Games weekend 11th to 14th April

[Olander]

Have to stop giving teams 2 goal leads but really another game we shouldn’t have lost as Elding missed 2 great chances before getting one back from the penalty. Huge couple of games coming up against Waterford and Cork.

A bit misleading to say that to be honest. The better team won last night. Elding had two good chances, but we had double Sligo's shots last night and we really should've killed the game off sooner. Sligo had more of the ball granted, but we had far more dangerous chances and had the ball in a lot more dangerous areas.

The difference in quality between the two squads was evident last night. We were missing as many key players as Sligo, but our XI and bench is a lot stronger.

[ThirdManRun]

Six points from nine on the road is a bit better than three from 18 at home in fairness

We still just don't have a regular goalscorer. Best defence bar Dundalk; worst attack bar Athlone

I was looking back further than the 3 games this season, but two wins against last seasons bottom two should be the bare minimum for UCD?

I would have expected them to push to win the league after finishing second last season.

Point about second best defence and second worst attack does point towards a change in approach maybe?

Missing a star like Colm Whelan or Liam Kerrigan doesn’t help.

[Kiki Balboa]

First round of fixtures finished. If things continue, Drogheda set to win the league with 72 points, the same as Rovers in 2023 and 9 higher than Shels last year.

Sligo would finish bottom on 16 points, 10 points off from bottom place Dundalk in 2024.

Reading different sources, Bohs, Waterford, Cork and Sligo all think they are going to get relegated... So I kind of feel there is more potential this year over last for anyone to get a decent run of results.

No easy games in a 10 team league... Every weekend is a 6 pointer.

[Buckett]

I'm delighted with that first series of games from a Galway Utd perspective. We're playing with a different formation this season but the strength of our bench is a massive improvement on last year. Another top half finish this season would be great, we were only 11 points off Shelbourne at the end last year.

[Thewhitepele]

A bit misleading to say that to be honest. The better team won last night. Elding had two good chances, but we had double Sligo's shots last night and we really should've killed the game off sooner. Sligo had more of the ball granted, but we had far more dangerous chances and had the ball in a lot more dangerous areas.

The difference in quality between the two squads was evident last night. We were missing as many key players as Sligo, but our XI and bench is a lot stronger.

While at times this season Sligo Rovers have been the better side and lost last night was not one. Agree on the squad we just don't have the budget, in the past the first 11 would be quality with good prospects from the academy to make up the numbers. Now the first 11 are a bunch of injury prone journey men. Lads are going to have to step up or it will be first division football next year.

[pineapple stu]

Surely Raggett should be starting more games?

Maybe, but he's not done a huge amount when he has started I think. One burst last summer and that's about it

[Jack B]

Is it a mental thing with Forrester? AS far as I can recall the last few years, he's either been mercurially brilliant or utterly anonymous, but there's no middle ground.

When he initially returned it was definitely in part a mental thing (combined with being part of a fairly clueless Harry Kenny-led side), he'd been through a rough time of it abroad and he'd say himself just needed to get home as a priority rather than football. To be fair to SOD he got Forrester going and he was largely brilliant in 2021, had an on/off 2022 under Clancy where he was used in all kinds of different systems and positions and was great again in 2023. Latter part of Daly's tenure wasn't great for anyone but he's been quite consistent under Kenny.

I think his work rate is generally underrated, but he puts in a shift but it's safe to say it's not his natural game, so if it's not clicking for the team as a whole certain games can definitely pass him by as we don't have a foothold in the game and he's not a Lennon type that will get through heaps of defensive work. Waterford away this season is an example of it where he wasn't at the races, but he's otherwise been not far off the top of his game so far and Pats have been night and day when he has and hasn't been playing.

[ger121]

Maybe, but he's not done a huge amount when he has started I think. One burst last summer and that's about it

Still probably better goal wise than anyone else in the squad? Was a lovely goal against Longford.

[D24Saint]

When he initially returned it was definitely in part a mental thing (combined with being part of a fairly clueless Harry Kenny-led side), he'd been through a rough time of it abroad and he'd say himself just needed to get home as a priority rather than football. To be fair to SOD he got Forrester going and he was largely brilliant in 2021, had an on/off 2022 under Clancy where he was used in all kinds of different systems and positions and was great again in 2023. Latter part of Daly's tenure wasn't great for anyone but he's been quite consistent under Kenny.

I think his work rate is generally underrated, but he puts in a shift but it's safe to say it's not his natural game, so if it's not clicking for the team as a whole certain games can definitely pass him by as we don't have a foothold in the game and he's not a Lennon type that will get through heaps of defensive work. Waterford away this season is an example of it where he wasn't at the races, but he's otherwise been not far off the top of his game so far and Pats have been night and day when he has and hasn't been playing.

