Paddydcfc2010 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 4:34 pm
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.
Responsibility for that would rest firmly with the manager and the awful style of football he's bene serving up for 3 years now. Don't be blaming the fans for having had enough of it at this stage.
POD has spunked enough money on players to have built us a stadium already - and at least then we'd have something to show for his money other than just a single FAI Cup.
Don't forget that he's currently building one stand at the Brandywell, and has talked about paying to replace the pitch and even build another new stand behind the opposite goals. So it sounds like he'll have paid to build half a stadium - on top of all the players that have delivered little - and still there will be nothing that the club can show for it. Which to me is utter madness.
Paddydcfc2010 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 4:34 pm
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.
Responsibility for that would rest firmly with the manager and the awful style of football he's bene serving up for 3 years now. Don't be blaming the fans for having had enough of it at this stage.
POD has spunked enough money on players to have built us a stadium already - and at least then we'd have something to show for his money other than just a single FAI Cup.
Don't forget that he's currently building one stand at the Brandywell, and has talked about paying to replace the pitch and even build another new stand behind the opposite goals. So it sounds like he'll have paid to build half a stadium - on top of all the players that have delivered little - and still there will be nothing that the club can show for it. Which to me is utter madness.
Why would he even consider the effort (forget the cash) involved in building a new stadium, when in a few years it would just become the city's Taj Mahal - a memorial to a dead club. We must have one of the worst bandwagons in Europe; we're going for a double and the fans are staying away. If you are to make an unbiased decision on where to invest POD's money based on that fact, then a new stadium is bottom of the list. We have to be honest here, there just isn't the appetite among football fans in the city to support a team unless it's perfect. And there is no "perfect" in football. It seems that POD has decided that the Brandywell will more than suffice for the ~1500 supporters who'll be there in future regardless of circumstances, and still allows us to play early round UEFA fixtures whenever we qualify.
Did POD not say that he would like to see us regularly in group stages of Europe? Maybe it was someone else and I'm misquoting him.
But if he did say it, then we won't be able to play group games at home for many many years with the development that would be necessary at the ground to pass all the checklist.
Keyser Soze wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 10:02 am
Did POD not say that he would like to see us regularly in group stages of Europe? Maybe it was someone else and I'm misquoting him.
But if he did say it, then we won't be able to play group games at home for many many years with the development that would be necessary at the ground to pass all the checklist.
Yes, he did say that. But three years ago when Higgins was unveiled. I think this season has been an eye-opener, in regard to what is genuinely possible and sustainable at the club.
brandyball wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 3:18 pm
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.
Shels can't win the league on Friday night. Rovers don't play until Sunday so that would be the earliest.
If us or Rovers win it goes to the last day regardless of Shels result.
I still think RTE should have covered Pats v Derry, Drogs will be resting most of their team with a cup final and relegation play-off coming up
Keyser Soze wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 10:02 am
Did POD not say that he would like to see us regularly in group stages of Europe? Maybe it was someone else and I'm misquoting him.
But if he did say it, then we won't be able to play group games at home for many many years with the development that would be necessary at the ground to pass all the checklist.
Yes, he did say that. But three years ago when Higgins was unveiled. I think this season has been an eye-opener, in regard to what is genuinely possible and sustainable at the club.
If by your comments you are hinting about the real support, then I think you're right..
I think we will do very well to sell out any game next season if our capacity is at 6600. Yet some people think it's a priority to add an extra 1800 on to the MF Stand and maybe build another stand behind the showgrounds goals too.
Keyser Soze wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 11:03 am
We aren't as mad a football city as many believe.
It must to be a generational thing. And I'm not even referring to the successful periods in the 80s and 90s. When you think back to the relegation playoff against Harps at the Brandy. We were rubbish all season (and the season before), but the ground was packed to the hilt and the atmosphere was mental. That's support.
Contrast that to now. By many accounts we're still rubbish but it's not about relegation, we could win a double yet many people are still unhappy and won't turn up. I don't get it.
