2006 Season

I think that Shelbourne will take some beating next year. They have the best squad in the league, by a mile, and for whatever reason it didn't click with them for a large period this season. In the final series of games they were awesome and (unfortunately) I think that the 2005 season will just have been a blip for them.

Cork City I expect will be challenging for the title again and will strongly fancy their chances of retaining the title. It will be interesting to see how they progress in Europe and what changes Rico makes now that he has time to prepare for the season.

Derry City I am afraid will be one-season wonders, but who knows.

Drogehda United I expect will spend wildly again this winter and it will be very interesting to see how they get on next year. They could be dark horses, but I have my doubts about Doolin and I don't expect much of an improvement.

Bohemians have a lot of work to do this winter but I am hopefull that Farrelly will sort out the side and I think that Bohs will be a lot stronger and more consistent, and will push for a Setanta spot.

"Derry City I am afraid will be one-season wonders, but who knows."

i hope you keep thinking this mate

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Originally Posted by ThatGuy

Bohemians have a lot of work to do this winter but I am hopefull that Farrelly will sort out the side and I think that Bohs will be a lot stronger and more consistent, and will push for a Setanta spot.

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No arguments on that score .......if we do sign the rumoured players we will be in contention for europe me thinks
if not we could be playing rovers in the first in 2007

Depends how many players we let go over the winter I guess, tho there's a few deadweights I wouldn't mind seeing the back of. ;) That said, 34 points from 39 is hard to argue with!

I expect Pats to have improved somewhat next season, maybe its blind nonsense on my part, but I just have a feeling that the extra experience will start to kick in. If they get a goal scorer they will be quite a decent side next year.

Derry, well, after this season it'd be insane to write them off. Kenny has worked wonders up there, and if anything they will be stronger next season.

Cork, if they can hold onto, and improve, their squad then they will obviously be up there somewhere.

Drogs, sorry, but I just don't see it happening!

Bray to achieve another mid-table position and cement their status for a few years to come! ;)

Sligo will be great, probably finishing 6/7 out of 12 I think.

It's hard to talk about relegation etc until we know what way the league will be in 2007, seeing as we don't even know how 2006 will be yet... :)

And people complain about Christmas ads coming out early!

I agree, Shels should be the team to beat next season - best squad in the league, but just didn't happen for them until a bit too late. However, no reason why Cork and Derry can't push them all the way. Can't see any of the others bridging the gap in any meaningful way.

Best of the rest - hard to tell. Don't expect much out of Drogheda, and that includes progression in Europe. Very ordinary team whose full-time status is the only thing keeping them anywhere near the top. But then, my views on Doolin are well known at this stage (and getting backed up more by the season). Financial problems at other clubs - like Bohs, Pat's, Rovers and Waterford will dictate how well they'll do. Going to have to see what they do during the close season before seeing where they'll finish. Anywhere between fourth and last is a possibility though (Bohs probably high than lower).

I'd expect us to do better next season - fell apart after the two Cup defeats. Bray surprised me - not sure if they can repeat the trick next year. Sligo finished third the last time they were newly-promoted - won't repeat that, but no reason they can't come mid-table. Longford will grind their way to a top-half finish again, I suppose. Actually very hard to see one particular relegation candidate next season.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Don't expect much out of Drogheda

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Watch out for drogs next season - an each way bet might be worth a shout :) !!

Reckon shels will be the team to beat though!!

Not with your strike force containing two of the worst strikers UCD have ever had - and given that we're usually among the lowest scoring teams in the Premier, that's saying something!!

Drogheda should have built on last year but didn't. It's now Doolin's team, he's gotten time and he looks to be all out of excuses. I don't see any reason for a sudden upturn in fortunes next season.

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Originally Posted by EnDai

Depends how many players we let go over the winter I guess, tho there's a few deadweights I wouldn't mind seeing the back of. ;) That said, 34 points from 39 is hard to argue with!

I expect Pats to have improved somewhat next season, maybe its blind nonsense on my part, but I just have a feeling that the extra experience will start to kick in. If they get a goal scorer they will be quite a decent side next year.

Derry, well, after this season it'd be insane to write them off. Kenny has worked wonders up there, and if anything they will be stronger next season.

Cork, if they can hold onto, and improve, their squad then they will obviously be up there somewhere.

