Finn Harps (H)

[AlanOB]

Huge game in Limerick FC's season tonight, as 10th-placed Harps visit without the likes of Gareth Harkin (suspended), Caolan McAleer (suspended), and Packie Mailey (injured).

Full live audio analysis of this one, featuring Noel O'Connor, available at www.mixlr.com/limerick-soccer-live (http://www.mixlr.com/limerick-soccer-live) as always, for those unable to attend.

Also, ahead of Shane Tracy's testimonial, I sat down with Limerick's longest-serving current player to chat about the past, present, and future: https://soundcloud.com/alan-obrien-9/in-conversation-with-shane-tracy

[LK37oldskool]

Has Pascal Millen left as well?

[Mr A]

His tweets yesterday certainly raised a few eyebrows. It's not really clear what he meant. With McAleer out we can't afford to lose him.

[nigel-harps1954]

I don't think he's left. He's just an incredibly strange chap who chats in riddles most of the time anyway. His Twitter page makes for interesting reading most of the time.

[bluewhitearmy]

Win this one and we are as good as safe imo. Huge game.

[osarusan]

Win this one and we are as good as safe imo. Huge game.
Indeed, and a good test for McDonald too and his analytical skills. The teams saw each other so recently - will he have worked out a way through Harps tonight.

[Lims4ever]

Going by last week another scrappy affair in store if its the same outcome as then we will most certainly put up with that, harps not easy to beat dogged more than anything i' d be worried if they go ahead think we should have enough to win it

[NeverFeltBetter]

It's a one goal game for sure. Good time for Berki to get his first, before McDonald takes him off after an hour.

What I have been thinking about is the mentality of both teams relative to the table. Both teams need 3 points, but Harps need it that bit more. But enough that they'll come out attacking? Maybe not. Still think both teams will avoid the drop.

Win this game, and we might be in the top half of the table. Win another, and we might be a point off 5th. Weird season.

[CraftyToePoke]

Will they come for a point ? Might do them.

[NeverFeltBetter]

With a game in hand on Sligo, and playing them next at home in two weeks, that's quite possible.

[Jofspring]

If Harps come out and try to play football they will leave big holes for the likes of Ogbene so can't see it happening.

If I was them I'd be starting Houston and Morrissey up top. old fashioned lump it up. Shaw caused our centre backs awful problems with his height when Rovers did it.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Duggan back in for Limerick. Millen not named in Harps squad.

[NeverFeltBetter]

There's nothing to be said in defence of McDonald and Limerick for this. They can't convert, and stupid errors at the back hand the 10-man opposition two goals. And that's all Harps did going forward. What a clownshow.

Still have Bray, Pats, Drogheda and Galway to come. Gotta get the points from some of them, and that'll only happen if the team remember how to score.

[Kennycon]

Can't pass a ball

[Lim till i die]

Oh Dear.

Will that team pick up more points in the rest of the season than the teams around them?

The head says no.

Break out the atlas for next year lads...

[LK37oldskool]

Trying to fit Duggan into the midfield was the main problem. We had a decent run recently with lynch and Bastian in the middle. Putting. Lynch out wide was wasteful. All Duggan knows is to pass the ball backwards or lateral. He contributes nothing going forward.
All that said it was a shambolic result and we're in big trouble now.

[CraftyToePoke]

Huge game in Limerick FC's season tonight, as 10th-placed Harps visit without the likes of Gareth Harkin (suspended), Caolan McAleer (suspended), and Packie Mailey (injured).

Well I managed to catch most of that broadcast tonight, finally, and was treated to a picture so bleak unfolding between the two of ye, you hardly had the words for it O'Brien. It sounded truly awful.

The highlight, if there was one, if one could call it that was you forcing yourself on the MOTM award and then taking credit, well, heaping praise upon yourself to be exact, lets face it, when your co commentator went along with you. The summariser traditionally steps from the commentators shadow once per outing, to announce MOTM, but you even had to have that. Merciless.

Could have done with more of that mentality out on the green thing by the sounds of it.

