Games Weekend 25th September

[placid casual]

The first bit of football that Harps have played and they equalise through their tub of curry. McGlade looks the only guy interested in actually playing football, but it's an intriguing game nonetheless.

[joey B]

Our keeper was man of the match and we made Cork look good (they're not!) sums that up from a Harps perspective,we still have to play all of the current top 4 and I wouldn't be very optimistic ..........

[Longfordian]

Maybe some of these Dundalk players should have had some more games this season judging by tonight's game so far. They've done well. Oops, jinxed that.

[pineapple stu]

McGinley is a quality keeper. Cork should have been a couple of goals up
Must have improved since he was at Belfield; always thought he was a bit dodgy. I guess a couple of years of senior GAA can't have hurt?

[pineapple stu]

Maybe some of these Dundalk players should have had some more games this season judging by tonight's game so far. They've done well. Oops, jinxed that.
Jaysus. I don't think you'll be allowed post about Dundalk again :eek:

[CorribsideSteve]

Dundalk blitzed in the space of less than 10 minutes.

[Olander]

Oduwa exciting enough going forward, a bit erratic, but offering zero defensive cover to Dummigan. He's getting destroyed.

I saw some comparisons made a few months ago of Dundalk signing Will Patching and Rovers having Jack Byrne. Looks a terrible shout. Patching has been dreadful in the first half, lost his man for the second goal, then gives away a penalty for the third. Looks overweight, which is something you don't associate with Dundalk players.

Despite it being Dundalk's second team, there's a lot of absolute garbage signed that seems below their usual level: Journeymen like Oduwa, Josh Gatt?! Patching.

[pineapple stu]

Made ten changes from Thursday apparently. Just left Shields, who's suspended. I know Thursday's important, but LoI sides - especially the fully-pro ones - surely need to be able to play Fri-Thurs-Sun? You'd have thought a match against Rovers would be better prep for Thursday than a training session too

[Calcio Jack]

Dundalk blitzed in the space of less than 10 minutes.

Dundalk didn’t get their request to have tonight’s match postponed , so response is To act like a petulant child and field a weakened team , whilst understandable from their financial perspective , assume like any other league FAI will hit them with a substantial fine for deliberately fielding a weakened team, otherwise the integrity of the league will be damaged.... and we all know from their earlier bleating about the shortened league that Dundalk take that very seriously .... cue the usual ****e from the usual suspects plus a few from Bohs who’ll moan that this is costing them the league

[Scrufil]

Rovers hit Waterford at about the same time in the game last week. Could be 5 up by 55 mins, if this keeps up. Mad season for Dundalk.

[Longfordian]

Jaysus. I don't think you'll be allowed post about Dundalk again :eek:

Yes, apologies to Dundalk fans but this one doesn't really matter anyway. I certainly won't post anything about the game on Thursday until afterwards, if at all.

[nigel-harps1954]

Harps were very poor against Cork this evening. Didn't get to grips with the game at all. Still managed to miss a handful of decent chances.

[CorribsideSteve]

What a goal from Jack Byrne!

[Asterix]

Nice comfortable win against a mid table club. Another step closer to the title.

Dundalk fans have told us their second string would be able to challenge for the league but I think tonight has shown just how poor their recruitment has been the last few years.

[geysir]

Rovers looked like world beaters against Dundalk's reserves, pity they hadn't the stamina to stay in European competition a bit longer.

[hoopy]

Only one fall to the ground for Shields from a ghost push tonight, instead of the usual ten. Wonders never cease :)

[Ezeikial]

That's an emphatic win for Rovers and they deserve great credit for how they played - irrespective of whether it was against a first choice or a second choice line up.

Rovers played much better than I anticipated and Dundalk were much weaker.

Just as it was before the match started - there remains bigger fish to fry on Thursday

[placid casual]

Judging by that game if you're a dundalk fan you'd have to hope they don't get many injuries prior to their game on Thursday cos their 2nd team ain't up to it
Rovers can only beat what's in front of them, and they did that emphatically.
There's no substitute for hard work.
Onto sligo at home next Friday and hopefully another hard working, dominant performance can get us the win.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Our keeper was man of the match and we made Cork look good (they're not!) sums that up from a Harps perspective,we still have to play all of the current top 4 and I wouldn't be very optimistic ..........

Hi Ollie

[ger121]

Now that is done and dusted. Who will will the PD in 2021?

