Weekend 23rd, 24th Feb

[The Bowler]

Been to some awful games at The Bowl, but last night would have tested the patience of a Saint. Pitch as always at this time of the year has been rugbyfied, and as for the quality, enough said. Meanwhile, the Keaney effect setting in early for Drogs, god bless them, gonna be a long season for them if they are looking for clean sheets with that fella at the back.

[ontheotherhand]

Brilliant stuff for Galway last night. I've been critical of Caulfield in the past, particularly at Cork, of being stubbornly glued to 1990 era route 1, lump it long, hope for the best, style of tactic, but he used it to perfection last night. Galway's low block snuffed out Dundalk by and large. 2 goals and three times hitting the post from 25% possession. Dundalk will do well to finish 6th this season, and many of their fans may feel that's decent, considering there's a rebuild in progress.

It's brilliant how quickly the route 1 stuff turns into the successful low block when the results are good. Dundalk did the same in Tallaght and got a result so it's nice to see it employed against them.

Wish we'd done a bit of that early doors last night. We were dire. Shels ran amok and could have been 3 up after 30 mins. Burke came on and the game shifted completely, albeit Shels were 2 up and happy enough to sit back. We created enough to win the game even with that but we aren't clicking in front of goal yet, and they also had chances on the break. Two great saves from Pohls and a few from Kearns stopped it being a 4-4 scoreline. Game was a cracker compared to other fixtures between us. Shels first win against us since 2012 I think so their celebrations were understandable. They have some quality players now. Molloy is brilliant. Met some Shels lads afterwards and they were delighted. Good stuff going on there. That zombie song is woejus though.

We will only get better but there are some serious worries now. Wingback is an obvious weak spot but I'd be concerned about our options up front now too. We really need Jack back.

Mad start to the season.

[thebronze14]

It's brilliant how quickly the route 1 stuff turns into the successful low block when the results are good. Dundalk did the same in Tallaght and got a result so it's nice to see it employed against them.

Wish we'd done a bit of that early doors last night. We were dire. Shels ran amok and could have been 3 up after 30 mins. Burke came on and the game shifted completely, albeit Shels were 2 up and happy enough to sit back. We created enough to win the game even with that but we aren't clicking in front of goal yet, and they also had chances on the break. Two great saves from Pohls and a few from Kearns stopped it being a 4-4 scoreline. Game was a cracker compared to other fixtures between us. Shels first win against us since 2012 I think so their celebrations were understandable. They have some quality players now. Molloy is brilliant. Met some Shels lads afterwards and they were delighted. Good stuff going on there. That zombie song is woejus though.

We will only get better but there are some serious worries now. Wingback is an obvious weak spot but I'd be concerned about our options up front now too. We really need Jack back.

Mad start to the season.

Why does burke not start every game for ye? Rate him as one of the best in the league

[sulywaterfordfc]

LOI season in full swing though you wouldn't have thought it from the Indo sports section when I perused the free copy with my morning coffee, no results from last night that I could see, though they had the Late UK racing and no mention of our game tonight though you can read all about what is scheduled in Scottish league 2, no wonder, nobody will buy the filthy rag.

Dan McDonell said last week I’m sure that they’re pushing more online content this season as the reports etc are done to late on the Friday to reach the print deadline.

[ontheotherhand]

Not always fit but when he is and hes up for it he's unplayable. Bradley likes to protect him a bit more than others I think. Probably isn't able for 90 minutes every week and we need him for Europe. He was excellent during the run in last season too.

Lacks that bit of pace that would have had him succeed elsewhere but I'm delighted we have him. Lovely to watch.

[redarmyfaction]

Dan McDonell said last week I’m sure that they’re pushing more online content this season as the reports etc are done to late on the Friday to reach the print deadline.

No mention of tonight's game AFAICS, no deadline there.

[gufct]

Didn’t stop the report of the u20 rugby team .

[joey B]

Poor enough game in Sligo,not much created by either side,Derry lost McEleney and Dummigan to injury aswell,Dummigan's might be a bad one.....

[oriel]

Brilliant stuff for Galway last night. I've been critical of Caulfield in the past, particularly at Cork, of being stubbornly glued to 1990 era route 1, lump it long, hope for the best, style of tactic, but he used it to perfection last night. Galway's low block snuffed out Dundalk by and large. 2 goals and three times hitting the post from 25% possession. Dundalk will do well to finish 6th this season, and many of their fans may feel that's decent, considering there's a rebuild in progress.

Dundalk were brutal last night, deserved nothing out of the game, really disappointing considering the performance and full value for a draw away to Rovers last week. There is a lot of work to do as I did not see us losing last night to Galway.

Possibly worst home performance in SOD era, Rovers battered us last year, Benson sent off early at 0-0 and we were blitzed, this was just rubbish last night, hardly laid on glove on Galway.

[Buckett]

It's interesting that your worst home and away performances under SOD have been against Galway Utd, considering he's a Galway man!

[sbgawa]

So after two shocking performances we are only 3 off the top.
That's as close to a positive spin as I can get

[oriel]

It's interesting that your worst home and away performances under SOD have been against Galway Utd, considering he's a Galway man!

