What happens if Mervue win the first division?

[wonder88]

To me it looks like Mervue should be able to secure a play-off place at least. There is a lot of ex-Galway Utd players in their squad, who were not good enough for the premier divison as seen when Monaghan relegated them, but are good enough for the standard that isin the 1st divison these days. Having seen Shelbourne this season, I don't think they could beat them over two legs, and they are way behind Bohs in terms the standard of soccer they play. Have not yet watched Bray or UCD, but if they are similiar to Shels in playing ability I think Mervue would be outsiders in any play-off.

[gormacha]

Mervue may well yet finish in a promotion or a playoff spot, but I wouldn't bet on anything certain in the FD. After the first series there are 4 points seperating second top with second bottom. And even though Longford are 6 points clrear, they don't look significantly better than the chasing pack. The results are very erratic, and I expect everyone will beat everyone else throughout the season. Literally impossible to predict accurately.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Yeah. Wexford and Cobh especially, I've noticed, seem to swing wildly between good and bad results week to week.

[nigel-harps1954]

I know that friendlies are not exactly the best way to measure the strength of a team, but Mervue Utd and UCD (currently their most likely opponent) actually played against each other in the pre-season, and Mervue won deservedly. UCD, Bray and Shelbourne seem to be much weaker than last year's Dundalk. Wouldn't rule out Mervue, Finn Harps or anyone else beating one of these three teams.


Pfft, Harps beat Dundalk in pre season, and drew with Sligo. Doesn't mean diddly squat. Unfortunately we haven't quite performed since that.


Yeah. Wexford and Cobh especially, I've noticed, seem to swing wildly between good and bad results week to week.

The whole division is up and down. Strangely, Mervue seem to be the most consistently performing team so far. Longford by all accounts have been up and down too, but are getting the results, which at the end of the day, I suppose, matters most.

[De Town]

Longford by all accounts have been up and down too, but are getting the results, which at the end of the day, I suppose, matters most.

Nah we've been consistently rubbish so far. Played ok against Athlone for some periods of the game, apart from that we've been poor.

[Town Legend]

Have to say I thought we were brilliant down in Wexford....when we went down to 10 men. Maybe that might be an option for Tony to look into!!

[De Town]

Have to say I thought we were brilliant down in Wexford....when we went down to 10 men. Maybe that might be an option for Tony to look into!!

We were yeah, set ourselves up very well given the circumstances, but our football was hardly free flowing. We should have been 3-0 down by half time that night too.

[Town Legend]

Oh yeah totally agree on before we went down to 10, but when we did we played brilliantly and could of scored 2 or 3 more after we went 1 up. Last season that would of been a game we would of lost in the circumstances but the lads buckled down and got the 3 points even though I would of been delighted to get a point at half time.

[eL Bettor]

What do we think of the Galway el-Classico this weekend?
Thinking of backing Mervue and/or Mervue -1.

[Longfordian]

Usually very tight between those two. Mervue by a goal I reckon.

[Terry]

draw (1-1)

[nigel-harps1954]

Draw isn't completely out of the question, but I fancy Mervue to take it 2-1.

[gufcfan]

Score to be 1-1 at some stage and Mervue to win 3-1.

[Macy]

Longford by all accounts have been up and down too, but are getting the results, which at the end of the day, I suppose, matters most.
As you can see, we're actually being carried on a wave of positivity.

[adamd164]

Mervue and Harps close the gap at the top.

http://i39.tinypic.com/5plzkw.png

[legendz]

What's the story with Waterford? I would have expected them to be in the top 3 challenging for the division 1 title.

[nigel-harps1954]

The next four games before the June break will give a good idea of where the First Division is going this year. In my opinion, Waterford will come back into it yet, Mervue will start slipping up, and the top four going into the break will be Longford, Harps, Waterford, Mervue.

[Martinho II]

we havent played very well so far this season. the only thing that has saved us is that we score goals late on.. it worked until last night.. if we dont buck our act together I would expect Mervue and Harps to overtake us for now!

[trevy]

What's the story with Waterford? I would have expected them to be in the top 3 challenging for the division 1 title.

It's been a disappointing season so far. Seanie Maguire and Gary Dempsey were two huge losses as it would be very difficult to replace two of the best players in the first division. Midfield is weak and we lack a cutting edge up front. I've been to 3 home games this season and haven't seen us win yet. There are a lot of doubts about the manager too and a lot of fans don't think he is up to it. Mervue have beaten us 4 times in a row now and a lot of fans are fed up.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Mervue have beaten us 4 times in a row now and a lot of fans are fed up.

I know that feel, bra.

[gufc2000]

Plans for the CSL to begin in September have been shelved due to lack of interest, reported by Keith Kelly in this weeks Connacht Tribune.

Salthill and Mervue adamant that it will begin next March, and run concurrently with the Airtricity League. Sligo, Longford and Athlone were put off entering second string sides if it was going to be ran through the Winter.

Talks said to be ongoing and positive over 'Galway FC' for next season.

[gufcfan]

Not in the least bit surprised the CSL isn't starting this year. Doubt it will next year either. As for positive talks regarding "Galway FC", what a joke.

[adamd164]

So basically, 2 and a half years on, we're still at the "talks" stage between GUST and the FAI? Sad news.

FAI's CSL plan has proved a failure, even though they only devised it a year after GUFC went under. They have failed senior football in Galway.

[Longfordian]

Last thing AL clubs want is extra expense in the off season. They have the u19s already but if you're entering another league that's another, what 10k, 20k in expenses?

[Mr A]

MOD NOTE:

Folks- I know frustration may be running high- but please be careful with throwing allegations around. Allegations of corruption are serious and could cause grief for both the poster and this site.

OTHER MOD NOTE: Yes, I'm a moderator now.

[Charlie Darwin]

Can I accuse you of corruption?

[Mr A]

Only if you pay me €100 first.

[Charlie Darwin]

I see what you did there.

[gufc2000]

Fran Gavin in today's Irish Independent - http://www.independe...s-29361789.html (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/gavin-reveals-illegal-foreign-betting-ring-led-to-ban-on-james-29361789.html)

One change certain for next season, according to the league chief, is the entry of a unified club representing Galway in the First Division. That may not be good news for Mervue United, but Gavin reiterated that "everybody has signed up to Galway having one club in the First Division."
He added: "The implementation committee that was set up have met on a regular basis, but they've not moved on to the next phase which is forming an entity and looking at the logistics of forming a club.
"It's gone very well. All of the clubs are involved – Mervue, Salthill, the Galway FA and GUST (Galway United Supporters Trust). They're all involved in the process of getting the new club up and running. I think over the next few months, we'll see a lot of movement in Galway."

[harps1954]

So, we are now down to 19 senior clubs. Mervue and Salthill gone and replaced with the new Galway. Are the FAI going to run with a 7 team FD next year, or have they plans in place to bring in another new club as well as Galway?

[NeverFeltBetter]

That must be hard to stomach for the Mervue team competing this year. What's the point?

[gufcfan]

That must be hard to stomach for the Mervue team competing this year. What's the point?

Salthill Devon's manager Tony Mannion pretty much said as much in an interview before the season started.

I'll believe absolutely nothing until I see it happen.