LOI Series 23 & 20

[dundalkfc10]

Theres only 1 Stephen Kenny :)

[Ezeikial]

Dundalk are doing great, especially as this was looking like a hang on in there year, but with a good manager given support from the board and real team spirit, we're moving. Of course it could all go bang, as with anywhere else, however the club is going in the right direction. The budget is good compared to other clubs, but it's still being outperformed.

The budget that Stephen Kenny is working with is minuscule compared to any other club in the top half.

It is probably 7th or 8th in the league. If there was a league table available for points won relative to budget there would probably be 10 clubs separating Stephen Kenny's current club from his last one.

[adamd164]

Tommy Dunne sacked.

[sadloserkid]

Tommy Dunne sacked.

Any confirmation?

[Jofspring]

Any confirmation?

Cork city twitter account.

[Ezeikial]

http://www.thescore.ie/cork-city-part-company-with-tommy-dunne-following-limerick-loss-1020852-Aug2013/


Cork City part company with Tommy Dunne following Limerick lossStuart Ashton will take charge as his temoporary replacement as the search for a new manager begins.19 minutes ago 293 Views 1 Comment (http://www.thescore.ie/cork-city-part-company-with-tommy-dunne-following-limerick-loss-1020852-Aug2013/#comments)
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http://s2.thejournal.ie/media/2013/08/tommy-dunne-1342013-390x285.jpgDunne has stepped down as manager of Cork City.

Image: INPHO/Donall Farmer (http://inpho.ie/media/yMCsitAk6Dh-XHol_gZQfw..a?ts=M92tFgy4Nfi5aF9-mDTCAQ..a)

TOMMY DUNNE HAS left his post as manager of Cork City, it has today been confirmed.
The decision was made followingthe side’s 2-1 loss to Limerick last night (http://www.thescore.ie/loi-dundalk-beat-rovers-pats-draw-drogheda-1020685-Aug2013/), which leaves them in 7th place, just six points ahead of bottom side Bohemians.
A statement from the club read: “Cork City FC and first team manager Tommy Dunne have parted company with immediate effect.
“Tommy, who took the reins of Cork City FC in 2010 days before the season commenced, led the club back to the Premier Division in 2011. He guided City to a mid-table finish last season, with the club currently sitting in seventh position in the Premier Division table.
“Stuart Ashton will take over the role of caretaker first team manager on a week to week basis. Stuart, who first joined the club as a professional in the 1984 season, has over the last decade established himself as the country’s premier underage manager, having won every honour open to Cork City FC underage teams, most recently retaining the Under 19 National League and Cup double.”
Cork City FC Chairman Mick Ring added: “The board have not come to this decision lightly or hastily, and we are extremely grateful to Tommy for all he has done for us over the last few years. We will always remember his time here fondly and wish him the very best for the future, but we feel our decision is in the best interests of the club. We must now look forward to our upcoming FAI Cup game against Kilbarrack and mid-season friendly against West Brom.”

[Strongbow10]

Big win for Athlone.

We were top of the table at the start of the week. So the fans tried to push for the big attendances by advertising the games a bit more, putting a lot more posters up and it worked.

All we needed was the players to respond as we got a decent crowd 2 games ago and drew 0-0 which resulted in us getting a smaller attendance in the next game.

We were the better team but Finn Harps were hard to break down and we played very predictably. We brought Curran on and Kelly in centre mid. And the goal came from both. Kelly ran at the Harps defence and played a great little pass into Currans feet and he slotted it into the net.

It was important we won there as I can see us improving our attendance again as a 0-0 would have lost a few people from the crowd.

Anyway I think we will run home and win the League from here. We are soo good at the back. Aidan Collins is the best centre back in the first division and Robbie Clarke has been solid anytime I have seen him. Its great now that we have a second or third option going forward in Curran and McCormack as we have no bother controlling games and we look like we arnt going to concede every game but teams park the bus and we get frustrating and lack ideas but Kelly, McCormack and Curran gave us differnt options today and won us the game when Gorman was marked out of it.

