Mostly Dublin drawn. Thankfully local numbers have started to increase over the past couple of seasons but very few if any break into the senior side. I've heard a few complaints from local players that certain underage players are quicker to get a senior call up because they are dubs. Could just be disappointed kids making a statement then again when you see some of the players cousins has attempted to bring though you do wonder what he saw in some of them.
Yeah any increase in attendances would of course be of benefit to the budget. To be honest though, driving through town today it really hit home that the place is on its knees. I'm not one to get overly dramatic but a drive around the main streets is an eye opener for someone who lives away from Longford. Empty shop units everywhere and loads of bargain stores in the ones that are open. There's been no 'recovery', there are still jobs being lost and I'm not surprised that we're struggling to get people out to pay their €15.
Some will say the club could be doing more and they're probably right but I'm not convinced it would make any difference financially. We're still relatively competitive in LOI due to the interest and support of a very few individuals (one in particular). If that changed we'd probably be back to the bottom of the First or maybe even dropping out altogether.
Upwards to the vanguard where the pressure is too high.
Of course increased gates would help the budget but what I'm saying is our gates is not top of the list in dictating our budget. TC stated before pre season that he wanted to lower the age of the squad and give more of the U-19's a chance. He got rid of a good few experienced PL players and didn't replace them. The U-19's aren't good enough for PL football yet if at all. This is probably the least talented squad we've had in the PL and I'd even go as far as saying our FD winning squad was better. Once we go outside our first 11 we are struggling. So unless we're not going to suffer injuries or suspensions we'll be grand but at the minute we are missing I think 6!!
So no Ezeikiel, I don't think it's 'a really naive claim'.
Has Cousins assembled this younger squad because he believes it's progression for the club or is he simply managing a budget cut?
I don't think anyone in their right mind would choose the likes of Dillon, Hughes, McGlynn, O'Reilly over very good and proven players like Rice, Sullivan, Salmon, Ben Mohamed
The Leinster Senior League needs a strong Bohemians
Budget is the same as last season.
Cousins openly stated his intention to reduce the age of the squad, the outcome of this season will be down to him.
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), first Irish club to win points in a group stage in Europe (2016).
Actually, he said he'd talk to Noel King and see could he get players released early. Before the u21 squad was trimmed down, Cork sought to have the game postponed. I don't see anything wrong with what Caulfield and Cork have done but let's not kid ourselves that Bolger's suspension played no part in it
54,321 sold - wws will never die - ***
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