Keyser Soze wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 11:03 am
We aren't as mad a football city as many believe.
It must to be a generational thing. And I'm not even referring to the successful periods in the 80s and 90s. When you think back to the relegation playoff against Harps at the Brandy. We were rubbish all season (and the season before), but the ground was packed to the hilt and the atmosphere was mental. That's support.
Contrast that to now. By many accounts we're still rubbish but it's not about relegation, we could win a double yet many people are still unhappy and won't turn up. I don't get it.
Several factors are to blame. But the reality is the quality of the product served up simply isn't good enough to entice the occasional fan to become a regular fan. Stephen Kenny's brand of football would sell out every week and probably average about 4 to 5k. Another way to look at it is this - we're not great to watch but the regular attendance at games is 2.5k. So that's your core support. The remainder are floating fans that one day may become regulars. And finally, there is the lack of away fans. We suffer here big time whereas Dublin clubs regularly take 500 to 1k to their away local derby games because of the shorter travel distances.
My fear is that Drogheda who now knows they will contest the Playoffs will rest their main players this Friday. This puts extra pressure on us to perform.
TenaciousDee wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 5:22 pm
My fear is that Drogheda who now knows they will contest the Playoffs will rest their main players this Friday. This puts extra pressure on us to perform.
To be fair anyone (including our management) looking at the fixtures would have predicted that scenario. Drogheda have earned that right to rest players ahead of their play off and cup final. Nothing but injuries to gain by busting a gut v Shels. Expect Shels to win comfortably.
When we we're drifting along in 2nd place for half the season thinking it was a 2 horse race and we'd have final day decider v Shels, all these scenarios would have been discussed surely?
If we lose v Pats then its us resting players v Shels on the final day. No prizes for coming 4th in this league and all our attention will shift to the cup final and securing a European spot.
Keyser Soze wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 10:02 am
Did POD not say that he would like to see us regularly in group stages of Europe? Maybe it was someone else and I'm misquoting him.
But if he did say it, then we won't be able to play group games at home for many many years with the development that would be necessary at the ground to pass all the checklist.
Yes, he did say that. But three years ago when Higgins was unveiled. I think this season has been an eye-opener, in regard to what is genuinely possible and sustainable at the club.
If by your comments you are hinting about the real support, then I think you're right..
I think we will do very well to sell out any game next season if our capacity is at 6600. Yet some people think it's a priority to add an extra 1800 on to the MF Stand and maybe build another stand behind the showgrounds goals too.
We aren't as mad a football city as many believe.
We need them extra 1800 seats to stand a chance of avoiding having to go to Tallaght or Windsor Park for a 3rd round qualifier in Europe. Winning the FAI Cup this season comes with the possibility of entering the Europa League instead of the Conference League due to the LOI's standing within the UEFA Co-efficiency league which is built up over a 5yr period.
Entering the Europa League means there is a fall back into the Conference League & the possibility of the further rounds in Europe coming around more often
Keyser Soze wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 10:02 am
Did POD not say that he would like to see us regularly in group stages of Europe? Maybe it was someone else and I'm misquoting him.
But if he did say it, then we won't be able to play group games at home for many many years with the development that would be necessary at the ground to pass all the checklist.
Yes, he did say that. But three years ago when Higgins was unveiled. I think this season has been an eye-opener, in regard to what is genuinely possible and sustainable at the club.
I think you're just projecting your own (rather negative) thoughts onto POD's intentiions here, Pauli.
He's no mug, and he understands full well the nature of our supporters (which again, I think you're being unfairly negative about). POD is clearly involved with the club as a long term project, and I can see no reason why his wish for us to regularly host European group stage football should have changed. If anything - the fact that clubs ike TNS and Larne have got there before us has probably just reinforced his view that we should be at that table too.
