Next season

[notever]

Look at the Club Website and you will see the plans....where have you been for the last few months?

[lostinbrum]

I know what they do in Stoke is have a specific "family section" in the Seddon Stand, where parents with young children will get their tickets. If someone is acting up or using bad language, they are asked to leave by the stewards. However, pretty much anything goes in the Boothen End, so if you want to sing rude songs and swear at the ref, you go there, and everybody is catered for.

Perhaps we could do the same at the Carlisle. Maybe have the end nearest the changing rooms designated the "family area", and ask people who are swearing to move down closer to Na Fánaithe? It's an idea anyway. The last thing Bray need is to be alienating any fans!

I think most clubs have a family stand these days. Or at least the few grounds I've been to do. The problem with being on the lower end is that its a part of the ground most people pass at some point, be it for the toilets or shop or whatever. Its a just too small to be segregating areas.

However, at the end of the day its not a big ask...think about what is being sung, who else is beside you and limit unnecessary bad language.

[bray boy]

Without a shadow of a doubt the singing more, passionate, whatever ya want to call em fans shouldnt be in 'the family stand'. Suppose it can all be discussed at the meeting on friday...

[Riddickcule]

Can anyone tell me why the banks been closed for so long? (no pun please)

Also, the idea of having a family section is good however the whole stand is the "family stand"
One match(UCD i think) the singers moved over to the Dart stand 2nd half...That was quality.

[The Fox]

For next season I would like to see Eddie in charge - overall he has done a good job on very limited resources. I didnt agree with one or two of his selection choices during the year but there werent too many crazy decisions.
I would like to see most of the current squad retained if they wanrt to play for the club - and if that is the case we would give ourselves a fighting chance of getting back.

In order of importance to keep - 1. Derek Foran - a solid season and no first division attackers would worry him.
2. Gary McCabe - our biggest threat this year, would score for fun in division 1.
3. Dave Mulcahy - took a while to get going in the beginning but gave our midfield a bit of steel - never gave up!
4. Skippy - I dont think that we can afford a better keeper, we will be doing to keep him.
5. Dane Massey - a great start to the season - one or two disappointing games but generally excellent.
6. Chris Deans - usually solid but not quite as good as the last time he played for us
7. Chris Shields - a great start to the season - one or two disappointing games but generally excellent. Good up and coming.
8. Derek Pender - of our established players i thought that Derek was most prone to mistakes but always tried.
9. Colm Tresson? - he may free up wages if he retires but he might still do an organising job with some youngsters in division 1.
10 Gareth Coughlan - Young and promising

Players who could do a job in Division 1
The O'Niell brother looked promising when played - young and fine for division 1
Dave Webster - did fine when played - young and fine for division 1
Daire Doyle - did ok and would do ok in Division 1
John Flood - did ok but not enough goals, great one against bohs however.
Paul Byrne - injured for half of the season so hard to tell - should be ok for division 1
Jake Kelly - Young i know but i always thought we had more threat with Byrne and Flood up front or mccabe and coughlan on the wings.
John Mulroy - for some reason wasnt given much of a chance - when he did get it in Drogheda he blew it
Gary Cronin - got better as the seaason went on but too much ball was wasted.
Stephen Brennan - I would imagine that he was one of the highest payed and he I thought he started very well but there was not enough substance there when the going got tough.

Hope I havent forgotten anyone!!!!!!!

[Roo69]

Can anyone tell me why the banks been closed for so long? (no pun please)

Also, the idea of having a family section is good however the whole stand is the "family stand"
One match(UCD i think) the singers moved over to the Dart stand 2nd half...That was quality.

Because of Children running up and down it and falling and hurting themselves.

[brayfan08]

were not aloud to sing on de dart side because thats were the away fans are

[mightyseagull]

Without a shadow of a doubt the singing more, passionate, whatever ya want to call em fans shouldnt be in 'the family stand'. Suppose it can all be discussed at the meeting on friday...

Where do you suggest they go??

There is an away stand and a home stand, seems to me there in the right stand.

[Riddickcule]

Fans who want to sing can't be told what they can and can't sing!

Can you imagine a person from Rovers or Bohs asking their fans to stop swearing at games or stop lighting off flares? No, so why are we any different

[Roo69]

Fans who want to sing can't be told what they can and can't sing!


You are wrong there. There are certain things that you can not sing about, for example, a racially motivated chat. That will get you a life time ban.

[peadar1987]

Fans who want to sing can't be told what they can and can't sing!

