And also with his premier too.. Call me biased, but do you honestly think Dundalk are going to finish 6th below Pats, Bohs and Derry?Quote:
Originally Posted by CSFShels
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And also with his premier too.. Call me biased, but do you honestly think Dundalk are going to finish 6th below Pats, Bohs and Derry?Quote:
Originally Posted by CSFShels
1. Shels
2. limerick
3. waterford utd
4. Cork City
5. Monaghan United
6. finn harps
7. Longford Town
8. Wexford Youths
9. Athlone town
10. Mervue United
11. Salthill devon
for me it was a toss up between shels and limerick both teams have strenghten big time limerick look a very good team this year they added 5 or 6 top players to last seasons squad
Can't look beyond Shamrock Rovers for Premier, Sligo possibly to cause an upset with a following or Bohs and Dundalk.
In the first, It'll be one of Shels or Waterford for the title with Limerick possibly in the mix with them. Follow it with Cork and Harps. Monaghan not as strong this year and losing Mick Cooke to be replaced with Roddy is a loss to them man management wise too.
For me it'll look something like this.
1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Sligo Rovers
3. Dundalk
4. Bohemians
5. St.Pats
6. Derry
7. UCD
8. Bray
9. Drogheda
10. Galway
First Division
1. Shelbourne
2. Waterford
3. Limerick
4. Cork
5. Finn Harps
6. Monaghan United
7. Longford
8. Wexford Youths
9. Athlone
10. Salthill Devon
11. Mervue
League cup seems to be Derrys lucky competition so expect them to reach semi at least if not final. But I'd imagine Shamrock Rovers reserves to win it they have such a squad their 2nd team would be capable of it. If not I'd guess Sligo or even Dundalk to win it.
FAI cup, will be one of those surprise competitions again, put my head on the line here and even say Shels to reach the final of that one with Shamrock Rovers the eventual winners.
Dundalk for Setanta.
1-Shams, they should really walk it with their squad and budget but thanks to Mick O'Neills talent for getting below standard performances out of his players we should push them close.
2-Rovers, as long as we dont have our notoriously slow starts we should be there abouts come the end of the season.
3-Pats, Pete Mahon is a great manager and should get them to Europe this season.
4-Dundalk, just pipped to 3rd by Pats but should be always in the mix.
5-Bohs, if they last to the end of the season.
6-Derry, some good signings and could easily push into Europe but I dont think they can match the rest, IMO 2-6 will be tight.
7-Bray, comfortable season, no risk of relegation for a change but cant see them pushing past mid-table.
8-Galway, will struggle with a very weak squad coupled with the mess in the background but I was very impressed by what Sean Connor got out of them last season, could perform another achievement by just stearing them out of relegation.
9-UCD, significantly weaker than last season, not impressed by their signings and will be in the mix for relegation.
10-Drogs, can only see one outcome for them this season even with a good manager, straight down.
First Division
1-Shels, this has got to be their year especially with a player of Conan Byrnes calibre, top quality premier division player.
2-Limerick, this seasons surprise package and I really hope they get up, if they get the play-offs they have a good chance of beating the premier opposition.
3-Cork, good squad and will be there abouts come the end of the season, love to get some Munster team promoted.
4-Waterford, I feel that their ship has sailed at this stage, should push the rest but just out of reach.
5-Harps, one of their better seasons but not good enough to challenge the top 4.
6-Monaghan, big loss with Cooke and an exodus of their players, mid-table.
7-Longford, safe but never pushing on into the first half of the division.
8-Wexford, same as longford.
9-Athlone, another miserable season in the graveyard and could easily be in the mix for relegation.
10-Mervue, relegation dogfight.
11-Salthill, same as above.
