Weekend games 2nd to the 4th April

[D24Saint]

Excellent to end our bad run versus Bohs. I don’t know what people see in Georgie Kelly. I think he is an awful player. I’m struggling this season with that watchloi experience. It was a novelty last season it’s just frustrating this year with the continued absence from games.

[joey B]

Decent point for us, Drogheda are gonna give trouble to any side especially at home this season , great strike from Karl O'Sullivan as well!

[SeanDrog]

Decent point for us, Drogheda are gonna give trouble to any side especially at home this season , great strike from Karl O'Sullivan as well!

I’ll take that point - Foley is a real threat. I thought once we brought Markey on we were a different side. Hopefully Tim has settled on him now. I think we look like a side still settling and in some cases still getting premier division fitness.

Harps looked like predators waiting to strike and much better than I would have presumed b4 the season started.

My question mow if if harps, Longford and Drogs aren’t necessarily relegation fodder then who is? This season looks like it might be the tightest in a long time.

[2 Year Contract]

Excellent to end our bad run versus Bohs. I don’t know what people see in Georgie Kelly. I think he is an awful player. I’m struggling this season with that watchloi experience. It was a novelty last season it’s just frustrating this year with the continued absence from games.

Kelly plays like a rugby player that has recently switched to playing football, a massive downgrade on Andre Wright for Bohs. Good win for pats, wasn’t a fantastic performance but it didn’t have to be with Bohs playing a poorly as they did. Relegation 6 pointer at Oriel next week!

[D24Saint]

I’ll take that point - Foley is a real threat. I thought once we brought Markey on we were a different side. Hopefully Tim has settled on him now. I think we look like a side still settling and in some cases still getting premier division fitness.

Harps looked like predators waiting to strike and much better than I would have presumed b4 the season started.

My question mow if if harps, Longford and Drogs aren’t necessarily relegation fodder then who is? This season looks like it might be the tightest in a long time.

Derry looking to be early favourites on reports.

[Poor Student]

A comprehensive 4-0 win for UCD away in Cork. Seeing how Athlone did against Galway may put our 2-2 draw with them last week into context. Cabo setting the early pace like last season.

[SeanDrog]

That’s a great win for UCD, Cobh away is never easy and a 4-0 win is a serious statement. I thought UCD might fall behind a bit after last season but looks like I was wrong.

[pineapple stu]

Beat them 6-0 away last year. Both our results this year are worse than last year!

But yeah, happy out with that alright

[Poor Student]

That’s a great win for UCD, Cobh away is never easy and a 4-0 win is a serious statement. I thought UCD might fall behind a bit after last season but looks like I was wrong.

We've only really lost Yoyo Mahdy and Josh Collins. The core of last year's team has been retained to which we've added Todd and Brennan. For a club with a team of such a young profile just retaining most players for an additional year will see the team improve.

[placid casual]

No real surprises today in the results, with Waterford & Pat's dispatching the relegation fodder.
Harps look a proper outfit this year and if things go their way this year with injuries could challenge the euro spots.
Onto next week!

[ontheotherhand]

As stated after Longford game, Derry are in serious trouble.

What were the expectations in Derry before the season started? In my mind they were in danger of relegation before a ball was kicked. Unless I'm forgetting someone I cant think of a decent signing outside of Parkhouse and Lafferty and they seemed to lose a few of the regulars from what was a bad side last year. Thought themselves and Waterford might get embroiled in a playoff battle at best.

You'd need Parkhouse to fire in 15 goals to stay up I think but who is going to create them? Am I missing something?

[PartySaint]

Need to be beating relegation fodder like Bohs comfortably if we're going to win the league.

Bohs LOL

[Neish]

Decent point for us, Drogheda are gonna give trouble to any side especially at home this season , great strike from Karl O'Sullivan as well!

Drogs the new Harps, Harps the new Dundalk?

[Dalymountrower]

Bohs were awful, Pat's were organised
Standard of football was rarly 1980's
Relegation 6 pointer in Oriel next week.

[DCSIL]

What were the expectations in Derry before the season started? In my mind they were in danger of relegation before a ball was kicked. Unless I'm forgetting someone I cant think of a decent signing outside of Parkhouse and Lafferty and they seemed to lose a few of the regulars from what was a bad side last year. Thought themselves and Waterford might get embroiled in a playoff battle at best.

You'd need Parkhouse to fire in 15 goals to stay up I think but who is going to create them? Am I missing something?

