Premier Division standards falling

**pete** · 28/04/2007, 12:06 PM

I think the standard of the Premier has taken a big drop in standard this season.

The bottom teams are as bad as seen in years & no real quality at the top. At the top Pats have improved (not by the gap there is though) but Cork & Derry City have gone backwards whereas Drogs with new better players seem to be playing same long ball football for years now (maybe their injuries affecting them but I don't think so).

Was this always likely to happen with such an exodus of the leagues best players?

**charliesboots** · 28/04/2007, 12:07 PM

If Cork and Pats swapped places in the league I doubt you'd be making this point

**BohsPartisan** · 28/04/2007, 12:10 PM

I agree with Pete to an extent. There are too many teams (including ourselves) playing horrible negative football.

**pete** · 28/04/2007, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by charliesboots

If Cork and Pats swapped places in the league I doubt you'd be making this point

I don't think so. We have potential quality players like O'Donovan (will be gone soon) but he isn't an overall good player. Aside from rivalries I prefer to see Pats top as ye far play better football than Drogs who defend with 11 men behind the ball when leading at home in the 1st half.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 28/04/2007, 12:11 PM

I think it was inevitable that the standard would drop. Many top players have left the league and clubs have just replaced them with players already at the club or by buying players already playing in the league.

**charliesboots** · 28/04/2007, 12:13 PM

Your right about Drogs, couldn't believe on Monday how much hoofball they actually played, pericularly when they have some decent passers in their team.

I think its best to start judging the league after the first serious of games are completed.

**Raheny Red** · 28/04/2007, 12:17 PM

We're being missed already

**GavinZac** · 28/04/2007, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by Raheny Red

We're being missed already

or rather, the players that you conned into playing for you.

**Dodge** · 28/04/2007, 12:53 PM

LOL @ Shels fansthinking they played ball. Look at what your manager isdoing with Derry. Ask them is a positive manner.

Every match I've been at at least one team has tried to play football so I'm happy enough. For the record Galway and Rovers are two sides we've beaten who at least tried to play football.

**Celdrog** · 28/04/2007, 1:24 PM

Originally Posted by charliesboots

Your right about Drogs, couldn't believe on Monday how much hoofball they actually played, pericularly when they have some decent passers in their team.

Yes, it was shocking, there were only nine passes in the move leading to Zayed volleying into the net.

**micls** · 28/04/2007, 2:34 PM

Originally Posted by charliesboots

If Cork and Pats swapped places in the league I doubt you'd be making this point

Itd actually be the opposite. If we were top of the league now id be very worried bout the league.

We have players playing who shouldnt be anywhere near a top EL first team because of lack of options/depth.

If anything Pats' football is whats boosting the league right now.

If you compare the team we had when we won the league, to our team now there is no comparison, like men against boys. And yet we didnt walk away with it that year. It went to the last day and shels werent far behind.

**sligoman** · 28/04/2007, 2:42 PM

I'd agree that the standard has really gone down alright. Derry nowhere near as good as last year(s). We're worse than last season, as is Cork, Longford, UCD, Waterford and more. No one team sticking out as big improvers really, except Pat's who were **** last season.

**OhNoYouDidn't** · 28/04/2007, 2:52 PM

TBH, only Pats, Drogheda, Rovers and the Bores can claim to be going forwards.

The bottom of the division is worse than the top of the first IMO.

**Soper** · 28/04/2007, 3:06 PM

Now that is just silly

**Poor Student** · 28/04/2007, 3:14 PM

Originally Posted by sligoman

We're worse than last season, as is Cork, Longford, UCD, Waterford and more.

UCD aren't worse, you just happened to buck a trend by law of average.

The problem with Derry and Drogs are the managers they have in charge. Cork have regressed alright but the quality that has left their squad for two years running is the most marked (well apart from Shels but that's a different story).

**OhNoYouDidn't** · 28/04/2007, 3:22 PM

Originally Posted by Soper

Now that is just silly

How so? Dundalk would take Longford apart at the moment.

If last season was normal, they would have been up. And they have strengthned.

**Dodge** · 28/04/2007, 4:16 PM

Originally Posted by Celdrog

Yes, it was shocking, there were only nine passes in the move leading to Zayed volleying into the net.

Bringing the total up to 15 for you for the game. Not to mention that our centre half set the goal up

Super finish mind you

**skitz3** · 28/04/2007, 4:35 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

LOL @ Shels fansthinking they played ball. Look at what your manager isdoing with Derry. Ask them is a positive manner.

Just because he may not be playing a positive style of ball with Derry,i'm curious to know how you think that means he played bad football with Shels?

**Dodge** · 28/04/2007, 5:11 PM

Not bad football, just not very exciting football. Built on solid foundations but with little flair (Ndo excepted)

Similar to Drogheda, its winning football no doubt