What happens if?

[SAFC_Derry]

Not looking to derail the thread or anything but did you happen to get down to the Fleadh at all. Dont think Derry has seen the like of it before

You bet I did lad, and it was fantastic although I was surprised at the lack of coverage from the media in the north. With estimated crowds of over 430,000 it was a great sucess and said to be the biggest Fleadh Cheoil to date. The whold City of Culture has been a massive success with the Clipper festival/Radio One big weekend/Foyle Cup/Return of Colmcille/Tattoo and many more events. We know how to do things in the NW lad although you wouldn't know it from our news stations.

 

[Vilsmeier-Haack Reaction]

Not looking to derail the thread or anything but did you happen to get down to the Fleadh at all. Dont think Derry has seen the like of it before

You bet I did lad, and it was fantastic although I was surprised at the lack of coverage from the media in the north. With estimated crowds of over 430,000 it was a great sucess and said to be the biggest Fleadh Cheoil to date. The whold City of Culture has been a massive success with the Clipper festival/Radio One big weekend/Foyle Cup/Return of Colmcille/Tattoo and many more events. We know how to do things in the NW lad although you wouldn't know it from our news stations.

I'm a bit of a Fleadh purist and I was glad to see it get the hype but I prefer it in smaller towns. Taking it as it was it was still a great week's craic. Was glad to be able to enjoy the event without getting the sinking feeling I was being shafted in Euro's. Think it may be back in 3 years.
Onto Ennis teadfest for me next, il try not to come back with alcohol poisoning like I did last year

 

[SAFC_Derry]

I'm a bit of a Fleadh purist and I was glad to see it get the hype but I prefer it in smaller towns. Taking it as it was it was still a great week's craic. Was glad to be able to enjoy the event without getting the sinking feeling I was being shafted in Euro's. Think it may be back in 3 years.
Onto Ennis teadfest for me next, il try not to come back with alcohol poisoning like I did last year

TBH I was happy the bars/outlets kept their prices reasonable as it was a great advert for the City. Having the continental market on the quay and various other activities in Ebrington only added to the atmosphere making it a much more family friendly event.

 

[flandersmackem]

On a thread at the start of the season, someone asked how would we do? my reply was we will see how our season will pan out by the end of September. Of course I was shot down...how can you say that at such an early part of season etc etc...you have to wait till xmas etc. Well....by xmas gentlemen, I have an awful feeling we will be cut adrift. Our fixture list up until xmas is horrific for a newly put together team. Infact, we are being turned over by the likes of Fulham and Palace right now. Losing is a habit, and we are in that habit now. I would also say the fear factor is starting to come into our play a little bit. Anyone who thinks this is just negative shoite..i'm sorry. I am saying it as I see it. We have the wrong manager, I thought so when he was appointed and nothing has changed my mind since...apart from winning at Sid James which at that time, ever team was doing

 

[Moorsleymountainman]

IF, and it's a big IF, we start playing from the first whistle instead of the second half (for some strange reason we have done this under the last 5 managers) we will be OK. Fulham, should have won, at least got a point, Palace, we (JOS) threw away at least a point. Southampton, we were crap (or were Southampton very good)? Arsenal, ****e first half (or.....see Southampton) MK Dons, played for 15 minutes and turned around a 0-2.
it's very early days but we just need a little bit of luck and a little better defending and we'll be fine.(and start playing from the frigging first whistle)

 

[Cest Advocaat]

On a thread at the start of the season, someone asked how would we do? my reply was we will see how our season will pan out by the end of September. Of course I was shot down...how can you say that at such an early part of season etc etc...you have to wait till xmas etc. Well....by xmas gentlemen, I have an awful feeling we will be cut adrift. Our fixture list up until xmas is horrific for a newly put together team. Infact, we are being turned over by the likes of Fulham and Palace right now. Losing is a habit, and we are in that habit now. I would also say the fear factor is starting to come into our play a little bit. Anyone who thinks this is just negative shoite..i'm sorry. I am saying it as I see it. We have the wrong manager, I thought so when he was appointed and nothing has changed my mind since...apart from winning at Sid James which at that time, ever team was doing

Spot on Flanders. It's all very well saying the second half of the campaign is easier but when you have already lost to Fulham and Palace and were lucky to come away with our only point at Southampton, that's not giving me any solace. I know we dominated the game v Fulham but we never threatened much either.

We have conceded 8 goals in 4 games and scored 3. We gave conceded 5 and scored 2 against three poor teams.

Like it or not we are struggling and in trouble.

 

[Sidthemackem]

Like it or not?

