1. Shamrock
2. Sligo
3. Cork
4. Derry
5. Drogheda
6. Dundalk
7. Shelbourne
8. St Pats
9. Bohemians
10. Limerick
11. UCD
12. Bray
Printable View
1. Shamrock
2. Sligo
3. Cork
4. Derry
5. Drogheda
6. Dundalk
7. Shelbourne
8. St Pats
9. Bohemians
10. Limerick
11. UCD
12. Bray
It's fun to take a shot at the final table, but we won't really know who's up to what until a solid month into the season IMO. I'm not even sure how we'll fare, naturally hopeful as every fan, but I certainly haven't the foggiest idea about how most other clubs will do.
A wild prediction though - Rovers won't win the league as widely anticipated.
I think this is a very good point Adam. The first month is a very good guide to see the strenghts and weaknesses of most clubs, and league positions generally tend to take a shape that is not too far away from the finish line. Last season after only 2 games, I knew we were way way out of our dept with the awful quality of players and manager we had. We were beaten 2-0 at home to St Pats, and it was like men against boys.Quote:
Originally Posted by adamd164
As a general rule, I agree. However, its not always accurate. Waterford were a mile off the pace a month into last season, and then went on a 16 game unbeaten run.Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
Sligo and Shamrock Rovers to battle for the title. Sligo are marginally weaker than last season but Shams have the strongest panel of players. Croly's inexperience and some of the big heads in that dressing room wouldn't leave me convinced they'll win it.
Pats third again this season, overall their squad looks about the same in strength as last season.
Derry, Cork and Drogheda to battle for 4th to 6th. Cork look the most improved of the 3 so may be the best bet for 4th, Drogheda wildly overachieved last season and I can't see Cooke pulling it off again and Derry look weaker in the attacking end of the pitch this season.
Dundalk, Bohs, Limerick and UCD battling for 7th to 10th. Limerick to start the season poor before mid-season reinforcements take them to safety. Dundalk will be improve, stronger midfield and forward line but defensively still look weak and will continue to concede goals. Bohs and UCD will like season try to play the ball the right way but will be erratic in terms of performances & results, enough flair & creativity to take both to safety.
Bray and Shels to battle for the drop. One league win in the 2nd half of 2012 and failing to strengthen will see Bray stuck down there. At Shels I expect Mathews will be the first manager to get the bullet following on from a underwhelming 2012 season and botched off-season that see's just 5 players retained and weaker replacements drafted into a thin sqaud.
I'll go with Waterford to walk the First Division with the play-off spots wide open between Harps, Longford, Athlone and maybe even Mervue or Wexford on the tails in the mix.
There wont be major pressure on Griffin, he will be given a chance as are all new signings. Add in griffin will have better service with us than what he in a poor Dundalk side last season. Rory Patterson will be our main striker, Griffin and Rafter will be back-up. Griffin was used on the wing in our first friendly so that could be a sign of things to comeQuote:
Originally Posted by bullit
I'd rather have McFaul than Chambers. Chambers doesn't have McFaul's composure and he doesn't really have a decent left foot.Quote:
Originally Posted by PartySaint
Have to worry about the presence of Brennan in the dressing room, too.
Sligo have a question mark for me in the middle of the park - N'do can't be relied on but I suppose bringing McMillan in will free up Ventre to play midfield and they have Lee Lynch there as well. North is crucial - if he's fit and scoring Sligo will win the league. 1st.
Shamrock Rovers should win the league - but since a lot depends on how effective Quigley is I wouldn't be that confident. 2nd
Pat's look pretty good - but when half your matches are tippy-tappy score draws someone else is always going to finish higher. 3rd
Cork - Daryl Kavanagh could do some serious damage. As could Danny Furlong. Denis Behan might get all nostalgic and start knocking a few in too... 4th
Limerick have a pretty decent chance: They have real quality in the likes of Purcell and Rory Gaffney but some of the others - Gamble, Bradley - have great futures behind them so; 5th
I'd love to see Drogheda do well. I reckon Fabio has had his indian summer so it'll be down to the Brennans, Casso and Gary O'Neill (I reckon with more game time he'll have one last good season – not basing this on anything other than the fact that he was Sporting Fingal’s best player in the first half of their last season) 6th.
