Cup Final

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Originally Posted by HulaHoop

Putting us in the ****ty north stand and giving us the away dressing rooms really shows us favouritism alright. In case you didn't already know we also have a player suspended for the cup final. It's been the same all season, after players got four yellow cards there was several weeks of a gap before their suspensions kicked in. You can't just change the rules for a cup final, the rule has been the same in previous years too. Several players have missed cup finals through suspensions over the years but hey don't let the facts get in the way of your pathetic sense of injustice.

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I know what your saying and in fairness the majority of our fans have accpeted a couple of weeks ago that the lads wouldnt be playing. My only point on this(and actually if you read a bit of what cook is saying in the press)is that this shouldnt be allowed happen ever again(to any club/player) and that there should be some sort of amnesty for a cup final and it should carry over until next year. Now if a player gets sent off in a semi-final or recieves say 4 yellow cards throughout the competition(hust about possible!!)then ya definitely they should be suspended but league yellow cards should not count.

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Originally Posted by redobit

Ya some very sad snipein going on here alright, the majority of both Rovers fans keep away from in fairness.

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FFS!!
Back in the day it use to be called "Banter" !!
In the lead up to a cup final i honestly dont see any harm in it or how anyone from either side could take offence?

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Originally Posted by peadar1987

Because Sligo supporters have been so classy throughout this thread.

I was hoping Sligo would win the match, but having seen the sheer pettiness in the run-up to this game, now I'm not sure.

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It's the INTERNET. Jesus christ. People really shouldn't get so worked up over a loada ****e said on the internet.

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Originally Posted by peadar1987

Because Sligo supporters have been so classy throughout this thread.

I was hoping Sligo would win the match, but having seen the sheer pettiness in the run-up to this game, now I'm not sure.

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Ohh god forbid say it aint so, as ARooney said its the internet.
Seriously get a hold of yourself.

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Originally Posted by ARooney28

It's the INTERNET. Jesus christ. People really shouldn't get so worked up over a loada ****e said on the internet.

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But the point is that those involved in the sniping are the ones getting worked up over a load of ***** on the internet.

For the rest of us, it's just another thread that's been sidetracked by stupid jibes.

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Originally Posted by osarusan

But the point is that those involved in the sniping are the ones getting worked up over a load of ***** on the internet.

For the rest of us, it's just another thread that's been sidetracked by stupid jibes.

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Exactly. I'm not the one who's worked up!

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Originally Posted by bullit

FFS!!
Back in the day it use to be called "Banter" !!
In the lead up to a cup final i honestly dont see any harm in it or how anyone from either side could take offence?

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All for the banter. But in fairness arguing about stuff like who the FAI favours more is play ground stuff. Its like a lot of threads on foot lately, ends up with childish jibes. There is a Cup Final on in a few days FFS - talk about that.

Fair enough.
My take on the final is that we are going to have to see some massive performances from some of our key players to win it in the absence of Blinkhorn and Ryan. That said, we should never have lost the game in Tallaght when Ryan was out. We were still capable of creating plenty of chances and should be able to do the same on Sunday, provided the likes of Ndo, Boco (make up for last year!), and Russell perform to the very best of their ability. I think Lauchlan and Peers should be able to keep a lid on Twigg but he's always a good shout for a goal in fairness to him. For what its worth, my team would not include either Ventre or O'Grady. I'd prefer something like this:

Kelly
Keane
Davoren
Lauchlan
Peers
Boco
McCabe
Russell
Ndo
Dillon
Doyle

People may say that team is too attack minded. I say its the best footballing team we can put out there and we should stick to what we have been doing well in the second half of the season. Let them worry about us. O'Grady and Ventre are too limited and spend half the game chasing balls they gave away, much like Ireland's international midfield duo whenever I've seen them.
That leaves us with about two subs who have much experience at this level. Our squad is far smaller than Shams. We really have no options and we'll be sweating if any of our big players get an injury. With a bit of luck I think we can do it. 2-1 with Ndo and Russell for us, Twigg for Shams.

