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Keyser Soze wrote: 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.

Keyser Soze wrote: 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?

Keyser Soze wrote: 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.

PauliAlonso wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 4:45 pm

Keyser Soze wrote: 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.

Keyser Soze wrote: 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.

Keyser Soze wrote: 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.

rodgers wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 8:15 pm Head to head results also a good measure of whether or not progress is being made.

We haven't beaten Rovers once this year.

brandyball wrote: ↑Fri Oct 18, 2024 8:24 pm Derry 1 up Shels 1 down

PauliAlonso wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 4:45 pm

Keyser Soze wrote: 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.

Keyser Soze wrote: 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...

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?

stevebradley wrote: ↑Fri Oct 18, 2024 10:35 pm 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.

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.

PauliAlonso wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 6:01 pm

stevebradley wrote: ↑Fri Oct 18, 2024 10:35 pm 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 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 6:01 pm

stevebradley wrote: ↑Fri Oct 18, 2024 10:35 pm 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.