19th December - eircom League Division One
by Daniel McDonnell at Oriel Park
Cathal O'Connor 28
Shay Zellor 35
You can't help but feeling guilty sometimes. Abusing players whose name you've cheered in the past, players whose honour who have sworn upon in the past. No doubt, experienced ex-professionals when witnessing comments and anger from some fans aimed at heroes of Cup Final 2002 will shake their heads and say, "football fans are fickle nowadays".
Back in August, Gary Haylock was considered to be better than God, better even than pub. Two seasons back Martin Reilly carried Dundalk to the Premier Division almost singlehandedly. Ciaran Kavanagh is the good local pro who made a triumphant return home to play a part in the Cup win. Bucky was the local hero, a bit of a lad but plenty of ability and capable of going all the way to the top. Hoey, Connolly, Flanagan the list goes on. The players that took us to Croatia. The players who walked around the hotel in official gear in Croatia and were applauded everywhere they went : treated as heroes because that is what they were then.
Not now though,
And it's sad, very very sad, but all one can feel at the moment is contempt. Anger that players on big money are being outperformed by sides who didn't exist a year ago, and sides that aren't actually very good at all. Every week, sides beat Dundalk and look like world beaters. And yet, when people have invested a lot of money in keeping the club up, and when fans pay money week in week out, and have possibly had a bet on the side to win promotion, what do our players do? They underperform, and then break a club curfew at a time when they have nothing to celebrate, and nothing to be proud of. Struggling to adapt to a manager who is a strict disclipinarian and unlike his predecessors has a record of winning trophies.
He is not the problem, he has been there and done it and knows what it takes to consistently perform. His Linfield side was a strong side, the best in the island of Ireland at the time, with good professionals that delivered on the field. Upon arriving, Anderson realised just how inherent the problems at the club were, and possibly also realised some things that had been overlooked by previous managers. Serious problems. Remember, the fact that this side won the FAI Cup last year, and was still relegated is the most damning indictment of the previous tenure, and now the character of the players must come into question. Where was the professional application to do it week after week?
Already, this season is over. Anderson is looking to bring in some players in the off-season, players that won't just turn it on for a Cup run but players that will be willing to work in the league games, to consistently perform and take this club to a whole new level of professionalism.
The young players in the side at the moment should not be blamed. Alan McCartney has shown potential, while Watters may have had a poor game on Thursday, but needs time to develop at this level. The same applies to Andrew Duffy. All three should play a part in the remaining six games, and Cormac Malone also deserves to keep his place up front for the rest of the season.
Unfortunately, the patience of the fans has been tested, and it will take some time to get these people back through the turnstiles. The Sligo game was breaking point for many people who had kept faith through numerous other defeats to maintain our position as by far the best supported side in the First Division. Crowds that Shelbourne would love to have, according to David Crawley.
As someone put it so well last Thursday, if a band is crap every week, you won't wish to watch them every week. Dundalk now face a battle to get people back supporting the club again, and this time it will be good football, and not blind loyalty which must be sought as a selling point. Losing every week is demoralising, and it is hard to see the situation changing between now and the end of the season. Those with faith in Anderson will be suffering through gritted teeth, taking a serious dent in pride by losing to nothing sides - hopefully short term torture will be rewarded in the long term.
This season, however, is history. Just like our current side. Bye bye boys, your time is up.
1 John Connolly 5
Kicking was terrible
2 Sean Watters 5
Had a bad game, but needs time.
3 Alan McCartney 6
Very promising - would be better if slightly taller.
4 Paul Curran 4
Had a bad game, causing second goal. Post-match visit to bar ill-advised.
5 Bryan McCrystal 4
Not the immediate answer at left-back.
6 David Hoey 4
Just not working at central midfield. Can't seem to find a position to suit him.
7 Cormac Malone 6
One of the better performers on the evening, promising.
8 Chris Lawless 4
Lively at times, but some sloppy errors.
9 Gary Haylock 3
Hard to believe he could play any worse.
10 Martin Reilly 4
Not particularly effective in new position.
11 David Ward 5
Had a terrible evening by his standards, bar one terrific run.
SUBS
14 Craig Dean 5 for Hoey
Did not make any impression