Who the **** would like it, cest?

It is what it is and we have to start playing better or we'll be the stone-dead bottom team that every season seems to produce. But there's no reason we can't start winning with the players we have. If Cardiff can beat City we can beat anybody!

Whether we will is another matter, of course...

 

[Cest Advocaat]

Like it or not?

Who the **** would like it, cest?

It is what it is and we have to start playing better or we'll be the stone-dead bottom team that every season seems to produce. But there's no reason we can't start winning with the players we have. If Cardiff can beat City we can beat anybody!

Whether we will is another matter, of course...

Didn't say anyone would like it did I?

Of course it could turn around with the players we have but if we keep chopping and changing or have a manager that will have players scared to make a mistake for fear of public telling off, my fear is we won't.

The arsenals, man Utd and Chelsea's of this world won't determine our fate but after 6 years in the top flight, I'd have expected I'd to cope with the Palaces and Fulhams.

 

[Moorsleymountainman]

Murdered Fulham 0-1 and a schoolboy (under 10 schoolboy at that) error to put us on the back foot v Palace. we'll be OK.

 

[Cest Advocaat]

Murdered Fulham 0-1 and a schoolboy (under 10 schoolboy at that) error to put us on the back foot v Palace. we'll be OK.

We had lots of possession against Fulham but actually only had 2 shots on target to their 1 so not murdered. We got mullered at the Saints and came away with a lucky point and JOS was not the sole reason we lost at Palace.

You can keep making excuses every week but the fact is we are not even winning points from poor teams and Liverpool and Utd will murder us IMO. I don't think we will get anything at WBA or Swansea either and our home derby record would suggest a point at best. Even an optimist can't see more than 4 or 5 points after 9 games. That's a relegation fight again.

Revolution? Same old ****e to me. If it weren't so pathetic I could cry.

 

[Albert's Chip Shop]

I think you will struggle to get points past WB.
The big concern if I were an SAFC fan would be that PDC may crack under the pressure. How long do you think before some sections of the fan base turn their anger towards him?
I think Ellis will back him, but it is his temperament which is the big concern imho

 

[Sidthemackem]

It's a bad start mate, but early doors. Four games in with a 50% new squad and what do we expect? We have better players than last year and when they find their groove things can only get better. I hope!

 

[Nostalgic]

Four games into the season and I have reached the belief and consolation stages. I believe we can put this right with the current squad and console myself that other teams have pulled out of bigger messes. I am writing off the first half of this game and lay it squarely with selection and just grateful Arsenal were not out of sight in the scoreline. The second half evened it out thanks mainly to Gardener's influence, but our confidence and self-belief need bolstering.

Who would have said that the WBA game was massive (for all reasons) at this stage of the season.

 

[Cest Advocaat]

It's a bad start mate, but early doors. Four games in with a 50% new squad and what do we expect? We have better players than last year and when they find their groove things can only get better. I hope!

We need to start seeing the likes of Ba, Karlsson and Cabral then? Surely we bought players ready to play didn't we? Not ones for the future or unfit ones? Only a complete fool would not have recruited at least 3 or 4 first team midfielders ready to play (out of 14 players brought in) having watched our useless central midfield last season? Only a total idiot would continue to play the likes of Larsson, Vaughan and Gardner together in the middle?


Oops?

 

[Brian Storm]

I think we've got a cracking squad. WBA is winnable, as is posh. We've got two very winnable game to take into 2 very tough home games. If not for bad decisions we were back in the arsenal game. We can get a point from the two home games (liverpool & man u). Then we've got an away game against a struggling Swansea. Could pick up a point or more if you have a bit of faith. Then It's derby time. Those signings who've played in the italian leagues will know what big derbies are all about, unlike the passionless frenchies up the road. I can see a possible 8 points off the next 5 games. We'll still be in touching distance.

Lots of winnable games in november too.

I know it we may not pick up those points but as we're arguing the toss anyway I might as well put down a positive side. All we're doing is trying to predict the future anyway so it all means **** all.

 

[Brian Storm]

We need to start seeing the likes of Ba, Karlsson and Cabral then? Surely we bought players ready to play didn't we? Not ones for the future or unfit ones? Only a complete fool would not have recruited at least 3 or 4 first team midfielders ready to play (out of 14 players brought in) having watched our useless central midfield last season? Only a total idiot would continue to play the likes of Larsson, Vaughan and Gardner together in the middle?


Oops?

Ba is a little kid mate. He'll get snapped in the premiership. He's a development player. He's got baulking up to do, skills to develop and probibly a loan stint to compete. Why don't you do a monty and throw Watmore in.

