Premier Division- The Run In

[Charlie Darwin]

I have to disagree with everything that Sheridan has said. Actually it is totally typical from a Dublin city come Bohs come rovers fan.
That's a huge accusation!

Can't argue with your assessment of Kenny though. He failed at Rovers but there's not a manager in the world who hasn't failed. He's the most successful manager in Ireland right now and if Dundalk don't win the league it will be because they were outplayed on the pitch, not because of anything the manager does wrong.

[orielabu]

Anyone who pontificates about 'Managers bottling it' has clearly spent too much time watching Sky and has absorbed the 'sky' b....t.

[Mr A]

Pats v Dundalk is confirmed to be on RTE, 7.30 KO.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2013/0909/473159-pats-dundalk-live/

[gormacha]

Anyone who pontificates about 'Managers bottling it' has clearly spent too much time watching Sky and has absorbed the 'sky' b....t.

The reasons why managers fail, or why clubs don't win titles, are many and complex. I doubt it's ever "bottle", whatever that's held to mean.

"Bottle" seems to me to be a pretty useless anglo-celt idea about bravery, which might have some relevance when discussing a player's liking or not for a 50:50 challenge, but says phuq all about managerial qualities.

[marinobohs]

farcical to say Kenny bottled it at shams. less than a year and residual problems from previous regime. I believe he has a better points/games ratio than Crolly has this year. Did a more than decent job at Bohs (in sometimes difficult circumstances ) and had excellent records at Longford and Derry.


Also not sure how Buckley can be called a bottler. Last year Pats ran out of steam because they were 1/2 players short of title winning team not due to managerial 'bottle'. Didn't bottle at Dublin City either.

Bit 'Awl arse' to say the league this year is somehow lacking quality ( it was always better in my day ;)) and Pats or Dundalk ( or AN Other) will be as deserving champions as any other year,

[Mr A]

People always say this is a particularly bad year for the league. Certainly the first division is described as the worst ever virtually every season.

[Ezeikial]

People always say this is a particularly bad year for the league.

Every year is a bad year if your team is not doing well

[Sheridan]

I'm sorry the truth is too harsh for some, but it remains the truth. If you look at Kenny's record, there's a very definite pattern there; he excels at provincial clubs where any media pressure is offset by his ability to inculcate a siege mentality. At high-profile jobs in major population centres, he can't cope with the pressure and it all ends in tears.

As for the quality of the league, there's been an progressive diminution in the general standard over the past five years for basic economic reasons. Nothing controverial or nostalgic about that observation, I would have thought.

[Ezeikial]

I'm sorry the truth is too harsh for some, but it remains the truth. If you look at Kenny's record, there's a very definite pattern there; he excels at provincial clubs where any media pressure is offset by his ability to inculcate a siege mentality.At high-profile jobs in major population centres, he can't cope with the pressure and it all ends in tears.


The town of Dundalk hardly fits your definition of "major population centres", but we are going to temporarily evacuate a few thousand people out of Dundalk just to be on the safe side.

[White Horse]

he excels at provincial clubs where any media pressure is offset by his ability to inculcate a siege mentality.

Since when did Dundalk need someone to inculcate a siege mentality?

[Sheridan]

Since when did Dundalk need someone to inculcate a siege mentality?
Have you been following this thread?

[White Horse]

Have you been following this thread?

Every heard of irony?

[gormacha]

Every heard of irony?

I have. Its like silvery and steely, only made of iron.

C'mon now. Who'll be first with the id?

[White Horse]

I have. Its like silvery and steely, only made of iron.

C'mon now. Who'll be first with the id?

Baldrick?

[gormacha]

Baldrick?

I salute you Sir. Good '80s comedy skillzzz.

[Louth4sam]

I think that a draw is a better result for Dundalk than Pats. It brings Sligo right back in to things and they still have to play Pats

[oriel]

Maybe so, regardless if Sligo are drawn back in, I really dont think we will lose in Richmond.

