https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5gVkVvQWc0#t=29
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I'll maintain that I don't think we'll win it, but I certainly don't think we've come from nowhere. The Dublin media didn't know the players, but we did. The squad was very deep. I was thinking we'd be 3rd at the start of the season, behind Dundalk and Pats. I thought Sligo's squad was too thin and Shams were being undone by the master, Trevor Crolly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nah Nah Nah Nah
we're still paying off last years losses.Quote:
Originally Posted by White Horse
Doubt that will be happening again after HT in the main bar. A few dirtbags are likely to have ruined such arrangements happening again for the decent fans!Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
It's always a few who ruin it for the rest. 95% of the Pats fans in the stand were decent, it was a few tanked up scumbags who caused trouble.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesta99
This is why all away fans tend to get treated as scumbags in most grounds, the lowest common denominator effect.
First Division getting really tight btw. Shels in a proper stutter, and Galway, Wexford and Longford are suddenly right over their shoulders. Could be an interesting one there.
No team really seems to be standing out though, which is always a positive for the Premier Division side in the play off come the season's end.
We have the best squad I reckon but Cousins isn't really getting the most out of them on a consistent basis. We're very tight at the back but overly reliant on O'Sullivan for goals. Shels have a very young and inexperienced squad and I'm not sure they'll last the pace. I think if Galway bring in a couple of players in July they'd be my tip to win it. Big one coming up just after the break, Galway v Longford.
He's easily the worst footballer/defender I've ever seen play for Rovers.Quote:
Originally Posted by adamd164
Has absolutely no idea what he's at when in possession. Constantly caught when on the ball and is never in position when the opposition breaks. Loves a needless thump forward and has no spacial awareness whatsoever. He's not even First Division standard.
Just doesn't seem to know in the slightest, what he is doing.
Towell had an average game agreed, but also thought Brennan was extremely quiet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
Also on the pitch (yawn) I didn't see any of the Dundalk players having a single problem all evening with it.
Towell was ill and on antibiotics all week. He struggled to get through the game.
seriously ? you cant figure out why the Dundalk players may be slightly more comfortable on the astro pitch in Dundalk.... their home....where they play ????? ..... the ansers in the questionQuote:
Originally Posted by oriel
They also seemed more comfortable in Richmond earlier in the season? Was that played on astro?Quote:
Originally Posted by desaintsno.12
No they just played far better. Good response though
For the record i wasnt whinging about the pitch. but pointing out that it didnt seem to effect Dundalk as much, is just stupid
Many of the Pats players don't like the pitch and they entitled to their opinion, particulary as it is based on actually playing on it, not on how it looks on the telly.Quote:
Originally Posted by desaintsno.12
I didn't notice them struggling on it though. I thought their play was neat and tidy, particularly in defence.
I wonder how much of their reaction is due it having been a very warm (even hot) evening. The pitch was drier than usual and they looked very tired towards the end of the game. Both sides worked very hard.
A lot of it seems to be getting the excuse in early as Dundalk are too good for everybody these days.
I heard Seamus Conneely speaking on Ocean FM about how most of our squad hated it and sure enough we were tanked in the following games there. Sorry but you all need to be a bit tougher and deal with it mate. It is what it is.
And when Dundalk were awful and people were still complaining about it that was... what?Quote:
Originally Posted by dong
Buckley had a go at the pitch post match Friday
Stephen Kenny hit back-Quote:
St Patrick’s Athletic boss Liam Buckley became the latest SSE Airtricity League manager to have a pop at the Oriel Park surface following Friday night’s 0-0 draw with Dundalk.A dogged 90 minutes saw both sides struggle to break each other down and, speaking afterwards, Buckley - who revealed that Keith Fahey turned down the chance to play because of the pitch - said the artificial surface was a big factor in the game ending scoreless.
“It is a hard-fought point, I think that a draw was probably a fair result over the 90 minutes. I don’t think either side did enough to win it but the pitch had a big part to play in it.
“It doesn’t help Dundalk,” he added. “They are a terrific footballing side and they do pass it well but that pitch just absolutely negates all that because you can’t judge it. It takes a bobble, it bounces over you and it just doesn’t help them and certainly didn’t help us. It took away from the game bearing in mind the quality of both teams.”
The scoreless draw was the first that Dundalk have been involved in since the opening day of the 2013 season.
“Dundalk have scored lots of goals and so have we but I think, again, the pitch didn’t help in general play,” said Buckley.
“We like to pass it and link it in but if you look through that 90 minutes I don’t think you will find a period where there was eight, nine, 10 passes before you get a chance.”
http://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/sport/...itch-1-6123826Quote:
Unsurprisingly, Lilywhites supremo Stephen Kenny hit back at Buckley’s claims. Shamrock Rovers boss Trevor Croly and former Derry City manager Roddy Collins were also outspoken about the pitch earlier in the season but Kenny said comments like that were disrespectful to his side.“It seems to be a weekly occurrence,” he said. “The pitch is certainly better than what it has been in recent years. We’ve spent €25,000 in the past year on maintenance, outside of the work that Harry Taaffe does day to day with his machines and it has passed rigorous UEFA tests.