[joey B]

Hi Ollie

''Dont shtart''

[sbgawa]

Even with the stoppage for covid to go a full year undefeated domestically is incrediblw

[sbgawa]

Now that is done and dusted. Who will will the PD in 2021?

Keith long has a good shout at it , have to feel a bit sorry for Giovanni though not getting a crack T a full season

[wexfordned]

Dundalk didn’t get their request to have tonight’s match postponed , so response is To act like a petulant child and field a weakened team , whilst understandable from their financial perspective , assume like any other league FAI will hit them with a substantial fine for deliberately fielding a weakened team, otherwise the integrity of the league will be damaged.... and we all know from their earlier bleating about the shortened league that Dundalk take that very seriously .... cue the usual ****e from the usual suspects plus a few from Bohs who’ll moan that this is costing them the league

Dundalk were dead right to play their reserves. Thursday’s game is their biggest game in years. They are going to finish 2nd or 3rd anyway so why risk player unnecessarily for a pretty meaningless league game

[sbgawa]

Don't agree on that tbh , if they had won last night they would have been 6 points behind (if win their games in hand) with 5 games to go.
That is not a foregone conclusion.
Good luck to them on Thursday anyway.

[Nesta99]

Impetulant children, mid table side, ghost shoves (maybe it was a shadow of a ghost?!) substantial fines, integrity of league damaged...

well at least it is unusual sh!te from the usual suspects! For a good old hammering of a reserve side there is some small bit of satisfaction at the gloating and hand wringing apparent - hardly surprising that years of frustration is bubbling to the surface in fairness.

Oduwa needs a whole lot of coaching to fulfill any of his potential, not coaching flair out of him just some proper work ethic in working back. Considering Dummigan has barely gotten in to double digits in appearances and was a first game since injury he needed help - a miss by the coaching staff maybe not to ensure that he got cover. Gatt as a signing that has been contentious. Not a reflection on his ability but that he may have been a boardroom signing. I'm not sure Kelly is a starter yet either rather than an impact sub. He is young and bags of potential but can be infuriating with his 1st instinct to 'trip over'. Patching has somthing to prove for sure but hasnt had games to do so. U19s got a serious lesson in the level they need to get to and how much hard work is needed to cut it at senior level so some value to their time on the pitch.

I thought last nights team selection was a chance for some players to stake a claim, some did and some will be gone at seasons end. I felt myself that this was going to be a chastening game if the manager wrung the changes with Thursday in mind. Financially it made sense, not easy to concede a title though, however unlikely it was that the outstanding team of the season would be reeled in.

[Calcio Jack]

Dundalk were dead right to play their reserves. Thursday’s game is their biggest game in years. They are going to finish 2nd or 3rd anyway so why risk player unnecessarily for a pretty meaningless league game

I fully understand why they played a weakened team.... my point is that pre the restart they came out with statements protesting against having a shortened league and saying the integrity of the league would be damaged- but yesterday having not managed to get a postponement they put out a weakened team which IMO damages the integrity of the league,
So just calling out their dual set of interchangeable principals.

[Nesta99]

Clubs' calling for what best suits themselves at any particular time? Shocker!!

[Calcio Jack]

Clubs' calling for what best suits themselves at any particular time? Shocker!!

Touche😄

[oriel]

Dundalk were dead right to play their reserves. Thursday’s game is their biggest game in years. They are going to finish 2nd or 3rd anyway so why risk player unnecessarily for a pretty meaningless league game


MMM, wouldn't be too certain after yesterday, but suppose we still have 2 games in hand on Waterford (who are 3 points ahead), and also 2 games in hand and 1 ahead of Pats and Sligo who are chasing. I would think 3rd place is the highest we can realistically achieve, given the gap and with our without group stage qualification. If we mess that up, hangover could see us slip further, if we make it, extra games to squeeze in.

Now just on the group stages, if that can be achieved thats it for playing the back up lads in league games, at least 4-5 of them based on last night are way off the mark, and need to be released, so we'll need our best choice.

Odawu, Gatt, just not sure they have the ability, albeit they did try, Flores and Patching - both offered nothing last night, McMillan, can't see him being offered an extension, thats 5 straight away, but Patching is under contract.

Also worth noting we will have to make up points ground in next few weeks too, as two group stage games are during the league season, IF we make it.

22/10/2020 Matchday 1
29/10/2020 Matchday 2

Finally, I`m not having the 'Only 18 games to win the league' It was the same for all clubs, and I repeated this point, we were only 3 points behind Rovers at the end of July, so only ourselves to blame for not challenging.

