v. St. Pat's

[HarpoJoyce]

I understand this match is on Sunday 03rd August at 15:00, is that right?

Besides Derek Doyle will there be any other departures before then?
(No confidential information needs to be divulged.)

Is it considered Treasonous to want some St. Pat's players to fallover during the 2nd leg of their Olimps game on Thursday?.....extratime?

Why is everyone on the Pat's team called Ryan?

After Edit: Just read the Irish Examiner's preview of Pat's and Olimps. John McDonnell describes the Latvians "they are a young side - a little bit like UCD. That is no disrespect to College. Olimps' best players move on to Skonto Riga eventually, but the emphasis is always on bringing in young players".

Right the gloves are difinitely off! What is he on about, there is no way we would qualify for the UEFA Cup at the minute....well not without Doyler anyway.

[pineapple stu]

Interesting to see who plays now. Bermo's out, and Mahon and King are doubts. Leaving those three out (because it makes centre mid that much easier...), I'd expect something like -

Gregg
Kenna
McNally
McMillan
Harding
Fitz
Finn
McFaul
Meenan/O'Callaghan
Podge
O'Neill

with Duggan in for O'Neill if his registration goes through.

Pat's were poor enough against Olimps last night, scoring off a free and a penalty and not generally creating a huge deal, though obviously they'll say they did what they had to do. If they play like that again on Sunday, I could well see a traditional 0-0.

[Schumi]

Pats had lots of possession but took very few shots (similar to us against Cobh maybe). If they play like that, 0-0 is certainly possible but I can see them winning 2-0.

[DmanDmythDledge]

I would leave Stevens at LB (especially considering you would have Harding out of position). He looked a small bit shaky last week but that is to be expected on your senior debut at such a young age. McMillan hasn't really looked all that comfortable in recent games- I think we should go back to our always reliable CB partership of Kenna/McNally, even if it means having to play another youngster (Harding) at full back.

Would agree with that midfield but would be surprised if Pete doesn't start Meenan. If he rated O'Callaghan that much he would have given him more action at this stage. Would love to see Timmy upfront instead of Podge but that's not going to happen unfortunately.

Definitely have a chance of getting something out of this. We know how to stop a team like Pats and judging by the game earlier in the season they don't seem to have a plan B. We need to be at the top of our defensive game though to salvage anything. A point from this game would be a good boost of confidence ahead of our crunch game against Galway.

[Dodge]

though obviously they'll say they did what they had to do

Mainly because it was true

[Schumi]

I would leave Stevens at LB (especially considering you would have Harding out of position). He looked a small bit shaky last week but that is to be expected on your senior debut at such a young age. McMillan hasn't really looked all that comfortable in recent games- I think we should go back to our always reliable CB partership of Kenna/McNally, even if it means having to play another youngster (Harding) at full back.

I'd agree with this (although I assumed pineapple meant Kenna playing at left back). The free header Heary(?) had for Bohs' first last week was down to poor marking. I didn't see who's man he was but I'd be more confident with Kenna and McNally in the middle. My only concern would be having an inexperienced player looking after Ryan Guy.

Up front, I've no idea. None of our players can score so it probably doesn't matter who plays there. If he's available, I'd play Duggan behind O'Neill as McWalter has been poor all year and O'Neill looks better able to hold onto the ball so he might suit Duggan better.

[Magicme]

Mite go to this game as will be recovering from a hangover in Dublin so shopping would be a dead loss and am dying to see the new ground. What bus should I get out from town??

[Schumi]

Mite go to this game as will be recovering from a hangover in Dublin so shopping would be a dead loss and am dying to see the new ground. What bus should I get out from town??

The 11B is the handiest but I don't think they run on Sundays. Any 11 will bring you within about 10 minutes of the ground. Get off at the Clonskeagh entrance to UCD (at the AIB). Once you're in UCD, there should be signs.

[pineapple stu]

Mainly because it was true

You have another reason for saying it?

I'm hoping for a bit of an Ireland-Lithuania 1993 effect, to be honest.

I'd agree with this (although I assumed pineapple meant Kenna playing at left back).

I did, yeah.

I assume you means whose instead of who's.

On buses, the 46A, 84, 63 and 10 all go to UCD too, though a bit further away than the 11. But once you get sight of the water tower, head for there.

[Magicme]

Thanks lads, ended up getting a lift anyway so was grand!

You did not deserve to lose 3-0. Meenan did well on his first outing for you.

[Dodge]

You did not deserve to lose 3-0

Yep, should've been 4/5. Worst UCD team I've ever seen (and I'm far from the biggest UCD hater here...)

[pineapple stu]

4/5-1 at least though. In fairness, at least we created some chances yesterday, which is more than can be said for previous weeks.

Meenan started slowly but got better, Duggan was quieter than I was hoping, but the performance was much livelier than recently. Ultimately though, next week's a far more important game and if we win it, I won't be caring about yesterday's result. If there's a winner next week, they'll stay up I reckon.

[DmanDmythDledge]

4/5-1 at least though. In fairness, at least we created some chances yesterday, which is more than can be said for previous weeks.

