Croly leaves

[pineapple stu]

However, he paints the picture of a club that is so far up its own $@*! that they are impossible to manage. The problems in Tallaght run deeper than the manager.

What gives you that impression?

All I read into it is the standard waffle of a sacked manager trying to paint a picture for future employees of how great he was.

[Nailor]

So he blames the fans for the poor showings ?? Nothing to do with the complete total and utter dross the fans had to witness week in week out since he arrived ?

The bizarre team selections, the even madder substitutions, the fact he signed a waster like Zayed, re-signed 7 or 8 players who had been deemed not good enough a couple of years before ?

He is a nice guy, but he is one seriously deluded individual.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

So, let me get this straight. Paul Cook built the team, but couldn't win the league with them, and is lauded as a hero of sorts around the Showgrounds. Ian Barraclough came into the club, and won the league with the team Cook couldn't, yet there's a lack of respect for him, even after delivering the first title to Sligo in 35 years, as "it wasn't his team".

So, hypothetically, if Barraclough went to Shamrock Rovers and won the league with the team Crolly built, it wouldn't be much of an achievement either?

I've always scratched my head at the logic of some of the Sligo support, but this has really bemused me.

Very important word

[nigel-harps1954]

Very important word

Thought I should have emphasise it further, but I love a bit of controversy.

[adamd164]

Fourth highest budget?? That made me laugh!

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-30481144.html

I'd be interested to see a budget table for the league. I'd imagine we are the most overachieving club right now based on budget size.

[Ezeikial]

Wow - the great Shamrock Rovers (Irelands most successful football club, cup specialists, model club, best resourced, best stadium in the league, biggest fanbase etc etc) have only the 4th highest budget in the league!!

"In all likelihood Shamrock Rovers have the league's fourth largest budget behind Dundalk, Sligo and St Pat's," said Croly. - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc....eHJpJzGU.dpuf

I thought the Hoops comedy show would finish with Croly's departure

[White Horse]

I'd be interested to see a budget table for the league. I'd imagine we are the most overachieving club right now based on budget size.

I'd say you are. Just imagine the budget you'll have next season if you keep packing in 5,000 fans.

[El-Pietro]

I believe (though I could be wrong) that we had the 7th biggest budget at the start of the season. That may well have increased over the summer.

[Dalymountrower]

Indo article suggests some major pro Fenlon spinning going on within Rovers.Puts PF in a strong negotiating position if he still wants the job.

[donnrua]

[QUOTE=El-Pietro;1770227]I believe (though I could be wrong) that we had the 7th biggest budget at the start of the season. That may well have increased over the summer.[/QUOTE
Shambolic Rovers obviously have the most cash probably Pat's after that followed by either Sligo/Dundalk. I'd say Cork would have the next biggest budget or are Cork paying their fairly large squad pittance?

[El-Pietro]

Our squad was pretty small until mid season, and a lot of the players we do have are quite young, along with a few players on amateur terms. We've obviously put more towards the playing budget over the transfer window.

[Aaron]

I dont get this model club assertion that Shamrock Rovers get labelled with. What is a model club exactly?

Rovers have good sponsorship behind them, along with their "400 club" means they can outspend all other LOI clubs, but thats all that is model about them. As Croly pointed out in the article, short-termism is famous in the LOI. Look at every club in the Premier Division and only a handful of them can say they look to the long-term.

Take us for example, when Roddy came in at the start, straight away he brought in a load of players, with the intent of winning the league. Dundalk done the same when Kenny arrived, Rovers and Pat's do it every year. Sligo because of where they are in the league have had to make major cuts to their playing staff in anticipation of no European football next season. The overturn of players in the LOI is ridiculous.

The only thing we really have going for us long-term wise is our ability to bring through young talent into the first team. Over the past few years Shane McEleney, Barry McNamee, Tony McNamee, Ryan Curran, Josh Tracey, Nathan Boyle have all made the grade from reserve team to first team. We have no long-term ambition in place. Does any LOI club have this?

No such thing as a model club on this island

[CityRebel]

Our squad was pretty small until mid season, and a lot of the players we do have are quite young, along with a few players on amateur terms. We've obviously put more towards the playing budget over the transfer window.

We wouldn't have increased it much over the transfer window. Sure Elding was a big earner and he left a good while before the window, and Turner, Davoren, O'Connell and Forde left as well (although maybe one or two were on amateur terms).

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

I dont get this model club assertion that Shamrock Rovers get labelled with. What is a model club exactly?

Rovers have good sponsorship behind them, along with their "400 club" means they can outspend all other LOI clubs, but thats all that is model about them. As Croly pointed out in the article, short-termism is famous in the LOI. Look at every club in the Premier Division and only a handful of them can say they look to the long-term.

