This Coming Season

[NeverFeltBetter]

MF failed a pitch inspection apparently?

[bluewhitearmy]

MF failed a pitch inspection apparently?

More a case of they didn't think it was worth tearing up the pitch for a friendly when there is 2 more to come in quick succession. Could have played it in MF if they wanted.

[bluewhitearmy]

Realise its a bit after the fact but I tell ya our main lads have looked very strong in all 3 friendlies against prem opposition so far. First half against Dundalk was impressive.

[Market's Field]

Agree. Thought we moved the ball very well in the first half against Dundalk. Very little cutting edge in the final third tho which is a worry.

[bluewhitearmy]

Agree. Thought we moved the ball very well in the first half against Dundalk. Very little cutting edge in the final third tho which is a worry.

You would imagine that will be helped when we have an actual striker and not some god awful trialist up top though.

[Market's Field]

Question is who that actual striker will be? Worrying given O'Flynn 's recent injury record that he hasn't played a game yet.

[thomas72]

Rubbish again tonight imo pre season been dreadful so far except maybe a half here and there but still lost taken to extra time v a junior team.
I know it's only pre season but we are shipping alot of goals.

[bluewhitearmy]

Rubbish again tonight imo pre season been dreadful so far except maybe a half here and there but still lost taken to extra time v a junior team.
I know it's only pre season but we are shipping alot of goals.

No offence but what games have you seen? Were far better than both Longford and Bray before bringing on rakes of trialists and 19s players that wont be involved this season apart from emergency and put up a really good showing first half against Dundalk and the junior team was the players first game in months against a team full players that have played very recently at LOI level and in mid seasons sher ffs Davin O Neill would be a great addition for us playing with that junior team. Letting in the goals is a bit of a worry for me too and definitely think we need a new CB before season but think you are being really harsh tbh

[delboyderis]

Shocking display last night in all depts.cork should have won by more.the goals were very soft and we looked way off the pace for most of the game.we really did look like a first div team on last nights display.at least its only pre season but need big improvement for the league.need to hit the ground running.

[Treaty Gooner]

We'll win no division with that team. Maybe 1A locally.

[Jofspring]

I wouldn't go that far.

Hall

Kelly
Paudie
Williams
Tracey

Duggan
O'Connor

Mullhall
Lynch
Greene

O'Flynn

That is certainly a team well capable of winning the league. We just need to add a few more. Maybe another centre half and striker. Let's not forget Cork would walk, by a country mile the first division. Bray would be one of the top sides, Dundalk would walk completely undefeated the division, Longford would be one of the top sides also. I would read nothing into pre-season either, lots of chopping and changing.

[Lim till i die]

And we're off.

There's was fellas cribbing after five minutes last night.

We desperately need a centre half and we desperately need Shaun Kelly to get fit but seriously now.

Have a look around the division and show me a team that wouldnt swap us.

Soft goals?! In a pre season game with five trialists on the pitch?! Well I never!

[LK37oldskool]

Agree with LTID about last night. We didn't even have a decent 11 this time last year. We are weak in certain positions but i think todays signing of Arron Greene solves the striker situation. A centre half and another midfielder and we'll walk the league. Cork have invested very heavily in their squad. Their bench alone last night would all be starters in our team. I think they'll win the Premier league this season. We seem to have forgotten how poor the First Division is.

[da bishop]

Calm boys calm......with an even half decent squad we should sunshine this div....the fact that Greene has signed and probably more to come,should see us with good mgt skills, easily over the line.

[thomas72]

If we could just add one top centre half I'd be well happy even if that centre half was the only player we got before window closes I'd be happy.

[Treaty Gooner]

No sign of a defender to fix our biggest problem last season, you can sign all the Aaron Greene's you want, we'll not win the league with that back four.

[thomas72]

No sign of a defender to fix our biggest problem last season, you can sign all the Aaron Greene's you want, we'll not win the league with that back four.

Agree fully with this if we can just sign a few top defenders it would make the world of difference.
Our midfield is fantastic no problems there.
if I'm been greedy we could do with another striker but I'll be happy what we got up there now knowing greene can also play up there he is another option.
Goalkeeper is solid.
Back four is a real problem it's weak and if we got a couple of injuries back there we would be very very weak surely Russell can see this and is hoping to address it.


Also on the radio this morning they were saying there are people coming onto the board to help POS out financially saying the club would sign a few more players like greene but there is a few things to iron out first before club make a statement.
Anyone know or heard who these people coming in are????

[Jofspring]

We've been hearing it for around a month now. Until the club have released a statement about the investors being set in stone and in I'd take it with a huge pinch of salt.

[Gerrard1]

It's been longer than a month. At our home game v Rovers towards the end of last season (think it might have been the second last game) Pat came out at half time in a downpour/gale and announced that the club would be making a statement soon after in relation to investment. Probably a bit too soon to make a comment like that until its done and dusted.

