summer season 09 - how the opposition are doing

homerjay2005

early days, so impossible to judge who will be the main condenders.

tonights scores so far -

Ketamine Rovers 3 Bareassalona 2
Roys Rovers 3 Glenwood Rovers 2
The full irish 0 Boardeaux 3

obviously glenwood losing is good news, just also means that may roys rovers are good!

i wonder if they have got in another team yet, who would have been playing ravenhill tonight.

it will be 3/4 weeks before we know what the new teams are like and who will challenge.

helimachoptor

Ketamine Rovers look decent, they can pass the ball around but are a bit on the older side so their fitness is their weak point.

homerjay2005

Shackthar Senseless 1 Fabulous Benedictine Monks 4

the monks are a big physical side, will be decent. playing them next week i think? early indications show that as last season, alot of the teams will beat each other and take points off each other.

LeixlipRed

Looks like, as we suspected, standard is a little higher in summer. Makes it more interesting anyway. Takes a few weeks for the results to form a pattern anyway so we actually know who'll challenge.

homerjay2005

looks like the filled 12 divisions also. wonder why we seem to be the only division with a slot for another team. Gary, did ravenhill play last night?

FrankGrimes

Think Roy's Rovers won our league in our 2nd or 3rd season. Decent team and were good for the 2-0 win against us that I remember but they were also very dependent on 2 or 3 key players - striker, right winger and centre midfielder. That's quite a while ago now so I doubt they're the same, but if they've improved further they'll be a very strong side.

Unless the Monks have changed dramatically since the last 4 times we played them (and I saw the 2 lads I know last night so doubt they've changed that much), we are a much better side than them.

Does that mean we're entitled to 3 points against them or Shacktar cos Monks walloped Shacktar? Hell no, we'll have to fight hard for every 3 points in every game. What it does mean though is we should have absolute belief in our ability to beat every team in this league. If we believe that and play to our ability, we'll go very far. If we get complacent, we won't but I sense we have the opposite challenge at the moment - managing the clear hunger for the title in the squad; when you're that eager it's difficult to keep composure on the ball and we saw a little of that last night. I'd prefer that to complacency though!

Draupnir

FrankGrimes wrote: »

Think Roy's Rovers won our league in our 2nd or 3rd season. Decent team and were good for the 2-0 win against us that I remember but they were also very dependent on 2 or 3 key players - striker, right winger and centre midfielder. That's quite a while ago now so I doubt they're the same, but if they've improved further they'll be a very strong side.

Were Roys Rovers the side that wore all the Italian jerseys and the chap you knew smashed Simon and his shinguard in half?

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homerjay2005 wrote: »

i wonder if they have got in another team yet, who would have been playing ravenhill tonight.

I mailed them to ask

me wrote:

Hi,

Was just wondering what the situation is regarding the unfilled place in Mens 11-a-side Division 9?

Will the place be filled, or will we miss out on 2 games this season?

Thanks

astro wrote:

Hi Des,

We're actively trying to fill the place.

Hopefully should have someone either next week or the week after.

Regards,

helimachoptor

Roys Rovers beat Glenwood last week, so it looks like they are a decent team too.

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From what I heard/saw tonight

Ravenhill 0-2 Ketamine Rovers
The full irish 1-1 Roys Rovers
Shackthar Senseless 1-3 Bareassalona

Glenwood Rovers didn't play

We're top on GD

Shackthar shipped three tonight having let four in last week against FBM, we should definitely be targetting six points against them.

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Email from Astro

Hi Lads,

Perrem Design Hardware are taking the last place in Div 9 and will begin their fixtures tomorrow night.

You will see that the TBA team has been removed and that you will have games in those slots.

Regards,
ASL

helimachoptor

Thats good news at least we wont have a week with no game.

any sign of when the cup games kick off?

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It's usually later in the season.

As far as I remember it usually kicks off the Friday that a lot of people head out of Dublin to a field in the sticks.

LeixlipRed

Decent enough side with one excellent player in the middle. Nothing we should fear though. The league is there for the taking.

