Dundalk (A) 14-03-14

[kingpin4]

Fairly uninspiring so far from us. But we have a decent record in Dundalk and they haven't had the best of starts either.

I'd probably be a bit more hopeful of getting something from this game than I was of getting something from the Cork cup game.

The 4 days should give us a chance to clear up a couple of niggles and hopefully get Curran back involved. Possibly even get a better idea on Prince too.

Predictions:
I know it's early in the week, but I'll go for Dundalk 1 - 1 Limerick

[bluewhitearmy]

No Duggan for this one. Can see Dundalk midfield having fun with us.

If there is the same lack of effort as lastnight we will be hammered.

[Jofspring]

I think team selection is going to come down to the wire waiting on injuries. I would like to have seen Prince get a run last night because it looks like he will have to play some part on Friday so was very surprised he wasn't even a sub.

[bluewhitearmy]

Robbie Williams came off injured too i just remembered.

[kingpin4]

Robbie Williams came off injured too i just remembered.

I don't think William's injury is as serious as first thought... Heard there's a bit more concern for Oji but both should make Friday.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Another performance on a par with Bray and Cork (which I didn't witness but can see the gist of) will see the alarm bells ringing in my head. But they're in bad enough form. Another 0-0.

[gael353]

Ship a hammering here and ill be calling for the managers head. The manager and his selectors look like a Scully back room team at present.

[harpin]

Ship a hammering here and ill be calling for the managers head. The manager and his selectors look like a Scully back room team at present.

Long throws from Gaffney our only attacking threat...he'll bring back Paddy next and throw him up front

[kingpin4]

Ship a hammering here and ill be calling for the managers head.

Far too early for that talk, if you're being serious.
If Dundalk were the exact same as last year, we'd have been expecting a bit of a hammering. Our season won't be defined by these results, it'll be the mid to lower table teams that we're competing against.

Also, one thing that's annoyed me lately is the pre season excuse. I've seen him mention it a few times that pre season wasn't ideal because of X, Y & Z. That was an excuse last year, it can't be used this year when Taylor planned and organised everything himself. The weather affected all teams preparations.

Back to Friday, are there many travelling up?

[4tothefloor]

I didn't make the Cork game due to work but it did allow me to catch the Dundalk game on Setanta. They turned the tie around with a last minute winner, I'd imagine that will have boosted their confidence no end. If Dundalk play like they did in that game we're in for another tough night. The problem we have is we have no attacking outlet or threat going forward. We're shocking once we get anywhere near the final third and I can't see that being any different on Friday. 3-0 to Dundalk, hope I'm wrong obviously.

[4tothefloor]

Back to Friday, are there many travelling up?
From what I can gather there's hardly no one going. A mix of disillusionment with current performances, Paddy's weekend and the train to St. Pats being the reasons.

[Jofspring]

Optimistic 1-1

[CraftyToePoke]

I'd take the 0-0, clean sheet, away point.

Of course, we may go out and be 2 up after half an hour with 85% possession going on to win 3-0, causing a complete reevaluation of everything, which I'd also accept :)

[NeverFeltBetter]

Any radio doing the game?

[Jofspring]

Any radio doing the game?

Usually Dundalk FM do it.

[fieldofmarkets]

Team line-up doesn't look the strongest with all the injuries, here's hoping but i fear a loss.

[Jofspring]

Looks very weak. Certainly the weakest/youngest we have put out in years.

[CraftyToePoke]

ET have only named ten players for us. Guessing Gaffney is the other ?

[NeverFeltBetter]

Dundalk FM say he's playing.

1-0 Limerick! Some kind of goalie error from a distant free kick. Goes to Tracey.

Edit: type this into WMP to listen: mms://goldenmonkey.net1.ie/dundalkfm

[Jofspring]

Ya the team sheet is on twitter with Gaffney up front.

[Jofspring]

Prince is also on the bench and not up on extratime.ie

[NeverFeltBetter]

1-1 at HT. Sounds like Limerick started well but have dropped off the pace a fair bit.

[NeverFeltBetter]

2-1 Dundalk, around 10 to play. Dundalk FM commentators make it sound like Limerick defence is in bits.

[NeverFeltBetter]

FT 2-1. Sounded like Dundalk dominated majority of game, could have added plenty more, hit the woodwork a couple of times. Limerick goal was more than a little lucky. Not very encouraging. Agyemang got a run out for ten or so minutes.