[bluewhitearmy]

Those saying we wont win the league cos of this or that who do you think will win the league and what have ye seen of them to make you think so?

[Treaty Gooner]

I saw Drogheda play Dundalk the other week because I was in that neck of the woods. A good committed side and they'd beat us with our back four. Cobh will beat us down there at least, and take points off us at home with our back four. Shels got hockeyed lately but they'll be up there, UCD too. IF we don't sign at least one more defender, we won't win any league.

[bluewhitearmy]

I saw Drogheda play Dundalk the other week because I was in that neck of the woods. A good committed side and they'd beat us with our back four. Cobh will beat us down there at least, and take points off us at home with our back four. Shels got hockeyed lately but they'll be up there, UCD too. IF we don't sign at least one more defender, we won't win any league.

Based off seeing one team in one game? Ok then. How many of our games have you seen in pre season? I agree we could do with a defender and have no doubt we will sign one but some of the talk is ridiculous.

[Treaty Gooner]

You asked the question ********, let me know what answer you'd have preferred and I'll just say that. What's ridiculous is thinking were gona win the league with our back four. I saw us v Dundalk and Cork and we couldn't defend against small fat Sean MaGuire.

[Lim till i die]

Our two full backs are absolutely fine (assuming Shaun Kelly is alive). Robbie in centre half has more than enough for the First Division but will go on holiday for four or five weeks at some stage during the season.

Centre half (probably two) definitely needed but I think we're still favourites for the division. Because we are measurably better than everyone else.

[Jofspring]

You still have to keep going back to looking at what we are up against not the premier teams we have played in friendlies making subs and bringing in 19's. We should be going in confident of winning every week. If the team was to go out fearing any of the teams in the first division then we don't deserve to win it. You need to have a winning and professional mentality.

One or two centre backs and we have by a mile the strongest team in the division.

[LK37oldskool]

There isn't a player in the first division as good as the small fat Sean Maguire.

[thomas72]

Agree with Jofspring and everybody else really one or two good centre half's and we will walk this division imo strengthening our back line is vital.
Look at our midfield it's top 5 premier division imo duggan, lee j, greene, paul o connor etc.
Surely Russell is looking at centre half position if not you'd have to question him

[Jofspring]

I'd nearly bet my house that Russell is looking at centre halves. We have had Finnegan on trial already. There was rumours about 3 or 4 weeks ago about McGuinness from St.Pats if Pats will let him go. Oji is still un-signed also.

[bluewhitearmy]

You asked the question ********, let me know what answer you'd have preferred and I'll just say that. What's ridiculous is thinking were gona win the league with our back four. I saw us v Dundalk and Cork and we couldn't defend against small fat Sean MaGuire.

Settle yourself down if you don't like someone having a differing opinion to yours you may find a forum isn't the place for you. So you saw us keep Dundalk at 0-0 til after half time even missing Shaun Kelly then. Most of the goals we have conceded have come when our team has been weakened by subs or in Bray from a shockingly bad pitch and a free kick not any fault of the back 4s while it isn't great and I know we need another CB at least 1 I would be very confident if we started the season with out current strongest back 4 we would win the league. Thats just my opinion no need to be upset about it.


Agree with Jofspring and everybody else really one or two good centre half's and we will walk this division imo strengthening our back line is vital.
Look at our midfield it's top 5 premier division imo duggan, lee j, greene, paul o connor etc.
Surely Russell is looking at centre half position if not you'd have to question him

He is 100% lookig for centre backs has had talks with Oji and has had 2 centre backs in on trial in recent weeks.

[bluewhitearmy]

There isn't a player in the first division as good as the small fat Sean Maguire.

I'd bet there isn't a club in the first division that wouldn't swap us squads too and even some in prem for that matter.

[Treaty Gooner]

For a fella who understands what a forum is about you get quite upset when someone has a different view to you BWA, I saw us lose two games because we couldn't defend. Our back four is not good enough for us to win the league. Every answer so far to that has been 'he's 100% looking/talking/facebooking a centrehalf'. How much of the budget just went on Aaron Greene? Will the €9.50 a week we have left be enough to tempt O.G. Oji? I still probably won't miss a home game but Russell's a spoofer and I think we'll win nothing with this squad.

[Jofspring]

For a fella who understands what a forum is about you get quite upset when someone has a different view to you BWA, I saw us lose two games because we couldn't defend. Our back four is not good enough for us to win the league. Every answer so far to that has been 'he's 100% looking/talking/facebooking a centrehalf'. How much of the budget just went on Aaron Greene? Will the €9.50 a week we have left be enough to tempt O.G. Oji? I still probably won't miss a home game but Russell's a spoofer and I think we'll win nothing with this squad.

Well every answer so far has been that people agree we need another centre half at least but it certainly isn't the doom and gloom you are making it out to be.

Do you not think we have the strongest squad in the league?

Name one club in the division that has more than 4 players that could make our starting 11?

