Matches 13 June

[Dodge]

I don't think the pitch is an advantage. There's no doubt most Dundalk players would prefer to play on grass all the time. Their brand of football would certainly be helped by a better surface

[Mr A]

Kenny trying to build up a bit of a siege mentality.

Not sure that's a brilliant idea. Towns in Louth don't have a great history with sieges.

[White Horse]

I don't think the pitch is an advantage. There's no doubt most Dundalk players would prefer to play on grass all the time. Their brand of football would certainly be helped by a better surface

I don't know anyone associated with Dundalk who wouldn't prefer to return to a gass pitch. There is no argument as to which is better, a good grass surface wins ever time.

This issue is economics.

If this Dundalk team can attract big crowds over a number of seasons and eventually win things, we should learn from how Sligo were able to improve their facilites while contuining to invest in their squad.

I would remind people that Dundalk are coming out of a decade in the wilderness that was further complicated by poor business decisions by the previous owner.

[Ezeikial]

Speaking afterwards, Buckley - who revealed that KeithFaheyturned down the chance to play because of the pitch -

What sort of a setup is Buckley running?

Do all Pats players get to assess each pitch before deciding if they are available to play?

If the grass is too long in Dalymount or the pitch uneven in the Brandywell do each of the Pats players have an option to back out?

Has Keith Fahey ever even played in Oriel before? Or did he base his decision on what others said to him? How could Buckley tolerate this and then publicise it?

There is no doubt that the Oriel Park pitch is turning into an enormous advantage for Dundalk - because of the psychology impact on teams created by the focus on the pitch by pundits and opposition managers and players. Long may it continue?

[PartySaint]

What sort of a setup is Buckley running?

Do all Pats players get to assess each pitch before deciding if they are available to play?

If the grass is too long in Dalymount or the pitch uneven in the Brandywell do each of the Pats players have an option to back out?

Has Keith Fahey ever even played in Oriel before? Or did he base his decision on what others said to him? How could Buckley tolerate this and then publicise it?
?

You're full on mental.

[White Horse]

You're full on mental.

That would be Buckley, if allows players to pick and choose what games to play in.

[Ezeikial]

You're full on mental.

Without a doubt.

Care to address any of the questions I raised?

[PartySaint]

That would be Buckley, if allows players to pick and choose what games to play in.

You seriously can't see why a player with a dodgy enough injury list the past few years wouldn't play a on an astro pitch?

Have you ever played football before?

[Dodge]

Care to address any of the questions I raised?

I'll answer the first one

What sort of a setup is Buckley running?

One that won the league last season.

[Charlie Darwin]

That would be Buckley, if allows players to pick and choose what games to play in.

Any half-decent manager who has a player who'd missed most of the last two years with various knee injuries, and who says it would be too risky to play on a particular surface, would listen to him.

[CityRebel]

You seriously can't see why a player with a dodgy enough injury list the past few years wouldn't play a on an astro pitch?

Have you ever played football before?

Any half-decent manager who has a player who'd missed most of the last two years with various knee injuries, and who says it would be too risky to play on a particular surface, would listen to him.

Spot on. And there's been more teams than Pats rest players away to Dundalk because of the pitch.

[White Horse]

Spot on. And there's been more teams than Pats rest players away to Dundalk because of the pitch.

Dundalk have had good injury record over the last two seasons.

[El-Pietro]

John Caulfield said he wouldn't play Colin Healy at Oriel Park either due to injury concerns.

He did play there last April and that has been his only appearance in Dundalk since returning in 2012, I don't know if he was available for selection (injury/suspension)for the other games. He also played in the game in 2009 before he left for Ipswich.

[desaintsno.12]

if you accept that the surface is different to grass, and you accept that it is more difficult to play on, then logic dictates it is 100% an advantage to Dundalk. A greater advantage than just being at home. It adds an additional element that away teams have to deal with.
As a great man often says, it is what it is. Everyone just has to get on with it.

[CityRebel]

You're full on mental.

Sometimes I think I'm the only sane person on foot.ie

[White Horse]

if you accept that the surface is different to grass, and you accept that it is more difficult to play on, then logic dictates it is 100% an advantage to Dundalk.

Logic dictates that it should be an advantage. However, the evidence is that it hasn't been an advantage as Dundalk's away record is superb.

However, I think that is changing. Dundalk have done very well at Oriel Park this season.

If teams stop playing some of their better players, that will also contribute.

[mcgonigle]

Managers are resting players against Dundalk because of the pitch? This is fantastic news, another reason to keep it. I've never heard of a Dundalk manager doing the same for our players

[CityRebel]

Managers are resting players against Dundalk because of the pitch? This is fantastic news, another reason to keep it. I've never heard of a Dundalk manager doing the same for our players

Ye should be told to feck off and join the Mickey Mouse 5-a-side astro league until ye get a real football pitch.

[desaintsno.12]

Logic dictates that it should be an advantage. However, the evidence is that it hasn't been an advantage as Dundalk's away record is superb.

Two seperate points i think. This just shows Dundalk are a good team (apart from chiris shields obviously) and perhaps they have a good mentality on the road.
Obviously if we had a similar scenario i would be laughing my ass off. They are doing nothing wrong, but it clearly offers a further advantage to home games.

[Charlie Darwin]

Dundalk's home record is slightly better than their away record but I'd say it falls within the range of home advantage. It is quite noticeable how many more goals they score at Oriel than on the road though.