I’m putting Derry, Bohs and Dundalk at 7th, 8th and 9th respectively because I can’t be bothered thinking very much about them right now and also because even at that amoebic level of analysis I know they’re probably better than Shels.
10th Shels – you’re going to need titanium shinpads in Tolka this year with Pat Flynn, Glenn Cronin and Graham Gartland in the team. Can’t see how it all gels, though – the best players in the squad are gone elsewhere and Philly Hughes isn’t getting any ….younger…the biggest problem is the manager’s lack of tactical nous. Still and all, now that he’s got rid of Paddy Kavanagh, Kevin Dawson, Conan Byrne and David Cassidy (i.e. lads who can actually play, as opposed to hoof and hack) Mathews’ neanderthal hoofball might turn out to be the ‘best’ approach.
11th Bray
12th UCD – bottom only because Bray have Gollum Marty Walters.
First Div – don’t know – a throw up between Waterford/Athlone/Longford?
in what was to-all-intents-and-purpopses a pre seaon game.Quote:
Originally Posted by PartySaint
just you wait until the seaosn really starts.:D:D
and cuyoga- that wasnt a missprint. i think cork will be very strong challengers this year.
Alot of guessing here and maybe some teams may make some more important signings. But I think the league is stronger this year. Sligo, Shamrock Rovers and St Pats should be the main challengers for the league. All teams final position will be influenced by keeping key players fit, especially teams like ourselves in Dundalk who have smaller squads.
1. Shamrock Rovers - losing Twigg is a loss but new signings like Quigley, Sheppard and McGuinness will improve the team.
2. St Pats - I think Buckley has put together a good squad.
3. Sligo - McGuinness & Quigley going to rivals is a major blow. I think Sligo look light upfront. When is North back?
4. Drogheda - Could surprise us again. I actually think they have a better team this year & a team that is settled.
5. Cork - Will be looking to push for a European place.
6. Dundalk - Probably being optimistic. We have a small squad so keeping key players fit is key, especially defenders as we don't have many.
7. Derry - Could be wrong on this one & could finish higher, but surprised they went for 2 strikers who came from a team that came bottom last season.
8. Limerick - Don't know much about Limerick TBH. They have been slow in the transfer market.
9. Shels - Don't think Shels are as bad as some are making out.
10. Bohs - Weaker than last year with Feely, McMillan & Ward gone.
11. Bray - They have about 4 good players - Byrne, O'Connor, Dempsey & Waters, after that they look weak.
12. UCD - Will continue to produce decent players and play decent football but they will be near the bottom
First division -
1. Finn Harps - they impressed me in a friendly in Oriel last week. Looked like a well drilled side.
2. Athlone - The Roddy effect.
3. Waterford
4. Longford
5. Cobh
6. Wexford
7. Mervue
8. Satlhill
I'm surprised people are pitching Dundalk so low, actually. Size might be a bit small but looks better than last year, and they have a good manager (when he's not in Tallaght).
1. The Blues2. Longford Town3. Finn Harps4. Wexford Youths5. Athlone Town6. Cobh Ramblers7. Mervue United8. Salthill Devon
Limerick already won the first division last year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Iorfa2MaccaJim
Potentially we have the best manager since the 90's, but a lot of Dundalk fans are just being realistic. We came 11th last year and we were damn lucky to stay up really, considering how awful the side was for most of the year. Also there have been many false dawns, espcially under Foster who assembled possibly the best quality in 15 years in 2011 and still came 7th.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Consolidation in mid table, a good enough home record and getting respect back as a solid PD side would do for most DLK fans for 2013.
Yeah, I think 6-8 is a reasonable expectation, but there is the possibility of something higher, like Drogheda did. Like I said, good squad, good manager, but probably a little shallow to really challenge.Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
Premier Division
1. Shams
2. Sligo
3. Derry
4. Pats
5. Cork
6. Drogheda
7. Limerick
8. Shels
9. Bohs
10. UCD
11. Dundalk
12. Bray (But still not relegated)
First Division:
If not covering them is good enough for RTÉ, it's good enough for me!
just did a 10 quid each way double on Finn Harps 9/2 n Sligo 13/8:D
1. Pigs
2. Pats
3. Sligo
4. Drogs
5. Dundalk
6. Cork
7. Derry
8. Limerick
9. Bohs
10. UCD
11. Shels
12. Bray
Can't see the two of them finishing so highly and especially so as it rarely happens when both are in the same division, then again stranger things........Quote:
Originally Posted by danthesaint
Besides I don't think we will finish anywhere higher than 6th. That would be a brilliant turnaround really.
