Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[Ryan O]

We had a very poor season on reflection, I would say a max of 60% of our capabilities.

Louth struggled past us which was worst display of the year.
They should have beat Monaghan, yes fully aware they didn't.
Hammered Cork.
Meath struggled past us in knock out stages, again poor display and Glass missing.
We didn't play Mayo or W/Meath but they are no big scalps. Decent sides who are totally committed but I'm wouldn't be seeing a reason to fear them.

The reason for all our defeats is the weak mentality when pressure come on. I'm aware that is an issue that needs managing and improving but I don't think just saying we're no good is the fix.

There is enough quality in the combined group to have a rattle at any of them teams but its no longer the expected 18 regular starters.

Thats not to say they shouldn't have a role but whatever their previous role was needs changing.

[marty34]

What are the chances of a shake up in the backroom team

Could deets be tempeted?

I'm a bit worried that there wont be any changes as when meenagh got appointed all he said was he had coaches in that he trusts but also if he cant see that we need some additions to the coaching staff he'll not be the manager for long.

The players are the 'problem'. Not the management(s).

As I said before, should have gave Tally another year but must have been player power that removed him. The players then haven't back it up.

Too many egos.

Why would Gilligan be interested in coming into a camp like that?

If you look at Louth and their effort and attitude this past few seasons. Even closer to home, if you compare the attitude of the Derry hurlers to the footballers. Again night and day.

Attitude is key.

[tbrick18]

We had a very poor season on reflection, I would say a max of 60% of our capabilities.

Louth struggled past us which was worst display of the year.
They should have beat Monaghan, yes fully aware they didn't.
Hammered Cork.
Meath struggled past us in knock out stages, again poor display and Glass missing.
We didn't play Mayo or W/Meath but they are no big scalps. Decent sides who are totally committed but I'm wouldn't be seeing a reason to fear them.

The reason for all our defeats is the weak mentality when pressure come on. I'm aware that is an issue that needs managing and improving but I don't think just saying we're no good is the fix.

There is enough quality in the combined group to have a rattle at any of them teams but its no longer the expected 18 regular starters.

Thats not to say they shouldn't have a role but whatever their previous role was needs changing.

I wouldn't go as far as saying mentally weak, I think we still have confidence issues after what happened last year and under MH.
Then we have a few players who try too hard to be the hero on any given day to instil confidence in others rather than play the team game - and that hasn't worked out very well. Taking that extra touch rather than moving the ball.

I still think we have high quality players - but we somehow need to reinvigorate that sense of hunger, urgency and confidence that we had in 23/24. I think our starting 15 with more of the younger lads in from the start could do that - Sargent was class in that last game. With some of the more experienced players having that impact sub role, that would strengthen our panel and perhaps give us a stronger finishing team than starting team which in turn helps with confidence issues and drives competition for places. I also think we still lack size around the middle, with the exception of Tohill (who I think it was a mistake to not include this year), I'm not sure if there's anyone else in the county who could add bulk in there. It's easy when you're not in there managing though 

I also still have confidence in Meenagh, I think he's the best available out there that will suit these players. But I do think he needs to bring in a stronger back room team. Someone who will have us playing to the new rules and not always trying to work a perfect score from 20 yards. That tactic did not work this year, and the constant turnovers would have taken a toll on the confidence of the players, which in turn would lead to frustration and poor decision making. I'd love to see the likes of Deets come into the management team. At the start of the year I'd have said he wouldn't leave Armagh - but he might now. I don't think its a good idea having recent players in there on the management team.

We have players that rival or exceed the quality of a lot of the players on the teams mentioned above, but that's not enough to win matches or championships. It all needs to click, which is no easy task. This year wasn't as bad as last year, we had most of our long term injured back by the end of the season and we won some games along the way. But it probably should have been better.
On a positive note - we were only narrowly beaten in a number of tight games. Louth and Meath have shown they are good teams and both will be Div 1. Monaghan have since shown they're no bad side too - and we probably should have beaten them. We had moments of brilliance in the league, especially vs Cork. We also resolved last years issues with lack of goalkeeping options - though for me Lynch is still number 1 when fit.

It's not all doom and gloom.

[OakLeaf]

Derry are a better team than Louth, Mayo, Meath, Cork, Monaghan, Westmeath.

I really don't think we are.
One of those teams beat us twice this season
Two of those teams beat us once this season.
Three of those teams will be playing in a higher division than us next year.

Overall record Played 5: Won 1 Lost 4
No games against Mayo or Westmeath.

I'd suggest that if you picked a team of the season with those 6 counties along with Derry, you'd be hard pressed to include any more than a couple of Derry men.

If he'd said, we have as much potential as any of those teams then thats probably close to the truth, but if there's not enough drive behind that potential then underachievement is what you get. Hopefully we can get a new lease of life with a good mixture of youth and experience next year. Were a few years away from being contenders.