1st Game Bray

[Jofspring]

Only 5 days to go till the kick off of the season. How would you like to see us line up taking into account injuries/ who we have available and any predictions?

Injured to the best of our knowledge: Barry Ryan, Shane Cusack, Sam Oji, Mick Leahy, Danny Galbraith.


Murray

Kelly
Whitehead
Folan
Williams

Hughes
Duggan
Rainsford

Gaffney
Tracy
Curran



Prediction: 1-1*


*going by the above team.

[kingpin4]

Is Williams not struggling too?

I'd go with

Murray
Kelly
Whitehead
Folan
Williams (Costelloe, if not fit)

Hughes
Duggan
Nzuzi

Tracy
Curran
Gaffney

I think we should still be beating Bray comfortably enough. They've lost their two best attacking players. The keeper situation is a real worry.
Should be a big enough attendance too if it stays dry.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I'd expect a win, even with the injuries. Anything less would be a really bad indication for the coming season.

[LK37oldskool]

The Dugout Bar is open from 6.30 on Friday night. Hopefully this can be regular thing for the season. I know their trying to get live music as well. Not sure if it will be open after the game.

[Jofspring]

The Dugout Bar is open from 6.30 on Friday night. Hopefully this can be regular thing for the season. I know their trying to get live music as well. Not sure if it will be open after the game.

I think it's supposed to be open before and after. Things need to be going on there alright as the dugout bar is just a big empty room with a bar at the end and a bit more advertising is needed to let people know it is there and what's going on.

Edit: txt just went around saying that there will be live music after the game which is good to see.

[fieldofmarkets]

Would like to see Nzuzi in that midfield, maybe for Rainsford.

[Jofspring]

Would like to see Nzuzi in that midfield, maybe for Rainsford.

Jesus I actually totally forgot about Nzuzi. Ya I'd probably make that change to my original line up too.

[kingpin4]

http://www.limerickfc.ie/limerick-announce-squad-numbers-for-2014-season

No.
Name
Pos.
1
Shane Cusack
GK
2
Shaun Kelly
DF
3
Robbie Williams
DF
5
Stephen Folan
DF
7
Danny Galbraith
FW
8
Shane Duggan
MF
Captain
9
Rory Gaffney
FW
10
Craig Curran
FW
Vice-Captain
11
Shane Tracy
FW
12
Patrick Nzuzi
MF
14
Barry Ryan
GK
15
Michael Leahy
DF
17
Shane Costelloe
DF
19
Barry Sheedy
FW
20
Darragh Rainsford
MF
21
Val Feeney
MF
22
James McGrath
MF
23
Colm Murphy
DF
24
Samuel Oji
DF
25
Tony Whitehead
DF
27
Kieran Hanlon
FW
29
Jason Hughes
MF
31
Nathan Murray
GK

I honestly didn't realise we had so many signed. No word on Ebanks? and Coughlan isn't on that list either? Thought Shane Walsh would have had a squad number too. Also, it's strange not seeing Purcell's name on that list for the first time in years.

[bluewhitearmy]

http://www.limerickfc.ie/limerick-announce-squad-numbers-for-2014-season



I honestly didn't realise we had so many signed. No word on Ebanks? and Coughlan isn't on that list either? Thought Shane Walsh would have had a squad number too. Also, it's strange not seeing Purcell's name on that list for the first time in years.

We would be better off not wasting any money on Ebanks to be honest. Coughlan is a weird one im surprised he hasn't been announced as signed he would have had to have been signed to play in the Munster Senior.

[kingpin4]

Not going to be attracting any new supporters playing like that.
Injuries killed us.
Currans work rate was hugely missed.
Duggan getting sent off, but harsh,
Bray lad getting send off, even harsher.
The saddest thing is that neither sending off affected the game.

[thomas72]

Worst game of ball iv seen in a long long time Bray were so poor limerick not far behind it was shocking. The ball was consistently in the air one shot on target by limerick in 90mins limerick never looked like scoring. Also I see our discipline hasn't changed form last season man sent off already.

[Jofspring]

Harsh sending off to say the least.

Thought Cassidy's was a sending off though. He didn't really connect with Tracy but the intent was there and it was two footed.

Very poor performance. Jason Hughes should have got Man Of The Match or the Bray centre half.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Such a disappointing game. You recommend the league to people, tell them the standard is higher than they think, and then Limerick and Bray serve that up. Frustrating. But, I know that a lot of it was down to the awful, awful pitch, which was worse than bad days at Jackman, with no kind of ground pass possible without a several dodgy bobbles. So many misplaced passes and bad touches because of that, added this irritating air of unpredictability to every other move. No matter how the Market's Field might turn out, just give us a flat pitch.

