Although this wasn’t a great performance from Derby, and perhaps a bit disjointed, it’s worth remembering that we had the better chances and on another day the result could have been different. Not only that, the incessant whining noise coming from the supporters (something which is slowing getting to be a bad habit) shows a real lack of patience to the manager.

That’s right. A lack of patience. And don’t remind me about last season either. I was there - saw every home game and quite a few away ones too… Just remember how poor our squad was, how Billy Davies didn’t want to be within whistling distance of the team HE put together once he realised the team was woefully out of his depth - remember the lack of team spirit, the lack of professionalism and the downright lack of respect given to our great Club by certain individuals (most of who have been moved on)…

Look at the line up - the names in bold were signed in the summer:

Derby: Carroll, McEveley, Green, Kazmierczak (Savage 53), Commons, Ellington, Hulse, Mears, Stubbs (C) (Connolly 56), Albrechtsen, Pereplotkins (Davies 64).

Rome /literally/ wasn’t built in a day. Give the team a chance. Give the manager a chance - next time you fill your lungs with air to “boo” the team, or call for the managers head - remind yourself you are using oxygen which could be put to better use. Save your breath and cheer the team you love.

Yes, we lost… and yes, this was mainly down to us losing the battle in the midfield, and switching off for their goal - remember that Doncaster are a team who have been together for a long time, and that Paul Jewell has been performing open heart surgery on a team that was in a footballing coma.

This performance had it’s positives. It’s easy not to see them if you’re one of these people who judge everything on the scoreline (remember all those win’s we fluked under Billy?), the positives were there, you just had to want to see them, Commons showed flashes of brilliance, Ellington worked hard - often in the wrong half of the pitch, Hulse looked lively… In a few weeks this team, who have only played one competitive game together, will start to gel and the flowing football will start.

Note to Donny fans - Good luck to you - you play football the right way… It’s hard to tell anything from the opening day games (which is the main point of this article) - but if you keep playing football that way, you’ll win more than you lose.

I never imagined or intended this match report to be a sermon on the lack of patience of our supporters, anyone who followed this blog through last season will hopefully vouch for my happy go lucky/gallows humour - but I think everyone just needs to calm down and remember it IS just the first game of the season.

I leave you with a few facts:

* It took Manchester United four games to get a win last season. They did okay in the end…
* The season we got promoted under Billy, it took 3 games to get a win.
* The season we finished 2nd in the Championship, we opened the season with a 1-0 defeat to Oldham…
* We had 8 points from 4 games in 2005-2006 and finished 40 points away from 2nd place…

Statistics can be twisted to tell their own story, but seriously… get real… We’ll be back, Paul Jewell is the man! - just keep the faith. Get behind the team and the rest will fall into place.

- MoonPig.

— IN —

* 18th July 2008 -> Przemyslaw Kazmierczak (FC Porto) -> 12 Month Loan -> Press Release

* 1st July 2008 -> Liam Dickinson (Stockport County) -> Undisclosed/Rising to £1m -> Press Release

* 30th June 2008 -> Martin Albrechtsen (West Bromwich Albion) -> Free -> Press Release

* 12th June 2008 -> Steve Davies (Tranmere) -> Tribunal -> Press Release

* 30th May 2008 -> Nathan Ellington (Watford) -> Free -> Press Release

* 30th May 2008 -> Jordan Stewart (Watford) -> 12 Month Loan Then Free -> Press Release

* 30th May 2008 -> Paul Green (Doncaster Rovers) -> Free -> (Press Release (they ain’t bitter!))

* 21th May 2008 -> Kris Commons (Nott**gham Forest) -> Free -> Press Release

* 15th May 2008 -> Paul Connolly (Plymouth) -> Free -> Press Release

* 17th April 2008 -> Ruben Zadkovich (Sydney FC) -> Free -> Press Release

— OUT —

* 4th July 2008 -> Jason Beardsley -> Notts County -> 3 Month Loan (Press Release)

* 28th June 2008 -> David Jones -> Wolverhampton Wanderers -> £1m (Press Release)

* 1th June 2008 -> Kenny Miller -> Glasgow Rangers -> £2m (Press Release)

* 30th May 2008 -> Rob Earnshaw -> Nottingham Forest -> £2.75m (Press Release)

* 15th May 2008 -> Lee Holmes -> (Released)
* 15th May 2008 -> Marc Edworthy -> (Released)
* 15th May 2008 -> Ben Hinchcliffe -> (Released)

* 6th May 2008 -> Michael Johnson -> Notts County -> (Free) -> Press Release

Out, so far is Rob Earnshaw (to Forest. Ho ho ho) and Kenny Miller back to Rangers (almost as popular as Earnie to Forest). Lee Holmes, who was released in the summer has joined Southampton… good luck Lee and thanks for your efforts For more information on transfers, check this link

In: Kris Commons, Paul Connolly, Jordan Stewart, Nathan Ellington and Paul Green have already joined (what we’re fashionably calling) ‘the revolution’… and another 3 or 4 are expected (Jewell has targeted centre backs and strikers next).