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helimachoptor wrote: »

Thats good news at least we wont have a week with no game.

any sign of when the cup games kick off?

Des wrote: »

It's usually later in the season.

As far as I remember it usually kicks off the Friday that a lot of people head out of Dublin to a field in the sticks.

How wrong was I?

Hi Lads,

Each Summer Astro.ie run a free cup competition for all 11 a side teams.

Your first round cup game will be played on as below.
(All cup games are played on Fridays)

Please note your time and venue, directions are below.


Fri 22-May-09 St. Colmcilles, Knocklyon 21:00 Boardeaux ( 9 ) v Norfolk-Inchance ( 12 )

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Tonight's other results

Ravenhill 0-1 The full irish
Shackthar Senseless 2-4 Roys Rovers
Perrem Design Hardware 0-7 Ketamine Rovers
Glenwood Rovers 1-0 Fabulous Benedictine Monks (Featuring Jules)

LeixlipRed

Perrem didnt have 11 for that game just to note.

FrankGrimes

Glenwood 1 - 0 Fabulous Benedictine Monks.

I really enjoyed playing for the Monks and it nearly paid off as I was involved in several moves and laid on a good few chances that brought great saves out of the Glenwood keeper so it nearly helped drop 2 points off one of the title contenders.

Glenwood scored after 10 minutes just as Monks' 11th man was arriving and to be honest Monks had one very weak player so it's clear Glenwood are very beatable. I was focusing on learning a lot about Glenwood and will share my observations with the gaffer.

A few things of note though:
-as soon as the massive fella, Red, at the back went off they really fell to pieces at the back.
-their keeper pulled off easily the two best saves I've seen in any astro game. Both full length dives digging out shots into the bottom corner - he got down well despite his height. Also made my light work of my 30 yarder heading for the top corner.
-they really are a great example on communication: they're literally having full conversations with each other - as the ball arrives to a man he's already been told clearly what his options are.

Despite all that, Glenwood were extremely lucky to hang onto the win: despite the 2 great saves Monks also hit the post from 8 yards and there were several other shots that would've gone in on another night.

So all in all, I admire a lot about Glenwood's organisation but if they can be left playing the ball into the corners for the last 5 minutes as they hang onto a 1-0 against a limited Monks team, we can definitely beat them as long as we take the game to them and don't give them the space to play the ball out of defence like they love doing.

LeixlipRed

Was the ginger lad in the middle for them? He's the key for them. Without him they're fairly rubbish.

FrankGrimes

LeixlipRed wrote: »

Was the ginger lad in the middle for them? He's the key for them. Without him they're fairly rubbish.

There was a smallish ginger lad in the middle but he didn't stand out at all - he rarely got any time on the ball though he looks handy enough on it.

Another point I noticed was they actually win quite little breaking ball. Their preference of playing the ball out of defence (as they are excellent at retaining it) plays to their strengths but they're not the fastest in scrambling for 2nd ball. Pushing up on them is the way to get to them - they'll have less options for playing it out of defence, we'll win more breaking balls and it'll be in their half, and we can match their forwards and wingers for pace should they pick out good through balls.

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LeixlipRed wrote: »

Perrem didnt have 11 for that game just to note.

Also, from a GD point of view, I'll just point out that the Perrem game was, in fact, only 7-0, according to the Astro League table.

ketamine rovers

Ket rovers are on flying form now.fell at the first hurdle.first game was total shambles.an own goal gave bareasselona the win.but were back.flying form.last 2 games.2 wins.2 clean sheets.ketamine rovers wil be top in no time.and for the age thing.players age range from 18-24.dont think thats old.fitness wise.improving every day.that league is ours.once were top.were staying there.09 is the year for ket rovers.

LeixlipRed

Yiz are ****. Boobs. Rounders. Monkey. Go boards

LeixlipRed

helimachoptor wrote: »

Ketamine Rovers look decent, they can pass the ball around but are a bit on the older side so their fitness is their weak point.