Good point, the midfield is a bit light at the moment. There's nobody like say, Deegan that Drogheda have, to direct them. someone like Bolger would have been out of our reach.

[DCWA]

What were the expectations in Derry before the season started? In my mind they were in danger of relegation before a ball was kicked. Unless I'm forgetting someone I cant think of a decent signing outside of Parkhouse and Lafferty and they seemed to lose a few of the regulars from what was a bad side last year. Thought themselves and Waterford might get embroiled in a playoff battle at best.

You'd need Parkhouse to fire in 15 goals to stay up I think but who is going to create them? Am I missing something?

Yeah we were in danger of relegation before the season started. There is no doubt would have been more than happy with a mid table finish.

The management is the problem. We were dreadful last year and were saved by it being an interrupted, shortened season. We have not improved.

We are utterly clueless. We have had two games now and Parkhouse who will get you goals has not had a single chance created for him. We actually played Will Fitzgerald up top yesterday with him in a 5-3-2 which was mind boggling.

I think we have the makings of a good defence (keeper questionable). Toal and McJannet are both good centre halves. Laffterty solid left back. Although he is 31 now and was played LWB yesterday, a role he has never played and was expected to carry that whole left side himself.

We have no midfield at all. We have no wingers or at least no wide threat at all, and the entire team look like they do not know what they were doing. Devine offers no tactical guidance apart from shouting “SECOND BALL” or other such crap. In the last throes of yesterday’s game he could be heard shouting at Parkhouse to come over and take our throw ins (??).

I felt he should’ve went last August/September anyway so none of this is a surprise and we are probably favourites now to finish bottom unless we act soon.

[Nesta99]

Yeah we were in danger of relegation before the season started. There is no doubt would have been more than happy with a mid table finish.

The management is the problem. We were dreadful last year and were saved by it being an interrupted, shortened season. We have not improved.

We are utterly clueless. We have had two games now and Parkhouse who will get you goals has not had a single chance created for him. We actually played Will Fitzgerald up top yesterday with him in a 5-3-2 which was mind boggling.

I think we have the makings of a good defence (keeper questionable). Toal and McJannet are both good centre halves. Laffterty solid left back. Although he is 31 now and was played LWB yesterday, a role he has never played and was expected to carry that whole left side himself.

We have no midfield at all. We have no wingers or at least no wide threat at all, and the entire team look like they do not know what they were doing. Devine offers no tactical guidance apart from shouting “SECOND BALL” or other such crap. In the last throes of yesterday’s game he could be heard shouting at Parkhouse to come over and take our throw ins (??).

I felt he should’ve went last August/September anyway so none of this is a surprise and we are probably favourites now to finish bottom unless we act soon.

Its a worry for Derry, but in saying that Dundalk are on a dreadful run of league form going back to last summer. Our hope is size of squad and that there are quality players in the squad - I think if they were just left to go out and do their own thing, no opposition prep in training or messing with formations etc. that they'd do better. Derry lack that depth and are also stuck in a rut of poor form and Devine doesnt look like he can turn it around. Patching looks like he is offering something even if its just from the set piece. How has he been in general play?

On the offering of tactical guidance from the sideline, one of the strangest and funniest too that Ive ever heard was Dermot Keeley shouting 'Score a goal' during the 94/95 season. Im still not totally sure if he was being flippant but it didnt look like it at the time!! and he did win the league that season.

[DCWA]

Patching looks a decent player yes you can tell he has plenty of ability and is technically very good on the occasions he gets on the ball. They are few and far between however as we don’t play much actual football.

There is definitely 7/8 useful players about our squad if a serious lack of depth as well and key positions that have not been filled. We need to change manager and quickly.

[ontheotherhand]

Its a worry for Derry, but in saying that Dundalk are on a dreadful run of league form going back to last summer. Our hope is size of squad and that there are quality players in the squad - I think if they were just left to go out and do their own thing, no opposition prep in training or messing with formations etc. that they'd do better. Derry lack that depth and are also stuck in a rut of poor form and Devine doesnt look like he can turn it around. Patching looks like he is offering something even if its just from the set piece. How has he been in general play?

On the offering of tactical guidance from the sideline, one of the strangest and funniest too that Ive ever heard was Dermot Keeley shouting 'Score a goal' during the 94/95 season. Im still not totally sure if he was being flippant but it didnt look like it at the time!! and he did win the league that season.

