stopped his car on the way to the Sunderland match to give two Rams fans a lift.
Mark Stevenson said: “I saw the car go past and noticed the driver was wearing a Derby tracksuit and said to Lauren ‘that might have been a player’.
“The car turned round and came back, the window wound down and I saw who it was.
“Robbie said ‘are you going to the game? Jump in’. It was a bit of a surprise.“He asked Lauren how long she had been supporting Derby and asked who was her favourite player.
“When he got near the ground, he said ‘here’s two tickets, enjoy the game’.“I know he took a lot of stick in some papers last week because of his new car and that but he seemed a sound bloke to me.
“Let’s face it, how many players would have stopped and given two fans a lift?”
Not only did Mark and Lauren get some free tickets to see their beloved County, they also witnessed one of the best results of the season, ie their team not losing for a change! This is clearly one of the most heartwarming stories of the football season and proof that players sometimes do appreciate the fans.
Derby lose teenager Giles Barnes to the injury monster
March 5, 2008
More injury woes for Derby County. Teenager Giles Barnes is expected to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury in training last week and is set to go for another scan this week.
Derby manager Paul Jewell laments:
It isn’t good news. We’re sending him for a second opinion.
It isn’t cruciate ligament damage but until we get a second opinion we’ll not know too much more.
The news is not as bad for Derby as it is for the player himself. Derby are guaranteed to drop down into the Championship at the end of the season but Giles Barnes would certainly have loved to continue playing football. Poor lad, may he recover soon. Amen.
Nike Playmaker - have total control over your players, like a Mourinho-Fergie-Wenger hybrid!
March 4, 2008
Drum roll please for Nike Playmaker — a glorious idea that relieves you from being forced to meander around your local parks and parking lots in search of some lads kicking around something vaguely spherical in order to get your daily football fix. Now through Nike Playmaker you can sort it out - it is a veritable online football calendar that allows you to coral your dystopian mess of a life into an online footballing paradise. Playmaker is also perfect for coaches, using it means that the gaffer can easily invite his boys for matches and training practices, not only does this useful widget enable you to sort out games and send pre match banter to the opposition, but you can also write about your on field exploits and memorialize your post match musings in a blog. When you set up games, Playmaker even emails and texts your mates (for free!), telling them when and where the game is being played. So ‘Fatty’ Jim won’t be able to pull his twin daily reflex excuses of “I’m busy” or “I didn’t get the message”…Yes you did ‘Fatty’. We’re using Nike Playmaker now son!
For more information on the best coaching tool since half time oranges go to http://www.nike.com/playmaker/
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Newcastle chief promises to be a real big spender in the summer
March 4, 2008
But will it all be too late by then? The Daily Mail report that while Newcastle owner Mike Ashley refused to dip into the coffers during the January transfer window, he’s happy to splurge some cash at the end of the season in a bid to transform the Magpies from being the division’s laughing stock into a half-decent Premier League team.
A source close to Ashley said: “Mike has every confidence in Kevin Keegan. He is desperate to keep Kevin as his manager and if they do stay in the Premier League, he will provide funds for him to buy new players in the close season and give the club a fresh start.”
Ashley, Mort and Keegan must be secretly delighted that Derby and Fulham are nailed-on for relegation, leaving just one other Championship place up for grabs. A handful of wins should ensure that they are safe and, with the Cottagers at home later this month, King Kev may just land that first win of his second stint as Magpies manager.
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Paul Jewell: I am happy with my team’s performance
March 2, 2008
After Derby County’s 0-0 draw with Sunderland at Pride Park in the English Premiership on Saturday, Derby manager Paul Jewell in a much better tone than he was same time last week when Derby displayed their worst performance of the season against Wigan Athletic.
Jewell says that he is happy with the result and even happier with the spirit that his players exhibited against the Black Cats. Jewell says:
The players tried today. Last week was the lowest I’ve been for a long, long time in my football career.
And today was a terrible game, let’s have it right. It was windy conditions, certainly our players were playing with a lack of confidence, the referee was blowing the whistle every two seconds so you’re never going to get a classic.
We have to take anything out of that we can, we got a point, we have got double figures, we got a clean sheet… so for us it is an improvement on last week but that wouldn’t be hard. Terrible game, but we’ve got a point.
Yet there’s no denying that Derby will be the first club to be relegated from the top flight this season. They have just 10 points from 28 matches and are rock bottom in the league with no practical chance of survival for one more season in the Premiership.
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