PL: Season Review: Derby County

Later today I'll roundup the weekend's Premier League action, but for now it's time to look at a team that will be waving goodbye to top flight football on Sunday. Of course, it's Derby County.


Most expected Derby to be relegated this season, so it was no real surprise when it was confirmed a few weeks ago. But the manner in which they have gone down has provided a lot of laughs for outsiders, and sheer embarrassment for all those connected with the club. Paul Jewell was a brave man when he took on the impossible job of trying to keep Derby County in the league last year. Even then there was a sense of rebuilding for the Championship, testament to how badly their season has gone. They are officially the worst team in Premier League history, and it's pointless to even try and argue with that title. Comical defending has seen the Rams currently hold a goal difference of -65. The likes of Robert Earnshaw and Kenny Miller have failed to replicate the form they are capable of in front of goal, which explains why they have won only one league game all season. Their last game is at home to Reading, who haven't scored in over eight hours of league action. Hopefully Jewell and his team can give the fans a taster of what they can achieve next season, and go out with a win.


So what does the Championship hold for Derby County? As terrible as this season has been, they are some positives to take on board. In Paul Jewell and Chris Hutchings they now possess a managerial team who have achieved promotion with the likes of Bradford and Wigan before, so they know what's required to get back into the top division. New owners have come in, so financially the club seems pretty secure. It's a case of Jewell clearing out the deadwood in his squad and shaping the team into genuine promotion contenders, it was never going to be a short-term job. Their backline needs a complete overhaul, how Dean Leacock could ever be viewed as a Premier League defender I'll never know. But the likes of Earnshaw, Miller, Robbie Savage, Alan Stubbs and Roy Carroll are more than good enough to ply their trade in the Championship. To say it's been a disastrous season for Derby would be an understatement. However, we may be seeing them back in the top flight sooner than you think.

Player Of The Season: Seriously?