I was going to say something similar about dundalk. The managerial situation seems a lot less straightforward than a licensing arrangement at least from observing Giokeegnolan operating during a game. Maybe it's all for show and FG is in charge but it looks a bit unusual. I thought they were a mess for the first 45 minutes against Rovers and it wasn't until it seemed like a few senior players decided to take control in the second half that they started to click. That was the first 45 mins of normal time that I felt Dundalk were the better side against Rovers since maybe the season before last. Maybe it was just the formation switch but it seemed more like Shields, Duffy and Hoban etc just decided they'd had enough of the instructions from the sideline.

On Derry I'm sorry to have opened the wound DCWA. I'm just a bit surprised it wasn't talked about before the season started a bit more. I saw people suggesting Derry should be pushing for Europe but I was thinking they would be better off focusing on staying up.

[Longfordian]

There seems to be a bit of money in Derry though. Even if the bad start continues, a new manager and a couple of signings could come in and things could change pretty quickly.

[Nesta99]

Patching looks a decent player yes you can tell he has plenty of ability and is technically very good on the occasions he gets on the ball. They are few and far between however as we don’t play much actual football.

There is definitely 7/8 useful players about our squad if a serious lack of depth as well and key positions that have not been filled. We need to change manager and quickly.

Was trying to think of a former goalkeeper that went on to be good managers in general never mind LoI. Possibly its just that there are a lot more outfield former players so its about numbers but apart from needing to be a bit mad to be a keeper, there is some thinking that they shouldnt captain a side either - cant constantly get in the ear of ref like other positions. Any no brainers that Derry could replace Devine with easily enough? Hutton had a go and I hear its the job Roddy always wanted, stay up and pinch Ollie!!

[Longfordian]

John Caulfield could be on the market again soon.

[Nesta99]

I was going to say something similar about dundalk. The managerial situation seems a lot less straightforward than a licensing arrangement at least from observing Giokeegnolan operating during a game. Maybe it's all for show and FG is in charge but it looks a bit unusual. I thought they were a mess for the first 45 minutes against Rovers and it wasn't until it seemed like a few senior players decided to take control in the second half that they started to click. That was the first 45 mins of normal time that I felt Dundalk were the better side against Rovers since maybe the season before last. Maybe it was just the formation switch but it seemed more like Shields, Duffy and Hoban etc just decided they'd had enough of the instructions from the sideline.

On Derry I'm sorry to have opened the wound DCWA. I'm just a bit surprised it wasn't talked about before the season started a bit more. I saw people suggesting Derry should be pushing for Europe but I was thinking they would be better off focusing on staying up.

Must have a look at the prediction thread but i felt Derry would end up in a playoff unless Drogheda didnt show up after the devastating preseason World Cup Malone Trophy loss, with Longford and Waterford propping up the table - so of course Dundalk, Bohs and Derry sit in the relegation zone and Harps are top, with Pats not just winning preseason so far. Sligo gave some hint that they could be useful this season, The topsy turvy world of LoI (even just after 3 rounds).

[Nesta99]

John Caulfield could be on the market again soon.

Or Lisa Fallon breaking new ground, why not!

[2 Year Contract]

https://twitter.com/rtesport/status/1378481687479345154?s=21

How bad must Bohs have been against Longford if yesterday was an improvement?? Also strange blaming 9 new signings and a lack of fans. Pats also made 9 new signings in the off season while 8 of Bohs starting 11 were there last season compared to 6 for Pats (1 of which was making his first start in senior football) and the fans thing is a bit of an old excuse at this stage that is obviously affecting everyone the same.


https://twitter.com/soccrepublic/status/1378668460675371008?s=21
A gem from Declan Devine "I think they’ve had 1 shot on target in the game and we’ve conceded 2 goals" Gas bearing in mind the first was a free kick and the second was a penalty that was saved and then scored on the rebound

[PartySaint]

Interesting to see that Bohs have gone back to the norm under Long (after last years short season) pretty poor for most of the season then take 10 points off Rovers to keep Long in the job.

[sbgawa]

i was kinda shocked at the hoofball Bohs were trying against Pats.
Ive a lot of time for Crowley (Long is a bit of a bluffer) so maybe they thought Pats were vulnerable to a bit of direct football.
Will be interesting to see how they play against Dundalk on Friday

[Dalymountrower]

i was kinda shocked at the hoofball Bohs were trying against Pats.
Ive a lot of time for Crowley (Long is a bit of a bluffer) so maybe they thought Pats were vulnerable to a bit of direct football.
Will be interesting to see how they play against Dundalk on Friday
Yeah, it was like watching Rovers 2010-2019,
Pretty awful hoofing alright.

