If they aren't going to move Benny in January, they should just let him go to the USMT camp for the Mexico game. Is he eligible for the Olympic team? If so, they should just let him stay in the US for the U23 camp and help us for Beijing Qualifying. Why not? they aren't going to use him. Might as well let him play. Benny staying in Derby is a waste of everyone's time.
Well, I guess no more distactions now for Derby. They can now focus on securing their place in the Championship next year.
If Benny isn't getting minutes soon, why does he deserve a national team call-up? And just not show up for their remaining fixtures? That would be hilarious. Although they're barely showing up as it is...
they are not showing up now... unless its Newcastle, its 3 points to their opponents... they got blitzed by a side that is battling relegation to League 1
According to ESPN soccernet, Lewis was subbed off in the 24th minute due to injury http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=235261&cc=5901
That's a great point.. I don't think he does deserve a callup to the NT. He could be useful for the Olympic Team during qualifying since we won't even have many of our best players available.
No, it's an ownership/investment deal. The team affairs stay in the hands of Jewell. FWIW I've been going to watch Derby for over 39 years. I've seen the team champions of England twice, European Cup "now Champions League" semi finalists and a lot more besides. I've also seen those great teams decline to the third tier of English soccer and nearly going out of business on more than one occaision. But, today was the most embarrassed I think I've ever been as a Derby County fan. We've been whipped before, but mostly by teams in the same division, however, Preston are a poor team themselves as evidenced by their league position and even they outclassed us today.
The bottom 3rd of the EPL this year is as bad as I've ever seen it. I really can't tell you why. The teams down there are spending a ton of money. And its not just because the top half of the league is so good that they just repeatedly get their asses kicked despite playing good soccer. Truth is, they're rubbish. Fulham, Birmingham, Derby, etc. have all been kicked out of the FA Cup by lower league opposition. And not lower league opposition that's good. Crap teams like Preston. I watched that Boro game against Mansfield on FSC today, and Boro really did nothing. Their Korean striker gets a goal off a deflected corner, and they got a counter-attack goal at the end when Mansfield had everybody forward. Other than that, they were crap. Against the team that's next to last in league 2. Awful.
They are certainly making a run at Sunderland's 2005-2006 season. The Black Cats had 3 wins, 6 draws and 29 losses and gave up 69 goals. Derby has already given up 50 in 23 games.
The British newspapers have awful descriptions of this game. Especially the Derby central defenders. I read somewhere that Jewell bought 6 players this month. Are they all midfielders? Because it seems like defenders and forwards are what Derby needed. Maybe competent (ie not great) midfielders are just easier to come by?
Jewell has played the "new buys" all at once - and surprise surprise - they have never played together or with the team and the results should have been obvious to anyone knowledgeable about the game. I decent manager would integrate the new players slowly and as they prove themselves on the training ground. Now Jewell has created a hornets nest of instability as its obvious his new guys can't cut the mustard. Meanwhile the tit has one of the best two players on the squad exactly nowhere. Benny is the potential Fabregas of that team but hasn't been given a fair shot. When Benny does come on he creates chances and brings flair, something that clodhopping crap ex-defender Jewel cannot appreciate. I guess Benny has a contract through 2009 and he has the right to stay exactly where he is. But as someone else has noted Benny would be a good choice to bring into the US camp for the Mexico game. He needs game time and apparently Jewel is too dumb to realise he needs Benny.
Exactly. Maybe Benny just isn't that good. The manager sees him in training every day. If he can't get a game for a team as bad as Derby he certainly doesn't merit selection to the national team. Send him to the U23 team.
For Benny to be the 'potential Fabregas' of that team he'd have to go back in time about four years, seeing as how he is 28 months older. Look, I think Jewell is making a mistake because there is no way Derby are not going down, and he needs to get his team together that is going to be able to push for promotion next season. He can do that with young players who will still be around after the drop of he can bring in a bunch of hired guns who may eventually coalesce, grab a few wins, and make their points total look less than horrendous. And if he goes the latter rout he'll be stuck in the championship with a bunch of inexperienced players who've had their confidence beaten down for the past year. Derby have 7 points from 23 games, they would need 14 points from their final 15 games just to get out of the current drop zone. And they've still got Arsenal, Man. U, and Chelsea to play, so basically they need 21 points from 12 games. You know how many teams have averaged that for the year so far? Six.
I completely agree with this, but there has to be a reason why so many managers are passing on him.. Attitude, defensive responsibilities??, I dunno.. Jumping from team to team isn't going to help him.. Don't know what Jewell is thinking playing Savage and Pearson in midfield- sure they can tackle, but can they create anything??