Just looking at this post again and you must have been talking about one of the other sides. These lads are all kids. As our new poster just mentioned

ketamine rovers

ye ket rovers are all kids alrite.jus like the arsenal.jus watch out.fitness is improving every game.none of us hav jobs.training every day for this league.go on the ket.that league is ours for the taking.leixlip red.prepare for the beat down.KET KET KET KET KET KET KET KET KET....one bit of advice.just watch out for the "ket corners"......fan base 30+............GO ON THE KETAMINE ROVERS.....KET KET KET KET KET KET

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ketamine rovers, a few things.

Stop posting in that abrasive style.

You are welcome to post here, but if you start annoying people, you won't be allowed to post any more.

No TXT SPK please, I'll start deleting posts like that.

LeixlipRed

ketamine rovers wrote: »

just watch out for the "ket corners"......fan base 30+

homerjay2005

LeixlipRed wrote: »

as jules once said, sure lads, we have 70,000 people to call on

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Last Nights Games

Glenwood Rovers 0-1 Ketamine Rovers

Bareasselona 3-0 FBM

PDH 1-2 Full Irish

Shakhtar Senseless -v- Ravenhill

Last seemed to not go ahead

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:eek:

Good Grief

Hi Des,

They both wanted to watch the Champs League game so they decided to play for double points inb the return game.

Regards,

:eek::eek:

FrankGrimes

That is feckin hilarious about Shacktar and Ravenhill deciding to watch the match instead of play their match....just strikes me as pretty sad to choose to sit in front of a tv instead of getting out there to play a match (fair enough if people actually had tickets to the game).

Ketamine did strike me as a decent side when I saw them alright, they play nice football. Don't see much wrong with a few healthy jibes between rivals so let the man speak I say (though agree with the stance on text speak - down with that sort of thing!).

LeixlipRed

That makes a mockery of the whole ****ing league tbh. They should be both put down for a 3-0 loss. ****ing joke.

helimachoptor

Couldnt agree more Martin, it's a joke and should not have been allowed. I miss a lot of united games playing for Bordeaux and even before that playing with other teams.

If I have the choice to play or watch, playing wins 100% of the time no question.

WeAreShels

That's absolutely scandalous, they shouldn't be allowed play for 6 points in the next fixture. Refusing to play a game of ball cos of two English teams on the tele... for ****s sake :rolleyes:

Draupnir

That is ridiculous in fairness, what happens now if one of them is unable to field in a team in the return game? A six point walkover for their opponent?

What happens if one of them is doing brutally in the league while another is 4 points off the top? They agree to let the others win or not turn up at all since they were sound enough to let them watch the match.

A load of hoop.

homerjay2005

Draupnir wrote: »

That is ridiculous in fairness, what happens now if one of them is unable to field in a team in the return game? A six point walkover for their opponent?

What happens if one of them is doing brutally in the league while another is 4 points off the top? They agree to let the others win or not turn up at all since they were sound enough to let them watch the match.

A load of hoop.

shocking. i assume all the other teams know about this? its farcical. they are obvious buddies with each other and would be worried if as you say, theres a league to be won on the back of this.

LeixlipRed

While I agree, neither of these teams are likely to be challenging.

andrew71

Howdy lads, Andrew from Full Irish here. Is that for real about a 6 point game? That's not right at all. It's open to all kinds of abuse. Is this something that should be raised with Astro?

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andrew71 wrote: »

Howdy lads, Andrew from Full Irish here. Is that for real about a 6 point game? That's not right at all. It's open to all kinds of abuse. Is this something that should be raised with Astro?

Hello there.

Yeah, when I noticed there was no result down for that game yesterday morning, I got on to Astro.

Here's the email exchange

Hi,

Just wondering if the game in our Division last night between Shakhtar Senseless and Ravenhill didn't go ahead, or if neither team has yet updated the website?

Cheers

Des

Hi Des,

They both wanted to watch the Champs League game so they decided to play for double points inb the return game.

Regards,

andrew71

So this means any team can make that arrangement, right? Or any two teams can come up with a harebrained idea that's against the rules of the league.

One of your guys said they should both be down for a 3-0 loss and that's bang on.

