Gary Rogers is the best keeper in the league and got Dundalk three points tonight
Printable View
Gary Rogers is the best keeper in the league and got Dundalk three points tonight
I agree with that. Fantastic save onto the crossbar near the end.Quote:
Originally Posted by outspoken
We were poor. Too many misplaced passes and poor performances. McMillan struggled up front and couldn't hold the ball up at all. Still we had enough chances to make it safe.
Longford didn't have an attempt on goal for 85 minutes, then had two great chances at the end.
Dundalk were poor, far too many misdirected passes. It's far too early of gauge how Longford will do this season but they will be heartened that they could have got something from the game.
Is the season over yet?
F*cking ****e from Pats tonight.
At half time I thought Pats would win comfortably, they looked dangerous enough against the wind. Credit to Rovers got the tactics right against the wind, pressed Pats all over and didn't let them pick out any easy passes, result was a surprisingly untroubled half, bar the great save in stoppage time. Hard to make any judgements because the conditions were close to unplayable.
Gutted after tonight, played well in first half and deserved the lead at half-time but just didn't come out for second half. Conceded two God-awful goals - and while every goal you concede is always a bad one, wait until you see Soccer Republic
on Monday to see how bad they were! Not great from either side, Derry missing a few in fairness but both sides have plenty to do.
Still, I'll take a 2-1 defeat to Derry in the Premier Division in first game over a 1-0 defeat to Longford, which is how we started last season. And look how last season finished for us!
Was there a handball in the lead up to that? Anyway was impressed with LongfordQuote:
Originally Posted by outspoken
Both teams quite poor in Galway Derry were absolutely terrible at stages. Think a draw would have been fair and Derrys 2nd was a fluke in the end.
Pretty fair assessment of the game. Their little bit of experience told. Some will say they were lucky but I think they were ruthless and we have to adapt quickly or it will be a long season.Quote:
Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy
Conditions were poor tonight with a strong wind blowing and extremely cold for most of the match, so any spells of good football was rare. Dundalk would have been much happier going in at half time, 1-0 up, but what a performance by Longford in the last 20, and only for a superb double save by Rogers right at the end, they could have got a point, we're very happy with the win, 3 pts in the bag. Could have sealed the win with good chances not least from Towell in the 2nd half, but a win is a win.
Official attendance was 3,336, decent crowd over from Longford, they will do ok this season, no doubt about that.
2nd goal though he went to head it and it ended up going in off his shoulder or something it looked to me. I thought if Galway had someone that could finish they could have been 2 up before Derry ever got into the game.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olander
Galway tried to play decent football and did at stages but started to lose the ball a lot could give them the benefit of the doubt and call it lack of sharpness first game back . Stand outs for Galway for me were Oji and the right back was it Horgan?
Thats his job and he done it well.Quote:
Originally Posted by outspoken
Longford came for the point,realised in the last 20 mins that they weren't getting it with 7 packed in mf,spread that out then and almost got what they didn't deserve.Dundalk had a few cleared off the line by longford,Dundalk hit a post and 1 Dundalk shot(Andy Boyle i think) almost broke the crossbar.Skinner also made a few brave saves too.So it was all Gary Rogers in Oriel tonight?
Fair play to Longford,they done a good job cancelling out Towell and Shields but it was scrappy and Dundalk deserved the win.
Quite heartened by our performance tonight. First half, we pretty much shut Dundalk down - the goal was nearly like a hit on the break. It was only near the end, when we'd opened up looking for the equaliser, that Dundalk got on top. Gutted with the save in injury time.
It was my first time seeing the pitch up close. It gave a totally different perspective. I'm not blaming it for the result, but it gives a totally unnatural bounce, and both teams suffered injuries that would've been nothing on grass. I don't give a b0llox if platini himself gives a personal seal of approval - its rubbish.
Finally, I'm not really fussy about facilities, but that away end is a total disgrace, up to and including no proper toilets. Its a wonder it passes health and safety, never mind licencing. And I've no idea what was going on with the heavy handed stewarding at the end and keeping us back. Dundalk must have serious under lying problems if there was a need for that and the police presence against us. Unless it was just to add to the early 80's feel of the away section? Its only missing barbed wire fences.... It'd have to be a big game for me to go there again - can't see me bothering for a run of the mill league game tbh. Makes the Carlisle look like the aviva.