Anyway, thought Limerick were the better team just about, though that's not saying much. Had more of the ball, pressed higher up the field. Almost looked like a 4-3-3 at times, with Rainsford and Tracey either side of Gaffney. But there was nothing happening upfront for the most part. Gaffney got plenty of the ball but was isolated and always had to hold it up for options. A lot of crosses to nobody in the box, or being held up on the wings passing back and forth. Lacked that movement in the forward area.

Thought Tracey and Hughes did well, definitely the most threatening for Limerick. Oji was fantastic at the back, even though he was limping during practise and holding his back a bit during the game. Bray looked fairly impotent, but a lot of that was down to the backline, who were the real silver lining of the entire night.

Oh but the ref. When he gave Nzuzi a yellow for a little shirt tug in the first 10 minutes, I knew we were in for a long night. Missed a score of handballs (one in the Bray area in the first half I would have been comfortable blowing for), put up with a lot of Bray play acting, lots of little annoyances. I was on the other side of the pitch to the yellow for simulation, so I can't comment too much. Looked like a foul to me, but MNS might be clearer. Don't think Duggan would have risked a yellow since he was already booked.

But the Bray red. I was looking right at. Bad tackle, late, kicked him on the shin. But it was one foot contact, no studs. Certainly yellow worthy, but a straight red? And then Kelly was given just a yellow for shoving the Bray lad to the ground? Terrible officiating, the worst I've seen in Thomond anyway.

But as someone said already, it didn't really effect the game that much. Oji probably went closest for us from a corner header, but that was about it really. Really bad sign that Limerick struggled against Bray like this. Attendance was around 1300 I heard, which given the opposition and the lack of a novelty factor like last year is probably fair enough. Heard a lot of grumbling heading out the gate from people. Serious worries for the season ahead now. Dundalk game will be very telling.

[fieldofmarkets]

Thomond Pitch was really bad, didn't help at all. Bray are poor and worryingly we didn't look much better. Considering we were only 2 players short of our strongest 11 (Galbraith and Curran, i won't count Barry as GK did not hurt us tonight) my thoughts a few weeks ago of moving a spot or two up the league this season looks very far fetched. Dissapointing because i thought we would look better than this time last year but we were way better in the opener last year despite a compressed pre-season then. The squad really needed a few strong additions in the last few weeks. Nevertheless i am going to blame the pitch for tonight and be optimistic for now.
On the game i thought Nzuzi was not the right guy to substitute, perhaps he had a knock. We were actually starting to get on top when Duggan was sent off, very frustrating.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Think Nzuzi' sub was a precaution thing, he'd been booked and been warned by that point.

[kingpin4]

Thought Cassidy's was a sending off though. He didn't really connect with Tracy but the intent was there and it was two footed.

Ah I was just in line with it. It was very harsh. More a professional foul than anything. Tracy side stepped and Cassidy clipped his ankle to pull him down.

The red cards were the most interesting part of the game. It really was a terrible match. It is important that people don't knee jerk though and panic. Base your conclusions on individual games.

Cusack didn't have a lot to do, but his kicking was mostly decent.
Kelly was solid and was our best attacking threat in first half.
Oji was decent, but you could see he's not sharp yet after his injury/ bug.
Folan is solid defensively, but he tries these impossible long balls when there are much simpler passes on.
Williams was solid defensively, didn't offer a lot going forward.
Duggan was ok, until the sending off, which was harsh.
Hughes showed a lot of energy and work rate, just seemed to be in possession in such harmless areas of the pitch.
Tracy was decent, but just didn't seem to have any runners for him to pick out and ended up trying eye of the needle passes.
Nzuzi was anonymous in the middle.
Gaffney isolated up front. Worked hard, but there's only so much battling one player can do without support.
Rainsford crossed the ball a couple of times, don't think he did anything else and I'm not even sure if he got substituted or played the second half.

On a plus, at least we have an assistant now. And it should be pretty easy to improve on tonight's performance.
Anyone else want to have a go rating?

[NeverFeltBetter]

I'd agree with most of what you said, only think Oji deserves a bit more praise for his defensive work, especially in the air. Also think Gaffney could have done more at times, seemed very slow to give the ball to open men, and should have shot sooner when put in late on. Rainsford played the second, we only made one sub as far as I know.

[bluewhitearmy]

Only thing I can really add is that those long throws are one of the stupidest things i've seen they carry no threat. The man you would want to be in the box for the chance is taking em ffs. Failed time and time again to do anything with em but continued to do it.

[Treaty Gooner]

Who's the assistant? Did he play for Limerick way back when? And was he calling the shots or Tommy Barrett?

[bluewhitearmy]

Who's the assistant? Did he play for Limerick way back when? And was he calling the shots or Tommy Barrett?

Anthony Fennelly has played for us Cobh and Cork as a keeper. No idea about who was calling the shots.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Best entertainment of the night was watching the Thomond lads struggle with the scoreboard. "BBBBBB" were 10-3 up on "AAAAAA" at one stage.

