3 Teams Left in Title Race [Archive]

chippie0001

09/07/2005, 9:12 AM

Just back from Cork. I will be very surprised if they don't win the league this season, easily the best domestic team we've played.

Bohs defence was shocking :eek:

Have to agree, Cork play by far the best football in the league. We were beaten on the night by a far far better team, although we did not help ourselves. Of the 3 teams hopefully Cork can go on and win it.

A face

09/07/2005, 10:40 AM

I think tonights results were fatal blows to Bohs & Drogs even allowing for games in hand.

Down to 2 cities & shels handing in having played more games.

I dunno .... i thinks its too early yet to write them off yet ... City were 8 points of the top with 12 games to go (or something like that) last year. Being honest, if City didn't play so well then Bohs would have got something last night.

Éanna

09/07/2005, 10:41 AM

Have to agree, Cork play by far the best football in the league. We were beaten on the night by a far far better team, although we did not help ourselves. Of the 3 teams hopefully Cork can go on and win it.
funny enough Noel King was saying on Monday that bohs are the best footballing team in the league :rolleyes: Thanks for the kind words lads :)

Gerrit

09/07/2005, 10:48 AM

"Down to two cities"

That means you don't think Derry stand a chance ?? Watch out for the dangerous underdog...

Anto McC

09/07/2005, 10:54 AM

"Down to two cities"

That means you don't think Derry stand a chance ?? Watch out for the dangerous underdog...

Derry city and Cork city are two citys

Unless Shels really start improving soon,I'd count them out

Gerrit

09/07/2005, 10:55 AM

I thought he was referring to Dublin and Cork.

Shels are NOT out of the title race yet ! Derry and Cork will have their bad run as well, and then we can catch up. The gap is not nice, but it can be crossed.

rebs23

09/07/2005, 12:00 PM

TBH way too early to start talking about 3 left in title race but if we can keep playing like we did last night..............................Great night at the cross, really shows what EL can be about, cracking game of football, good crowd etc etc I'm not being patronising but at least Bohs came down to play football which helps.

Dr.Nightdub

09/07/2005, 12:20 PM

On last night's showing, can't see Shels really challenging.

A face

09/07/2005, 1:00 PM

Derry and Cork will have their bad run as well

But what if we dont .... what then ?? :eek:

:p

Éanna

09/07/2005, 1:09 PM

But what if we dont .... what then ?? :eek:

:p
we had our bad run at the start- 3 home games without a win :eek: :D

Sonic

09/07/2005, 1:58 PM

Please Win The League Derry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!

fitzknows

10/07/2005, 10:32 PM

crc

10/07/2005, 10:37 PM

To say that the title race is down to 3 sides is naive. If Bohemians win their games in hand they are 9 points off the pace with 17 games remaining. That's a 9 point gap to bridge with 51 points to play for. They also are out of Europe. Drogheda are 11 points behind with 17 games remaining. Hardly insurmountable. They also dont have a European campaign to distract them.
To put it another way, Bohs are 9 points behind Shels, but have 3 games in hand. I'm not saying Bohs will win all those games, but if you're going to could Shels as being in the title race, then you can't count Bohs out.

pete

10/07/2005, 11:35 PM

To clarify Drogs are out of it now.
Derry are in good form with no european distractions.
Shels are only hanging in & a bad result away from being out of it. I don'y buy the injuries line as don't see them missing many players - just poor mform from current players.
Many Bohs can win their games in hand but its asking a lot of small squad.

Everyone waiting for Cork City to have a bad run but the real pressure is on chasing teams to keep winning just to keep gap the same. Drogs game next will be huge after long trip to Lithuania.

daniel

11/07/2005, 12:40 AM

Lads i think ruling people out of the league at the moment is a bit to earli would you not agree, maybe when were in the last 3rd of the league can we discuss it, and people counting Derry in the running for the title is a bit mad i feel, am a Derry fan and am loving the football this season again but i think if Derry finish 3rd we will take that no bother after all relegation was looming over us for so long!

patsh

11/07/2005, 7:24 AM

IF City beat Drogheda next Sunday, then I think Drogheda may be out of it. However, I think as it stands at the moment, there are 5 teams still in with a chance of winning the league and it will probably be another10 games before we can definitely count any of those 5 out.Next 3 weeks are the big test for City. The UEFA game this week is a long round trip, just one real day's rest before travelling up to Drogheda, and we'll be missing Joe Gamble. City's big challenge is to get between 5 and 9 points from Drogheda, Rovers and SPA, the games around the UEFA first round tie. If we get all 9 points, I think it would be looking good for City.

Dricky

11/07/2005, 9:02 AM

Way too early to write off anyone, the games in hand would change the table if certain teams win.

Having said that it's great to see the league in such good form. Derry Bohs all putting good runs together and Cork have lead the way Shels are still in the mix, I think the years of following the el have are paying off, fulltime summer football has really paid off.

ThatGuy

11/07/2005, 10:16 AM

I don't think that Drogheda were ever in the race. Paul Doolin as a manager is completely over-rated in my opinion.

