What's a successful season?

With the season less than a month away, I'd be interested to know what people's thoughts are...

For me, with the current squad, I'll take mid table anonymity for another year. The squad looks a bit light numbers wise (lost 8, brought in 2, no assistant manager currently), so I'm not interested in a cup run or any extra games that might stretch us too thin.
I think securing another year in the league is priority number 1 and would constitute a successful season.
If we got close to, matched or even got one point more than last years total, it'd be a successful season.

What do you perceive as success this season? Not what you think will actually happen, more what would you be happy with?

I'd be happy with the same again. Mid-table with a few scalps thrown in throughout the season. As it stands we are about 2 players short of being comfortable squad wise if we had one or two injuries. Upfront and midfield will be a problem if we have injuries and we already have a list of about 6 players injured.

The budget and playing squad is down from last year and add to that no assistant manager.

On our day with a full squad we can be a match for any team in this league. A couple of players injured and we will be well off the pace.

Pretty much the same. Remain reasonably competitive, finish somewhere between 8th and 5th. Having a squad that's stuck together will stand to the team, but it all seems just a tad shallow in many areas. No fear of relegation.

5th or 6th would be a success I think. Taylor's 2nd year and good continuity on the pitch should be enough to deliver it too. Have the same concerns on numbers though, ok in defence but light in midfield and upfront once injuries and suspensions kick in. Hopefully there is another one to come in before we start.

Any kind of progress in terms of how we play really. I wouldn't mind being in the same position in the table but I would mind being in the same position in terms of quality of play if that makes sense. May not be too exciting and some of the lads that only started supporting Limerick last season may not understand it as much but mid table in the prem is a million times better then spending another second in the first division.

I'm happy to see the club hasn't started to spend money they dont have just to move up a place or two.

Upper mid table would be fine looking at the squad. I agree with not spending what we don't have to attract punters who will only stay away in droves after a couple of poor home results anyway. Consolidate, it's not exciting but, it is necessary for the club after the last twenty years and it will do fine. If as Taylor aimed for last season, to finish as the best placed Munster side were achievable, that would be a nice little bonus, but I haven't been watching Corks dealings closely enough to say if that is possible.

It would be great to see some of the young local guys in and around the squad begin to impact off the bench, that would be success for me this coming season, as last term, I often looked at the team sheet and remarked the win had to come from the eleven as the bench didn't look to have game changing power sometimes. If those lads were to develop and really push to be in the side and not just present due to budgetary considerations, then that would be a success for all involved, and very welcome.

With the squad we have we are about 2 injuries to key players away from being in a relegation battle. Maybe this squad is to see us to June and we sign some more then but i wouldn't be too optimistic

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Originally Posted by gael353

With the squad we have we are about 2 injuries to key players away from being in a relegation battle. Maybe this squad is to see us to June and we sign some more then but i wouldn't be too optimistic

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How bad is Barry Ryan sickness, it would be a completely different story without him.

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Originally Posted by blueblood

How bad is Barry Ryan sickness, it would be a completely different story without him.

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Out for a while yet I'd say. Lucky if he makes the start of the season.

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Originally Posted by Jofspring

Out for a while yet I'd say. Lucky if he makes the start of the season.

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Then we are in trouble none of the 2 are anywhere near the standard of Barry.

Makes it worse that the talk of the two lads from Ghana looks like it wont be happening like many thought.

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Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

Then we are in trouble none of the 2 are anywhere near the standard of Barry.

Makes it worse that the talk of the two lads from Ghana looks like it wont be happening like many thought.

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I think Cusack will be fine. We have a strong enough back 4 this year that the keeper won't be worked nearly half as much as last year. It's up front that would be my only concern, but if we are solid from the back then we'll be very difficult to beat.

id agree about the style of play too, an improvement in that would be classed as a success too. It's important in Taylor's second year that the team is playing the style he wants to implement.

is the RTD thing a non-runner then? The club were far too quiet on it. It just makes people think that they were spoofing the whole time.

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Originally Posted by kingpin4

I think Cusack will be fine. We have a strong enough back 4 this year that the keeper won't be worked nearly half as much as last year. It's up front that would be my only concern, but if we are solid from the back then we'll be very difficult to beat.

id agree about the style of play too, an improvement in that would be classed as a success too. It's important in Taylor's second year that the team is playing the style he wants to implement.

is the RTD thing a non-runner then? The club were far too quiet on it. It just makes people think that they were spoofing the whole time.

