Setanta updates

[stickyjoe]

Have to agree I`m not sure how singing a national anthem is sectarian or rule britannia.

However I don`t think its helping anything by singing these songs and personally I dont see their relation to a game of football Should sing a few original songs if you want to steer away from the Mini Rangers stereotype

On the football, I dont think Linfield have half as much credit as they deserve for their performances in last years and this years setanta cup. They look to me like a very good side and as good as anybody else I`ve seen so far

[BohDiddley]

Great posts Not Brazil, and a superb response from the club. Wish more down south would take that attitude. I wonder if Shelbourne are planning a similar statement/action.
Overall, Linfield have been a revelation since coming to our attention in the SSC. Good football, not afraid of Ollie's gallacticos, and not afraid to stand up to thugs who call themselves fans.

[David]

Have to agree I`m not sure how singing a national anthem is sectarian or rule britannia.

However I don`t think its helping anything by singing these songs and personally I dont see their relation to a game of football Should sing a few original songs if you want to steer away from the Mini Rangers stereotype

On the football, I dont think Linfield have half as much credit as they deserve for their performances in last years and this years setanta cup. They look to me like a very good side and as good as anybody else I`ve seen so far

I would agree totally with this. I do not see their relevance to a football match, although non football songs are sang the world over at matches but as I said, I would prefer them not to be sung.

As for your other point, I again agree totally. To be honest I was surprised when we won the Setanta last season but I feel that we have now shown that we can match the best the Eircom League has to offer. We have now played 5 games against EL clubs winning 3, drawing 1 and losing 1, not a bad record.

The attitude of some Derry City fans in particular I have found annoying on this. They are happy to pass off our success last year as a fluke but quite happy to declare that if an EL club win it this year, that is conclusive proof of the EL's superiority. If I am being honest I think that overall the EL is stronger but I do think that the clubs at the top of the EL, and particularly Linfield, are on a par with the top clubs in the EL. Maybe not the case this season with Glentoran but they are having a really awful season.

[David]

Great posts Not Brazil, and a superb response from the club. Wish more down south would take that attitude. I wonder if Shelbourne are planning a similar statement/action.
Overall, Linfield have been a revelation since coming to our attention in the SSC. Good football, not afraid of Ollie's gallacticos, and not afraid to stand up to thugs who call themselves fans.

To be honest I expected nothing else from the club, they have taken a strong stance in recent years on such things although many, including myself, would like to see a stronger one. Hopefully this is a statement of intent to take real action against a few morons who are dragging the name of our great club through the mud.

[lofty9]

David,

From a Derry fan -

I have no hesitation in saying Linfield are the biggest club in Ireland, added to that they are the holders of the 'All Ireland Cup', and on a great unbeaten run. No one thinks it is a fluke. Any team that can beat Shels home and away are a very good team. However, I was disappointed in Linfields performance on the night vs Derry, I was expecting a bit more guile from big Davy's lot and as it was our first match of the season I was expecting to get beat. I understand that most teams can have an off night, and based on this seasons results I reckon Linfield did. It did end in a draw, which was fair enough. As for the return match I know it will be really close. The Brandywell is a hard place to come and get a result, but no-one is underestimating Linfield, in fact, they are fully respected. I hope you enjoy your night at the Brandywell, if not the result and that you have a safe journey to and from it.

[David]

David,

From a Derry fan -

I have no hesitation in saying Linfield are the biggest club in Ireland, added to that they are the holders of the 'All Ireland Cup', and on a great unbeaten run. No one thinks it is a fluke. Any team that can beat Shels home and away are a very good team. However, I was disappointed in Linfields performance on the night vs Derry, I was expecting a bit more guile from big Davy's lot and as it was our first match of the season I was expecting to get beat. I understand that most teams can have an off night, and based on this seasons results I reckon Linfield did. It did end in a draw, which was fair enough. As for the return match I know it will be really close. The Brandywell is a hard place to come and get a result, but no-one is underestimating Linfield, in fact, they are fully respected. I hope you enjoy your night at the Brandywell, if not the result and that you have a safe journey to and from it.

Cheers for the sentiments. I was in no way branding all Derry fans in this way but if you check some of the other threads in this forum you will see that not all Derry City fans share your view and that annoyed me. I accept totally that we did not play well against Derry, I do think that fatigue was an issue as it was our second game in 3 days and it showed. That being said, I was very impressed with Derry and from what I have seen you are a better side than Shels are and would be my favourites at the minute for this year's Setanta. Initially I thought Shels would top the group and it would be a battle between us and yourselves for second and I therefore wanted them to take as much points of you as possible. I have now changed that opinion and I think that it could well be Derry that could top the group with us and Shels battling for second so I would love you to get a result at Tolka. To be honest I am hoping for a win against Shelbourne next week which would then give us a bit of leeway and a defeat against you would not be disastrous, although I do think we are capable of getting a result at Brandywell. It will be very hard though.