Gannon only first teamer to leave DFC excluding rogers who was ok at best. Duffy stays its bascially the same first 11.
Dfc - gannon , rovers - byrne (probably) i dont need to think long about who is stronger compared to this season
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Gannon only first teamer to leave DFC excluding rogers who was ok at best. Duffy stays its bascially the same first 11.
Dfc - gannon , rovers - byrne (probably) i dont need to think long about who is stronger compared to this season
Yeah it great Dundalk still have all those lads that helped them finish 3rd and needing more than 22 points to win the leagueQuote:
Originally Posted by oriel
Yep - give you that one, we were dreadful in the league, post lockdown, no wins in August, and lucky to finish 3rd in the end, and make the final euro spot for the league.Quote:
Originally Posted by Neish
The fai cup form on the other hand was polar opposite, convincingly beating the teams in 2nd and 1st to win the trophy.
I wouldn't go too crazy on cup form, cup games tend to be decided on one game and we often see lower tier teams progress into later stages of cup around the world. League form is how a team should be judged and for me the jury is still very much out on Filippo Giovagnoli here. He has a bit job for 2021 and has already lost a few key players, if he can win the 2021 Premier of even be still in with a shout of doing so win the last couple of weeks then he will have proven his worth but as yet I see very little of note he has done. The team that won the cup was Kenny's & Perth's team not hisQuote:
Originally Posted by oriel
A relatively minor point, but did Dundalk really "convincingly" beat Rovers in the Cup final?
Bohs, yes. But the final went to extra-time and the comments on here at the time were that Dundalk weren't really at the races until McMillan scored his first, 70 minutes in.
No it certainly wasnt convincingly bar on the scoreboard which is what counts. It was more a performance of grit and showing a doggedness that had been absent during the league campaign. Confidence was still fragile but when we grew in confidence as the game went on, especially with the McMillan goal we showed more of the type of performance v Rovers in Tallaght (where I felt when we were on top that Rovers hung in with a doggedness that wasnt there previous seasons) than the game in Oriel. European excuses aside, if a full 1st 11 was out in that game we would still have been beaten well thta day imo.
Yeah, that's fair. It was a performance which showed Dundalk still have it, but I wouldn't go much further than that.
I would be slightly worried by all the talk of random Faroese and Albanians joining though. I get the argument that Dundalk have to look outside the league for stronger players, but the track record (not just with Dundalk) is really poor in that regard. But sure I guess let's see what happens!
The defender linked has been on the books of decent clubs for whatever that is worth considering he was a sub against us with both FH and KI, 6'6 so stick him on the front post and he might shore up our zonal defence...
i'm not one to underestimate Dundalk and I think you'll challenge us next year (or we could be ****e and finish third) but I think Dundalk need a bit of a turnover to compete. If you'd told me a year ago before the 2019 cup final that Dundalk would coming into the cup final as underdogs I'd have been surprised.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesta99
Do you mean this fella? Saw him mentioned on I think Gerry Malone's twitter (again, for what that's worth)Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesta99
He's been on the books at a few decent clubs - though he's not really played for them all that much. 4 games for Midtylland, none for Molde. The rest is lower league or Icelandic/Faroese league. Could maybe do a job in LoI, but still get the feeling he wouldn't really push Dundalk on.
Thats the one, mentioned in one of the local papers so more reliable than Gerry. Seems too random to be random and yet I doubt there has been a chance to properly scout the guy - the scatter gun approach throws up an occasional gem but a risky and costly way of doing business. Of course he could actually be the commanding centre half that will dominate key zones in a 3 central defenders formation that compliment each other, I hope he has some pace as others dont particularly. If the keeper linked also is as good as its being said, the leaky defence may not be an issue. and sure we could throw him on up front and hoof it if chasing a game ;p Its impossible to call what Dundalk will like next season even with players retained. I'd forgotten close seasons where ye cant speculate on much (well so far). We've anticipated mad and bad over the years, been odds on favourites but 2021 could go any way!
Ok whilst Rovers were much the better team up to say 70 mins, Dundalk got stronger and stronger after this, and much the better team in ET, plus scoring 4 usually beats a team that scores 2!Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Dundalk took their chances, Rovers didn't, Dundalk finished stronger, maybe a better description !
Yep, Dundalk finished stronger for sure.
In a league game, it'd have only been a draw though. :)
That's true, and same goes for 2016 (ET), 2017 (Pen) , & 2019 (Pen) cup finals that we lost !
Come to think of it, only one in these series 2015-2020 that was decided in 90 mins was 2018, begs the question, just how many of the Aviva finals were won in normal time, not many I'd think. (As we go off topic)
Can we all just remember that Rovers shouldn't have been in the final at all? Thanks.
Very true, sligo just didn't turn up for the semi final.
And if penos werent given when defenders put their hands on attackers in the box, rovers would've have won the final they shouldn't have been in.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Feel free to seek revenge and hammer SRFC at every opportunity in 2021!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
We will be back in love by next season. We are just on a break.
And we won them the league. #UTHQuote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
according to the Sun (so it must ne true) season starting on 19th of March.
