QuoteOr UCD so low.
Or arguably Cork so high, given how wojus they were once Maguire left. I think Pat's are so high because they finished the season strongly and seem to have built on that in pre-season in fairness.
I must have missed something, as I don't get why everyone is placing Pat's so high.
Or UCD so low.
Or arguably Cork so high, given how wojus they were once Maguire left. I think Pat's are so high because they finished the season strongly and seem to have built on that in pre-season in fairness.
Pat's have signed very well since last summer. The guts of a whole new team signed since last July really. I think they've the strongest squad now outside Cork and Dundalk, but it all depends on how well it all comes together for them. European qualification is a distinct possibility for them this season in my view.
UCD are a bit of an unknown quantity this year, and the division is fairly equal from 1st to 8th. They could finish 2nd as easily as they could finish 8th. First Division this year is all about who gets off to the strongest start and has momentum from day one, similar to what Cork done last year in the Premier.
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
We shouldn't be an unknown quantity as I think we've only lost two players in pre-season, which is quite good for us. One of those only played a few games last year.
I agree it looks a very tight division though.
How will the colllingwood cup etc effect UCD’s start to the season? Keeping Kelly is huge I see he’s banging them at the momentOriginally Posted by pineapple stu
Same as it always does - we always play it. It's good pre-season practice, but we may have a weakened team out v Shels if there's a clash.
You've missed nothing, even @loitransfers have them 3rd in their prediction, this is madness to suggest both Rovers and Derry will miss out on 3rd at the expense of Pats. I have them as 5th and even that was the ultimate max and it took me a while to pick them ahead of Sligo / Waterford / Bohs.
#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).
Derry have lost McNamee tho, 10 goals last season. Great boost that Nicky Low is back on loan but still a huge loss. Pats look loaded in the attacking areas with good experience in midfield. Back 4 is a worry but when you look at how many games rovers lost last season and where they finished the gap between the likes of rovers, Derry and Pats is fairly minimal.
Must say even as a Pats fan I'm surprised people have predicted us to finish in the top 5. While we look stronger than the start of last season there is still a lot of young players with us. Although I do think the gap between the top 4 and the rest will close this season. Cork and Dundalk haven't improved in the off season and Derry have signed quite a few gambles and Gavin Peers who was poor for us last season.
Anyway predictions
Premier Division
1st Cork
2nd Dundalk
3rd Shams
4th Waterford
5th Derry
6th St Pats
7th Bohemians
8th Sligo
9th Limerick
10th Bray
First Division
1st Drogheda United
2nd Galway United
3rd UCD
4th Finn Harps
5th Longford
6th Shelbourne
7th Cobh Ramblers
8th Cabinteely
9th Wexford
10th Athlone
FAI Cup Dundalk
EA Sports Cup St Pats
Premier Division:
1. Louth Lillywhites franchise
2. Cork
3. Shams
4. Derry
5. Waterford
6. Pats
7. Bohs
8. Sligo
9. _______
10. Bray
First Division:
1. Athlone
2. Athlone
3. Athlone
4. Athlone
5. Athlone
6. Athlone
7. Athlone
8. Athlone
9. Athlone
10. Drogheda
FAI Cup: N/A (no winner declared and competition abandoned as Cork and Dundalk make final for 4th consecutive year)
League Cup: Cork City
Play-Off: FD team lose to PD team
First Manager Sacked: The foreman of Bray Coastal Properties Ltd.
Top Scorer Premier: Sean Maguire probably
Top Scorer First: The ghost of Jason Byrne
Mon the Town!
I think the high placing of Pats in so many predictions reflects the fact that after strengthening in the July transfer window they picked up points at a Top Three rate for the rest of the season - of the players that made the difference they have only lost Balk while picking up Madden, Toner, Ryan Brennan and others - and potentially the key player, Garvan, will now be much fitter than when he arrived. So it's not unreasonable to expect them to at least maintain their form of the last 14 or so matches. But that's the theory, We'll soon see how it is in practice. I don't expect another relegation struggle anyway.
We don't, there's still a good few doubts about our squad, Turner and Clarke are not up to much, Doona and Thomas Byrne are sort of unknowns so they can go either way.
At the back we look fine but it'll depend on how Toner settles in coming back from England, Bermo and Madden are class so no worries there.
I think Garvan will be brilliant this season but I'd still prefer a Bolger like player beside him, we might get overrun in the middle if it's himself and Brennan in there as they're not the quickest.
and then a lot depends on which Fagan shows up.
I reckon we'll be 4th or 5th, hopefully do enough to get into Europe
Here on a technicality.
Premier Division
1st Dundalk
2nd Rovers
3rd Cork
4th Bohs
5th Derry
6th St Pats
7th Waterford
8th Sligo
9th Limerick
10th Bray
First Division
1st Drogheda United
2nd Finn Harps
3rd Cabinteely
4th Galway
5th Longford
6th Shelbourne
7th Cobh Ramblers
8th UCD
9th Wexford
10th Athlone
FAI Cup Bohs
EA Sports Cup Rovers
Premier Division
1st Dundalk Isotopes
2nd Rovers
3rd Cork
4th Derry
5th Sligo
6th St Pats
7th Wahafad
8th Bohs
9th Mid West Unmentionables
10th East Coast Redacteds
First Division
1st Drogheda United
2nd Galway
3rd Harps
4th UCD
5th Longford
6th Shelbourne
7th Cobh Ramblers
8th Cabo
9th Wexford
10th Athlone
FAI Cup Rovers
EA Sports Cup Derry[/QUOTE]
This is what I think as well
Cork were bang average last season post Maguire and I dont see them improving.
Regarding Dundalk, I just have a feeling things will unravel there a bit this season. Hence my prediction.
1. Dundalk Rowdies
2. Cork
3. The Shamrocks
4. The Pats
5. Sligs
6. Derry
7. Waterford
8. Bohs
9. ........ ..
10. Democratic People’s Republic of Wicklow FC
First
1. Shels
2. Harps
3. LTFC
4. Galway
5. UCD
6. Cobh
7. Drogs
8. Cabinteely
9. Wexford
10. Athlone
To be honest outside the top 2 in the Premier there won’t be an awful lot between them. The First is wide open for 7 teams as everyone is saying. Should be interesting, and at least the play offs are back.
Upwards to the vanguard where the pressure is too high.
We're adding Sadlier, McNamee and Cummins to the attack that struggled after Maguire left (Sadlier was here but didn't start a lot of games). I don't know where we'll finish, but if those players don't improve us I don't know what will!
It doesn't work like that in practise. Take a goal scorer out of a team and replace him with several good players isn't a winning combo.....look at Everton this year minus lukaku. That's not being critical of cork at the end of the day a guy as good as Maguire isn't going to co.e cheap or easy and not on a loi budget
We might get some clues to the respective strengths of Cork and Dundalk in the Presidents Cup meeting on Sunday
Will be interesting but home advantage and little traveling support will provide all the excuses needed .
If dundalk start strong cork might not be to bothered.
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks