Weekend Fixtures April 30th to May 3rd

[lofty9]

Played well and deserved to win,Derry missed 2 guilt edge chances in fairness to them but I thought we were full value for the win,important to get back on track after a sticky spell....

Up until Malone came on Harps deserved to be leading. Harps were excellent for an hour. Scored at the period in which we started to play a bit.

Was at the ground prior to the game, couldn't believe the size of the harps team!

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

I think they won before in the LC.

Hard to disagree with the result tonight. Harps were certainly the better team for lots of the match, and took their chances.
Ourselves on the other hand, looked panicked on the ball, made some basic passing errors, and when we actually created chances, failed to take them.
We're crying out for some more experienced players in the team, but they won't come until the summer (if at all).
Still, it's an improvement from where we were a couple of weeks ago, and with Waterford's apparent collapse, relegation seems less of a concern.

Ah sure only Derry care about the league cup

[joey B]

Up until Malone came on Harps deserved to be leading. Harps were excellent for an hour. Scored at the period in which we started to play a bit.

Was at the ground prior to the game, couldn't believe the size of the harps team!

Suprised Malone didnt start seemed like the kind of game he'd have been made for,for the size of us we've terrible bother with defending set pieces....

[Charlie Darwin]

Easy win for Rovers today, and nice to gain ground on Pats and Sligo. Should have scored more but Rovers are still struggling to put away chances. Good to rest a few players ahead of Pats anyway.

Great to see Bohs get a positive result too.

[Jack B]

Up the Bermo.

[ToberonaTornado]

Spot on. Nobody will be talking about the Pats situation in ten years whereas the circus that Bill is leading will be talked about for generations. Even the hiring of FG was bizarre and then you throw in Perths dismissal, the Braveheart and dugout telephone nonsense....it's been comical to watch but I do feel for the few Dundalk fans on here as it must be tough to take. For it all to happen at a club who had it all at their feet makes it far more newsworthy than any other situation in the league. Even Waterford pales in comparison.

🤦*♂️ (https://emojipedia.org/man-facepalming/)

:rolleyes::D

Loving this,just loving it!:love_heart:

[placid casual]

You'd have to assume it would be talked about for a generation of dundalk fans if they ultimately lose their club in the hands of the Americans, but doubt anyone else will discuss it to that degree.
I had a goo(?) on the dundalk forum yesterday for sport - yer man pepsi reminds me of that iraqi general guy comical ali, the way he defends the peak6 guys of any criticism. 😊 It's most amusing I must say.

[pineapple stu]

I love the fella saying he'd have bitten your arm off at being 11 points off the top after all the upheaval they've had the past few months :p

[DCWA]

Harps a big team alright but more importabtly a very decent team and no doubt better than us right now.

I am sure Higgins would have jumped at 6 points from 9 and the perfect chance to bounce back against Longford on Friday make it an excellent 9 from 12 .

Until he can get a few bodies in in the summer just a matter of picking up points where we can.

[Sonny]

Great to see that Rovers team who 'only won it after 18 games' and who people continue to insist aren't that good going into the history books breaking a 100 year old record for consecutive games unbeaten. Definitely a bit weaker without Jack and McEneff, but still a smashing side full of real winners who play fantastic football! Brilliant achievement!

[sbgawa]

You'd have to assume it would be talked about for a generation of dundalk fans if they ultimately lose their club in the hands of the Americans, but doubt anyone else will discuss it to that degree.
I had a goo(?) on the dundalk forum yesterday for sport - yer man pepsi reminds me of that iraqi general guy comical ali, the way he defends the peak6 guys of any criticism.  It's most amusing I must say.

Pepsi is great crack to be fair, he went off on a rant a while ago about seeing Jonathan Roache walking out of abbotstown as clear proof of collusion between the FAI and Rovers. Peak 6 can do no wrong for him. I would suspect it is a peak6 employee tryig to put a brave face on things if it wasnt for the paranoia about Rovers that gos a bit beyond what id expect of a peak 6 mole.