Drogs, sorry, but I just don't see it happening!

Bray to achieve another mid-table position and cement their status for a few years to come! ;)

Sligo will be great, probably finishing 6/7 out of 12 I think.

It's hard to talk about relegation etc until we know what way the league will be in 2007, seeing as we don't even know how 2006 will be yet... :)

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Well if we sign the plaers roumered to be on there way to Bray i think we can do very well next season indeed........

Still can't understand why Pats offered McDonnell a new 2 year contract

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Drogheda should have built on last year but didn't. It's now Doolin's team, .

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I agree with ye - but doolin and the club decided otherwise so so be it - sure we now have our first cup final in 29 years to look forward to :) .

If doolin didnt mess about so much with team selections and found his settled first 11 we'd be flying. We definitely have a great base for next season. If we signed Quigley :p we'd be sorted with the back 5 - probably need 1 or 2 midfielders - 1 quality forward that will link up well with fabio and its game on!!

Add in 3 or 4 quality players and we're definitely going to be up there :) .

Of course it's only after the transfer merry go round stops that we will be able to form any real opinions but...

Challenging for the Title
Cork and Shels the have the squads, experience and money to do it. But with a lot more pressure on Shels. Knowing from experience, if you gamble as much as they are, and fail twice in a row, then your club is fcuked.

Challenging for Honours (Cup or euro place)
Derry, Drogs. My gut feeling is that Derry punched above their weight this year and won't improve no matter who they sign. But they are still one of the strongest teams in the league. I have always felt that Drogs would go no where with Doolin in charge I just don't rate him at all. But they have the resources and, lets face it, after Cork, Shels and Derry there is no-one of any substance in the league.

Mid-table mediocrity
Bohs, Bray, Real Rovers, UCD
Bohs are muck and if if we sign good players we will still be re-building. Not bad enough to get into trouble though, just bad enough to finish 4th-6th. Bray are well managed though the differance between mid-table and relegation struggle will depend on Zayeed. The league needs a strong Rovers and I think they will have momentum from their 1st div win. If UCD sign a striker then they will do well - I rate them highly but they couln't score in the proverbial brothel.

Relegation scrap.
St Pats, Longford, Waterford. Dublin City ;) .
I think Pats just lack quality in so many areas that a few signings won't cover it. I'm not tipping them to go down but they will be closer to bottom than top. I think Longford are losing experienced players and are going to suffer next season - they are a team in decline. Waterford made the great escape, Dolan is gone but he didn't take their problems with him. Dub city are the yo-yo team and I don't think that's going to change.

My League prediction.

Cork
Shels
Derry
Drogs
Bohs
Rovers
UCD
Bray
St Pats
Longford
Waterford
Dub City.


get out to paddy power now

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Originally Posted by Roo69

Well if we sign the plaers roumered to be on there way to Bray i think we can do very well next season indeed........

Still can't understand why Pats offered McDonnell a new 2 year contract

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Stephen Kenny, Johnny McDonnell bit of thing developing here with you

I think it will be another season of mid table for ourselves.If UCD get raided and lose 4 or 5 of their top players they may struggle.I think Waterford,Pats,Bray & Rovers need to sign a few decent players to make any improvement.As for Bohs, they need to assemble a squad to cope with JP Kelly being sent off every few weeks and numerous injuries that they seem to be blighted with.I don't think Paul Doolin has the bottle for a league title so they'll probably tag along behind Shels, Cork & Derry.As for Sligo Rovers,it's great for football that they are back in top flight football again but they may struggle a bit especially if they take a few early hidings but we'll have to wait & see.

Derry were in this postion before and failed to capitalise fully, I think they may go for the slow build up this time around. Cork, Shels to battle out for title. Drogs to make up the top 4.

Below that, Bohs and Sligo to be best of the rest, with Rovers escaping from play offs alongside them. Scrap bewteen the other 5 for staying up.

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Originally Posted by ThatGuy

I think that Shelbourne will take some beating next year. They have the best squad in the league, by a mile, and for whatever reason it didn't click with them for a large period this season. In the final series of games they were awesome and (unfortunately) I think that the 2005 season will just have been a blip for them.

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What's this nonsense idea everyone seems to have that Shels were awesome when they 'finally got it together' at the end of the year ?

