2011 PD & FD Predictions

[pineapple stu]

Ridiculously hard to call this year, particularly the First

Premier
Rovers by ten points or so
Sligo

Pat's
Dundalk
Derry - not as good as the old Derry teams obviously, but then the league has gone downhill a lot
Bohs (who I'd be amazed to see around next year sadly, except as a new club)
Bray (their revival last year wasn't actually that great - form-wise they were still below us. May sneak sixth though)
UCD (assuming our one forward doesn't get injured!)
Galway
Drogheda (both of whom have strengthened in recent days in fairness)

First -
Shels (cos I know more about them)
Limerick
Harps
Waterford
Cork (don't think their signings have been that great?)
Monaghan
Longford
Wexford
Athlone
Salthill
Mervue

With the usual disclaimer that I only pay sporadic attention to the First, and then usually just the top two spots, cos that's all that ever concerns us.

Reckon Rovers have a genuine chance at the UEFA Cup groups this year.

[LFC-Zulu]

Premier Division:

1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Sligo Rovers
3. Dundalk
4. Pats
5. Derry
6. Bohs
7. UCD
7. Bray
9. Galway
10. Drogheda

First Division:

1. Shelbourne
2. Limerick
3. Waterford (To win the playoff against Drogheda!)
4. Cork
5. Finn Harps
6. Monaghan
7. Wexford
8. Longford
9. Mervue
10. Athlone
11. Salthill

FAI Cup Winners: Sligo Rovers
Setanta Cup Winners: Dundalk
League Cup Winners: Pats
Premier Division Top Scorer: Gary Twigg
First Division Top Scorer: Stephen O'Flynn
First Manager to be sacked: Mike Kerley
First top class interview: Pete Mahon

[El-Pietro]

Cork (don't think their signings have been that great?)

You haven't seen Escude-Candau, hes been really impressive. Derek O'Brien is the one I'm excited about - we haven't even seen him yet though, hes been pretty decent for me in Champ manager though :P

I'm obvioulsy biased but I think our starting XI is as good as any in the division.

Hoggy and Danny are experienced pros and will keep things tight at the back. More than a match for the majority of wingers in the league. Gavin Kavanagh was a brilliant pick up for us last season, far better than expected and has gotten better with more games under his belt. Apparently loves it in Cork as well which is a plus. Greg is a decent squad player, not my favourite person but he'll hold the fort down until Stephen Mulcahy returns. Lets not forget how well Mulcahy was playing before his injury, in the u23 squad, singled out for praise by Trapp and honestly our best player up to that point, better than Cummins even. hed have been in the running for player of the year. So all in all we've a very decent defence for the first division.

Gearóid Morrisey has been in fantastic form in pre season and looks much stronger, I think a few people were saying how well he played in the U21 game. been our best midfielder anyway. I'd expect him to be going back to England in a season or two, but hes signed up for this year and next so we should get a few bob if he does go.
Alongside him you've Duggan who has been disappointing of late but is a decent midfielder and hes still young so hopefully can get back to his form of two seasons ago/start of last season.

Davin was another who disappointed last year but has been really up for it in pre season, taking players on, beating them, scoring goals, creating chances. Hes a quality first division player and a decent prem one so I'd expect more from him this year. He knows he needs to show more himself.
Escude-Candau looks quality as I mentioned and I'd love to see him playing in behind Cummins. Some of his passing has been exquisite and he gets into the box, something we've lacked from midfielders for years, since George was here the first and second times anyway.
I've mentioned O'Brien, don't know what to expect from him. Hes our only senior "winger", we only have two in the squad. Lots of wingers/strikers though. I'm just delighted we have someone who plays on the wing.

Then up front you have Cummins. No introduction needed.

Vinny Sull isn't a world beater but he should add a few goals, we definitely didn't score enough last year and we can't rely on Cummins to score roughly 50% of our goals again, not if we expect promotion. My worry with Sullivan is that he didn't score many goals against top half teams last year (one against us in the second game of the season and one against Mons) and he didn't score many in the second half of the season. Just two I think. But we struggled against the likes of Salthill, Mervue etc so goals against those teams will make a big difference.

Injuries will tell a lot with City. We have a limited squad. Some of our options off the bench do not fill me with confidence, I mean I think I have as many LOI goals as Timmy Kiely, we've only one sub centre half until Mulcahy comes back. On the plus side we've some exciting young players such as Rory Morrissey, Simon Holland Kalen Spillane and Keiran "Kiwi" Kenneally so if one or two of them makes the grade we'll be delighted.

Forget to mention Nults. Obviously hes not the greatest keeper and hes prone to some massive mistakes, but hes improved a lot over the last year. I wish we'd gone out and signed a Barry Murphy or a Diarmuid Quigley or someone but its not easy to bring these lads to Cork for part time football so we will have to make do. He can make some incredible saves, but he still thinks hes a striker and too often tries to dribble around attackers, he hasn't been made to pay for that yet...

[Pablo Escobar]

Sssshhhh......please ignore El-Pietro, we're going to be sh1te!




Seriously though, we look impressive. I can't understand how so many people put Waterford ahead of us in the predictions. I think we'll be 2nd, behind Shels. The 2 games away to them might catch us. Limerick also look dangerous. Harps will be dark-horses and Waterford about the same level as Harps I think.

[pineapple stu]

Sssshhhh......please ignore El-Pietro, we're going to be sh1te!

It's ok - all I heard was "We're in the First Division for the second year in a row", and to a big club like us, that's like a barely audible buzz in the ears.

[Dodge]

Derek O'Brien is the one I'm excited about

All Cork's excitement should be nuetered due to this comment.