As regards a generation looking back i think the Fillipo mess and all the other BS will be forgotten pretty soon, 2020 will be a FAI cup winning year and group stages EL, thats what people will remember.
The focus on Dundalk as opposed to Pats is simply because DFC are a bigger story the last few years and its not just the pro licence its all the other Bill stuff as well.

Only 9 more games to go to see if Rovers can do it over a 36 game season :)

[pineapple stu]

Great to see that Rovers team who 'only won it after 18 games' and who people continue to insist aren't that good going into the history books breaking a 100 year old record for consecutive games unbeaten. Definitely a bit weaker without Jack and McEneff, but still a smashing side full of real winners who play fantastic football! Brilliant achievement!
I think it was only one or two Dundalk fans were saying that in fairness.

[Nesta99]

I think it was only one or two Dundalk fans were saying that in fairness.

And Pat Hoban! as pointed out before whomever dismisses the truncated 2020 league also has to dismiss the truncated 2020 Fai Cup, they would also be complete hypocrites as not a hope in hell that if Dundalk won the 2020 season that it would be chalked off a roll of honour. Now if the motive in dismissing the 18 game season was to illicit outrage from a few Rovers reliables well fairy nuff;)

You have to take that point last night after being 2 nill down, but keeper clangers are just soul destroying for the team and fans. All hard graft undone in an instant and you are always playing on the back foot when a defense has no confidence in a keeper - sitting deeper, hoofing it clear so yer own keeper cant flap, taking on clearing a cross ball back in to the mix that would or should be claimed by the keeper, keeper and defender going for the same ball, and for the keepers who rely on confidence its just a downward sprial (People still call Taibi the blind venetian forgetting the MOTM and great career away from the negative spotlight in England). I wont say something like this often but I can understand how Rovers fans felt when relying on Chencinski and Horgan. At a quick guess we are probably 6 points worse off to basic keeper errors already.

[pineapple stu]

I think the big problem for Dundalk at the moment seems to be that ye're stuck with those two options until the transfer window opens in what - June? July? So another month or two of dropping points, and teams will have spotted it too and might be more inclined to try a pot-shot. So quite probably more points to be dropped before it can be solved. And it might impact on Europe too.

[Nesta99]

Chopping and changing doesnt help either imo. We have to manage with what we have for now so pick and stick!

[sbgawa]

Chopping and changing doesnt help either imo. We have to manage with what we have for now so pick and stick!

I agree , its hard enough being a keeper without knowing if you make a mistake you will get dropped.
DFC should just pick one and tell him he is in for 5 or 6 matches regardless

[sadloserkid]

DFC should just pick one and tell him he is in for 5 or 6 matches regardless

DFC should try picking both of them and see if that helps.

[ontheotherhand]

🤦*♂️ (https://emojipedia.org/man-facepalming/)

:rolleyes::D

Loving this,just loving it!:love_heart:

People still mock an apparently falsely attributed comment by John Giles that claimed Rovers would win the European Cup.

Maybe you're new to things but football supporters generally remember and remind when it comes to ways other clubs have completely made a fool of themselves. It's part of the fun and Dundalk are providing oh so much at the moment.

[Dalymountrower]

People still mock an apparently falsely attributed comment by John Giles that claimed Rovers would win the European Cup.

.
Thanks for cheering me up ontheonehand.

Giles quote from Magill interview in 1977.

"Ultimately, I want to win the European Cup with Shamrock Rovers. This may sound fantastic, but if you consider the amount of football talent there is [in Ireland], it isn't all that outrageous an ambition."

I still have nightmares over the infamous Bohs coach breakdowns on the way to Oriel in 1993 to "win" the league. Football fans remember everything about football, its all the other stuff of life that are sometimes conveniently forgotten.

[ontheotherhand]

Thanks for cheering me up ontheonehand.

Giles quote from Magill interview in 1977.

"Ultimately, I want to win the European Cup with Shamrock Rovers. This may sound fantastic, but if you consider the amount of football talent there is [in Ireland], it isn't all that outrageous an ambition."

I still have nightmares over the infamous Bohs coach breakdowns on the way to Oriel in 1993 to "win" the league. Football fans remember everything about football, its all the other stuff of life that are sometimes conveniently forgotten.

