Next season...

**pineapple stu** · 03/12/2003, 12:58 PM

Right, I know there's four months to go yet, but I'm getting withdrawal symptoms from not having to write any programme/fanzine articles already, so for my own health of mind, I thought I'd pose this question...

Where are we going to finish next season?

[list=1][*]Champions[*]Play-off spot[*]Just fall short a la Kildare[*]Mid-table mediocrity/a season of listening to Damien Richardson tell us that we've been out of it for most of the season and are looking to next season every bloody week[*]Re-election[/list=1]

I know the contracts have to be sorted out yet (news on that is expected in the next week and a half or so), but still.

I reckon we have to be looking at a play-off spot at least, and will probably be best equipped to win the title. Even allowing for the loss of a couple of players, the First Division is much weaker than the Premier, and the form we were showing for the last sixteen games under Pete Mahon would, had it extended to the whole season, seen us finish four points off of Europe. If we can keep that up, maybe sign a striker, then there's no reason we can't even win the league.

I think we've been relegated in the best possible manner - with a new manager who wants the club to succeed and has shown already that he's more than capable of making it happen. Had Doolo stayed until the end of the season, I'd have said that we were looking at three or four years in Division One just catching up.

Schumi, can you turn this into a poll, 'cos I can't/amn't allowed?

**John83** · 03/12/2003, 1:19 PM

Reckon playoff at best, unless Mahon is even better than I think. We won't sign a striker (methinks), so it's a question of finding a partnership that works out of Robbie Martin, Rooney, Leech, Finn (if he stays), Griffin, Gallen and Burke. We should really try them, and if there's a signing to be made, let it be in midfield, to replace Cawley, or a right-back if Sullivan goes.

**Schumi** · 03/12/2003, 4:12 PM

Champions.

[SIZE=1]Poll added[/SIZE]

**pineapple stu** · 03/12/2003, 9:28 PM

Couple of interesting snippets on our strikers as heard last Sunday in the Montrose...

Doolo hasn't a clue what a striker is for. Just another area where he screwed us over. I think a striker is our top priority. We actually do have a lot of strikers, but none have really done anything special. It'll be interesting to see how the likes of Mark Leech, Pat Burke, Lloyd Colfer et al do next season. And, if they're kept, Robbies Griffin and Martin could surely do a job in the First. Then there's Rooney, Bambi, Purcell, McWalter... Still lack a 15-goal-a-season player though.
Se�n Finn is apparently (and ironically, given his position) great friends with Doolo and could well be on his way to Drogheda.
Robbie Martin is supposed to be as thick as a plank. Great story from Gavin Whelan - against Bray at the start of last season, we let off a load of balloons before the match. Robbie said they floated up because of a vacuum effect...

Incidentally, a point I made in an earlier thread but which I might as well repeat here in case it got lost in whatever it was we were waffling about - apparently we're bringing the scholarship scheme forward so we sign our new sprogs in March, as opposed to midway through the season. Another move to give us confidence!

**eamoss** · 03/12/2003, 10:04 PM

I think UCD will get play-off spot if not win the league.

UCD are diff to any other club in the league, when UCD come down to Division One they dont lose money like any other club would so this means that UCD will be able to hold on too most of there players.

**UCD_4_Life** · 03/12/2003, 11:24 PM

Champions.

I reckon that Robbie Martin's pace will be enough to get him at least ten next season, Griffin got a decent number in the Premier I'd say he could double that. I don't think Rooney or Gallen are goalscorers but maybe the easier time of it in the First will give them some confidence. I think McWalter and Leech could really do a job based on my impressions of them...although how they'd do over a full season is still up for debate.

The midfield is a bit of worry if we lose Cawley (is he already gone?) and Johnny Martin but if by some miracle we keep both of them then that'll be the strongest midfield in the division without a doubt. A back four of Davey, Sullivan (although again his future is cloudy), McAuley and McNally wouldn't be too shabby either.

**pineapple stu** · 04/12/2003, 12:38 PM

Originally posted by UCD_4_Life
The midfield is a bit of worry if we lose Cawley (is he already gone?)

More or less. There was a College league game against UCC in which a number of first teamers were given the option of playing. Apparently we didn't even bother asking Cawley because we knew what he'd say.

Incidentally, I'm not saying that Cawley's gotten too big for his boots again (he seems to have enjoyed his last while at Belfield, if dedicating his goal to the fans is anything to go by), it's just the way things go.

I thought Hugh Davey would be another to go - actually told him so myself! - but he played in that game against UCC and is set to continue for another year anyway.

**Schumi** · 04/12/2003, 2:20 PM

Even in the worst case scenario: losing Cawley, McNally, Johnny Martin, Sean Finn and Sullivan, we'd still have a decent team.

-----------------Jennings------------------

--Mahon---McAuley----Donnelly?---Davey--

--Whelan---McDonnell----O'Donnell---Ryan--

---------R. Martin-----------Leech?--------

I think that team is good enough to win the division. Holding on to any of those five players (McNally and Cawley being the most important) would give us a team of premier division class.

**pineapple stu** · 04/12/2003, 4:48 PM

Gaffney in for Donnelly, drop Tony Mac back to centre-back maybe?

**UCD_4_Life** · 05/12/2003, 7:18 PM

By the way, Gary Rogers of Drogheda United thinks that he's "not in Doolin's plans" next season. He'd make an excellent signing...he's a much better 'keeper than PJ in my opinion.

