If the 2007-2008 League Championship had 25 teams, the 24 teams it really had and Derby County, what place do you think Derby County would have finished using their performance in the EPL to guide you?
near the bottom - no team spirit, hasty and ill-advised rearrangement of the squad, etc etc. however of course if they hadn't been promoted then the squad would not have required such a drastic and sudden overhqaul, therefore they would have had more of a team, and more confidence.
they also wouldn't have been facing a hopeless situation by mid-september. It wasn't just low confidence that killed them, it was knowing that even if they worked their hardest and played their best, they'd probably still lose, and even if they didn't lose, it still probably wouldn't be enough anyway. Eventually the players just lose all motivation. It might be fun going to Old Trafford etc for a cup tie, even if you expect to lose, but it's no fun in a league game.
Derby were completely unprepared for Premiership football.The manager bought badly and the club didnt have the finances.The players lost all confidence and when Paul Jewell came in as manager nothing changed as he was completely out of his depth.That season was an embarressment but the fans sold out almost every match and kept an average of 29,000 + the following season in the championship.The highest in the division.
I actually played the 07-08 DC in Championship for a season. They came in 9th of 24. Relegated teams were Gillingham (they won my L1 sim the previous season), Ipswich, and Yeovil (6th in L1 06-07 sim, won playoff to get in Championship), FWIW