If you believe the press rumours, we are still in for Freddie Bodde (at Swansea) and Liam Dickinson (Stockport County). Hopefully we’ll bag some big name signings as well… This might boost our season ticket sales past the 20,500 mark which it’s at now - Which must surely be the largest, or among the largest in the division. Take note Swansea.

Yes, that’s right - for the morons over at PlanetSwans - http://www.planetswans.co.uk/article.aspx?ArticleID=585 - Yes, we are a big club. Yes we are bigger than you. Yes, we have sold nearly 3 times as many season tickets as you… but… if you compare us to L**DS UNITED once more . . . . . We’re gonna come and get you! No one is immune to the big clubs coming for your best players, just ask Sir Alex *cackle*

More soon. Stay tuned, the RAMS ARE BACK!

- MoonPig (still clinging on to theoffside.com premiership feed, still in denial).

Notice how I’ve completley glossed over the football. I guess I have to say something about it:

* Unlucky, Reading. I thought your fans were great. See you in a few weeks.

/ end

If you didn’t know already, our season ended a while ago so expect a party atmosphere at Pride Park today, especially if we beat Reading after their comments about our great club earlier this week… Let’s hope comments like that backfire big time and a “right royal shoeing” is given out.

Royal, geddit? aah, come on!

Team News:
We are still without Davis, Barnes and Mills - and if you didnt already know, both Alan Stubbs and Dean Leacock had surgery on long standing injuries this week so won’t be figuring today but will be back in time for pre-season training. Andy Todd has been told he can leave the club so it’s doubtful he will figure.

I haven’t got the team prediction right yet, so why break presidence.

Team Prediction: Carroll, McEveley, Moore, Addison, Mears, Savage, Ghaly, Lewis, Sterjovski, Earnshaw, Miller.
Sub? Who knows!: Price, Feilhaber, Beardsley, Villa, Edworthy.

See you on the flip side…. COME ON DERBY!

In: Expect Villa, Stubbs, Carroll, Sterjovski and Savage to stay, as well as Ghaly and Mills if permanent deals can be agreed with Spurs and Man City…

Out: Expect loan moves for Pearson (Stoke), Bywater (Ipswich) and Fagan (Hull) to be made permanent, as well as possible moves for Teale (Plymouth), Mo Camara (Norwich), Lee Holmes (Walsall) and Nyatanga (Barnsley).

Out Of Contract: Edworthy and Johnson will probably be released.

Rest: Price, McEveley, Moore, Leacock, Davis, Jones, Earnshaw, Miller, Lewis, Todd, Feilhaber, Mears and Barnes - remains to be seen.

Highs: Newcastle United. If it wasn’t for them, we’d be 4 points worse off and in a season we’ve had, they really do all count.
Highs: Giving Manchester United a run for their money at Pride Park.
Highs: Scoring a late equaliser against Birmingham, after sitting on a train of birmingham fans ripping me about how “they’re going to get bags of goals” against us…

Now, the obvious lows (tragic losing run, getting relegated, etc, etc) have been left out - and I’ve chosen three from a raffle of 8 million to share with you.

Lows: Conceding last minute goals in numerous fixtures (Sunderland, Bolton, Liverpool, Newcastle)
but specifically Liverpool. They got out of jail and they knew it.
Lows: Missing a penalty and then conceding two goals in 2 minutes, to lose 2-1 to Blackburn.
Lows: Always being last on MOTD.

* We started better than Arsenal…
* Shot ourselves in the foot…
* We still can’t defend…
* Theirry Henry left Arsenal a while ago, move on, Arsenal fans!
* Earnie scored for Derby…
* And did a dance… (see pic)
* Roy Carroll saved about 98 one-on-ones…
* Passing Success: Derby: 70.4%, Arsenal 86.8. Says it all.

Audio/Video

* Paul Jewell (on BBC Radio Derby) after the match

Other

West Brom (the team we beat in the play-off finals) were promoted tonight - and spare a quick thought for Southampton…. this time last season we were playing them in the play-offs, they had a strong competitive team (Gareth Bale, Kenwyne Jones, among others)… and now they’re in the bottom three in serious danger of being relegated to League One.

Goals to follow…

My only hope is that we at least give a good performance in front of the Arsenal fans, which includes my uncle and cousin who are travelling up for the night hoping that away goals = air miles.

Derby Team News: Edworthy has a cracked rib, Kenny Miller and Dean Leacock are ’slight’ doubts but Jewell expects the pair to be fit to play, whilst David Jones will have a late fitness test due to a calf strain picked up in training on Friday morning, all in addition to long term absentee’s Giles Barnes, Claude Davis and loaner Danny Mills…

Arsenal have a few injury problems, so Arsene Wenger will have to rely on the likes of Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner. ‘Tis truly a hard life.

Audio Links:

* Paul Jewell on BBC Radio Derby
* Adam Pearson on BBC Radio Derby

Referee: Andrew Mariner

/peace out