[gael353]

Mr McDonnell put his own interests ahead of the clubs tonight by playing his signing Cameron. Thus reducing us to 10 for the whole second half. Sack him dolan in for the last few games

[CraftyToePoke]

Sack him dolan in for the last few games

Before he puts his own side together ?

Look its not going well, I agree, and the season has been written off again, with a start again next season vibe to things and his bet that we will stay up with what we have left in the squad is sailing very close to the wind. Its touch and go.

But do you really want this club to be one that canned a guy before he put his own side out ?

[fieldofmarkets]

That guy certainly can't say he hasn't put his stamp on the side.

[fieldofmarkets]

Trying to fit Duggan into the midfield was the main problem. We had a decent run recently with lynch and Bastian in the middle. Putting. Lynch out wide was wasteful. All Duggan knows is to pass the ball backwards or lateral. He contributes nothing going forward.
All that said it was a shambolic result and we're in big trouble now.

Spot on

[gael353]

The disgusting behaviour at the end is really something this club can do without. Shameful carry on, first trying to encourage dissenting voices to leave (through ballhoppers corner)followed by the choirboys clapping the team off. Simbolic of Vichy france

[Lim till i die]

JP Dillon.

I think we can all agree he's a clown. I don't think any reasonable person would dispute that for even a second.

But what was that during the last ten minutes tonight?!

Ushering people to leave via ballhoppers corner... With ten minutes to go in the ****ing game!!!

Were they trying to protect the players walking off?

Distract people from the field?

Showing off their new gate?

It's like something out of Nazi Germany. I have no doubt in my mind that in years to come we will see pictures of this season and Dave O'Connor will be doctored out of them.

Also while I'm here, who are these absolute cretins who insist on rushing to the front of the stand to applaud all and sundry at the end? The supporters Club chairman is the ringleader but how the hell is he attracting followers?

Do you honestly think the players care about you? Or the club care about you? Desperate for a pat on the head.

Cretins.

[CraftyToePoke]

Freedom of speech, but watch what you say, or else, is it ? :)

[Mr A]

Was going to ask what the hell that craic with the Ballhopper's exit was. It was very odd.

One of the weirdest games I ever saw. If we were still playing my guess is Harps would have all but one player sent off and be 8-0 up.

Limerick looked really good in the first half but just could not score. We were a shambles in the first, playing really badly but regrouped at half time and were very dogged. Tosi always gives us massive problems but seldom gets proper service and always gets hooked.

I still have no idea what the hell I witnessed tonight and I was stone cold sober.

[SandwichBoy]

The behaviour of the red haired blue army muppet was a disgrace. He intentionally stood by the tunnel and abused Ollie Horgan as he was going off at halftime. The abuse that he directed at David O'Connor showed his character. Repeatedly calling a player a sh*tbag, reject etc. The lad is being played out of position, there is no lack of effort the abuse was totally uncalled for. Just because people spend their money following the team doesn't grant some mythical licence to act like utter lowlifes. The Bohs game was the most enjoyable atmosphere of the season because we didn't have to listen to the ringleaders spewing rubbish.

I'd imagine the ball hoppers corner situation was to deter the degenerates from engaging in their customary behaviour as the team walked off.
The team are lacking options. Everybody knows it, the players were trying tonight they are just a disjointed team full of average players with the odd exception. We have no full backs, two centre backs who are being unfairly played out of position and can't overlap/utilise space well. Henry Cameron is dirt. McDonald has ripped the team apart and even if we stay up he doesn't have the philosophy for long term progression.

[EnzoScifo10]

Before he puts his own side together ?

Look its not going well, I agree, and the season has been written off again, with a start again next season vibe to things and his bet that we will stay up with what we have left in the squad is sailing very close to the wind. Its touch and go.

But do you really want this club to be one that canned a guy before he put his own side out ?

We had 90% of the ball, overall no luck, we should have won the game easy.

Now Mcd cannot put the ball in the net and I'm all for giving him time but lets look at the game from his view. First of all, he changed a winning team and a back 4 that had a bit of confidence, why? He puts Lee Jay on the wing where he is never as good as in the middle and bring back Duggie who is not performing.