The whole idea of having our own home is that it wiuld be the cornerstone of enabling us to be as financially sustainable as we can be. We generate zero non-matchday income at the Brandywell, and almost no matchday income beyond the ticket sales themselves. That puts us in one of the weakest positions of any of the major clubs in the league. Ad that's before we get onto the fact we'll all be off down the road to Tallaght again if we make decent progress in Europe.
Keyser Soze wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 10:02 am
Did POD not say that he would like to see us regularly in group stages of Europe? Maybe it was someone else and I'm misquoting him.
But if he did say it, then we won't be able to play group games at home for many many years with the development that would be necessary at the ground to pass all the checklist.
Yes, he did say that. But three years ago when Higgins was unveiled. I think this season has been an eye-opener, in regard to what is genuinely possible and sustainable at the club.
If by your comments you are hinting about the real support, then I think you're right..
I think we will do very well to sell out any game next season if our capacity is at 6600. Yet some people think it's a priority to add an extra 1800 on to the MF Stand and maybe build another stand behind the showgrounds goals too.
We aren't as mad a football city as many believe.
Isn't our current capacity only 3,400 or so? In which case the new Brandywell Road end will only get us to approx 5,400?
Completing the Mark Farren Stand absolutely should be a priority. Not only will it provide much better seats in a better location that the new Brandywell Rd stand - plus additional space at the back for corporate etc facilities - there's a genuine chance that it'll be funded largely or entirely by Stormont.
The football being played by oiur team is hard to watch. It's completely unfair to blame fans for being annoyed at having to endure 3yrs of that, and whilst watching us do our best to NOT seize the best opportunity we've had this century to win the league. I honestly think this negativity towards our fans is over the top.
Last edited by stevebradley on Tue Oct 22, 2024 12:15 am, edited 1 time in total.
Keyser Soze wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 11:03 am
We aren't as mad a football city as many believe.
It must to be a generational thing. And I'm not even referring to the successful periods in the 80s and 90s. When you think back to the relegation playoff against Harps at the Brandy. We were rubbish all season (and the season before), but the ground was packed to the hilt and the atmosphere was mental. That's support.
Contrast that to now. By many accounts we're still rubbish but it's not about relegation, we could win a double yet many people are still unhappy and won't turn up. I don't get it.
The Harps play-off was a big game against our nearest rivals. Of course it was going to draw a crowd.
For perspective - We'll probably have 15-20,000 fans at the cup final next month. Again - another big one off event drawing a crowd. Even during the halcyon days of the 80s and 90s we never drew that kind of support to any game.
Yes, he did say that. But three years ago when Higgins was unveiled. I think this season has been an eye-opener, in regard to what is genuinely possible and sustainable at the club.
If by your comments you are hinting about the real support, then I think you're right..
I think we will do very well to sell out any game next season if our capacity is at 6600. Yet some people think it's a priority to add an extra 1800 on to the MF Stand and maybe build another stand behind the showgrounds goals too.
We aren't as mad a football city as many believe.
Isn't our current capacity only 3,400 or so? In which case the new Brandywell Road end will only get us to approx 5,400?
Completing the Mark Farren Stand absolutely should be a priority. Not only will it provide much better seats in a better location that the new Brandywell Rd stand - plus additional space at the back for corporate etc facilities - there's a genuine chance that it'll be funded largely or entirely by Stormont.
The football being played by oiur team is hard to watch. It's completely unfair to blame fans for being annoyed at having to endure 3yrs of that, and whilst watching us do our best to NOT seize the best opportunity we've had this century to win the league. I honestly think this negativity towards our fans is over the top.
Afaik, our current capacity is listed at 3700.
Media reports say the new stand being constructed can accommodate 2900.
That's where I got the 6600 figure from. I may be wrong with those numbers, but even if a few hundred out, we have over 6000 tickets to sell every home game next season. I would expect the ground to be full for the first handful of games, due to the novelty factor more than anything. But if we get more of the same next season in terms of football on show, then I can't see sell-outs continuing for long.
yet many people are still unhappy and won't turn up. I don't get it.
