Games weekend 13th 14th May

[trevy]

Good win for us tonight. Came from behind twice to run out 4-2 winners. 4 wins from 4 since Morris got the chop. Opposition hasn’t been exactly spectacularly but we’ve made an evident improvement since Morris was let go.

Yes, we are playing a lot better football now. Great goals tonight from Phoenix Patterson again and then Callum Stringer so good night's entertainment.
Games against the teams around us and above us in next few weeks will show where we are as our last 4 wins were against the bottom 4.

[The Bowler]

UCD finally getting off the mark for the season and deservedly so, despite the continuation of the long ball nonsense. Initially looked like Whelan had picked up an awful injury, hopefully not as bad as it looked m, what an awful time in his career with a big move pending. Fingers crossed. This is the poorest Harps team in a long time, and if it wasn't for Kerrigan and Whelan leaving in summer, I'd be very confident UCD would catch them and finish 9th. Alas, I think UCD may struggle to pick up another win after the mid season break

[Nesta99]

He has. It was more tongue in cheek - as in Dundalk don't need the depth of 2 in each position this season. Was poorly executed. I'm not great at trolling.

Gannon and Hoare are two good options at RCB and we need both. I'd like to see an excellent option brought in next season all the same.

Every club needs and wants 2 players for every position no matter where they are in the league, it just isnt possible financially for most. When we did have such luxuries under SK it was wasted imo by never rotating and probably cost us a couple of records eg a domestic clean sweep cause the backup players were stale when called upon. But a loan move would do too to help sort the embarrassment of riches at Tallaght.

[Nesta99]

Your normally a sensible poster but clearly you don't get the big picture.
While the refurbishment / rebuilding of dalyer was being discussed the COO was on RTE discussing pride week.
The problem with you is you don't appreciate that the primary objective of football clubs is not necessarily winning football matches.
You just aren't that smart. Dundalk may have won a few things recently but what did they ever do about the bees? Pollination is in crises

That's a bit harsh, sure we've left grassy banks, and wilded the away section for years - purely with bees in mind, we are years ahead of Bohs on that as they, with lots of gratitude, improve Dalymount by demolishing the wilderness parts of the place. The bottles last night may have been the recycled kind in fairness considering that those involved are members and season ticket holders so will be big on climate and social justice 'n stuff...still waiting on their preemptive club statement!

[sbgawa]

That's a bit harsh, sure we've left grassy banks, and wilded the away section for years - purely with bees in mind, we are years ahead of Bohs on that as they, with lots of gratitude, improve Dalymount by demolishing the wilderness parts of the place. The bottles last night may have been the recycled kind in fairness considering that those involved are members and season ticket holders so will be big on climate and social justice 'n stuff...still waiting on their preemptive club statement!

"wilded the away section for years"...........:eek:.........:eek:
Surprised Dundalk didnt put a massive statement out condemning the crowd misbehaviour...............oh wait you won .....no need for a distraction :eek:

SOD seems to be getting a tune out of the old band , win your game in hand and you are 4 points off Derry who are apparantly in a two horse race for the title and you are playing them next week. Prety impressive to be fair with all the changes and the ahem "disruptive" start

[joey B]

Why is UCD/Rovers on Thursday next week?

[sbgawa]

I heard talk in the stadium last night that they have some social event on friday

[pineapple stu]

I think it's our annual fundraising lunch alright.

Has a bigger attendance than many UCD games, annoyingly.

[sbgawa]

I think it's our annual fundraising lunch alright.

Has a bigger attendance than many UCD games, annoyingly.

Suits me nicely, leaves Friday night free :)

[ontheotherhand]

Every club needs and wants 2 players for every position no matter where they are in the league, it just isnt possible financially for most. When we did have such luxuries under SK it was wasted imo by never rotating and probably cost us a couple of records eg a domestic clean sweep cause the backup players were stale when called upon. But a loan move would do too to help sort the embarrassment of riches at Tallaght.