Can you imagine a person from Rovers or Bohs asking their fans to stop swearing at games or stop lighting off flares? No, so why are we any different


What Roo said, and also, if you don't want to be sitting next to a person singing offensive songs, you should be catered for as well. It's not difficult really.

[Riddickcule]

You are wrong there. There are certain things that you can not sing about, for example, a racially motivated chat. That will get you a life time ban.

Well yeah obv. thats a bit extreme now, but i'm not going that far, i mean really chants that involve swearing, or jeering at past players, can't do anything about that.

[Roo69]

Well yeah obv. thats a bit extreme now, but i'm not going that far, i mean really chants that involve swearing, or jeering at past players, can't do anything about that.

They actually can, it's in the clubs charter/mission statement that they do not tolerate any foul or abusive language, most clubs would have that. Thankfully it's never been bad enough for them to do anything about it.

[Hulsey]

Heard at the player of the year on friday that Shields, Massey, Kelly and Webster are all under contract for next year. Very good news there, Shields and Massey weretwo of our better players this year, Webster is more than capable of playing First Division and this season could give Kelly the confidence and self belief that looked lacking at times this year.

[notever]

Heard at the player of the year on friday that Shields, Massey, Kelly and Webster are all under contract for next year. Very good news there, Shields and Massey weretwo of our better players this year, Webster is more than capable of playing First Division and this season could give Kelly the confidence and self belief that looked lacking at times this year.
Hope this is correct,if so its very good news.

[Riddickcule]

We've a fair chance of shooting straight back up methinks

[Roo69]

We've a fair chance of shooting straight back up methinks

Not with the squad we will have, it will be our youngest squad ever, mostly made up of last seasons U20s.

McCabe is heading to Sligo

[Weatherman]

Not with the squad we will have, it will be our youngest squad ever, mostly made up of last seasons U20s.

McCabe is heading to Sligo

Yeah heard its gona be the 20's with Shields, Kelly, Kane and Webster and maybe Massey wit 3 or 4 new lads coming in!

[Riddickcule]

Sure we're coming back up anyway coz of the whole Cork fiasco..:D

[The Fox]

I am very disappointed to hear that McCabe and Foran appear to be leaving, although i dont blame them as they are Premier Division standard.

No disrespect but U20's players no matter how good they are need some quality experienced heads around them and as good as they are (I am delighted they are staying) you wouldnt call Massey and Shields experienced.

On another note who is making these signings on the website - Is Gormley officially staying? Who is making the decisions?

[peadar1987]

It's quite a pity that the players haven't waited until we're sure which division we're in before abandoning ship. If Cork or Bohs end up getting relegated, I'd say we'll be facing a playoff against Shels, and Derek Foran could be playing for them.

[Hulsey]

Our budget is going to be cut for next season regardless of division. I don't think a lot of the lads had the option to stay with the club unfortunatly and wouldn't say anyone who leaves is jumping ship, just moving on to a club who can afford to sign them. Also doubt we'd have to playoff with shels for the premier place if Cork end up getting any sanctions, as we're next in line for the spot

[The Fox]

I dont think they are jumping ship either - the rumour is Foran to Shels though and that is disappointing as they are a division 1 team too. He is a premier quality player.

[peadar1987]

I'm not judging them for leaving the club, most of us would probably do the same if we were offered better money or a full-time deal. I'm just disappointed they're not waiting an extra couple of weeks to see the fallout from the end-of-year accounts. If Bray are reinstated in the Premier, Deggsy's going to look pretty stupid, because I doubt he's on a contract at Shels much in excess of what we'd have been able to offer him. (Although I'd still give him a clap when he next plays at the Carlisle, and wish him the best for the future)

McCabe to Sligo is understandable, as they're a full-time side, and he's probably on a lot more money than we'd have been able to pay him.

On the Cork situation, are we definitely first in line? I would have thought the fairest solution would be a playoff against Shels, as we both lost to Fingal. Mind you, I wouldn't be too distraught at losing the chance to be the first team to be relegated from the same division three times in the one season!

[Hulsey]

If he signs for Shels on a better deal than we could offer him as a 1st division club, odds are that he'll still recieve a better deal than we can afford as a Premier division club anyway. Shels outbid us for Kevin Doherty last year so no reason they couldn't do it again when our budget is going to be cut.
On the ifs of the Cork situation, as the premier side we should be first in line imo. It would be stupid to even try to organise a play off (even if it is the fairest way) as players from both sides will have moved on (either by signing or in principle) to other clubs meaning that the two teams from last year wouldn't be the same that finished the season.