[delboyderis]

listened to the game on dundalk fm.limerick were very poor and dundalk should have beaten us well.going to be a long season for us i am afraid,just dont have a strong enough team,midfield is very weak,the defence will be busy all season,the better sides will run through the midfield like a dose of salt.

[fieldofmarkets]

Half the first team missing tonight in fairness. Squad has not been deep enough to manage. Might be a couple more games before they get anywhere near full strength.

[bluewhitearmy]

The Dundalk lads were being generous then. Dundalk had more of the ball but only scored because of mistakes of ours. They didn't hit the woodwork at all.

[kingpin4]

Going by extratime, we were barely in the game. And sounds like we were lucky it wasn't a fairly heavy defeat...

[bluewhitearmy]

Going by extratime, we were barely in the game. And sounds like we were lucky it wasn't a fairly heavy defeat...

We weren't in the game much in an attacking sense but it seems like reports are making Dundalk seem far more impressive then they actually were.

[CraftyToePoke]

The updates on ET were mostly Dundalk efforts on our goal or documenting Dundalk pressure, or saves by Cusack, but then again they had us out with ten players and our subs wrong also it seems. Following it on those updates, I was worried if a third went in it would be followed by more and was glad that match ended when it did. Not fair ?

[bluewhitearmy]

Keep in mind it's a Dundalk fan doing those updates. They had the ball most of the game but most of their chances were pretty harmless mainly weak enough headers from ball being thrown into the box. They cut us open once or twice alright but not loads.

Did they dominate yes did they have great chance after great chance no tbh. Two goals were gifted to em.

[Jofspring]

It sounds like there was a bit of fight in us anyway tonight. When you consider how many players we were missing, 2-1 is not the end of the world confidence wise.

[osarusan]

The problem is that our goal was a terrible howler by the Dundalk keeper. Apart from that, we created next to nothing-Gaffney had one half chance that Coughlan should have followed up on, but there was nothing else.

We held our own at times, but never looked like scoring. Again.

[delboyderis]

even with the guys out injured returning.the squad isnt strong enough,stuart taylor didnt strengthen the team enough in the off season.he released 7 or 8 players and brought in two players plus the two ghana boys.the young lads arent bad but no match for men.it seems to me that they will be happy with a similar position to last season.taylor always harps on about progression but from what i have seen so far its backwards they are going.

[bluewhitearmy]

even with the guys out injured returning.the squad isnt strong enough,stuart taylor didnt strengthen the team enough in the off season.he released 7 or 8 players and brought in two players plus the two ghana boys.the young lads arent bad but no match for men.it seems to me that they will be happy with a similar position to last season.taylor always harps on about progression but from what i have seen so far its backwards they are going.

If it was fully fit then the squad would be fine tbh a starting team of

Ryan
Kelly
Oji
Folan
Williams
Tracy
Hughes
Duggan
Galbraith
Curran
Gaffney

Bench:
Abass
Costelloe
Leahy
Prince
Rainsford
Coughlan
McManus

Nothing wrong with that really as much as I don't like it the injuries are a valid excuse for why things are how they are.

[NeverFeltBetter]

What is the ETA on Ryan?

[bluewhitearmy]

What is the ETA on Ryan?

Given the all clear Friday back full training Sunday so not long at all now id imagine.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Cusack has actually been fine in goal by all accounts, but it'll be good to have the first choice back.

[bluewhitearmy]

Cusack has actually been fine in goal by all accounts, but it'll be good to have the first choice back.

Played well overall but did cost us the equaliser in the Dundalk game. Think it will do the young lads in defence well to have Barry talking them through a game.

[Jofspring]

Cusack has been very good at shot stopping but hasn't been good at coming off his line and collecting the ball in the air. 2 of Corks goals could have been avoided if the ball was collected by the keeper and from the accounts above the same could be said for Dundalks first goal.

[kingpin4]

Given the all clear Friday back full training Sunday so not long at all now id imagine.

The illness he had will have hit him fairly hard. I imagine it'll be another while yet before we see the Barry Ryan of last season. It'll be excellent for Cusack and Abass having him back around the team though.

[bluewhitearmy]

The illness he had will have hit him fairly hard. I imagine it'll be another while yet before we see the Barry Ryan of last season. It'll be excellent for Cusack and Abass having him back around the team though.

Ya good point being given the all clear doesn't mean back to full strength. I feel Ali should have played against Cork he will probably have very little chance to get a game at any other stage.