Hopefully we'll get Lynch back too...

**pineapple stu** · 06/12/2003, 11:28 AM

Originally posted by UCD_4_Life
He'd make an excellent signing...he's a much better 'keeper than PJ in my opinion.

UCD exclusive - PJ may be heading back to England anyway...

TheRealRovers · 06/12/2003, 1:40 PM

The first division is a lot harder then people think most clubs that go down struggle to go straight back up when we went down we thought we would but look at us now.

**eamoss** · 07/12/2003, 12:52 AM

Yeah same happened us!

**pineapple stu** · 07/12/2003, 10:40 AM

Originally posted by TheRealRovers
The first division is a lot harder then people think most clubs that go down struggle to go straight back up when we went down we thought we would but look at us now.

Believe me, I'm well aware of that!

Two reasons for the optimism I suppose -

1) We're not going to run into financial trouble like Dundalk - which means we'll be able to hit the ground running.
2) The team's form since Pete Mahon took over would, over the entire season, have seen us four points off Europe. If Doolin was still around or had just left, I'd have been saying mid-table, but Mahon's done such a good job so far that it's hard not to see us challenging next season.

**Roo69** · 09/12/2003, 10:14 PM

tight like the season just gone. I think Derry will just about stay up so it looks like at this stage being between U.C.D, Bray and Harps with Limerick and Kildare up there causing trouble.

Thing at this early stage is that no players have left these clubs yet.

Heard U.C.D will lose up to 5 or 6 players, with Drogs taking 3 or 4 ! (Robbie Martin, Alan McNally, Anthony Sullivan and cant remember the other ? think it was Alan Cawley ? And i cant see Johnny Martin or Tony McDonnell hanging around either ?

Roumers around Bray are that Devo will step down, and players to leave will be Walsh, Tresson, Gormley, Forsyth, Zayed, Fox, Tarzan and then i cant see McGuinness wanting to stay in the 1st division for another season, same goes for Charles. So, that leaves us with, eh **** all in all fairness !

Can't see Harps loseing that many players, maybe some fringe players like Flannery (Limerick i've heard, as he's in college there and only see's the team on match days)

So, i reckon it's a tad early to be askin that question at the moment, maybe a few weeks before it all kicks off, after a few friendly's, and see who comes and goes at each club.

It'll be good to be back playing U.C.D again as there our closest club and it's a bit of a Derby, always gets a pretty good crowd and a good bit of banter

**UCD_4_Life** · 10/12/2003, 1:13 AM

Who's Anthony Sullivan when he's at home baking biscuits for his mother's birthday party?

Tony Mac? He wouldn't leave us. Maybe if we spend another three or four seasons (god forbid!) down here then he MIGHT, possibly leave...but now? Never.

I reckon we'll lose:

Alan Cawley
Johnny Martin
Alan McNally
Pat Sullivan
Sean Finn (although we might get another season from him because I doubt he's been noticed what with the injury 'n' all)

and maybe PJ, Robbie Mac or Johnny Martin. If we were to lose all of them then we would be in a bit of trouble but nothing desperate. The centre of defence would be the only place that'd need shoring up and we can sign one or two in there (not to mention the scholarship players).

**pineapple stu** · 10/12/2003, 12:36 PM

I reckon those players are the ones to worried about alright (Robbie Mac less so, I'd say). But then again, if we hold onto half of them, we'll still be very well equipped.

Roo69 - I know it's very early for all this stuff - I apologised on my first post! Just bored waiting for the new season already!

By the way, you might want to change your signature now!

**pineapple stu** · 10/12/2003, 12:37 PM

WHO VOTED THAT WE'D END UP IN RE-ELECTION?!?!?!?

**Schumi** · 10/12/2003, 12:52 PM

Originally posted by Roo69
Heard U.C.D will lose up to 5 or 6 players, with Drogs taking 3 or 4 ! (Robbie Martin, Alan McNally, [Pat] Sullivan and cant remember the other? think it was Alan Cawley? And i cant see Johnny Martin or Tony McDonnell hanging around either?

Cawley should get somewhere better than Drogs. I've heard that $hels are looking at him, they're supposed to be in some financial trouble and he'd be on lower wages than their current guys I'd say. I don't know how popular Doolo is with our players either so he may not get as many of them as he thinks! Johnny Martin and Alan McNally might go to Longford (surely a better choice than Drogs!) but it's all mindless speculation at this stage.

Rumours around Bray are that Devo will step down, and players to leave will be Walsh, Tresson, Gormley, Forsyth, Zayed, Fox, Tarzan and then i cant see McGuinness wanting to stay in the 1st division for another season, same goes for Charles.

Christ, that's the whole team (or at least the better bits!). Bray were awful against Harps on Saturday and if they lose all those, they can only be worse.

It'll be good to be back playing U.C.D again as there our closest club and it's a bit of a Derby, always gets a pretty good crowd and a good bit of banter

At least someone has something good to say about us! I must remember to bring a superser heater to Bray this season.

**pineapple stu** · 10/12/2003, 12:58 PM

Originally posted by Schumi
I don't know how popular Doolo is with our players either so he may not get as many of them as he thinks!

Sean Finn and Doolo get on really well, so he might leave. Finn's a great player, but he's always injured, so he wouldn't really be too big a loss. Plus, he's one of our biggest earners apparently, which would mean we could keep another player or two elsewhere.