Summer break over..predictions for resumption

[shep]

With most teams having got thier bearings now and the tasks at hand becoming clearer,how do people view thier own clubs progress...and what are the expectations for the remainder of the season?

Personally i would be delighted if Dundalk ended up 5th and we got a bit of a cup run going...

In Division 1 will Shels do it this time,or will it be another cliffhanger???

Cant wait for 7.45 tonight to welcome the brilliant Derry fans back to Oriel(mant coming by the way???)

[eamo1]

Started well but our EXTREMELY thin squad showed through in the last 2 months and our form dipped badly.I
im hoping we can avoid many injuries and im looking for O'Shea and one or 2 others to get the finger out.
Also looking for Foster to change it a bit.The tactics he plays are good but teams can figure it out after awhile.
I still predict 7th or 8th for us.

[micls]

I miss the break...

There's so much excitement about our game tonight that there's a whole 8 posts on the thread about it on our website.

Im headng up but can't say Im looking forward to more Foolin Football

[Martinho II]

from gareth cronin taking over its too late for us to make an impression but so long as we finish seventh or eighth and finish ahead of athlone I will be happy for now.

[sheao]

I think City don't have a squad that is capable of mounting a title challenge.I would conisider it a great season if we finished in a european spot. More importantly for the existance of the club i would love us to get of financial problems sorted out.

[Ezeikial]

Boyle Sports early odds pre-season:

Bohemians 7/4
Derry City 3/1
Cork City 9/2
St Patrick's Athletic 8/1
Shamrock Rovers 9/1
Sligo Rovers 16/1
Dundalk 16/1
Drogheda Utd 33/1
Bray Wanderers 100/1
Galway Utd 100/1
Seems to me that this is not not be too far removed from how things are shaping up, with St Pats and Galway being the most significant exceptions. Galway unlikely to be in automatic relegation spot (thats Bray for me), and will battle it out with Sligo and St Pats for 6th/7th/8th place, with Drogheda 9th. Dundalk to end up 5th, perhaps closing on Shamrocks and Cork (competing for 3rd/4th) and Derry to challenge Bohs for title.

Who will be in Europe next year depends a lot on whether the 65% rule needs to be enforced, and if the FAI have the bottle for it.

[all drogged up]

think Ezekieal was very close but as a drog fan obviosuly I'd have one or two aletrations to suggest:

Bohemians
Derry City
Cork City
Shamrock Rovers
Dundalk
St Patrick's Athletic
Sligo Rovers or Drogheda Utd
see above
Galway Utd
Bray Wanderers
Bray definitely in automatic relegation spot

Galway definitely 9th - we've had a dire 1st quarter and a great second quarter but the next two quarters will be more like the second than the first. Bray haven't got much and neither have Galway. we'll either scrape into 7th or be in playoffs- but I'd take me chances there if I had to.
Yeah Pats look weaker than Dundalk and without Quigley for a while too now. But Dundalk will not close on Rovers.

Cork and rovers out by themselves and Derry and Bohs at top.

FAI really need to enforce points deductions. Hope that won't be something we have to deal with but if you step outside the rules you should really be hammered. say what you like about last year but compared to Cork we've cleaned up our act on that score. they're still overstretching themselves - at least a 20 point deduction for them for two in a row and not learning their lesson I reckon. that'd probably see them in playoffs!

[Mr A]

t

FAI really need to enforce points deductions.

They let you in the premier when they knew your ground move was dead and only gave a slap on the wrists when you hit examinership- but now you want them to take a tough line?

[Hulsey]

I think its far too early to consign us to bottom. Drogheda looked dead and buried earlier in the season and have got their act together by becoming hard to beat. Think the top 4 will stay that way unless the financial element comes into play, with Dundalk in 5th, but the bottom 5 could go anyway. A few good results and your at the top of that 5 team mini league, a few bad results and your bottom

[marinobohs]

Boyle Sports early odds pre-season:
Bohemians 7/4
Derry City 3/1
Cork City 9/2
St Patrick's Athletic 8/1
Shamrock Rovers 9/1
Sligo Rovers 16/1
Dundalk 16/1
Drogheda Utd 33/1
Bray Wanderers 100/1
Galway Utd 100/1
.

Hoops not bad value at 9/1 to win title (all teams above them about to enter European football - generally leads to a drop off in domestic results) and by all accounts have money to add in the window.

Cant see final table hugely different to that projected above (unless points deductions applied somewhere)