Hall - Up there as one of the best keepers in first division if not best
Kelly - probably the best right full in the first division. Certainly in the top 2 or 3.
Paudie - young but has shown he has some class, has done well against much better teams.
Robbie - has played over 250 games in English league football and also played 3 years premier here, well capable.
Shane T - one of the best left backs, seems to be getting a little bit of pace back also and looks dangerous on the attack
Duggie - best midfielder in the division
O'Connor - one of the best midfielders in the division, has shown he can fill in RB and CB.
Lynch - one of the best and most gifted players technically in the division
Mullhall - experienced winger, playing league of Ireland years, has been solid anywhere he has played
Greene - could easily be playing premier, very talented. Can play LB, LW and attacking midfield.
O'Flynn - according to Cork fans and players that have played in the league with him he is the most technically gifted striker they have ever seen. With service should be lethal.

Garbhan Coughlan - has scored 30 goals in the last few months in junior, has won the first division twice and seems to be maturing as a player.
Tommy Holland - looks like our future number 1 and has been solid anytime he was called upon.
MCCartan - Young but a tough nut, one for the future
Killian Brouder - similar to above, one for the future
Tony Whitehead - around a while be still young, well capable of doing a job in the first division.
Jordan Moore - just signed tonight, young striker that has played in Scotland, don't know much about him but seems all that hindered his progression previously was a life threatening illness.
Keith Mawdsley - primarily an under 19 for the moment but has been banging in goals in the Limerick premier, started for Ireland tonight in a friendly.

You also have Shane Costello, Colm Murphy there not to mention some more under 19 players that look decent.

The club also talking to more players. What else is wanted than that?

[bluewhitearmy]

Last 3 pre season games.

Us Goals Scored: 2 Goals Against 9 Goal Difference -7

Drogheda Goals Scored:0 Goals Against: 7 Goal Difference: -7

[Treaty Gooner]

Jesus lads, will we win it so ya?

Here's another one, I don't think I've seen Duggan/Lynch/O'Connor dominate a game from start to finish. I'd question them a bit too for the money that's being spent.

[LK37oldskool]

Jaysus I never realised how high the standard is in the first division. I don't think we'll get promoted now. It's looking like we may even have to reapply for FD status already for next season according to some.

[bluewhitearmy]

Jesus lads, will we win it so ya?

Here's another one, I don't think I've seen Duggan/Lynch/O'Connor dominate a game from start to finish. I'd question them a bit too for the money that's being spent.

How much is it?

[bluewhitearmy]

Heard there is a hope Shaun Kelly could be in the squad tonight and John O'Flynn could be back for the Galway friendly.

[Treaty Gooner]

How much is it?

€9million

[CraftyToePoke]

We'll win no division with that team. Maybe 1A locally.

Look man, after opening with this what do you expect ? A smooth ride in the debate is it ? :)

Despite going on to make a reasoned point, and Id agree, we need ideally, a little experience at the back but wouldn't go as far as to say the season hangs on it either, you blew your credibility with the Div 1A remark. No need for it.

[Treaty Gooner]

I thought the €9 million was the big one to destroy my 'credibility' on an anonymous football forum, I was only half joking about the 1A thing. Still won't win the league.

[CraftyToePoke]

I referred to the credibility of your contribution, your post & not you personally. As is the foot.ie rule in these exchanges. A personal attack on the human behind the Treaty Gooner badge would be of no interest or use to me chap.

[Treaty Gooner]

I referred to it too, on an anonymous football forum. Any sign of a new centre back? Heard there's only two fit ones available for the game tonight? Bare bones already it seems.

[CraftyToePoke]

Who would you say will win Div 1 so ? Of these super powers of Irish football lined up against us and all draped in only the finest preparation with squads over burdened & laden with options for all positions and formations ?

[Treaty Gooner]

Drogheda. MAYBE UCD. Definitely not Limerick. Not with our back four.

[CraftyToePoke]

Are you prepared to wager Sir ? I challenge you thus, £9 million.

[Treaty Gooner]

€9 million? What am I? A group of local businessmen willing to bankroll the club?

[CraftyToePoke]

Haha, good man.
I was hoping the Greene signing was a thaw in the gap between the very encouraging start to the off season and the silence of recent weeks, but the the statement last night about the Scottish forward signing alluded to having to cut our cloth, budget wise, so tis hard to read the angle of what's going on there.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Lost to Cobh tonight in MSC. Only following along on club's Twitter, made it sound like it was all Limerick but they just couldn't get the ball in the net. That's a concern, since I wouldn't have considered Cobh one of the teams we'd really have to worry about.

[thomas72]

Another loss pre season or not

[da bishop]

the Gooner does have a point about the back four,and the way some on here talk about our much vaunted midfield etc lets not forget these players played a part...a BiG part in the club getting relegated,..........however this is the first div, pure muck, we should be going the season unbeaten with this squad[we wont obviously] so i will accept winning it.....comfortably.