Messages

I agree with all the above comments about (hopefully) players returning for next season but instead of 9 players returning and 9 or 10 leaving like the past 4/5 years, can we build on the squad that has been available for the championship. No retirements eg Mark Lynch, Sean Leo etc as they still have plenty to offer our county in bringing players through and coming off the bench in the 2nd half of games to give the team and supporters a lift.For to long we have been quick to write off the over 30's when other teams like Mayo with Moran and Tyrone with Cavanagh have known their value to a young squad. Every year we hear of players coming back and then other players are dropping out. Next year add to what is already there without the mass exodus that normally happens and we can definitely get out off Div 4 and give the championship a rattle   

Now that I have had time to settle down and let 24hrs pass can someone answer a few Questions for me. As one of only 39 Derry season ticket holders yes we have 39, THRITY NINE my God.  (our Neighbours have 1500 season ticket holders by the way) also we seem to have lost 11 since the famous Clones 50 turned up in 2007 against Armagh.
Anyway Q1. why did the county Board allow a panel of only 29 to be picked knowing at least 13 (uni and Slaughtneil players)weren't available until at least Feb. what happened to the days of picking a McKenna cup panel then adding uni players and cutting accordingly for the start of the league and then when slaughtneil players became available doing the same, you are strengthening your panel as you progress and cutting the players you don't deem up to it after having worked with them, this closed shop mentality is completely wrong.
Q2. What has happened to the days of if your playing well for your club the door is never closed.
Q3.Did we only carry 29 players this year because we needed the room on the bus for what must be the biggest back room teams in Ireland I have never seen as many men with earpieces in my life I thought Donald Trump was about to appear in Sligo yesterday. It is complete overkill if all these people are talking to the manager at the one time and all giving their expert advice it has to be complete confusion.
Q4 Brian McIvor had a 5 year plan and brought through youth. Damien Barton had 2 years of bringing through youth and now Damien comes in and starts again with youth surely the youth of 6 years ago should be serious inter county players by now
Q5. Why are we persisting with Celtic park when the people living in the city beside the ground don't even know the team are playing their or care.
To finish the rant the sign of a good management team is how they react when things go wrong.
Get a championship panel together put some kind of basic game plan into action and give the summer a rattle. Unfortunately at the minute there might only be 38 season tickets bought for next year??

To pick a panel of only 29 player's for the season ahead knowing you where going to be missing the  Slaughtneil/University players for McKenna cup and possibly the most of the league in Slaughtneil's case was daft at best. Closing the door on experienced inter county players and thinking that filling out your squad with u20s is going to work in a competitive div 3 is also questionable. To hear that Danny Heavron was told they couldn't find a place for him is laughable. But as its still only January we need to give the new management team a chance and get behind them in the up coming games and pass judgement at the end of the season. Just a thought Here's a few names that certainly could help the current panel
O Duffy.
D McBride.         
Sean Leo.
G McKinless.   
N Holly. 
R Bell.   
D Heavron.
E McGuckin.
C O'Boyle
   

To add to what the weasel has said we should have more than enough quality players in Derry to compete in the McKenna cup and Div 3 of the NFL until the Slaughtneill players are available. The panel from last year added to by the stay away players should leave us very competitive. Have all the players who opted out last year made themselves available again? Why has no panel been announced yet?