according to the Sun (so it must ne true) season starting on 19th of March.
Seems like a long time away :(
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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 ;)