tell me how it is.......

I've been reading a lot of posts on this board over the 4 years I've been living in Japan, and it is good to see the club in a position which isnt on the bottom of the table. (I last saw them win silverware in 91 (??) which was the League cup. Since then until I left they were basically rooted to the bottom of the table, with a couple of seasons (under Dave Connell ??) being the exception. Then, as soon as I left, they won the League Cup again, in Derry.
I remember Noel O Connor as manager of the youth team, very successfully so, if I remember correctly.
But despite the decent league position, he has been getting a lot of serious criticism over the last few weeks / months.
Can somebody with a level head and without an axe to grind please let me know what the situaton is and what has given birth to the criticism?

I hope I have a level head - I definitely don't have an axe to grind.

NOC left two seasons ago two weeks before the start of the season. This didn't go down well with some fans. This was after finishing last in the league but also winning the League Cup. There were a lot of reports at the time and hroughout his reign that he was a good coach but not a good manager of people and let personal relationships with players dictate team selection.He went to Cork as assistant to Pat Dolan. A good move for him but left us in the lurch a bit.

In the meantime Mike Kerley was manager and in the first season took us to the playoffs with a fantastic late season run of 14 games unbeaten. Last season though the wheels came off big style. We were left sweating on a license until 2 weeks before the start of the season. Almost all (Purcell, Sweeney, O'Flynn) of the key players in the play-off push left - to go to premier clubs. The season went from bad to worse and we were lucky in the end to finish bottom. Despite that Kerley is very highly thought of and showed a lot of loyalty to the club by sticking with us through all teh bad times.

The new owners came in at the end of last season. O'Connor is closely associated with the new owners (and may actually be one of them I don't know for definite). Kerley was offered the u-21 job but turned it down and was forced out essentially. A lot of fans were upset at Kerley's departure and have been critical of NOC at the time and since.

The new administration nade a lot of promises at the start of the season - most of which have been realised. Some though, like the installation of seats, have not happened. The club was in the sh1ts for teh last couple of seasons. There was no money and no fans. This season the club looks like it is being run well - from a commercial persective - especially on merchandising and sponsorship side. The finances seem very stable. The football performances have not been as good as expected - and some fans put the fault for that right at NOC's feet. They claim he has not played his best 11 - and reports of favouritism and picking based on personal relaitonships abound again. This came to a head with the selling of Carthy to Waterford when it seemed he didn't want to go. In the same week Colin P O'Brien - who has borne the brunt of fans ire for two seasons has also left leaving us very thin up front.

There have been reports of bad treatment of players from Fyffe to Carthy and allowing a lot of players to leave through the season without giving them a chance.

That's basically it. We are well placed in the table and well positioned off the pitch (particularly compared to last season). However, many hold the view that we could and should be doing even better in the league and some fans are concerned at the manner in which the management and administration are handling players and reacting to criticism.

Phew!

Have to say, a fair and well balanced assessment there LFC In Exile. Good stuff.

Jimmy Fyffe joined Waterford United a few weeks ago, Mike Kerley was managing the UL Ladies side last I heard.

And LFC In Exile's account is an exceptionally fair one in my opinion.

LFC in Exile has it in one there. Although might I add that the behaviour of certain individuals running the club is becoming increasingly petulant and downright ridiculous. They, or should I say He, can't take any sort of criticism at all, which is sad.

On the pitch NOC is doing an ok job, but could be doing a lot better. His team selection is baffling at times, players are being played out of position and tactics are non-existant and poor. But these are footballing matters that fans of every club discuss, so I wouldn't consider it axe grinding. In saying that, we're not doing as well as we should be. Whether the reason for that is his alleged attitude and stubborness towards certain players, or whether it (i.e. the loss of quite a number of players) is because of orders from above is mainly what is being discussed on here. For example, the release of McCarthy to Waterford just does not make sense. Was it for personal reasons, or was it to cut costs? If it was over money, why was someone like John McGrath paid €500 for his one-off appearance on Monday night? It all points to personal reasons, which, as LFC In Exile correctly said, was a problem the last time he was in charge as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 4tothefloor

If it was over money, why was someone like John McGrath paid €500 for his one-off appearance on Monday night? It all points to personal reasons, which, as LFC In Exile correctly said, was a problem the last time he was in charge as well.

---

500 quid??? so thats how much CP was costing ;) on a serious note we need some players. This season even without the ones who didnt resign, like Conway, Fyffe and Sugrue we've lost Stokes, Brown, Harnett, Lynch, Condon, Hughes, Cosgrave, Aherne, McCarthy and O'Brien while we only got in McGauley and Sweeney. our panel is getting as slim as last season. Now i hear that Sweeney could be off to Scotland for work :o so that would mean ten out and one in since seasons start!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gael353

on a serious note we need some players.