We couldn't afford to pay him. Play him up front and he'll score a lot of goals. Not on the wing like Coleman had him playing.Quote:
Originally Posted by redarmyfaction
I believe Longford hit the crossbar also Dunny! Also the time Dundalk hit the crossbar was when the Town defender put it onto the crossbar. Decent performance from the Town. Only for that lapse in concentration would of got a point. Desperate pitch, was like a game of bounce ball! I don't think the ball settled on the ground once! Hopefully it'll settle down as the season goes on. Dundalk deserved the win but I don't think we'll be made a show of.
Agree with what Macy said. The away end is a disgrace. One toilet available for men AND ladies. And been held back for after the game was a joke! It's the first time I've been to an away Town game where we were treated as if we were trouble makers! And that includes our visits to Linfield and Glentoran.
100% about the bogs,thats a shocker.Quote:
Originally Posted by Town Legend
I dont know who makes the security calls though.Is it the AGS or is it The host club or a combination of the two?
A very enjoyable game in Tolka tonight. Took a while to get into the game but two sides both cancelling each other out. Shels shaded the first half, and took a few good saves from Ciaran Gallagher to keep Harps level at half time, but there was only really one team in it in the second half and Harps came desperately close to a winner in stoppage time.
If Shels are favourites for the league this year, my hopes of Harps chances have just gone up greatly.
Also wish Simon Dixon all the very best for Shels tonight too who had an unfortunate clash of heads with Wilfried Tagbo and came off very poorly from it with what looks like a bad neck injury.
Why was David 'best player in First Division' O'Sullivan benched yesterday? Just a defensive change and Shaw got the nod ahead of him?
Always the pitch. You don't think the very strong wind had anything to do with the type of game it was then?Quote:
Originally Posted by Town Legend
We had chances to finish the game but in the end we're thankful for two great saves to win it. Longford looked organised and will be difficult opponents for most.
Of course the wind was a big factor for the scrappy game. But if you read what I said, 'it was like a game of bounce ball' that had nothing to do with the wind but with the pitch. The ball just doesn't settle once it goes an inch off the ground. It's just bouncing the whole time. But it was the same for both teams. I'd take a grass surface over it any day.
The reason O'Sullivan didn't start was a tactical reason as we only played one up front. And as Gary Shaw is our main man for flicking on and holding up play that's why he got the nod to start.
Longford's attacikng tactics laid bare.
"flick it Gary"
I thought in the first half we were knocking it long too much but we tried to get it down a lot more in the second. Dundalk are clearly a better side than us and that's no great shock but I thought we were pretty solid at the back and weren't overrun for the most part. Could easily have nicked a draw but over the whole 90 minutes it would have been harsh on Dundalk. Pretty encouraging display though given we were away to the champions in our first game and hopefully we'll hold our own this year.
Decent display by Longford.
Dundalk clearly deserved the win.
Pleased to hear Longford fans continuing to perpetuate the Oriel Park pitch myths - perhaps Keith Fahey and Colin Healy will be joined by some other no-play prima donnas if we can encourage more whinging?
Most Dundalk fans, myself included would of course prefer a grass pitch, little clue in my signature, but for playing football it's fine, was approved by FIFA recently, and the only factor I noticed last night preventing good play was a constant driving wind.Quote:
Originally Posted by Town Legend
The away section is indeed a disgrace, and unfortunately this nor the pitch won't change until the club sort out the ownership of the lease, without that (which is actually only a marginal fee per week) we can't apply for any sports and capital grants. Also it's the norm to keep all away fans in for 10 minutes or so after, it's just a safety issue to ensure our minority of schooligans are sent home. There was a problem with the press box last night, some fuses blew, so the PA system, usually not shy with announcing, was off air for most of the match, I don't think an announcement was made for the away fans due to that. I definitely didn't hear the usual 'additional time' at the end being announced.
Other than all of that, I hope you enjoyed your trip over! Longford surprised a lot of of us in the second half, they should be just fine this season and will surely consolidate their place with the quality of players. Dundalk if they had taken their chances could have been 2 or 3 up, but in the end, very happy to go away with a 1-0 win.