FAI Cup - Rovers
Setanta Cup - Dundalk
League Cup - Shams
Premier
1. Rovers
2. Shams
3. Dundalk
4. Derry
5. Pats
6. Bohs
7. UCD
8. Bray
9. Galway
10. Drogheda United
First
1. Shels
2. Waterford United
3. Cork
4. Limerick
5. Finn Harps
6. Monaghan United
7. Wexford
8. Longford
9. Mervue United
10. Salthill Devon
11. Athlone Town
FAI Cup: Dundalk
League Cup: Pats
Setanta Cup: Shams
1 Derry
2 Rovers
3 Dundalk
4 Pats
5 Sligo
6 Bohs
7 Bray
8 UCD
9 Galway
10 Drogs
League Cup; Bohs
FAI Cup; Dundalk
In europe Rovers will win first round but then lose heartbreakingingly in both CL and Europa League play offs. Pats will scrape by their first game before losing in the 2nd QR. Bohs will get through that round but lose in the 3QR. Sligo will get by 2 rounds
Premier
1. Shamrock Rovers
2.Sligo
3. Dundalk
4. Derry
5. Pats
6. Bohs
7. UCD
8. Galway
9.Bray
10. Drogheda United
First
1. Shels
2. Waterford United
3. Cork
4. Limerick
5. Finn Harps
6. Monaghan United
7. Wexford
8. Longford
9. Mervue United
10. Salthill Devon
11. Athlone Town
FAI Cup:Sligo
League Cup: Pats
Setanta Cup: Dundalk
Premier
1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Derry
3. Sligo
4. Dundalk
5. Pats
6. Bray
7. Bohs
8. UCD
9. Galway
10. Drogheda United
First
1. Shels
2. Limerick
3. Waterford
4. Cork
5. Finn Harps
6. Wexford
7. Longford
8. Monaghan
9. Athlone Town
10. Mervue United
11. Salthill Devon
FAI Cup: Sligo
League Cup: Limerick
Setanta Cup: Shamrock Rovers
I can't see Shamrock Rovers running away with it as much as a lot of people are predicting. I think O'Neill is an innately conservative manager and they'll continue to drop points at times because of this. Having such a big squad can work against them when players become unsettled due to a lack of game time and friction in the camp could be an issue. They should progress well in all competitions so the big squad will be needed and if they have a successful European run they could easily take their eye off the ball in the league.
The positions from 2-8 are all capable of having a good run and exceeding expectations, injuries will be crucial to all of their chances and it may well be the team that can keep their first eleven fit for the longest will emerge as Rovers closest challengers. The Brandywell is always a hard place to go and that's why I'm putting Derry in 2nd there'll be a buzz about them this year and with a mostly local side I can see them exceeding expectations. Sligo are a bit too dependent on their outstanding midfield and I don't think they'll quite live up to the standards of last season. I like the look of Dundalk's squad and they might just be able to sustain a challenge for a little longer this season.
The first looks like being impossible to call too. Shel's might have finally put together the squad to sneak it but I wouldn't be surprised if it went all the way to the last day. I can see the top 5 having a bit of a gap on the rest and Harps could be this season's Monaghan if they can get a good start. Can't see Mon's keeping up the standards of last year and losing Cooke so close to the kick off is a blow to them. Longford should improve this year also and the Youths will be unpredictable as ever.
am I missing things or what? is roddy collins in for the job at monaghan utd??Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
honestly think our team is better than last seasons only real loss for me is garto ,Just need a new manager to take us to a higher level was never sure mick was that man. I am a not so put out at his departure just his timing
In honesty what Cooke brought to the club wasn't so much his match day managerial skills and often made very questionable decisions. His greatest gift to us was stability and his dedication. He also had a way of bringing good players to the club to play on a pittance but a lot of that was due to being able to assure the player that they would get paid, on time and in full. That hasn't changed at the club and I agree with passerby that bar Garto, we are a stronger better team than last year. The fact that Shels, limerick, Cork and waterford are better too is the only concerning factor for me.
Premier
1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Sligo - but may have some financial issues
3. Bohs - with that squad they will challenge- but may go bust
4. Derry
5. Dundalk
6. Pats
7. Bray
8. UCD
9. Galway
10. Drogheda United
1. Waterford - I just think it's fainally their time, Hendo has been there and done it before with less, they were arguably a bit flaky at centre half and they went out and signed Kenny Browne, have goals in them and strength all over the pitch.
2. Shels - Look very strong, will be completely Alan Matthews team this year, the only negative thing I'll say about them is they're potentially light up front. Having said that, they should have lots of goals from midfield. If their strikers click they could well win the league, if not they might have to settle for second.