Aidan Collins has been absolutely outstanding this season, dominant in the air and getting more and more composed everytime I see him.

Really hoping that Graham Kelly can add that little bit something extra in the centre of midfield, I feel its an area we are still relatively weak. James O'Brien is a really good player and needs support of better quality in the centre. Ian Sweeney's form has tailed off a little bit, I definately think he is more useful out wide or in an attacking support position rather than up front. Curran took his goal very well and looked very lively.

The bench looks really strong now aswell, it won us the game. Harps played very well, Kevin McHugh may be getting on in years now but his movement is still very good at this level. But we ground out the result which is a great sign.

As for the attendance, we saw some people at the game who have not been in years which is a great sign for the club. Folk in Athlone love their football, the older section of the support have seen the lofty heights and crippling lows of LOI football. Was great to see the singing for the team (and the team certainly responded to it).

Its been 18 years since we had premier division football so heres hoping we can get there for next season.

[roversforever]

The budget that Stephen Kenny is working with is minuscule compared to any other club in the top half.

It is probably 7th or 8th in the league. If there was a league table available for points won relative to budget there would probably be 10 clubs separating Stephen Kenny's current club from his last one.

Not so sure lads,rumour around Sligo was that John Dillon was offered more money by Dundalk than he was by Sligo Rovers.Not saying your budget is anywhere near ours obviously but it might not be as shoestring as you think.

[oriel]

Massive massive result for us in Brandywell tonight , lots of players coming back from injury Danny North scoring, with Pats dropping points the way the fixtures pan out we could win next 7 and go head to head against Pats in inchicore for the title.

Just Pats & Sligo in contention then lads? You're obviously very confident of your trip to North Louth in a few weeks time.

You also ruling out Derry, one point behind you, same games played?

[Ezeikial]

Not so sure lads,rumour around Sligo was that John Dillon was offered more money by Dundalk than he was by Sligo Rovers.

Thats always a good rumour to peddle when a player departs your club. I doubt many believe that Sligo wanted to keep Dillon but were outbid by a club who nearly went to the wall last season. Do you?


Not saying your budget is anywhere near ours obviously but it might not be as shoestring as you think.

The Sligo budget probably somewhere between 2.5 to 3 times that of Dundalk.

Dundalk budget definitely "shoestring" in the context of league title challengers.

[roversforever]

Thats always a good rumour to peddle when a player departs your club. I doubt many believe that Sligo wanted to keep Dillon but were outbid by a club who nearly went to the wall last season. Do you?



The Sligo budget probably somewhere between 2.5 to 3 times that of Dundalk.

Dundalk budget definitely "shoestring" in the context of league title challengers.

No i don't believe Baraclough was particularly bothered about keeping him but he was still made an offer as far as i know,presumably he would have been a squad player.You're right the Dundalk budget is a lot less than the other title challengers but to me a shoestring budget is what Bohs,Shels, etc are working with,not Dundalk.Anyway I wasn't getting a dig,Dundalk's budget appears reasonable and fair play to them.Some people are very defensive on this forum!!

[White Horse]

You're right the Dundalk budget is a lot less than the other title challengers but to me a shoestring budget is what Bohs,Shels, etc are working with,not Dundalk.

Fair point.

It just shows what can be accomplished with a good manager and a highly motivated group of players.

[MiniMourinho]

Dundalk are 7th in the league table of budgets. No guessing, they are. Honestly think at this stage Dundalks will to win could make up the gap in supposed talent of the supposed bigger teams at the top. Stephen Kenny gets the praise for winning and rightly so, but if you think he is on a tiny budget and not squeezing the board for every penny he can get you are wrong. Managers love to come across in public as prudent and nice, but they are a different breed behind the scenes when it comes to money and would screw any club unless a board is strong and able to say no.

[Dodge]

To put it simply Croly is a manual coach. Very good at organising,knows all the formations puts on good training sessions. Don't ask him to think on his feet. If it can't be planned for before the game he's lost. That's why we have had so many draws. He doesn't know what players are needed or how to change the game in our favour. He can't tell when its the system failing or the players not performing

It's the reason for years he's been touted as the best coach in the country and no club has ever been willing to give him a shot at managing.

