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Got too many bad memories rewatched Derry v Donegal 2006 other nite and Derry v Monaghan 2007, last night. Christ we were poor, the players they had then, probably better than now, and we only got a league title to show for it. Tactics was non-existant, with always 5/6 different players always injured each year. What Mickey Harte had done with that team if he been over it at thd time. !!

Out of interest, where can you see those games?

We definitely lost a generation of footballers who had the potential to win honours due to poor management appointments and a county board that seemed to hinder rather than help. We had players who could compete with anyone at that time. We just didnt have the structure or management capability to mould a team out of the players.

But I dont think I'd agree that they were better than todays players.

Karl O'Connell one of the best half back this year, we giving J Mccarthy the sympathy vote to fit him in?

It will make a complete mockery of things if having been nominated at midfield, they then put McCarthy in at half back to squeeze him into the team.

To be fair a number of All Stars have been selected that way for a few years now.

Also most players don't play a dedicated position nowadays. Apart from designated man-markers or marquee forwards, anyone can be anywhere.

Might be idle gossip, but someone told me yesterday that RG had his ban from the GAA lifted.
Can anyone confirm?

I heard the opposite. The GAA looking for the evidence from court case to make sure he gets a life time ban.

The GAA don't want to be associated with him any more than the IRFU want to be associated with Sue me Paddy Jackson. The Sunday Independent interview was the gamechanger.

Any links to the interview? Didn't know about it...

[Stephen Cluxton]

For me, Brendan Rogers was the best footballer in Ireland this year.
Deserves an Allstar and deserves POTY, imo.

My pick for Allstars in bold:


FOOTBALL ALL-STAR NOMINATIONS

Goalkeepers – Shane Ryan (Kerry), Stephen Cluxton (Dublin), Rory Beggan (Monaghan)

Defenders – Jason Foley, Tadhg Morley, Tom O'Sullivan, Gavin White (all Kerry); Michael Fitzsimons, Lee Gannon, Brian Howard (all Dublin); Gareth McKinless, Conor McCluskey, Eoin McEvoy (all Derry); Pádraig Hampsey (Tyrone); Brendan McCole (Donegal); Conor McCarthy, Karl O'Connell (both Monaghan); Seán Kelly (Galway); Aidan Forker (Armagh); Brian Stack (Roscommon); Rory Maguire (Cork).

Midfielders – Brian Fenton, James McCarthy (both Dublin); Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers (both Derry); Diarmuid O'Connor (Kerry); Diarmuid O'Connor (Mayo).

Forwards – David Clifford, Seán O'Shea, Paudie Clifford (all Kerry); Cormac Costello, Con O'Callaghan, Colm Basquel, Paul Mannion (all Dublin); Shane McGuigan, Paul Cassidy (both Derry); Conor McManus (Monaghan); Darragh Canavan (Tyrone); Andrew Murnin (Armagh); Ronan O'Toole (Westmeath); Damien Comer (Galway); Jordan Flynn (Mayo); Ben McCormack (Kildare); Oisín Gallen (Donegal); Enda Smith (Roscommon).


Player Of The Year – Brian Fenton (Dublin), David Clifford (Kerry), Brendan Rogers (Derry).

POTY - Brendan Rogers
YPOTY - Eoin McEvoy

Kerry - 4
Derry - 4
Dublin - 6

Ok, maybe a slight Derry bias there and I'd imagine Derry wont get 4. Just my opinion on what it should look like, not what it will actually be.

I noticed someone on the Tyrone thread saying Meenagh's name is supposedly in the mix for a backroom role in Tyrone.
Would MH not try to keep him onboard with Derry?

Might be idle gossip, but someone told me yesterday that RG had his ban from the GAA lifted.
Can anyone confirm?

The whole thing is a tragedy and nothing can change that.
I can't comment on the rights or wrongs as I don't know enough about it, but Doherty will have to live with what happened and a family will have to live without a father.

Doherty will no doubt have his name tarnished regardless of legal outcome as that seems to be the way these things work, but I doubt that gives the family any closure or sense of justice.

No winners here.

[DerryStill f**king about with their groups AFAIK]

Derry
Still f**king about with their groups AFAIK

Couldn't have put it better...

