We're in the League Cup Final!!!

[fosterdollar]

I think PS is right in suggesting that if they play to their historical strengths they could be in for a much bigger windfall by qualifying for the Setanta Cup

[dcfcsteve]

Steve, I think it's fairly rare that two clubs so far apart contest a LC final. I know what you're saying about maximising the crowd but we're talking about the prospect of very close to zero away support. People are definately going to have to seek the whole day off I'd imagine. The whole situation would further tip this tie in your favour.

Not so - Derry played Limerick twice in the last decade. Both times they were a First Division club - and they were even rock bottom at the time of the 2002 final. We also played Athlone in the 99/00 season Final.

The situation for UCD fans is also reversed for Derry fans - we'd likewise have to get half days off etc. Without being rude, the lack of UCD fans is not Derry's fault and should not be used to sympathise judgements in UCD's favour. Why should the game be reduced as an event due to limited atmosphere, and both clubs make less income for their efforts, just to be nice to a club because they have limited support... ?

[dcfcsteve]

Remind me who one-third of your losses this season were to?

Eh ??? What's that got to do with the LC runner's-up not qualifying for Setanta ?

[pineapple stu]

Without being rude, the lack of UCD fans is not Derry's fault and should not be used to sympathise judgements in UCD's favour. Why should the game be reduced as an event due to limited atmosphere, and both clubs make less income for their efforts, just to be nice to a club because they have limited support... ?

It shouldn't obviously. But nor should the converse argument be used either. Cup finals are about winning, not about atmosphere. To improve the latter, you don't hold a Cup final on a weekday obviously - but then, that's so obvious, the FAI never thought about it. Derry to Dublin is about 4 hours, so the sensible thing to do (if it is to be one-legged) is to play in a venue 2 hours away from both - somewhere like Longford - and kick off at 8:30 or so to give people time to get from work to the game. I don't see us accommodating youz just because there's more of yez or yez have more flags or make more noise!

[pineapple stu]

Eh ??? What's that got to do with the LC runner's-up not qualifying for Setanta ?

Because you said...

So there's no Setanta incentive any more then.

Which can only be the case if we lose...i.e. if you win. But we've already beaten you this season, so why not again?

[fosterdollar]

Derry to Dublin is about 4 hours, so the sensible thing to do (if it is to be one-legged) is to play in a venue 2 hours away from both - somewhere like Longford - and kick off at 8:30 or so to give people time to get from work to the game. I don't see us accommodating youz just because there's more of yez or yez have more flags or make more noise!

To be fair i can't see the Derry lads making Longford in two hours. Maribor's suggestion of Oriel Park ain't bad.

[pineapple stu]

Oriel suits as well. Though surely that's further from Derry?

[Schumi]

These arguments about neutral venues for the final are pointless. It'll be in either Belfield or the Brandywell. I assume it'll be a coin toss unless the clubs agree to one venue or the other. Derry obviously won't agree to Belfield as there's no benefit to them so either it'll be a toss of a coin or we'll agree to play in the Brandywell.

The only reason to agree to playing away is money so we have to weigh up whether we want higher gate receipts from playing in the Brandywell or a better chance of MUCH more money from qualifying for the Setanta Cup. IMO there's no decision to make: playing the game in Belfield is to our advantage so we shouldn't give up the chance of that. I'm sick of us always doing "what's best for the league" when no one else ever does for us.

[Krstic]

These arguments about neutral venues for the final are pointless. It'll be in either Belfield or the Brandywell. I assume it'll be a coin toss unless the clubs agree to one venue or the other. Derry obviously won't agree to Belfield as there's no benefit to them so either it'll be a toss of a coin or we'll agree to play in the Brandywell.

The only reason to agree to playing away is money so we have to weigh up whether we want higher gate receipts from playing in the Brandywell or a better chance of MUCH more money from qualifying for the Setanta Cup. IMO there's no decision to make: playing the game in Belfield is to our advantage so we shouldn't give up the chance of that. I'm sick of us always doing "what's best for the league" when no one else ever does for us.

Schumi, even though it'll be hard for me to get another day off work, as I've already got 2 off for the France game, I have to agree with your slant on the situation.

[GK for the Town]

there may also be other supporters from Dublin's other teams(aswell as other counties) that might want to go as neutral to watch. The easier it is for them, the more inclined they would be to travel.

[Aberdonian Stu]

I will concede that were it to be played in Derry it would get a bigger crowd.

But why should we care? Frankly speaking I want the game in Belfield if we win the toss because we have a better chance of winning and my priority as UCD fan is that we win things the same way it is for Derry fans that they win.

If we travel to the Brandywell where our support will be heavily outnumbered in a ground which the home side obviously know better our chances will be reduced. If we play them in Belfield we've got a good shot at a trophy, more money and a place in Setanta 2006.

Yes we'll get a bigger gate but even that benefit, if the 2,000 gate prediction by a Derry fan earlier is accurate, won't be that much of an incentive. Between transport costs and possible accommodation costs for the squad whatever benefit gained is surely whittled down considerably.

I therefore hope that our administrators have the good sense to "compete" in the coin toss to decide the venue.

[Schumi]

I therefore hope that our administrators have the good sense to "compete" in the coin toss to decide the venue.

Agree 100%. If we lose the toss, I have no problem with playing in Derry but we should give ourselves every chance of playing at home.

[fosterdollar]

Agree 100%. If we lose the toss, I have no problem with playing in Derry but we should give ourselves every chance of playing at home.

Sounds like good sense to me.

[Bald Student]

Also, given that Derry are already as good as qualified for the Setanta and are still competing on several fronts, a game on a weekday evening in Belfield could really increase the 'couldn't be bothered' attitude from Derry. This is now the biggest game of our season (unless we get to the other cup final) so we should try to give ourselves every advantage.

[pineapple stu]

This is now the biggest game of our season

Biggest game since the '84 Cup Final, I'd say. In fact, even bigger given that we were already qualified for Europe then.