The Title

[PauliAlonso]

We have been dung to watch for 2 years now. Ok we may have been at the top end of the table for a lot of it, but it was papering over very obvious cracks in the managers abilities.

Do you think he should have no cracks? This is his first managers job. Most LOI managers will go on and coach for 20-25 years maybe (some for longer, some for less), so this is Year 4 of a 25 year coaching journey where he's finished 2nd twice in his first two full seasons, won a cup and is currently in the running for a double. And all this while having a very vocal minority call for his head and tell him he's shit, in the middle of a title challenge. If this is what he can achieve in his first job, I can't wait to see what the next years have in store.

Why has the ground been emptying over this season if we are so good then? And we have been challenging all season, yet people aren't coming to watch. Why is that?

First show me the numbers that show attendances have been dropping? From what I see, there've been quite a few people with seated tickets who've moved over to the standing area on the Lone Moor side, making it look like there's fewer people in attendance. But I could be wrong. If people really are not going to games anymore, then...

...Second, Roy Coyle: "Derry fans are fickle". Let's be honest, if we were playing the best football in the league and sitting 3rd, there'd still be people wanting Higgins gone. You want a title challenge every season and tiki-taka while we do it. I'm sure that's what POD and Higgins want as well, but the key is to get the first title over the line. Hopefully we do it this season. Higgins favours a safety-first approach, let's wait a few more weeks and see if he was right or not.

I'm afraid it's folk like you who are lying, to yourself. Telling yourself all is rosey and we are a great side. If you like to watch what Higgins has served up for the last 2 seasons, so be it. But the majority won't watch it for much longer.

Never said it's rosy, never said it's great. But for the first time in 20 years, we have a shot at the league (and a double). I'm not going to be one of those mouths booing him and the players at every opportunity.

[Marty]

[brandyball]

Did the Chairman not say we are going for the title as part of a 3 year plan when appointing the Manager?

[rodgers]

Head to head results also a good measure of whether or not progress is being made.

We haven't beaten Rovers once this year.

[Keyser Soze]

We have been dung to watch for 2 years now. Ok we may have been at the top end of the table for a lot of it, but it was papering over very obvious cracks in the managers abilities.

Do you think he should have no cracks? This is his first managers job. Most LOI managers will go on and coach for 20-25 years maybe (some for longer, some for less), so this is Year 4 of a 25 year coaching journey where he's finished 2nd twice in his first two full seasons, won a cup and is currently in the running for a double. And all this while having a very vocal minority call for his head and tell him he's shit, in the middle of a title challenge. If this is what he can achieve in his first job, I can't wait to see what the next years have in store.

Why has the ground been emptying over this season if we are so good then? And we have been challenging all season, yet people aren't coming to watch. Why is that?

First show me the numbers that show attendances have been dropping? From what I see, there've been quite a few people with seated tickets who've moved over to the standing area on the Lone Moor side, making it look like there's fewer people in attendance. But I could be wrong. If people really are not going to games anymore, then...

...Second, Roy Coyle: "Derry fans are fickle". Let's be honest, if we were playing the best football in the league and sitting 3rd, there'd still be people wanting Higgins gone. You want a title challenge every season and tiki-taka while we do it. I'm sure that's what POD and Higgins want as well, but the key is to get the first title over the line. Hopefully we do it this season. Higgins favours a safety-first approach, let's wait a few more weeks and see if he was right or not.

I'm afraid it's folk like you who are lying, to yourself. Telling yourself all is rosey and we are a great side. If you like to watch what Higgins has served up for the last 2 seasons, so be it. But the majority won't watch it for much longer.

Never said it's rosy, never said it's great. But for the first time in 20 years, we have a shot at the league (and a double). I'm not going to be one of those mouths booing him and the players at every opportunity.

I have, and will never, boo the team or the manager. I don't think there is anything to be gained from it, but i can understand why fans do it.

[marcoloco]

I am critical of the manager. It's his team afterall. Some players also deserve criticism.

But I try and do it here in a constructive manner. Other's do it differently.

I don't buy the "we're going for the double so we must be decent" chat. Its like saying we could come fourth and lose the cup final. Then what? Both scenarios are plausible with the latter the more likely.

I prefer to look at performances and results. Losing to Bruno's Bar was the lowest of lows. We became a laughing stock and lost any sense of respect. Someone needs to assume responsibility and in football the buck stops with the boss.

[dcfc_jp_1989]

Head to head results also a good measure of whether or not progress is being made.

We haven't beaten Rovers once this year.

When it comes to the league we haven't beaten Shelbourne either but obviously still have one more chance to rectify that. Shelbourne have taken 7pts from Rovers whilst Rovers have taken 8pts from us, we have taken 5pts off both of them combined.

So far we have 13 wins this season in the league: 4 vs Waterford, 3 vs Pats, 2 vs Bohs & Drogs, 1 vs Dundalk & Galway.

[brandyball]

Derry 1 up Shels 1 down

[brandyball]

Derry 1 up Shels 1 down

Shels 1-1

Derry 2-0
Shels 2-1
Shels 3-1

Rovers 1-0

[Keyser Soze]

Elbouzedi and Mulraney both went off injured tonight

Let's hope they are out for at least a week.

[stevebradley]

We have been dung to watch for 2 years now. Ok we may have been at the top end of the table for a lot of it, but it was papering over very obvious cracks in the managers abilities.

Do you think he should have no cracks? This is his first managers job. Most LOI managers will go on and coach for 20-25 years maybe (some for longer, some for less), so this is Year 4 of a 25 year coaching journey where he's finished 2nd twice in his first two full seasons, won a cup and is currently in the running for a double. And all this while having a very vocal minority call for his head and tell him he's shit, in the middle of a title challenge. If this is what he can achieve in his first job, I can't wait to see what the next years have in store.

