World Soccer: Review of the 2007-08 Premier League season

Derby County

Final position 20th (11 points)

----------------------Carroll-------------------------
---Edworthy---Moore---Leacock---McEveley---
---Sterjovski---Savage---Jones---Lewis--------
----------Earnshaw-------------Miller--------------

Other key players: Fagan (RM), Todd (CM), Davis (CB), Mears (RB), Pearson (CM), Barnes (M), Hossam Ghaly (CM), Howard (F) - to Jan, Oakley (M) - to Jan, Griffin (LB/RB) - to Jan, Bywater (G) -to Jan.

Derby were so bad all season that identifying their best line-up is a bit of a misnomer. The only game I remember them playing well in was the 1-0 defeat to Manchester United so I've given the line-up for that game. The players in italics didn't actually make 10 appearances for them so aren't strictly speaking key players.

Another note about Derby. I always rated Paul Jewell very highly at Wigan. But with the club virtually admitting they were down at Christmas I was pretty surprised by his policy of bringing in players like Robbie Savage (33), Eddie Lewis (33), Laurent Robert (32) & Alan Stubbs (36).
Surely better to bring in younger players who would benefit from Premier League experience - stay with the club in the Championship & then potentially form the bedrock of the side in the Premier League should they manage to be promoted again.

For the future:

Giles Barnes is perhaps the one bright spot of Derby's season & for their future. Although it might be the transfer fee he will fetch - rather than his contribution to their long-term future - that they benefit from. 20 year old who can play anywhere across the midfield. Already a regular for them in their two previous seasons in the Championship.

Paris Simmons - his 13 goals for the U18s was rewarded with a substitute appearance for the first team on the last day of the season.

Overall though the reserves season was on a par with that of the first team. They did win their last game but prior to that had been on a run of 12 straight defeats (including a 5-1, a 5-0 a 6-0 & an 8-0).

According to one statement Derby have already spent their "parachute payment" for next season - although I can't imagine on what (I'm assuming the statement was missing the punchline: "don't worry though we haven't touched the £30M+ from this season yet). Otherwise you'd be surprised if they were back in the Premier League for a very long time indeed.

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