[TonyD]

I totally disagree with that. Many Derry fans including myself feel that our 2006 squad was arguably better than our treble winning squad and despite missing out on the league on goal difference our european run that year was unreal and we felt we probably should have won the league

David Forde
Patrick Jennings

Eddie McCallion
Peter Hutton
Clive Delaney
Darren Kelly
Ken Oman
Mark McChrystal
Sean Hargan

Kevin Deery
Barry Molloy
Ruaidri Higgins
Shaun Holmes
Killian Brennan
Gareth McGlynn
Paddy McCourt

Kevin McHugh
Gary Beckett
Steven O'Flynn
Mark Farren

OK fair enough. Probably wrote the Stephen Kenny bit off the top of my head without thinking tbh. That was a very good Derry side, you're right, and the title race couldn't have been closer that year but I dont think it was a case of bottling it, was it ?

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

In a few weeks time we'll be able to know for sure. The other wont have won the league at all. It'll be because his rival is a bottler.

[geysir]

It's all about the next game and that just happens to be the big duel.

Pats play decent football and as a club have done well, considering they are fated to always be in the shadow of the great Shamrock Rovers club. It's just the way of things I suppose.
It could be too early for Dundalk, no big deal, the pressure and expectation is all on Pats. This season is just a preamble to the 5 year plan for Dundalk. It will be a bonus to pick up the league trophy along the way. It does appear that Pats are wobbling under the pressure, dropping points left, right and centre.

[Yossarian]

It does appear that Pats are wobbling under the pressure, dropping points left, right and centre.

That's a bit of a ridiculous comment. They've drawn a couple of games recently but are hardly in free fall. You could say it about Derry but not Pats.

[dong]

I really wish people would stop talking about us being drawn back into it.
We haven't a hope of winning a league. Have any of you watched us this year? We are cat.

[Ezeikial]

I really wish people would stop talking about us being drawn back into it.
We haven't a hope of winning a league. Have any of you watched us this year? We are cat.

Sligo to retain the title is a long shot, but certainly not impossible

If Pats/Dundalk is a draw and Sligo beat UCD, there would only be 3 points separating them from top spot with 5 games to go - that would certainly put Sligo back into contention, especially with having to play St Pats.

Being "drawn back into it" is a possibility, even if it is unlikely to be successful

[dejadem]

This season is just a preamble to the 5 year plan for Dundalk

Has there been public talk about this 5 year plan?
Hopefully it doesn't include the words 'group stages'.

[Yossarian]

Has there been public talk about this 5 year plan?
Hopefully it doesn't include the words 'group stages'.

No, it just mentions semi-finals!

[oriel]

Has there been public talk about this 5 year plan?
Hopefully it doesn't include the words 'group stages'.

If it does, can we play the group stages in your brand new 3,500 seater all mod cons stadium?

[dejadem]

If it does, can we play the group stages in your brand new 3,500 seater all mod cons stadium?

I wasn't trying to be smart. Just pointing out that's the way most of these '5 year plans' start out.

[White Horse]

I wasn't trying to be smart. Just pointing out that's the way most of these '5 year plans' start out.

I think LOI clubs have learnt that gambling on a Champions League pot of gold is a sure way to bring a club to it's knees. The new owners of Dundalk have been very quiet about the long term plans. As fans, we are interested in hearing what those plans are. The next step is the formation of a supporters club similar to your old Claret & Blue. This will give an idea as to the size of the playing budget.

Renovating Oriel Park is also a hot topic among fans, providing decent away facilities and returning to grass would be high on our wish list

However, everything will be approached cautiously. The club did nearly die last year. It could happen again, if bad decisions are made.

[White Horse]

Dundalk have sold out their entire ticket allocation for the St. Pats game on Friday. There will be a lot of dissappointed fans, me included :(


Due to unprecedented demand – we have sold out of tickets for Friday’s match against St Patrick’s Athletic. This amounts to nearly 1000 tickets sold. We are unsure if further tickets will be made available and will clarify this in due course.

http://www.dundalkfc.com/st-patricks-athletic-tickets-available/

[Mr A]

I doubt Pats will turn people away on the night.

[nigel-harps1954]

They'll probably open up another whole section of the stand to Dundalk supporters. Not a hope they'll turn people away as Mr.A said.

[Sheridan]

It's a sad look-out for football in Dublin when Pat's will barely outnumber Dundalk for a home championship play-off. :frown:

[danthesaint]

It's a sad look-out for football in Dublin when Pat's will barely outnumber Dundalk for a home championship play-off. :frown:

Attendence in April was 1,105 according to ET, I highly doubt Dundalk fans were the majority on that night. I wouldnt what so many coming down :rolleyes:

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

I doubt Pats will turn people away on the night.