[dublinwanderer]

Is Gormely defo staying for next season???

I have heard that a lot of players are not happy with him anymore and thats the reason why some have left already. I really like Eddie and appreciate what he has done for the club, but if this is the case, that he has lost the dressing room, then i think the club should seriously think about his position as manager.

It is a shame the likes of Foran and Mulcahy are going to Shels (if its true) they were are best players last season and going to a rival team... Also heard Pender is linked with Drogheda and Pats and with McCabe going too and nearly all the squad on the PFAI website, doesnt seem to good for next season... lets hope the club can pull of a few signings cause the under20's from last year will not get us promoted. They might be good but they are only kids.

[tippex]

My understanding is that Yes Eddie is defo staying. But who knows ;)
I also think that frank and irene need to sort out what is happening as if they leave it until the licensing (feb) and they tell us that we are in the premier due to cork not receiving a premier license I feel we will have some job getting deccent players in and we will have lost at least 6 weeks on all the other clubs (just like drogheda last season)

[Green&whitearmy]

I have also heard most of the current players and past players for bray disliked eddie and didnt get on with him, if this is the case does something not need to be done to improve the situation at the club, we cant keep losing our big names and experienced players because of this, we'll end up the way longford went......

And no offence to the U20's but most wouldn't have a hope in hell in the 1st division. I think something has to be done now otherwise it'll be too late to do anything even if something happens to cork or bohs, we cant just sit around and wait.....

[flash]

When People say they are only kids, think of the season just gone and UCD who lost all the experienced players they had and were left with a team of A championship and U20 players. They went on to win the 1st division and played good football for the season. I can see no reason why Bray can't go and the same. Bray have some really good you players and if they are given the confidence to go and play to win and not play not to be beaten, I think they can surprise allot of people.

[peadar1987]

When People say they are only kids, think of the season just gone and UCD who lost all the experienced players they had and were left with a team of A championship and U20 players. They went on to win the 1st division and played good football for the season. I can see no reason why Bray can't go and the same. Bray have some really good you players and if they are given the confidence to go and play to win and not play not to be beaten, I think they can surprise allot of people.

A lot depends on the start of the season I think. If we go out and get tanked in the first game of the season, the lads aren't experienced campaigners, so they could have a bit of a crisis. Get a bit of momentum going and they could do really well

[flash]

You are going to ups and downs with young players, if they are encouraged go and play and if they do make a mistake try and be positive. I think Bray will well any time I have seen the A or u20 teams teams they have always competed.

[The Fox]

I am all for giving youth a try but we need experienced heads and it is depressing to see that two of our better players that fit that bill are possibly heading to a rival team in the first division - I cannot understand how Shels could afford to pay them more than us - they dont get bigger crowds.?!

[Captain2007]

Good young players signed to date, will probably get a couple of experienced players in Jan, doesn't look a bad side to me so far.........won't be short of ability and will play for the jersey.On competing with Shel's financially forget about it, we would end up like Cobh & Kildare!

Kane
King-Hall Webster Higgins Massey
Touhy D O Neill Shields O Connor Kelly
S O Neill
Subs:
Vickers -CM
Fletcher-RB
Zambra-CM
Thomas -GK
Lambert-GK
Waters
Murphy
Fitzsimons

[peadar1987]

Has Colm Tresson finally retired? He was one of my favourite players when I first started watching Bray, so I always want to see him on the pitch, even if I know deep down that his legs aren't up to it any more! I reckon he could still do a job in the first division picking out passes from central midfield if he had a hard worker like, say, Shields, alongside him. With the pace of O'Neill, Kelly or Mulroy up front, his eye for a good through ball could get us a lot of goals.

[Martinho II]

lads would ye take Stephen Gough and Ray Kenny back if ye get the chance? The lads are out of contract and I dont think they will come back to us after the goings on of last season...

[centre mid]

Ray Kenny could probably still do a job in the first, no thanks to Gough.

[Hulsey]

lads would ye take Stephen Gough and Ray Kenny back if ye get the chance? The lads are out of contract and I dont think they will come back to us after the goings on of last season...

I'd say Ray Kenny would be a good signing as his experience would be vital to helping what is essentially going to be a very young squad. The more experienced heads we have at the club the better and I don't know how he did for ya's this season but he did a job in the Premier for us 2 seasons ago so can't see why he wouldn't be a solid enough first division player.
As centre mid said, if ya paid me I wouldn't take Gough :p