This Coming Season

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Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

Anyway more importantly than any how much was Russell abused or not nonsense what do people reckon attendances will be like this season will the strong end to last season mean a strong start this one crowd wise?

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I think if we start well, convince and entertain at home attendances will reflect that, people demonstrated last season that if this side is winning they will show interest, being at the top of Div1 Vs bottom of Prem will curtail this sadly, but I still think the will is there to support a winning team in this region.

If after 10 games we are stuttering, playing poorly at home, then the jury will come in quick on MR's time as manager here and he cant argue if that happens. I supported him remaining in the job to begin this campaign, because of how things played out last year, but it's now time his side delivers.

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Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

I honestly don't remember it unless it was going on while we were banned or unless it was individuals around the ground like I said I remember 2 incidents one up in Rovers which wasn't even him getting stick as such it was people shouting at Martin "take your son off" then there was the cheering him being taken off which was embarrassing and actually caused arguments up in the stand was there anything else other than the usual "ah f off Russell" kinda stuff that every player gets at some stage from individuals? I know there was the completely made up story of him being booed onto the pitch against Bohs the game he scored and in fairness when one of the lads involved at the club was moaning to me about that I remember 5 of 7 or 8 people he said he saw booing weren't even at the game. Not that any of this really matters at this stage its just been in my head everytime I see it mentioned that I think its being made into way bigger a deal then it actually was.

Fair play to the lad though in fairness to him even if I think it was blown up a bit instead of sulking he got his head down and worked through it and put in a few solid performances after it all and that shows the great attitude he has. I'd take him back as a squad player next season but we already have better than him waiting to come in tbh for starting team. If he isn't coming back because of people thinking his father is treating him differently to be totally honest I think there is no-one to blame but Martin because I do think he treated him differently.

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They were saying boo urns..

Seriously thou, there was uproar when he came on and a huge amount of moaning and jeering. Crowds were still small at the time, fairly easy to hear it all :D

In other news, I converted a lad that lives with me, who'd have gone to the odd Cork match, if he ever darkened a LOI grounds door, in to a season ticket holder at MF. You're welcome Pat!

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Originally Posted by Acornvilla

They were saying boo urns..

Seriously thou, there was uproar when he came on and a huge amount of moaning and jeering. Crowds were still small at the time, fairly easy to hear it all :D

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I'll never forget that Bohs game cos it was the first game I was allowed into the stand in Markets Field and we were only allowed in cos there was only 2 of us from our group at the game ( reason I mention that there was only 2 of us cos everyone knows if anyone was gonna boo him coming on was more than likely gonna be fellas from our group) I remember one lad near us shouting oh ffs when Russell was coming on but noway was it loud enough to be heard too far away. Now unless any uproar and proper jeering was coming from around the pitch outside of the stand but it wasn't happening near me in the stand.

Anyway I think it was blown out of proportion others think it was a big deal no point going on about it I suppose, all that really matters is on the pitch and on the pitch I don't really mind one way or another if he comes back or not he would be a handy squad player in the first division but wouldn't be hard to get better.

Maybe it takes into account online criticism too.

Sean Russell got a fair amount of criticism on here too, and I was the source of my share of that. I'll stand by what I said too.

Give Russell some time and space, and he's decent enough as a user of the ball.

In a tight spot, in a bit of a dogfight, though, he's not strong enough. And without Lynch in midfield, we never had any time on the ball or space with the ball to use Russell according to his strengths.

Playing him week in, week out when we were not able get the time and space in the middle of the field to use those strengths which he has was a mistake by the manager.

Fixtures out Thursday.

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Originally Posted by Lim till i die

Given the resources at our disposal should be a procession. No excuses really acceptable.

2016:

Hall
Kelly
O'Connor
Williams
Tracy

O'Connor
Lynch
Duggan

Rainsford/Mann/McSweeney
O'Flynn
Mulhall

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I'm not as confident or excited about that line up as everyone else seems to be. That defence last year was a disaster, we need a starting centre half at the very least. The midfield looks ok, but all three are injury prone, especially Lee J. Paul O'Connor is a very ordinary player imo. We should be looking to sign Dave O'Leary + one more if we can, at least it gives us options. The front three do not impress me at all, is there enough goals and creativity there to win a title and grind out 3 points on **** pitches? Not for me there isn't. Mulhall is ok, will O'Flynn bang them in at his age and for the entire season? Rainsford/Mann/McSweeney are only good enough to be considered squad players at this stage, there's Garbhan now as well who's always very hit/miss. I'd be a lot happier if we had one more decent striker and a decent winger.

Based on the current squad and Limerick being Limerick, there won't be any procession imo. We'll struggle a bit and I'd expect us to have to fight all the way until the end. Hopefully there's a few quality signings on the way :ball:

I'd second the call for another centre-half. Someone like Oji. What was his story again? I remember a vague rumor we might have been trying to get him back, but can't remember if he re-signed for Galway. Foot says his name is "too short" to search for!

