Without fail, week in week out lol. Anyway, not much to report this week, same feeling for the last few games really. Not too bad overall but just cant put it in the net. Had Shorrock scored that time, I still feel we may have conceded at some point and it just had to be Keena, absolutely loves a game against us. I really rate Gabbidon, he’s looked so comfortable since his addition into the squad. Likewise Gillespie has gotten around very well. Happy for Hughes again tonight, but I feel he’s too nice. Throw yourself around a wee bit big man, an auld shove here or there, his distribution has been great and he only slipped once compared to Sargeant who loved an auld slip multiple times throughout the game, not hating on him, just a fact.
I felt Pats were comfortable enough throughout, I dont think they were ever too worried. After they scored the game just died and I felt they were happy enough to shut up shop and run the clock down.
Imagine if someone had said to you at the start of the season at one point we would have Zefi, Pearse and Kavanagh up top to choose from, most people would have been delighted. I for one was not overly impressed with Pearce during his last spell with us, I felt at the time he physically wasnt at the races but I understand a good bit of time has passed since then. Kavanagh took a long time to get going this season but I feel this is as good as its going to get, for us at least, I think he would do very well in most teams in the league now if he was to magically play for them atm. I cant comment too much on Zefi, we know he comes from good stock and I heard he played 70 odd mins with the u20s during the week but, wouldnt it be great to hold on to one or two of them? I genuinely feel a drop down to the first division with plenty of game time and hopefully a clean slate with some goals they could really excel into the next season, provided we were to come back up. The thing is, theres definitely players in there, dya get me. I feel like Pearce would run all day, Kav can hold the line and throw himself around and Zefi seems decent enough on the ball, I’d only love to hold on to all 3 but I just dont know who stays.
My biggest concern at the minute is where the heads of the players are, I have already submitted to the fact we are going down, whatever, football comes full circle and when you flap like a turkey you most certainly cant fly like an eagle. But what I am really asking is, do any of the players actually feel/love the club? I felt Fitzgerald did however, what can you say now? It was extremely bitter to see him go, particularly with the season weve had and as captain, but what im trying to say or ask is, do any of them say right, we werent good enough this year, this club has given me an opportunity to play ball, look after me off the pitch, great town or whatever, will we stay for one more season and get them back up?
So in other words, I am asking who of that squad stays and even more so, who do WE want to stay? From what I have seen, this is what I would prefer;
Hughes, Gabbidon, McElroy, Stewart, McHugh, Young, Pearce, McDonagh, Kavanagh, Zefi and I would genuinely love to see Denham stay but I just know for a fact that won’t happen. Thats also not to say I wouldnt keep anyone else, I just feel if we had the bones like that, we would have a good chacne.
From what I have listed, that is a very decent bones of a squad, no? Of those players, I couldnt say with certainty who wants or doesnt want to stay, I couldnt say with certainty who is up for the challenge, I couldnt say with certainty who wants IT, but I feel its a start. By no means am I having a go at the selected players there or anything, its just something I would love to see and in a perfect world if I was given that, I would be quite hopeful of coming right back. There was a point made in the recent Bit O’Red Supporters Podcast earlier in the week more or less saying players are in for a shock when they realize not many or in fact no other clubs will be in for them. Although its a bold statement and some could construe it as ill mannered, think of it what you will, but its hard to make a case against that. I try not to be negative about the players or the club because as ive said time and time again, its too eazy for that option. However given the season we have just had and in the manner in which we are currently bowing out, I would find it hard to argue against said statement.
Look, it does seem doom and gloom at the minute but its a bit of a relief now knowing the stress and the anxiety of waiting for this relegation is finally coming to an end, the next hurdle will be seeing we are officialy relegated and having to look and listen at those around us with the jibes and jeers but sure look, we have to move on, itll be someone else next year. At this point, I want to see more the younglings given a go and more so, I want to see players who Purse intends to use next season get out on the pitch now. We genuinely, genuinely have nothing to lose at this point.
What I will not accept is lying down and dying like a soft auld dog with no bark or bite. I wont accept it. The standards you walk by are the standards you accept. We want you to fight for the club, I know contracts arent ideal and players come and go but lads, the club is more than you. It is bigger than any of the players that play for us, the people that show up week in, week out, invest in season tickets, jerseys, merch, fundraise, sell tickets, you name it, you owe it to the people of Sligo and to the people of the club. You are extremely priviledged to play football for a living. If you are coming off that pitch or closing the door behind you at the end of the season saying it could have been worse or that you were not overly disappointed, take a good long walk up the dual carraigeway to Bunninaden or Gurteen and have a good long look at yourself.
A bit of fight, a bit of self pride and a bit of selflessness will go a long way for us, the fans, until the end of the season, thats all we want.
Until next time, keep the head gentlemen, giddy up.