They didn't the night of the European match

[Flawless]

Almost 1,000 away fans will make the game an absolute cracker. I'm flying home from London Friday morning and had to jump through hoops to get a ticket for the game, eventually getting sorted out. I understand safety concerns etc, but there has never really been fan friction between either sets of supporters in the past, so opening up more seats to Dundalk fans should pose a major problem, unless Pats feel that it may take away from their won fans who want to attend!.

That said, both teams haven't been head to head for a league title in 18 years. Great to see it, and I for one can't wait to see my first live LOI game in 5 months!

[White Horse]

Dundalk have 1,300 tickets now, 1,000 sold out in a couple of hours and 300 have been now reserved for season ticket holders. The club are still trying to get Pats to give them a further 700.

[White Horse]

Just got my tickets. Phew. I can stop watching Fair City to try and learn a Dublin accent ;)

New allocation selling fast.

[dundalkfc10]

New Allocation Sold Out

[Charlie Darwin]

They didn't the night of the European match
Derry always bring a decent crowd to be fair.

[White Horse]

A work colleague just paid €100 for two tickets for the Pats game on Friday. I am disgusted. People who tout LOI tickets should be ashamed of themselves.

[Flawless]

A work colleague just paid €100 for two tickets for the Pats game on Friday. I am disgusted. People who tout LOI tickets should be ashamed of themselves.

That is wrong, and it should be reported to the club the person who sold them denied tickets to any further games!..

[nigel-harps1954]

Sure he could have just arrived down and bought tickets for the pats end.

[White Horse]

That is wrong, and it should be reported to the club the person who sold them denied tickets to any further games!..

He wouldn't tell me where he got them. I would have reported it in a flash.

[White Horse]

Sure he could have just arrived down and bought tickets for the pats end.

A lot of people are doing that but some people like the buzz of being with the away fans, rather than being quiet and restained in the home end.

[Jofspring]

Ya nothing stopping people arriving in normal clothes, going in the pats gate and walking around to the Dundalk side and say they went in the wrong gate by accident and get let into the dundalk section or just sit with the pats fans. If you want to get in badly enough it can be done.

Anyone that pays €50 for a ticket is an idiot if you ask me.

[nigel-harps1954]

The only person I've no sympathy for here is the lad silly enough to spend 100 quid on tickets for a match that simply isn't sold out, and they're just not going to turn away any fans looking to get in.

[danthesaint]

A work colleague just paid €100 for two tickets for the Pats game on Friday. I am disgusted. People who tout LOI tickets should be ashamed of themselves.

Were they available to the public before they were available to season ticket holders?

[White Horse]

Were they available to the public before they were available to season ticket holders?

Yes, they went on general sale. The club tought that the initial 950 tickets would more than satisfy demand. The game in on TV and 950 would represent that biggest crowd taken to Inchicore in recent memory.
These tickets sold out in two hours.

The additional 300 tickets that Pats provided were reserved for season ticket holders. These have now sold out.

The club was caught on the hop. Things will need to be done differently for the FAI Cup semi final against Drogheda. We expect 800 tickets, which will be much less than demand.

[danthesaint]

Yes, they went on general sale. The club tought that the initial 950 tickets would more than satisfy demand. The game in on TV and 950 would represent that biggest crowd taken to Inchicore in recent memory.
These tickets sold out in two hours.

The additional 300 tickets that Pats provided were reserved for season ticket holders. These have now sold out.

The club was caught on the hop. Things will need to be done differently for the FAI Cup semi final against Drogheda. We expect 800 tickets, which will be much less than demand.

If i was a season ticket holder and I didnt get a ticket, I'd be well ****ed off.

I know with pats games, Rovers away and European games, season ticket holders have priority, then it goes to public 3 or 4 days later, probably should've happened here, I guess they will learn by mistakes.

[Nesta99]

All outrage aside, if i were told at any point for as long as i can remember, that demand for a Dundalk league matchday ticket would so far outstrip demand that tickets worth €30 sold for €100 i'd have laughed then celebrated!