28/4/2008 English Premier League Live - Derby vs Arsenal

Suddenly, this live commentary English Premier League match between Derby and Arsenal has taken on title challenge proportions not from the home side but from the fact that there is still a small possibility that Arsenal will be able to win the league, due to Saturday's result between Chelsea and Manchester United. Of course, it will take a miracle for them to really win it as they need their two rivals to actually lose all their remaining games and that is about as likely to happen as Liverpool winning the English Premier League title ever again under Rafael Benitez with Neil Warnock's curse and also the thousands of blinded Liverpool fans who think they should stick by Gillett and Parry who obviously were the ones who wanted to flog the club to other buyers and wanted to get rid of Benitez in the first place. While there is no such problems at Arsenal yet, they do indeed have to relook at Wenger's ability to inspire his team as he has failed to do so for three seasons straight and has become so desperate now that he might consider bringing Thierry "The Pout" Henry back to the club and featuring in games like this live commentary and online TV EPL game between Derby and Arsenal at Pride Park since he will get to play in his best position at a club where he is -the- star instead of being at a place like Barcelona where he needs to share the limelight with other players.

The home side is not much better for this live commentary and live streaming radio telecast English Premier League match between Derby and Arsenal as they have been horrible throughout the season and still harbouring hopes of being worse than Sunderland of many seasons ago. In truth, eleven points is just about right for their effort and while I do not doubt their efforts and hard work and desire, they simply are not good enough for the EPL and there is nothing wrong about them going down except for their poor fans who have had to endure a season like that but credit to them they have stuck to their team and deserve to be labelled the best set of fans in the whole league and miles better than those fairweather Manchester United fans who were nowhere to be seen when they were struggling before Alex Ferguson started tapping up players left right center from other clubs. Well, they now have three more live soccer games in which to catch their team in the top flight just like this live commentary and live streaming TV broadcast soccer match between Derby and Arsenal and if they buy better players the next time they are promoted perhaps they might have more live games to watch than just the 38 in one season.

15/3/2008 English Premier League - Derby County vs Manchester United

Derby County manager Paul Jewell joked before his team's live online commentary match against Manchester United today by saying that he might not be turning up for the game since there was not much use in doing so and spend the afternoon watching his team receiving a hiding from a Red Devils team that will feature Ronaldo and Rooney looking to increase their personal goal tallies for the season. You wouldn't blame the Derby manager considering how, despite his best efforts in bringing in reinforcements and endless motivation, the team looks seriously out of their depth in the top flight and would probably be looking forward to their return to the League Championship where they could actually get more than two wins a season. The truth is that without serious financial backing, clubs like Derby will more often than not spend their opportunity in the English Premier League enjoying the atmosphere and nothing much else. The quality of their players are not quite good enough in this league, and it would take more time for the club to groom a better team for their next foray into the EPL.

Manchester United were grilled by their own manager Alex Ferguson in the aftermath of their FA Cup exit at the hands of Portsmouth. Ferguson now expects a response from his team in this live online commentary and streaming radio broadcast soccer match against Derby County and nothing less than a massive goal margin win will satisfy the ultra-competitive Scotsman. While the club would have been delighted with their Champions League draw with Roma, they are concentrating on retaining their league title amidst a tough challenge from Arsenal and Chelsea. Manchester United are still clear favourites after Arsenal's recent collapse and with Ronaldo and Rooney in your team, it is hard to see anything less than that. This live online commentary and streaming radio telecast game against Derby County will be a great chance for them to add to their goals for tally and increase the players' own goals scored to win the top scorer's award, most notably for Ronaldo. The media is predicting similar scorelines to that of Chelsea's achievement in midweek against the same team and why would they think of anything else.

The one thing you can count on happening in this live online commentary match between Derby County and Manchester United is that there will be a lot of goals. Unfortunately they will probably all come from just one side and it is certainly not the team that is heading straight back to the League Championship. While there is nothing to dislike about Derby, they are truly out of their depth in the top flight and Manchester United will expose their deficiencies again, unfortunately for their fans it will be another nightmare show but true to their sporting nature, they will surely applaud their team on the day their relegation is confirmed.