Frustratingly good detective work there. Don't suppose you have a good link to a picture or record of the Magill interview? I was hoping Bill Hulsizer was alone in admitting ambitions of European Cup glory.

[pineapple stu]

First google of it (https://magill.ie/archive/johnny-giles-i-am-going-win-european-cup-shamrock-rovers)

Ultimately I think this proves that these things will be remembered for generations by fans of your main rivals, if you have any. The rest of us have all moved on. :p

[Dalymountrower]

First google of it (https://magill.ie/archive/johnny-giles-i-am-going-win-european-cup-shamrock-rovers)

Ultimately I think this proves that these things will be remembered for generations by fans of your main rivals, if you have any. The rest of us have all moved on. :p


Ah no, for example, I can name maybe 6/7 UCD players on the cup winning team 1984, no connection to who they beat on the day:)

[pineapple stu]

Ah, but can you name the Dublin City team who beat someone there about 15 years back?

[Dalymountrower]

Ah, but can you name the Dublin City team who beat someone there about 15 years back?

No more than two or three, obviously the shorter term memory is a bit suspect. I will have completely forgotten about Peak 6 and Bungling Bill by the time the Euro check clears into their US accounts at the end of the year.

[ontheotherhand]

First google of it (https://magill.ie/archive/johnny-giles-i-am-going-win-european-cup-shamrock-rovers)

Ultimately I think this proves that these things will be remembered for generations by fans of your main rivals, if you have any. The rest of us have all moved on. :p

Sure that's riddled with spelling errors. Clearly a bohs fan wrote that.

You're right on rivals having longer memories of course. I've been working on a chant about Bohs playing scabs during the 1913 lockout for example. My point though, "generational" hyperbole aside was that the situation at Dundalk eclipses the one at Pats in terms of scope. The Pats situation is mundane and hardly newsworthy. Dundalk's period of dominance will be rightly talked about for a long time but with the story will come the caveat of what happened next. Right now that looks like a comical and even cautionary tale although who knows, maybe they appoint a new manager, go win the Champions League during another decade of domestic dominance and this is all just a bad dream for their fans.

[Nesta99]

There is worse than getting a slagging from rival fans and thats never getting a slagging from other clubs fans. I take it as a back handed compliment as it must have really rankled prior. Fwiw I dont think Dundalk are done and dusted after a period of generally dominating, a signing or 2, maybe a change to strength and conditioning programme, and a good managerial appointment and we'll move onwards and upwards!

[sbgawa]

There is worse than getting a slagging from rival fans and thats never getting a slagging from other clubs fans. I take it as a back handed compliment as it must have really rankled prior. Fwiw I dont think Dundalk are done and dusted after a period of generally dominating, a signing or 2, maybe a change to strength and conditioning programme, and a good managerial appointment and we'll move onwards and upwards!

100% this, If DFC had a competent goalie they would be in the top 3.
That will get solved by the new manager first item on the agenda.
Depending on what happens between now and July it might be to late for a league tital push but Europe is the priority and that doesnt start until July

[ontheotherhand]

There is worse than getting a slagging from rival fans and thats never getting a slagging from other clubs fans. I take it as a back handed compliment as it must have really rankled prior. Fwiw I dont think Dundalk are done and dusted after a period of generally dominating, a signing or 2, maybe a change to strength and conditioning programme, and a good managerial appointment and we'll move onwards and upwards!

They aren't done and dusted at all and it looks like a simple fix. They biggest budget should result in more trophies. Sign Brian Murphy and give the tea lady the clipboard and you'd be climbing the table in no time. Will Bill's ego allow it though?

[Nesta99]

They aren't done and dusted at all and it looks like a simple fix. They biggest budget should result in more trophies. Sign Brian Murphy and give the tea lady the clipboard and you'd be climbing the table in no time. Will Bill's ego allow it though?

