Limerick FC 2014

Jofspring

Said I'd start a new thread as the last one has a lot of old info at this stage with the new season only just over a month away.

I'll start with the website www.limerickfc.ie, it won an award for best League Of Ireland website and is full of interviews and information. There has been loads of audio interviews put up along with video interviews on the new youtube channel of Limerick FC TV. The club is also using a lot of social networking like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

The Official Supporters club 2014 is open to members new and old for the season ahead and costs just €10 for an adult for the year.

Games will once again be played in Thomond Park this season with a range of season ticket options available.

The 2014 Squad as it stands has plenty of local representation and a lot of younger lads who are finding their feet at a higher level.

Squad List:

GK
Barry Ryan (Clare)
Shane Cusack (Clare)

Def
Shaun Kelly (Donegal)
Stephen Folan (Galway)
Sam Oji (London)
Michael Leahy (Dublin)
Tony Whitehead (Cork)
Robbie Williams (Pontefract)
Shane Costello (Limerick)
Colm Murphy (Kerry)

Mid
Patrick Nzuzi (Lubumbashi, DR Congo)
Shane Duggan (Limerick)
Darragh Rainsford (Limerick)
Danny Galbraith (Galashiels)
Val Feeney (Roscrea)
Jason Hughes (Limerick)
Shane Tracy (Limerick)

FW
Craig Curran (Liverpool)
Barry Sheedy (Limerick)
Rory Gaffney (Galway)

First Game of The Season

Friday March 7th:
Limerick FC vs Bray Wanderers, 7:45pm, Thomond Park.

Green Giant

Great to see that the vast majority of the 2013 squad is still in place, plus a handful of new additions.

I'd be hopeful of a top half finish, don't see a dramatic improvement from last year but 5th or 6th would be further progress

flutered

a higher place finish than last year is definatly required, if progress is to be made.

Jofspring

Can't see us finishing higher than last season. Our budget is considerably smaller than last year and we have seen 8 players leave with only two new faces in. We will be blooding a lot of the younger lads so will have to be patient with them. I'd expect Pats, Sligo, Rovers, Derry, Dundalk and Cork to all finish ahead of us. Bohs, Drogheda and Athlone look like they will be decent sides also so we wil probably be in that pool of teams. If we can stay injury free and solid at the back then we may push up by 1 place. I'd be ecstatic if we could get a cup final.

Vision of Disorder

I don't think we'll make any real headway this year if I'm honest. Think the squad looks a bit thinner than last years as it stands. That said I'm more than happy for us to take our time and not engage in the sort of spendthrift dash for success that has ruined so many clubs before. This notion that we have to markedly improve year on year or everything is a complete disaster is completely ridiculous.

Our first XI is still decent and the defence looks like it could be more solid than it was for much of last year but we're still light up top and I think midfield (as it stands) looks quite mediocre with Gamble and Bradley gone and O'Leary and McGann in no man's land at the moment.

Fireball07

Thinner, maybe, and I would have liked to see a couple more additions- definitely another one in midfield.


But you have to say our defence looks a lot stronger on paper than last season, we finished the season a lot better due to Oji's presence. And having Folan & Leahy there too will really help.

Also having Gaffney from the start of the season, the most natural goalscorer in the squad. If we get injuries, we could be in trouble, particularly in attack... no real pacy option to replace Axel.

TheBeast17

Vision of Disorder wrote: »

I don't think we'll make any real headway this year if I'm honest. Think the squad looks a bit thinner than last years as it stands. That said I'm more than happy for us to take our time and not engage in the sort of spendthrift dash for success that has ruined so many clubs before. This notion that we have to markedly improve year on year or everything is a complete disaster is completely ridiculous.

Our first XI is still decent and the defence looks like it could be more solid than it was for much of last year but we're still light up top and I think midfield (as it stands) looks quite mediocre with Gamble and Bradley gone and O'Leary and McGann in no man's land at the moment.

Were they anything other then mediocre last season? Same for O'Leary second half of the season actually.

Vision of Disorder

Fireball07 wrote: »

But you have to say our defence looks a lot stronger on paper than last season, we finished the season a lot better due to Oji's presence. And having Folan & Leahy there too will really help.

Having an option to keep Folan out of the first team is a good sign. A Kelly-Leahy-Oji-Williams back four looks solid.

TheBeast17 wrote: »

Were they anything other then mediocre last season? Same for O'Leary second half of the season actually.

Gamble, as always, was unappreciated and did huge amounts of intelligent, important work when we didn't have the ball. I always felt some people expected, because of his reputation, a more complete player than he ever was. The midfield tended to look brittle every time he was out. In theory Nzuzi should be well able to do that running around but he's fairly headless at the best of times.

