Who can realistically win the league?

[Nigel Irritable]

So Shels beat Cork fairly comfortably again. They have eleven points on both Cork and Bohs. Drogheda are within two points but have played two more games. Who can realistically take the league from Shels, assuming their isn't an amazing collapse?

Cork look a good side but they keep losing the big games against the other top sides. Today was just the latest example. Drogs are closest and but might be lacking the kind of quality squad they would need to keep up the pressure. Bohs probably have the best players of the three on paper but things don't seem to be going well for them at all.

I have a sneaking suspicion that it will be easier for Bohs to get their act together than for Cork or Drogs to find an extra gear. What about the rest of you?

[iceman]

Realistically , I cant see Drogs winning it.

They are a good side but I would expect Shels to win it and a scrap between Cork City and Drogs for second place , they meet in United Park on the second last series of fixtures. This game will probably decide the fate of these clubs.

Having seen Bohs last night I dont think they have what it takes...they were at sixes and sevens and could'nt capitalize on the fact that they had an extra man for the last 20mins.

[brendy_éire]

Much as I hate to say it, can't see past Shels.
Dorgheda are doing well and best of luck to them, but I somehow can't see them keeping up with the pace.
Cork are finished, and as for Bohs, watching them at the Brandy last week, can't say them look at all like a League winning side.

[tiktok]

Much as I hate to say it, can't see past Shels.

Have to agree with that.
They were under strength and supposedly tired on Saturday, they still managed to be professional and grind out a result. We've all been going on about how they've not played well this season (Europe aside), to be fair, it's true, but they've still only lost two and been the most consistent team.

I reckon they could walk it in the end

[Martinho II]

shels will easily win it now! noone will compete with them at all!

my prediction for end of season predictions is as follows:

1.shels
2.cork
3.drogs
4.bohs
5.waterford
6.longford (back in form)
7.shams
8.derry
9.pats
10.franchise city

shels will dominate the league for the next few seasons like shams in the mid 80s.

[Sheridan]

shels will easily win it now! noone will compete with them at all!

my prediction for end of season predictions is as follows:

1.shels
2.cork
3.drogs
4.bohs
5.waterford
6.longford (back in form)
7.shams
8.derry
9.pats
10.franchise city

shels will dominate the league for the next few seasons like shams in the mid 80s.

How can Franchise City finish second AND tenth??

[A face]

How can Franchise City finish second AND tenth??

Come off the stage .... why would City (Cork) be called fanchise city ??

[Sheridan]

Come off the stage .... why would City (Cork) be called fanchise city ??

Because Cork IS Franchise City. How many clubs over the years? Whenever one goes bust, another is invited to take its place because "the league needs a club in Cork." Which is fair enough, but the very definition of a franchise.

How people can criticise Dublin City on this score and ignore that fact is beyond me.

[patsh]

I think your new manager is affecting your judgement already Sheridan.....

As regards the title, City won't finish second, maybe not even in the top three. $h£l$ are streets ahead of us, and nearly everyone really. I think Drogs will hold on the 2nd, and I think Bohs will get a run together to get them into 3rd. We have played the top two in two weeks, and are well off the pace....

[LFC in Exile]

What's really funny about the result on Saturday was thinking about the small number of City fans who were banging on about how if Shels beat Depor that they could go on to dominate the eL for years etc etc. Looks like that's going to happen anyway , irrespective of a big Euro payday.

[ccfcgirl]

Shels are defiantly the best team in the league good to see drog doing so well

[Macy]

Shels are going to walk it now. Cork went on about Shels bottle, but forgot to hold on to their own.

As for second place, a lot depends on who Bohs get in, and how soon, as to whether it'll be a straight 2 way fight between Drogs and Cork or whether Bohs can come back into it (for all the talk about how shít they've been, they're still not that far off the pace).

[max power]

shels will easily win it now! noone will compete with them at all!

my prediction for end of season predictions is as follows:

1.shels
2.cork
3.drogs
4.bohs
5.waterford
6.longford (back in form)
7.shams
8.derry
9.pats
10.franchise city

shels will dominate the league for the next few seasons like shams in the mid 80s.

marty i'd put bohs above drogs and us above blahford, apart from that...spot on.

pat fenlon just seems to have the nack of signing great players, bohs can pay high wages too, but i just think fenlons signings over the past 18 months are far ahead of kennys ( when he was there) at bohs.

apart from alan moore, glen fitzpatrick has been the signing of the season for me.

[WeAreRovers]

Because Cork IS Franchise City. How many clubs over the years? Whenever one goes bust, another is invited to take its place because "the league needs a club in Cork." Which is fair enough, but the very definition of a franchise.

How people can criticise Dublin City on this score and ignore that fact is beyond me.

How dare you Sheridan. Cork City FC are 20 years old this year. With all that tradition and heritage how can you have the cheek to criticise them.

KOH

PS Shels have already won the League.

[max power]

yeah i'm looking forward to the 21st next year

[A face]

How dare you Sheridan. Cork City FC are 20 years old this year. With all that tradition and heritage how can you have the cheek to criticise them. .

Whatever ..... man, it is so fúckin' lame coming out with this all the time. I mean take Rovers ..... all that history and what did it get them, Miltown a dream and Tallaght an even bigger one, bottom half of the table and fans dwiddling away all the time. Hate saying it .... but you're comments count for fúck all really.

[tiktok]

Whenever one goes bust, another is invited to take its place because "the league needs a club in Cork." Which is fair enough, but the very definition of a franchise.

Complete opposite to you so, because there's no way Dublin needed another club.

[Macy]

Complete opposite to you so, because there's no way Dublin needed another club.

Cork City were elected to the league as well.

[WeAreRovers]

Hate saying it .... but you're comments count for fúck all really.

Glad to hear it, I'd hate to think I touched a nerve.

KOH

[Sheridan]

Sheridan, hate to point out the obvious but you brought it up. No City fan mentioned Dublin City or franchising and you suddenly make it sound like there's some issue. Also, you don't even make any attempt to back your club, your sole point is 'hey everyone look, I think another club did it too'... Big swing, I mean ManU ar only Newton Heath in disguise if you want to get down to it, but who cares (apart from yourself that is)?

I'm not having a dig at Cork, I'm just pointing out that this franchise tag fits them better than it does us. This is absolutely incontrovertible, and yet people (and yes, I've heard it from CCFC fans too) still toss around this "franchise" thing as though it were something unique to Dublin City.

Believe me, if this kind of unoriginal sh*t was being directed constantly, without interruption and from all quarters towards your team, you'd lose your patience pretty quickly too. Most of the arguments people trot out against Dublin City FC are basically groundless pretexts for the hate fetishism of so many eL fans. It's sad really.