04/19/24
May 29, 2007
Derby is the newest EPL club.: The Rams pipped West Brom in the playoff final to fill the last promotion slot. Derby pick up a £52-million bonanza and join Sunderland (managed by former Man Utd captain Roy Keane) and Birmingham in the EPL next season.
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 12:02 PM - 25 comments
dArby, methinks. That's how they pronounce it on the telly when they have a Merseyside derby or London derby or Manchester derby or Birmingham derby etc. But I'll let the Brits confirm this.
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:18 PM on May 29, 2007
As an EPL newbie, I wish the press would give some of the promotion/relegation history of teams like Derby when they switch leagues. From Wikipedia, it looks like they were in the top division last in 2002. Had West Brom won, it would have been all three teams that were relegated last year being promoted this year. And, while I'm not a Brit, I can confirm it is pronounced darby -- I saw a bunch of TV coverage of this game as I was in London over the weekend.
posted by holden at 01:21 PM on May 29, 2007
As a Brit I can confirm the confirmation that it's pronounced Darby. Oh and wc2002 Birmingham are also managed by an ex-Manchester United captain.
posted by squealy at 01:29 PM on May 29, 2007
I also follow Wolves due some some friends who are long time supporters, so I was told I had to pull for Derby. Yay.
posted by scully at 01:41 PM on May 29, 2007
+1 for a reference to Sean Connery's finest work. "Yer the midget now, dawg."
posted by yerfatma at 01:54 PM on May 29, 2007
-1 for not recognizing his work on Celebrity Jeopardy.
posted by YukonGold at 02:53 PM on May 29, 2007
Congrats to the Rams - I hope the £60m keeps you warm at night. We have a Derby fan on the board somewhere too, if I recall correctly. I know what the play off final is like and I hope the hangover's almost gone!
posted by Mr Bismarck at 06:05 PM on May 29, 2007
Looking at this, as usual, through the lens of "what's in it for us?" it has the nice side-effect of making the return of Saint Seth Johnson, the talented perennial sick-note, to his alma mater Crewe Alexandra that bit more likely, as rumour has had it. Not much real chance of that I fear, but some, as he'll be excess to requirements in the Prem and we have got the decent rehabilitation facilities the lad needs. So, well done Derby!
posted by Abiezer at 02:43 AM on May 30, 2007
We have a Derby fan on the board somewhere too, if I recall correctly. I know what the play off final is like and I hope the hangover's almost gone! I have a Derby season ticket holder here in the office and he does look a bit rough, despite having had yesterday off work. Birmingham were apparently in a no-lose situation with regard to this play-off final - whichever team got promoted we got a £250,000 promotion clause payment for our ex-players who were involved - Michael Johnson and Darren Carter.
posted by squealy at 04:27 AM on May 30, 2007
I can't think of Derby without thinking of the White Feather. Hopefully, Derby can use some of that 60 million quid to finally pay his wages from the 2001/02 season, which, according to that link, are still outstanding.
posted by JJ at 07:56 AM on May 30, 2007
Resident West Brom fan here. I was at the match. The whole experience can be summed up in one word: Bugger.
posted by salmacis at 10:04 AM on May 30, 2007
Felt your pain when I saw the news, salmacis. There's always next year!
posted by JJ at 11:23 AM on May 30, 2007
So Brucie is still in charge of the Blues? Good on him, and good on getting back into the EPL. Bet the Buddha is chuffed.
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:53 PM on May 30, 2007
Bad luck sal, the better team lost on the day. Out of interest what's your opinion on the new Wembley stadium in terms of facilities, view, prices and the like?
posted by squealy at 01:21 PM on May 30, 2007
With reference to squealy's question and my own curiosity about your Wembley experience, I asked in the locker room if we could have somewhere to post about "live sport we attended". The early consensus is saying "write a column". If you can be bothered, I'd like to hear about it, especially from someone who knows what they're talking about but isn't bound by the BBC or some other agency to be diplomatic.
posted by JJ at 02:50 PM on May 30, 2007
After the FA Cup ties, I wanted to see Mogga managing a Premier League team. Ah well. It's funny how the playoff finals have eclipsed the FA Cup Final as season-enders, especially with them taking place over the bank holiday weekend. Never been to one (though a very good friend has seen Preston lose) and I can only imagine the gutwrench.
posted by etagloh at 11:29 PM on May 30, 2007
I'm the Derby fan. However I only found out the play off result late yesterday. It comes from travelling to Rangoon and then having to work. All I can say is we need the money more than West Brom (sorry salmacis). But on the positive side I'm sure we'll be swapping places at the end of next season. To top off the happy times, Yeovil also thumped the scum in the League One playoff semis, thus putting two divisions between the teams at either end of Brian Clough Way. And I believe it's pronounced Dyarrrrrby by locals. Especially after sampling some of Burton on Trent's finest product.
posted by owlhouse at 07:24 AM on May 31, 2007
Wembley itself is very impressive. From a distance, it's much more visible than the old stadium. Even without the arch it's about twice the height. Outside, things are clearly not yet finished, with areas still being built on. I don't know if they are going to be car parks or what. Even so, there is a noticeable lack of car parking. The underground station has been upgraded to cope with more fans arriving that way, and to be fair, I got away pretty smoothly after the match. Wembley Way has been tarted up since I was last there. As you walk up the ramp towards the stadium you can see the statue of Bobby Moore - a nice touch. The Brent/Wembley area itself is still a tip though, and the stadium looks quite out of place in comparison. My breath was taken away when I got up to the top tier and saw how steep it was and how high up I was. Truly, not a bad seat in the house. Unfortunately, in order to pay for the stadium, they reserved the entire middle tier for "Club Wembley" members. This means that the fans are divided into the upper and lower tiers, which affects the atmosphere. There were Derby and West Brom fans pleading for tickets, yet there were 15,000 empty seats. It's a disgrace. Noise levels are definitely not up to Millenium Stadium standards. I took sandwiches and ate them before the game. I can't comment on the food or prices inside as I never eat or drink in the ground itself. No matter how many food stands they build, they are never going to cope with the rush of fans at half time, so I just stay away. I think a pint of Heineken was £3.50.
posted by salmacis at 10:39 AM on May 31, 2007
Thanks salmacis. Taking sandwiches eh? You must be as stingy as me. Perhaps it's a West Midlands thing.
posted by squealy at 01:38 PM on May 31, 2007
Prawn sandwiches?
posted by worldcup2002 at 03:44 PM on May 31, 2007
Thanks, sal. Good to hear a real opinion from a real fan.
posted by JJ at 07:20 PM on May 31, 2007
"Club Wembley" members . . . There were Derby and West Brom fans pleading for tickets, yet there were 15,000 empty seats. What's "Club Wembley"? Is it not related to fans of the teams that play in the stadium but the stadium itself?
posted by yerfatma at 07:52 PM on May 31, 2007
Club Wembley. Just reading that page make me feel nauseus about the way catering to the prawn sandwich brigade is ruining the experience for the ordinary fan. wc2002: Egg mayo, actually. :-)
posted by salmacis at 03:19 AM on June 01, 2007
"There are prices to suit everyone's pocket". I beg to differ.
posted by squealy at 05:40 AM on June 01, 2007
As an EPL newbie, I wish the press would give some of the promotion/relegation history of teams like Derby when they switch leagues. From Wikipedia, it looks like they were in the top division last in 2002. Dumb question: Is it pronounced Derby as in Kentucky or Darby as in O'Gill and the Little People?