Good win for Sligo last night. 3 wins from 3 over Derry is excellent. Dundalk flying too.

Pats were poor for most of the game. There was 3 excellent chances in the game (2 for Drogheda, 1 for pats) and all saved. Decent game though

[jinxy lilywhite]

fantastic performance from Dundalk last night. it was magnificent and the lads all put in a great performance. I was slightly confused with rovers set up and how they played. even their supporters were so quiet and they couldn't get behind their team.
some people are surprised with us this season but not me. when we hired Kenny I knew we would be nowhere near the bottom. Mid table I thought.

budgets are smudgets and I don't believe they bear any real significance in this. Kenny has a smaller one than McCaffrey had but Kenny is definitely getting paid more than he was so they both balance off.
Are we getting value for money this year? Of Course.
By paying the extra premium in having a manager like Stephen Kenny he is able to bring in players on lower money than what McCaffrey could offer because the majority of players in this league want to play under him and will take a cut to be with a winning manager and a winning team. whereas if mccaffrey wanted this team our wage bill would of been over 30k.

title challenge
I don't really care anymore about what the media say about us whether we can maintain it or if Sligo and Pats fans just believe it is between them. We will still use the criticism and the negativity towards us into a powerful energy like we showed last night and take it one game at a time and we wont be writing ourselves off until it is mathematically impossible for us to do it.

There is still a long way to go and in a 4 horse race rovers could still creep back into it but they also need to go and win all of their matches. This league isn't pats or sligos to lose, it is wide open

[monkey9]

Fair point.

It just shows what can be accomplished with a good manager and a highly motivated group of players.


And with the fans right behind that good manager and supporting the team

[pineapple stu]

went up to dalymount coz shels weren't playing, really enjoyable game, UCD full value for the win. bohs certainly tried but looked very average especially the two front players.

i know its said a lot but it's a pity UCD don't have more support because they are a very good side to watch, always play through the midfield and in Walsh & benson have 2 very good players.
Funny, I didn't think we played all that well last night. Particularly in the second half, after Morrison went off (injured, I assume; he was our best player in the first half) and we resorted a lot to lumping the ball forward to Benson.

For the first half hour, though, it was a superb game. Didn't quite manage to keep the tempo up for the entire 90, but have to be happy with the three points really. Tempting to say something like "Another two wins and we'll be safe", but there's a long ways to go yet!

Also good to see Burke and Creevy back in centre-mid together; we've badly missed that partnership in the past few games.

[White Horse]

title challenge
I don't really care anymore about what the media say about us whether we can maintain it or if Sligo and Pats fans just believe it is between them.

If a team is one point behind with 10 games to go, they are IN the race.

[Nesta99]

Sligoman was on a wind up, and happily didnt get the fireworks he was hoping for:p

[oriel]

I think last night was probably the best Dlk performance since we either beat Rovers 5-1 in 2012 or 5-3 away to Linfield in 2011. The difference with last night was the momentum that is building is probably better than any of the other sides now in the league.

We were poor in M/F v Bray last week, but last night this area was just controlled by Towell & O'Donnell, this was the key area in winning the game. Another was the important signing of Gartland who slotted in so easily with Boyle in central defence. If he hadnt joined, with Rossiter out, Chris Shields (who did very well at left full) would have had to slot in there.

How far can we go? I still can see a 3rd place finish, but if we keep building the momentum, and we appear to be every week, we surely have every chance of challenging to win it, we may fall a little short, if we do it wont be for the want of trying.

[Ezeikial]

Anyway I wasn't getting a dig,Dundalk's budget appears reasonable and fair play to them.Some people are very defensive on this forum!!

I didn't think you were having a dig.



No i don't believe Baraclough was particularly bothered about keeping him but he was still made an offer as far as i know,presumably he would have been a squad player.