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I was told as recently as 2 weeks ago that the RTD lads were definitely coming think I was being spoofed to tbh the deadline is in 4 or 5 days and there is no sign of anything happening. What I really don't understand is putting them on the website that time if they were not coming.

I can't remember the last time we had any luck with injuries so having a small squad is a worry, already missing Galbraith,Folan,Leahy and Barry.

Pat said on 95fm that Stuart still wants another winger and striker and he hopes to get one but at the moment there would be no promises of it essentially. They want to see the likes of Red getting games because they want to be a club that promotes from within.

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Originally Posted by Jofspring

Pat said on 95fm that Stuart still wants another winger and striker and he hopes to get one but at the moment there would be no promises of it essentially. They want to see the likes of Red getting games because they want to be a club that promotes from within.

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Think we need a central midfielder more then a winger tbh.

This whole promoting from within is great if you have the players good enough but do we? More a budget thing id imagine.

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Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

Think we need a central midfielder more then a winger tbh.

This whole promoting from within is great if you have the players good enough but do we? More a budget thing id imagine.

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Definitely budgetary. If compensation is due for O'Leary, we should be looking at improving the starting 11. We'll be fine this season as long as people keep their expectations in check and be a bit realistic.

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Originally Posted by kingpin4

Definitely budgetary. If compensation is due for O'Leary, we should be looking at improving the starting 11. We'll be fine this season as long as people keep their expectations in check and be a bit realistic.

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Exactly there are one or two that expect to see massive improvements year on year but it just doesn't work like that. Taylor has said it a few times that he wants to consolidate and build the club and team slowly the right way instead of throwing money at it and that is the right approach.

Not trying to knock the lads but I don't think there are any in the 19s team atm ready to come into the starting team straight away, I think people like Whitehead and Hanlon definitely have the potential but not there yet. Red is able but he needs a bit more muscle on him to be able to deal wit the defenders he would be up against for first team he is the best option we have as a back up striker at the minute though.

1 all against Waterford tonight, and Cusack went off injured (hopefully just a precaution). Anyone at it?
Nothing against Nathan Murray, but we cant start the season with only our under 19s keeper available.

Also, it is slightly worrying that there's still no sign of Curran or Galbraith with only a couple of weeks left to the start of the season.

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Originally Posted by kingpin4

1 all against Waterford tonight, and Cusack went off injured (hopefully just a precaution). Anyone at it?
Nothing against Nathan Murray, but we cant start the season with only our under 19s keeper available.

Also, it is slightly worrying that there's still no sign of Curran or Galbraith with only a couple of weeks left to the start of the season.

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Think Cusack got injured after colliding with striker coming out to close him down didnt look too serious when he was walking off.

Craig was supposed to be back training this week we wont be seeing Danny for a while has had 2 set backs with a hamstring injury he got at the end of last season and has barely trained,. Trialist in midfield looked handy enough. Deqwon the striker is nowhere near good enough from what ive seen so far.

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Originally Posted by kingpin4

Also, it is slightly worrying that there's still no sign of Curran or Galbraith with only a couple of weeks left to the start of the season.

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and Leahy and Williams. A few obvious things from last night though and there the same two problems as last year. We are toothless. Our lateral play is very very frustrating. endless balls from one side of the pitch to the other with no "cut" beyond the midfield. We're like cork last last before they got Kilduff. Our only out ball is from Sam Oji, Shane will be top scorer. If we continue to persist with "the mistake" he will cost us 10 goals a season and relegate us

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Originally Posted by gael353

and Leahy and Williams. A few obvious things from last night though and there the same two problems as last year. We are toothless. Our lateral play is very very frustrating. endless balls from one side of the pitch to the other with no "cut" beyond the midfield. We're like cork last last before they got Kilduff. Our only out ball is from Sam Oji, Shane will be top scorer. If we continue to persist with "the mistake" he will cost us 10 goals a season and relegate us

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Forgot about Leahy actually, we seem to be quite well stocked at the back this's year.
Curran and Galbraith will add a lot more penetration... I really would love to see a change in system for a while though.

Longford will be a very tough test on Saturday... Hopefully no more injuries either.