Seems like a long time away :(
No harm imo. I know for us this third lockdown is a fin disaster for us. We had just announced a major sponsorship deal with Elverys Longford to sell our club gear on their premises so its not good for us or any loi club that essential retail is now closed. Can see this upcoming season being without fans and a shortened season too.Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
I think Shamrock Rovers will be favourites for 2021. The have a settled way of playing and a good squad of players who know their roles. They will miss Jack Byrne as he has been pivotal to their style of play and replacing playmakers is very difficult. Dundalk are likely to be the closest challengers but it remains to be seen whether they have the capacity to be consistent enough to win a title. For Dundalk to challenge, they will need a full league season as integrating new players will take time.
Will be interesting to see how paddy power price it up.
Rovers minus- byrne
Dundalk -minus gannon hoare.
Dundalk stronger in relative terms season on season compared to rovers but is it enough to close the gap.
Hard to know how the new arrivals will fit in at DFC, I still think (obv apart from a new GK) only the new Latvian international Jurkovskis will be close to the starting xi. As things stand these could be suggested strongest starting XI if you exclude most of the new arrivals:Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
If going 3-5-2
........................GK...........
.....Gartland ----- Boyle------ - Cleary
Dummingan - Shields -- Murray ----McEleney ----Leahy
------------------Hoban-----Duffy
Subs McMillan / Sloggett / D.Kelly / New arrivals
If going 4-2-1-3 (which would be my choice, but he won't go with this!)
....................GK...................
Dummingam----Boyle ---Cleary ---Leahy
-------------Shields----Murray
----------------McEleney..............
D Kelly--------- Hoban----------Duffy
Subs McMillan / Gartland / Sloggett / New arrivals
The new joins will need to be blended in at some stage, or there was no point in getting them in, but I still think even without Jack B, Rovers are stronger in MF unless DFC unearth an attacking MF gem. Would also agree Rovers will start as favs, more settled team.
I notice you left a keeper out. Has it been hinted anywhere that Abibi will be second choice keeper?
Do you not think that the new recruits at dundalk will be put in straight away? The possible team mentioned there include quite a number of players who singularly didn't bother their ar$é last season, in the league anyway . If you think that's gonna be the starting 11, then I need to get to a bookies and put every last penny on Rovers winning the league (whenever it starts!)
I dont know (along with most others) how the new recruits will do, nor do we know if Abibi will be no 1 GK, assume he will though.
Therefore I listed out two examples of how DFC might line out based on those who played in 2020 and who are still at the club. That's a fair point on players included who didn't perform last year in the league, but also same can be said for Gannon (who almost downed tools in Aug - I still would have kept him), and Hoare - dreaful display away to Molde to name but one, Flores - who to be fair did well in extra time in cup final, and scored two EL group stage goals, but quite poor on most league games that he started after Covid break.
I still think only the Latvian Jurkovskis and the keeper Abibi if first choice might be close to starting, up front is fine with a choice of 3 strikers, and Duffy obviously and Kelly to a lesser extent also on the wings are decent. Its the MF that DFC still need to get better players in to challenge Rovers in my book, although most of the MF that played in cup final and beat them 4-2 are still there, and of course its minus Jack B for them, but still think they are stronger in MF.
I'm sure the new recruits that have joined to date will be blended in, otherwise no point in getting them, but an attacking MF man is still required.
Two more keepers are required, as all 3 left from 2020, I would think Abibi might be first choice, but will depend on the second keeper is, the 3rd one might be a junior / less experienced.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
Nah, I disagree. I expect us to be mediocre (again). Good enough not to be in any real danger, but not good enough to challenge at the top end.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesta99
Is it acceptable to Pats fans and the club to keep SO'D in the hotseat?Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyD
Considering the transfer fee ye got for Luke McNally I expect ye to progress further under SOD with that extra dosh in his budget unless Pats board have other ideas.Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyD
Who is there left that they can sign though ? Will probably go into the Scottish market which is very hit and miss as they know.Quote:
Originally Posted by Martinho II
Wot bout the Irish lads in that St Mirren side? Isnt there a certain ex teammate of SOD playing for them?Quote:
Originally Posted by boynemunich
Pretty sure they’re busy starting every week, beating the likes of Rangers and Celtic in recent weeks to have any desire to come back to the League of Ireland on less moneyQuote:
Originally Posted by Martinho II
If they do start the league towards the of march, what are the chances they still schedule half the season in the first 2 months even though no fans present?
Just delay the start of the season & just play 3 rounds, it isn't a complicated solution
I wouldn't be sure about fans in the second half of the season either tbh.
Maybe no harm getting games played as quickly as possible to give space for postponements to be played later on. Look at how many games are being called off in England at the moment.
(And of course the question has to be asked whether there's really any need to play the league at all given there's a pandemic, but that's a different matter)
What kind of fee did they get Martinho?Quote:
Originally Posted by Martinho II
The best thing about the LOI was always that it was very open and a few teams always felt they had a chance. Unfortunately, Shams will win the league handy again. It’ll be very close for 2nd between the rest.
The best thing about the LoI was the years from 2014-2020 (bar 2017) and maybe a few more to come ;)