I disagree with one thing there Dong and its leaving O'Grady out and essentially putting Dillon in for him.
We need someone in Midfield that will track back and close down turner who will break from midfield.
O'Grady could have him in his pocket. Then we need to shut out Dennehy which Keano could do if Dennehy starts left mid and hopefully chambers wont be starting.
With Dennehy,Turner and Chambers accounted for it is then in our hands because if they cant get a sniff shams will inevtably mulch the ball to Twigg and hope for the best. Lachlan and Peers can deal with those long balls all day.
If we put them under pressure and as long as the occasion doesnt overcome us they will fold like a deck of cards because this shams team does not have bottle.
With Boco, Russell, Mc Cabe and Ndo all breaking from midfield the shambles that is Shams defence could easily give away a peno, that I would not be surprised with, they simply wont be able to deal with the pace of those four.
Even with Richie and Blinks out we forget how good a team we have, very winnable against an average shams team at best.

A good team dong but as Ras said i wouldnt be playing Dillon in midfield. Shams midfield would eat up in a high pressure game. OGrady to start in the middle breaking up things in the middle and giving the ball to Ndo. Even with the two lads missing thats still a really strong team.

Its a decision to go with either Ventre or O'Grady as the steel in midfield. Personally I'd go with O'Grady in the middle.

Yer all gonna laugh after sunday though, we aren't gonna play football at all... and I can see it happening. Never mind all the Sligo boyo's coming on here saying we are gonna play them off the park with our GREAT football, etc etc.... Its gonna ugly and a test of mettle at the end of the day........ But I can't bloody wait!!!

Finals dont have a tradition of being footballing spectacles but with Ndo, Russell, Mc Cabe and Boco there we have players who can play football.
Ryan is a big loss but tbh I would have every one of those four ahead of Blinks on a team sheet.

Richie's an all-round better player, but Blinks is arguably a bigger loss, as it means we're left without a striker.
I would have Conor in. He doesn't have anything approaching Richie's distribution, but we could get overrun in midfield with dong's lineup. It means Joey having to put in a heavy shift and Russell having to be at the top of his game, but it's doable.
It is frustrating to go into a final with one hand tied behind our backs, but I have every faith in Cookie being able to make the right decisions.

The argument that O'Grady or Ventre will add steel is all good and well but both of them give the ball away too much for my liking. O'Grady doesn't have the legs for it anymore in my opinion and Ventre never really had. Put either of those lads in and we lose what actually makes us a good side: The ability to play a bit of football and to make them chase.
Not to mention the fact that Ventre is a massive liability and is odds on to give away a penalty or get sent off. Let Russell or Boco track Turner if thats the big concern. They are supposed to be pros who will do a job, and at least they will provide a threat in attack.

I would prefer to see dillon boco ndo mccabe with russell slightly forward and doyle up front. I think the key is to keep the 3 best passers in the middle. If our midfileders can keep the ball, which boco, ndo and russell are capable of, shams wont see too much of the ball.

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Originally Posted by osarusan

But the point is that those involved in the sniping are the ones getting worked up over a load of ***** on the internet.

For the rest of us, it's just another thread that's been sidetracked by stupid jibes.

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Fair is fair, post 136 is an absolute cracker..

I don't see many non-Sligo/Rovers fans talking about the final and being interrupted by the jibes

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Originally Posted by dong

The argument that O'Grady or Ventre will add steel is all good and well but both of them give the ball away too much for my liking. O'Grady doesn't have the legs for it anymore in my opinion and Ventre never really had. Put either of those lads in and we lose what actually makes us a good side: The ability to play a bit of football and to make them chase.
Not to mention the fact that Ventre is a massive liability and is odds on to give away a penalty or get sent off. Let Russell or Boco track Turner if thats the big concern. They are supposed to be pros who will do a job, and at least they will provide a threat in attack.