“We have consistently played well here and people are saying it is the best football they have seen since a different era but we have played well on grass as well.
“People are trying to devalue us and point score a little bit by knocking the pitch but, listen, we’re not getting hung up about it. We don’t have self esteem issues. We’re grand.”
How is anyone devaluing Dundalk by criticising the pitch? They play terrific football regardless of the surface and have been roundly complimented by everybody and anybody for their style of play. If anything, it's a compliment to Dundalk that they can play such good football in spite of the pitch.
He also said how Ross Gaynor thought the pitch was great as he had played on it lots on his time with Dundalk. Familiarity is certainly an advantage.Quote:
Originally Posted by dong
The Setanta Cup final showed the sort of the pitch teams need to strive to put out when Dundalk come to town
It's called home advantage and why greater value is put on away goals in some competitions!Quote:
Originally Posted by Nah Nah Nah Nah
I don't think the pitch is an advantage. There's no doubt most Dundalk players would prefer to play on grass all the time. Their brand of football would certainly be helped by a better surface
Kenny trying to build up a bit of a siege mentality.
Not sure that's a brilliant idea. Towns in Louth don't have a great history with sieges.
I don't know anyone associated with Dundalk who wouldn't prefer to return to a gass pitch. There is no argument as to which is better, a good grass surface wins ever time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
This issue is economics.
If this Dundalk team can attract big crowds over a number of seasons and eventually win things, we should learn from how Sligo were able to improve their facilites while contuining to invest in their squad.
I would remind people that Dundalk are coming out of a decade in the wilderness that was further complicated by poor business decisions by the previous owner.
What sort of a setup is Buckley running?Quote:
Speaking afterwards, Buckley - who revealed that KeithFaheyturned down the chance to play because of the pitch -
Do all Pats players get to assess each pitch before deciding if they are available to play?
If the grass is too long in Dalymount or the pitch uneven in the Brandywell do each of the Pats players have an option to back out?
Has Keith Fahey ever even played in Oriel before? Or did he base his decision on what others said to him? How could Buckley tolerate this and then publicise it?
There is no doubt that the Oriel Park pitch is turning into an enormous advantage for Dundalk - because of the psychology impact on teams created by the focus on the pitch by pundits and opposition managers and players. Long may it continue?
You're full on mental.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
That would be Buckley, if allows players to pick and choose what games to play in.Quote:
Originally Posted by PartySaint
Without a doubt.Quote:
Originally Posted by PartySaint
Care to address any of the questions I raised?
You seriously can't see why a player with a dodgy enough injury list the past few years wouldn't play a on an astro pitch?Quote:
Originally Posted by White Horse
Have you ever played football before?
I'll answer the first oneQuote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
One that won the league last season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
Any half-decent manager who has a player who'd missed most of the last two years with various knee injuries, and who says it would be too risky to play on a particular surface, would listen to him.Quote:
Originally Posted by White Horse
Quote:
Originally Posted by PartySaint
Spot on. And there's been more teams than Pats rest players away to Dundalk because of the pitch.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Dundalk have had good injury record over the last two seasons.Quote:
Originally Posted by CityRebel
John Caulfield said he wouldn't play Colin Healy at Oriel Park either due to injury concerns.
He did play there last April and that has been his only appearance in Dundalk since returning in 2012, I don't know if he was available for selection (injury/suspension)for the other games. He also played in the game in 2009 before he left for Ipswich.
if you accept that the surface is different to grass, and you accept that it is more difficult to play on, then logic dictates it is 100% an advantage to Dundalk. A greater advantage than just being at home. It adds an additional element that away teams have to deal with.
As a great man often says, it is what it is. Everyone just has to get on with it.
Sometimes I think I'm the only sane person on foot.ieQuote:
Originally Posted by PartySaint
Logic dictates that it should be an advantage. However, the evidence is that it hasn't been an advantage as Dundalk's away record is superb.Quote:
Originally Posted by desaintsno.12
However, I think that is changing. Dundalk have done very well at Oriel Park this season.
If teams stop playing some of their better players, that will also contribute.
Managers are resting players against Dundalk because of the pitch? This is fantastic news, another reason to keep it. I've never heard of a Dundalk manager doing the same for our players
Ye should be told to feck off and join the Mickey Mouse 5-a-side astro league until ye get a real football pitch.Quote:
Originally Posted by mcgonigle
Two seperate points i think. This just shows Dundalk are a good team (apart from chiris shields obviously) and perhaps they have a good mentality on the road.Quote:
Originally Posted by White Horse
Obviously if we had a similar scenario i would be laughing my ass off. They are doing nothing wrong, but it clearly offers a further advantage to home games.
Dundalk's home record is slightly better than their away record but I'd say it falls within the range of home advantage. It is quite noticeable how many more goals they score at Oriel than on the road though.