Predictions for next season

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Originally posted by Breifne
Even if everyone else is putting the club down, it just spurs the management, players & officials on to even greater heights. Keep it up.

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The constant sniping is indeed beginning to get annoying, but I think we need to acknowledge that the club has a PR problem and deal with it. In other words, get out there and address the concerns people have about the club's raison d'etre etc. The article in the programme for the Kildare County game in October was a good start, maybe pop that up on the website.

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Originally posted by pineapple stu
The scholarship scheme is a link with the College. Any club can do that; some clubs (Cork and Bohs to name two) are already doing it. It can't be an unfair advantage if others can do it as well.

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Do the other colleges pay the players scholarship, or do the clubs pay the scholarship. That's the difference.

Sheridan,

Cant find that particular programme, which one are you talking about, is it by scottie, and what was the jist of it.

I can get it from him then.

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Originally posted by Breifne
Sheridan,

Cant find that particular programme, which one are you talking about, is it by scottie, and what was the jist of it.

I can get it from him then.

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There's no byline on the piece (I thought you might have written it, at the time.)

It's from the DCFC vs. Kildare County game (October 25th), the one with Robbie Horgan on the cover. The article is on page 9, headlined "Get well wishes for tonight's Match Sponsor, Tommy Allen" (hope he did get well, btw) and starts off with some stuff about Tommy Allen then becomes a kind of defence of the club against the too-many-Dublin-teams argument and goes on to outline the team's ambitions.

The last time Continuity Home Farm were up they didn't exactly set the world on fire, beating us at Tolka aside. The current squad are a model to go down with their goalscoring problems it'll be hard for them to pick up enough wins. While the likes of McGauley just aren't Premier Division standard. If the squad is overhauled with off-cuts from Bohs, Shels and Rovers on the other hand...

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Originally posted by TommyT
The last time Continuity Home Farm were up they didn't exactly set the world on fire, beating us at Tolka aside. The current squad are a model to go down with their goalscoring problems it'll be hard for them to pick up enough wins. While the likes of McGauley just aren't Premier Division standard. If the squad is overhauled with off-cuts from Bohs, Shels and Rovers on the other hand...

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Well they've signed Philly hughes who is definitely of premier standerd and he should get a fair few goals for them. AFAIK Gill has already signed 3/4 players so he knows he has a tough enough job but he seems to be going about it the right way

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Originally posted by TommyT
The last time Continuity Home Farm were up they didn't exactly set the world on fire, beating us at Tolka aside. The current squad are a model to go down with their goalscoring problems it'll be hard for them to pick up enough wins

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Hmm...I wonder what Steve Archibald's up to these days... ;)

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Originally posted by TommyT
While the likes of McGauley just aren't Premier Division standard.

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I beg to differ on that one - Sweats is one of the few players in our squad who will make the transition without any worries. I have a feeling we'll stay up, simply because we have to.

with the amount of merchandise coming in , they better stay up!! Just finalised the new Premiership Jersey today & about 15 other items. Agree sweat's premier material. Looks like we'll have no problem with strikers either.

I think the club are preparing well, John has made a few good signings, nothing spectacular, but solid players, and we will be good enough to avoid the bottom two spots.

There should be some sort of announcement from the club soon, as to which players will be still with the club, I personally think we have the basis of a strong side, with the majority of the defence expected to re-sign with the Vikings, Robbie Horgan, Wes Byrne & Thomas McGauley should all be around next term, Paul Crowley will be expected to remain. I think the club are just waiting to talk to every player about his future before they release anything to the media,

They don't want players finding out about their status with the club from a newspaper. which I think is fair enough.

Those named above I have been reliably informed will be with the club next term, not too sure about the rest, haven't heard anything. expect something from the club by the end of the week.

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Originally posted by Breifne
I think the club are preparing well, John has made a few good signings, nothing spectacular, but solid players, and we will be good enough to avoid the bottom two spots.

There should be some sort of announcement from the club soon, as to which players will be still with the club, I personally think we have the basis of a strong side, with the majority of the defence expected to re-sign with the Vikings, Robbie Horgan, Wes Byrne & Thomas McGauley should all be around next term, Paul Crowley will be expected to remain. I think the club are just waiting to talk to every player about his future before they release anything to the media,

They don't want players finding out about their status with the club from a newspaper. which I think is fair enough.

Those named above I have been reliably informed will be with the club next term, not too sure about the rest, haven't heard anything. expect something from the club by the end of the week.

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Have i missed something here, but can somebody tell me where Dublin City will play their home games this season...?
I mean Whitehall is almost as bad as Finn Park....(Have i really missed something or what ?)

