whats going on boys (in longford)

**the 12 th man** · 14/04/2004, 7:47 AM

the team appears to be dramatically underperforming as a TEAM.
individually there are enough very talented players in the side (in the matches ive seen),but as a team its not happening.
any plus points from the pats game last night?????

**max power** · 14/04/2004, 9:21 AM

the only plus point was that i was working and didn't waste money on diesel going down to the game.....

**Xlex** · 14/04/2004, 9:30 AM

and a good job the season ticket was priced outta my range... would have felt a right knob paying for such a poor game especially given the fact that I wasn't at it....

**max power** · 14/04/2004, 9:41 AM

true xlex, but i can't just deciede to support one week and not the next like the fair weather supporters, i'm in it for the long haul.......

**Xlex** · 14/04/2004, 9:50 AM

It looks like a poor start to the season. I been to 1 game this year. Only other game I could have made was Waterford and really after travelling that distance I believe the quality wasn't there. I really is a case of preferance but it is benevolant enough to suggest I pay for the games I see rather than the games I don't see when the quality is so obviously lacking in character and determination and you can't see the challenge devolping for 3rd place. I had hoped something might change in the line-up. Other given chances, like Seanie Francis and perhaps Lavine.

**De Town** · 14/04/2004, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by the 12 th man

any plus points from the pats game last night?????

Alan Kirby was the only one that played last nite that could have said that he tried his heart out. when digger was sent off and we took martin off, kirbs knew he was the only creative player in midfield so compared to his preformances already this season, i thought he played very well.

**Pauro 76** · 14/04/2004, 5:50 PM

Kirby had a fine game, but nobody aside from Baker when he came on had any spark. if Digger hadnt been sent off, id have fancied us for a draw, we just collapsed after that. Im disappointed that Francis has been ignored so far, top scorer last season, player of the year last season... give him a chance!

**Maz** · 14/04/2004, 6:33 PM

Not a great start to the season at al and in fairness theres only so much time you can give to a team to "gel". Another thing that annoys me ....late substitutions surely Matthews realised Baker and Francis couldn work miracles in the space of time they were given.

**Martinho II** · 14/04/2004, 9:23 PM

We seem to have gone backwards as a team since last year. I dont think there is enough passion in this team at all. I just wish that Matthews should have went for a goalscroing midfielder and let go a few of the squad like vinny-he is just not up to the standard and pip needs to build himself a lot more joe ndo was just too strong for him last night. Another thing as well why did he not keep the strikeforce the same as last year -that would have made Keegan fight like hell to get into the team.

imo considering the severe defensive crisis now is the time to put Keegan into central defence-I saw him play at the UCD game and he was a revelation there.Drop Fergie and put Prunty back into defence-why he was dropped I dont know and put Gartland to replace Vinny in midfeild .I would also drop Keogh and replace him with John Martin as he has strength and has a great engine -potential wise I think he could be as good as Stewie byrne was for us.
Garto is a younger version of vinny and should be moved from defence. I think that he is too agressive to be a defender.
The sooner McGovern and Paiso come back the sooner the town will fly up the table!

If I was the boss my team to face Shels would be:
Dempsey
Murphy
Dillo
Keego
Prunts
Kirbs
Garto
Johnny Martin
Baker
Barrett
Francis

**the 12 th man** · 15/04/2004, 7:33 AM

i was at that game at ucd as well and thought he played very well at that position.i was talking to some longford people that day and they told me that he was playing out of position just as an experiment(i hadnt seen the longford team play in a while).nothing got by him in the air and very little on the deck so maybe martinho 11 has a point.

**Longfordian** · 15/04/2004, 11:50 AM

I'd say there'll be a few changes for Shels. If i had to guess, seein as McGovern and Prunty are injured;

Dempsey
Dillo Ferguson Paisley Garto
Martin Murph Kirby Byrne
Baker Francis