They couldn't beat Cork at home in a key game that they needed to win to keep anything alight for their season ! That suggests to me that they'll be inferior to at least Cork next year. And don't forget that they haven't beaten Derry home or away in their last 8 attempts.

Spanking teams like Bray at home does not make you the best team. Beating the likes of Cork and Derry does. Shels didn't AT ANY PART OF THE SEASON, which is why they finished 3rd.

34 points from 39, doesn't matter who its against - that run included every team in the league, irregardless of where the points are from, thats incredible form.

:mad: One season wonders! We beat the champions 3-1 and dint lose all season to Shels. After an entire season of getting writen off I have come to the conclusion that it stems from our players not being highly paid prima-donnas.

Almost all of our team haven't reached the peak of their career. Darren Kelly (if he does come home) with Pizza will be rock sold. IMO Barry Molloy has been the best centre midfielder in the league with Joe Gamble this season and he can only improve. Farren and possibly McHugh will make us smash everyones forethoughts again next year.

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Originally Posted by Vitruvian Man

Of course it's only after the transfer merry go round stops that we will be able to form any real opinions but...

Challenging for the Title
Cork and Shels the have the squads, experience and money to do it. But with a lot more pressure on Shels. Knowing from experience, if you gamble as much as they are, and fail twice in a row, then your club is fcuked.

Challenging for Honours (Cup or euro place)
Derry, Drogs. My gut feeling is that Derry punched above their weight this year and won't improve no matter who they sign. But they are still one of the strongest teams in the league. I have always felt that Drogs would go no where with Doolin in charge I just don't rate him at all. But they have the resources and, lets face it, after Cork, Shels and Derry there is no-one of any substance in the league.

Mid-table mediocrity
Bohs, Bray, Real Rovers, UCD
Bohs are muck and if if we sign good players we will still be re-building. Not bad enough to get into trouble though, just bad enough to finish 4th-6th. Bray are well managed though the differance between mid-table and relegation struggle will depend on Zayeed. The league needs a strong Rovers and I think they will have momentum from their 1st div win. If UCD sign a striker then they will do well - I rate them highly but they couln't score in the proverbial brothel.

Relegation scrap.
St Pats, Longford, Waterford. Dublin City ;) .
I think Pats just lack quality in so many areas that a few signings won't cover it. I'm not tipping them to go down but they will be closer to bottom than top. I think Longford are losing experienced players and are going to suffer next season - they are a team in decline. Waterford made the great escape, Dolan is gone but he didn't take their problems with him. Dub city are the yo-yo team and I don't think that's going to change.

My League prediction.

Cork
Shels
Derry
Drogs
Bohs
Rovers
UCD
Bray
St Pats
Longford
Waterford
Dub City.


get out to paddy power now

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What season are you predicting? Where is sligo and how are both rovers and CHF both in the premier?

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Originally Posted by Rafa B

Stephen Kenny, Johnny McDonnell bit of thing developing here with you

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Still following me around the boards picking up on every word i write :eek: Getting a little worried now at this stage, back to the wall time........

No, Kenny has done absolute wonders with Derry this season, Manager of the year by a long way. McDonnell has been usless IMO, some very good players but an extremely poor season, i think most people who know anything about football would agree with that.....

I honestly think that Derry wont win the league for 2 reasons: a) Every one will be out to stop them. Ye can look forward to the famous 1-9-1 formation that Drogs play when they come to the X and Longfords even better 1-10 formation spread right across the goal line. and b) One of the players (Forde I think) mentioned that Kenny asked them to put a huge effort in at the start of last season, hence they all moved to Derry and put the rest of thier lives on hold. Forde has already expressed his own doubts about continuing this again next year. Also ye will have to hope that Farren (who's going to be a marked man from the outset next year) can maintain his form, otherwise there could be trouble. You also have to remember that Derry will have Setanta and UEFA Cup games next year, that could feck them royally.

Again I think the title is Shels to loose, but they would do well in getting rid of Eamon Collins and his hoofball. Whether they do or not remains to be seen.

Hopefully City can keep their squad and they shouldnt finish lower than 2nd place.

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Originally Posted by Terry

What season are you predicting? Where is sligo and how are both rovers and CHF both in the premier?

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what are you on about Sligo are in it......whats our full name SligoROVERS