First Division 2010

[MariborKev]

Basically most of them think we will be a very difficult prospect and aren't overly confident. A lot of Northern cute whoorism going on in other words. :p

No way. Ask the 20 or so people who have been to every game home and away this season and they'll tell you that Limerick are the toughest side we have played all year.

I'd take your hand off for a point now!

[osarusan]

Fortress Jackman awaits you. (http://tomlegg.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/3274028199_d4ff291509.jpg?w=500&h=334)

[thischarmingman]

Fortress Jackman awaits you. (http://tomlegg.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/3274028199_d4ff291509.jpg?w=500&h=334)

Isn't he a porn star?

[KevB76]

Can't eat my lunch - my stomach is churning in anticipation of tonights match !

[bluewhitearmy]

Can't eat my lunch - my stomach is churning in anticipation of tonights match !

Couldnt sleep at all last night over this one.

osarusan when did the improvements in Jackman get done?

[Flexy]

Couldnt sleep at all last night over this one.

osarusan when did the improvements in Jackman get done?
You will find Derry are actually a better team away from the Brandywell, teams come to Derry and sit back and hope to hit on the break. Think it will be a great game but I quite fancy Derrys chances tonight maybe 2-1

[Candystripe]

As M Kev said Limerick are the toughest team we've faced in the league this year and I'll be delighted with a point.

I can't make the game tonight and I'm not that bothered as I can see us losing 2-0.

Thankfully we have a two week break after this for our younger players to recharge their batteries :)

[Candystripe]

I love it when I get my predictions so wrong sometimes ;)

[LK37oldskool]

Unfortunately again for us we bottled it again last night.Our home form is pure crap and we'll not even make the play offs at this rate.very dissapointed in our attitude.we've shown far too much respect to the (so called) bigger clubs when they come to Jackman Park.Well done to Derry though,played a very smart game and looked comfortable all night.cant see ye losing the league now.

[bluewhitearmy]

Unfortunately again for us we bottled it again last night.Our home form is pure crap and we'll not even make the play offs at this rate.very dissapointed in our attitude.we've shown far too much respect to the (so called) bigger clubs when they come to Jackman Park.Well done to Derry though,played a very smart game and looked comfortable all night.cant see ye losing the league now.

We have 2 points against teams ahead of us at home this year thats not good enough. We have had 3 big crowds at Jackman this year and lost all 3. We have players that are good enough but i don't think we have the bottle to get enough points from Cork and Shels at home and Waterford,Mons away to get play-offs.

[El-Pietro]

Waterford won but they are no great shakes at all. Unfortunately neither were we. Very good goal to win it from Kiely. Very quiet fans surprisingly as well, they had a decent if not large travelling support and usually when they come up they are very vocal. Not so last night.

[monutdfc]

What is the play-off format? 2nd plays 3rd and winners play 2nd-last in premier?

[**FrOsTy**]

2nd play 3rd with second at home in a one legged tie.

3rd bottom plays 2nd bottom with 3rd at home in a one legged tie.

Winner of 1st div playoff game V Loser of premier div playoff game in a two legged tie

Winner goes or stays up.

[**FrOsTy**]

I was only thinking about it today. If they wanted to do it with a few games

Why not have 2nd v 3rd in FD play a two legged tie to go up, and 3rd bottom v 2nd bottom play a two legged tie to stay up.

[Candystripe]

Because clubs only have players under contract for a certain period.

A lot of F.A.I. cup final teams have problems with players who's contracts are up before the final and it has been known that they almost bribe the clubs to get a nice bonus if they extend there contacts for two extra weeks.

Obviously the same type of money wouldn't be involved for an end of season play-off but the same situation does occur ie: players holding clubs to a ransom.

[fieldofmarkets]

What on Earth is the reasoning behind this? - I know the real argument for English play-offs is the money generated, but surely at least two teams should be guaranteed promotion and if necessary 3rd v 3rd bottom play-off. It's not as if countless millions will be involved.

Not that I'm a bitter FD supporter or anything, but I suppose its designed to only bring up one team from the FD and not dilute the higher standard, smaller premier.

[legendz]

I haven't heard anything lately on Limerick moving to the Markets Field. I hope they make the move. If football is to come on in Limerick, it'll have to start by a return to their spiritual home.

[bluewhitearmy]

I haven't heard anything lately on Limerick moving to the Markets Field. I hope they make the move. If football is to come on in Limerick, it'll have to start by a return to their spiritual home.

Negotiations are still ongoing as far as i know the next that will be announced will be when/if we get it as thats the way Pat O Sullivan works nothing is said until its done.

[passerrby]

best of luck hope it works out . would the fai not buy it for soccer as they did with so many other grounds

[sullanefc]

I really don't understand the point of the 2nd and 3rd last teams in the premier to be involved in a play off. How is a club supposed to hype that game. "Come out and watch your team battle to beat the drop." Nobody in this country pays to see losers play. Why not just relegate the bottom 2 and organise play offs for FD teams only.

