Jesus wept, I was takin the pi$$.... 🙃🙃.
Does no-one have a sense of humour anymore..🤪
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Jesus wept, I was takin the pi$$.... 🙃🙃.
Does no-one have a sense of humour anymore..🤪
Post seems a bit random PC even for you!
Sorry, yeah I was referring to the bohs semi final/ final thingy a couple of pages ago..😀
After watching Dundalk players fall to the ground unchallenged again last night it's hard to believe there's not one referee in the league who hasn't been conned by them over the last few seasons. Even pundits who normally wouldn't mention it are starting to comment on the 'soft' free kicks they win. Been happening since Kenny took over and has got progressively worse, but still refs don't have the balls to stop it. While Sligo won't cause them any problems in the semi, I hope Rovers or Bohs can put it up to them in the final.
Agreed Hurling themselves to the ground with an exagerated cryof pain mustbe part of their training routine.Noticed that the refs didn't buy it in their Euro games, works for them in this league though.
I think Dundalk are far better at the "dark arts" than other LOI teams. Whether that is the experience acquired from serial winning or something they are "coached in" I'm less sure. In a game often decided by small margins Dundalk do eek out every drop of advantage, most successful teams do.
You'd swear that the 'dark arts' are new to the league. There was significant debate on how Seanie Maguire used to creatively 'win' penalties, not by diving but catching a trailing foot or checking a run so a chasing defender would barge in to the back. Rafa Cretaro was one of the cutest hoors for winning frees from nothing. It's grown it to the game to a greater extent all over the world. With exposure to playing in Europe it hardly surprising that players pick up such game management techniques. It may be a scourge on the spectacle of a game if its spoiling but nothing is stopping other clubs from adding it to the array of tactics.
Wouldn't help our league but the var in the UK are missing a huge PR opportunity considering the negative stuff about VAR , dive = automatic 2 game ban, problem solved overnight.
All the technology is being applied to correct bad mistakes by ref but missing an opportunity to do something positive for the game
I can only go by what I see, can't we all? If by proof you mean yellow cards then I can't, which is my point, that refs let them away with it. Of course there are times when a player from other clubs do it. But with Dundalk it seems that every player will try it. Not just now but serial divers like O'Donnell and Meenan to name but two from the past. Nobody is saying Dundalk aren't good footballers, they obviously are. But it's silly to say they don't dive a lot when everyone can see they do.
So Crumlin v Bohs tonight, assuming Bohs beat Crumlin and we are due to play them on Friday the 27th do we put a full strength team out on Monday in Dundalk, risking tiredness injuries and suspensions and then play Bohs on Friday minus a couple or go with a second string?
Even if we went up to Dundalk and won (assuming we both win this Friday) DFC would be 7 points clear with 4 games remaining and with the run they are on that is game over.
I suspect they will go with a strong team which is daft in my opinion and will look even dafter if we pick up injuries etc.
Maybe Pats will do us a favour and win Friday to make it academic.
If by any miricle Crumlin beat bohs my opinion wouldn't change re playing a strong team on Monday, a cup semi final is a cup semi final and the league is done and dusted...
What do other Rovers supporters think?
I'm just using the current term that's used, but that changes depending on who is playing of course :p . Watching the way BATE and Legia used this as part of their strategy was very frustrating to watch when we were trying to chase the game and it was very effective. In recent times we have had comment on Dundalk players surrounding the ref yet all players do it, O'Donnell was singled out as reffing games but again most captains are in the refs ear and if they are not trying to gain an edge then thay arent doing their job. It was also pointed out that Perth was always at the 4th official but Caulfield, Fenlon, even Long et al have been seen charging at the 4th official or screaming murder on the sidelines. A bit like this malarkey about handball in the box, arms at side/away from the body, ball to hand etc. there is inconsistency; if contact is made with a player it gives them a chance to go over and win a free - it doesnt make it not a free even if soft. It is refreshing when a ref doesnt whistle up for everything. A recent example of things going with a side was the RoI goal v Switzerland - many referees would have given a free against McClean's challange to win the ball back as it was a half shove leaning in to the Swizz chap and not really shoulder to shoulder and McGoldrick had his hands on both shoulders of the defender with a nudge, if it had happened they other way round there would have been many a rant. My issues would be more with the inconsistency of how the officials deals with this stuff than issue with the players taking advantage. To use the Legia game again as an example, the sheer number of fouls they did make yet there was no sign of a card for persistant fouling is still an irritant Its hard to be subjective in football at the best of times as people are rerely totally neutral in analysis of things.