I suspect we've all already seen what Higgins will be like in the next few years. He'll deliver more of what he's done so far - big budget, boring football, struggling to turn us (or wherever else he ends up) into the force that we should be.

If as you claim he's been improving every year, then what is your expectation for him next year if we keep him on? Presumably you'll be guaranteeing us the title? Personally I can't see us finishing above either Rovers or Pats next year, no matter how this season finishes. So even if he did fluke the title for us this year, it'll almost certainly be a one-off.

First show me the numbers that show attendances have been dropping? From what I see, there've been quite a few people with seated tickets who've moved over to the standing area on the Lone Moor side, making it look like there's fewer people in attendance. But I could be wrong. If people really are not going to games anymore, then...

This is an easy one to prove, as for the first time in my life we started having attendances announced by the club at games. And there were quite a few in the 2,500-2,700 region, which is clearly nowhere near a selloiut - even with the reduced capacity. If empty seast were just because people were moving to the terraces, then the crowds would be approx 3,500 each game. But they haven't been.

[Keyser Soze]

That last quote wasn't said by me.

It was me who said the crowds were falling.

[marcoloco]

A scrappy win which I think we all expected. Dundalk look decent in spells and have a few players that we should take a closer look at.

Away to Pats looks ominous. Need to avoid defeat to remain in the European spots for another week. A defeat will see us drop into 4th with 1 remaining.

A win would be miraculous.

[brandyball]

Shels v Drogheda selected by RTE next Friday surely Pats v Derry would be a more attractive offering?

[marcoloco]

Shels v Drogheda selected by RTE next Friday surely Pats v Derry would be a more attractive offering?

Shels are top of the league to be fair...

If Derry and Rovers draw and Shels win, the league is theirs.

Can you imagine if the tv camera's wern't there to capture that.

Only Shels can win the league next week.

[Paddydcfc2010]

Think shels will win easy next week, drogheda can rest a few players with the playoff and cup final to come.

Can you imagine how miserable the brandywell will be if shels are 4 points clear going into the last game. Next week at pats is our most important game in the league in years.

[PauliAlonso]

If as you claim he's been improving every year, then what is your expectation for him next year if we keep him on? Presumably you'll be guaranteeing us the title? Personally I can't see us finishing above either Rovers or Pats next year, no matter how this season finishes. So even if he did fluke the title for us this year, it'll almost certainly be a one-off.

I'm not guaranteeing anything. The fact is, that he has halved the gap to Rovers year-on-year. That in itself, means nothing for the future.

How he's doing it (tiki-taka, long-ball, park-the-bus), after 27 years of waiting, I don't care! And I'm baffled that so many fans do. But yes, his football is conservative, safety-first. It's stats-based, where the focus is on control and not giving up possession easily. If we don't win the league, we'll probably see the squad break-up and we start next season where we were when Decky came back (not as extreme, but more or less). If we win it, it's easier to convince players to stay, and better players to come. And if we do win it, then next year we have to defend it - which is not solely the responsibility of the manager, but also of the board, who have to help him build a new squad capable of defending it.

[PauliAlonso]

Can you imagine how miserable the brandywell will be if shels are 4 points clear going into the last game.

If that happens, you can expect an attendance of somewhere between a Preseason Friendly and Covid. And some wonder why POD doesn't just build us a new stadium.

[marcoloco]

If as you claim he's been improving every year, then what is your expectation for him next year if we keep him on? Presumably you'll be guaranteeing us the title? Personally I can't see us finishing above either Rovers or Pats next year, no matter how this season finishes. So even if he did fluke the title for us this year, it'll almost certainly be a one-off.

I'm not guaranteeing anything. The fact is, that he has halved the gap to Rovers year-on-year. That in itself, means nothing for the future.

How he's doing it (tiki-taka, long-ball, park-the-bus), after 27 years of waiting, I don't care! And I'm baffled that so many fans do. But yes, his football is conservative, safety-first. It's stats-based, where the focus is on control and not giving up possession easily. If we don't win the league, we'll probably see the squad break-up and we start next season where we were when Decky came back (not as extreme, but more or less). If we win it, it's easier to convince players to stay, and better players to come. And if we do win it, then next year we have to defend it - which is not solely the responsibility of the manager, but also of the board, who have to help him build a new squad capable of defending it.

We'll either win the league or come 4th. Harsh as it sounds the latter is the more likely outcome. Rover's focus is on Europe this season as that is where the money is. Shels are lookin like they'll win it and to be fair to them the've been top for as long as I can remember. So closing a points gap on Rovers is not, in my opinion, a worthy cause of celebration. 1st or 4th I agree that squad is likely to break up with many out of contract.

[Marty]

If as you claim he's been improving every year, then what is your expectation for him next year if we keep him on? Presumably you'll be guaranteeing us the title? Personally I can't see us finishing above either Rovers or Pats next year, no matter how this season finishes. So even if he did fluke the title for us this year, it'll almost certainly be a one-off.

I'm not guaranteeing anything. The fact is, that he has halved the gap to Rovers year-on-year. That in itself, means nothing for the future.

How he's doing it (tiki-taka, long-ball, park-the-bus), after 27 years of waiting, I don't care! And I'm baffled that so many fans do. But yes, his football is conservative, safety-first. It's stats-based, where the focus is on control and not giving up possession easily. If we don't win the league, we'll probably see the squad break-up and we start next season where we were when Decky came back (not as extreme, but more or less). If we win it, it's easier to convince players to stay, and better players to come. And if we do win it, then next year we have to defend it - which is not solely the responsibility of the manager, but also of the board, who have to help him build a new squad capable of defending it.

If he’s importing year on year, how many points is he ahead of Shelbourne this year compared to how many last year?