Harps go down to 10 men which means our back 4 are now all about attacking as they have no need really to worry about defending. So he takes off Cotter (who is better going forward than defending) and leaves on O Conner who is the worst attacking full back ever. By the way, the abuse he got was a disgrace... I think he is a good defender, way better than Whitehead and has done very well defending. He is not a winger and its not his fault that this is where he ends up yet not once does Mcd tell Cameron to get to the touchline and leaves O Conner practically free where even he is praying he does not have to cross the ball. Like when he is on cross number 10 does he not think maybe I should ask Henry to stop marking their center half and tell O Conner to run inside...

We bring on 2 wingers yet not once does any of them get to the touchline to cross the ball to Rod. Kenny doubles back, Cameron gets 1 ball and gets hammered and thats game over for him. He spends the last 30 mins in the old inside forward line hiding. Please don't pass to me as he makes runs into channels and points to where he knows he will never getting the ball. Pay the man his money and give him his visa, such a brutal player to give a 2 year deal to apart from Whitehead.

So now lets take Rod off and then give him some great service which he is on the bench. WTF, cross after cross to JOF. While your at it put OB in the middle where he has no chance to use his speed and no physicality to make any difference.

Managers make decisions and signings and pick teams. All well and good but my biggest problem with Martin was that he could never read a game, he had his plan and that was that. Mcd might get the day to day right and could do the root and branch that is needed but he has proved that tactically he cannot see what is happening before his eyes and has no clue within the game regarding players, positions and formations needed to be a success.

[Treaty Gooner]

Vichy France, Nazi Germany? Have a word lads, you're grown men.

[Lims4ever]

How could you explain the difference between first and second half my god that second half was painful relegation here we come after that truly gutless the changes McDonald made shocking ogbene was having a nightmare game out there and he's left on berki and Barry cotter two of our best players working hard taken off **** sake so frustrating Cameron has shown absolutely nothing in any game he has played seriously lack of effort from so many out there , mcdonalds style of football is so bad pass back and hoof ball down the middle truly awful to watch he is clueless , the pen and red card extremely harsh you could see why Horgan wasn't happy , Id love to know what conditions McDonald was working with when bringing in the likes of Cameron crowe etc scrap the barrell as no money available seems that way or else he is clueless

[Lims4ever]

Two centre halfs as full backs shows the situation were in we say it after every game now dave o Connor does not look comfortable in that position but he persists week after week with him there he's a centre half not a ****ing full back

[Castlepook]

Two centre halfs as full backs shows the situation were in we say it after every game now dave o Connor does not look comfortable in that position but he persists week after week with him there he's a centre half not a ****ing full back

I doubt if he's a centre half either .. We'll probably never know. Interesting to see Cameron getting a stroll out, really the type we need to dig us out of a relegation scrap !! Where is all the McD "connections" in the UK ? We have so far uncovered Cameron, Crowe and Berki, hardly inspiring stuff and is McD the man you would trust with a budget to send his much lauded own team out next season (albeit in Div 1) He's tactically clueless ..

[Lim till i die]

Vichy France, Nazi Germany? Have a word lads, you're grown men.

Here's one of the gestapo now trying to shut down my free speech.

You're worse than Pol Pot.

[Treaty Gooner]

Thats it, you're off the case

[Lim till i die]

Thats it, you're off the case

You like ordering people around is it?

Typical Commie Nazi.

[AlanOB]

Analysis: http://bit.ly/2vTtROv

[Castlepook]

Despite the "impressive defensive shape and squad management" ... 😃😃 The old NUJ would burn you at the stake for that inaccurate pandering, are you that stuck for a lift to an away game ?

[Lim till i die]

Sign of a good churnalist.

When they are bought they stay bought in fairness

[Treaty Gooner]

Now I didn't read the link above at all but it's terrible. Like they were watching a different game and still agreeing with each other. What are you all smoking up in that commentary box at all.

[bluewhitearmy]

Ah the new prince has been chosen anyway I see the new shining light to come from the academy is here to save us all. Brought up in the strict structured world of LOI football that was the 3 lads released. Wait what's that you say there is one rule for one and one rule for the other when it comes to young players? Surely not hypocritical behaviour at Limerick that's a first.