Once again, nobody said Dundalk are the ONLY team to do this just that they do it more often and consistently (maybe better 😁) than anyone else in the League here.
As with other things when your team does it it’s “game management “ when the opposition do it it’s “cheating”.
Baiscally, any team that is winning that isnt the team I support = cheating / immoral
"My team doesnt want to win because we dont stoop low and cheat like Dundalk......"
Not like Bohs ever had a player booked for time wasting in oriel this year, or Rovers never surrond the Ref. Ye are tiresome, Dundalk dont do the Black arts anymore than anyone else, not more or more consistently, its just they are winning.
Hope I clears it up your ;)
Once more for the VERY slow, nobody said Dundalk are the only team to do it.
Even Dundalk fans admit they are more adept at the "dark arts" than other LOI clubs.
Now climb down off you self made cross and wind in the paranoia. Enjoy an excellent ultra professional team, in all aspects.
Let's put it to bed (he says optimistically). We will take it as a compliment. We are superior in every department, it's natural rivals will look for something to throw at you, pretty standard. It's weak but they need something
FT Crumlin 0 Bohs 2 (Wright, Lyons).
....it's on 😎
I still am going with Boh's name on the trophy already!
In anticipation of such a response Marino i stuck in 'currently'. You can always rely on Bohs supporters for their sense of moral duty!
Fans should always enjoy the good times because being the League of Ireland the bad times can't be far behind them :wink:
Its as sure as night following day.
Maybe the question is too sensitive for Rovers supporters to engage with?
Unless Dundalk get turned over in Waterford this weekend, the league title will be there to be won by Dundalk against Rovers next Monday in Oriel (irrespective of Friday's result between Rovers & St Pats)
While Rovers management, players and fans would like to prevent Dundalk winning the title against them again, it may be that pride overcome's pragmatism. I expect that Rovers will put out their strongest side in the hope of getting a morale boosting win and trying to finish within 10 points.
Not worth the risk regardless of who we are playing imo.
A sending off or an injury on Monday in a meaningless game (i don't suffer with pride) that deprives the club of a player for a cup semi would be nuts.
Its not about the ability to handle two games Monday and Friday (its actually 3 Friday/Monday/Friday) and even if they are able to handle it why take the risk.
Its simple for me ...Would the players be in better knick on Friday if they don't play Monday? Do they risk a suspension by not playing Monday?
If we play a strong team and get a couple of injuries i will not be amused and if we were playing Crumlin i would say the same thing one match means something the other doesn't.
I think Bradley will play a strong 11 on Friday, rest the major players for Monday game and be ready for Rovers biggest game of the season on Friday week. The game on Monday is irrelevant at this stage, as the league is over. Rovers would rather win the cup and finish 10 points behind than win nothing and the gap to finish at 7.
I would be surprised if Bradley did that.Mondays a long way from Friday.
Decent game in Inchicore last night , good crowd too. Best of the Brady bunch at left back for Crumlin.
Bradley will go with his strongest team on Monday, he knows how fickle Rovers fans are. Holding up "Bradley out" arts and crafts one week, hailing the progression the next. Finish within 10 points and they'll probably build a statue of him.
Serious question. Lose to Bohs and finish within 10 points, still progress?
Really ? Would have thought that would be anathema to shams “hard core” (considering some of them thought Keith Longs job was in jeopardy after the most recent derby game 😁).
Given the resources invested And a relatively poor league (Cork and Waterford collapse, Pats HK implosion) I would expect better.
Anything less than sub 10 point finish and (at least) a cup final surely a very poor return ?
I suppose different fans have different expectations, but I very much doubt that there would be many Rovers fans who would find a cup semi final exit to Bohs as a sign of progress.
Similarly a 9 point losing margin in the league is as unlikely to spark wild optimism as an 11 point margin would trigger despondency and gloom.
Personally I would prefer a Dundalk - Bohs cup final, but the upside of Rovers getting there is that it would secure Bradsers job for a while longer