LoI Matches 12th/13th November 2021

[ToberonaTornado]

Premier Division:

Friday.

Saint Patrick's Ath v Finn Harps - 7:45pm [REF: N.Doyle]

Derry City v Sligo Rovers - 7:45pm [REF: D.Tomney]

Bohemian FC v Shamrock Rovers - 7:45pm [REF: P.McLaughlin]

Saturday.

Longford Town v Waterford FC - 7:30pm [REF: R.Matthews]

[Finlay Harp]

It’s do or die time for Harps in Richmond tonight as I fear Waterford will get 3 points in Longford.

[SPXcyan]

Anything other than a win for Waterford dooms us to the play-off and our form in the play-offs are atrocious, I'll be watching on tonight hopeful for a Pats victory :rolleyes:

[boynemunich]

Pat's need 1 point from their final 2 matches to make Drogs safe. With our luck and the way this season has gone I wouldn't be one bit surprised if they go onto lose both.

[TonyD]

Pat's need 1 point from their final 2 matches to make Drogs safe. With our luck and the way this season has gone I wouldn't be one bit surprised if they go onto lose both.

We also need a point to clinch second place, so I’m hoping and assuming that we’ll be well up for it tonight, especially after last weeks disappointing result. There are also cup final places to play for, so should be no lack of motivation for the players.

[Nesta99]

Not great conditions in Dalymount for a game.

Eh come on Rovers!! grubby hands now to be washed....

[D24Saint]

Good response from Harps to our goal. We look a bit disjointed so far.

[D24Saint]

Four goal thriller in Inchicore.

[Nesta99]

Sean Hoare doing no favours!!

[Calcio Jack]

Utter sh@te management again this week from Bradley…..

[DCSIL]

Utter sh@te management again this week from Bradley…..

Are you on the drink still?

[Finlay Harp]

Strange game in Inchicore. 4 goals but it feels a bit flat.

[Calcio Jack]

Are you on the drink still?

No- dreadful team selection; poor application - Bradley went on about maintaining standards once title was secure ; tonight’s performance so far is embarrassing as was his stupidity in getting a red card- still if JB signs back he’ll be forgiven

[D24Saint]

Strange game in Inchicore. 4 goals but it feels a bit flat.

I’d class it as a peculiar game myself. The youngfella between the sticks for us is having a mixed night so far. It’s to be expected in fairness to the lad.

[NFF-Fotball]

Sounded like a decent second goal in Derry according to the radio

[ToberonaTornado]

Sounded like a decent second goal in Derry according to the radio

https://twitter.com/derrycityfc/status/1459271974333685760

Contender for goal of the season lol
Lads need to get out more.

[Calcio Jack]

Big result for Bohs narrow the gap to only 24 points … more importantly means they’re in pole position for European spot…. As for Rovers utter rubbish but we move on ….

[DCSIL]

Lads need to get out more.

https://twitter.com/stpatsfc/status/1459255483492089870

Same. Bro :rolleyes:

Good win... interesting Final Day if we can get over Bohs

[joey B]

I think we should start preparing for a play off,Pats weren’t too bothered tonight and we still couldn’t beat them and we decided to go into all too regular self destruct mode towards the end,just unforgivable from Sadiki ….

[Finlay Harp]

Sadiki has become a liability.

[Martinho II]

No- dreadful team selection; poor application - Bradley went on about maintaining standards once title was secure ; tonight’s performance so far is embarrassing as was his stupidity in getting a red card- still if JB signs back he’ll be forgiven

According to game on JB has resigned for SR tonight! Great to see him back in the league again.

[D24Saint]

I think we should start preparing for a play off,Pats weren’t too bothered tonight and we still couldn’t beat them and we decided to go into all too regular self destruct mode towards the end,just unforgivable from Sadiki ….

I don’t think there was a lack of effort on our part. Some of our players form would worry me going into the cup final. I thought Harps could have been ahead early in the second before our late push. I normally like Ollie but some of his antics tonight on the sideline was OTT IMO. If I were SOD I’d play a largely youth team next week in Waterford, the game means nothing to us and we can’t risk any injuries ahead of the big one in the Aviva. When we are going to play the Unite Cup match versus Rovers is a mystery with the final scheduled for December 4th. It will have to be in Tallaght the Wednesday after the cup final there doesn’t seem to be any other options.

[ToberonaTornado]

Pathetic

[Northsider]

Wonderful night in the famous old stadium. I thought we'd struggle with all the players we were missing, but we absolutely cruised it.

Onwards to Sligo and hopefully we can get a win there and seal 4th place.

[ontheotherhand]

Odd game in dalymount. Neither team played well but Bohs ended up with 3 goals from very sloppy defending. Far too many passengers on the Rovers side but with the league in the bag and the Jack Byrne rumours floating around I'm not that surprised by what was a distracted and disjointed performance.

Good to see action being taken by the FAI and, to be fair, the Bohs leadership after the last derby in Dalymount. Cctv installed and a section of the stand closed to avoid some of the incidents they've been denying have been happening. Its been toxic there for a while now.