Edit: It would also do away with the farcical situation where a team in the premier wins the play off, stays up, yet because of a team getting relegated for off the field stuff, the game was pointless anyway. Didn't that happen recently?

[osarusan]

Edit: It would also do away with the farcical situation where a team in the premier wins the play off, stays up, yet because of a team getting relegated for off the field stuff, the game was pointless anyway. Didn't that happen recently?

Bray lost to Drogheda in the PD playoff, and then to fingal in the PD/FD playoff but avoided relegation thanks to Derry and Cork going bust. There was no team relegated - UCD (champions) and Fingal (beat Shels in the FD playoff) took the places of Cork and Derry.

[sullanefc]

Yeah, so the Bray V Fingal game was pointless.

[osarusan]

Personally, I don't see the point in any playoffs (besides possible financial benefits). If you're going to promote two and demote two, let the final league tables decide that. It defeats the point of a league in my opinion.

[dfx-]

It keeps third and fourth top and bottom interested for the season..

Relegation would be dead in the water for the PD if there was no play off with the bottom two cut adrift by about 12 points.

[osarusan]

It keeps third and fourth top and bottom interested for the season..

Relegation would be dead in the water for the PD if there was no play off with the bottom two cut adrift by about 12 points.

So be it then. If they're 12 points adrift, they deserve to get relegated, not to get a chance to escape.

Likewise, if one team finishes 7 or 8 points clear of another in the first division, they've shown their superiority over the course of a season. Why should they have to have a playoff against that team?

[dfx-]

Probably the only things keeping Dundalk interested in mid-table is playing Rovers in Oriel and avoiding being sucked further into the mire..Likewise, I'm sure Shels would like to have a shot at second/third than fruitlessly chase the nordies in the distance.

Why should second spot give you the same promotion rights as topspot i.e automatic?

[sullanefc]

I actually think the play offs are ok for the teams coming up. It keeps more teams interested that are further down the league. There isn't too much more to play for in that league (i.e. Europe).

But my point was that having 2 loser teams in a play off is a hard sell for punters. If you want to keep mid table teams in the premier interested, why not have more automatic relegation spots.

[osarusan]

Why should second spot give you the same promotion rights as topspot i.e automatic?
Because that's what a league is for. To determine the quality of a team over a season. And if Monaghan finish a point ahead of us at the end of the season, then they've shown themselves to be a (marginally) better team than us. That's why they should go up and we shouldn't*.

If the argument is that the league table at the end of the season isn't the only way to decide who gets what reward, then why not have a playoff to decide who wins the league? It would be based on exactly the same logic.

*Don't get me wrong, I'd love us to win a playoff as much as anybody else, but I still don't agree with the concept.

[Lamper.sffc]

I actually think the play offs are ok for the teams coming up. It keeps more teams interested that are further down the league. There isn't too much more to play for in that league (i.e. Europe).

But my point was that having 2 loser teams in a play off is a hard sell for punters. If you want to keep mid table teams in the premier interested, why not have more automatic relegation spots.They way i see it is, its a high stakes game and that alone would create interest in it. Im not sure how the crowds where for last years relagation playoff between Bray and Drogs. Maybe one of their fans could enlighten us

[legendz]

A lot of leagues run some form of play-off these days. It avoids more dead rubbers. Everyone knows the rules at the start of the season so it is fair. Win the division, you win promotion. Fall short and you'll get a second go through the play-offs.
I'd prefer a play-off system though where it was (Prem 9th vs Div 1 4th) and (Div 1 2nd vs Div 1 3rd). I think they ran that one season.

[passerrby]

A lot of leagues run some form of play-off these days. It avoids more dead rubbers. Everyone knows the rules at the start of the season so it is fair. Win the division, you win promotion. Fall short and you'll get a second go through the play-offs.
I'd prefer a play-off system though where it was (Prem 9th vs Div 1 4th) and (Div 1 2nd vs Div 1 3rd). I think they ran that one season.

nobody told maxi

[Martinho II]

A lot of leagues run some form of play-off these days. It avoids more dead rubbers. Everyone knows the rules at the start of the season so it is fair. Win the division, you win promotion. Fall short and you'll get a second go through the play-offs.
I'd prefer a play-off system though where it was (Prem 9th vs Div 1 4th) and (Div 1 2nd vs Div 1 3rd). I think they ran that one season.

you are dead right on this legendz I think this was the 2003 season Derry ,Finn Harps ,Limerick and ?? were in playoffs that season!!

[Lim till i die]

I think we played Derry and Harps played Bray.

Then Derry beat Harps in final.

[corkharps]

I think we played Derry and Harps played Bray.