GAP
3. Cork - Their starting eleven is as good as anyones but I'm not convinced there's much depth there and they have a couple of outstanding issues, namely a chocolate hands in goals and a manager that the jury is still out on. Also if Graham Cummins breaks an arm or a leg at any stage are they just going to start forfeiting games before kick off?
4. Harps - Could be this years Monaghan. A lot of people haven't given them any credit for how good they actually were at home last year and their form on the road should pick up after a couple of quality signings like Conor O'Grady.
5. Limerick - We've had a great pre season and look like having a very strong team, in Gary Sheehan and Stephen O'Flynn (with Peter Hynes hopefully putting in a few good shifts after an encouraging pre season) we have arguably the best attacking options in the division, have some genuinely amazingly talented youngfellas in the middle of the park and the defence this year appears to lack clowns for the first time in awhile. However, general consensus is we lack an experienced head in the middle of the park to kick people and any wide players in the traditional sense should we need a change of game plan at any stage.
BIGGER GAP.
6. Monaghan - Will struggle to repeat the previous few seasons form. Lost their attack and their main centre half, aswell as the manager. Still not awful by any stretch, but probably not up to the level of the teams above and momentum is against them heading into the start of the season.
7. Longford - Progress is being made but probably too slowly to have an impact on the upper end of the table this year. Will more than likely be a lot better than Athlone which should keep them happy enough!
8. Wexford - No Noel O'Connor side is ever going to ship too many hammerings and David Grincell was a great signing having lost Gary Sheehan. Dempsey to Waterford is a big loss for them aswell though and they are a bit short on quality in a Division with quite a bit of quality at the upper end this year.
9. Mervue - Look to be solid enough to break out of the Galway duopoly at the bottom of the Division this season. In Rory Gaffney they have one of the best players in the Division
GAP
10. Athlone - Their pre season has been a bit of a shambles by all accounts and they could be in for a long year.
11. Salthill - Are Terrible
1st-Shamrock Rovers
2nd- is nowhere.
agree 100%Quote:
Originally Posted by passerrby
not so sure - from what I've seen pre-season Fabio and especially Barrett won't replace Philly and Bermo- hope I am wrong.Quote:
honestly think our team is better than last seasons only real loss for me is garto
Likewise, Garto hasn't been replaced - not sure about Rogers.
Cathal O'Connor will be a big miss too.
First
1. Shels
2. Waterford
3. Cork
4. Limerick
5. Longford
6. Monaghan
7. Finn Harps
8. Wexford
9. Athlone Town
10. Mervue United
11. Salthill Devon
Yes, it'd safe money and hassle with the same eventual outcome.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lim till i die
Premier:
1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Sligo Rovers
3. Dundalk
4. St. Patrick's Athletic
5. Derry City
6. Bohemians
7. UCD
8. Bray Wanderers
9. Galway United
10. Drogheda United
First Division:
1. Shelbourne
2. Cork City
3. Waterford United
4. Monaghan United
5. Limerick FC
6. Finn Harps
7. Longford Town
8. Wexford Youths
9. Athlone Town
10. Mervue United
11. Salthill Devon
FAI Cup: Shamrock Rovers
League Cup: Derry City
Setanta Sports Cup: Sligo Rovers
Premier
1. Shams - To run away with it.
---------------
2. Dundalk
3. Pats
4. Rovers <----- 2nd-6th is anyones position. All teams can beat each other on any given day, so its a toss up, Dundalk to be the best of a bad bunch (Sligo Rovers involvement in Europe to have a major disadvantage on them with the thin squad).
5. Bohs
6. Derry
---------------
7. Bray
8. UCD
9. Galway
---------------
10. Drogheda United
I'm predicting Shams will progress to the Europa league group stages this year after getting through to the last Champions league Qualification round - they'll go straight into the group stage of EL.