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If holding posession is your reason for not starting O'Grady and having Dillon on instead I dont see the logic.
Connors passing may be more stray than Richies but with Dillon on he will get absolutely mawled by a very physicall shams team and will be incapable of holding any possession and be reduced to rushed distribution.
As for the arguement that Connor doesnt have the legs any more, aye he doesnt for putting in game long shifts for a season but im sure Connor's appetite for the final will be more than enough to get over any fatigue hurdels.
As for Ventre, agreed he is just an out and out liability if he starts, would be odds on to get sent off or give a peno or both.

There's been a lot of hype in the press about a derby across the water. Supposedly it ended in a bore draw. Hopefully the FAI Cup final can be a great spectacle in front of a big crowd and show how good the domestic game is.

Much and all that I don't like him as a player I would be very surprised if Ventre doesn't start. When Richie was out for the game in Tallaght he was the one who got the nod and has generally when subs are being made he is sent on before Conor.

Agree with whoever said that Blinkhorn is probably a bigger loss then Richie as we have no striker now

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Originally Posted by Nah Nah Nah Nah

Much and all that I don't like him as a player I would be very surprised if Ventre doesn't start. When Richie was out for the game in Tallaght he was the one who got the nod and has generally when subs are being made he is sent on before Conor.

Agree with whoever said that Blinkhorn is probably a bigger loss then Richie as we have no striker now

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Stop that now - you're scaring me.

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Originally Posted by poster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyOdF...layer_embedded

:snicker:

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They haven't gone away you know

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qEwlry1URQ

Also, here's Hooperman's official Cup Final song,

http://www.vimeo.com/16715348

Rovers will be starting a fire for their second consecutive Cup Final appearance

Thats class i have to say...........

Didn't Shamrock Rovers also start a fire the last time they were in a cup final?

which is what i say in my post above (though actually it was a steward who started the fire, and then made things worse by using the wrong extinguisher on it requiring the evacuation of the stand in Tolka. At least I can tell my grandkids I got on the pitch during a Cup Final)

Ah, sorry, missed the bit at the bottom of your post.

Brilliant stuff from Hooperman and associates, absolutely class. (I know I'm biased but I'd say the same if any other club did that)

Mp3 here http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/AvivaBurning.mp3

Boco the next one in an evergrowing list of over confident Sligo players. Nothing wrong with having confidence, but if you landed from another planet you'd swear Sligo were actually Champions and had won it by a street. It's all great;)

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Originally Posted by hoopy

Boco the next one in an evergrowing list of over confident Sligo players. Nothing wrong with having confidence, but if you landed from another planet you'd swear Sligo were actually Champions and had won it by a street. It's all great;)

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He is hardly going to say he thinks we will lose.

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Originally Posted by hoopy

Boco the next one in an evergrowing list of over confident Sligo players. Nothing wrong with having confidence, but if you landed from another planet you'd swear Sligo were actually Champions and had won it by a street. It's all great;)

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As much as I worry about the overconfidence from a lot of our fans in this thread, what do you expect him to say. Considering the form we're in theres absolutley no reason for the players not to be confident, as he said in the article he hasn't lost a match since hes come back.
And after what happened to us last year I'd be surprised by any overconfidence from our players even if some of the fans are getting a bit carried away.

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Originally Posted by hoopy

Boco the next one in an evergrowing list of over confident Sligo players. Nothing wrong with having confidence, but if you landed from another planet you'd swear Sligo were actually Champions and had won it by a street. It's all great;)

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A shams fan talking about over-confidence?
I feel irony just doesnt do that justice.
And here we go back on the merry go round of petty abuse and jibes.