As I said, we need them all this season. If anyone moves on it will be Farrugia. He looks like a man who is always thinking about his hamstring going. Understandable and I feel for the lad. Has flashes where he looks like his confidence is back but mostly just runs into trouble or cuts back. Still time for him but he may need to move on to get a good run of games and get his mojo back.

[Kiki Balboa]

UCD finally getting off the mark for the season and deservedly so, despite the continuation of the long ball nonsense. Initially looked like Whelan had picked up an awful injury, hopefully not as bad as it looked m, what an awful time in his career with a big move pending. Fingers crossed. This is the poorest Harps team in a long time, and if it wasn't for Kerrigan and Whelan leaving in summer, I'd be very confident UCD would catch them and finish 9th. Alas, I think UCD may struggle to pick up another win after the mid season break

I love your hatred for Myler.

[Calcio Jack]

As I said, we need them all this season. If anyone moves on it will be Farrugia. He looks like a man who is always thinking about his hamstring going. Understandable and I feel for the lad. Has flashes where he looks like his confidence is back but mostly just runs into trouble or cuts back. Still time for him but he may need to move on to get a good run of games and get his mojo back.

Agree with all of the above - I hope we stick with him as pre-injury there was no doubt that he was looking like developing into a fantastic talent - personally I think if he could get back to that he’d hugely broaden our options as he has pace to burn , fantastic ( ironically) physicality and skill plus would free Lyons to play on his natural right side - but he needs to get there soon

[joey B]

Good result for Dundalk in the Showgrounds…

[oriel]

Maybe so, but honest question for Pats fans, and I know we had this Hoban v Doyle thing pre-season, I wonder are they reasonably happy with him, he's 34 now that's a fair old age to be on a 3 year contract plus has he really delivered?

For me Hoban all day long, his display on Fri v Bohs was superb, good goal too clear MOTM, now I am not discounting Doyle mind, good player of course but I`m just making the point maybe he has not made the impact Pats fans had hoped for and for his wages?

[Nesta99]

As long as he isnt just going through the motions nearing the end of his playing career, is fit, then 34 isnt a done and dusted player. From listening to Pats fans he has being doing a bit of a Hoban by dropping deep to try and make things happen. Not playing to his strengths or with player selection that will get him scoring goals. While Hoban has 7 under the belt, last night was the first time that I feel he was played in to the game in a way that make him the most dangerous and we reaped the reward.

[2 Year Contract]

When you take penalty goals away from both Doyle and Hoban, they‘ve both scored the same number of goals this season. Doyle's reportedly one of the fitter players in the squad and works his socks off every game to be fair. As mentioned pats need to play to his strengths more though. His assist last night was excellent

[Jack B]

I expected Doyle to be a better out an out goalscorer and worse of an all-round footballer than he has been. His assist for Burns last night was inch-perfect but kind of sums up his season so far in that his general play has been impressive but we're struggling to get him into particularly dangerous areas to score himself. You can see his movement is quality as well so I do think it's more a service issue than any fault of his own, he just isn't a target man and spends much of the game having hopeful balls flung up to him that he hasn't much of a chance with.

We look so much a better side with Ben McCormack in it rather than a forward shoe-horned into midfield instead, and I think Doyle can reap the benefits of this if Clancy sticks with him/gets another body or two in midfield in the window. Just look at his goal vs Drogheda as an example, possibly offside or not it's the kind of service he just hasn't been getting enough of this season.

Can't really speak for Hoban, outside of highlights the only time I've seen him this season is in Richmond against us and that is possibly the worst I've seen him play and he rightly got hooked for (I think) McMillan. Pats fans seem a bit divided on Doyle but I think he's been far from our biggest issue and will likely look much better with a more functioning midfield behind him.

[sbgawa]

Bohs playing Sligo and Pats next two matches.
Question for Bohs fans If those matches don't go well and Bohs are well off Europe is there a chance of a heave against 008 or is he immune from preesure?