On last night, probably both teams were right to play their first and second string, priorities.

[Sonny]

Impetulant children, mid table side, ghost shoves (maybe it was a shadow of a ghost?!) substantial fines, integrity of league damaged...

well at least it is unusual sh!te from the usual suspects! For a good old hammering of a reserve side there is some small bit of satisfaction at the gloating and hand wringing apparent -


Be interesting to see how the wages of that "reserve side" would compare to Rovers' starting XI. Boyle, Shields, Flores, Kelly, Oduwa, McMillan, Dummigan would all be on very decent money. I know for a fact Dundalk's offer to Kelly was over three times what Rovers offered him. It's completely normal for any team playing in the Europa League to play Thursday and Sunday, and after listening to the incessant noise from Dundalk about this world class squad of 75 first teamers built to compete on every front, the amount of whinging about this game being played is absolutely laughable.

[The Lilywhites]

Keith long has a good shout at it , have to feel a bit sorry for Giovanni though not getting a crack T a full season

I know you're probably on the wind up towards Bohs fans, but the Dundalk owners have been warned against going near Long, so don't think that'll be happening. Anyway, Long would be no use unless Croly (the brains at Bohs) was to come with him. If we win on Thursday, the job is Filippo's.


Dundalk fans have told us their second string would be able to challenge for the league

I didn't see anyone saying that, and if they did then they obviously haven't got a clue about football.

On team selection, Rovers would have done the same if they were in the situation, but they were useless in Europe so they only have the league to worry about.

As for us, last night was further evidence (not that it was needed) that the recruitment has been a joke since Kenny left. We have a huge squad but we only have about 15 quality players. The rest of it is filled with rubbish. There is zero "strength in depth".

Where's the Dundalk fan that had a horn for Dummigan on here a few weeks ago? Hopefully the club's nonsense PR campaign surrounding him ends now. Although Rovers must have fallen for it as he's apparently on his way there.

Patching (ex Man City, "a moneyball signing", the next Jack Byrne etc), Oduwa (ex Spurs / Rangers), Gatt ("Solskjaer's first signing at Molde"). The supporters have been fed some amount of BS about these signings.

Then there's McCarey. It's hard to believe he was in an Irish squad under O'Neill a couple of years ago. He is the worst back up keeper we've had in years. Add in Flores who has spat the dummy over a contract.

Last night's performance was a disgrace. These guys shouldn't be given a pass. Last night should spell the end of their time with us. That starting 11 costs the club over €15,000 per week. There's an incredible amount of money being wasted by the club.

We shouldn't have been beaten like that. Not even our 2012 team ever got a hiding like that at home.

Thursday's game gives us a shot at nearly €4m, which would help to cover the costs of the mistakes of the past couple of years along with the money lost during Covid. But the recruitment policy needs a serious rethink or it's just going to continue on as it has been.

Losing on Thursday doesn't even bear thinking about.

[Asterix]

On team selection, Rovers would have done the same if they were in the situation, but they were useless in Europe so they only have the league to worry about.



Rovers played a league game inbetween our playoff against Partizan in 2011, playeed a stong team and won. Its what good teams do. No crying about how unfair it was they just got on with it.

[placid casual]

The difference is that Rovers were going for the league when that happened, dundalk had no league winning intentions last night. I've no problem with it, as a Rovers fan.
As for fairness to the other clubs, **** them, this league, more than most, you have to look after yourself first and foremost.

[The Lilywhites]

Rovers played a league game inbetween our playoff against Partizan in 2011, playeed a stong team and won. Its what good teams do. No crying about how unfair it was they just got on with it.

Not the same situation. Rovers were going for the league in 2011. We played every 3-4 days in 2016 in between European games. We played twice in 5 days after beating Maccabi in the groups. Our priority now is Europe as the league is over, Thursday's game is worth an additional €2.3m, so we were right to play the reserves.

I wasn't crying about the game being played, it's probably best to have it out of the way as we have enough games to catch up on. I'm just annoyed by the performance of some of our players who simply shouldn't be at the club.

Btw, Legia and Lech had their Polish league games called off ahead of their European ties this week, so let's not pretend it doesn't happen in other leagues.

[sbgawa]

[QUOTE=The Lilywhites;2050464]I know you're probably on the wind up towards Bohs fans, but the Dundalk owners have been warned against going near Long, so don't think that'll be happening. Anyway, Long would be no use unless Croly (the brains at Bohs) was to come with him. If we win on Thursday, the job is Filippo's.