 

[Cest Advocaat]

I think we've got a cracking squad. WBA is winnable, as is posh. We've got two very winnable game to take into 2 very tough home games. If not for bad decisions we were back in the arsenal game. We can get a point from the two home games (liverpool & man u). Then we've got an away game against a struggling Swansea. Could pick up a point or more if you have a bit of faith. Then It's derby time. Those signings who've played in the italian leagues will know what big derbies are all about, unlike the passionless frenchies up the road. I can see a possible 8 points off the next 5 games. We'll still be in touching distance.

Lots of winnable games in november too.

I know it we may not pick up those points but as we're arguing the toss anyway I might as well put down a positive side. All we're doing is trying to predict the future anyway so it all means **** all.

We could have been 4 or 5 down at half time yesterday Bri. We should have been beaten by a country margin at Southampton where we were so lucky to hang on. Against Fulham yes we had all the ball but did nothing in the final third to suggest we could have actually won the game.

Versus Palace we were not in the game till the equalizer when we had a 10 or 15 min spell when it may have been different but then we fizzled out badly again.

I really wish I could see 8 points in the next 5 games but I'm struggling to see 3 (all draws against Swansea, WBA and the scum) and I see a couple of absolute hammerings from Liverpool and Utd.

 

[Cest Advocaat]

Ba is a little kid mate. He'll get snapped in the premiership. He's a development player. He's got baulking up to do, skills to develop and probibly a loan stint to compete. Why don't you do a monty and throw Watmore in.

As per usual you have totally missed my point. I know Ba and Karlsson are far from first team regulars but thats whyt I think PDC is not equipped for the job at hand. He is clueless.

How can a manager sign 14 players in the summer and yet still not have a central midfield to replace the shower of ****e that helped us to a lofty 4th bottom last year. EVERY single fan last season if asked what was our problem would have said the midfield of Gardner, Larsson and Vaughan and yet how many of them are still forst choices? ALL OF THEM.

Who would have said put your faith in Ji to replace Sessegnon and get us the goals? Absolutely no one that s who.

You may well see a manager about to turn this round. I see a manager elevated to a league well beyond his actual ability and he hasn't got a clue what to do for the best. He talks a good fight but he cant do it when it counts.

 

[Brian Storm]

We could have been 4 or 5 down at half time yesterday Bri. We should have been beaten by a country margin at Southampton where we were so lucky to hang on. Against Fulham yes we had all the ball but did nothing in the final third to suggest we could have actually won the game.

Versus Palace we were not in the game till the equalizer when we had a 10 or 15 min spell when it may have been different but then we fizzled out badly again.

I really wish I could see 8 points in the next 5 games but I'm struggling to see 3 (all draws against Swansea, WBA and the scum) and I see a couple of absolute hammerings from Liverpool and Utd.

True, but we hit the woodwork twice, and had two goals disallowed. They didn't go in, neither did arsenals first half chances you speak off. I if you're going to bring up unlucky missed chances (which is a pointless as making stuff up to moan about) Then at least include the chances of the team you profess to support.

Your coulda shoulda woulda attitude is pointless, irrelevant and boring mate. You can dissect the past, spill it's contents and whine to your hearts content but it doesn't matter. What bugs me with you is the support you gave O'Neil which you won't give Paolo. Even though Paolo is having to clean up after the man, not to mention Bruce. Short, De Fanti, Angeloni and Paolo are all trying to clean up their mess, and you show them zero respect for what they're trying to do. Typical.

 

[blackcatsteve]

Bottom line is its got nowt to do with us.

If Short got rid of Bruce and MON when the going got a bit tough, then imho PDC has no chance of keeping his job, the club and the position in the PL is a lot bigger than 1 man (PDC) and if he isnt doing it, then he wont last long, if he turns it around then he will last.

but for my opinion (not that it matters 1 iota), it depends how we are playing, "IF" he loses the dressing room/has a mutiny on his hands, if he starts blaming everyone but him (i mean defanti more than the players themselves). Also who is out there and who would come, I would love to se Mancini or Van Basten, if Moyes and Man U have a mare, he may ge sacked, I wouldnt even mind Steve Clark if PDC got sacked, but would any of them come and could we afford them.

I still say the main crux of the problem is, we have brought in loads of players, but we havnt spent any money since Keane did, and its not like we have had a Rooney/Carrol 30+ million to help balance the books, we just havnt spent anything.

Keep PDC for now. its far too early to get rid, but we just cant and wont keep him if we are plummeting (or not rising as the case may be) in the league, but that is Shorts decision not ours.