Astro Rules wrote:

If a team fails to fulfill a fixture, that team automatically loses that fixture by a score of 3-0. If a team fails to fulfill a fixture without prior notification both to their opponents and to the league they will have one league point deducted and Rule 14 will also apply. If neither team shows up, without prior notice, the penalty applies to both teams and no points will be awarded. If prior notification is given the one point deduction will not apply but the absent team still loses the game by 3-0. The fixture will not be rearranged under any circumstances.

Both teams gave prior notice that they weren't going to fulfill the fixture so they should both be down for a 3-0 defeat.

One game cannot be worth 6 points, it's just completely unfair. If they wanted to stay in and watch TV that's their tough luck.

LeixlipRed

Under that rule they both lose 3-0. Complete joke.

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I suppose we could go all Ollie on them

Hey Andy, I'm off to Germany for the weekend tomorrow, but yeah, I think possibly we should get in touch with the league to see what exactly is going on here.

Perhaps email the contacts for the other teams available in the division too, see what they think.

There is a Ravenhill player who was with us for a season or so a while back, and he does use this site too, perhaps he'll post in here to give maybe a better perspective on this situation.

andrew71

I'm gonna check with the other lads on our team, see what they think. Will get back to you.

Iago

Eamon Dunphy wrote: »

There is a Ravenhill player who was with us for a season or so a while back, and he does use this site too, perhaps he'll post in here to give maybe a better perspective on this situation.

You know lads, given how well you all know me and the interaction we've had you could have just sent me a PM and asked rather than mouth off.

To dismiss a couple of the myths posted, we're not buddies and have never met the other crowd before. Actually that may not be true, but I won't know that until we play them and find out, but to the best of my knowledge none of us know any of them.

Secondly the whole idea of 6 point games is something that has always been available in the Astro leagues, or to put it fairly, has been available for as long as I've been playing in them which is 10 years now. Granted most of the time you see it happen it's because there was something wrong with the pitch or the ref didn't turn up, but it has always been there as an option.

Now with that said I'll tell you the events as they transpired. It turned out that a number of our players where injured, away or had tickets to the game last Tuesday. So we mailed the Astro league on Thursday to see whether there was a provision that would allow us to postpone the game and field a full side. They said there wasn't but that we could agree with the other team to play one game for 6 points at a later stage in the season.

We didn't particularly want that, but faced with the option of turning up with 9 men or maybe having a full side later in the season and winning a game for the full set of points we sent the mail. I sincerely doubt that Des or any of the guys running the other teams would do anything different if they didn't have a team and were given the option.

Shaktar declined and said they would like to play the game, so we were ready to play on Tuesday and were planning on turning up with 10 players in the end, even though one of those was injured and just making up numbers, that includes me but only because I couldn't get a ticket for the game. If I could have I wouldn't have been there either.

We then got an email on Tuesday afternoon from Shaktar saying that they couldn't field a team and would we still consider playing a game later in the season for the full 6 points. We could have acted the prick and said no we'll take a walkover, but what would that have served?

Lads, ultimately (and I want to win as much if not more than the next man) these are supposed to be social leagues with the emphasis on having a game of ball rather than gaining points at any cost. As we had initially suggested it in order to avoid fielding an under-sized team the gaffer decided that the better part of valour was accepting their request.

In fairness while I like to think I get on with any of you that know me, there are bigger battles to be fought than two teams in a social league deciding to play one game for 6 points. Especially since it happens at every level right up to Leinster Senior League when required, again with the caveat that it's mainly for pitch or referee issues.

ketamine rovers

I agree with frank.whats wrong with a bit of friendly banter between teams.get the rivalry's going.thats whats its all about.its not my fault teams are getting intimitaded by ketamine rovers.might be afraid of getting the beat down from a set of kids in there debut season.ketamine rovers for the league.f***ed up on the first game.on top form now.the last 3 games.3 wins.3 clean sheets.will be top in no time.just looking forward to play the league leaders.expecting a good game.