---

And soon!!! :(
There are only 11 days left in the transfer window and so far no major signings. And anyway can some one tell me why are the club cutting costs? (by releasing players). I thought we were well sorted with money. Surely our chairman hasn't got his numbers wrong and suddenly realised that he's over invested? :eek:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kerry Blue

Surely our chairman hasn't got his numbers wrong and suddenly realised that he's over invested? :eek:

---

Well he doesn't seem to understand the concept of good football + good results on the pitch = big crowds = big income.

I get the feeling that we can't afford to get promoted as it would cost us too much money and too much hassle. We'd have to get in better players and pay proper wages. Plus we'd have to seek the use of Thomond Park because Hogan Park is not fit for Premier football and would not get an A license. Maybe it's in our best interests financially to stay in Div 1 for another few years, only problem is there'll be no fans.....

Quote:

---

Mike Kerley was managing the UL Ladies side last I heard

---

Heard he was interested in managing us along with about 8 others. Would be a good move for us.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gael353

500 quid??? so thats how much CP was costing ;) on a serious note we need some players. This season even without the ones who didnt resign, like Conway, Fyffe and Sugrue we've lost Stokes, Brown, Harnett, Lynch, Condon, Hughes, Cosgrave, Aherne, McCarthy and O'Brien while we only got in McGauley and Sweeney. our panel is getting as slim as last season. Now i hear that Sweeney could be off to Scotland for work :o so that would mean ten out and one in since seasons start!

---

Noel Mooney, John Healy, Kevin O'Sullivan

Paul Tobin, Frank Browne, Mick Aherne, Paul Finucane, Anthony Wolfe, Timmy Lynch, Stephen O’Mahoney. Thomas McGauley

Bryan Donnellan, Eoghan Conlon, Jamie Nolan, Brendan Hughes, Conor Molan, Darren Young, Chris Kerins, Paul Moroney (?), Gary Prout(?), Tommy Barrett, Ross Cosgrave, Keith Hartnett. Brendan Sweeney Eoin Keating

J.P.Stokes, David Ryan, Colin O’Brien, Robbie Kelleher, Liam Costello, Derek McCarthy.

This is the squad posted at the top of this forum at the start of the season. The underlined players are no longer available. The bold players are additions.

I remember thinking at the start of the season that squad looked very big. I expected players to drop off - not necessarily the ones that did. By my count (excluding Prout and Moroney who I assume are u-21 players) that's 19 in the senior squad (3 goalies). Now that we have an u-21 squad I am not sure about the wisdom of having a large squad. Do we need more than 16 outfield when we have u-21 players as cover in a crisis.

I think we are very thin up front of course. I would like to see us sign a new striker. But I think the squad is about the right size for a first division outfit. Just maybe not balanced well in terms of cover in key positions. Most of the clubs in this division started the season with large squads and lose players as the season settles down.

By the way, thank you for comments on earlier post. :ball:

A very balanced accessment of the situation but who can justify Derek McCarthy not alone not starting often enough but now gone to Waterford.Has there been a major striker signed? Something is not right around NOC.I remember the same insinuations that have been mentioned,also surrounding his tenure as youths boss???

Whats the story with Brendan Hughes, JP Stokes and Keith Hartnett? I saw the latter in the stand against scunny Monday night?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by muls world

Whats the story with Brendan Hughes, JP Stokes and Keith Hartnett? I saw the latter in the stand against scunny Monday night?

---

Hartnett was just there watching the game. What i'd like to know is what has happened to our Slovakian midfielder, Kupic or whatever his name is. He used to do all the warm ups with the team before home games while he was waiting for clearance\work permit to play. Last I heard he had got his work permit and was cleared to play, then he seemed to disappear?? :confused:

Also, is Bryan Donnellan injured or whats the story? He hasn't figured in the last three games, but was there on Monday night against Scunny...

I was also told by a reliable source that the reason Derek McCarthy was shipped out is because both NOC and Danny Drew believe he was one of the main players leaking stories from the training pitch to fans. Make of that what you will.......

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 4tothefloor

Hartnett
I was also told by a reliable source that the reason Derek McCarthy was shipped out is because both NOC and Danny Drew believe he was one of the main players leaking stories from the training pitch to fans. Make of that what you will.......

---

I think what Drew and O'Connor fail to recognise is that Limerick is a small place. Players and staff may well tell their family and friends a few truths about the club but everybody knows everybody in this town and news spreads fast...Fact is if this club was being run by people who show respect to players and supporters alike, there would be nothing to talk about at all bar football, which is precisely what all of us want the focus to be on in the first place...