What chances? All I recall was when Meenan (who looked decent) played Fitz through towards the end but that was only a half chance at best. Vaguely remember Meenan playing somebody else through that also came to nothing as well but do not remember anything else. No attempts that tested the keeper or made him worry. We certainly didn't deserve a goal anyway.

I don't know how bad McWalter has to play to get dropped. His first touch is embarrasing. O'Neill has to start in his place on Friday or push Fitz upfront. I'd go with Timmy myself but he has seemed to have gone completely out of Pete's plans for some bizarre reason. I'd push Fitz up there but don't think he could play as a lone striker, unless you take Duggan out of the team and play him with O'Neill.

Duggan looks to be decent but as my first time seeing him too early to endorse him as much as others have yet. Seems very comfortable on the ball and does not panic when under pressure. Nice passer of the ball but gave it away sloppily on a few occasions.

Don't think a partnership of him and McFaul will work though. Kinger has to be in there when he comes back from injury- neither of the mentioned two cover enough ground (Pats had a good bit of space to work in, which was further increased by Fitz not tracking back and leaving a huge space on our right). Finn does this to an extent but we need him to play further up the pitch. Another reason why King should be in the team, and something he doesn't get enough credit for (if any at all), is that he is a fantastic user of the ball. One touch with his left, ready to pass with his right straight away and will find a man nine times out of ten.

Mentioning Finn, I thought he had a good game- was putting in tackles and used the ball well when he was on it. Played a brilliant through ball to Meenan in the first half when it was still 0-0 but defender got back before he could shoot.

Stevens looked a bit shaky once more but like last week nothing really to complain about- he'll be fine when he gets a few more games under his belt. In fairness to him too Guy had a great game for Pats on the right.

Defence overall didn't look great though. Shortall left O'Brien beat him too easily on a few occasions (one which lead to their first goal) and the defending for the second goal was nothing short of a shambles. Fahey danced through the defence on two occasions as well and got a goal for his efforts out of it. Never realised he had so much pace.

Worringly times certainly ahead but frustratingly there are better options/solutions sitting on the bench/ in the stand. As for Friday the way both teams are playing at the moment we will be beaten but if Pete makes the changes we will give ourselves a chance. If not we will need Galway to underperform.

[Schumi]

4/5-1 at least though. In fairness, at least we created some chances yesterday, which is more than can be said for previous weeks.

A couple of half-chances at best. I don't see where we were going to get a goal from.

We were destroyed down both flanks. Both our full backs looked very slow, Guy went past Stevens at will and their left winger had Shortall in big trouble on the other side too. We did OK for the first 20 minutes or so I thought, we had a decent amount of the ball in midfield and passed it quite well (no shots from it as usual though) but after that we were just hanging on at best.

The new guys did well without setting the world alight. Meenan came into the game fairly well in the second half but didn't look great in the first. No surprise that it'd take a while to get used to the step up from Kildare to Pats though. Duggan was a lot quieter than against Dundee Utd but his touch and passing still looked good. You could see that he was getting frustrated with how the game was going near the end though. Whether that's a positive or negative remains to be seen I suppose.

[John83]

What chances? All I recall was when Meenan (who looked decent) played Fitz through towards the end but that was only a half chance at best.

Duggan forced a save with a shot from the edge of the area. Podge was released and had he a bit more pace, he'd have been odds on to score. As it was, we had a penalty call. Not much, really, but better than recently. Fitzie had a couple of half chances.

I don't know how bad McWalter has to play to get dropped. His first touch is embarrasing.

That's just not fair. He's a mediocre player playing in a very difficult role. He works hard there and does his bit.

O'Neill has to start in his place on Friday or push Fitz upfront.

Fitz practically played up front for the first half. It didn't do us any good. Fitz has a grand total of 0 goals this year. 0. He's absolutely the solution to our problems up front.

I'd go with Timmy myself but he has seemed to have gone completely out of Pete's plans for some bizarre reason.

I'd agree, but we don't know the story there. Maybe he's been lazy in training, maybe he's had a few knocks we haven't hear about.

Kinger has to be in there when he comes back from injury

I kind of think we should stick him on the right and use Fitz as an impact sub. King's crossing was useful at the start of the season, and we really don't have any threat down the wings at the moment.

Stevens looked a bit shaky once more but like last week nothing really to complain about- he'll be fine when he gets a few more games under his belt. In fairness to him too Guy had a great game for Pats on the right.

You're presuming a lot there. Guy had a great game because Stevens couldn't keep up with him at all, and hadn't the guile to compensate. Maybe some experience and match practice will make a difference, and Guy is hardly the easiest guy to make on you debut(?), but I saw nothing to suggest Stevens is going to be any good. Of course, it's not fair to judge him on a single game, but it wasn't a good start.

Worringly times certainly ahead but frustratingly there are better options/solutions sitting on the bench/ in the stand. As for Friday the way both teams are playing at the moment we will be beaten but if Pete makes the changes we will give ourselves a chance.

There are some alternatives sitting on the bench. Until you get your UEFA licence, I'm going to assume Pete and his staff are a better judge of them than you.