12/3/2008 English Premier League - Chelsea vs Derby County

The death knell has already sounded on Derby County earlier in the season but will it now sound for Avram Grant in this live online commentary matchup between Chelsea and Derby County? While it would hardly be the case given the nature and certainty of the result in waiting, Grant is a man walking the plank along death row after being given an ultimatum of having to win either the league title or the Champions League in order to secure his job for another season. While Chelsea has sneaked back into the race in a good position on the virtue of quietly pegging away while Arsenal and Manchester United, to a lesser degree, have stuttered, the Champions League is a long shot given the overall quality of the squad compared to one like Barcelona, coupled with the failure of Grant to rise to the occasion during the 'big matches'. Undeniably, there still is a high level of quality in the Chelsea ranks and while some still argue the team lacks a cutting edge despite having top strikers like Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, the truth is that for all Ballack's probing and Lampard's persistence in midfield, they still lack a genuine playmaker. Such is the legacy from Mourinho's reign.

Derby County however, has problems of its own of far worse making and they must definitely have started looking forward to life in the English League Championship next season even if manager Paul Jewell continues to sing the indignant battle cry for the team to rise to the occasion and pitch a last ditch effort to avoid relegation. This live online commentary match between Chelsea and Derby will once again cruelly expose the deficiencies in a club of Derby's size to compete at the top level and they might forever be cast in the category of clubs good enough to ding dong between the English Premier League and English League Championship but never good enough to stay for long at the top tier of English football. This might, of course, all change if a wealthy benefactor were to fly to their rescue one day, but until that actually happens, they can only look forward to more five or six goal beatings against the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea in a league match.

EPL 9/2/2008 - Derby vs Tottenham Hotspur

Listening to Paul Jewell, you would think that he is just hanging around to collect his monthly paychecks and this live commentary and play by play English Premier League soccer match between his team Derby and Tottenham Hotspur is a foregone conclusion. A foregone conclusion of Derby losing once again and another giant step to relegation. There is an air of resignation around Paul Jewell pre and post match every week and despite some astute signings, Derby continues to lose. They did seem to improve in their last two games but continue to struggle to score and get any useful points. The injury list is also growing and that would not help Paul Jewell one bit as he tries to prepare for this live commentary and TV telecast EPL soccer match against a hot Spurs team. It is likely that they really do need to give up on this season, and look forward to building momentum for next season when they should be back playing the likes of Charlton Athletic in the English Championship. Their January signings should also help with another promotional push.

Tottenham Hotspur on the other hand continue to be red hot and their players look on top form for this live commentary and radio broadcast English Premier League soccer match against rivals Derby. Tom Huddlestone was a revelation for England, while Jermaine Jenas continues to impress as well. Juande Ramos has really whipped the team into shape and even Berbatov has been keeping his mouth shut more often. One disappointment though for Spurs and their fans is that money grubber Pascal Chimbounda continues to be with the team and due to his ability, still gets to play. He did well last week against Manchester United but you know he is only playing for the shop window. It should not be long before Spurs revolutionise themselves as a title contender next season, as Ramos has a plan and he will do everything he can to turn Spurs in the English Sevilla. The team has the potential to do that with all the best English attacking talent they have and if FIFA gets their way and implement a foreigner quota system, you can bet that Spurs might actually be the team leading the way.

This live commentary and TV telecast EPL soccer match between Derby and Tottenham Hotspur is a clear walkover for the away team. In the past you might expect Spurs to choke and lose by three or four goals in the same situation, but not now and you can expect the opposite as they will overcome Derby with ease and take all three points. Nothing less than a win will do for Juande Ramos and Spurs in this live commentary and radio broadcast English Premier League soccer match against Derby, and they will get nothing less than that. Look for Berbatov to score another hat trick perhaps, and Jermaine Jenas and Huddlestone to run the show in midfield as they overcome the terrier threat of Robbie Savage and lead their team to victory.

EPL 2/2/2008 - Birmingham vs Derby

After sinking to a low of losing to a previously rubbish Sunderland, Birmingham now has to pick themselves up from that defeat and rise to the occasion in this live commentary and play by play soccer match in the English Premier League against bottom club Derby and hope they do not suffer the ignominy of a consecutive defeat to a fellow relegation rival and the worst club in the division. But they are facing Derby who got back some measure of pride after losing to Preston in the FA Cup by getting a deserved draw against Manchester City at home and they might even have won if they had better more established striker. But that was at home and now they travel to Birmingham who does have a formidable home record against the rest of the English Premier League other than the top teams, and if Alex McLeish wanted to cement his position as a rising soccer manager, this would be the time to do so, otherwise he would only be known as someone who could do well with Scottish teams and nowhere else.