[A lot of media coverage yesterday on his character witness for a convicted rapist too asks the question, is he any worse than RG in terms of alleged past behaviour?]

You'd just hope the players were consulted in advance and were enthusiastic about this appointment, if not it might prove to be the most disastrous managerial switch since wee Eamon was moved on.
Given the position we're in with a young highly motivated squad and a few years of successful underage teams hopefully starting to come through, this appointment was always going to be pivotal. From a player's point of view, I can't see how the prospect of going to play for Mickey could be in any way appealing. The backroom team will have to be highly innovative to make up for the man at the helm.
Hopefully I'll be eating my words in 9 months time, but I can't understand this appointment and think it'll end in tears, let's hope it doesn't completely derail our chances with this group of players.

This is a very strange take! Harte may not be the greatest manager and undoubtedly has some failings, but he's one of the most successful managers. He's going to Derry for one reason and one reason only!
I have been informed reliably that it was the players who went and got Harte/Devlin. As the county board were scrambling around trying to work out a way to pathetically get RG back, the players had other ideas and met with Harte/Devlin.

Not doubting your source, but I've also been informed reliably that the players would have welcomed RG back with open arms. It's hard to know unless you are part of the inner sanctum how reliable these sources are.
Harte will think there is an AI there no doubt and he'll be getting well paid, that's whey he's there.
Whether or not the players buy into the Harte ethos remains to be seen and only time will tell.
From a managerial pov, he has the experience to win and AI, but I'm not convinced his style of play can beat Dublin/Kerry.
It's also very hard to get behind a manager who in the past seemed to take so much pleasure in beating Derry.

A lot of media coverage yesterday on his character witness for a convicted rapist too asks the question, is he any worse than RG in terms of alleged past behaviour?
But Harte has been in management during that time and since it, but the media now seem to think its a bigger deal as he's been appointed in Derry. That is unfair too.

I've mixed emotions on it myself.
I guess if Derry progress on I'll think it was a great appointment, but if not the county board will probably take the flak. It's a huge 50/50 call from the CB to appoint him that's for sure.

One completely bonkers line in an otherwise balanced and sensible post. A staggering comparison to make

I agree. Mental position to take. Some people really don't understand what a character reference is.

The absolute dose on Talkback yesterday who was spitting fire had to have it pointed to her by Crawley that the references are done after a verdict and are nothing to do  with finding someone guilty or not guilty.

Let me clarify what I mean by that line as I'm not taking a position on it.
Maybe badly worded, I'm trying to highlight the media outrage around Harte being comparable to the media outrage around RG and as such CB comes in for flak.
I'm not trying to compare being a character witness to alleged domestic abuse (which I've stated often on here I don't agree with the media outrage either).

You'd just hope the players were consulted in advance and were enthusiastic about this appointment, if not it might prove to be the most disastrous managerial switch since wee Eamon was moved on.
Given the position we're in with a young highly motivated squad and a few years of successful underage teams hopefully starting to come through, this appointment was always going to be pivotal. From a player's point of view, I can't see how the prospect of going to play for Mickey could be in any way appealing. The backroom team will have to be highly innovative to make up for the man at the helm.
Hopefully I'll be eating my words in 9 months time, but I can't understand this appointment and think it'll end in tears, let's hope it doesn't completely derail our chances with this group of players.

This is a very strange take! Harte may not be the greatest manager and undoubtedly has some failings, but he's one of the most successful managers. He's going to Derry for one reason and one reason only!
I have been informed reliably that it was the players who went and got Harte/Devlin. As the county board were scrambling around trying to work out a way to pathetically get RG back, the players had other ideas and met with Harte/Devlin.

Not doubting your source, but I've also been informed reliably that the players would have welcomed RG back with open arms. It's hard to know unless you are part of the inner sanctum how reliable these sources are.
Harte will think there is an AI there no doubt and he'll be getting well paid, that's whey he's there.
Whether or not the players buy into the Harte ethos remains to be seen and only time will tell.
From a managerial pov, he has the experience to win and AI, but I'm not convinced his style of play can beat Dublin/Kerry.
It's also very hard to get behind a manager who in the past seemed to take so much pleasure in beating Derry.

A lot of media coverage yesterday on his character witness for a convicted rapist too asks the question, is he any worse than RG in terms of alleged past behaviour?
But Harte has been in management during that time and since it, but the media now seem to think its a bigger deal as he's been appointed in Derry. That is unfair too.