That's a good point, or more so Caulfield did a number on Dundalk in both games. Galway are almost into the 'Can we play you every week' stuff.

[Buckett]

We are to you what Longford Town are to us!

[gufct]

We have a shocking record against Dundalk . Our last win in oriel was 20 years ago and we have only won 3 games in oriel and one in gortakeegan when the plastic pitch was being installed. The team on Friday had 10 of last years squad starting Karl ‘O’Sullivan being the only new signing and no recognised striker. We could have won by 5 or 6.

[outspoken]

We are to you what Longford Town are to us!

Superior in every way?

[Buckett]

Based on the last few head-to-heads, yes!

[Nesta99]

So after two shocking performances we are only 3 off the top.
That's as close to a positive spin as I can get

Its a bit groundhog day. Rovers missing Burke, Byrne, Farrugia, Clarke are average. Enough to scrape through but never convincingly and its pretty similar to last season. Has there been improvements made bar hoping the players mentioned stay fit. I dont think there has been much raising the bar outside the 1st 11. No improvement on regural backup like Hoare for example. Lose Gaffney and its back to Greene to deputise especially if 2 playing up top. It could be argued that Mannus isnt the big loss it could have been.

Dundalk....well that high defensive line is haunting us again. 1st goal beat offside easily and was a tap in, 2nd was a lovely looping header but far too much time was given to pick out a cross. Galway smacked the post due to no closing down of player shooting. Some ok moves from Dundalk but like last season it is a waiting to see the side click and we waited all last season for that to happen. Thats 6-0 on agg for Galway - there is obviously a place for the agricultural route one at times and maybe thats against a high press with pace to chase.

Shame about the result considering the jump in the crowd. If there had been a full away section it could have been a 3700 attendance give or take.

[2 Year Contract]

Article on potential sanctions Bohs will face for their fans throwing flares at their players:

https://www.the42.ie/bohemians-fans-...09531-Feb2024/

Have to say I got a laugh out of the quote from Devine saying that he doesn’t condone players getting injured by flares, interesting to see how he disciplines Cian Byrne for having the audacity to do so Also interesting choice of words saying that every fan in the country is lighting flares at games

[ontheotherhand]

Its a bit groundhog day. Rovers missing Burke, Byrne, Farrugia, Clarke are average. Enough to scrape through but never convincingly and its pretty similar to last season. Has there been improvements made bar hoping the players mentioned stay fit. I dont think there has been much raising the bar outside the 1st 11. No improvement on regural backup like Hoare for example. Lose Gaffney and its back to Greene to deputise especially if 2 playing up top. It could be argued that Mannus isnt the big loss it could have been.

Dundalk....well that high defensive line is haunting us again. 1st goal beat offside easily and was a tap in, 2nd was a lovely looping header but far too much time was given to pick out a cross. Galway smacked the post due to no closing down of player shooting. Some ok moves from Dundalk but like last season it is a waiting to see the side click and we waited all last season for that to happen. Thats 6-0 on agg for Galway - there is obviously a place for the agricultural route one at times and maybe thats against a high press with pace to chase.

Shame about the result considering the jump in the crowd. If there had been a full away section it could have been a 3700 attendance give or take.

If we scrape through to a fifth league win on the bounce I'll be happy enough with the average team to be honest. And if we do win it, you'll be saying we bought all the best players of course.

You are right in that we are weaker without those four all the same. But....that's sort of normal isn't it? Any team without it's 4 best players is going to feel it.

[Calcio Jack]

Its a bit groundhog day. Rovers missing Burke, Byrne, Farrugia, Clarke are average. Enough to scrape through but never convincingly and its pretty similar to last season. Has there been improvements made bar hoping the players mentioned stay fit. I dont think there has been much raising the bar outside the 1st 11. No improvement on regural backup like Hoare for example. Lose Gaffney and its back to Greene to deputise especially if 2 playing up top. It could be argued that Mannus isnt the big loss it could have been.

Dundalk....well that high defensive line is haunting us again. 1st goal beat offside easily and was a tap in, 2nd was a lovely looping header but far too much time was given to pick out a cross. Galway smacked the post due to no closing down of player shooting. Some ok moves from Dundalk but like last season it is a waiting to see the side click and we waited all last season for that to happen. Thats 6-0 on agg for Galway - there is obviously a place for the agricultural route one at times and maybe thats against a high press with pace to chase.

Shame about the result considering the jump in the crowd. If there had been a full away section it could have been a 3700 attendance give or take.

Over the two games so far we’ve been missing: Byrne,Lopes, McEneff ( both games) ,Grace, Burke,Kenny & Towell (one game) Farrugia & Clarke (1.5 games)

Most of the above would be starters if full squad fit ….. imo there has been decent improvement to the squad with McEneff , Honahan ( to replace Hoare when Lopes back and he looks a super player) and Burns coming in and Power/Burt moved out.

If we lose Gaffney we have option of one from Greene, Burke & Kenny , imo that’s as good a level of squad depth as can be asked for.

The only groundhog for me is the poor start but event that’s nothing too concerning as again so called ‘contenders ‘ have already after only two games failed to take full advantage