I previously mentioned that Derby might be a better team now with Robbie Savage and several other more established and experienced players except for the lack of pace and Paul Jewell can be already an inspirational coach but it would take time and they might have to return to the Championship to grow as a team as Jewell slowly forms his own team. But they still have to put up a fight to try to stay in the English Premier League but they can only realistically hope for good results at home and in this live commentary and radio broadcast soccer match against Birmingham, they cannot hope for too much perhaps maybe just to score a goal to lift their spirits and belief that they can do some damage at this level which is at the very minimum to score some goals, even though Birmingham are a tough side to break down and will not give too many goals away in any game.


You cannot expect anything other than a home win for Birmingham in this live commentary and TV telecast game in the English Premier League simply because they are facing Derby and anyone who loses to Derby do not deserve to stay in the top tier at this moment in time until Derby prove themselves to be world beaters which is a long way yet. However, you also cannot expect too many goals in this game as Birmingham quite honestly do not score or even create many and even when they do score, they sneak back into their defensive shell which is a sure sign of a club desperate to avoid relegation and short of confidence. Unfortunately it seems like Alex McLeish's appointment has not done much but the guy has ability so give him some time although hopefully he does not take too much time and face a defeat against Derby in this live commentary and radio broadcast soccer game in the English Premier League.

EPL 29/1/2008 - Derby vs Manchester City

This live commentary and play by play soccer game in the English Premier League between struggling Derby and high flying Manchester City looks to be a walkover for a Manchester City team eager to make up for their FA Cup debacle over the weekend by pummelling a shell shocked Rams and gaining a better foothold in the race for the fourth Champions League slot. However, Derby are at home in this game, and after sinking to the depths against Preston North End, it might seem difficult to sink any further, so perhaps the only way they can go is up and they might just pull off an upset tonight against Manchester City. Do not forget that Paul Jewell's signing have not had the time to play together much yet competitively so Preston might have taken advantage of that at the right time. With players like Robbie Savage, it would be time soon when things turn around and that could start with this game against Manchester City.

Manchester City on the other hand is still smarting from losing because of their own balloons left lying around on the pitch and as a result were on the wrong end of a shock FA Cup upset at the hands of a Bryan Robson team Sheffield United. That alone is quite an achievement in itself. On top of that they are playing away not at home, away from the comfort of their own stadium they are not that good. However, they do have the weapons to tear Derby apart with Elano and that Bulgarian winger so this live commentary and radio broadcast game might still turn out to be a total blowout with Derby losing by five or six goals.

However, we do see some signs of an upset and Derby might just sneak this, or Manchester City struggle to a goal win. But we do fancy our chances of an upset Derby win in this live commentary and radio broadcast English Premier League soccer game between Derby and Manchester City and perhaps a wonder goal from Robbie Savage to put his new team into the heavens with joy and delight. Or there might actually be many goals in this live commentary soccer match so an enjoyable match nonetheless to look forward to.

FA Cup 26/1/2008 - Derby vs Preston

In this FA Cup live commentary and radio broadcast soccer match between English Premier League side Derby and Championship challenger Preston North End, it looks to be a straightforward walk in the park for Paul Jewell's man, and could provide a home of solace from their English Premier League relegation worries. Preston North End has struggled this season in the Championship after years of challenging for promotion and the playoffs. It looks like they could be on their way down to the English First Division at the rate they have been going as they are third from bottom and with ex-Liverpool striker Neil Mellor (remember him? The one who scored a scorcher against Arsenal for a last minute win at Anfield a few seasons back) plowing upfront they do not really have much chance to be honest. Mellor looked out of his depth in the English Premier League and frankly, is only a really average striker. They would not score many goals with him in the frontline.

Derby has slowly been adding to their ranks with Paul Jewell's arrival. For this FA Cup live commentary and TV telecast game against Preston, they will have Robbie Savage, Hossam Ghaly, Laurent Robert and Emanuel Villa in the team after they missed out in the previous round. Those will be good additions especially with Robbie Savage in the team they have a better midfielder who can tackle and carry the team, something which Derby needs desperately after basically getting overrun by all the other English Premier League teams. Despite a whole host of injuries they have had to contend with, Derby should be able to do well in this live commentary and radio broadcast FA Cup soccer match and leave with a resounding win over Preston.

