Sligo R vs Derry City

[brandyball]

A tough game to call live, with little in the way of real action and chances at a premium, something that’s been a familiar story in that ground for over a decade.

One moment could have flipped the game entirely: Sam Todd’s crucial clearance off the line just seven minutes before we scored. If that goes in, we’re looking at a very different night. After the Shels game, I thought the criticism he got online was way over the top and some of it was brutal. Football fans love a bit of hyperbole, but some of the comments about his ability were downright savage. Since that night in Tolka, he’s quietly gone about proving his worth.

At the back, Cann had a solid tussle with Kavanagh, who looked out of his depth. But in open play, our lack of creativity remains a concern. We’re just not working goalkeepers enough. The switch from Boyce to Mullen saw an immediate shot on target, but beyond that, there weren’t many moments that tested the opposition keeper. Same for Maher at our end, though he did brilliantly to stand his ground against Mallon’s late effort.

Then there’s the pitch. The Showgrounds isn’t alone in struggling early in the season. Tolka Park was poor on opening night and hasn’t improved, Finn Park on Friday was like a plowed field (I know what you're thinking), and Turners Cross, while the best of a bad bunch, is hardly pristine. I’m not sure how many of these grounds have full-time groundskeepers, but a harsh winter has left a lot of these surfaces looking unfit for professional football.

Give me an Artificial surface any day.

[Keyser Soze]

We didn't have a harsh winter. In fact it was quite mild.

Grass simply doesn't do well over the winter. When the Brandywell was grass, it too was often ropey until about May.

The good quality pitches we see on the tv get full time, daily care. They get heat lights put on them to help the grass etc. This is never going to happen at LOI level. Crap grass pitches are just something we'll have to accept until the warmer weather arrives.

[marcoloco]

A tough game to call live, with little in the way of real action and chances at a premium, something that’s been a familiar story in that ground for over a decade.

One moment could have flipped the game entirely: Sam Todd’s crucial clearance off the line just seven minutes before we scored. If that goes in, we’re looking at a very different night. After the Shels game, I thought the criticism he got online was way over the top and some of it was brutal. Football fans love a bit of hyperbole, but some of the comments about his ability were downright savage. Since that night in Tolka, he’s quietly gone about proving his worth.

At the back, Cann had a solid tussle with Kavanagh, who looked out of his depth. But in open play, our lack of creativity remains a concern. We’re just not working goalkeepers enough. The switch from Boyce to Mullen saw an immediate shot on target, but beyond that, there weren’t many moments that tested the opposition keeper. Same for Maher at our end, though he did brilliantly to stand his ground against Mallon’s late effort.

Then there’s the pitch. The Showgrounds isn’t alone in struggling early in the season. Tolka Park was poor on opening night and hasn’t improved, Finn Park on Friday was like a plowed field (I know what you're thinking), and Turners Cross, while the best of a bad bunch, is hardly pristine. I’m not sure how many of these grounds have full-time groundskeepers, but a harsh winter has left a lot of these surfaces looking unfit for professional football.

Give me an Artificial surface any day.

As the league evolves and more money makes its way into the game i think hybrid pitches will be the way to go for those that can afford them. I recall the Sligo manager having a go at the Derry pitch last season but when you see the alternative (the showgrounds) and then you realise that they are all poor generally. They could probably delay the start of the season by a few weeks and let it run on a bit longer later in the year when the grass is mature. A few scheduling tweaks could vastly improve matters.

[attack!attack!attack]

We didn't have a harsh winter. In fact it was quite mild.

Grass simply doesn't do well over the winter. When the Brandywell was grass, it too was often ropey until about May.

The good quality pitches we see on the tv get full time, daily care. They get heat lights put on them to help the grass etc. This is never going to happen at LOI level. Crap grass pitches are just something we'll have to accept until the warmer weather arrives.

The Hybrid option that will be going into the Brandywell will need to be sacrosanct & protected. Derry City are leasing the stadium and therefore must have control over who uses the pitch and when.

It should be the best pitch in the league when it happens - accompanied with an in-built irrigation system like Tallaght.

[dcfc_jp_1989]

I was chatting to a Sligo volunteer on Saturday night & the redevelopments of both grounds came up in our chat. He said Sligo looked at the idea of a hybrid pitch as part of their bid to the Irish Government but not sure of they went ahead with it or if its in the plans for their redevelopment.

If they do go ahead with a hybrid pitch, we know eventually the Brandywell will be hybrid, Tallaght I assume is hybrid & you'd expect Dalymount to become hybrid as part of its redevelopment. Yes they'll need to be maintained & as somebody else said treated as sacrosant but having 4 hybrid pitches in the league can only be a good thing going forward

[marcoloco]

I was chatting to a Sligo volunteer on Saturday night & the redevelopments of both grounds came up in our chat. He said Sligo looked at the idea of a hybrid pitch as part of their bid to the Irish Government but not sure of they went ahead with it or if its in the plans for their redevelopment.

If they do go ahead with a hybrid pitch, we know eventually the Brandywell will be hybrid, Tallaght I assume is hybrid & you'd expect Dalymount to become hybrid as part of its redevelopment. Yes they'll need to be maintained & as somebody else said treated as sacrosant but having 4 hybrid pitches in the league can only be a good thing going forward

A fit for purpose pitch should be just as much a priority as fit for purpose facilities. Bit of a nonsense upgrading the facilities at grounds if the product on display is rubbish. Appreciate it takes money but that's a separate matter. All clubs show be aspiring to have the best playing surface for the weather conditions that we have.

[stevebradley]

We didn't have a harsh winter. In fact it was quite mild.

Grass simply doesn't do well over the winter. When the Brandywell was grass, it too was often ropey until about May.

The good quality pitches we see on the tv get full time, daily care. They get heat lights put on them to help the grass etc. This is never going to happen at LOI level. Crap grass pitches are just something we'll have to accept until the warmer weather arrives.

The Hybrid option that will be going into the Brandywell will need to be sacrosanct & protected. Derry City are leasing the stadium and therefore must have control over who uses the pitch and when.

It should be the best pitch in the league when it happens - accompanied with an in-built irrigation system like Tallaght.

Presumably Stute will stil need to be accommodated at the Brandywell for the next few years until they can get their own ground open. But a decent pitch - especially a hybrid - should be able to cope with more than one game a fortnight on average.

[magspat]

Who said the hybrid pitch will be going into the Brandywell or did I miss something.

[dcfc_jp_1989]

Who said the hybrid pitch will be going into the Brandywell or did I miss something.

Its the preferred option as was mentioned at the council meeting last week & is budgeted for in the business case submitted to the NIFF by the club

[attack!attack!attack]

We didn't have a harsh winter. In fact it was quite mild.

Grass simply doesn't do well over the winter. When the Brandywell was grass, it too was often ropey until about May.

The good quality pitches we see on the tv get full time, daily care. They get heat lights put on them to help the grass etc. This is never going to happen at LOI level. Crap grass pitches are just something we'll have to accept until the warmer weather arrives.

The Hybrid option that will be going into the Brandywell will need to be sacrosanct & protected. Derry City are leasing the stadium and therefore must have control over who uses the pitch and when.

It should be the best pitch in the league when it happens - accompanied with an in-built irrigation system like Tallaght.

Presumably Stute will stil need to be accommodated at the Brandywell for the next few years until they can get their own ground open. But a decent pitch - especially a hybrid - should be able to cope with more than one game a fortnight on average.

Yes of course, Stute skipped my mind. DCFC & Stute is no issue at all on a hybrid pitch - it's more excessive use during the week of which DCFC should be able to coordinate & ensure pitch is well maintained.