LOI Fixtures April 7th and 8th

[El-Pietro]

The one certainty is that we won't maintain the 100% record all season. Some of our fans need to get a bit of a grip I feel. It can turn very, very quickly. One game at a time, and the next one is Bohs. A game we're well capable of winning.Agreed. I'd be surprised if we won the whole first series. Its certainly possible, but football never goes the way you expect it. I'll be delighted if we can get to 9.

[oriel]

A lot of suspicions of offside surrounding Dundalks second goal last night..

https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17799116_1429135840478685_5600249674340492265_n.jp g?oh=581fc543c702a377cb3a1bf20b811709&oe=594CAC1B

Good photo, but it will depend on where McMillan and the defender was when the ball was played in. We'll see it on Mon night. Heard Harps denied what looked a more than decent pen shout though?

[Trevor Carey]

The really positive thing for Cork is that they haven't really clicked yet. Even in games where they are poor, like in Tallaght, they are getting three points.

There is always the risk that Maguire will want away in the summer but, unlike Bradley, I don't think Cork are a one man team.

Not using it as an excuse, but the weather in the two away games to Harps and Rovers was shocking. Two huge wins there under the conditions. We must be favourites to win 11/11 in Series 1. Though the next 3 games are difficult, and everyone will be out to stop the run now. If we somehow do, the start to Series 2 looks very favourable to keep the run going.

Home twice to Dundalk, Derry and Bray is good for us - those 3 look like the 3 challengers.

With almost 12,000 through the gate in the past two home games, Caulfield might be able to add to the squad in July.

[patrickccfc]

Just watching the game back there, Adrian eames reckoned we were singing "stand up for the champions" quite clearly weren't.

Think our timing was a bit off for our minutes applause in the 5th minute, was actually in the 7th.

Got a bit lucky with the second goal, should've been a free to derry in the build up.

Very pleasing to get 3 goals. We weren't up to much in the first half but certainly upped it in the second.

On the road now next 3 games, away to Limerick in the EA sports cup in between 2 trips to Dublin

[pineapple stu]

Good photo, but it will depend on where McMillan and the defender was when the ball was played it.
"Good photo" is very polite!

It is a technically very adept picture alright. But it tells us literally nothing about the offside.

[nigel-harps1954]

Will wait for the video, but it all went very quickly, so I'd be surprised if McMillan was able to steal a couple of yards so fast.

We were indeed denied one of the most blatant penaltys you'd see all year. Given a free out, for which I still can't get my head around. Tuite gave the free from 20 yards away and the linesman didn't flag at all.

[pineapple stu]

He's two yards behind the last man.

That's less than a second. Less again if the Harps defence were running out. Very easy done.

The photo shows literally nothing other than a good finish.

[nigel-harps1954]

He's two yards behind the last man.

That's less than a second. Less again if the Harps defence were running out. Very easy done.

The photo shows literally nothing other than a good finish.

I would tend to disagree. From the photo, there's a number of things:

1) It doesn't show a good finish. If you were to guess where the ball is going to go, you'd say it'll bounce off his shin and over the defence the wrong direction.

2) The linesman is a good 3 or 4 yards behind the last man and trying to catch up. He'd never have caught any offside in any case.

3) The position of Gartland suggests that people were running in, and not out.

4) Kilian Cantwell is well behind the rest of his defence and most likely the cause of an offside not given.

[Yossarian]

I would tend to disagree. From the photo, there's a number of things:

1) It doesn't show a good finish. If you were to guess where the ball is going to go, you'd say it'll bounce off his shin and over the defence the wrong direction.

2) The linesman is a good 3 or 4 yards behind the last man and trying to catch up. He'd never have caught any offside in any case.

3) The position of Gartland suggests that people were running in, and not out.

4) Kilian Cantwell is well behind the rest of his defence and most likely the cause of an offside not given.

You can argue all these things and more but the simple fact is that this still photo proves nothing unless it includes McMillan and the player passing the ball at the moment the ball is passed.

[Ezeikial]

After all the compelling evidence and balanced observation from Nigel, I have revised my view to reflect the realisation
that Harps were robbed and were fully deserving of a 3 goal victory

[nigel-harps1954]

You can argue all these things and more but the simple fact is that this still photo proves nothing unless it includes McMillan and the player passing the ball at the moment the ball is passed.


After all the compelling evidence and balanced observation from Nigel, I have revised my view to reflect the realisation
that Harps were robbed and were fully deserving of a 3 goal victory

Thanks for your considerations, but I haven't said anywhere that it proves an offside. It simply adds to suspicions.

[MattB11]

At the time didn't think McMillan was offside our defence was just crap and he nipped in and scored an easy goal

[pineapple stu]

Ah stop Nigel. If a photo not taken at the time the ball was played can add to your suspicions of offside, then you're actively looking for it to be offside.

The photo is in fact utterly redundant in deciding anything about the offside. We don't even have the least indication when the last pass was played.

[pineapple stu]

Not sure what to make of Athlone. Keeper fumbled a shot through his fingers within the first minute, made a great save a minute later, was dodgy for a while after that but by the end was man-of-the-match. Their defence was practically non-existent; never seen a defence as badly organised and maybe doesn't reflect too well on us that we only managed four. But up front, they could play a bit and caused us problems.