Or are there young players on the **** just as much as some of the now released senior players supposedly were are there coaches helping out with underage teams being told to treat certain players differently because of who they are are some players getting a bollocking for being 5 mins late while others stroll in 20 mins late like nothing happened and last but not least is there still a young player at the club that spit at a coach? I guess we will have to wait til the whisperers see fit to slip it out to their new man to get out there to know.

[gael353]

Alan there's a place for your style of journalism. It was called the irish press also known as a FF propaganda sheet.

[Treaty Gooner]

I for one welcome our new
centre-right overlords

[Castlepook]

Alan there's a place for your style of journalism. It was called the irish press also known as a FF propaganda sheet.


"Despite the impressive defensive-shape he’s engendered, and the courageous squad-management he’s exhibited"

The North Korean Daily Record would have him in a heartbeat ..

[LK37oldskool]

This rhetoric is getting boring. Last night was shambolic. No excuses. Time to give Tracey a chance. O Connor too inconsistent. Tracey could play on the left wing if Mcdonald doesn't want to change the back 4. He may not have pace but he can cross the ball accurately. Excellent at set pieces too.

[pearse4t3]

https://memecrunch.com/meme/5LDZ5/comical-ali/image.jpg?w=444&c=1

Comical Alan!

[Lim till i die]

"Despite the impressive defensive-shape he’s engendered, and the courageous squad-management he’s exhibited"

The North Korean Daily Record would have him in a heartbeat ..

Nah he's clearly a running dog for the capitalist imperialist club helping to keep the lumpen proletariat of Limerick downtrodden.

Stalin knew what to do with journalists.

[Lim till i die]

Also, according to bwa post above, just for people who missed it/chose to ignore it

THERE IS A YOUNGFELLA AT THE CLUB WHO SPAT AT A COACH.

Someone please attempt to defend that.

Shaun Kelly was released for what, playing a few games of cards with Robbie Williams? And you have this kind of **** going on in the background.

Don't gete wrong I fully supported Neil McDonalds gutting of the place wouldnt have been the players I would have picked personally but it needed to be done for years.

Little did I realise that the new manager wouldn't actually be replacing the released players with new players.

Shaun Kelly again for example. Who's his replacement? A useless converted striker/centre half off the 19s who's only anywhere near the team because of politics and bull****. The "dangerous" (presumably to his own team when coughing up possession in his own half twice last night) Barry Cotter.

Tony Whitehead is the backbone of our defence. He key man. If we were doing our business properly he would be the first sub.

Our captain would rather be hooked up to a car battery by the ****** than play for us.

Henry Cameron is a practical joke.

Brendan Clarke retired a couple of months ago.

Our manager was outsmarted twice by a bobble headed straw man.

Our (ex??) chairman has taken to abusing players again.

The board have taken to giving out to fans for abusing players again.



Mumble mumble typical Limerick mumble grumble

[Lims4ever]

Was Dean Clarke injured ??

[Mastershake87]

I was actually really impressed with how we played in the first half. It was a reasonable all round performance by the team and they actually played decent football. Lynch and Burki impressed with their movement and their sharpness especially. The only thing missing was our composure and again our ability to shoot ourselves in the foot for their goal.

Second half was a different story and it was all down to how McDonald set up the team after the sending off. Switching to three at the back was a disaster. Our lack of width was glaring from then on. Taking off Barry Cotter was a woeful decision for me. Instead I would have taken O'Connor off and brought Shane Tracy on to deliver better balls into Tosi and combine with Ogebene down the flanks. I thought McDonald with he experience in the game would have identified this. Looking at the table for the last 8 games we are second from bottom. Relegation form.


http://foot.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=2591&stc=1

[bluewhitearmy]

Players and manager don't have the bottle for it imo mainly the players as soon as we go behind no matter how well we played beforehand they just pack it in and start resorting to nonsense.

[LK37oldskool]

Duggans lack of leadership qualities shown again. His appointment always looked political as opposed to what was really needed.