EPL 19/1/2008 - Portsmouth vs Derby County

Has Harry Redknapp jinxed himself and Portsmouth by staying at the club and turning down Newcastle's offer? We will continue to find out tonight in this live commentary and play by play match between English Premier League (EPL) teams Portsmouth and Derby tonight. On paper this should be a walk in the park for one of the surprise teams of the season Portsmouth against sure to be relegated Derby. However, Portsmouth has been absolutely stuttering of late and with a host of key players missing from the African Nations Cup, they have to hope that Redknapp can take some time off watching out of his bedroom window at the coastal sights and walking his dog and find a solution to their scoring woes instead. They have also signed the newly crowned "Le Sulk" of football in Lassana Diarra who wants first team football everywhere he goes when he has been unable to show his worth so far each time he is given the chance to. Maybe Redknapp can bring the best out of him but Portsmouth fans beware, Diarra is only using your club as a stepping stone to better things (teams) but I believe he will be forgotten after another season or two if he continues to think he is the next big thing when he has proven nothing.

Now with Derby, perhaps Paul Jewell can weave some of his magic and pull the team out of relegation certainty although I honestly doubt it. But you cannot doubt the hardworking attitude and honesty of the team - they just lack the quality. The EPL needs teams like Derby every season though, how else would Liverpool find a way to score anything more than a goal in a game? But this live commentary game for Derby will be the final nail in their coffin unless they can pull off a result. Even Jewell has implied that it is a lost cause and he might do well to plan for next season in the Championship now.

Despite Portsmouth's troubles and acquisition of Diarra, I expect them to finally score at home and score at will. The over the total odds for this live commentary and play by play English Premier League match between Portsmouth and Derby certainly looks appealing and it is something I fancy putting a decent amount on. Hopefully there will be a goals galore befitting a match live telecast and commentary.

Transfer Window - Derby County Transfer Targets

Derby County has some meaty transfer targets this transfer window it seems. First up they have already signed Argentinian striker Emanuel Villa from a Mexican soccer club (who really cares?). Now this isn't David Villa but manager Paul Jewell is simply salivating over the prospect of Villa playing for Derby County. He is adamant that Villa will be a fan favourite but that usually means a hard worker running lots and sweating blood. It does not guarantee goals and that is what Derby County needs.

Speaking of goals, the management guys at Derby County are also looking at a swoop for the ex-Newcastle favourite Laurent Robert. Now Robert was a stellar supply of goals in the form of swinging crosses from the flanks but that was years ago when Newcastle still looked like an entertaining club. Now, Laurent Robert has not played for a club for a couple of months since being let go by Levante. Let's see here, Levante is somewhere in Spain? Where? I am not sure. Who really cares? And they LET GO of Robert. Maybe it was his wage demands. Maybe he's just not good enough anymore. Still, if Jewell needs an experienced head at the club, he could find himself a great signing and player in Laurent Robert who if you remember, did have his fair share of player power and trouble at Newcastle.

Speaking of an old experienced head for calming influence at Derby County, you might soon be able to add that of Robbie Savage to the list. Old experienced head - sure. Make no mistake about it - I regard Robbie Savage as a decent player - every team needs a player like him - hard tackler, committed to the cause and tireless worker. Played for Wales and a few clubs at the top level. Definitely ticks the experience box. Calming influence? Well, if you need a few kicks up the arse of other English Premier League teams, yes that should fit the bill. Robbie Savage will calm the Derby County players down and make sure they kick a few legs and arses to stay up in the English Premier League!

Now the most important department Derby County needs to improve is not seeing any additions so far. And that is in defence. They seemed to have tightened up in recent games, but would have done so much better if not for late or sloppy goals. I think Paul Jewell needs to spend more time looking for serious defenders. If so, I might make the bold prediction that Derby County can avoid relegation. At the moment, I think Jewell can look forward to pitting his tactical nous with Bryan Robson next season.

The Big Red Liverpool Machine and Burger Squeeze

If not for that 'ghost' penalty, Liverpool would be sitting alone at the top of the English Premier League table and staring down smugly at the rest of the competition. While that team of blue billionaires at Chelsea have a chance to join us from Villa Park today, Liverpool will still be top of the league by virtue of goal difference.

And we have to thank Derby for that. I honestly believe this team will be relegated by mid-season, while not mathematically, but in spirit and play. This team is a circus act if you ask me!

Once again, virtually all who got to play in the Liverpool team were impressive, except for some lackadaisical defending at times. Derby did us a favour as well by fielding a posse of clowns. Perhaps Stevie Gerrard would be worrying a little that the team does not seem to be missing him!

Over at Craven Cottage, while I did not get it exactly correct that the home team would win, but it goes to show again my point about not assuming results based on past performances, even ones that are just a season old. Spurs might have been coasting to a win at a certain point, but they have shown to be a defensively frail this season, and see how they crumbled!

Under the weight of the Soccer Rag, I must say. ;)