Weekend's latest (13 March)

[LeixlipRed]

Three words, low production values

[Dunny]

Your man commentating is hilarious

[Jerry The Saint]

He won the cups a few times but loads of managers win cups.

Do they

I don't think so

Bray fans can't be trusted on this - Devlin's cup wins have made them underestimate the level of coaching ability required to win one. They also have no respect for Tardelli or Brady, based on the previous backroom staff of the international team.

Doolin's always had his critics but it shows you the pressure these guys are under when he's getting stick from his own fans less than two games into the season, despite being in charge for every trophy the club has ever won.

So who's not a rubbish manager then?

Kenny still has his reputation - a lot of people feel he was hard done by at Dunfermline and, unlike Roddy, he thrived after being fired by Bohs.

Scully has been highly praised for bringing Shamrock Rovers from the First Division to being the best of the mid-table Premier teams. Only problem is, he's a bit, eh... "highly-strung". Good coach but the jury's still out on how he might cope with the pressure if things start going wrong.

Most of the others (Pete Mahon apart) are relatively inexperienced and still learning, you feel (Gormley, Henderson, Hegarty etc.)

[Dunny]

Full time.

Fingal 2-0 Athlone

[superfrank]

I'm not saying they're rubbish managers, just over-rated.

I'd consider managing a full-time side the best measure of success in this league. Better fitness but more importantly more time to work with the players and develop tactics.

Doolin - He hardly set the world alight at UCD. He wouldn't have had as much success at Drogs if he didn't have the money. It appears Drogs have been somewhat found out in the league this year. 2 games, 1 point, 0 goals.

Kenny - He did well at Longford. Did well at Bohs, wobbled and was sacked prematurely. Did well at Derry too but I feel he failed in 2006 when they could've done a lot better. He was a complete failure at Dunfermline. Time will tell how he gets on back in Derry. His European glory is what's made him. In fairness the cup in 2006 was such a bizarre game, either side could've won it.

Matthews - Went from Shels assistant to Longford. Brought them from a mid-table team to relegation candidates. A few cup wins kept the fans sweet though but his European credentials are crap. So far for Cork two draws with weaker sides.

Fenlon - Worked wonders at Shels when he had massive finances. I feel they should've won the league in 2005. Did well to win it in 2006 but I wonder how confident he is in his ability when he left Shels, knowing they'd be in the First with no money and no stars. Failed at Derry. Time will tell at Bohs.

McDonnell - He hasn't won anything yet. I honestly believe he's in control of a team too big for him. Without knowing how much influence Kerr has, I can't really comment on his signings for this season but he has made some strange ones in the past, Rutherford springs to mind.

I would rate Scully as the top manager in the league. He can do it with small clubs and little money.

And yes, Devlin winning the cup for us proves that cup-winning is hardly proof of a good manager.

[micls]

Matthews - Brought them from a mid-table team to relegation candidates.

Since Mathews joined them

2002/2003-5th
2003-4th
2004-6th
2005-5th
2006-8th
2007-8th(points wise)

plus 2 cups....... Even ignoring the financial difficulties of recent years which led to losing players etc 8th is still mid-table.

Before he came they finished 9th. The year before 8th. Before that the first division So I struggle to see where you got the above statement from.

Mathews was far from my first choice, but theres a reason Longford supporters loved him. He gave them more success in league and cups while he was there than they ever had.

[superfrank]

2002/2003-5th
2003-4th
2004-6th
2005-5th
2006-8th
2007-8th(points wise)

Before he came they finished 9th. The year before 8th. Before that the first division So I struggle to see where you got the above statement from.

You just proved it with that post.

They are clearly going backwards. 5th up to 4th back to 6th up to 5th (mid-table) then down to 8th (relegation battle).

[Schumi]

While I don't really rate Doolin either, saying he's been found out because of two poor results at the start of a season is ridiculous.

[superfrank]

While I don't really rate Doolin either, saying he's been found out because of two poor results at the start of a season is ridiculous.

It appears Drogs have been somewhat found out in the league this year. 2 games, 1 point, 0 goals.

.....

[Aaron]

I'm not saying they're rubbish managers, just over-rated.

I'd consider managing a full-time side the best measure of success in this league. Better fitness but more importantly more time to work with the players and develop tactics.