The club have negotiated a deal with Shels, and will play all their home games in Tolka Park next season. After that is anyones guess. But for the duration of this season, that is definite.

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Originally posted by Breifne
The club have negotiated a deal with Shels, and will play all their home games in Tolka Park next season. After that is anyones guess. But for the duration of this season, that is definite.

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So where are Rovers playing....? Tolka too ? 3 teams in one ground ?

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Originally posted by dortie
So where are Rovers playing....? Tolka too ? 3 teams in one ground ?

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who are rovers

are they still in existence:D :D

Don't know what the situation is with Rovers, anything is possible. the agreement with Shels was only for the last few games of the season (i could have misunderstood), but i'm sure that they will have something sorted.

don't forget Belgrove also play in Tolka Park, so its pretty busy there at the moment.

Rovers have a number of choices

Tolka Park
Richmond Park (hardly going to happen)
Dalymount
Belfield (also highly unlikely)
Bray

can't really see any other viable option.

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Originally posted by dortie
So where are Rovers playing....? Tolka too ? 3 teams in one ground ?

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The Showgrounds. There's only one fu*king Rovers

1. Shels
2. Cork
3. Bohs
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4. Longford
5. St Pats
6. Drogheda
7. Derry
8. Rovers
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9. Dublin
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10. Waterford

The top three should be pretty close though and could goto any of them. I think Waterford could really plumit with all the controversy there at the moment.

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Originally posted by Breifne

Tolka Park
Richmond Park (hardly going to happen)
Dalymount
Belfield (also highly unlikely)
Bray

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Bray UDC have already turned us down. Belfield can't cos of the rules, Richmond won't. Anyone who knows anything about football in Dublin should cop that they're all more likely options than Dalyer.

CHF are playing on Thursdays in Tolka we'll be Friday's

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Originally posted by Breifne
the majority of the defence expected to re-sign with the Vikings, Robbie Horgan, Wes Byrne & Thomas McGauley should all be around next term,

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With all due respect to Weso, he wasn't premier standard when he came up with us, don't see him being up to it now.....

Cork City (Fenn great signing, plus one or two more on the way in key positions)
Bohemians (Not as excited and distracted by Europe as they were last season.)
Shels (false championship last season imo)
St Pats
Longford
Shamrock Rovers
Waterford
Derry
Drogheda
Dublin City
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UCD
Finn Harps
Bray
Galway
Kildare
Sligo
Limerick (unless by some miracle, we are able to keep our players, and a mystery benefactor arrives)
Dundalk
Athlone
Cobh
m-Monaghan
Kilkenny
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All subject to change before kick-off subject to transfers, injuries, serious diseases, alcohol poisoning in the off season etc......

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Originally posted by Macy
With all due respect to Weso, he wasn't premier standard when he came up with us, don't see him being up to it now.....

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Wes had a few hairy moments this term, one in particular away to Dundalk, where he just seemed to lose it. every touch every pass went astray, but for the most part, hes a couple of years older, little bit wiser, and I think this came at the right time for most of the Viking lads.

McGauley, Crowley have been round for a while, and deserve the opportunity, i don't think its fair to slam someones chances yet. Give him a couple of games at the very least. I think our defence was rock solid last season, (expect in the 3-0 drubbing by Finn Harps), 24 goals conceded is pretty impressive. both waterford, Drogheda and Derry survived conceding more than twice that.

We have addressed the strikers issue, signing Philip Hughes, with another one or two to come in before the start of the season, (haven't heard anything official), but i think we will have enough to survive. Remember eight place is the target. everyone involved with the club would be delighted with that next season.

This season we did overshoot our expectations, but thats a good thing, and the club are now where they hoped to be after three years. News Kids on the Premier Division Block. With the experience of Robbie Horgan, Toccy (if he stays) coupled with a couple of new signings, mixed with the best of last years crop, it should be a good season for the Vikings.

We're not going to set the worl alight, but the top of the bottom half would be nice, somewhere around sixth or seventh. somewhere that leaves us in a realistic position to aim for european football over the following two seasons.

(before people get on here and start laughing at this, please note that i said aim to survive and then build towards european football over the following three seasons.) I'm not talking about us winning the league next season. Just looking back to Rocky's original plans three years ago, pretty impressive, but after two messed up years, the plan is back on course. Heres Hoping

For what its worth here is my guess for the final placings

1. Bohemians
2. Shels
3. Cork (although only a few points behind)
4. Pats
5. Longford Town
6. Shamrock Rovers
7. Dublin City
8. Drogheda United
9. Derry City
10. Waterford