Filipo did us a huge favour on that by resigning and took the decision out of Bills hands, he has to appoint a new manager but this time options will be presented by JM rather than maybe an agent with an agenda or someone in the US that thinks that football is all transferable skillsets with no local eccentricities. It's not nailed on that the next manager will be a success but at least they will be qualified as required, will possibly have applied so want the job not parachuted in. There's something of continuity with coaching staff so no having to wait and see what a favoured 1st 11 is or to discover keeper liability. There is 'investment' in the business side of things and the academy which again is no certainty but indicates longer term thinking by the owners and yeah the biggest budget tends to, eventually at least, rise to the top - I dont see that as a stick to beat a club with not the 4th biggest budget or a badge of dishonour if the trophies/cups/bowls keep on rolling in with EL groups every couple of years!

[Neish]

I think they won before in the LC.

Hard to disagree with the result tonight. Harps were certainly the better team for lots of the match, and took their chances.
Ourselves on the other hand, looked panicked on the ball, made some basic passing errors, and when we actually created chances, failed to take them.
We're crying out for some more experienced players in the team, but they won't come until the summer (if at all).
Still, it's an improvement from where we were a couple of weeks ago, and with Waterford's apparent collapse, relegation seems less of a concern.

Don't see that Derry team finishing any higher then 7th if they don't bring some experience in during the summer

[ger121]

At this rate, I’ll have to start paying closer attention to see who are in the play-off positions in the 1st Division. Thank god for Waterford so far...

[2 Year Contract]

Saw a stat today that Pats result on Monday leaves them with 21 points and 14 goals scored from the 9 games played. That equals both equivalent totals from 2020 but in half the games

[Nesta99]

At this rate, I’ll have to start paying closer attention to see who are in the play-off positions in the 1st Division. Thank god for Waterford so far...

Well the last time Bohs were in a relegation play-off a couple of years later were beating German opposition in Europe and nabbed a league title so the obvious thing is to bring back Roddy!! Never relegated so still the perfect match...

[Buller]

Saw a stat today that Pats result on Monday leaves them with 21 points and 14 goals scored from the 9 games played. That equals both equivalent totals from 2020 but in half the games

Incredible. The last 2 seasons Pats have very much underperformed, the budget was increased after Buckley left I think? Theyre finally delivering a bit of that promise. Forrester (when on form) and Benson are two of the most creative players in the league, terrifying for a defence.
We'll hopefully take some of the wind out of their sails at the weekend though ;)

[DCWA]

Don't see that Derry team finishing any higher then 7th if they don't bring some experience in during the summer

It’s nailed on that we bring in multiple summer recruits. Our squad is short anything from 5 upto probably closer to 10 players and severely so in key areas. Lacking in depth but also in quality and yes experience in the right places.

Now that we have changed manager I am much less worried about relegation. The season aim has to be clear and simple. Stay up and build for next year.

[placid casual]

If Power caves into Sheedy & Newells clear strop to get out of LOI, and employs a half ar€ed manager instead (A Reynolds?) then relegation might not be the foregone conclusion it seems at present.
Can't see either derry or boez being involved in relegation although questions would be asked about boez recruitment policy, especially with their supposed increased budget- Where's Hery?

[lofty9]

Don't see that Derry team finishing any higher then 7th if they don't bring some experience in during the summer


We'll take 7th. Our most experienced player has been our defensive weaklink... For the winning goal the other night , watch Lafferty - who on earth watching or playing football in the past ten years expects Barry McNamee to take the ball down the line to beat a full back? Barry comes inside, sets up the winner. On the other side our least experienced player is our best player this season. We need more players as the bench is light, but I'd take quality over experience, maybe a few loans from England to bolster the squad to we get to next season.

[Nesta99]

If Power caves into Sheedy & Newells clear strop to get out of LOI, and employs a half ar€ed manager instead (A Reynolds?) then relegation might not be the foregone conclusion it seems at present.
Can't see either derry or boez being involved in relegation although questions would be asked about boez recruitment policy, especially with their supposed increased budget- Where's Hery?

