Originally Posted by
magicman
Believe it or not there used to be a time on this website where Limerick soccer was debated constructively by people who knew more about football other than Pike/Fairview being the greatest team in the world.
Wonder would it be possible to open a Pike Fairview thread and let them argue over who has the bigger **** and then maybe this could get back to something like a real discussion.
Its a disgrace that people who come onto her with a proper opinion are shouted down by know it alls. I'm not saying I have any greater knowledge of junior football than the people mentioned but Chr1st can people not realise they are not always right?
This is what the Limerick Senior threads used to be like until sane people took over. It used to be great to log onto here on a Sunday and Monday, probably as far back as 2 years ago at this stage, after games and read real reports, see people debate decisions in a civil manner and actually get an idea of what is happening in Junior soccer. Now you log on and real football people like Abbeyvale come on and say "oh, we lost 3-0 but were unlucky".... Ten minutes later people are on here saying oh ye are useless and it should have been ten nil.
I know this is just a rant but I'm sick of it. I admit one or two of my comments in the past were just pure Wummings, but they were done for a reason. It was done to create a discussion and to see how people felt about issues.
Limerick players should be in the Irish set up? From a Limerick point of view then yes there should be players who get a chance, but if you watch it from the outside its a completely different picture.
I saw at least 10 Pike games last season( and before people start knocking this, I am not knocking Pike, this is my opinion). Boris was a shadow of the player he was the season before. Whether he was being watched more tightly, whether it was a different game plan or whether he was just playing rubbish. Who knows? He's a brilliant player on his day but no way did he deserve a call up last season.
Hartnett? On the ball he is brilliant. he can pick a pass 40 yards away with ease, but therein lies the problem. Pike resorted to a quick counter strategy over the last couple of years. Constantly playinng long balls up to Barry to either hold up and feed the wingers or knock onto Moloney. And that's the problem for Barry too. While he looks great against defenders not half as strong under the high ball, he doesnt play enough football to fit into the Irish set up. Compare him to the 2 Killester lads from a couple of seasons ago? Quick, brilliant first touch and great movement. Alan holds up a ball like nobody else in teh Premier League but against smarter defenders it wont work. Evidence is the way Buckley could mark him outta the game on a number of occasions.
Mullins is an excellent defender and justifiably deserves a chance, but the Irish set up must consider him small and when you look at the current centre backs then thats not a pressing issue to try him out, yet.
The two players that do deserve a chance are Neville and Kavanagh. Gary will be a top class keeper, but again, he's still learning. And while being a top class shot stopper, he is still prone to the odd mistake which is fine in a team of Pike's calibre but in a tight game could be costly. (in saying that in his 2 years at Pike he is an immensely better keeper, and will be the Irish no1 soon).
Kavanagh deserves his chance. He is the best player in the league hands down. He's a player I'm suprised isn't playing in the LOI Premier but again, at 21, he has time on his side.
Our problem, and this is from Irish selectors who I've talked to, is that our league has turned so uncompetitive. Its very rarely the likes of Pike have to hit top gear to beat a team. That's not benificial to the Pike players chances of gaining higher honours. Think aabout it, a selector turns up to watch Pike and they stroll to a 7-0 win. What can he learn about any of the defence or keeper? Apart from the odd tackle or save they are never under pressure? That filters then through the team. The midfielder or stiker who was in the scouts taughts before the game may both play brilliantly but the scout leaves thinking "that was a stroll in the park". He then goes and watches another game in the afternoon in a closer contest and sees players battle hard and do well against opponents of the same standard. When it comes to putting names forward its always going to be from the games where players face challanges and do well.
A bit of perspective is needed. And a bit of real debate. Anybody who ever siad to me player x should be in the squad, its a disgrace he's not in it. Then I have a question for you..... Who should he be in there instead of? If you can't answer it with any knowledge of the other players, how bout make a case for him. Say he deserves a chance because he's done this, this and this. Not because he's the best player in the league by a mile. Thats a rubbish arguement!
When a bit of sanity, realism and proper debate returns to this forum, and Limerick soccer supporters in general, then it will be for the better good. A realistic approach to the league by people, might see it improve. I'm not knocking the smaller teams but to call this the strongest league in the country when the top 3 scoring teams in the league have scored 101 goals in 22 games and the three most porous defences have conceded 89 goals in 23 games is ridiculous. Its detremental to our overall success. And while people will argue that there is FAI's, MJC's and should have been a couple of Oscar Traynor cups to show for it, what good is it to have 2 or 3 of the countries best squads and nothing after that?
If players want real international recognition, we need a competitive league. fair enough there will always be weaker teams, but, a few years ago we had Balla, regional, pike, fairview, carew, aisling, summerville and wembley all have players called up or being watched by junior selectors. Now, in the eyes of the "dublin only" selectors, we only have players from one or two teams worth watching.
That to me doesnt sound like progress.....
Rant over.
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