derrycitychat.com

playing like a team that hasn’t played together much - so wages dictate who starts (Boyce?) !
defence and forwards all had a poor night. Keeper at fault for one goal. Some mad tackles and players on yellows now.
Derry huff and puff but no composure on the ball = Diallo needs to start
hopefully monday is better

Maher has been poor in several games this season

Can’t score and can’t defend are the two major concerns at the minute.

I’m sure he’s still working out which players can do what…. Can only get better with time.

I know people say every week that the Referee was poor but last night he was awful. Maher gets barged into and was forced out of his area and gets a yellow card. The linesman on Southend side was shocking too.

Last nights ref was the son of former City player Tony O'Dowd...

He was bloody awful... 6 yellow cards for Derry and not one for Waterford... Amond should have been booked at least for charging into Maher... Baakboord should have been booked for the penalty on Doherty but wasnt...

Last weeks ref was promoted from the first division to the prem... Standard so far has been truly woeful

Is it the FAI or LOI that has responsibility for refs and linesmen etc?

Is there a pathway and training etc, or is it part-time or voluntary set up?

I'm guessing its not fully professional.

Can't imagine they get paid too much - probably travel expenses and a few hundred Euro on top?

Greengo wrote: Sat Mar 01, 2025 7:44 pm Last nights ref was the son of former City player Tony O'Dowd...

He was bloody awful... 6 yellow cards for Derry and not one for Waterford... Amond should have been booked at least for charging into Maher... Baakboord should have been booked for the penalty on Doherty but wasnt...

Last weeks ref was promoted from the first division to the prem... Standard so far has been truly woeful

Hope his Da was proud of him last night..

I think all this talk of the officials, as bad as they were, is taking the heat off the management team and the players. They weren't good either last night.

Personally I don't care about the refs, I'm more concerned about how the team is performing.

And don't forget the ref nearly got us back into the game with a terrible penalty award.

Keyser Soze wrote: Sat Mar 01, 2025 10:43 pm I think all this talk of the officials, as bad as they were, is taking the heat off the management team and the players. They weren't good either last night.

Personally I don't care about the refs, I'm more concerned about how the team is performing.

And don't forget the ref nearly got us back into the game with a terrible penalty award.

Amm you're talking about the Ref and his poor decision.

When ye say terrible penalty decision. Pretty sure if ye pull your man down in the area it's a penalty. Ref missed 2 of those in the first half. Even one were connellys shirt was nearly over his neck and he give a free out.

brandyball wrote: Sat Mar 01, 2025 11:32 pm

Keyser Soze wrote: Sat Mar 01, 2025 10:43 pm I think all this talk of the officials, as bad as they were, is taking the heat off the management team and the players. They weren't good either last night.

Personally I don't care about the refs, I'm more concerned about how the team is performing.

And don't forget the ref nearly got us back into the game with a terrible penalty award.

Amm you're talking about the Ref and his poor decision.

I've always said the ref was bad, but all the discussion is implying we lost because of the bad ref, and that's not true. We lost because we were poor.

I included the example of us getting a weak penalty to show that we would have lost 2 nil had it not been for this ref which supposedly cost us the game.

The whole night just seemed flat. There was little to no atmosphere or anticipation around the game before, during or after. Found that strange considering the buzz that followed the Bohs win.

Conceding in the opening ten or so minutes didn't help either. We had players who were either playing out of their preferred positions, players who still look weeks off peak fitness or sharpness and players who are struggling to acclimatise to the pitch or league in the starting 11. I can see a rotation for Monday happening. Likes of Ferguson, Thomas and Whyte dropping to the bench for the likes of Doherty, Diallo and maybe McMullan. The debate for either Boyce or Hoban to spearhead the attack will go on for a few months yet I reckon.

Defensively the ball over the top killed us. Connolly and Holt struggled with pace, as witnessed in the build up to Noonan's shot off the line. On the free kick that lead to the second goal I find it criminal that a 6 foot 3 player was left unmarked, let alone have time to control the ball, set himself up before striking the ball at the front post.

As negative as the above seems, I am not hitting the panic button but with some individuals (not here) have already melted the core reactor. If we get a result tomorrow we will be on a high again ahead of Caulfield Ball on Friday night.

Keyser Soze wrote: Sun Mar 02, 2025 11:14 am

brandyball wrote: Sat Mar 01, 2025 11:32 pm

Keyser Soze wrote: Sat Mar 01, 2025 10:43 pm I think all this talk of the officials, as bad as they were, is taking the heat off the management team and the players. They weren't good either last night.

Personally I don't care about the refs, I'm more concerned about how the team is performing.

And don't forget the ref nearly got us back into the game with a terrible penalty award.

Amm you're talking about the Ref and his poor decision.

I've always said the ref was bad, but all the discussion is implying we lost because of the bad ref, and that's not true. We lost because we were poor.

I included the example of us getting a weak penalty to show that we would have lost 2 nil had it not been for this ref which supposedly cost us the game.

Still can't find anyone saying the ref cost us the game.

brandyball wrote: Sat Mar 01, 2025 8:52 pm

Greengo wrote: Sat Mar 01, 2025 7:44 pm Last nights ref was the son of former City player Tony O'Dowd...

He was bloody awful... 6 yellow cards for Derry and not one for Waterford... Amond should have been booked at least for charging into Maher... Baakboord should have been booked for the penalty on Doherty but wasnt...

Last weeks ref was promoted from the first division to the prem... Standard so far has been truly woeful

Hope his Da was proud of him last night..

This is a very poor comment. Tony always gave his best for us and doesn't deserve snide comments like that. The penalty was very generous

No snideness here. Ref was awful the comment was a reflection on that not on his Father's career here.

Marty wrote: Sat Mar 01, 2025 6:20 am Really really bad.

Writing was on the wall when you seen then players he was signing. Obviously it’s pre season and you hope you’re wrong, but you know deep down they trying to turn Derry into Europe’s little Saudi Arabia isn’t going to work.

Every fan in the league knew, and he just made wheelchair jokes.

Ammunition for Bradley

To be honest, after the first three games, folk can talk about officials, and players, and the management...


But I'd like to think that the one thing we all agree on is that the standard on show NEEDS to improve.

It's hasn't been good ... in all 3 games.

So, with that in mind, let's give it a chance to improve. It could have the potential to be really good.


If it doesn't, I'll be the first to hound the manager.... no matter what. I wanted the last guy gone. If this guy can't do it....I will want him gone too.

brandyball wrote: Sun Mar 02, 2025 2:20 pm No snideness here. Ref was awful the comment was a reflection on that not on his Father's career here.

You're prone to the odd snide comment yourself, just ask Steve Bradley

There was no need to bring the referee's father into it when he was a loyal servant to our club and never let anyone down. If you can't accept that then pity on you

Don't want to get into any form of arguments but iam sure ODowd was well paid when he played for Derry so we owe him nothing

forza wrote: Sun Mar 02, 2025 7:14 pm There was no need to bring the referee's father into it when he was a loyal servant to our club and never let anyone down. If you can't accept that then pity on you

I never brought his Father into it but you couldn't resist another snide comment.