I've mixed emotions on it myself.
I guess if Derry progress on I'll think it was a great appointment, but if not the county board will probably take the flak. It's a huge 50/50 call from the CB to appoint him that's for sure.

[Mickey Harte,]

For me the biggest concern now that Meenagh has ruled himself out, it continuity.
This senior team is probably currently 1 step away from an AI. If we bring in an entirely new management team they will undoubtedly want to implement their own style of play. That will take time for players to become comfortable with.
We risk falling back a little now with that prospect.

No idea what the DCB are planning but you'd have to imagine O'Rourke is top of the list. If that's the case, the deal may already have been done and any announcements are being held until the end of the club championship for Glen.
If he's not in the running, Gallagher is probably being talked about and perhaps they are waiting the outcome of the Ulster Council investigation.
If they clear him, then DCB can safely re-appoint him with any flak being directed to the Ulster Council perhaps?

No idea.
But really it has to be someone like O'Rourke/Gallagher/Gavin or dare I say it, Mickey Harte, to give us a shot at an AI.

The thought of Mickey Harte had entered my head, but I didn't really beleive that it would ever happen.

Shocked that Derry would let a Tyrone man in to manage them. Kind of shocked by the way Harte dumped Louth too.

Sure they had Brian McIver.

Who was a major reason behind the freefall to Div 4 and the crisis in Derry county.
As manager he was a disaster.
As Director of Football he was an absolute disaster....and cost us a lot of money in a salary.

I'm still in shock that Harte is in though.

Is Chrissy McKaigue to the backroom team a good move or not?

I wouldn't have thought so.
Too close to the current panel of players.
I assume that means he has retired from playing?

I really dont think this is a good move for Derry. It could split the fan base.
It will definately cost us a lot of money.
I'm not convinced Harte has moved on with the current game, so we could well flounder.
Will he be a character who can entice players back into the fold, players like Emmet Bradley?

I dunno.

If it was another manager with 3 AI wins under the belt I'd probably be saying it was a brilliant move.
But as it's him, I can't bring myself to come around to that way of thinking.
If he helps us get an AI though, he'll be the best manager since Eamon Coleman. 

how many club championship games  will be played in dungannon

Not too many this year, the pitch is still bedding in, but next year it will give an alternative to Omagh for the Friday night games.

Still no floodlights though.....

[hell bent on reinstating RG]

Lads u worse than a bunch of gossiping woman, O'Rourke was always getting it, and that was going round awhile. I had hoped Meenagh stay on with him, not even sure why the Gallagher stuff popped up, Derry were never gonna bother with him again, and he only been mentioned as he been seen with Corduff this week.

Weasel, you are the gossip here.
Derry (as in the inner circle of CEO, Chair, PRO and main sponsor) were hell bent on reinstating RG, irrespective of the consequences or blowback. As close as last week, they were going to announce this, until it was scuppered by the Ulster Council statement outlining the fact that TG was still debarred from the association. Meenagh remained in situ for 57 days as he too thought Gallagher would be returning. Once it became clear he wasn't CM announced he wouldn't be returning. As for your statement re the Glen manager Malachy O'Rourke, again, like the various articles doing the rounds in the Irish news and Bel Tel, it's just poorly researched idle speculation.

This feels like it could be along the lines of what happened. Always got the feeling Meenagh didn't want to be the man in the spotlight out front, but I actually think he could be a bigger loss that RG in the long run.
A lot of what I heard was that he was the tactician behind the scenes that created the style of play to make us harder to beat which ultimately led to promotions back up through the divisions.
I'm not sure that the inner circle, as you call them, were hell bent on reinstating RG but I would imagine in footballing terms they were probably thinking that we need that continuity to push us over the line.
New management might also push us on, but we could also slip back initially depending on what approach they decide to take.
Personally, I thought they would wait until the Ulster Council had finished what ever review they are doing and if it was positive they could be more comfortable in re-appointing him with some of the flak going the ulster council way. But it seems that is not the case.

We just need to draw a line under RG and Meenagh now and try to move forward, unless MOR doesn't want the Derry job. In that case, I'd be hell bent on getting Meenagh back in some capacity.