Barraclough was not particularly bothered about whether Dillon stayed or not? Generally players who sense that they are not wanted tend to leave for playing opportunities elsewhere.




You're right the Dundalk budget is a lot less than the other title challengers but to me a shoestring budget is what Bohs,Shels, etc are working with,not Dundalk.

I appreciate perceptions of the term "shoestring" is subjective, but this is not the issue.


What Kenny is achieving by mounting a title challenge with a modest budget is obviously the point being made.

[White Horse]

Apparently, Jason McGuinness was sent off after headbutting Richie Towell after the final whistle.

[Nesta99]

Apparently, Jason McGuinness was sent off after nosebutting Richie Towell after the final whistle.

He wasnt able to get the head in that close!

[Sean South]

I was at Wexford vs Longford. Both teams were cat. It was the most depressing 90 minutes I inflicted upon myself in a very long time. Horible, horrible stuff.

[Town Legend]

Now you know what we've had to put up with all season even when winning under Cousins. We tried to play a bit of football unlike for most of our games this year when all Cousins wants to do is go from Bennion to O'Sullivan and leave out the defence and midfield!

[Martinho II]

it says it all that athlones two best players are ex town players of ours aidan collins and james o brien! have no time for cousins any more!

[sheao]

Went to Thomand last night, first Limerick goal was a cracker. 2nd city should have done better with. Good finish from Danny Morrissey for us aswell.

The game was similar to many for city this season in that basic mistakes proved to be our downfall.

[Redzer]

Apparently, Jason McGuinness was sent off after headbutting Richie Towell after the final whistle.
Is Richie Towel black??:sick:

[Ezeikial]

Is Richie Towel black??:sick:
Lilywhite

[patrickccfc]

More drama at st colmans park mervue come from 2-0 down and equalize in the 86th minute before cobh get the winner in the 91st minute. If cobh could only reproduce some of their home form on their travels they could be fighting for promotion

[outspoken]

it says it all that athlones two best players are ex town players of ours aidan collins and james o brien! have no time for cousins any more!

I for one agreed with letting Collins go as be was shocking in the playoffs but O'Brien just like Walsh never got a chance. For all the young players people think cousins have a chance he also made some absolute howlers in the market like letting those two go!

[Comic Book Guy]

We were coasting at 2-0 until Shane barrett went off the whole dynamic changed. Got a lucky winner. I'd say about 300 at it, those who stayed in to watch cork are the losers.

[ATFC-1887]

it says it all that athlones two best players are ex town players of ours aidan collins and james o brien! have no time for cousins any more!

Thought that myself. Cant understand why he released them. Collins has been fantastic and is probably the best defender in the division and Jamesy is pure class in the middle. Still though a win for ye next saturday and everything changes again. I can really see this coming down to the last game of the season (but i pray it doesnt).

[Town Legend]

He never gave O'Brien a chance at all. Only near full game I seen him give him was against Man U XI last year and he was the best player on the park.

[Ezeikial]

So with Shams now out of the race it looks like it's down to us or Pat's for the title.

Shamrock Rovers still in with a shout at 25/1 according to the bookies -(Stewie Byrne must be their consultant!)

Paddy Power also regards Dundalk and Derry as near no-hopers

8/1 Derry
7/1 Dundalk

PP's only credible contenders

11/8 Sligo
11/10 Pats


http://www.paddypower.com/football/irish-football/airtricity-league-premier-division/League-of-Ireland-2013-4448853.html?force_racing_css=N

[Fivesilver]

I might be inclined to be confident of a Dundalk late-season collapse, like Drogheda last year, except that Dundalk have Kenny. There's few managers I'd prefer to have navigating the closing stages of a tight title race.
Great to see a proper club back in it. I have fond memories of Liam Devine, Barry Kehoe and others. If we can't make it two in a row, then my preferred destination for the title would definitely be Oriel.
Still hate the carpet, though.

[jinxy lilywhite]

well no trophies are handed out in series 23 so lets move on to series 24.

Shels is a massive game for us.