Then Derry beat Harps in final.
They only think they did! We know better!We only allowed it as part of the processed peace!

[blue til i die]

Jaysis its very close now. Still derry's to throw away but they're doing a good job of it so far.

We HAD to beat them on friday and did it pretty well. We seem to have got past our bad spell now. All the others teams winning means its even closer now.

Still think it will go all the way to the last day. We're at Shels, Derry at Mons and Lims at athlone. Should be interesting.

[Sam_Heggy]

Derry v Mons could be the title decider, should be a massive crowd for that one. Derry only have to draw one game and win the rest with Mons winning all the rest of their and it would set up a huge game.

[Sam_Heggy]

These huge dips in form have been regular from Division 1 front runners, Shels last season and in 2008, Dundalk done it for a few seasons, Cobh nearly threw it away in 2007, it's just a recurring theme.

[CSFShels]

I still think we'll nab a playoff spot.

[Jofspring]

Shels are very close alright but with there being 3 teams already in the mix for the playoff spot i think Shels will miss out. I think they would need at least two teams out of Limerick, Monaghan and Waterford to slip up as if only one where to slip up there is already another one of them ready to take there place and i can't see two teams slipping up.

Looking at our run in i feel like we might miss out. Traveling to Monaghan and Waterford and Shels coming to Jackman the second last game of the season might be too much. I hope i'm seriously wrong but can't help but feel pessimistic.

[Lim till i die]

Traveling to Monaghan and Waterford and Shels coming to Jackman the second last game of the season might be too much. I hope i'm seriously wrong but can't help but feel pessimistic.

1 point at best there.

Also, just to help your pessimism along, Paddy and Dave both suspended for the FORAS Co Op game!!

[Jofspring]

1 point at best there.

Also, just to help your pessimism along, Paddy and Dave both suspended for the FORAS Co Op game!!

Ryan or Rogers? I'm kind of hoping Rogers more than Ryan because we haven't exactly seen much of McGuiness in goals barr maybe two games this season so unsure about him. Either will be a huge loss though.

[razor]

I think we have a fantastic chance of maintaining our midtable mediocrity.

We have 40 points at the moment.
10 out of 36 gained from the 5 teams above us and the remaining 30 out of 39 gained from the teams below us.

[bluewhitearmy]

Ryan or Rogers? I'm kind of hoping Rogers more than Ryan because we haven't exactly seen much of McGuiness in goals barr maybe two games this season so unsure about him. Either will be a huge loss though.

From what i've seen of McGuiness please let it be Rogers.

[**FrOsTy**]

We've hit form again at the right end of the season. We have Salthill and Mervue in the next 2 games both away from home but we should have 6 points from that if we have an aspirations of promotion. Then come twomassive games against Limerick @ home and the Mons away. 10 Points from 12 should see us in a great position to secure a playoff spot. I think we've the easiest run with Longford, Athlone and Shels. Yet again should be atleast 10 points. 6 wins 2 draws should see us atleast in a playoff if not more. Its going to be a great end to the season. Any of the top 5 teams can still get promoted.

[Lim till i die]

Tis Rogers. :eek:

I'll gave into my crystal ball for the remainder of our games:

Harps W
CoOp L
Waherfurr L
Salthill W
Wexford W
Mons L
Shels D
Athlone W

Which will give us 59 points seeing us comfortably 5th :bulgy:

[fieldofmarkets]

I don't see us losing 3 games, but with Waterford coming good again and Mons not looking like fading, we may have to beat Shels & Cork at home and take a minimum of 4 points from the away games at Waterford & Mons...might be too much.

[Lim till i die]

I don't see us losing 3 games, but with Waterford coming good again and Mons not looking like fading, we may have to beat Shels & Cork at home and take a minimum of 4 points from the away games at Waterford & Mons...might be too much.

Might be?!?!

If ever Shels were up for a game they'll be up for that game below in Limerick.

We're far, far, better than them but factor in our traditional stage fright and it gets a bit iffy.

As for four points from Monaghan and Waterford away. :eek:

Funnily we had a good record in Mon under Kerley and O'Connor, we've struggled BIG TIME last few trips though for whatever reasons.

I'd say you'd have to ask the memory man Gary Spain when our last good performance in the RSC was :)

[CSFShels]

We're far, far, better than them
Think you might be reading too much into that nightmare night. The league table says you're not far far better than us and it generally doesn't lie.

[Lim till i die]

No just comparing our respective lineups.

League Table would actually be irrelevant in a one on one encounter.

For example Wexford hopped us below in Wexford and you'd never think it if you were to just go by the league table.

[Jofspring]

Ok I've decided to resign myself to Limerick finishing 4th or 5th at this stage so hopefully then i won't be as dissapointed if we don't make the play offs. Really can't see us doing it as the days go by. Hopefully though Limerick can prove me wrong.