Bradley was very inconsistent last season and isn't, IMO, a huge loss but he still did more with the ball when he bothered to look for it than most of the others.

O'Leary is somewhat over-rated anyway I think. He's technically very good but he has a habit of going missing and hiding in the centre circle when things get tough and, at times, he seems eager to get rid of the ball too fast rather than risk getting tackled.

A Tracy-Nzuzi-Duggan trio in the centre of midfield isn't overly impressive. You could substitute Jay Hughes for Tracy I suppose but it's more of the same. A reasonably handy, fairly innocuous player who won't make many teams nervous.

We're not far off having as good a squad as last season (another option in the centre of midfield and another up front and I'd be happy) and I'm not unhappy with where the club is at all. I just don't necessarily see us performing any better than last year.

With eight out and two in (if Jofspring's figures are still up to the minute as I don't doubt) the squad is quite a bit smaller. That's not a disaster in and of itself but it is a legitimate worry.

Jofspring

TheBeast17 wrote: »

Were they anything other then mediocre last season? Same for O'Leary second half of the season actually.

Thought Gamble was decent and an experienced head. Bradley actually improved towards the end of the season but when you take it over the two years he was with us it didn't really work out. O'Leary went off the boil a bit but would still be a big loss.

TheBeast17

I'm not for a second having a go at Gamble I have backed him and his role in the team up quite a lot. And yes he was ok last season but only ok while he was the main man to get the ball back he was quite poor on it at times and he didn't cover the big pitch in Thomond well.. Our midfield last season was mediocre and our midfield this season will be the same but i don't think the loss of Gamble and Bradley takes the standard of the midfield down at all. I think Nzuzi will be able to cover Gambles position and I think Duggan will be a lot better for us then Bradley was tbh.

I think Tracy-Nzuzi-Duggan midfield trio while not as impressive reputation wise will actually get more done than one with Gamble and Bradley in it. Bradley was good near the end of the season but that was far too late for the majority of the time when he played he had very little or no impact at all on games. I could be very wrong I just think the energy of Duggan and Nzuzi will work better with the size of the pitch in Thomond.

I have to say I don't agree that O'Leary will be a big loss. While I think he is a good player I have never rated him as highly as some others seem to.

Trialist playing in the game tomorrow against Galway supposedly a striker that one of the lads training with the team has described to me as "an absolute beast".

Jofspring

Going to head up to Galway alright, looking forward to seeing the trialist. I'd be happy enough if we brought in one more striker. Would love another midfielder but if the budget is tight then I'd take the striker.

TheBeast17

How many of the 8 that left played enough that it makes a difference they are gone? Isn't it only really Calla, Gamble,Bradley and Axel that had any real involvement?

How many games did Judge,Purcell,Tiofack and Walsh play all put together even?

buyer95

Jofspring wrote: »

Said I'd start a new thread as the last one has a lot of old info at this stage with the new season only just over a month away.

I'll start with the website www.limerickfc.ie, it won an award for best League Of Ireland website and is full of interviews and information. There has been loads of audio interviews put up along with video interviews on the new youtube channel of Limerick FC TV. The club is also using a lot of social networking like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

The Official Supporters club 2014 is open to members new and old for the season ahead and costs just €10 for an adult for the year.

Games will once again be played in Thomond Park this season with a range of season ticket options available.

The 2014 Squad as it stands has plenty of local representation and a lot of younger lads who are finding their feet at a higher level.

Squad List:

GK
Barry Ryan (Clare)
Shane Cusack (Clare)

Def
Shaun Kelly (Donegal)
Stephen Folan (Galway)
Sam Oji (London)
Michael Leahy (Dublin)
Tony Whitehead (Cork)
Robbie Williams (Pontefract)
Shane Costello (Limerick)
Colm Murphy (Limerick )

First Game of The Season

Friday March 7th:
Limerick FC vs Bray Wanderers, 7:45pm, Thomond Park.

Young Murphy is actually from Kerry lads.

Jofspring

buyer95 wrote: »

Young Murphy is actually from Kerry lads.

O ya Castleisland, forgot that. Cheers.

Fireball07

Gamble was decent, but you do get the feeling that he thought he was a lot better than he was... maybe not so much last season, but in the first division, he was always trying hollywood balls that he just wasn't capable of doing. On his day, he was an excellent, all-action midfielder but he had an infuriating lack of discipline and sometimes it just seemed like he couldn't be bothered and picked up silly yellow cards.


As for Bradley... he may have finished well, but on the whole, was a poor signing. And I imagine his wages would have been a lot higher than most of the others. I'd certainly expect Duggan to do better.