[D24Saint]

Who is out there to step in would be the question. It’s a tough gig at Bohs , how many rebuilds has he done at this stage. Where the euro money go ? They must have got over a million last season or will it only arrive after this years final.

[oriel]

I expected Doyle to be a better out an out goalscorer and worse of an all-round footballer than he has been. His assist for Burns last night was inch-perfect but kind of sums up his season so far in that his general play has been impressive but we're struggling to get him into particularly dangerous areas to score himself. You can see his movement is quality as well so I do think it's more a service issue than any fault of his own, he just isn't a target man and spends much of the game having hopeful balls flung up to him that he hasn't much of a chance with.

We look so much a better side with Ben McCormack in it rather than a forward shoe-horned into midfield instead, and I think Doyle can reap the benefits of this if Clancy sticks with him/gets another body or two in midfield in the window. Just look at his goal vs Drogheda as an example, possibly offside or not it's the kind of service he just hasn't been getting enough of this season.

Can't really speak for Hoban, outside of highlights the only time I've seen him this season is in Richmond against us and that is possibly the worst I've seen him play and he rightly got hooked for (I think) McMillan. Pats fans seem a bit divided on Doyle but I think he's been far from our biggest issue and will likely look much better with a more functioning midfield behind him.

Fair summary guys, was just interested to get the mood of Pats fans, and def if you can keep fit, 34 shouldn't be an issue, still think he did well get 3 years. He may yet outscore Hoban, and others this season but I was expecting him to have score a lot more by now.

[sbgawa]

Who is out there to step in would be the question. It’s a tough gig at Bohs , how many rebuilds has he done at this stage. Where the euro money go ? They must have got over a million last season or will it only arrive after this years final.

Possibly guilty of Rovers goggles here but i think Long gets way to much credit from a lazy media for all his "rebuilds" he has a decent budget and a good feed of players from St Kevins and also Kevins lads returning from England. Its not like he has rebuilt squads to challenge for the title let alone win anything. SOD at Pats last year 2nd in league and wins the cup in first year with a budget not wildly bigger.
Hopefully Bohs stick with Long, the current Bohs board dont seem to pushed about winning anything so he is probably invulnerable.

[Kiki Balboa]

Who is out there to step in would be the question. It’s a tough gig at Bohs , how many rebuilds has he done at this stage. Where the euro money go ? They must have got over a million last season or will it only arrive after this years final.

Stephen Rice became the favourite for the Rovers job when there was a chance Bradley was leaving. I guess that now any job available in the league, he will be on top of the shortlist.


Personally, in the race for third, I see Pats and Dundalk are well ahead of Bohs (haven't seen too much of Sligo, so don't know). I don't think Bohs will be close coming end of the season, and the race for Europe won't be like the last few years where it seemed nobody could push on from the middle pack.


Bohs have talent for sure but seems like a very unbalanced squad in terms of being top-heavy with talent and a complete lack of experience. They lost a lot of their senior players from last year (plus their near-exclusive goal threat). I think it was always going to be a hard season for them. Where the fault lies (if any) about the unbalanced squad, I don't know. Maybe it's longs fault or the boards, or maybe that's just the cycle of football.

[D24Saint]

Fair summary guys, was just interested to get the mood of Pats fans, and def if you can keep fit, 34 shouldn't be an issue, still think he did well get 3 years. He may yet outscore Hoban, and others this season but I was expecting him to have score a lot more by now.

I think the Eoin Doyle we got is certainly different to the one we thought. His overall contribution is excellent but I’d like to see him score a few more. He has a great attitude as he plugs away and doesn’t moan even on a bad night. We are in good shape for third or fourth and that’s the most that can be asked of the current team.

[PartySaint]

Maybe so, but honest question for Pats fans, and I know we had this Hoban v Doyle thing pre-season, I wonder are they reasonably happy with him, he's 34 now that's a fair old age to be on a 3 year contract plus has he really delivered?

