New Derry Manager

Sounds as if John Brennan will be unveiled as the new Derry manager tomorrow night.

Stand to be corrected on this but I remember a poster, can't remember exactly whom, saying on this very site that the aforementioned John Brennan was the man to lead Derry to the Holy Grail.

Is he the one to turn Derry's fortunes around?

He managed Cargin to an Antrim title so by that standard should win 5 in a row with derry.

loyal

If it could I suggest that Jayo or one of the Mods puts on a pair of fake pigtails and pretends to be a female derry poster.

Would this ensure that we continue to benefit from the cutting and often accurate edge that your posts bring to this forum whilst removing the constant nostalgic whineing ?

OMAR wrote:If it could I suggest that Jayo or one of the Mods puts on a pair of fake pigtails and pretends to be a female derry poster.

Pigtails? Not for me. Not after the last time .........

Confirmed.

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Lucrative enough job. Lots of speculation over unfilled posts in Meath, Mayo, Galway and Monaghan but time could make this one the most important of the lot.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote: but time could make this one the most important of the lot.

I'm with Omar on this one. Loyal, you are a fine poster, but a broken heart seems to constantly cloud your judgement when talking about the Oakleafs. They are really awful.

You can get treatment for that Derry fetish you know ....

seems he was the last man standing as the others had pulled out!!!! Bit of a turn up for the books IMO - Brennan seems to have called the shots from the off set here - he refused to attend an interview and yet still ended up with the job.

Not sure how much progress if any he will make - the track record in club football wouldnt be bad but this is a different proposition. He did say not too long ago the first thing he would do if he ever got the job was get rid of the 2 Bradleys - looks like he wont have that pleasure now!!!!

Thomas Clarke wrote:

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote: but time could make this one the most important of the lot.

I'm with Omar on this one. Loyal, you are a fine poster, but a broken heart seems to constantly cloud your judgement when talking about the Oakleafs. They are really awful.

Really awful comment.

A year ago, All-Ireland finalists Down were beaten by Fermanagh, who in turn were beaten by Cavan, who in turn were beaten by Antrim, who in turn were beaten by Tyrone. Down were the bottom of the pile in Ulster.

One year on, they get a new manager and a bit of luck. And voila, as the French say, in an All-Ireland Final. Now they are the top of the pile in Ulster. And them with only two recognised footballers, Clarke and Coulter.

Derry have more footballers than Ethopia has runners and probably the second best in the country after Gooch. If Brennan is as good as they say he is, then they will surely improve enough to give a few of the big names a run for their money.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:Derry have more footballers than Ethopia has runners and probably the second best in the country after Gooch.

Who would you be talking about there?? They haven't got a footballer in the top 20 in the country.

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:Derry have more footballers than Ethopia has runners and probably the second best in the country after Gooch.

Who would you be talking about there??

James Kielt.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:Derry have more footballers than Ethopia has runners and probably the second best in the country after Gooch.

Who would you be talking about there??

James Kielt.

3 seasons before a player can be judged correctly ...

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:Derry have more footballers than Ethopia has runners and probably the second best in the country after Gooch.

Who would you be talking about there??

James Kielt.

3 seasons before a player can be judged correctly ...

He's been there for 3 seasons already, and I'm happy to judge him. Fairly good player but, to keep the Kerry comparison, he is closer to Brian Sheehan's level than he is to the Gooch's.

Jayo Cluxton wrote:
Who would you be talking about there?? They haven't got a footballer in the top 20 in the country.

I'd agree with that Jayo. Derry are the Ulster equivalent of Limerick - lots of decent enough players, but lack 2-3 stars to make the difference against the best sides.

Loyal, there are huge differences in Down & Derry. Down reached an U-21 final last year so the signs were there that they were ready to emerge. They also got Clarke back from Australia this year - Derry have no one like that ready to jump straight in and make a difference. And Clarke & Coulter are considerably better than anything Derry have up front; on form, Danny Hughes is also.

