Weekend's latest

[green army]

Great performance by UTD last night.
We looked like the team that was Top of the League.Pats goal was totally against the run of play in the 1st place but the 2 crackers from Glynn more than cancelled that faux pas out.
I think all Saints fans will agree we were on Top the whole game and could easily have had one or two more.

Poor support and atmosphere from Pats i thought considering they're Top of the League.Very friendly up there though.

Agreed. two great goals.

[TonyD]

Yep, Pats were awful on Friday. No complaints at all. Two good finishes (though I thought O'Flynn was fouling Darragh Maguire before the second goal). Galway looked very useful and if they keep playing like that should move up the league. Shocking Pats crowd at the match too, as was mentioned earlier. The only blessing is that no-one really took advantage of the slip. Hopefully it was just a one off. Maybe this year the break will do us good. The league definitely looks more competitive this year, with more teams taking points off the top four. Whether this means the top teams are poorer, or the rest have improved, is open to debate I suppose. Either way, it looks like making for a good title race.

[Dr.Nightdub]

Biggest revelations so far have been us and Rovers. A few astute signings and a change to 3-5-2 have worked wonders for us, got to say Johnny Mc is having his best season yet. Transfer window will make a huge difference to us I reckon and all we've been wanting for months is to still be in contention come the window. UCD and Galway games show we've still got awful frailties that may cost us.

Similarly, Scully is doing an incredible job with a young, inexperienced (at Premier level) squad at Rovers. Injuries / suspensions could count against them later on, not sure if they have the squad to cope with that and as their board is very sensibly intent on staying in the black rather than spending their way to top three, I can't see them going higher than where they are.

In fact, I can't see the top 4 changing much beyond what's currently there - the team with the best attack (us), the biggest squad (Drogheda) and the best defence (Bohs and Rovers).

The most Cork can do is catch up on Rovers but they seem to be hanging an awful lot on having Healy and Farrelly available, whereas I think their problem is up front - O'Donovan has scored half their goals and looks a good bet to move in the summer. Think they've left too much ground to do more than challenge for 4th at this stage.

Derry, UCD and Sligo are all capable of messing up other teams' aspirations, but that's the most they'll do.

Assuming us and Bohs spend during the window and Drogheda remain content with getting their squad back to full availability, I reckon it'll be 1-2-3 from that. Still Drogheda's to lose, as they're more used to challenging for silverware, so my guess is Drogheda-us-Bohs come November.

[swano]

Biggest revelations so far have been us and Rovers. A few astute signings and a change to 3-5-2 have worked wonders for us, got to say Johnny Mc is having his best season yet. Transfer window will make a huge difference to us I reckon and all we've been wanting for months is to still be in contention come the window. UCD and Galway games show we've still got awful frailties that may cost us.

Similarly, Scully is doing an incredible job with a young, inexperienced (at Premier level) squad at Rovers. Injuries / suspensions could count against them later on, not sure if they have the squad to cope with that and as their board is very sensibly intent on staying in the black rather than spending their way to top three, I can't see them going higher than where they are.

In fact, I can't see the top 4 changing much beyond what's currently there - the team with the best attack (us), the biggest squad (Drogheda) and the best defence (Bohs and Rovers).

The most Cork can do is catch up on Rovers but they seem to be hanging an awful lot on having Healy and Farrelly available, whereas I think their problem is up front - O'Donovan has scored half their goals and looks a good bet to move in the summer. Think they've left too much ground to do more than challenge for 4th at this stage.

Derry, UCD and Sligo are all capable of messing up other teams' aspirations, but that's the most they'll do.

Assuming us and Bohs spend during the window and Drogheda remain content with getting their squad back to full availability, I reckon it'll be 1-2-3 from that. Still Drogheda's to lose, as they're more used to challenging for silverware, so my guess is Drogheda-us-Bohs come November.

Think it's too early to be putting Derry alongside the likes of Sligo. They've had a very bad start but still have much more quality in their team than the other teams in mid table. Letting Martyn go seems like a crazy decision although he may be back(?) and Farren will should find form at some stage.

[Risteard]

The most Cork can do is catch up on Rovers.

The most we can do is gain 3 points?
Come on.
'Catching up' with 3rd place Bohs atm would consist of winning our game in hand.

I take your point about up front being the problem.
The two lads would want to get over England or else get over to England.

[DmanDmythDledge]

If Pats can get their strongest XI out most of the time I think they will go on to win the league. However that is extremely unlikely. It all depends on what sort of cover they bring in during the transfer window.

Drogs defence not as solid as last year but that's down to them being slightly more adventurous and thus scoring more. However now with Fabio injured it will be back to 10 men behind the ball when 1-0 up tactic. Despite all their quality I can't see them winning the league. 1 win in their last 6 has slipped under the radar also.

Bohs are solid and effective albeit awful to watch. Only problem is that they are effectively playing a man down when Fenn is on the pitch as ball doesn't go to his feet so he drops too deep. Their away form is a major stumbling block to them winning the league.

I think Cork will be exposed as not being much when O'Donovan leaves in July. They are very reliant on his goals. If Gamble also leaves that could see them slip outside the top half, unless signings are made. Farrelly and Healy won't have much of an effect IMO.

Rovers are well organised, concdede very little and can play ball and have Purcell to put the ball away. I expect them to push into the top 3. I wouldn't be surprised to see an all Dubs top 2 either.

[swano]

If Pats can get their strongest XI out most of the time I think they will go on to win the league. However that is extremely unlikely. It all depends on what sort of cover they bring in during the transfer window.

Drogs defence not as solid as last year but that's down to them being slightly more adventurous and thus scoring more. However now with Fabio injured it will be back to 10 men behind the ball when 1-0 up tactic. Despite all their quality I can't see them winning the league. 1 win in their last 6 has slipped under the radar also.

Drogs should have Dan Connor and Gavin back soon enough which means out with the Finnish flapper. Shelly to right back and Lynch out too. If that happens their defence should be a lot better.