Mns 22/6/09

[CuanaD]

I'm surprised that Rico didn't say anything about Doolin's comments, considering his rant about teams not playing attractive football a few weeks back.

Oh, and Roddy is a plank. Saying that "Prizes aren't handed out in June" when Drogheda got off the bottom, but he was prepared to relegate them in May?

To be fair to Roddy (cant believe i said that - he is a plank, but good for OTT statements designed to get us all talking)
his reasoning was fair - Drogs have no quality goalscorers (I think he said 'no propper strikers'); while they will be well set-up at the back, you need to score golas to win & that's their ongoing problem. Also, getting a striker or 2 in the transfer window is FAR harder when you are at the bottom of the league.
They have only managed 10 goals in 17 games, so he has a point.
But Mathews' defence first approach could still see them safe (I think)

[Longfordian]

Drogs are kind of reminding me of the Longford '07 team in terms of spirit and commitment after a difficult start. Of course the fact that they have three members of that team also increases the similarities. Ultimately the six point deduction and the general disharmony it caused in the immediate aftermath meant we just went down but that year Alan Mathews managed to create a really tight bond between he and his players. As the season went on, they had almost an us against the world mentality and in my opinion that's when he's at his best. Even the difficulties at Cork brought him closer to his players by all accounts. With a couple of shrewd additions I would not be at all surprised to see them stay up.

[Martinho II]

at least this time with matthews the doesnt have the barrier of six points deducted. I would be strongly confident that they will stay up and bray go down. I think they cant avoid the playoffs though.