Stab in the dark at this stage:
1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Sligo Rovers
3. Cork City
4. St Patricks Ath
5. Limerick
6. Derry City
7. Shelbourne
8. Drogheda United
9. Dundalk
10. Bohemians
11. UCD
12. Bray Wanderers
First.
1. Athlone Town
2. Waterford United
3. Longford Town
4. Finn Harps
5. Wexford Youths
6. Salthill Galway Devon FC
7. Mervue Gaillimh
8. The Queenstown Ramblers
1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Sligo Rovers
3. Drogheda United Great team
4. St Patricks Ath They need a new striker.
5. Derry city
6. Cork City
7. Dundalk I have many doubts between this three, one of them even could be fourth.
8. Shelbourne
9. Bohemians
10. Limerick
11. UCD
12. Bray Wanderers
The last five will fight for relegation.
I think Drogs look good in Setanta (too early to judge though) and i think Agent Kenny will turn Dundalk into a hard team to beat.Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
Urgh. We don't need a new striker, we just need other our midfield and wide men to get more goals. Fagan is the perfect striker for our system and scored 16 (I think) goals last season which s a good return.Quote:
Originally Posted by Briuk
I'd be surprised to see Ramblers outside the top 5 in the First Division. The premier is more open than last year. Any one of 6/7 are in with a shout.
My predictions:
Premier Division -
1. Shamrock Rovers (C)
2. Sligo Rovers
3. St Patricks Ath
4. Drogheda United
5. Cáwk
6. Dundalk
7. Derry C
8. Limerick
9. UCD
10. Bohemians
-------------------
11. Shelbourne (Playoffs)
-------------------
12. Bray Wanderers (R)
First Division -
1. Waterford (P)
-------------------
2. Finn Harps (Playoffs)
3. Longford T (Playoffs)
-------------------
4. Athlone T
5. Wexford Youths
6. Mervue
7. Cobh R
8. Salthill D
My predictions:
Premier Division -
1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Sligo Rovers
3. St Patricks Ath
4. Derry
5. Hunky Dory Utd
6. Dundalk
7. Cork
8. Limerick
9. UCD
10. Shelbourne
11. Bohemians
12. Bray Wanderers
First Division -
1. Finn harps
2. Waterford
3. Longford
4. Athlone T
5. Cobh
6. Wexford
7. Mervue
8. Salthill
League Cup: Dundalk
FAI Cup: Sligo
I think above is probably the one I most agree with and probably reflects the realistic finishing for most teams, especially taking into account most of the squads are almost complete.
Not saying all will finish here, obviously, but wont be far off this I`d say, possibly swap Shels with UCD?
I'm going to be optimistic with Bray for once... If we can keep injuries down that is. We have the basis of a decent staring X1 - Quigley, Mitchell, D. O'Connor, K. O'Connor, Dempsey, Mulroy, Byrne and Waters. We also have a lot of players who need to step up there game this year - Webster, Doyle, Zambra, S. O'Connor and Knight were all just a little bit short of quality last season, but that could be down to youth and inexperience with some of them, let's hope last year will help them improve.
We've another really good bunch of young lads coming through the ranks, hopefully a few of them get a look in this year. Sean Hurley, Ger Pender, Ismahil Akinade, Conor Begley and Conor Early should all be looking to get into the squad this season and push for places.
9th place finish for Wanderers
Shamrock Rovers to win it, Dark horses are Drogs and Cork.
1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Pats
3. Sligo Rovers
4. Derry
5. Cork
6. Dundalk
7. Drogheda
8. Limerick
9. Bohemians
10. Shels
11. UCD
12. Bray Wanderers
Think we will do well to make top three this year to be honest and Shams look good from what I've seen so far.
I'll have to give this some thought. Impressive votes of confidence in Limerick so far. I would've thought maybe 9th at best for their first season back in the premier.