[bluewhitearmy]

If the away fans are being kept where the Bray fans were tonight any chance of an atmosphere is dead too btw.

[kingpin4]

If the away fans are being kept where the Bray fans were tonight any chance of an atmosphere is dead too btw.

Saves money, but kills the atmosphere. Can't imagine the other side will be opened up unless we're playing Rovers, Cork etc where a big(ger) crowd will travel.
Have to say, it was even tough for the hardcore lads last night, wasn't much for them to create a buzz about.

[harpin]

Think Nzuzi' sub was a precaution thing, he'd been booked and been warned by that point.


Nzuzi was woeful last night, he looked like he didn't know where he was, never once looked for the ball, hid behind the Bray lads sometimes...that could be a bit harsh he might have been unfit or carrying an injury. Did Darragh Rainsford touch the ball more than twice in the second half? Pitch was cack which didn't help

Why no corporate section open last night?

[Martinho II]

Anthony Fennelly has played for us Cobh and Cork as a keeper. No idea about who was calling the shots.
he also was with Waterford and us also..

[delboyderis]

nzuzi isnt a midfielder really but has been put into it by taylor.all the midfield was very poor and up front.the team is weaker than last season and will do well to finish in the same position as last year,match was awful to watch and no atmosphere.ref was diabolical for the whole game.very poor advert for the league of ireland.progression from last year?i have my doubts from that display.

[AlanOB]

It's become apparent that Taylor is an incredibly dogmatic manager.

Since the beginning of his tenure, he has been insistent on playing with two inside forwards. Bray were able to defend the width of their penalty box on Friday night, with our only wide out ball coming sporadically in the form of right full Shaun Kelly. Most of the time our play was incredibly narrow and we were attempting eye of the needle through balls that were never going to come off.

That was when we managed to work it into the final third of course. Patrick Nzuzi had a 'mare in the anchorman position. He was constantly out of position and was forced into a large number of fouls to compensate. How he managed to last a few minutes of the second half I'll never know. Red card waiting to happen. Crucially, his performance when we had the ball was just as inept. Our defenders aren't as comfortable as they should be in this system and were punting aimless long balls anyway, but his inability to find space to receive exacerbated that problem. When Hughes (who was impressive) dropped in there after Nzuzi's yellow card we looked a bit better, but Oji and particularly Folan were still ****ing lumping it.

We need to play with one traditional winger to vary the attacking threat and stretch the oppositon. I feel like I've said this a million times. You just know though that when Galbraith comes back, he'll be on the right running inside into blind alleys.

Worrying, worrying start.

Man of the match by the way for me was Adam Mitchell. Won the battle of the gingers against Gaffney all ends up. Neither red card was justified either. I'm sure the Cassidy one was O'Regan evening it up Howard Webb style.

[bluewhitearmy]

nzuzi isnt a midfielder really but has been put into it by taylor.all the midfield was very poor and up front.the team is weaker than last season and will do well to finish in the same position as last year,match was awful to watch and no atmosphere.ref was diabolical for the whole game.very poor advert for the league of ireland.progression from last year?i have my doubts from that display.

Nzuzi has been a midfielder all his career he was only moved back into defence by Taylor last season.

[mastermind1]

Cusack....solid, didnt have much to do.
kelly..... looked good going forward and defensively, a good performance.
oji.....went close with the header, looked injured a few times but was rarely threatened.
folan.....gave the ball away alot, trys the 60 yard diagonal alot.
williams.....not up to much, still looks a bit overweight.
duggan......poor in possesion, and looked off the pace. Harsh red though
hughes.....tried hard, ran around and tried to be busy but things didnt work out for him.
nzuzi......was terrible. Miles off the pace, sloppy in possesion, poor tackling, surprised he wasnt off at half time.
rainsford......looked short of confidence...non existant.
treacy......didnt threaten at all, not at the races. Slight improvement in second half.
gaffney......isolated for most part, worked hard but no real threat to bray. His throw ins were dangerous.

[Treaty Gooner]

Hughes gave the ball away an awful lot for people to be calling him impressive. Let's not forget we were missing our 1st choice keeper who's head and shoulders above Cusack, our new CB, our 1st choice centreforward and Galbraith so disappointing? Yes. Worrying? Not quite yet tho I will say that dropping points against Bray again will put us firmly among the relegation candidates.

[bluewhitearmy]

I think that when Curran comes back with a slight change in system things could be a lot better. Honestly think that tactics were a massive part of the problem lastnight.

[da bishop]

woefull stuff poor pitch or no poor pitch,shocked to hear people think hughes should have been man of the match,non stop effort ok but headless running for the most part and gave the ball away too much.pity about duggan,will be out now for a while and that midfield without him hardly gives the impression of dominating game.clean sheet a positive,decent crowd too considering the opposition.the appointment of feneally as ass.manager does,like other things lately,make little sense.