In the first half of the season Cork have been the best team, without a doubt. We can only make predictions on the basis of what we have seen and they way that they are playing you would have to fancy Cork.

As for Shels, you definitely can not rule them out. Aside from 2 league wins from Bohs they have been the dominant team in the league this decade (though of course on league win was won off the pitch) and to rule them out with 17 games to go and only a 9 point deficit is premature. They are still in with a shout.

As of course are Derry City. They have no distractions of Europe, and Stephen Kenny is doing a great job. I don't know if they have the players though to keep it up.

As for Bohs, I expect a top 3 spot. As far as I am concerned our season started at half time in Drogheda earlier this season. Since then we have been in great domestic form. I don't think that we will win the league though.

Aside from Bohs, I hope that Cork win it.

patsh

11/07/2005, 1:52 PM

[QUOTE=daniel] but i think if Derry finish 3rd we will take that no bother [QUOTE]

Watch out ........ you'll be trolled for lacking ambition; accused of being a heathen that don't play total football a la Cork; defensive and negative. Just say you wanna win the damn thing. Then wait for them to choke :D
Derry don't lack ambition, they go out to win games and have real hopes of winning the league, no matter what limiations they may feel they have. They are not there to simply make up the numbers.
Not stop being so sensitve all your plucky little Longford fans, just because I hit a nerve.......:D

pete

11/07/2005, 5:37 PM

Keep it on topic folks!

Ye can have that "discussion" via PM.

shedite

11/07/2005, 5:40 PM

I'm definately beginning to believe we can do it but I do agree with the European distraction theory.

Also check out the last two games of the season.....

Nov 11 Shels V City
Nov 18 City V Derry

Speranza

11/07/2005, 8:37 PM

Like Daniel i don't think City can win it this year, would love to be proved wrong but blind hope is a stupid concept and we aren't as good as Cork. We can look at second place with some degree of realism but our match in hand against Bohs is vital!

Rebal Boy

11/07/2005, 9:36 PM

Lads I think its going to be a City top 2.

Cork City (Champions) :D
Derry City (Runners Up) ;)
Shelbourne 3rd :p

I'd just love that to happen.

dancinpants

11/07/2005, 9:53 PM

I would have to agree with Daniel and Speranza...Derry winning it is probably a bridge too far this season. Its always nice to be proved wrong on this subject though ;) .

Troy.McClure

11/07/2005, 10:15 PM

I think Pete is telling some porkies! ;)

Way too early yet. Im amazed that Shels are so high in the league as they havent had a great run for a long strech, I think they will get a few wins under their belt, but it would be hard for them. Cork had a great run last year and nearly won so its not impossible. Derry will grind out results while they have a full squad Id say but if they get a few injuries or suspensions they might come unstuck. Bohs are larking around there too with their games in hand and are in great form but a lot depends on Farreleys form and decisions I think. A few injuries could feck them though. As for Drogs, they would take 3rd Id say if it was given to them.

Eitherway, its prob been the most exciting league for years! Who'd have guessed after shels signed the Bohz 3 :eek: :)

dancinpants

11/07/2005, 10:22 PM

Derry will grind out results while they have a full squad Id say but if they get a few injuries or suspensions they might come unstuck

We've done OK so far ;)

Speranza

11/07/2005, 10:27 PM

Wouldn't share the opinion of people on here that if we suffer a few injuries we will fall down the league. Our bench is usually made up of Martyn ($hels wanted him) O'Flynn, Mc Glynn (Irish underage international) Mc Chrystal (Northern underage player) and others. I think we have great strength in depth but thinking about winning the league seems delusionary considering our form in recent seasons.

Troy.McClure

13/07/2005, 9:27 AM

But if ye lost Farren for a while, who would put the ball in the back of the net? No one else is proven at this level.

A face

13/07/2005, 1:02 PM

Lads I think its going to be a City top 2.

Cork City (Champions) :D
Derry City (Runners Up) ;)
Shelbourne 3rd :p

I'd just love that to happen.

How about .....

Cork City (Champions)
Derry City (Runners Up)
Bohemians 3rd
Drogheda 4th

dancinpants

13/07/2005, 3:56 PM

But if ye lost Farren for a while, who would put the ball in the back of the net? No one else is proven at this level.

Stephen O'Flynn, Alan Murphy, Gary Beckett...even Sean Hargan can do a job when put up front.

Troy.McClure

13/07/2005, 4:33 PM

Stephen O'Flynn, Alan Murphy, Gary Beckett...even Sean Hargan can do a job when put up front.

Grand for mid table but not going to win ye a league like. :o

A face

13/07/2005, 9:48 PM

Grand for mid table but not going to win ye a league like. :o

I dunno .... if you are banging them in, then they are grand for anywhere on the table imo.

OneRedArmy

13/07/2005, 9:58 PM

Grand for mid table but not going to win ye a league like. :o

Murphy's got 5 in the League.

O'Donovan is Cork's second highest scorer with 4.

Fairly even I would say. Lets see how you continue to cope without Doyle before we make rash predictions!
:p