Jewell in the rough. | SportsFilter

Here's the current EPL standings of the teams mentioned here, out of 20 teams in the EPL: 16 Birmingham - Manager: Alex McLeish (formerly of Scotland and Rangers) 19 Wigan - Manager: Steve Bruce (formerly of Birmingham) 20 Derby - Manager: Paul Jewell (formerly of Wigan) Any chance things will look any different at the end of the season? Can Jewell pull another miracle with minnows? Does Steve Bruce really believe he's working with a better team and resources than he was at Birmingham (Carson Yeung's lack of support notwithstanding)? McLeish and Birmingham seems the strongest combination right now.

posted by worldcup2002 at 12:40 AM - reply - flag:

Can Jewell pull another miracle with minnows? No. As noted previously, Derby are the worst top flight team since Swindon Town. Billy Davies has better things to do than manage a Championship club out of their depth with no money to buy players and no time to build a squad. Derby need the Premier League money to retire debt, not to satisy any ambitions.

posted by owlhouse at 04:29 AM - reply - flag:

I still think Boro may join this group.

posted by trox at 08:25 AM - reply - flag:

Billy Davies has better things to do than manage a Championship club out of their depth with no money to buy players and no time to build a squad. Yeah, he's applying for the Scotland job.

posted by worldcup2002 at 09:35 AM - reply - flag:

I'm surprised at Wigan's general stinkitude this year. I thought they had established a toehold in the top flight for a while. Derby, on the other hand, should bank their money. What big-ticket player is going to get them off the schneid and keep them up for even one more year? Better they go back down and build a little better for next year or the year after. (That's what they get for dumping Paul Peschisolido at the beginning of the year. Anti-Canadian freaks, serves 'em right.) And isn't it the case that every year, one side really stinks to EPL out? I mean, I've only been following the premiership for the last two or three years, but it seems the last-place club always looks like boys playing against men. Derby just drew the short straw this year.

posted by chicobangs at 12:52 PM - reply - flag:

Wigan only survived by a gnats cock last season; they will soon disappear back into the hinterlands of our soccer consciousness, never to return.

posted by Fat Buddha at 02:36 PM - reply - flag:

Derby, on the other hand, should bank their money I agree, entirely. Better to be still in existence and in the Championship than bankrupt. Promotion last year was always a bit of a surprise, and the money is a bonus. If you scratch a Rams fan, you will find resignation, but at least some comfort in the financial security a year upstairs will bring.

posted by owlhouse at 05:54 PM - reply - flag:

I still am having laugh that Wigan were able to hire away another club's manager mid-season. It probably happens all the time in world soccer but here in the states the thought that the Lions, say, could come in for Mike Nolan or Tom Coughlin after six games just blows my American-drilled mind.

posted by billsaysthis at 03:34 AM - reply - flag:

You said "drilled"...

posted by StarFucker at 12:58 PM - reply - flag:

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

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