vs Derry City Cup Game

**clubman** · 14/08/2009, 9:30 AM

This is a game we have to approach with optimism rather than fear.
By packing mid-field etc we are treating Derry with too much respect and basically going into the game a defeated outfit. Derry are in no way a better team than we are. Derry have struggled for most of this season and only due to a couple of moments of madness and individual errors we conceded four goals but no way are they four goals better than us. We have a very good team and we have to believe this and the players and management most believe this. Look the results in recent weeks hinged on bad decisions and bad luck it’s as simple as that. Last Monday week we were a kick of a ball away from qualifying for the league cup final, that’s not the characteristic of a bad team.

We didn’t qualify and sadly that has had a damning effect on the confidence levels of the players. We were coasting against Dundalk, we were proving how good a side we really are. They hit us with a sucker punch and the confidence levels once again took a hammering. At half-time against Derry no one, not even Stephen Kenny, would have envisaged the end result. Our confidence is shattered at the moment. To regain it will need a terrific push from everyone. It starts with Carry and Cookie. The players individually are certainly good enough of that there’s no doubt, getting them to believe that as a team they are good enough to take on any team and whip their asses is the point that has to be driven home. As supporters we have to be patient, we want this to happen as much as Cookie so we have to encourage the lads. What’s not needed now is to change formations and panic

Swamping mid-field will kill the game and the only winner then will be Derry as we’ll find ourselves heading to the Brandywell for a replay and that certainly won’t do any of our confidence any good. We are the home team, we have the advantage, let’s take the game to Derry. Play the ball to feet, no panic we have the players that can play good attractive football. Lobbing the ball into the heart of the Derry defence will only be capably dealt with by Clive Delaney so that’s a waste of time and effort.

Get the ball down and run at them and then we’ll see you does the panicing. From old we know wants the Sligo public see the effort being put in they’ll give their backing so a good start is vital and by that I only mean in terms of effort. We can do it, we have the players, we have the management team, we have a wonderful playing surface and we have a supporters base that’s well capable of giving our team the support they rightly deserve.

Just one word of advice to the powers that be. The Derry support will be huge for this one. Derry supporters are deafening at the best of times, put a roof over them akin to the blue seated stand and they’ll be at least twice as loud. I suggest stick them down behind the Railway end goal.
Good luck to Paul, Gerry and the lads I know we can do it!

**dong** · 14/08/2009, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by clubman

This is a game we have to approach with optimism rather than fear.
By packing mid-field etc we are treating Derry with too much respect and basically going into the game a defeated outfit. Derry are in no way a better team than we are. Derry have struggled for most of this season and only due to a couple of moments of madness and individual errors we conceded four goals but no way are they four goals better than us. We have a very good team and we have to believe this and the players and management most believe this. Look the results in recent weeks hinged on bad decisions and bad luck it�s as simple as that. Last Monday week we were a kick of a ball away from qualifying for the league cup final, that�s not the characteristic of a bad team.

We didn�t qualify and sadly that has had a damning effect on the confidence levels of the players. We were coasting against Dundalk, we were proving how good a side we really are. They hit us with a sucker punch and the confidence levels once again took a hammering. At half-time against Derry no one, not even Stephen Kenny, would have envisaged the end result. Our confidence is shattered at the moment. To regain it will need a terrific push from everyone. It starts with Carry and Cookie. The players individually are certainly good enough of that there�s no doubt, getting them to believe that as a team they are good enough to take on any team and whip their asses is the point that has to be driven home. As supporters we have to be patient, we want this to happen as much as Cookie so we have to encourage the lads. What�s not needed now is to change formations and panic

Swamping mid-field will kill the game and the only winner then will be Derry as we�ll find ourselves heading to the Brandywell for a replay and that certainly won�t do any of our confidence any good. We are the home team, we have the advantage, let�s take the game to Derry. Play the ball to feet, no panic we have the players that can play good attractive football. Lobbing the ball into the heart of the Derry defence will only be capably dealt with by Clive Delaney so that�s a waste of time and effort.

Get the ball down and run at them and then we�ll see you does the panicing. From old we know wants the Sligo public see the effort being put in they�ll give their backing so a good start is vital and by that I only mean in terms of effort. We can do it, we have the players, we have the management team, we have a wonderful playing surface and we have a supporters base that�s well capable of giving our team the support they rightly deserve.

Just one word of advice to the powers that be. The Derry support will be huge for this one. Derry supporters are deafening at the best of times, put a roof over them akin to the blue seated stand and they�ll be at least twice as loud. I suggest stick them down behind the Railway end goal.
Good luck to Paul, Gerry and the lads I know we can do it!

I admire your optimism, I really do but to say Derry are "in no way a better team than us" just isn't true, even if we do beat them on Saturday. Ask Paul Cook, he says it every week but nothing changes.
I think we have to swamp midfield. We'll ship a skip of goals again if we don't.
You say "we have the players" and there are some good players on that team. But there's more to football than skill alone. We have players who are unfit, lack ambition for themselves and the club and are poorly organised.
Hoping for a win but it's unlikely unless the performance is seriously improved and we get a major slice of luck.