Take us for example, when Roddy came in at the start, straight away he brought in a load of players, with the intent of winning the league. Dundalk done the same when Kenny arrived, Rovers and Pat's do it every year. Sligo because of where they are in the league have had to make major cuts to their playing staff in anticipation of no European football next season. The overturn of players in the LOI is ridiculous.

The only thing we really have going for us long-term wise is our ability to bring through young talent into the first team. Over the past few years Shane McEleney, Barry McNamee, Tony McNamee, Ryan Curran, Josh Tracey, Nathan Boyle have all made the grade from reserve team to first team. We have no long-term ambition in place. Does any LOI club have this?

No such thing as a model club on this island

Think it all comes about from this. Fran Gavin calling them the Model Club. Generally brought up in jest by everyone else really though.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish...264668-gavinf/

[Ezeikial]

Take us for example, when Roddy came in at the start, straight away he brought in a load of players, with the intent of winning the league.

Please tell me you're kidding.

Did you actually believe that at some point?

Dundalk done the same when Kenny arrived, Rovers and Pat's do it every year.

When Kenny arrived at Dundalk there were no players under contract and relegation was avoided through a play-off win. Naturally "he brought in a load of players" -all within a fairly modest, sustainable budget. Pat Hoban, Kurtis Byrne, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey, Keith Ward, Darren Meenan, Chris Shields, John Mountney and Mark Rossiter did not exactly have a pose of clubs waving mega-deals at them

[Aaron]

Please tell me you're kidding.

Did you actually believe that at some point?

At which point did I say I believed that? I'm merely repeating what the bluffer said.

When Kenny arrived at Dundalk there were no players under contract and relegation was avoided through a play-off win. Naturally "he brought in a load of players" -all within a fairly modest, sustainable budget. Pat Hoban, Kurtis Byrne, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey, Keith Ward, Darren Meenan, Chris Shields, John Mountney and Mark Rossiter did not exactly have a pose of clubs waving mega-deals at them

This season as seen a high enough overturn at Dundalk though.

Dundalk
Manager: Stephen Kenny
Ins
Sean Gannon (St Patrick's Ath)
David McMillan (Sligo Rovers)
Daryl Horgan (Cork City)
Gabriel Sava (Drogheda Utd)
Ruaidhri Higgins (Derry City)
Mark Griffin (Derry City)
Donal McDermott (Bournemouth)

Outs
Stephen McDonnell (Shelbourne)
John Dillon (Southport)
Aaron Shanahan (Ballymena Utd)
John Sullivan (Shelbourne)
Tiarnan Mulvenna (Glenavon)
Vinny Faherty (Galway)
Conor Winn (Finn Harps)
Jordan Keegan (Shelbourne)
Francis McCafferty (Released)
Nathan Murphy (Released)

My general point is though Kenny is clearly building for the short-term. Who is the last player to successfully come through Dundalks ranks into the first team and make the grade as a LOI player? I have no doubt again at the end of the season there will be a high overturn of transfers in the league

[dundalkfc10]

Please tell me you're kidding.

Did you actually believe that at some point?



When Kenny arrived at Dundalk there were no players under contract and relegation was avoided through a play-off win. Naturally "he brought in a load of players" -all within a fairly modest, sustainable budget. Pat Hoban, Kurtis Byrne, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey, Keith Ward, Darren Meenan, Chris Shields, John Mountney and Mark Rossiter did not exactly have a pose of clubs waving mega-deals at them

Excellent point.

[Charlie Darwin]

Think it all comes about from this. Fran Gavin calling them the Model Club. Generally brought up in jest by everyone else really though.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish...264668-gavinf/

I think you're giving a lot of people too much credit by saying they bring it up in jest.

Delighted to see Croly go. I thought he had set in place some good foundations last season, in spite of the poor performances, but alas he couldn't handle the pressure and became more erratic as he went on and alienated all of the players, several of whom acted unprofessionally throughout and won't be mourned when they leave at the end of the season. Croly comes across as delusional but a decent enough sort, and to be fair he does appear to have had a big role in convincing the club to put in place more sustainable structures.

Hopefully Nutsy gets the job now - a man who understands the job and can handle the expectation, and who will hopefully be able to get the players onside and have them actually want to earn their paychecks for a change. I think Baraclough could do a job until the end of the season but I don't think he's the man to strengthen the squad. If Doolin gets the job I'm going to start supporting Bray.

[Jofspring]

I can't believe Croly is trying to play the poor mouth.

[Charlie Darwin]

I can't believe Croly is trying to play the poor mouth.

We can't provide the players with houses. Which explains why we can't compete with Chelsea and Barcelona. Not so much Dundalk.