Half-Time Review

[culloty82]

Now that 2025 has reached the halfway mark, might as well try to reflect on the season to date, and assess where the club is overall:

Pros:
We already have as many wins for this term as were achieved in the whole of 2024 (more if you include Harps), so the side has certainly become more clinical when it comes to harvesting points - we'd 12 at the halfway mark last term.

The squad definitely appears more balanced than was the case in the previous years - both times the second half collapse form was largely down to overreliance on core players and a spate of injuries, leaving the management dependent on academy players to fill the bench, whereas now there are multiple options to introduce, and the team has been able to cope during Kelliher's absence.

On a related theme, a happy medium appears to have been reached between local talent and external experience, which perhaps shows through in the overall consistency of results so far.

Cons:
Despite Palmer's contributions, Amechi's welcome return and Okwute's improved performance and work rate, there's no denying that our scoring rate remains one of the lowest in the division, and while we've had relatively few scoreless games, greater ruthlessness up front will be required if we're looking to climb the table.

Discipline could also become an issue later on in the year, as we've already seen a number of suspensions accumulated due to needless, niggly bookings, so hopefully that'll be addressed after the mid-season break.

[Zico]

A good summary. The balance between local players and “imports” is key both in short term and for long term sustainability.

Interestingly Gary O’Neill is not getting much game time at Rovers this season, he’s 30 now - while he might still have premier division quality I’m sure he will be looking for first team football next season. This would be a statement signing (probably not this window, but maybe next year if club wants to push on).

[culloty82]

No harm chancing our arms all the same about looking for him on loan for half the season - if he's still in Bradley's long-term plans, fair enough, and if they can manage without him, we get one of the most experienced players in the league for literally zero expense!

[legendz]

A lot of what have might have been said is probably not relevant with the change of manager coming in. An experienced head was needed on the sideline. In comes Colin Healy. Great!
Currently 5 points off UCD who are 5th. I wouldn't see us as being in the playoff hunt yet but not far off. Will need to have a strong third quarter of the season if the club is to make a push.
After some terrible defeats, been defensively stronger since that Bray game away. Hiemer's heroics and a bit of luck as helped along the way.
Been without RK for a lot of the season. That's going to be tough on any club to be without their main threat. I've been saying all season that Seanie and Dan have got to take more of their chances. Time and again it has been costly. Dan has the pace to burn defences. He has got to deliver that end product. RK's absence gives him that opportunity. Seanie is next at squandering chances. He has got to start putting away more of his opportunities from general play.
The second half of the season can go either way. Hopefully when the summer transfer window closes we'll possibly be in a better position.
Kerry have dropped points that would easily have the club sitting in 4th. Not beyond the club at all to be mixing with 4th and 5th. Hopefully converting performances into points will be come more regular.