And I like Nzuzi in midfield, he's another who improved as the season went on. Has pace, energy, can tackle and dribble... and is versatile. Bit headless sometimes but he's young and will improve imo. O'Leary/Duggan/Nzuzi is a midfield trio I can definitely get behind.

Would like to see Tracy at left-back but I imagine Williams has that spot nailed down... which probably means Shane will be played in the middle. He's okay in the middle but the game passes him by too much.

Jofspring

Galway 0-1 Limerick Shane Tracy with the goal.

Very young side out from us and decent if not great performance from us. Duggan looks like he will be excellent for us and looking forward to seeing himself, Curran and Gaffney playing together.

That trialist won't be signing anyway and I'll say no more.

Iang87

ha ha

Do we assume the trialist was limited in his ability

Jofspring

Iang87 wrote: »

ha ha

Do we assume the trialist was limited in his ability

Yes it would be very safe to assume that.

TheBeast17

Jofspring wrote: »

Galway 0-1 Limerick Shane Tracy with the goal.

Very young side out from us and decent if not great performance from us. Duggan looks like he will be excellent for us and looking forward to seeing himself, Curran and Gaffney playing together.

That trialist won't be signing anyway and I'll say no more.

Only other thing I could add based on lastnight is I really hope Barry Ryan isn't out for long at any stage.

buyer95

Iang87 wrote: »

ha ha

Do we assume the trialist was limited in his ability

Putting it lightly from what I've been told.

Vision of Disorder

I would like to see the trialist again. He didn't show much the other night but the midfield behind him didn't offer much either. The full backs were more offensive than we're used to, will be interested to see if that becomes a regular thing.

TheBeast17

Vision of Disorder wrote: »

I would like to see the trialist again. He didn't show much the other night but the midfield behind him didn't offer much either. The full backs were more offensive than we're used to, will be interested to see if that becomes a regular thing.

I actually said it at one stage to one of the lads next to me the two full backs were miles up the pitch.

Just on a positive note it was great to see Shane Tracy looking fit after his injury and surgery.

Jofspring

Vision of Disorder wrote: »

I would like to see the trialist again. He didn't show much the other night but the midfield behind him didn't offer much either. The full backs were more offensive than we're used to, will be interested to see if that becomes a regular thing.

I thought Duggan played some good balls in to feet to him and he failed to either control or do anything with most. For a big lad he was poor in the air too.

TheBeast17

Anyone heading to Ringmahon tomorrow?

Vision of Disorder

Jofspring wrote: »

I thought Duggan played some good balls in to feet to him and he failed to either control or do anything with most. For a big lad he was poor in the air too.

I wouldn't wholly disgree, just reluctant to dismiss any player on one game (especially in pre-season and his first with this group of players). For me Oji was the only one who played "well" but I wouldn't sweat it, that's what pre-season is for.

Also, I am going to Ringmahon.

TheBeast17

I wonder will this game be on tomorrow. Really don't want to drive down for nowthing.

Now that I think of it I'd agree on Ebanks, Axel was terrible first one or two friendlies last season and turned out to be ok during the season.

TheBeast17

Pitch inspection in Ringmahon tomorrow at 8.15am.

Shane Duggan named captain for the 2014 season with Craig Curran as vice captain.

Vision of Disorder

TheBeast17 wrote: »

Pitch inspection in Ringmahon tomorrow at 8.15am.

Anybody heard anymore on this? Nothing on either club's website.

TheBeast17

Vision of Disorder wrote: »

Anybody heard anymore on this? Nothing on either club's website.

After pitch inspection it has been ruled playable so game on.

Fireball07

TheBeast17 wrote: »

Pitch inspection in Ringmahon tomorrow at 8.15am.

Shane Duggan named captain for the 2014 season with Craig Curran as vice captain.

Interesting enough that a completely new player is given the captaincy. Not completely unheard of, but still.

Jofspring

Ya strange enough alright but a young limerick man all the same so good to see. I think himself and Curran are just being given a boost by handing them those roles.

Munster Senior Cup:
Ringmahon 2-4 Limerick with not long to go.

Fireball07

Hanlon, Duggan, Tracy, Gaffney all scored... I know it's only a friendly but probably shouldn't be conceding 2 goals to Ringmahon.


What kind of first-choice team do people expect to see?

Ryan
Kelly Oji Folan Williams
O'Leary
Nzuzi Duggan
Galbraith Gaffney Curran

With Cusack, Costello, Leahy, Tracy, Hughes, Rainsford, Hanlon/Coughlan as a first-choice bench.


It's not bad... maybe short on an attacking option or two, but I think we'll be better than last year as long as we don't get any major injuries.