Derry are an average side and have been for years. To prove it, here is a quiz question for you:

'Who is the ONLY Ulster side NOT to have appeared in the Ulster final in the last 10 years?'

(Clue, it isn't Tyrone, Armagh, Donegal, Antrim, Monaghan, Cavan, Fermanagh or Down)

[quote="Thomas Clarke"]

Jayo Cluxton wrote:
Who would you be talking about there?? They haven't got a footballer in the top 20 in the country.

I'd agree with that Jayo. Derry are the Ulster equivalent of Limerick - lots of decent enough players, but lack 2-3 stars to make the difference against the best sides.

Loyal, there are huge differences in Down & Derry. Down reached an U-21 final last year so the signs were there that they were ready to emerge. They also got Clarke back from Australia this year - Derry have no one like that ready to jump straight in and make a difference. And Clarke & Coulter are considerably better than anything Derry have up front; on form, Danny Hughes is also.

Derry are an average side and have been for years. To prove it, here is a quiz question for you:

'Who is the ONLY Ulster side NOT to have appeared in the Ulster final in the last 10 years?'

(Clue, it isn't Tyrone, Armagh, Donegal, Antrim, Monaghan, Cavan, Fermanagh or Down)[/quote]

2000 & 2001 spring to mind straight away TC, but then again i don't think you mean Hurling!

My input will be more detailed when i get the time, really busy of late but this is an appointment that should have came when Crozier (remember him) got the job. I fear the potential has been taken from Derry with the length it's taken to appoint Brennan.

Brennan has a brilliant record with clubs and that is all we can judge him on.

Up until this season James McCartan had a similar record to me in management, club and Sigerson/Fitzgibbon.

He took the step up as did Davy Fitz a few years ago.

I think Brennan will be excellent, if somewhat controversial if you can be more controversial in Derry.

He has been known to cause trouble on the sideline..........

And I have argued for years, dedicated panel, good free taker, you will do ok. Get another scoring forward and you will be in quarters. If you have one or two top players, you could win things.

On paper Derry are a lot stronger than say.....Down. Mind you, with the exception of Benny, so are Antrim.

I am rapidly beginning to think that there are no great sides out there.

However the others would be that little bit more dedicated than Derry, or Antrim.

And the award for Best Delusions goes to patrique :-S

bluearmy1 wrote:And the award for Best Delusions goes to patrique :-S

No I don't think so, as even Antrim managed to win at Ballybofey without extra time.

So on that basis not a lot to pick between them.

Down have Benny, Antrim have a better free taker. Clarke may well be as good as Kevin McGourty some day, well wee James thinks so anyway, Hughes could rival Loghrey for "an engine", but Antrim have tighter backs.

So as I said, judging by the Donegal and Kildare games, not a lot in it.

And Down have nothing near Paddy Bradley.

Oops, throw in the Tyrone games this year as well.

Not a lot at all.

It looks like Derry fans have finally got their man and wisely Brennan has followed Down's lead by appointing a couple of Tyrone men in his backroom team. Down have Tally and Brian McIvor now Derry would appear to have taken both Conal Sheridan and John MCElholm on board.

Knowing Brennan as I do as he gave me my debut for my club at the age of 15 he doesn't care much for fancy drills, cones, ladders and stuff and it will be a real eye opener for those who haven't worked under his command. I actually played a couple of league games alongside him and although he has a reputation of being a tough client on the line the sight of his comb-over hair being tossed after a crunching tackle and the sound of his "Gulladuff gulder" put fear into his opponents as well as most of us fresh faced teenagers on his team at the time.

There won't be any Bradleys on board anyway but they wouldn't have been there anyway. I will watch my neighbours with an added interest next year and hope that Brennan can do a job for Derry but obviously not at the expense of Tyrone. His appearance on the line will certainly add some spice to next years NFL and Championship. Its a good job Derry wer relegated to Division 2 with us now and will look forward to this meeting with anticipation

Patrique....are you actually being serious or are you just having a laugh?