[El-Pietro]

All Cork's excitement should be nuetered due to this comment.

you don't seem to understand.

we haven't had an actual winger in years. We've had strikers shunted out there but not actual wingers. We could have signed some lad from Casement Celtic and I'd be excited if he was a winger.

[Sam_Heggy]

you don't seem to understand.

we haven't had an actual winger in years. We've had strikers shunted out there but not actual wingers. We could have signed some lad from Casement Celtic and I'd be excited if he was a winger.

Ahh, but can the lad from Casement Celtic cross a ball?

[micls]

All Cork's excitement should be nuetered due to this comment.

It's a personal thing for El pietro. O Brien is his type.....

Ahh, but can the lad from Casement Celtic cross a ball?

Meh, crossing is overrated, we've got full backs that can do that We want to see someone who can have the ball at their feet and run at the same time Seriously though, anyone who's played in the LOI for more than a season will be an improvement on the children we had in this position first half of last season. If they touched the ball more than 3 times between them in the half a season they played I missed it.

[Dodge]

As I said, settle down if you're expecting better

[passinginterest]

Time for the annual bump to see how badly wrong we all were! Dundalk, Waterford and Finn Harps probably the most disappointing performers of the season going on the predictions.

[pineapple stu]

And also with his premier too.. Call me biased, but do you honestly think Dundalk are going to finish 6th below Pats, Bohs and Derry?

Tee hee!

10. Drogheda United (Lowest league points total ever)

Half right anyway! And incidentally, thanks to Galway for taking that record off us.

Reckon Rovers have a genuine chance at the UEFA Cup groups this year.

Only myself and DublinRed went for this (though DR reckoned on them getting to the last qualifying round of the CL instead, and most people didn't go with European predictions)

[nigel-harps1954]

1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Sligo Rovers
3. Dundalk
4. Bohemians
5. St.Pats
6. Derry
7. UCD
8. Bray
9. Drogheda
10. Galway




League cup seems to be Derrys lucky competition so expect them to reach semi at least if not final. But I'd imagine Shamrock Rovers reserves to win it they have such a squad their 2nd team would be capable of it. If not I'd guess Sligo or even Dundalk to win it.

FAI cup, will be one of those surprise competitions again, put my head on the line here and even say Shels to reach the final of that one with Shamrock Rovers the eventual winners.

Dundalk for Setanta.

Wasn't far off with this lot. Won't talk about the first division.

[Sam_Heggy]

Prem:

1. Rovers
2. Sligo
3. Pats
4. Muckers
5. Bohs
6. Dundalk
7. UCD
8. Bray
9. Galway
10. Drogs - I actually predict them to win less than 3 games all season (based on current squad)

First Div:
1. Shels
2. Waterford
3. Limerick
4. Harps
5. Cork
6. Mons
7. Wexford
8. Longford
9. Athlone
10. Mervue
11. Salthill

.

Oh dear.
I got the Prem ok-ish
The first division predictions were awful. The only one I got right was Salthill finishing bottom.

[legendz]

Premier:
1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Sligo Rovers
3. Dundalk
4. St. Patrick's Athletic
5. Derry City
6. Bohemians
7. UCD
8. Bray Wanderers
9. Galway United
10. Drogheda United

First Division:
1. Shelbourne
2. Cork City
3. Waterford United
4. Monaghan United
5. Limerick FC
6. Finn Harps
7. Longford Town
8. Wexford Youths
9. Athlone Town
10. Mervue United
11. Salthill Devon

FAI Cup: Shamrock Rovers

League Cup: Derry City

Setanta Sports Cup: Sligo Rovers

Got the top 2. Derry did better than I expected with Dundalk doing worse. Bohs midtable and a place better than I expected. Bray carried through their good form from the end of last season. I never foresaw Galway's problems. Drogheda after their own problems seemed the likeliest before the season's kick-off.


Was nearly spot on with the top 2 in the FD but Cork's late goal put paid to that. Waterford had a disappointing season.

[total hoofball]

Prem:

1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Sligo Rovers
3. Dundalk
4. Bohemians
5. St Patrick's Athletic
6. Derry City
7. Bray Wanderers
8. UCD
9. Galway United
10. Drogheda United

First:

1. Waterford United
2. Cork City
3. Shelbourne
4. Monaghan United
5. Limerick
6. Finn Harps
7. Longford Town
8. Wexford Youths
9. Athlone Town
10. Mervue United
11. Salthill Devon

Dundalk and Waterford

I still think if Waterford and Dundalk played to their full potential they would have achieved those respective positions. Car crash seasons from both.

Definitely underestimated Derry based on them limping to the First Division title and signings like Zayed, Higgins and McGlynn coming off underwhelming performances in 2010.

[dcfc_1928]

Genius!

Think Derry are being over-estimated. Looking at their squad I dont expect them to ever really challenge for a Euro place. Shams big squad could be their downfall, can't keep them all happy and they also have a poor manager in O'Neill so that doesn't help either.

[dfx-]

1. Rovers
2. Londonderry
3. Sligo
4. Pats
5. Dundalk
6. Bohs
7. UCD
8. Bray
9. Galway
10. Drogheda*

Division 1:

1. Cork City
2. Shels
3. Waterford
4. Limerick
5. Monaghan
6. Finn Harps
7. Wexford Youths
8. Athlone
9. Longford
10. Mervue United
11. Salthill Devon

Not great...Sligo did better than I anticipated as did Bray, Mervue, Longford and especially Mons. Dundalk, Waterford, Wexford..a bit different. Derry were always going to be the toughest opponent I thought..and they were.

[El-Pietro]

Derek O'Brien is the one I'm excited about

All Cork's excitement should be nuetered due to this comment.

He did the business when it mattered

[placid casual]

1st-Shamrock Rovers
2nd- is nowhere.

Do I win a prize ?
gettin quite used to prize giving around these parts...