No Sam Oji hasn't re-signed for us, and I'd imagine he won't be at this stage. He was probably our highest earner or thereabouts last year.

He had a good finish to the season, but erratic form, injury and suspension meant he struggled to make an impact until about August on

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Originally Posted by 4tothefloor

I'm not as confident or excited about that line up as everyone else seems to be. That defence last year was a disaster, we need a starting centre half at the very least. The midfield looks ok, but all three are injury prone, especially Lee J. Paul O'Connor is a very ordinary player imo. We should be looking to sign Dave O'Leary + one more if we can, at least it gives us options. The front three do not impress me at all, is there enough goals and creativity there to win a title and grind out 3 points on **** pitches? Not for me there isn't. Mulhall is ok, will O'Flynn bang them in at his age and for the entire season? Rainsford/Mann/McSweeney are only good enough to be considered squad players at this stage, there's Garbhan now as well who's always very hit/miss. I'd be a lot happier if we had one more decent striker and a decent winger.

Based on the current squad and Limerick being Limerick, there won't be any procession imo. We'll struggle a bit and I'd expect us to have to fight all the way until the end. Hopefully there's a few quality signings on the way :ball:

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O'Conor and Duggan aren't injury prone at all dunno where ya got that from Lee J I can't remember his time before us. Would O'Leary come to be a squad player though cos he isn't as good as any of the 3 lads we currently have but I would love to have him in the squad. Talking to players too they say O'Flynn is very impressive.

Still think there are one or two to come in but when ya look at what we have comapred to others in the league with the exception of maybe UCD we are a lot stronger on paper.

Most of that squad ,,,especially the defence were a shambles last season but were poorly managed in the premier div.......in what is generally felt as the worst first div in memory that team[squad]properly guided should win it with a bit to spare......but lets just win it.

How is this the worst first division in memory? I would consider the one we topped a few years ago to have been less competitive. That had two significant rivals, this one could have four.

The defence was up against much stronger opposition also

Williams and Paudie could form a great partnership. Kelly and Shane Tracey are more than capable for first division. Paul O'Connor impressed me when he slotted in at CB also so that's another option.

Our players will be virtually full time also, only a handful of first division clubs will have a handful of players training full time.

Killian Brouder with the 19's also a great prospect at centre half.

With the budget that's there we should have no rivals. I'd say you could pick any other three teams combine their budgets and they wouldn't have ours.

Finalising the squad has been painful slow as usual but you still have Freddy Hall Shaun Kelly Robbie Williams Shane Tracy Paul O Conor Lee Lynch Shane Duggan Chris Mulhall and John O'Flynn that would all walk on to any other team in the division from what I can see.

In the coming weeks we should be looking to sign a starting centre half a starting winger and a centre mid.

We should be absolutely peerless.

Aside from the odd body I can't see any quality anywhere.

It should be a 28 game long parade.

As a Limerick fan I await the fall and the excuses.

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Originally Posted by 4tothefloor

I'm not as confident or excited about that line up as everyone else seems to be. :ball:

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For my own part I was saying the squad needs to be quite a bit better.

Money's there, for feck sake spend it!

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Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter

How is this the worst first division in memory? I would consider the one we topped a few years ago to have been less competitive. That had two significant rivals, this one could have four.

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Who are these 4 then?

We will probably bring in one or two more players but Jesus lads, so far it's by far the strongest squad we could have assembled for the first division. I reckon you would seriously struggle to come up with even 15 different players that would have made us stronger or for that matter even want to come and play for us. The best players are going to play premier. The fact we have signed at least 5 players capable of playing there is great business.

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Originally Posted by Jofspring

We will probably bring in one or two more players but Jesus lads, so far it's by far the strongest squad we could have assembled for the first division. I reckon you would seriously struggle to come up with even 15 different players that would have made us stronger or for that matter even want to come and play for us. The best players are going to play premier. The fact we have signed at least 5 players capable of playing there is great business.

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By my most recent viewing of the squads in the league we have

Best Goalkeeper
Best Right Back
Best Midfield ( all 3)
Best Striker

Our midfield are probably the 3 best players in the league with a lad training that if he signs would also be up there. We coudln't be much stronger just wish we were done with squad now but not a big deal really.

First Division - Series 1

Friday, March 4
Cabinteely v Athlone Town, Stadbrook, KO 7:45pm
Drogheda United v Waterford United, United Park, KO 7:45pm
Shelbourne v Cobh Ramblers, Tolka Park, KO 7:45pm

Saturday, March 5
Limerick v UCD, Markets Field, KO 6:30pm

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Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

Who are these 4 then?

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UCD of course, Drogheda, Shels not far behind and Roddy, always good for a promotion push when the mood takes him, potentially making Waterford very tricky opposition. It's all possibilities - hence the "could have four" - and maybe Limerick's stadium, full-time squad, training facilities etc will insure a return. But I don't see any kind of cakewalk occurring.