[bluewhitearmy]

woefull stuff poor pitch or no poor pitch,shocked to hear people think hughes should have been man of the match,non stop effort ok but headless running for the most part and gave the ball away too much.pity about duggan,will be out now for a while and that midfield without him hardly gives the impression of dominating game.clean sheet a positive,decent crowd too considering the opposition.the appointment of feneally as ass.manager does,like other things lately,make little sense.

Why what do you know about him? Genuine question by the way I know nothing other then the fact he was going to be Corks assistant manager this season.

Duggan only misses one game.

[mastermind1]

I think hughes showed the effort that people want to see from the players but he needs to add alot more to be considered impressive. I for one was shocked with how boring and predictable limerick were. Bray looked dangerous at times in the first half but overall were poor. I m not as optimistic about the season ahead. People saying when curran comes back it will be big plus, i watched most of games last year and his work rate is excellent but he isnt the player who is going to score 15+ goals and galbraith is far too inconsistent. Axel bossekota is a huge loss. 7th place at best sadly is how i see it, possibly lower

[bluewhitearmy]

I think hughes showed the effort that people want to see from the players but he needs to add alot more to be considered impressive. I for one was shocked with how boring and predictable limerick were. Bray looked dangerous at times in the first half but overall were poor. I m not as optimistic about the season ahead. People saying when curran comes back it will be big plus, i watched most of games last year and his work rate is excellent but he isnt the player who is going to score 15+ goals and galbraith is far too inconsistent. Axel bossekota is a huge loss. 7th place at best sadly is how i see it, possibly lower

I didn't think Axel was that good tbh ran around like a headless chicken and went missing for 4 or 5 games in a row. Curran wont score 15 a season but he will help Rory Gaffney a lot.

[kingpin4]

I didn't think Axel was that good tbh ran around like a headless chicken and went missing for 4 or 5 games in a row. Curran wont score 15 a season but he will help Rory Gaffney a lot.

That 4 3 3 system needs to go out the window too. You can't keep forcing players into a system that doesn't suit them. I think it's Taylor's biggest downfall that he can't adapt the system to the players he has available to him, and seems reluctant to try it.
A 4 4 2 with Gaffney and Curran up top would be a real goal threat. When they're up there on their own, they look so isolated.

We are missing that speedy winger type of player that Axel was, I'd have liked that in the squad as a threat, even from the bench if chasing a game

[delboyderis]

nzuzi is a better defender than midfielder if that is the case that midfield is his position.was very good in defence last year.we have too many defenders and not enough quality in midfield.jason hughes isnt good enough for top level league of ireland football.

[osarusan]

My first game in two years. Great to be in a covered seat, pint available, decent facilities. Such a change from what I left.

That game itself was dire, with both teams pretty poor, and the ref woeful. We kept trying to play this quick passing game, but the players receiving the ball never seemed to know what to do with it. This resulted in us passing the ball around in front of their midfield all night. Or else we passed it to a player who was already clearly closed down. A few times we had throw ins in a decent position, and within 4 passes the ball was back with our keeper.

I am not all that familiar with the team, and can't really comment on how things might change with different players/formations, but on Friday night, it was pretty poor stuff indeed.

EDIT: just to reiterate how useless the ref was. Harsh cards all over the place. Can't comment on Duggan's dive as we couldn't see it, but the Bray red was a joke, as was the booking of their sub for diving. 3 minutes injury time also, after the reds, yellows, subs, and a couple of injuries. I think he wanted a draw to reduce the anger felt toward him.

[sadloserkid]

Anthony Fennelly has played for us Cobh and Cork as a keeper. No idea about who was calling the shots.


he also was with Waterford and us also..

And Dundalk and Monaghan.

[Gerrard1]

The standard was poor from both sides, I lost count of the number of poor 1st touches from both sides, I know the pitch wasn't the best but these players should be able to deal with this and control the ball better. Also, I don't think players are encouraged enough to take the game to the opposition, for example how many times did we see a midfielder driving at the opposition or a winger taking on a full back ? At one point Oji took the ball past a couple of Bray players and pushed on into midfield with the ball and you could hear it lift the crowd. A few minutes later the ball came to him and he had time to control it and play it out but he chose to leave the ball run past him and back to the keeper. I think the manager has to encourage the players to get on the ball more and take the game to the opposition especially when playing at home. Also, did i hear correctly that Taylor was on Limerick 95FM from 11am to 2pm on Saturday ? I didn't get a chance to listen but does anyone know what the programme was about ? was it sports related ?

[Jofspring]

No he was DJ'ing/presenting on Saturday. David Wallace had presented the week before. Missed it myself.