So thats Dundalk and Bohs that have questions over recruitment. Rovers have played it safe by signing former champions players and youngsters pinched from a less well off rival. Whatever about Dundalk's financial ability to really go outside the usual markets, I'm not sure what Bohs can do with an increased budget that really just allows for more of the same but with a bigger quad if the choose. There will always be players that are a hit or miss and even those players can go elsewhere and be a hit/miss and so on. There are no shortage of scouting aids but signings are so much more than stats - SK has a good number of flops as does Alex Ferguson tbh, so it's easy asking the question but not so easy to fool proof player recruitment. I think the more comical situation on signings at Dundalk is heavily influenced by the agent system that can see a quick buck when they get the ear of a board member that hasnt much footballing saavy. We have been lucky that FG did have an eye for a decent player and some contacts, keeper aside, but the rest will be assets and the keeper situation fixed. If it wasnt for that we would have a squad of very average, fringe, North American college players.

[Dalymountrower]

Can't see either derry or boez being involved in relegation although questions would be asked about boez recruitment policy, especially with their supposed increased budget- Where's Hery?
Hery went over on his ankle in training , played 20 mins of the season so far. Back training and a couple of games away from playing.
Stephen Mallon 0 minutes playing, injured,due back early July.
Burt and Tyreke Wilson have been excellent
Coote when he gets more game will prove to be a very good signing.
Georgie Kelly has been the disappointing signing so far.His confidence looks a bit shot but he clearly has potential, may not show it with us but it will click for him some day, could be an Aaron Green type player when he matures.
The failure to replace the Grant/Wright combination of 18 goals and assists and the inability of our two established centre halves and Talbot to effectively communicate is where we have dropped maybe 7/8 points we would have secured last season. Don`t see another player like Danny Grant in our league, would have said Michael Duffy had it two years ago, but looks a bit stale /complacent over the past year.

[sbgawa]

So thats Dundalk and Bohs that have questions over recruitment. Rovers have played it safe by signing former champions players and youngsters pinched from a less well off rival. Whatever about Dundalk's financial ability to really go outside the usual markets, I'm not sure what Bohs can do with an increased budget that really just allows for more of the same but with a bigger quad if the choose. There will always be players that are a hit or miss and even those players can go elsewhere and be a hit/miss and so on. There are no shortage of scouting aids but signings are so much more than stats - SK has a good number of flops as does Alex Ferguson tbh, so it's easy asking the question but not so easy to fool proof player recruitment. I think the more comical situation on signings at Dundalk is heavily influenced by the agent system that can see a quick buck when they get the ear of a board member that hasnt much footballing saavy. We have been lucky that FG did have an eye for a decent player and some contacts, keeper aside, but the rest will be assets and the keeper situation fixed. If it wasnt for that we would have a squad of very average, fringe, North American college players.

In fairness to Rovers they signed on professional terms 10 young kids from the academy and have hooked them up with Ashfield college Murphy (second start for Murphy) and Nugent played on Monday and several others have been on the bench this season but have not made it on much as so many games have been tight last minute stuff. They were all signed after the SRFC 11 thing was kicked out as well.

I've said it before DFC will get sorted once they get a keeper, Bohs looked poor in any match ive seen them play this season bar the matches against Rovers and Dundalk. Kelly is struggling for goals and they dont seem to have any options which seems a bit of an oversight by Long tbh.
Still to good to go down given Longford and Waterford

[Nesta99]

The academy setup at Rovers was always going to reap rewards. If not all big transfers, supply well coached players to the league in a UCD kinda way. It's great to see the reward for those kids and have them on the bench. It emphasises the work that is needed at other clubs. I do think that Bradley has been a solid if unspectacular manager and quite conservative in his signings for the mot part. The league winning team took a Paul Doolin timeframe to build and it also coincided will the fall off of other clubs at the top of the table in pretty unique circumstances. It's not a criticism, if anything it is the safest way to build a side - look to the real potential in players at other clubs that can be picked off due to better finances. Bohs lost out, McEneff was alwas going to want away from the hatchet football in Cork, it was all in for players out of contract that were almost annual medal winners at Dundalk, and even to solve a keeper crisis it was a return to stalwart that had won the league with Rovers a decade previous.