You are right on Croly i did'nt say that but i took it as a given.
What is wrong with Long that you have been "warned off him" ?

[sbgawa]

Impetulant children, mid table side, ghost shoves (maybe it was a shadow of a ghost?!) substantial fines, integrity of league damaged...

well at least it is unusual sh!te from the usual suspects! For a good old hammering of a reserve side there is some small bit of satisfaction at the gloating and hand wringing apparent - hardly surprising that years of frustration is bubbling to the surface in fairness.

Oduwa needs a whole lot of coaching to fulfill any of his potential, not coaching flair out of him just some proper work ethic in working back. Considering Dummigan has barely gotten in to double digits in appearances and was a first game since injury he needed help - a miss by the coaching staff maybe not to ensure that he got cover. Gatt as a signing that has been contentious. Not a reflection on his ability but that he may have been a boardroom signing. I'm not sure Kelly is a starter yet either rather than an impact sub. He is young and bags of potential but can be infuriating with his 1st instinct to 'trip over'. Patching has somthing to prove for sure but hasnt had games to do so. U19s got a serious lesson in the level they need to get to and how much hard work is needed to cut it at senior level so some value to their time on the pitch.

I thought last nights team selection was a chance for some players to stake a claim, some did and some will be gone at seasons end. I felt myself that this was going to be a chastening game if the manager wrung the changes with Thursday in mind. Financially it made sense, not easy to concede a title though, however unlikely it was that the outstanding team of the season would be reeled in.

Oduwa was the bright spot for Dundalk last night, great pace and a handful at times but his tracking back was shocking, i'm amazed the senior pros in the team let him away with it.
Saw a Stephen Henderson tweet last night that made me smile "Oduwas pace seems to desert him when it comes to tracking runners" :)
A substantial kick in the arse and a bit of coaching and he could be good. Does he want it though or is he happy to just get paid and move on
If he is willing to work he could be excelent

Patching and Gatt were very poor, Sheilds stood out playing at CB

[Nesta99]

Be interesting to see how the wages of that "reserve side" would compare to Rovers' starting XI. Boyle, Shields, Flores, Kelly, Oduwa, McMillan, Dummigan would all be on very decent money. I know for a fact Dundalk's offer to Kelly was over three times what Rovers offered him. It's completely normal for any team playing in the Europa League to play Thursday and Sunday, and after listening to the incessant noise from Dundalk about this world class squad of 75 first teamers built to compete on every front, the amount of whinging about this game being played is absolutely laughable.

It would! But as is the usual rolled out, the board sets the budget and the manager manages it. Maybe board and manager flaws in judgement. The main noise from fans tbh was to question a number of signings, a quick look at Orielweb would clear that up. Those that built the squad were probably the ones that lauded the quality most. There is undoubted depth to the squad but lack of game time and in some cases, quality and coaching, have been exposed. Not necessarily the entire fault of coaching staff.

As for looking for games to be rescheduled, well we know all about a heavy match schedule at Dundalk FC in recent years, from Europa League group stages or running to the final of every domestic competition. Clubs seek posponements, FAI or opponents refuse, game is played, people moan about a subsequent loss - sounds all pretty standard fare. I dont bother with twitter but is there really that much complaining about the fixture? I'm sure that Dundalk FC will be able to prove that there was no intentional weakening of the team for a league game when they point out the wages the 'reserves' are on! Did Kelly have a kitchen sink thrown in with his offer by any chance?

[sbgawa]

It would! But as is the usual rolled, the board sets the budget and the manager manages it. Maybe board and manager flaws in judgement. The main noise from fans tbh was to question a number of signings, a quick look at Orielweb would clear that up. Those that built the squad were probably the ones that lauded the quality most. There is undoubted depth to the squad but lack of game time and in some cases, quality and coaching, have been exposed. Not necessarily the entire fault of coaching staff.

