Games week 24th September

[pineapple stu]

Long complaining of fixture congestion - https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0928/1249376-long-busy-schedule-difficult-for-bohemians-players/

Wasn't complaining when games were postponed during the European run though. Flute

[sbgawa]

5 games plus a game against Maynooth which was a stroll in the park with a load of changes.
The record in the five other games 1 win and 1 draw with 3 losses.
Only surprise for me was hearing him say some of his players are full time, he never usually admits that.
If he is going to whinge about loads of games he needs to manage/prioritise games and rotate appropriately to achieve better results in the busy periods than 4 points from 15
He is lucky they gave him a 4 year contract at the start of the year (thank God).
If he doesn't win the cup the league form would surely have him under pressure.

[mcgonigle]

Long complaining of fixture congestion - https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0928/1249376-long-busy-schedule-difficult-for-bohemians-players/

Wasn't complaining when games were postponed during the European run though. Flute

Not the best look when he's just been beaten by a team that has played more games than them in the same period with 13/14 senior players to choose from in each (less in some games)

[mcgonigle]

You can see why dundalk are near the bottom as besides 2 or 3 quality players they look a complete mess

You'll have to elaborate on that one. If anything the last three games has shown why we shouldn't be anywhere near the bottom (I sense you already know that though). Except for a ropey 20 minutes last night when the legs went after our third game in 6 days we have been fantastic. Plenty of question marks over Perth but to his credit he has them scraping and the confidence is slowly coming back.

[sbgawa]

Not the best look when he's just been beaten by a team that has played more games than them in the same period with 13/14 senior players to choose from in each (less in some games)
100% Long is a bluffer the longer he hangs around bohs making excuses the better.
Beaten at home by harps who were rammed with games and have a small part time squad.
Maybe he is feeling the pressure with this kind of BS

[placid casual]

You'll have to elaborate on that one. If anything the last three games has shown why we shouldn't be anywhere near the bottom (I sense you already know that though). Except for a ropey 20 minutes last night when the legs went after our third game in 6 days we have been fantastic. Plenty of question marks over Perth but to his credit he has them scraping and the confidence is slowly coming back.
Happy to elaborate.
The players brought in this season have been an unmitigated disaster, and together with the players that have been out injured longterm, your team looked really ropey for most of the 2nd half - confidence is clearly an issue when the team retreats back to their 18 yard box on 60 mins and just tried to defend for their lives a 2nil lead at home against a mid table side.
Cherry has clearly made a difference in goal but who's the manager responsible for the embarrassment in goal for the previous 6 months in the season- a combination of the super mario gob€hite and then my idiot cousin vinny.
Hoban, Duffy and blonde guy in midfield deserve to be in a team near the top, but the rest of them are basement dweller players , in my honest opinion.

[Nesta99]

Great entertainment last in the game on Loitv, in a 2 bald men fighting over a comb way.
You can see why dundalk are near the bottom as besides 2 or 3 quality players they look a complete mess(VP must be the single worst manager in the league).
2 great goals scored by them to be fair but once bohs started 2nd half they just let boez come at them in waves. About 3 or 4 stonewall penos not given to boez, from what I saw.
If boez could sort out their back 4 they would be a decent side, as they have some quality in midfield.
Great viewing for a Monday night anyway.

And yet he has won more currently than Bradley in about a third of the time as a manager, interesting! He may well not be up to it as a manager rather than assistant, its hard to assess things considering the fire fighting nature of things at Oriel. Still, managing a win with only 2 or 3 good players, against a side the champions and run away league leaders couldnt beat in the recent cup match, is no mean feat tbf.

[Nesta99]

More like in time for contract negotiations

If only!!!

[placid casual]

And yet he has won more currently than Bradley in about a third of the time as a manager, interesting! He may well not be up to it as a manager rather than assistant, its hard to assess things considering the fire fighting nature of things at Oriel. Still, managing a win with only 2 or 3 good players, against a side the champions and run away league leaders couldnt beat in the recent cup match, is no mean feat tbf.
Jesus, Nesta you must know your argument has run to ground when your using a one off cup result as a comparison.
Here's one for you,in that case:
Your clubs budget is twice the Rovers one, and yet you are 21 (21!!) points worse off Rovers.
I'm only commenting on what I saw in front of me last night - it's entertainment for me
My team are going to win the league, again, for the 19th time- that's where all my focus is

[mcgonigle]

Happy to elaborate.
The players brought in this season have been an unmitigated disaster, and together with the players that have been out injured longterm, your team looked really ropey for most of the 2nd half - confidence is clearly an issue when the team retreats back to their 18 yard box on 60 mins and just tried to defend for their lives a 2nil lead at home against a mid table side.
Cherry has clearly made a difference in goal but who's the manager responsible for the embarrassment in goal for the previous 6 months in the season- a combination of the super mario gob€hite and then my idiot cousin vinny.
Hoban, Duffy and blonde guy in midfield deserve to be in a team near the top, but the rest of them are basement dweller players , in my honest opinion.

Well that's nonsense but again you already know that

[mcgonigle]

Jesus, Nesta you must know your argument has run to ground when your using a one off cup result as a comparison.
Here's one for you,in that case:
Your clubs budget is twice the Rovers one, and yet you are 21 (21!!) points worse off Rovers.
I'm only commenting on what I saw in front of me last night - it's entertainment for me
My team are going to win the league, again, for the 19th time- that's where all my focus is

You don't have much choice really since they sh*t the bed in Europe and the cup

[placid casual]

And I'll look forward to watching them €hit the bed next year in Europe as well!!
That option may not be open to you.

[Nesta99]

Jesus, Nesta you must know your argument has run to ground when your using a one off cup result as a comparison.
Here's one for you,in that case:
Your clubs budget is twice the Rovers one, and yet you are 21 (21!!) points worse off Rovers.
I'm only commenting on what I saw in front of me last night - it's entertainment for me
My team are going to win the league, again, for the 19th time- that's where all my focus is

Im sure I dont have to point out the similarities in both our points! I probably dont disagree with you in major ways though Id like to be less sweeping in the assessment of a coach, certainly with with the self inflicted difficulties by Dundalk's hierarchy, and with relatively little time that VP has been in the hotseat. Almost a clean sweep in his 1st season, binned by sub par performance in Europe, to return and maybe win a cup and eek out a safe finish in the league. Mistakes are made by rookie managers, I dont think you'd call Bradley a rookie anymore but he still errs on an occasion. You are correct that the budget at Dundalk is a disgrace especially considering league position; the mad thing is that the budget would drop considerably if players not used/unavailable currently could be cut loose. The core of the side if they were retained for net season we'd be happy enough as a start of a rebuild. We've had our 8 or 9 years of being at the competitive edge and nothing lasts in football.

We will have good days in the league again, when? Who knows, but it is going to get increasingly difficult for Rovers to go on near a decade of dominance imo, with some good sides being put together - Derry obviously, St Pats, Sligo, all will be pushing harder going forward. Rovers have been as good as they need to be but will need to be better next season and beyond. It will be a pain if Dundalk are hamstrung by another sale of the club, delaying contract talks but with some sense I'd not write us off as able to get a European place next season especially if we do manage to retain the cup which is not impossible. If the worst spell in a decade for a club still include a cup win (maybe 2), a run in Europe, not long after EL groups and is only 3 years since a clatter of trophies/cups I will take that!