Contrast that to how say Paul Cook built a side, Kenny turning relegation fodder to challengers with unheralded journeymen and broke through a ceiling or two subsequently. There is no doubt that Dundalk need a better return from signings and be less scattergun. Rovers took a low risk slow and steady model and used agent influence also. The bigger picture at Rovers was a Croly effort that Fenlon almost scuppered for a quick return. Bradley got his chance due to the recognition that the turnover of managers was damaging and he nearly was shoved by fan before the cup win. Byrne was a key signing of course and the losses in midfield are still pretty gaping and plenty of fans are not too happy with team selection. Rovers are in a safe pair of hands with Bradley but I dont think he is a great tactician and scouting senior players has been of the very obvious type. Young player development I cant see Bradley having a particularly significant role until they are practically ready for the senior squad. Rovers will compete but if Dundalk do get the managers appointment right and with the resources available, I think Bradley might have to move out of the comfort zone and take some risks.

[placid casual]

Nesta99, I hate to point it out to you, but dundalk are gonna go backwards before they can even attempt going forwards. The old reliables of shields, hoban, mcmillan etc are on the downslope of their careers, and the signings made have been a farce. That squad needs to be dismantled and begun again - I don't expect dundalk to finish any higher than 4th or 5th this season(Rovers, sligo pats,maybe boez) and then your owners might just decide to take their "saccarball" home. You are then beyond screwed if that happens.
I think Bradley sees pats and O'Donnell as the major threat over the next 2yrs - although that could change if O'Donnell leaves for dundalk. Rovers can attract any young player in this country now due to their recent sucess so replacing ageing players (Finn, McCann, OBrien) in future won't be a huge challenge, in my view

[mcgonigle]

Screenshot for prosperity

[Nesta99]

Nesta99, I hate to point it out to you, but dundalk are gonna go backwards before they can even attempt going forwards. The old reliables of shields, hoban, mcmillan etc are on the downslope of their careers, and the signings made have been a farce. That squad needs to be dismantled and begun again - I don't expect dundalk to finish any higher than 4th or 5th this season(Rovers, sligo pats,maybe boez) and then your owners might just decide to take their "saccarball" home. You are then beyond screwed if that happens.
I think Bradley sees pats and O'Donnell as the major threat over the next 2yrs - although that could change if O'Donnell leaves for dundalk. Rovers can attract any young player in this country now due to their recent sucess so replacing ageing players (Finn, McCann, OBrien) in future won't be a huge challenge, in my view

No need to point out to me at all PC, Ive seen team come and go myself. Squads evolve as they age but Rovers is no different with O'Brien, Finn, Gannon, Mannus players getting on. Not that easy to replace some of them as you think but a healthy youth setup to help with any transition. I think Dundalk have been in full reverse if there is need to go backwards to go forwards. It doesnt change my thinking much though that even as things stand that Dundalk are not yet done for and at least at face value have the resources to get back challenging sooner than later if the managerial choice if the right one.

[ontheotherhand]

The academy setup at Rovers was always going to reap rewards. If not all big transfers, supply well coached players to the league in a UCD kinda way. It's great to see the reward for those kids and have them on the bench. It emphasises the work that is needed at other clubs. I do think that Bradley has been a solid if unspectacular manager and quite conservative in his signings for the mot part. The league winning team took a Paul Doolin timeframe to build and it also coincided will the fall off of other clubs at the top of the table in pretty unique circumstances. It's not a criticism, if anything it is the safest way to build a side - look to the real potential in players at other clubs that can be picked off due to better finances. Bohs lost out, McEneff was alwas going to want away from the hatchet football in Cork, it was all in for players out of contract that were almost annual medal winners at Dundalk, and even to solve a keeper crisis it was a return to stalwart that had won the league with Rovers a decade previous.

Contrast that to how say Paul Cook built a side, Kenny turning relegation fodder to challengers with unheralded journeymen and broke through a ceiling or two subsequently. There is no doubt that Dundalk need a better return from signings and be less scattergun. Rovers took a low risk slow and steady model and used agent influence also. The bigger picture at Rovers was a Croly effort that Fenlon almost scuppered for a quick return. Bradley got his chance due to the recognition that the turnover of managers was damaging and he nearly was shoved by fan before the cup win. Byrne was a key signing of course and the losses in midfield are still pretty gaping and plenty of fans are not too happy with team selection. Rovers are in a safe pair of hands with Bradley but I dont think he is a great tactician and scouting senior players has been of the very obvious type. Young player development I cant see Bradley having a particularly significant role until they are practically ready for the senior squad. Rovers will compete but if Dundalk do get the managers appointment right and with the resources available, I think Bradley might have to move out of the comfort zone and take some risks.