FAI Cup: Shams
League Cup: Shock winner (First Division team)
Setanta Cup: Shams
Premier Division:
1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Sligo
3. Dundalk
4. Pat's
5. Derry City
6. Bohemians (if they survive)
7. UCD
8. Bray Wanderers
9. Drogheda United
10. Galway United
First Division:
1. Shelbourne
2. Blues
3. Co-op
4. Limerick
5. Monaghan
6. Harps
7. Longford
8. Wexford
9. Mervue
10. Athlone
11. Salthill
FAI Cup: Dundalk
League Cup: Why bother predicting something with only 10k for the winners. I'll predict Mrs McGinty will win the local bingo instead. Bigger prize fund.
Ridiculously hard to call this year, particularly the First
Premier
Rovers by ten points or so
Sligo
Pat's
Dundalk
Derry - not as good as the old Derry teams obviously, but then the league has gone downhill a lot
Bohs (who I'd be amazed to see around next year sadly, except as a new club)
Bray (their revival last year wasn't actually that great - form-wise they were still below us. May sneak sixth though)
UCD (assuming our one forward doesn't get injured!)
Galway
Drogheda (both of whom have strengthened in recent days in fairness)
First -
Shels (cos I know more about them)
Limerick
Harps
Waterford
Cork (don't think their signings have been that great?)
Monaghan
Longford
Wexford
Athlone
Salthill
Mervue
With the usual disclaimer that I only pay sporadic attention to the First, and then usually just the top two spots, cos that's all that ever concerns us. :)
Reckon Rovers have a genuine chance at the UEFA Cup groups this year.
Premier Division:
1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Sligo Rovers
3. Dundalk
4. Pats
5. Derry
6. Bohs
7. UCD
7. Bray
9. Galway
10. Drogheda
First Division:
1. Shelbourne
2. Limerick
3. Waterford (To win the playoff against Drogheda!)
4. Cork
5. Finn Harps
6. Monaghan
7. Wexford
8. Longford
9. Mervue
10. Athlone
11. Salthill
FAI Cup Winners: Sligo Rovers
Setanta Cup Winners: Dundalk
League Cup Winners: Pats
Premier Division Top Scorer: Gary Twigg
First Division Top Scorer: Stephen O'Flynn
First Manager to be sacked: Mike Kerley
First top class interview: Pete Mahon
You haven't seen Escude-Candau, hes been really impressive. Derek O'Brien is the one I'm excited about - we haven't even seen him yet though, hes been pretty decent for me in Champ manager though :PQuote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
I'm obvioulsy biased but I think our starting XI is as good as any in the division.
Hoggy and Danny are experienced pros and will keep things tight at the back. More than a match for the majority of wingers in the league. Gavin Kavanagh was a brilliant pick up for us last season, far better than expected and has gotten better with more games under his belt. Apparently loves it in Cork as well which is a plus. Greg is a decent squad player, not my favourite person but he'll hold the fort down until Stephen Mulcahy returns. Lets not forget how well Mulcahy was playing before his injury, in the u23 squad, singled out for praise by Trapp and honestly our best player up to that point, better than Cummins even. hed have been in the running for player of the year. So all in all we've a very decent defence for the first division.
Gearóid Morrisey has been in fantastic form in pre season and looks much stronger, I think a few people were saying how well he played in the U21 game. been our best midfielder anyway. I'd expect him to be going back to England in a season or two, but hes signed up for this year and next so we should get a few bob if he does go.
Alongside him you've Duggan who has been disappointing of late but is a decent midfielder and hes still young so hopefully can get back to his form of two seasons ago/start of last season.
Davin was another who disappointed last year but has been really up for it in pre season, taking players on, beating them, scoring goals, creating chances. Hes a quality first division player and a decent prem one so I'd expect more from him this year. He knows he needs to show more himself.
Escude-Candau looks quality as I mentioned and I'd love to see him playing in behind Cummins. Some of his passing has been exquisite and he gets into the box, something we've lacked from midfielders for years, since George was here the first and second times anyway.
I've mentioned O'Brien, don't know what to expect from him. Hes our only senior "winger", we only have two in the squad. Lots of wingers/strikers though. I'm just delighted we have someone who plays on the wing.
Then up front you have Cummins. No introduction needed.
Vinny Sull isn't a world beater but he should add a few goals, we definitely didn't score enough last year and we can't rely on Cummins to score roughly 50% of our goals again, not if we expect promotion. My worry with Sullivan is that he didn't score many goals against top half teams last year (one against us in the second game of the season and one against Mons) and he didn't score many in the second half of the season. Just two I think. But we struggled against the likes of Salthill, Mervue etc so goals against those teams will make a big difference.
