Henderson and the Holy Grail

Promoted as First Division champions, Cobh Ramblers have struggled to come to terms with the rigours of Premier Division football. Their enviable unbeaten home record was brought to an end by current leaders Bohemians early in May, and since then Finn Harps and Drogheda have come away from St Colmans with full points, thanks to comprehensive victories. With just two wins so far, at home to Shamrock Rovers and away to Galway, manager Stephen Henderson is fully aware of what needs to change and improve if his young side are to avoid the drop.

Speaking to extratime.ie, Henderson explained that self belief seems to be a problem among his squad - "There is no confidence in the team whatsoever, we are playing like a team that have lost a lot of matches. When we go a goal down you can physically see all the heads drop."

He continued - "At the start of the season we were making a lot of chances and missing a lot of chances, that puts pressure on the back four to keep clean sheets and the players missing the chances - their confidence goes."

Scoring goals has certainly been a problem. Only seven times have they hit the back of the net, and centre back Kevin Murray is top scorer. Even fellow strugglers Finn Harps and Galway have scored more goals - they have ten goals a piece.

Henderson also feels his side are not physical enough and show a reluctance to putting their foot in. He said - "We are too nice at the moment and that's the truth. I'm fed up looking at players running thirty yards and then not tackling. We are getting yellows cards for mouthing at referees and silly reasons. If we are going get a yellow, lets get it for a reason, we are not tough enough at the moment. We are going to have to add that little bit of steel back in to it, cause its not there at the moment."

Against Drogheda, in the first half alone, Cobh picked up four yellow cards and a few weeks before that they picked up a total of six cards in the Brandywell. Cobh are not a dirty team, nor are they in the habit of picking up cautions for cynical fouls. Henderson believes his side are finding it tough to compete against bigger, stronger opposition.

He explained - "Even Fingal were physically stronger than us so that's worrying to say the least. Drogheda were like robots compared to my lads, and then you play a first division team and they are like robots also. My lads are part time and we have to get the mix right between training and their work and their family life, but Fingal are only part time and they seem to have been able to bulk up in the right manner. We will have to take a look at it because honesty and integrity will only get you so far."

As well as having an increased faith in their own abilities, getting in more tackles,and spending more time in the gym, Henderson is hoping that his young squad will soon have a few experienced heads competing for a place in the starting eleven - "I have spoken to four players so far, so hopefully come July that will work out. They are four experienced players. I have told the lads they are not coming in to replace you, they are coming in because they are experienced and to help you."

Cobh are a club that survive on a budget that is the lowest in the top flight, and even at that, concerns regarding the financials are a daily worry for the board. The recently confirmed friendly at Turners Cross against Sunderland will make a big difference, but even if the money is, or will be, in the bank, Henderson made it clear that until the proposed new players have actually arrived, you can never be sure where you stand - " Obviously these players have said they are coming, buts that's never the case til they are actually signed. They are all eircom League players from Premier Division clubs, so they will know what is required."

All things considered, Cobh are in an reasonable position. Many criticised the club for not being more ambitious during the pre season. The squad wasn't really strengthened and a switch to a full-time wasn't even considered. The reasons for this are straightforward - the money simply wasn't available. Finn Harps on the other hand took a different approach. They made the switch to being full-time outfit, invested heavily in new players, and manager Paul Hegarty was handed a long term full time contract. Indeed many Harps supporters feel the club have acted recklessly. Should the Donegal side be relegated its inevitable that the squad will have to be broken up, and Hegarty, if still in charge, will face a tough rebuilding task.

Managers in charge of clubs challenging for the title take every available opportunity to let it be known that at this point, the season is far from over and that there is lots of football to be played - its no different for managers at the opposite end of the table, and as Henderson points out, its all to play for - "We are not bottom of the league, we are second from bottom and only three points off the Holy Grail spot which is fourth from bottom. So at the break we are just three points off that spot, for a young team that is not so bad - so we have plenty to look forward to."

Cobhs first game back after the summer break is in Turners Cross this Friday, against local rivals Cork City.