[Charlie Darwin]

Bohs used to go direct plenty when they had Grant and Twardek on the wings but they look to be trying to same thing without pace up front.

[sbgawa]

Yeah, it was like watching Rovers 2010-2019,
Pretty awful hoofing alright.

i wasnt having a go , i have enough respect for crolly to assume it was a plan , lets see how they play against dundalk

[Dalymountrower]

i wasnt having a go , i have enough respect for crolley to assume it was a plan , lets see how they play against dundalk
Ah just taking the p....Crolly is a good guy .
The ability to mix it up is the sign of a good team.Going long, , full press, tippy tappy midfield, .I suspect that Long/ Crolly will sort it out in a few games..30 games left?
Never relegated, so hopefully they can.sort ot

[lofty9]

Was trying to think of a former goalkeeper that went on to be good managers in general never mind LoI. Possibly its just that there are a lot more outfield former players so its about numbers but apart from needing to be a bit mad to be a keeper, there is some thinking that they shouldnt captain a side either - cant constantly get in the ear of ref like other positions. Any no brainers that Derry could replace Devine with easily enough? Hutton had a go and I hear its the job Roddy always wanted, stay up and pinch Ollie!!

If Devine is removed, it’s Higgins’ job if he wants it. Might be difficult to prise him away from the FAI though.

[Nesta99]

i was kinda shocked at the hoofball Bohs were trying against Pats.
Ive a lot of time for Crowley (Long is a bit of a bluffer) so maybe they thought Pats were vulnerable to a bit of direct football.
Will be interesting to see how they play against Dundalk on Friday

Croly had his mediocre spell at Rovers but I think he is exactly what Dundalk needs now as a manager and savvy coach with that squad available!

[Nesta99]

If Devine is removed, it’s Higgins’ job if he wants it. Might be difficult to prise him away from the FAI though.

Thats a good shout, would be a gamble for him but he is rated - Derry plundering Kenny's staff would be interesting. If he can be prised away from he FAI he could be an option for a return to Oriel too!

[redobit]

Was surprised at the lack of creativity and chances that Bohs created against Pats. There was almost an expectation that Bohs would push for league this season but very difficult when they havent seemed to replace the likes of Mandriou, Wright and Grant. Personally thought Bohs were over achieving in recent years, could this season be the one that is a step to far. Interesting to see how things play out now they have some money. Up till now young lads doing well and everybody pulling in right direction. But some now thinking I've been loyal and want a piece of the pie. Sort of stuff that can affect the balance of a club.

[Dalymountrower]

Was surprised at the lack of creativity and chances that Bohs created against Pats. There was almost an expectation that Bohs would push for league this season but very difficult when they havent seemed to replace the likes of Mandriou, Wright and Grant. Personally thought Bohs were over achieving in recent years, could this season be the one that is a step to far. Interesting to see how things play out now they have some money. Up till now young lads doing well and everybody pulling in right direction. But some now thinking I've been loyal and want a piece of the pie. Sort of stuff that can affect the balance of a club.
Grant, Wright,Twardek haven't been replaced with anything like that quality.Levinson coming back will make a difference, as will Mallon when he gets fit.
Giving the manager the funds he looked for to buy the players he wanted adds to the pressure on Long, as in previous seasons making do with what you can scrape together is a motivation in itself.
Still enough there and a big enough squad to be top 4 by the end of the season.No excuses if we are not.

[sundance kid]

It's not all doom and gloom down in Dalymount. They're releasing a socially just, eco friendly, carbon neutral poem this week, so that's something to look forward to.

[Bucket]

243,000 people watched the Rovers v Dundalk game on RTE

[WeAreRovers]

243,000 people watched the Rovers v Dundalk game on RTE

That's the 'reach' figure counting everyone who tuned in for at least one minute over the course of the broadcast. It averaged 47,000 viewers across the game itself.

[ontheotherhand]

That's the 'reach' figure counting everyone who tuned in for at least one minute over the course of the broadcast. It averaged 47,000 viewers across the game itself.

How does that compare to other live games WAR?

[WeAreRovers]

On leave today but off the top of my head - Waterford v Sligo averaged 43,000 and Rovers Pats was 66,000.

[nigel-harps1954]

Not wildly impressive figures, but not too shabby either all being said.