Cant understand why everyone is going mad about ravenhill and shaktar not playing.let them play for the six points.both teams have played 2 and 3 games each and either have won a game.ketamine rovers are not one bit bothered about this.where winning our matches and thats all that counts.stop crying about it and get on with the league.check the league table out.there down bottom with no points.no worries.

helimachoptor

The issue is that come end of season Ket, if you're on top and are 4 points ahead of either Ravenhill or Shakthar and you have no games left and they have to play each other if either of them win you will lose the league as they are playing for 6 points.

Yet if they had played on tuesday and got a draw or the other team won this may not be the case.



Can astro reschedule the game?

Draupnir

Iago wrote: »

You know lads, given how well you all know me and the interaction we've had you could have just sent me a PM and asked rather than mouth off.

To dismiss a couple of the myths posted, we're not buddies and have never met the other crowd before. Actually that may not be true, but I won't know that until we play them and find out, but to the best of my knowledge none of us know any of them.

Secondly the whole idea of 6 point games is something that has always been available in the Astro leagues, or to put it fairly, has been available for as long as I've been playing in them which is 10 years now. Granted most of the time you see it happen it's because there was something wrong with the pitch or the ref didn't turn up, but it has always been there as an option.

Now with that said I'll tell you the events as they transpired. It turned out that a number of our players where injured, away or had tickets to the game last Tuesday. So we mailed the Astro league on Thursday to see whether there was a provision that would allow us to postpone the game and field a full side. They said there wasn't but that we could agree with the other team to play one game for 6 points at a later stage in the season.

We didn't particularly want that, but faced with the option of turning up with 9 men or maybe having a full side later in the season and winning a game for the full set of points we sent the mail. I sincerely doubt that Des or any of the guys running the other teams would do anything different if they didn't have a team and were given the option.

Shaktar declined and said they would like to play the game, so we were ready to play on Tuesday and were planning on turning up with 10 players in the end, even though one of those was injured and just making up numbers, that includes me but only because I couldn't get a ticket for the game. If I could have I wouldn't have been there either.

We then got an email on Tuesday afternoon from Shaktar saying that they couldn't field a team and would we still consider playing a game later in the season for the full 6 points. We could have acted the prick and said no we'll take a walkover, but what would that have served?

Lads, ultimately (and I want to win as much if not more than the next man) these are supposed to be social leagues with the emphasis on having a game of ball rather than gaining points at any cost. As we had initially suggested it in order to avoid fielding an under-sized team the gaffer decided that the better part of valour was accepting their request.

In fairness while I like to think I get on with any of you that know me, there are bigger battles to be fought than two teams in a social league deciding to play one game for 6 points. Especially since it happens at every level right up to Leinster Senior League when required, again with the caveat that it's mainly for pitch or referee issues.

Gary, whatever you might think about there being bigger battles to be fought, the lads at Boardeaux have put a lot of time and effort into building a team from scratch and are on the cusp of a big achievement as reward.

It's fairly ****ty for other lads to suit themselves and treat the league as a joke so they can watch something on TV. Just because it's football does that make it ok? If half your side get tickets to the new Star Trek film next Tuesday night will you try and get a six point match against your opponents? If the weather is brutal can teams start rescheduling to good conditions?

The whole idea of a league as that it tests a team over a prolonged period, testing their ability as well as their staying power and commitment. If you start organising six point matches at the end of the season then that's a joke and disrespectful to the rest of the league, be it Brenfer North Dublin Under 8F or it's English Premier League.

I'm not having a pop at you personally by the way, fair play to you for giving the other side of the coin.

Iago

Draupnir wrote: »

Gary, whatever you might think about there being bigger battles to be fought, the lads at Boardeaux have put a lot of time and effort into building a team from scratch and are on the cusp of a big achievement as reward.

and I don't dispute that, neither do I dispute the fact that fairly soon they'll walk away with the league. May be this summer season, but will happen soon enough I think.

Draupnir wrote: »

It's fairly ****ty for other lads to suit themselves and treat the league as a joke so they can watch something on TV.

Just to be clear, we weren't looking to postpone because the game was on TV. We couldn't field a team because we didn't have enough players that weren't injured and in the country.

