Fixtures 24-26 March

[outspoken]

As a matter of interest, are your underage teams mostly locally based or are ye drawing players from Dublin?

Mostly Dublin drawn. Thankfully local numbers have started to increase over the past couple of seasons but very few if any break into the senior side. I've heard a few complaints from local players that certain underage players are quicker to get a senior call up because they are dubs. Could just be disappointed kids making a statement then again when you see some of the players cousins has attempted to bring though you do wonder what he saw in some of them.

[Ezeikial]

The attendance numbers have nothing got to do with our budget, and hasn't for the last number of years.

That's a really naive claim

While the Longford budget may not be based exclusively on attendance numbers, it is likely that increased gate receipts would impact positively on the playing budget

[Longfordian]

Yeah any increase in attendances would of course be of benefit to the budget. To be honest though, driving through town today it really hit home that the place is on its knees. I'm not one to get overly dramatic but a drive around the main streets is an eye opener for someone who lives away from Longford. Empty shop units everywhere and loads of bargain stores in the ones that are open. There's been no 'recovery', there are still jobs being lost and I'm not surprised that we're struggling to get people out to pay their €15.

Some will say the club could be doing more and they're probably right but I'm not convinced it would make any difference financially. We're still relatively competitive in LOI due to the interest and support of a very few individuals (one in particular). If that changed we'd probably be back to the bottom of the First or maybe even dropping out altogether.

[Town Legend]

That's a really naive claim

While the Longford budget may not be based exclusively on attendance numbers, it is likely that increased gate receipts would impact positively on the playing budget

Of course increased gates would help the budget but what I'm saying is our gates is not top of the list in dictating our budget. TC stated before pre season that he wanted to lower the age of the squad and give more of the U-19's a chance. He got rid of a good few experienced PL players and didn't replace them. The U-19's aren't good enough for PL football yet if at all. This is probably the least talented squad we've had in the PL and I'd even go as far as saying our FD winning squad was better. Once we go outside our first 11 we are struggling. So unless we're not going to suffer injuries or suspensions we'll be grand but at the minute we are missing I think 6!!

So no Ezeikiel, I don't think it's 'a really naive claim'.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Was there really a need to cancel the game in the first place? with only two guaranteed starters missing between both sides, and both incidentally who didn't start for the u21's.

Granted it's probably a wet day over the country today, but prob would have made more sense to play it on the Thursday night.

I don't know how you can say you can afford to give up a 4k gate which will reduce to around 3k when it's rescheduled for mid week, that's a significant loss in revenue.

was it not 3 players? Miele, Maguire and O'Connor or are you not counting O'Connor? Personally from a rovers point missing Miele is reason enough to try get it postponed.

[total hoofball]

Has Cousins assembled this younger squad because he believes it's progression for the club or is he simply managing a budget cut?

I don't think anyone in their right mind would choose the likes of Dillon, Hughes, McGlynn, O'Reilly over very good and proven players like Rice, Sullivan, Salmon, Ben Mohamed

[Martinho II]

Has Cousins assembled this younger squad because he believes it's progression for the club or is he simply managing a budget cut?

I don't think anyone in their right mind would choose the likes of Dillon, Hughes, McGlynn, O'Reilly over very good and proven players like Rice, Sullivan, Salmon, Ben Mohamed

this in my view is a budget cut this reminds me so much of the 06 season when we lost so many quality performers and was never replaced!

[Town Legend]

Budget is the same as last season.

[outspoken]

Cousins openly stated his intention to reduce the age of the squad, the outcome of this season will be down to him.

[oriel]

Firstly O'Conner started against Italy. Secondly that game was played Thursday.

Obviously the club feel as if they can afford to make this decision, or else the game would have been played

Fair point, I forgot the u21 game was on Thursday also (and about O'Connor!!) At least you have a second Rovers game at home later in the season on the regular Friday night slot.

[CityBoy]

I'd say the cancellation of the Cork/Rovers game was motivated by Bolger's absence.

It was an understandable decision by Cork, and they should recoup some of the loss through fining Boger for his stupidity.

Caulfield said before the Derry game (when Bolger got sent off) that he was going to try get it postponed.

While it's handy that he's not missing the Rovers game now, it didn't play a part in the decision at all.

[Dodge]

Caulfield said before the Derry game (when Bolger got sent off) that he was going to try get it postponed.

While it's handy that he's not missing the Rovers game now, it didn't play a part in the decision at all.

Actually, he said he'd talk to Noel King and see could he get players released early. Before the u21 squad was trimmed down, Cork sought to have the game postponed. I don't see anything wrong with what Caulfield and Cork have done but let's not kid ourselves that Bolger's suspension played no part in it

[Azrob Spooh]

Caulfield said before the Derry game (when Bolger got sent off) that he was going to try get it postponed.

While it's handy that he's not missing the Rovers game now, it didn't play a part in the decision at all.

What's the odds he'll miss the re-fixed game also; he does like a card does Gregory