Time for change

**RockofGibraltar** · 27/10/2005, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by Bosco

How about getting rid of the likes of cronin,myler,o'connor,gough,even barrett-the players who have not been good enough.

So we should get rid of O'Connor

, who has been 1 of our best defenders this year? And we should get rid of barrett who has played about 10 games this year due to injury?

Would u ever wake up Bosco

**Bosco** · 27/10/2005, 12:05 PM

Maybe not get rid of o'connor but he certainly has not been one of our best defenders.He has not lived up to his reputation coming for drogs.During barry and paisleys injury,he has been very shakey at centre back.I take back saying to get rid of him but he certainly hasnt impressed me greatly.Barrett has never got back his from sincehis injury in 2003.It was mentioned on another thread that him going would not e all that bad.Like o'connor,i take back getting rid of barrett.Matthews says the players need to change and the ones mentioned above are just the ones i think/guesssed he was talking about

**Bosco** · 27/10/2005, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by Cop on

yes, Matthews WILL be that hard to replace because of the nature of his contract. He is PART-TIME remember. We do not have the cash to pay a full time manager - fact - & the best managers available might not be willing to take the job part-time ! (p.s. Matthews is one of the best managers in the league !!)

Good point.

Originally Posted by COP ON

As for the crowds at the Flansiro, I'm afraid 800 or so is the crowd we're going to get. We have a tiny population (less than 10,000 in the Town), most of whom are not Town fanatics. The crowds will not swell significantly no matter who is the manager nor who is in the team - although I'd love to see some local talent out there.

We are a small town but we have a unigueness in that everyone in the town knows about us.We are capable of attracting decent crows as we've seen in the past(and im not just talking about cup finals).The excitement of some local lads may bring the crowds up.

Originally Posted by COP ON

(p.s. Just for the record - it was Adrian Murphy's personal decision not to stay at Longford Town as he wasn't guaranteed a first team start every game. He moved to Athlone in order to get experience. Matthews DID NOT fall out with him - it was a mutual decision

)

It was not an entirely mutual decision.Adrian wanted 1st team football,matthews wasnt giving him a chance.Adrian wanted to leave,matthews wanted him to stay.Murphys ego may have had a part in this.Not sure whether they fell out but murphy was certainly bad mouthing matthews when he left."I'll never go back while that ****** is in charge",straight from his mouth.

**footballplease** · 27/10/2005, 12:25 PM

I've been reading this thread and trying not to laugh too hard!!

Lads, where did this superiority complex come from? You are a small club from a small town. Now fair enough you are making huge strides with the stadium ( one of the best in the country i have to say). To say that you would 'not like to be a fan of UCD or Bray or whatever is hilarious!! You were bottom of the first div for so many years and only recently have been up in the premier - you gotta have patience guys. I was in bray in 2001 & 2002 watching bray stuff longford 5-1 and 5-0, football is all about cycles with the smaller clubs.

By the way - the claim that bray are the worst footballing team in the league is another good one - i have NEVER seen longford play any kind of attractive football, especially with that hoofer ( fitzgerald) in the middle - well not since the 2003 season anyway - but that team has changed!

There is huge potential in the town and club - don't ruin it by acting too hasty. Bray did in 2002 and look what happened - its taken us about 3 years to get back on an even keel again. Best of luck for the future!!

**monkey magic** · 27/10/2005, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by Cop on

Ha! HA! This is hilarious. Lads - Matthews ain't going nowhere. The only ones who want Matthews out are the four or five deluded ones who chose to post on this forum. The 'silent majority' have no wish for Matthews to go/be pushed.

Who would replace him ????????????

in fairness, i would have always been a supporter of matthews, but now feel a change has to be made... this is not based on the harps result, but on our season in general...(and face it its practically over

matthews' moves in the transfer market have been questionable to say the least this year, this accompanied with his appearaent unwillingness to give locals a chance and persistence in following the jack charlton school of football/hoofball is whats made him unpopular with a lot of fans...

a change is needed. we cannot go on with falling attendances and worsening results.... a change at the end of the season would give a new manager a realistic chance to affect change.

and as for possible replacements..... what about pat scully?

**Bosco** · 27/10/2005, 9:43 PM

Originally Posted by Cop on

WRONG. Its a tiny vocal minority - most of whom post here !

Thats totally untrue.The only people who want matthews out are the ones who post on this forum.Im not sure what town fans you associate yourself with but the vast majority that i have come across have at some stage wanted matthews out,i know because i have spent soo much time defending him.Werent we complaining not so long ago about the amount of abuse matthews was recieving from a big enough proportion of the stand.Im not going to name any names but in vaduz in 2004,there was a sizeable amount of people talking about organising some way of putting pressure on the board to get matthews out,whether they intended to follow through,i dought it but they were certainly not to fond of our manager.

**Wiseguy** · 28/10/2005, 9:49 AM

I have never read so much crap in my life.For a starter there are a lot of people who want Alan out and thats a fact.It has been going on in a long time and there are several reasons for this.None of the locals are good enough to play prem division football and to be honest none of them are even close to making the breakthrough.Adrian Murphy left to play 1st team football and you can't blame him for that but he shouldn't of spat his dummy.Where is he now?if he was good enough he'd be playing prem. div. football.Alan needs to get rid of several players and the rest of them need a kick up the hole and buck up their ideas.The ones to go IMO are the following
Paul Keegan
Shane Barrett
Andy Myler
Gary Cronin
Mick Dempsey
Shay Kelly
Stephen Gough
Andy Myler
Next season should be approached with a "keep it on the ground" mentality and entertain so as to try and bring people back through the gates.The team should be IMO as follows
New Keeper
Sean Dillon, Stephen Paisley, Barry Ferguson, Sean Prunty
Alan Kirby, Dean Fitzgerald, Alan Cawley, New Player
Dave Mooney, New Player
Subs:
Danny O Connor
New Sub Keeper
Davy Byrne
New Player
New Player