[Nesta99]

Jack signing back will not have Rovers kick on much more under the current manager, 2022 thread on 1st manager sacked starts with Bradley.

[DCWA]

https://twitter.com/stpatsfc/status/1459255483492089870

Same. Bro :rolleyes:

Good win... interesting Final Day if we can get over Bohs

No chance. Our game in Dundalk is now a dud we needed Rovers to do us a favour. I thought they would to be fair so disappointing in that regard but then as I did say in the “will derry win the league something something” thread there are no good teams in the league this year so hardly surprised that the champions themselves aren’t to be relied on.

Damp squib in Dundalk next week.

Positive note; who needs a few hundred k? Maybe Bohs, certainly not Derry. No Euro distractions next year? 🤔

[SeanDrog]

Pats result leaves Drogs safe on goal difference. We had a great season but did fall over the finishing line between injuries, part time setup/fatigue and a crazy schedule of matches. Goal at the club was always to stay up in first year - mission accomplished.

We will lose a few in off season and need to buy even better than this season for next year given what would seem a stronger division next year.

[Nesta99]

Pats result leaves Drogs safe on goal difference. We had a great season but did fall over the finishing line between injuries, part time setup/fatigue and a crazy schedule of matches. Goal at the club was always to stay up in first year - mission accomplished.

We will lose a few in off season and need to buy even better than this season for next year given what would seem a stronger division next year.

We've a few lads, one is a former La Liga bargain and international, another pays for himself with all the interest from his home country - backed up by top class US data analytics, no brainer!

[Kiki Balboa]

Pats result leaves Drogs safe on goal difference. We had a great season but did fall over the finishing line between injuries, part time setup/fatigue and a crazy schedule of matches. Goal at the club was always to stay up in first year - mission accomplished.

We will lose a few in off season and need to buy even better than this season for next year given what would seem a stronger division next year.

Great season for Drogheda. There are some great people involved in the club so I am delighted for them. I have no doubt that the mid-table this year is as competitive as I have seen, and the team that finishes 9th will be strongest of my league of Ireland watching career. So for Drogheda to never to really look like they were going to get relegated, as a part time club, is a great achievement. A great blend of a squad with youth and experience. With a more settled Cork and Galway, always strong Bray and UCD (well at least 3/4) first division is going to be a tighter division next year, so it is important that Drogheda stays up.

Clancy is an excellent manager, and Drogheda's northern rival could do a lot worse than trying to tempt him up the M1.

[Calcio Jack]

Jack signing back will not have Rovers kick on much more under the current manager, 2022 thread on 1st manager sacked starts with Bradley.

Suggest you stick to your regular well rounded serious posts as attempts at humour obviously don’t work for you

[Buller]

Jack signing back will not have Rovers kick on much more under the current manager, 2022 thread on 1st manager sacked starts with Bradley.

No need to kick on, I'm pretty happy at the current level of winning the league every year with games to spare and a GD of 30!!

[Nesta99]

As you have observed humour isnt a strong point! It doesnt change the above post or opinion much, Bradley is not going to improve Rovers a whole lot more, if Byrne improves things it will be irrespective of the manager. Unlikely to sack a reigning champion winning manager but such loyalty could be to a fault. I will rethink this opinion if there is a good transfer window thats not all about Byrne, and if Bradley shows more guile with the rigid system he uses and adapts/reacts better in game that isnt just like for like type sub.

[Nesta99]

No need to kick on, I'm pretty happy at the current level of winning the league every year with games to spare and a GD of 30!!

I hope all at Rovers are of similar thinking! Quickest way for a league winning team to find themselves going backwards, and from a Dundalk fan...

[Calcio Jack]

As you have observed humour isnt a strong point! It doesnt change the above post or opinion much, Bradley is not going to improve Rovers a whole lot more, if Byrne improves things it will be irrespective of the manager. Unlikely to sack a reigning champion winning manager but such loyalty could be to a fault. I will rethink this opinion if there is a good transfer window thats not all about Byrne, and if Bradley shows more guile with the rigid system he uses and adapts/reacts better in game that isnt just like for like type sub.

I agree Bradley needs to be a little less rigid in terms of system , however I think that was ‘forced’ on him when we lost JB& McEneff and Farrugia out injured- that removed a huge amount of pace from us and left us playing a laboured/metronomic style ( which did deliver a title with a huge winning margin).

Brining in JB (maybe) plus 2 other expected major signings and a return to fitness for Farrugia plus I expect a lot more from Towell will IMO see us kick on next season.

Also the management situation at Rovers isn’t solely about Bradley ; what’s got us to where we now are is his first team coaching, the role played in recruitment / player development by McPhail and also the fruits of the academy investment that are starting to come through to both the first team and also our bank balance via over €2m in last three years.

I know I’m the first to bitch about Bradley when we play in the lazy embarrassing manner as we did last night but in the round he and the others in the background have done a brilliant job by delivering two titles and cup and more importantly putting in the solid foundations to allow that continue rather than having a boom and bust model.