As for looking for games to be rescheduled, well we know all about a heavy match schedule at Dundalk FC in recent years, from Europa League group stages or running to the final of every domestic competition. Clubs seek posponements, FAI or opponents refuse, game is played, people moan about a subsequent loss - sounds all pretty standard fare. I dont bother with twitter but is there really that much complaining about the fixture? I'm sure that Dundalk FC will be able to prove that there was no intentional weakening of the team for a league game when they point out the wages the 'reserves' are on! Did Kelly have a kitchen sink thrown in with his offer by any chance?


we offered a kitchen sink and you guys threw in an en-suite bathroom
With all the euro millions coming in again , it'll be en-suite bathrooms and throw in a Bidet and gold taps from now on :)

[Nesta99]

Oduwa was the bright spot for Dundalk last night, great pace and a handful at times but his tracking back was shocking, i'm amazed the senior pros in the team let him away with it.
Saw a Stephen Henderson tweet last night that made me smile "Oduwas pace seems to desert him when it comes to tracking runners" :)
A substantial kick in the arse and a bit of coaching and he could be good. Does he want it though or is he happy to just get paid and move on
If he is willing to work he could be excelent

Patching and Gatt were very poor, Sheilds stood out playing at CB

Ye always worry when ye see a young player with a clatter of past clubs. I think he can be a great Dundalk player but he needs that toe in the hole for sure. Nonchalant or arrogant and thinking he that good, well I havent decided yet and its too soon to be fair to the lad he doesnt come across as arrogant in interviews. I was surprised to see him left out of the match day squad when FG came in (along with Gatt). Henderson hit the nail on the head though with that comment. I think Patchinng will come good and had shown somthing before the league was postponed. Even if Shields has a poor game it is hard to be critical considering what he does give - should be the example of work ethic for the younger lads!!

[Nesta99]

we offered a kitchen sink and you guys threw in an en-suite bathroom
With all the euro millions coming in again , it'll be en-suite bathrooms and throw in a Bidet and gold taps from now on :)

I'm not convinced the average footballer would know what to do with a bidet;)

[passinginterest]

I'm not convinced the average footballer would know what to do with a bidet;)

First time I saw a bidet - "Oh look, there's a baby bath too"

[sbgawa]

Thats just you country bumpkins, our Dublin lads would know their Bidets

[Nesta99]

I wont offer up the detail of my what my Capital cousin did on his first 'use' of a bidet then :D He may have been 5 at the time but family never tire of reminding him occasionally!! He is a Shels fan too.....

Now this really is off topic but I dont think it needs a thread of its own somehow.

[Martinho II]

It sums it up that Aaron McCarey when he first started in loi it was monaghan utd all these years ago. I could never get the hype with him at all!

[Nesta99]

Being a Monaghan native though and got a move to England young. He was a good option as reserve, good age for a keeper to improve too. Now that Rogers is kicking on a bit even for a keeper, whether McCarey can step up to being No 1 is certainly going to be a question. I think he can from what has been seen. But it is a bit strange that his appearances for RoI underage teams make up a good % of his overall appearances including club level. I'd highly rate Steve Williams as a coach, as he was rated as a top keeper also, so if there was a concern about McCarey's ability to step up I hope it'd be flagged as needing to be addressed. Not easy to find real quality and consistant keepers as Rovers fans would know all too well until Mannus returned, which was a big piece of the puzzle to a league winning side. Similar to finding that hatstand that makes chances count, especially in Europe and there isnt a really outstanding goal poacher in the league imo. One thing for sure is that its unlikely to be a quiet close season at Oriel Park, Thursday will be a big influencer but there will be no shortage of intrigue, contract wranglings comings and goings with a huge dollop of wind ups and rumour!

[Charlie Darwin]

To be fair, Dundalk looked like a side filled with players who hadn't played together before, and hadn't really played much individually either. Rovers weren't amazing either but clinical, and that Jack Byrne goal :ball:

[Ezeikial]

To be fair, Dundalk looked like a side filled with players who hadn't played together before, and hadn't really played much individually either. Rovers weren't amazing either but clinical, and that Jack Byrne goal :ball:

The distance between the two sides that played on Sunday was significant. I don't expect it to be similar if the teams meet again this season.

[Charlie Darwin]

The distance between the two sides that played on Sunday was significant. I don't expect it to be similar if the teams meet again this season.
No, it won't be. There are a few players there who Vinny Perth was right to think have no business being near a Dundalk team.

[Nesta99]

Did VP say that? Supporters certainly were thinking so about the odd one. That said there wasnt the greatest of opportunities to get player match sharp with the truncated season. Players in the past ofen took a season before showing form with us. Its hard to judge lads based on a few gamer and a hammering by the form team and champions elect. If a cup game were to happen, as mentioned by Ezeikial, it would be a tighter affair. It would indicate that there very much is a 1st and reserve squad but generally its not been a good season for settling players. Colovic wasnt too badly hampared by the disruption though so limited excuses for others especially if not being at a minimum level of fitness albeit not match sharp.