**red_away** · 14/08/2009, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by clubman

This is a game we have to approach with optimism rather than fear.
By packing mid-field etc we are treating Derry with too much respect and basically going into the game a defeated outfit. Derry are in no way a better team than we are. Derry have struggled for most of this season and only due to a couple of moments of madness and individual errors we conceded four goals but no way are they four goals better than us. We have a very good team and we have to believe this and the players and management most believe this. Look the results in recent weeks hinged on bad decisions and bad luck it�s as simple as that. Last Monday week we were a kick of a ball away from qualifying for the league cup final, that�s not the characteristic of a bad team.

We didn�t qualify and sadly that has had a damning effect on the confidence levels of the players. We were coasting against Dundalk, we were proving how good a side we really are. They hit us with a sucker punch and the confidence levels once again took a hammering. At half-time against Derry no one, not even Stephen Kenny, would have envisaged the end result. Our confidence is shattered at the moment. To regain it will need a terrific push from everyone. It starts with Carry and Cookie. The players individually are certainly good enough of that there�s no doubt, getting them to believe that as a team they are good enough to take on any team and whip their asses is the point that has to be driven home. As supporters we have to be patient, we want this to happen as much as Cookie so we have to encourage the lads. What�s not needed now is to change formations and panic

Swamping mid-field will kill the game and the only winner then will be Derry as we�ll find ourselves heading to the Brandywell for a replay and that certainly won�t do any of our confidence any good. We are the home team, we have the advantage, let�s take the game to Derry. Play the ball to feet, no panic we have the players that can play good attractive football. Lobbing the ball into the heart of the Derry defence will only be capably dealt with by Clive Delaney so that�s a waste of time and effort.

Get the ball down and run at them and then we�ll see you does the panicing. From old we know wants the Sligo public see the effort being put in they�ll give their backing so a good start is vital and by that I only mean in terms of effort. We can do it, we have the players, we have the management team, we have a wonderful playing surface and we have a supporters base that�s well capable of giving our team the support they rightly deserve.

Just one word of advice to the powers that be. The Derry support will be huge for this one. Derry supporters are deafening at the best of times, put a roof over them akin to the blue seated stand and they�ll be at least twice as loud. I suggest stick them down behind the Railway end goal.
Good luck to Paul, Gerry and the lads I know we can do it!

Cant agree with those sentiments- the league table doesnt lie - both teams are where they are on merit!

As for the railway end - i think the club have to offer the DC fans seats so its the blue stand i'm afraid - although i like your thinking!

**clubman** · 14/08/2009, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by red_away

i think the club have to offer the DC fans seats

I certainly wasn't offered a seat in Dundalk??

**redobit** · 14/08/2009, 1:33 PM

[QUOTE=red_away;1211609]

i think the club have to offer the DC fans seats so its the blue stand i'm afraid QUOTE]

maybe they have to offer them seats, but they dont have to offer every one of their supporters a seat.

**red arrow** · 14/08/2009, 4:09 PM

its the blue stand for the derry fans . all of 800 of them

**dong** · 14/08/2009, 4:17 PM

Sounds daft to me. Pushing out our own support. Not as if there won't be plenty of room for both sets in that stand.

**sligoman** · 14/08/2009, 4:18 PM

Originally Posted by red arrow

its the blue stand for the derry fans . all of 800 of them

When did you hear that? I was told different this afternoon. I doubt there'll be 800 of them too.

**Dixie Dean** · 14/08/2009, 4:23 PM

Any wor don whether Boco is available or not?

**Red Star** · 14/08/2009, 4:44 PM

Originally Posted by red arrow

its the blue stand for the derry fans . all of 800 of them

So The Management Committee are giving a bunch of bandwagon Nordies preference over our loyal and vocal support?

Why not leave the blue stand as normal and let any over spill of Derry fans stand on the Church Hill Road/Shed End side of the ground? Why should our own support be forced to stand out in the rain in the Railway end? If the Derry Fans were left out in the rain they wouldn�t be as loud. Its common sense ou want to take advantage of the game been at home

Idiots

**rovers100%** · 14/08/2009, 4:56 PM

well we will find out one way or the other by sunday morning what formation works and if cook is good enough. i sincerly hope he is cos i like him and until lately thought he was a good manager

**CRFC&SRFC** · 14/08/2009, 5:55 PM

As far as i remember we were left out in rain in Brandywell for 5 nil cup defeat so maybe we could return the favour.5 nil win for us would be nice too!

Hope some sort of pride can be restored for saturday night. Ive been going fairly regularily since 93/94 and its about as negative athmosphere about the place since Oriordan. . Hopefully cook can turn it around. We've got to get back to defending well and being difficult to beat. One result could turn things around. Feel 4-5-1 is a must. can always change it around in 2nd half if not working.

Happened to be at a presentation with our current chairman out the country on Wednesday evening. SRFC needs on average minimum 300 more people coming to every home game just to keep afloat. they are trying to forge links with local junior/youth clubs in sligo leitrim to try and push more people through gate. There are also plans for redevelopment of pitch and training area