Doolin - He hardly set the world alight at UCD. He wouldn't have had as much success at Drogs if he didn't have the money. It appears Drogs have been somewhat found out in the league this year. 2 games, 1 point, 0 goals.

Kenny - He did well at Longford. Did well at Bohs, wobbled and was sacked prematurely. Did well at Derry too but I feel he failed in 2006 when they could've done a lot better. He was a complete failure at Dunfermline. Time will tell how he gets on back in Derry. His European glory is what's made him. In fairness the cup in 2006 was such a bizarre game, either side could've won it.

Matthews - Went from Shels assistant to Longford. Brought them from a mid-table team to relegation candidates. A few cup wins kept the fans sweet though but his European credentials are crap. So far for Cork two draws with weaker sides.

Fenlon - Worked wonders at Shels when he had massive finances. I feel they should've won the league in 2005. Did well to win it in 2006 but I wonder how confident he is in his ability when he left Shels, knowing they'd be in the First with no money and no stars. Failed at Derry. Time will tell at Bohs.

McDonnell - He hasn't won anything yet. I honestly believe he's in control of a team too big for him. Without knowing how much influence Kerr has, I can't really comment on his signings for this season but he has made some strange ones in the past, Rutherford springs to mind.

I would rate Scully as the top manager in the league. He can do it with small clubs and little money.

And yes, Devlin winning the cup for us proves that cup-winning is hardly proof of a good manager.

Sweet Jesus!!! We lose the league on goal difference, a few goals away from a treble, yet you say we failed. Went on a magnificent run in Europe, and you say we failed. Oh dear, just stick to talking about relegation battles, you haven't a notion on Kenny's achievments up here.

[micls]

You just proved it with that post.

They are clearly going backwards. 5th up to 4th back to 6th up to 5th (mid-table) then down to 8th (relegation battle).

Ah come off it/ Your post clearly implied he went there from Shels and brought them down to the relegation zone. He's the one who brought them out of it in the first place.

Also looking at positions ignoring differing finances in different seasons doesn't give a complete picture. Fact remains he is their most successful manager ever managing a 4th, 2 5ths and 2 cups with a poor team.

[superfrank]

Ah come off it/ Your post clearly implied he went there from Shels and brought them down to the relegation zone. He's the one who brought them out of it in the first place.

That's what the stats say, they moved down the league as his reign continued. Every manager has to deal with finances so you can't bring that in.

[micls]

That's what the stats say, they moved down the league as his reign continued. Every manager has to deal with finances so you can't bring that in.

What? So finances have no bearing on how good a manager is If thats the case it negates your points about Doolin.......

And the stats say he brought them out of the relegation zone and did very well for a few years before they dropped back down to their normal state...

[superfrank]

Sweet Jesus!!! We lose the league on goal difference, a few goals away from a treble, yet you say we failed. Went on a magnificent run in Europe, and you say we failed. Oh dear, just stick to talking about relegation battles, you haven't a notion on Kenny's achievments up here.

I said he failed in not winning the league. He has a great record in Europe, I never said he didn't.

[superfrank]

What? So finances have no bearing on how good a manager is If thats the case it negates your points about Doolin.......

You work with what you're given, no matter how large or little. He can't work without the money.

EDIT: Just re-read my posts, sorry I assumed you were talking about the points deduction last year.

[Sheridan]

2-0. Conan Byrne. Knew last week was a blip. Barely a noise over the radio when they scored though

Attendance was 1,234 and pretty partisan.

[Aaron]

I said he failed in not winning the league. He has a great record in Europe, I never said he didn't.

Well I dont think he did. The expectancy wasnt to win the league, just to maybe win a cup. He and DCFC surpassed expectations that year. The only time we expected to win the league was last season

[feo123]

6pts against two of the league's weaker teams, and 3 goals conceeded in 2 games. Not brilliant in fairness....

a win is a win

[Jerry The Saint]

Attendance was 1,2,3,4 and pretty partisan.

Fair play, 4 people is impressive for their first ever home game. SF already off to a better start than Dublin City.

[superfrank]

Is there a limit on subs in the First Div.?

Extratime give 2 for Sporting and 3 for Athlone. Is the limit three or are these clubs just low on numbers?