Miscellaneous thoughts re: tomorrow

Says Roddy:

“Cork is not a must win game. Some games are must win and some are must not lose. Cork is a must not lose because even if we draw, we are at worst, going to be no further behind Pats and Derry (playing at the same time on Thursday) and possibly a point closer to one of them."

...which is hopefully just another outbreak of Rodology, since every winnable game (i.e., every game except Shels and Bohs away) is a "must win" unless and until we put enough points on the board to prioritise.

Carlton is 50/50 with a thigh strain, but Efan Ekoku is available again (although he's probably slipped down the order to fourth-choice striker at this stage.)

Shaun Byrne has apparently f*cked off, according to a text alert I got earlier (although it didn't explain why.) Thought something was up when he wasn't named among the subs last Friday.

This is the team I'd go with, assuming Carlton makes it (which I suspect he will.)

Ryan
Toccy, Palmer, Cooper, Rowland
Cottsy, Tierney, Kenny, Rundle
O'Neill, Nesovic

...although I'm sure Roddy will fit Friel in somewhere. Probably right-full, with Toccy reverting to centre-half if Carlton doesn't make it. Not a fan of Kenny at all, but Crowls isn't fully fit (although he played his heart out against Rovers) and we need some creativity in the middle.

Above all, we need to play to our strengths; namely, our ability to counter-attack quickly and decisively (this was the case even under John Gill, Cottsy and Gary O'Neill being the common thread; remember "4-2 in the Dalyer" - Jesus, everytime Bohs lost the ball that day it almost wound up, or did wind up, in their goal.) Which is why Efan shouldn't start.

I must admit, I'm pretty confident about this game. I think the squad realise the gravity of the situation and are willing and motivated enough to turn it around.

we need to win big time. i fully expect a fired up city and a convincing win tomorrow or they'll be roasted by the press and media agian down here

Roddy talking sh!te again as usual.He's knows we're in a bit of a crisis at the moment and they have a great chance of getting 3 points imo.We are struggling big time as I predicted we would after the intertoto.Very big game for both teams,if City lose then Europe becomes near impossible and if DC lose it's another step towards the 1st division.

Any 1 for a draw? ;)

Hope we don't let ourselves down tonight. If we can take a point in Turners Cross then we can at least do the same in Tolka.
As far as the team line up is concerned I'd have Robbie Farrell up front with Nailler :eek:
I know...but the guy was a revelation when he came on against Rovers and in my mind he deserves a start for that. Roddy even said himself that Robbie Farrell changed the game for us that night.
I wouldn't even have Ekoku on the bench. Although I won't be surprised at all if he starts (prove me wrong Efan, prove me wrong!)
As for the middle I can't BELIEVE you'd put Kenny in ahead of Paul "the Messiah" Crowley!! :D
Give me strength and desire over arrogance and posturing anyday.

Wouldn't rule out a draw, and don't think it'd be a bad result.