.why?Quote:
Originally Posted by dong
Premier Division
1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Sligo Rovers
3. Drogheda United
4. St. Patricks Athletic
5. Derry City
6. Cork City
7. Limerick FC
8. Bohemians
9. Dundalk
10. Shelbourne
11. UCD
12. Bray Wanderers
First Division
1. Finn Harps
2. Waterford United
3. Longford Town
4. Athlone Town
5. Cobh Ramblers
6. Mervue United
7. Wexford Youths
8. Salthill Devon
A few reasons:Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
1. North being out for at least a third of the season. If Eldinho fires on all cylinders who knows?
2. I feel the loss of Mcguinness will be felt hugely, despite the addition of Mcmillan.
3. We got our share of any luck that was going last year. That doesn't happen two years running.
4. Overall it looks like most teams are stronger this year.
If this is the case, then Boylesports can be caught on the hop, since they have North down as favourite for top scorer.Quote:
Originally Posted by dong
http://www.oddschecker.com/football/...top-goalscorer
Quigley at 7/1.
Sligo seem to have had a very impressive pre-season and opened the Setanta with a huge win so they have to be favourites to retain their title in my eyes. Croly does seem to have a bit about him as Rovers manager and he signed players he knows well so I'll expect Rovers to be much improved and push all the way. Pat's could be the big let down this season. I don't think they've really improved their squad and they still look like they'll struggle for goals, losing Croly from the coaching staff is also a big blow. Drogheda will also be doing well to match last seasons exploits.
In the first division Harps are looking impressive, Waterford might struggle with Dempsey and Maguire gone, Longford should compete but seem destined to struggle again under Cousins, Athlone could be a revelation or a masive flop under Collins so hard to know what to expect there.
Premier Division
1. Sligo Rovers
2. Shamrock Rovers
3. Cork City
4. Derry City
5. St. Patricks Athletic
6. Drogheda United
7. Dundalk
8. Bohemians
9. Bray Wanderers
10. Limerick FC
11. UCD
12. Shelbourne
First Division
1. Finn Harps
2. Athlone Town
3. Waterford United
4. Longford Town
5. Wexford Youths
6. Cobh Ramblers
7. Mervue United
8. Salthill Devon
I think the gap between first and premier is bigger this year.
First Division
1. Waterford United
2. Athlone Town
3. Finn Harps
4. Longford Town
5. Wexford Youths
6. Cobh Ramblers
7. Mervue United
8. Salthill Devon
In my opinion the last four are clear. For the top four, I'll go with Waterford, they will invent something to be more competitive, Athlone, most improved squad, Finn, improved, but not so much in my opion and Longford, but they have lost a too much important players.
He was out for nearly half of last season!Quote:
Originally Posted by dong
Quote:
Originally Posted by dong
1. You had North out for half a season last year
2. McMillan is as good
3. What luck? Stephen Kenny?
4. This one always confuses me, I mean you have Pats ahead of Sligo yet if anyone is slightly weaker at the top IMO its Pats.
Sligo have lost two players from last years squad, big players I agree, but I cant help but feel your being pessimistic to dampen expectations?
I agree Sligo were lucky perhaps that Shams were so poor last year and certainly I'd expect them to be stronger under Croly but I can only see it as a two horse race this year. Perhaps a tight table overall but realistically only see one of the Rovers winning the league.
Sligo
Shams
Drogs
Cork
Pats
Derry
Limerick
Dundalk
UCD
Shels
Bohs
Bray
I am going for Pats to win, a more competitive league than the betting would indicate. I expect Cork and Derry to be in the race for good while as well. Dundalk to finish ahead of Drogheda, Bohs to be 7/8 position and I think UCD are the most likely to be relegated.
1st divison: I expect Roddy to work his magic and win this with Atlone ahead of Finn Harps. The big question down here in the west is will Mervue have any chance of promotion? The under-achieved in a big way last year with the players they had.
I share a bit of dong's caution, but I can't see us having anything other than a stronger squad than last season. We're going to get way more out of Connolly and Conneely for starters. McMillan training as a fulltime pro is an exciting prospect. Elding's got off to a good start and gives us a dimension we didn't have last year.
Any good fortune we had last season was countered by dire luck with injuries, Quigley's long suspension and at least as many crap decisions against us as in our favour.
There's at least four, maybe five sides that can realistically have designs on the title. I think we and Shams have marginally the strongest squads. Their biggest advantage comes ironically from doing so badly last season - no European distraction. We had a bit of a dip last year and it was probably a blessing that it only lasted two games.