So of course he won’t be sacked but to say that is based on loyalty is incorrect - it’s based on what he’s personally delivered as part of the overall club management , that may change but no sign of that- my only concern is that he might get headhunted - but at least we have a very good quality succession plan to cover that already in place albeit nothing can be 100% guaranteed

[patsdad]

Here’s an unusual post - praise for a linesman. Watching from the halfway I’d have sworn Darragh Burns was several yards offside for Pats’ second goal and most media reports say he looked offside. The picture shows that he was well onside when the pass was played. The defender switched off and didn’t track his run, so he was in yards of space by the time the ball arrived. It’s the type of goal we’ve got used to seeing initially disallowed then given by VAR in the Premier League. The linesman did exceptionally well here.

https://twitter.com/garyonuallain/status/1459327986998685696?s=21

[D24Saint]

He deserves praise for getting that call correct. I could have swore that he was offside last night. I reckon Ollie has egg on his face this morning after his half hour touchline rantathon after the goal. That was excellent officiating , it deserves praise when it’s due. We are all guilty of sticking the knife into officials when they get things wrong.

[boynemunich]

Thanks to Pats for all but confirming our place in Premier Division next season. I think we will find it tougher next season given our budget and Shels being an improvement on Longford. If Waterford manage to stay up they will be massively improved also. We will need some shrewd signings but Clancy's been good in the transfer windows before so hopefully that trend continues.

[D24Saint]

He deserves praise for getting that call correct. I could have swore that he was offside last night. I reckon Ollie has egg on his face this morning after his half hour touchline rantathon after the goal. That was excellent officiating , it deserves praise when it’s due. We are all guilty of sticking the knife into officials when they get things wrong.

Why do you reckon Waterford will improve.
They have new investors ?

[Nesta99]

I agree Bradley needs to be a little less rigid in terms of system , however I think that was ‘forced’ on him when we lost JB& McEneff and Farrugia out injured- that removed a huge amount of pace from us and left us playing a laboured/metronomic style ( which did deliver a title with a huge winning margin).

Brining in JB (maybe) plus 2 other expected major signings and a return to fitness for Farrugia plus I expect a lot more from Towell will IMO see us kick on next season.

Also the management situation at Rovers isn’t solely about Bradley ; what’s got us to where we now are is his first team coaching, the role played in recruitment / player development by McPhail and also the fruits of the academy investment that are starting to come through to both the first team and also our bank balance via over €2m in last three years.

I know I’m the first to bitch about Bradley when we play in the lazy embarrassing manner as we did last night but in the round he and the others in the background have done a brilliant job by delivering two titles and cup and more importantly putting in the solid foundations to allow that continue rather than having a boom and bust model.

So of course he won’t be sacked but to say that is based on loyalty is incorrect - it’s based on what he’s personally delivered as part of the overall club management , that may change but no sign of that- my only concern is that he might get headhunted - but at least we have a very good quality succession plan to cover that already in place albeit nothing can be 100% guaranteed

Fair comments, I obviously wouldnt know the detailed ins and outs of his wider background efforts at Rovers. I will throw out the argument that with all the structures in place, effective technical director in McPhail, and a succession plan in place etc, that Bradley could become a part victim of his own success and is less important as a result of his behind the scene efforts. In contrast to how big a loss Stephen Kenny was to Dundalk, not being far down the road in development of structures. A run of bad results especially if the loss of Byrne and McEneff can no longer be pointed to as a reason for being sub par, flop in Europe and he could be more exposed that you would think. Its sounds a bit like he now just has to pick his players and go, with so many bases covered and even young players well drilled in how the the 1st team plays so can slot in at short notice. Being so well structured, could in part at least, also contribute to his tendency not to stray far from his tried and tested.

[boynemunich]

Why do you reckon Waterford will improve.
They have new investors ?

They're a completely different team since Bircham came in. Only reason Waterford are down there is their form prior to his arrival.

[Bohtastic]

On the bohs rovers game, was underwhelmed by Towell last night. Has he been like that all season? Seemed off the pace.

[D24Saint]

1-1 in Longford, Longford back into it with a penalty.

[SeanDrog]

1-1 in Longford, Longford back into it with a penalty.
Waterford red card 5mins left - a draw is a great result for harps

[SeanDrog]

Waterford red card 5mins left - a draw is a great result for harps

Finished 1-1 , didn’t see that happening.

[Finlay Harp]

All over in Longford. Win on Saturday and Harps avoid a playoff

[2 Year Contract]

That Greg Halford for Waterford is an absolute clown. Unbelievable stuff for an experienced player to get such a stupid pair of yellow cards

[D24Saint]

All over in Longford. Win on Saturday and Harps avoid a playoff

The fact that its in Harps own hands should encourage a decent crowd.

[joey B]

That Greg Halford for Waterford is an absolute clown. Unbelievable stuff for an experienced player to get such a stupid pair of yellow cards

Every game he’s the same,cost his team big time tonight…

[SeanDrog]

I was surprised with Birchams public lambasting of his players after the Rovers match and wondered if it was a master stroke to inspire his players or was it a bit of an outdated management style that would lead to a demotivated side … tonight kinda points to the latter.