Just accept it....Antrim won't sniff an All-Ireland or an Ulster. It's a team full of plucky players who are reasonably skilful. They're let down by a lack of real top-class quality. Derry have been awful recently, Donegal not much better, Armagh have went downhill, Cavan and Fermanagh have been poor. This has given Antrim a chance to claim a few scalps in Ulster.
Down have been awful the past few years....brilliant one day (v Tyrone 2008) and terrible the next (...Wicklow......). The fact is though that the quality was always there but the heart wasn't. Antrim are the reverse.....great heart but the quality just ain't there. So it's hard to see them ever stepping it up. They're a tough wee nut to crack but simply cannot handle the top teams. Kildare were poor against Antrim not helped by the death of Dermot Early Snr which undoubtedly affected their preparations. Antrim would have been blown away by Kildare in the All-Ireland semi-final.....absolutely smashed.

Mugsy are you serious about Sheridan and McElholm joining Brennans backroom team?????????

[quote="bluearmy1"]Patrique....are you actually being serious or are you just having a laugh?

Just accept it....Antrim won't sniff an All-Ireland or an Ulster. It's a team full of plucky players who are reasonably skilful. They're let down by a lack of real top-class quality. Derry have been awful recently, Donegal not much better, Armagh have went downhill, Cavan and Fermanagh have been poor. This has given Antrim a chance to claim a few scalps in Ulster.
Down have been awful the past few years....brilliant one day (v Tyrone 2008) and terrible the next (...Wicklow......). The fact is though that the quality was always there but the heart wasn't. Antrim are the reverse.....great heart but the quality just ain't there. So it's hard to see them ever stepping it up. They're a tough wee nut to crack but simply cannot handle the top teams. Kildare were poor against Antrim not helped by the death of Dermot Early Snr which undoubtedly affected their preparations. Antrim would have been blown away by Kildare in the All-Ireland semi-final.....absolutely smashed.




A lot of would haves and such in that.

I forgot to mention last year Antrim lost narrowlky to a Kerry team including Galvin, O'Se, Walsh, Kennelly and such.

My comments are not an attack on Down. My comments are simply stating there is not a lot out there.

Down have ONE wonderful talent, Benny Coulter. They also have some other talented players, as do ALL inter county sides.

Derry have/had Paddy Bradley and Down haven't had anyone in his class for about 20 years.

The one thing you say that is totally right, and agrees with what I said, is that the talent is not THERE in Antrim. Correct, it is on holiday in the USA.

hence my reference to dedicated panels.

I can only assume that over the last two years, Kerry, Kildare, Tyrone and Donegal all played badly against Antrim, but peaked against Down.

At present Down might be top ten in Ireland, as it is all very close, and Antrim would be in the top 16.

As I say, not a lot in it.

Antrim = decent to poor. You talk about commitment as if it's some little thing that could be injected into the Antrim mentality and suddenly they're unreal. Commitment is a massive part of what makes top class players who in turn make up top class teams. Commitment is what makes Benny Coulter a special talent, the same for Clarke and others who I believe have not yet received the recognition they deserve. Antrim have had a long time to think about their youth structure, their style of play and why it's not working, and commitment issues......fact is they are weak in all areas. They're capable of a wee shock but are simply not good enough.

Players like Pat Spillane, Sean Purcell, Sean O'Neill didn't just descend from heaven, they had others behind them who drove them on, trained them, supported them. This is what separates the counties synonymous with success in Gaelic football from the Antrims. You can't just say....awk a wee bit here and a wee bit there and Antrim would be top class. No....what Antrim needs is a major overhaul if it ever hopes to become synonymous with success in this sport.

The fact is this....Down lost to Tyrone yes (but could quite well have won it in the last 10 mins). They had to go to extra time against a Donegal team deeply hurt by previous failures. This is true. They showed flaws in several games.

But what sets them miles apart from Antrim is the fact they were able to quickly iron out these mistakes. This improvement has come from both management and from within the players themselves. Antrim do well when they play at their best....they have to bust themselves to grind out results. Down have reached an All-Ireland final with some poor performances but have gelled very quickly into a formidable setup.