Missed chances

IT was definitely two points dropped on Friday night as we had the chances to take the three points. It’s frustrating at the moment and especially when you look at Derry and where they are in the table. It was much better than the week before in Longford but still a long way off the fluid football we all want to see. I thought the first half was even enough but we had the two best opportunities when Raf and Liam Martin both missed sitters. Raf will be having nightmares about his miss a player of his calibre should be finishing that easily. Liam Martin showed great endeavour to rob the ball and pick out Raf but as I said he hesitated and the chance was lost. Liam missed a sitter also when good link up play between Sadlier and Raf sent him clear and Doherty saved twice from him and Sadlier on the rebound. Liam’s miss was poor and he needs to score in them situations obviously but it’s his hold up play that disappoints me. He needs to do better and stop turning over the football. His endeavour and work rate is top notch but as I said a few weeks ago he really needs to concentrate on the technical side of his game. I thought the second half was even though we didn’t have the clear cut chances of the first half we were well on top of Derry. I don’t think we are getting eight or nine solid performances throughout the team in recent weeks and that’s why we haven’t been winning football matches. I also believe players are struggling being played out of position. The midfield area really struggled on Friday, Roddan has had his two poorest performances in the last two weeks. His strength is his ability to keep possession and in general is neat and tidy on the ball but recently he’s had a dip in form and been giving away the football too much. Johnny Russell was non existent the other night on the right of the diamond a place I wouldn’t personally play him. He doesn’t look comfortable out in that position. John’s ability to drive forward from central areas is his greatest asset and that’s his best position in my opinion. Sadlier also struggles at the top of the diamond other than the beautiful pass to Martin he wasn’t in the game at all. He’s much better receiving the ball facing the opposition goal but struggles when he gets it with his back to it. His decision making at times was selfish and though he was involved in some nice passages of play he needs to be more of a team player and pick out players in better positions. Daniel Kearns is probably as fit as I am and is miles off the pace. That’s to be expected he hasn’t played in a long time. I thought himself and Russell looked really tired in the second half and should have been replaced. Dave is slow to make changes and a few fresh legs could have got us over the line. The back four were very good defended well and once again Keohane did really well at left full. Jimmy and Peersy miss this week’s clash in Wexford due to suspension and with Cork on Monday our small squad is going to have its work cut out. I would like to see the management team encourage the team to be more adventurous, let Rowling get up the field and attack. I would ask them to simplify the game the league outside the top two is as bad as I’ve ever seen it so just let them go and play. We play at too slow of a tempo, we should play at the pace we press the ball. We need to be much quicker in possession and we need more people attacking remember we are the third worst scorers in the league. I suspect a lot of over analysis on everything and you really don’t need it when you see a team like Derry in the European position. I must commend Gérard Doherty who gave one of the greatest exhibitions of goalkeeping I may have ever seen in the Showgrounds. His all round goalkeeping was first class but his distribution was off the charts and he is the most complete goalkeeper in the league. was angry when I heard the news of Ross Taheny’s departure from the club last week to join Gavin down at Ballinamallard. Ross was a player that impressed me any occasion I saw him play. He had a great presence about him, read the game well and had a lovely left foot which he could pass short or long with. He has a great attitude and is a manager’s dream so why did we let him go? Ross may not be good enough and may have not done well but how do we know if we never give these guys a chance. What message are we sending out to the rest of the players in the youth set up. They may be thinking if a former youth international and a universities international can’t make the step up how am I going to make it? I’m not naive to think every one going in that gate is going to make the step up to the first team but Taheny was a kid who had a chance. I am sick and tired of how we look to clubs in England when most of the time they aren’t good enough and they are playing with Mickey mouse clubs. I will always be thankful to Nicky Reid and Chris Rutherford who took a chance on me when I was seventeen years old we need to start looking closer to home because some of our lads need to be given the chance and Taheny was one who definitely should have got a run and should not have been allowed leave the club.

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