Longfords absence from the Premier League becomes apparent when they are just joining the Oriel Pitch discussion. People will see what they want to see. A gaelic football like big toe hoof putting spin on a ball and causing an unusual bounce is obviously nothing but the pitch. The main reason I want rid of the pitch has nothing to do with the pitch but that opposition cant roll it out as the reason for everything probably including global warming if they could!
As I stated above the pitch was the same for both teams so I'm not claiming that was the cause for Dundalk's win. I seen that pitch on the TV several times and I thought it wasn't great but decided to reserve judgement until I seen it myself. Last night didn't change my thoughts on it. I spoke to a couple of Dundalk fans after the game and asked them what do they make of the pitch. They don't like it, takes weird bounces and ball just runs away from you. And God forbid you slide on it like Pat Sullivan did last night and ended up with burn marks on his knees! So it's not just opposition fans, it's also Dundalk fans who don't like it!! Apart from the few on here on the defensive with the blinkers on ;)
There's also some who are totally bored with the incessant repetition by posters here..............Quote:
Originally Posted by Town Legend
Others who are amused with the whinging from losing managers (and fans)............
God help ye!
We've waited bloody seven years to complain, and my god we're going to do it.
No one likes the pitch.Quote:
Originally Posted by Town Legend
We just get on with the game as we don't have the half a million euros it would take to go back to grass.
Anyone who was fortunate enough to see games in Oriel Park over the last two season saw some very good football, and not just from Dundalk.
Damn right. I intend to find at least one thing to complain about in every ground I visit this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Acornvilla
I did say the main reason - which implies that I have other reasons, another of which is the waiting for FIFA testing every season of recent and praying that it hasnt finally reached its sell-buy date (although there was an attempt to cash in on the fire damaged version so maybe...). Talk about the pitch takes away from the bigger issues like how unlucky Longford were not to do a smash and grab away to the champions, Rodger's world-class saves to deny the share of points, the excellent attendance and so on. Im sure Soccer Republic (which will also be novel for you to feature on) will see through the waffle of the pitch and chat about the important stuff! Then again if they do flap on about the pitch you can sit and nod approvingly - welcome to top flight football and the key issues...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Longfordian
Pfffft best of luck finding something in Jackman. :cool:
It made me chuckle to see Fifa invoked in defence of the dundalk surface, which is by general consensus in bad nick and not conducive to decent or entertaining football, and that it favours Dundalk, although the Longford lads not wanting to seem bad sports have not emphasised this the dundalk mob know it ti too but don't like to admit it to themselves as it takes the shine of recent achievements.
I've been very entertained the last two seasons watching more than decent football in Oriel. Pretty successful too. But carry on criticising the pitch. Any chance that the criticism can become more inventive and original though?Quote:
Originally Posted by redarmyfaction
It's not really an insult to suggest Dundalk play good football in spite of the major handicap of playing on a ****e astro pitch. But I'm not going to get into an argument of who gave who which certificate.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yossarian
Absolutely mental game in Tallaght. Very little football played but kudos to Brendan Clarke for single-handedly creating some entertainment (although Hyland tried his best to emulate him second half). North was really, really impressive. Pats badly need Hoare and O'Brien to play because McGuinness and Browne have the turning ability of articulated trucks.
The pitch, the pitch, the pitch. The away end blah blah blah.
Dundalk really never got out of 3rd gear. An error ridden performance but we should of been out of sight with 2 great chance to kill the game. With being 1-0 I would of expected nothing else from Longford and to go for it.
Longford look good enough to stay up easily. They are certainly better than Drogheda and Pat's.
Oh nobody is holding FIFA up as the bastions of integrity! The tests are still held with baited breath of the fans and it isnt nice. Think its UEFA who actually do the testing for the FAI - another bunch of decent and honest chaps! The pitch is what it is, we can do feck all about it at the moment but I thought it was finally a worn out topic, almsot as worn out as Galway dvd's and licencing, or kilcoynes and car parks, or Bohs and selling football ground twice, or Shels cheating to league titles spending invisible money, or Derry City and British heads of state, points deductions, Kerry not having a team et al blah blah f@cking blah
It pretty much was old news in fairness and next time we go up there there probably won't be as much talk about it. But most of us hadn't seen it up close before so you have to expect some discussion about it. Life in the Premier is a welcome novelty to us at the moment!