Interesting read. Always good to see how the more reasonable fans of other clubs see your mgmt/club. I'd disagree with almost every point to be honest but I see where you're coming from at least. I'm delighted with Bradley so far and I'm far from alone at Rovers. But then I'd call every other manager in the league "solid if not spectacular" bar Keith Long who is, of course, a spoofer of the highest order.

[Dalymountrower]

s. But then I'd call every other manager in the league "solid if not spectacular" bar Keith Long who is, of course, a spoofer of the highest order.

I would be interested to learn what Keith Long has been " spoofing" about. He may lack of ambition and fails to win the big games, but can`t say I would describe him as a spoofer . Then again managers quickly fall in and fall out of favour, Stephen O Donnell was being pilloried last year for being out of his depth and he is now apparently a footballing genius for having a successful opening third of the season.

[Nesta99]

I would be interested to learn what Keith Long has been " spoofing" about. He may lack of ambition and fails to win the big games, but can`t say I would describe him as a spoofer . Then again managers quickly fall in and fall out of favour, Stephen O Donnell was being pilloried last year for being out of his depth and he is now apparently a footballing genius for having a successful opening third of the season.

Dundalk bias here probably but I think S'OD was always going to improve Pats if given the time. He would never accept lazy players which is a good start, but also is able to put the arm around players too eg Forrester and doing so is really working out, thankfully for the player - reading the interview about his personal difficulties last week wasnt an easy read so very glad he is getting back to his best.


Interesting read. Always good to see how the more reasonable fans of other clubs see your mgmt/club. I'd disagree with almost every point to be honest but I see where you're coming from at least. I'm delighted with Bradley so far and I'm far from alone at Rovers. But then I'd call every other manager in the league "solid if not spectacular" bar Keith Long who is, of course, a spoofer of the highest order.

I'd start to worry if it was any other way;)

[WeAreRovers]

No surprise I disagree completely with Nesta too. Bradley is bizarrely maligned/under-rated by fans of other clubs possibly down to simple if understandable anti-Rovers sentiment. The view from within is that he has, along with Stephen McPhail, done and continues to do a stellar job. The much-mocked 'project' has born fruit exactly as planned.

To take one of Nesta's points, succession planning at Rovers is constantly ongoing, of the older players Nesta mentions - O'Brien, Finn, Gannon, Mannus - only Mannus doesn't have a replacement lined-up. Gannon has Max Murphy chomping at his heels, Joey has Hoare, Pico, Grace and Scales all competing for 3 CH berths while Finn is now largely a squad player with a leadership role.

Bradley has also built that squad painstakingly over the last few years bringing kids through, utilising players versatility - Scales at LWB, Greene up front, Finner - rehabilitating players with bad reputations - Jack, Burkey and now Mandriou. As for fans being unhappy with the midfield chopping and changing it's much more of a case that we are all wondering what our best CM pairing is. Looking more and more like it's Watts and Gary O'Neill who incidentally is also very, very under-rated, best player in the league for my money but his unflashiness means he goes unnoticed.

Bottom line is that we are very happy with Stephen Bradley but non-plussed at the constant under-mining of his achievements, even the all time unbeaten record of 31 league games which is a phenomenal achievement has been under-played. Ah well, we'll live.

[Charlie Darwin]

I agree , its hard enough being a keeper without knowing if you make a mistake you will get dropped.
DFC should just pick one and tell him he is in for 5 or 6 matches regardless
We had Chencinski and Horgan in the same situation. Thank christ Bazunu showed up to save us.

[Charlie Darwin]

There is worse than getting a slagging from rival fans and thats never getting a slagging from other clubs fans.
True, some Sligo fans on here have been unsuccessfully trying to cultivate a rivalry with Finn Harps since we stopped caring about them. Now that they're good again they're allowed try have a rivalry with us.