Injuries will tell a lot with City. We have a limited squad. Some of our options off the bench do not fill me with confidence, I mean I think I have as many LOI goals as Timmy Kiely, we've only one sub centre half until Mulcahy comes back. On the plus side we've some exciting young players such as Rory Morrissey, Simon Holland Kalen Spillane and Keiran "Kiwi" Kenneally so if one or two of them makes the grade we'll be delighted.
Forget to mention Nults. Obviously hes not the greatest keeper and hes prone to some massive mistakes, but hes improved a lot over the last year. I wish we'd gone out and signed a Barry Murphy or a Diarmuid Quigley or someone but its not easy to bring these lads to Cork for part time football so we will have to make do. He can make some incredible saves, but he still thinks hes a striker and too often tries to dribble around attackers, he hasn't been made to pay for that yet...
Sssshhhh......please ignore El-Pietro, we're going to be sh1te! ;)
Seriously though, we look impressive. I can't understand how so many people put Waterford ahead of us in the predictions. I think we'll be 2nd, behind Shels. The 2 games away to them might catch us. Limerick also look dangerous. Harps will be dark-horses and Waterford about the same level as Harps I think.
It's ok - all I heard was "We're in the First Division for the second year in a row", and to a big club like us, that's like a barely audible buzz in the ears. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Pablo Escobar
All Cork's excitement should be nuetered due to this comment.Quote:
Originally Posted by El-Pietro
you don't seem to understand.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
we haven't had an actual winger in years. We've had strikers shunted out there but not actual wingers. We could have signed some lad from Casement Celtic and I'd be excited if he was a winger.
Ahh, but can the lad from Casement Celtic cross a ball?Quote:
Originally Posted by El-Pietro
It's a personal thing for El pietro. O Brien is his type.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
Meh, crossing is overrated, we've got full backs that can do that :D We want to see someone who can have the ball at their feet and run at the same time :o Seriously though, anyone who's played in the LOI for more than a season will be an improvement on the children we had in this position first half of last season. If they touched the ball more than 3 times between them in the half a season they played I missed it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy
As I said, settle down if you're expecting better ;)
Time for the annual bump to see how badly wrong we all were! Dundalk, Waterford and Finn Harps probably the most disappointing performers of the season going on the predictions.
Tee hee!Quote:
Originally Posted by Flawless
Half right anyway! And incidentally, thanks to Galway for taking that record off us.Quote:
Originally Posted by **FrOsTy**
Only myself and DublinRed went for this (though DR reckoned on them getting to the last qualifying round of the CL instead, and most people didn't go with European predictions)Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Wasn't far off with this lot. Won't talk about the first division.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Oh dear.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy
I got the Prem ok-ish
The first division predictions were awful. The only one I got right was Salthill finishing bottom.
Got the top 2. Derry did better than I expected with Dundalk doing worse. Bohs midtable and a place better than I expected. Bray carried through their good form from the end of last season. I never foresaw Galway's problems. Drogheda after their own problems seemed the likeliest before the season's kick-off.Quote:
Originally Posted by legendz
Was nearly spot on with the top 2 in the FD but Cork's late goal put paid to that. Waterford had a disappointing season.
Dundalk and Waterford :oQuote:
Originally Posted by total hoofball
I still think if Waterford and Dundalk played to their full potential they would have achieved those respective positions. Car crash seasons from both.
Definitely underestimated Derry based on them limping to the First Division title and signings like Zayed, Higgins and McGlynn coming off underwhelming performances in 2010.
Genius! ;)
Quote:
Originally Posted by sligoman
Not great...Sligo did better than I anticipated as did Bray, Mervue, Longford and especially Mons. Dundalk, Waterford, Wexford..a bit different. Derry were always going to be the toughest opponent I thought..and they were.Quote:
Originally Posted by dfx-
Quote:
Originally Posted by El-Pietro
He did the business when it mattered :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
Do I win a prize ?Quote:
Originally Posted by placid casual
gettin quite used to prize giving around these parts...