Different managers over the years have had an influence over his form. Some suited him better than others. The loss of his sister had a huge impact on him aswell and took him a while to get back on his feet. He has been brilliant this season and he is a pleasure to watch on form.

[nr637]

First Division Cobh have now lost 3 league games in a row.
Is there a crisis at the club?
The club make a statement this past week on fans concerns with FC32 Global Holdings Inc. withdrawing funding from their Austrian 2nd Division team SKN St. Polten and that CEO Paul Francis resigned his position at that club.
Time now for the new manager Mick McDermott, to earn his wages FC32 backing him and his signings of 12 new players and 6 new backroom staff!

No pressure there Mick!
??

[sbgawa]

Looking easy enough for Rovers. Be nice to get an early 3rd and be able to relax

[TonyD]

Looking easy enough for Rovers. Be nice to get an early 3rd and be able to relax

I thought Cork had managed to just get themselves into the game a little bit, after a strong start from Rovers, and then were hit with a sucker punch. The first goal just seemed way too easy. Can’t see a way back for them now. If they had Keating and Maguire up front I actually think they’d be quite decent.

And 3-0 now. Thought the keeper should have done better there.

[placid casual]

Rovers could and should have scored 7 or 8 tonight.
Most of the Rovers squad are back fit and after the 1st series of games I need to re-evaluate my prediction of Rovers finishing 4th this season. They will finish higher than that I feel.
Talk of a striker from NIFL coming in the summer, Noonan needs to just get 1 for Rovers and I feel he'll really break loose.
On tonight's showing Cork do not look prepared for Premier division football which is a shame as the league needs a decent side from the city.
Over to itchysore on Friday for a big game and hopefully a big statement from Rovers.

[outspoken]

First Division Cobh have now lost 3 league games in a row.
Is there a crisis at the club?
The club make a statement this past week on fans concerns with FC32 Global Holdings Inc. withdrawing funding from their Austrian 2nd Division team SKN St. Polten and that CEO Paul Francis resigned his position at that club.
Time now for the new manager Mick McDermott, to earn his wages FC32 backing him and his signings of 12 new players and 6 new backroom staff!

No pressure there Mick!
??

I think everyone always feared if things got choppy there at any stage that the managers temperament may be an issue. Be interesting to see how he navigates things if they go on a very bad run of results or if there are genuine issues behind the scenes

[EalingGreen]

First Division Cobh have now lost 3 league games in a row.
Time now for the new manager Mick McDermott, to earn his wages FC32 backing him and his signings of 12 new players and 6 new backroom staff!
No pressure there Mick!

I think everyone always feared if things got choppy there at any stage that the managers temperament may be an issue. Be interesting to see how he navigates things if they go on a very bad run of results or if there are genuine issues behind the scenes

Mad Mick won't be feeling the pressure in the slightest, since he'll just dust off the tried-and-tested 3 stage plan which has served to keep him in jobs long beyond his sell-by date before now:
1. Persuade the owners to give him (even) more money;
2. Find excuses for results continuing to tank;
3. Point the finger at others.

So that if (when?) it all ends in tears, they won't be his.

[Calcio Jack]

Rovers could and should have scored 7 or 8 tonight.
Most of the Rovers squad are back fit and after the 1st series of games I need to re-evaluate my prediction of Rovers finishing 4th this season. They will finish higher than that I feel.
Talk of a striker from NIFL coming in the summer, Noonan needs to just get 1 for Rovers and I feel he'll really break loose.
On tonight's showing Cork do not look prepared for Premier division football which is a shame as the league needs a decent side from the city.
Over to itchysore on Friday for a big game and hopefully a big statement from Rovers.

16 points from our last 6 matches is the kind of consistency we showed when doing the 4 in a row - no surprise that this is happening as it coincides with full squad more or less now available ( Jack Byrne played 90 mins last night for first time since who knows and was almost unplayable)…. So I’m very optimistic as to how well ( assuming no injury crisis) we’ll do.

In addition new striker deal you mention I understand is a done deal which will in medium term post July be another plus ( hopefully).

Of course come Friday week after we’ve played Pats, Bohs & Shels we’ll have a much better sense of where we’re at but I’m quietly optimistic.

[Jack B]

Just seen Clancy's comments slating his players there. Been an interesting few days of quotes from him.

[2 Year Contract]

Just seen Clancy's comments slating his players there. Been an interesting few days of quotes from him.

An absolute dose to listen to. Every week it’s always somebody else’s fault and never his own. This week it’s all his players fault - the squad of players that he signed/re-signed himself