**Maz** · 28/10/2005, 3:16 PM

Originally Posted by Wiseguy

I have never read so much crap in my life.For a starter there are a lot of people who want Alan out and thats a fact.It has been going on in a long time and there are several reasons for this.None of the locals are good enough to play prem division football and to be honest none of them are even close to making the breakthrough.Adrian Murphy left to play 1st team football and you can't blame him for that but he shouldn't of spat his dummy.Where is he now?if he was good enough he'd be playing prem. div. football.Alan needs to get rid of several players and the rest of them need a kick up the hole and buck up their ideas.The ones to go IMO are the following
Paul Keegan
Shane Barrett
Andy Myler
Gary Cronin
Mick Dempsey
Shay Kelly
Stephen Gough
Andy Myler
Next season should be approached with a "keep it on the ground" mentality and entertain so as to try and bring people back through the gates.The team should be IMO as follows
New Keeper
Sean Dillon, Stephen Paisley, Barry Ferguson, Sean Prunty
Alan Kirby, Dean Fitzgerald, Alan Cawley, New Player
Dave Mooney, New Player
Subs:
Danny O Connor
New Sub Keeper
Davy Byrne
New Player
New Player

From what I have heard I dont think Alan Cawley will be around next season, I have heard he has been or will be let go as he is very disruptive in the camp.

**Schumi** · 28/10/2005, 3:22 PM

Originally Posted by Maz

From what I have heard I dont think Alan Cawley will be around next season, I have heard he has been or will be let go as he is very disruptive in the camp.

He's only on loan anyway isn't he?

**Maz** · 28/10/2005, 4:40 PM

Originally Posted by Schumi

He's only on loan anyway isn't he?

Yeah he is, and thats as far as it will go afaik

**Bosco** · 28/10/2005, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by Cop on

some superb signings in Mooney, Cawley and Deano which more than make up for his mistakes.

barry,dillo,paisley

**Bosco** · 29/10/2005, 1:34 PM

Originally Posted by Wiseguy

Next season should be approached with a "keep it on the ground" mentality and entertain so as to try and bring people back through the gates.

Ofcourse it should but do you really believe it will happen and if it does how long will it last.

**Macy** · 01/11/2005, 7:39 AM

Originally Posted by Terry Phelan

Pat Dolan

Please tell me your not serious? Sure fire way to make sure the club is bankrupted and the likes of Dillo disappear abroad for fook all money. Did you not see what happened at Pats and Cork?

Pat Scully obviously has potential, but that's all it is at the moment. Would possibly keep Digger here too as an added bonus.

**observer** · 01/11/2005, 3:38 PM

Just to put the record straight on Adrian Murphy. When Adrian left the club it was at the end of pre-season and he had only been given a few minutes in the pre season games. He asked Matthews what the story was and Alan laughed at him and asked did he think he was as good as the players before him. he replied that given a bit of experience and a chance he might be. Alan told him that he had'nt won the cup by playing young players. Adrian then asked if he could be put out on loan and Alan said that he might be able to get him fixed up with a Northern club as no First Division club would want him as he had'nt played international at underage level. At the next training session Adrian asked to be released from the club (which he did not have to do as he only was on a one year contract).
A few days later Arron O'Callaghan (then Athlone manager) rang Adrian to verify if it was true that he had left Longford Town. To Adrian's amazement Arron told him that he had approached Alan Matthews a month earlier to see if he could have him on loan and Alan refused.
Perhaps this might explain the bitterness expressed by Adrian following his departure. Certainly once Arron left Athlone Adrian's performances deteriorated. Perhaps he is one of those players who play well for the local team in front of the home crowd, and heaven forbid we should retain a player like that. Suss it out with Arron if you doubt this story. Jim Hanley is also aware of what really happened.

**Wiseguy** · 01/11/2005, 3:51 PM

At this stage does it really matter,it's in the past so it should be left there.It may not have been the decent thing to do but it's done and that's it.What's the point in dragging these things up again as it has already been discussed.

**Bosco** · 01/11/2005, 9:52 PM

Heard on sat that the board have a name in mind if matthews should leave,however jim hanley has basically said that if matthews leaves he leaves

**observer** · 02/11/2005, 8:51 AM

You are right Wiseguy and I would never have mentioned it only to put the record straight with the misinformation being put about, and no Cop On such a meeting as you describe never took place. Subject closed.
By the way, while I am critical of the lack of flair in Matthews style of football
I agree with the other posters that he should remain as their are not many better floating about for a part time post. Who knows maybe he will try more football next season.

**observer** · 02/11/2005, 1:55 PM

At this stage Jim Hanley is irreplacable. There is no one associated with the club with half the ability and business acumen that Jim has.

**Wiseguy** · 02/11/2005, 4:24 PM

I'd have to agree with what has been posted about Jim Hanley.I know the guy about 10 years and his business skills are second to none.On top of that the guy is a gentleman and represents our club very well.Jim is no fool about Matthews either and if he feels it is the best interest of the club to let him go then it will be done.A lot of people were critical of his decision to sack Lawlor but he was proven right on that one.I can actually remember some well known fans of ours singing "sack the board" at the Bray match following Lawlor's dismissal.What a fickle bunch of fans we can be.This club has never had it so good yet some people still whinge and complain.I'm the same as everyone else, i get annoyed and upset after poor results and performances, some of Alan's decisions baffle me and the football his team plays gets on my wick but he is still our manager and will always get my support.