Draupnir wrote: »

Just because it's football does that make it ok? If half your side get tickets to the new Star Trek film next Tuesday night will you try and get a six point match against your opponents? If the weather is brutal can teams start rescheduling to good conditions?

Again we didn't want a 6 pointer, we wanted the game rescheduled. If that wasn't possible we were happy to turn up and play, even without a full team.

Draupnir wrote: »

The whole idea of a league as that it tests a team over a prolonged period, testing their ability as well as their staying power and commitment. If you start organising six point matches at the end of the season then that's a joke and disrespectful to the rest of the league, be it Brenfer North Dublin Under 8F or it's English Premier League.

I'm not having a pop at you personally by the way, fair play to you for giving the other side of the coin.

I disagree with this on the basis that ideally what you want is for each team to make the best effort they can for every game. If you lost the league because your nearest opponents got a walkover in the last game that would make a joke of the competition. Playing a 6 pointer isn't ideal, but does happen as I mentioned in every realm of amateur football in Ireland. I've played in 6 pointer games in the Intermediate Divisions of the Leinster Senior League in the past.

Anyway the point I'm trying to make is that nobody is trying to get one over on anyone else, a situation came up, some solutions were proposed and one was taken. If the option is there then people will take advantage of it. Maybe the league need to change their rules, but the ethos of the Astro league is firmly on enjoyable and competitive social occasions rather than winning at all costs.

Or to put it another way, if for whatever reason the Boards team didn't have enough players this week would you rather give a walkover or play for 6 points at a later stage in the season? If a team is doing it every week then there's a problem, if it's a once-off then I don't think it's such a big deal.

FrankGrimes

For what it's worth, while I'd have a pretty low opinion of a bunch of lads if they opted to sit on a bar stool watching a match instead of showing up for a scheduled game (which is what this looked like based on the Astro.ie mail), even then I didn't have any major beef with it as a once-off.

Gary has pointed out that there was more to it than it first seemed, so my view on it is just leave it be. We're already giving teams enough incentive to try knock us off the top without making too big a deal of things like this.

Looking forward to the game against Ketamine now by the way!

Draupnir

Iago wrote: »

and I don't dispute that, neither do I dispute the fact that fairly soon they'll walk away with the league. May be this summer season, but will happen soon enough I think.



Just to be clear, we weren't looking to postpone because the game was on TV. We couldn't field a team because we didn't have enough players that weren't injured and in the country.




Again we didn't want a 6 pointer, we wanted the game rescheduled. If that wasn't possible we were happy to turn up and play, even without a full team.



I disagree with this on the basis that ideally what you want is for each team to make the best effort they can for every game. If you lost the league because your nearest opponents got a walkover in the last game that would make a joke of the competition. Playing a 6 pointer isn't ideal, but does happen as I mentioned in every realm of amateur football in Ireland. I've played in 6 pointer games in the Intermediate Divisions of the Leinster Senior League in the past.

Anyway the point I'm trying to make is that nobody is trying to get one over on anyone else, a situation came up, some solutions were proposed and one was taken. If the option is there then people will take advantage of it. Maybe the league need to change their rules, but the ethos of the Astro league is firmly on enjoyable and competitive social occasions rather than winning at all costs.

Or to put it another way, if for whatever reason the Boards team didn't have enough players this week would you rather give a walkover or play for 6 points at a later stage in the season? If a team is doing it every week then there's a problem, if it's a once-off then I don't think it's such a big deal.

Fair play for responding Gary, can see where you are coming from and agree with Jules, let it go since it's a once off.

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19:15 WES1 Ketamine Rovers 2-1 The full irish
19:15 WES2 Roys Rovers 6-2 Fabulous Benedictine Monks
20:15 WES1 Glenwood Rovers 4-3 Shackthar Senseless
20:15 WES2 Bareassalona 1-2 Ravenhill

Is anyone heading over early?

If anyone is, can they see if they can get the results fo the first two games, thanks.

Hopefully Full Irish can do us a favour and take points off Ketamine Rovers.