Maybe 6-3 would have been a fairer reflection of the game. They'll - entertain this season.

[Battery Rover]

24 goals conceded with 12 scored in 7 league and 1 cup game so far this season.

Strange decisions according to Ash at 2-1 down where he takes right full off then brings on a centre midfielder and drops other centre mid to right full. 3-1 down takes off attacking midfielder and puts on a right full.

Colin Fortune as manager 2 games with 2 wins, 3 goals scored and 1 conceded. He gets replaced and Monsanto takes over. 6 games with 5 defeats and 1 draw. 9 goals scored and 21 conceded.

It's not just the defeats either it is the manner of them. Unorganised, no passion, like a team with eye on other things. Could see a totally foreign team on the field after transfer window of it all lasts that long.

Crowds getting very small and the real hardcore boycotting games etc. Not looking good from the outside and no information coming out from the club in any form

[AlanOB]

Three quick thoughts on Willie John Boland’s maiden victory at the Limerick FC helm...

St Patrick’s Athletic 0-2 Limerick: Russell blueprint plots fortunate triumph over naive Saints (https://tacticstruck2.com/2017/04/09/st-patricks-athletic-0-2-limerick-russell-blueprint-plots-fortunate-triumph-over-naive-saints/)https://tacticstruck2.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/patslim1.jpg?w=432

[fieldofmarkets]

Good coverage Alan.

[outspoken]

24 goals conceded with 12 scored in 7 league and 1 cup game so far this season.

Strange decisions according to Ash at 2-1 down where he takes right full off then brings on a centre midfielder and drops other centre mid to right full. 3-1 down takes off attacking midfielder and puts on a right full.

Colin Fortune as manager 2 games with 2 wins, 3 goals scored and 1 conceded. He gets replaced and Monsanto takes over. 6 games with 5 defeats and 1 draw. 9 goals scored and 21 conceded.

It's not just the defeats either it is the manner of them. Unorganised, no passion, like a team with eye on other things. Could see a totally foreign team on the field after transfer window of it all lasts that long.

Crowds getting very small and the real hardcore boycotting games etc. Not looking good from the outside and no information coming out from the club in any form

And more players to announce they are off tomorrow if what I'm seeing online is correct

[dundalkfc10]

http://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/home/244312/report-dundalk-fans-arrested-before-finn-harps-game.html

[Battery Rover]

And more players to announce they are off tomorrow if what I'm seeing online is correct
If it is on the fans Facebook page I would take it as likely to happen as they would know a lot of the players and would have ear close to ground. They are the true hardcore support that would have been to all games both home and away before the boycott.

[outspoken]

If it is on the fans Facebook page I would take it as likely to happen as they would know a lot of the players and would have ear close to ground. They are the true hardcore support that would have been to all games both home and away before the boycott.

One of the players parents actually tweeted it. Said a few players had had enough after the subs made the other night and would make an announcement today

[Longfordian]

They're the only team we can actually beat so I hope Ricardo and co keep fighting the good fight.

[Charlie Darwin]

Agreed. I'd be surprised if we won the whole first series. Its certainly possible, but football never goes the way you expect it. I'll be delighted if we can get to 9.
Would you say it's Cork's first series to lose?

Rovers are gas. No surprise we conceded from a free kick at the end - Bradser seems to have them training to defend set piece in clown shoes. Still think we'll click at some point but might be too late to get anywhere near the top three by then. Only consolation is that there's no other outstanding team outside Cork and Dundalk.

[El-Pietro]

Would you say it's Cork's first series to lose?



I'm half expecting us to beat Bohs and Pats, get a big crowd in for Bray and then **** it up. I know Bray are having a good season but they have a terrible record in Cork. Two wins ever. I think in 1992 and 2013 (Thanks Tommy Dunne) so if we won ten and lost to Bray that would sting.

But in all seriousness, we're rolling right now and it wouldn't be a total surpris if we won every game from now until Dundalk in June. No one until then (Bray aside) looks like they could get anything from us (unless Rovers get an actual real life manager before we play them).
At the same time, teams will sit in deep and look to frustrate us. Seani only needs a half a chance which is good but he'll get a knock or something at minimum eventually. Failing that he can't stay in this form indefinitely. Something could go wrong in any game and if we lose our momentum who knows what happens. The other problem is with every game e win the pressure to win the next one grows.
Eventually a slice of luck won't go our way, or teams will figure out a way to play against us. We also haven't been blowing teams away, at lest until the last couple of weeks (and against Galway who look poor) so there are plenty of ways this streak could end. Enjoying it while it is here.

[Philosophizer]

They should get 3 points in Dalyer anyway. Bohs are missing half their team at the moment due to injuries and looked poor at home to Pats 10 days ago. I suppose they haven't the biggest budget so once a few injuries stack up they're very depleted.
The Pats game on the other hand is less predictable. Against Bohs, Pat's put in the best performance i've seen from them in well over a year, but then the performance dropped again against Limerick last week. It just depends what Pats team shows up on the night.