For me Hoban all day long, his display on Fri v Bohs was superb, good goal too clear MOTM, now I am not discounting Doyle mind, good player of course but I`m just making the point maybe he has not made the impact Pats fans had hoped for and for his wages?

I would swap Doyle for almost any other starting striker in the league tbh.

He has only scored against UCD Harps and Drogs and having him up top is like playing with 10 men as he is too slow to start any sort of meaningful press against the center backs, add in to that his age and the big wages he is probably on I think he has been a complete disaster.

[Straightstory]

A miserable experience at Tolka Park. I've been going there since the mid 70s, but this was the first time I was asked (not just me obviously, but all away fans) to take a long detour in the opposite direction of the ground so that (presumably) both sets of supporters wouldn't mingle on Richmond Road. I made it in about ten minutes, but anyone with mobility issues or wheelchair users could expect the trek to take twenty minutes. Drogs fans were also held back at the final whistle for a further fifteen minutes. (I know Drogheda implement this at some home games too). Utter madness and completely unnecessary. What do people think this is? Celtic v Rangers? All this patent nonsense achieves is to infuriate and alienate fans.
Also at Tolka, away fans now have to stand behind the goal where the seats have been taken out and no covering exists. (Fine on a nice early summer day last Friday but not an enticing prospect in October).
Plus: no programmes on sale for away fans (at least I didn't see any) and an inaudible PA system.
On the pitch, a miserable game where Drogheda managed one goal attempt in the entire ninety-plus minutes.
However, as mentioned above, the weather was very pleasant.

[Glen Of Aherlow]

I would swap Doyle for almost any other starting striker in the league tbh.

He has only scored against UCD Harps and Drogs and having him up top is like playing with 10 men as he is too slow to start any sort of meaningful press against the center backs, add in to that his age and the big wages he is probably on I think he has been a complete disaster.

I have some sympathy for him at times as he's not a target man and has spent a lot of games having long balls lumped up to him . He works hard but as you say his lack of pace is an issue , and for the wages he's probably on i would have preferred someone younger and hungrier , like Aidan Keena for example.

[brendy_éire]

A miserable experience at Tolka Park. I've been going there since the mid 70s, but this was the first time I was asked (not just me obviously, but all away fans) to take a long detour in the opposite direction of the ground so that (presumably) both sets of supporters wouldn't mingle on Richmond Road. I made it in about ten minutes, but anyone with mobility issues or wheelchair users could expect the trek to take twenty minutes. Drogs fans were also held back at the final whistle for a further fifteen minutes. (I know Drogheda implement this at some home games too). Utter madness and completely unnecessary. What do people think this is? Celtic v Rangers? All this patent nonsense achieves is to infuriate and alienate fans.

Agreed, not a pleasant ground to visit, despite having such fond memories of the place. We weren't made to detour around Richmond Road, but I've don't remember the last time I've been so thoroughly searched going into a ground by lads booming warnings about denied entry/thrown out of the grounds for various offences. Not exactly welcoming. Once in, they did offer to let us into the main stand as one of the lads we were with was in crutches, TBF. Being held in for a Dundalk-level of time after the final whistle seemed pretty needless too.
We all know our facilities generally aren't great at a lot of grounds, but we need to treat people at bit better at least.

[sbgawa]

I agree 100% about this holding people back stuff, Derry fans were allowed leave the match on Friday straight away against Rovers.
Although it generally can be a call made by the Gardai rather than the club

[Nesta99]

Agreed, not a pleasant ground to visit, despite having such fond memories of the place. We weren't made to detour around Richmond Road, but I've don't remember the last time I've been so thoroughly searched going into a ground by lads booming warnings about denied entry/thrown out of the grounds for various offences. Not exactly welcoming. Once in, they did offer to let us into the main stand as one of the lads we were with was in crutches, TBF. Being held in for a Dundalk-level of time after the final whistle seemed pretty needless too.
We all know our facilities generally aren't great at a lot of grounds, but we need to treat people at bit better at least.

Its has yet to be determined what remaining behind for 'several minutes' actually amounts to!