No petty jibes from me. But at least Bohs players had the decency and honesty to say the best team won the league, as the best team always does. Boco's comments that he's not sure that the best team won the league is both insulting and stupid, but that's the way your players/fans are thinking. Again, it's all good:o

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Originally Posted by hoopy

No petty jibes from me. But at least Bohs players had the decency and honesty to say the best team won the league, as the best team always does. Boco's comments that he's not sure that the best team won the league is both insulting and stupid, but that's the way your players/fans are thinking. Again, it's all good:o

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I disagree. Boco's recognition of Bray's efforts this season is much appreciated! :D

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Originally Posted by hoopy

No petty jibes from me. But at least Bohs players had the decency and honesty to say the best team won the league, as the best team always does. Boco's comments that he's not sure that the best team won the league is both insulting and stupid, but that's the way your players/fans are thinking. Again, it's all good:o

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Can you point out where in that article he says he didn't think the best team won the league?

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Originally Posted by hoopy

Boco the next one in an evergrowing list of over confident Sligo players. )

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Who are the other ones? We're missing two of our best players, I really can't see any over-confidence from any Sligo Rovers players or fans. When we say we play the best football, that's us being positive. No point going into a cup final saying "we're playing the champions, we're missing 2 players, so we'll probably lose".

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Originally Posted by hoopy

No petty jibes from me. But at least Bohs players had the decency and honesty to say the best team won the league, as the best team always does. Boco's comments that he's not sure that the best team won the league is both insulting and stupid, but that's the way your players/fans are thinking. Again, it's all good:o

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Were either reading different articles or youre off youre meds.

Heres the article:

Romauld Boco's journey to Sunday's FAI Cup final is more unusual than most -- but one thing the Benin international can boast about is plenty of is big-game experience.
The Sligo Rovers right winger played for the country of his mother at the African Cup of Nations before rejoining the north-westerners after a spell at Burton Albion.
His return sparked a run of form that saw the Bit O'Red storm to third in the final Airtricity League table, win the EA Sports Cup and reach the Aviva Stadium showpiece this weekend.
They've done it in some style too and, although he needed some convincing from manager Paul Cook to come back to the club, Boco claims their finish has exceeded expectations, reckons they can compete for the league next season and is very confident of success on Sunday.
"I had to think," he said. "Paul was asking me for a while and, when I saw how the team was playing, I said 'Okay'.
"I came and the deal was if we could finish in the top four and be in Europe, it would be a good season. Actually we've done a bit better. Since I've been back, we played 15 games and we didn't lose. I'm very happy with the way we play. I enjoy it.
"We used to kick the ball long and nick a goal -- you are not happy even when you win (when you play like that). We try to play good football; people enjoy it, we've got a lot of fans now who are coming every game, not just because we are doing well. When someone is paying for a ticket, it is to watch good football.
"We have started to compare to the other teams and are getting better and better. We might try to win the league next year," Boco continued.
"We are used to playing big games now. We're doing it for three years now, playing games under pressure. It's normal now.
"We'll give our best (on Sunday). We'll try to win that game and, if we lose, the best team will win. We are confident."
- Ruaidhri O'Connor
Irish Independent

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Originally Posted by hoopy

No petty jibes from me. But at least Bohs players had the decency and honesty to say the best team won the league, as the best team always does. Boco's comments that he's not sure that the best team won the league is both insulting and stupid, but that's the way your players/fans are thinking. Again, it's all good:o

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What are you talking about you mentalist?
Could you please post up the article you were reading because I saw a very different one today.

Ah well, the thread got back to talking about the actual game for a while anyway, at least until the next green badge appeared to the left. Back to perceived 'decency and honesty', it appears. :poo:

Strangely, I thought it got instantly better at that point, Fivesilver..

It felt like reading a Sligo forum thread before that.

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Originally Posted by dfx-

Strangely, I thought it got instantly better at that point, Fivesilver..

It felt like reading a Sligo forum thread before that.

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I get your point there, but it didn't need to be. There was an attempt to get it back on the rails. The reason it became like a Sligo Rovers forum was because a number of our fans were genuinely interested in discussing the match - it took a distinct turn toward the asinine as soon as the Hoops fans started posting again.
I'd be seriously interested in hearing something intelligent from some of you on where you think this is going to be won and lost - rather than bizarre ramblings on Boco's state of mind. Presumably some of you have ideas.