Jofspring

O'Leary is 95% gone so its probably going to be between Rainsford, Hughes and Tracy for the last midfield position.

We need another midfielder and striker but i'd say we might only bring in one more striker if we can and wouldn't be surprised not to see anyone else come in.

Iang87

Fireball07 wrote: »

Hanlon, Duggan, Tracy, Gaffney all scored... I know it's only a friendly but probably shouldn't be conceding 2 goals to Ringmahon.


What kind of first-choice team do people expect to see?

Ryan
Kelly Oji Folan Williams
O'Leary
Nzuzi Duggan
Galbraith Gaffney Curran

With Cusack, Costello, Leahy, Tracy, Hughes, Rainsford, Hanlon/Coughlan as a first-choice bench.


It's not bad... maybe short on an attacking option or two, but I think we'll be better than last year as long as we don't get any major injuries.

Nzuzi right back for kelly. Kelly looked out of his depth last year at times whereas towards the end of the season Nzuzi looked like a world beater.

Probably be Tracy duggan and hughes as the trio in midfield. Hughes energy will make up for Tracys lack of running, not that Tracy is lazy just that his legs go

TheBeast17

Iang87 wrote: »

Nzuzi right back for kelly. Kelly looked out of his depth last year at times whereas towards the end of the season Nzuzi looked like a world beater.

Probably be Tracy duggan and hughes as the trio in midfield. Hughes energy will make up for Tracys lack of running, not that Tracy is lazy just that his legs go

What when?

Nzuzi will be playing in midfield this season for sure.

TheBeast17

Told yesterday too that Danny Galbraith has not really trained yet this pre-season also Barry Ryan is in hospital at the moment.

TheBeast17

Also if anyone is interested line-up in game yesterday was

Cusack

Kelly Oji Whitehead Williams

Nzuzi
Hughes Duggan

Tracy Coughlan
Hanlon

Vision of Disorder

Kelly had one terrible game (the 3-2 win at home to Dundalk) and was between decent and excellent most of the year last season.

O'Leary was actually at the game in Cork yesterday (on the sideline watching as opposed to in the dugout).

No sign of Folan or Leahy yet in pre-season either as well as Galbraith.

Jofspring

Ya the injury list at the moment seems to be, Folan, Leahy, Curran, Galbraith with Gaffney just back and Barry Ryan in hospital as mentioned above.

TheBeast17

Jofspring wrote: »

Ya the injury list at the moment seems to be, Folan, Leahy, Curran, Galbraith with Gaffney just back and Barry Ryan in hospital as mentioned above.

Craig is back training now he was telling me yesterday so that is some good news.

Fireball07

Jofspring wrote: »

O'Leary is 95% gone so its probably going to be between Rainsford, Hughes and Tracy for the last midfield position.

We need another midfielder and striker but i'd say we might only bring in one more striker if we can and wouldn't be surprised not to see anyone else come in.

Where's O'Leary going?


Would be a big blow... we'd have to replace him really. No chance of Galbraith being played through the middle in certain matches? Most of his best football is done through the middle imo, he's not particularly good at crossing, but he is good at through balls for the likes of Gaffney to run onto.

Obviously doesn't do much defensively in comparison but with Duggan and Nzuzi behind him, it could work. Not a fan of Tracy in midfield. Hughes is decent, but not as good as O'Leary.


Would like a pacy strike option, someone who can play wide right/up front- like Axel last year. Would like to see Rainsford get played on the wing more, he's much better when he runs at people- has huge strength and pace.

Iang87

TheBeast17 wrote: »

What when?

Nzuzi will be playing in midfield this season for sure.

Kelly was awful at the start of the season, consistently caught out. Never seemed up to the pace of early on. Got a bit better after the break but by no means was brilliant all and to say he only had one bad game is astounding.

I thought we were at our best by far when Nzuzi played right back williams played left back and oji and folan in the middle

Jofspring

O'Leary is supposed to be off to Shamrock Rovers.

Nzuzi is probably a better right full going on his end of season performances but he is going to be needed for centre mid. I think Kelly will do a fine job with a settled back 4. All our defenders were getting caught out at one stage or another because we had to chop and change so much.

Vision of Disorder

As long as we can ease Folan out of the first team picture we'll be fine.

TheBeast17

Iang87 wrote: »

Kelly was awful at the start of the season, consistently caught out. Never seemed up to the pace of early on. Got a bit better after the break but by no means was brilliant all and to say he only had one bad game is astounding.

I thought we were at our best by far when Nzuzi played right back williams played left back and oji and folan in the middle

I'm not the one who said he only had one bad game but I think that is a much fairer assessment then what you are giving tbh. Dunno what you were watching if you think Kelly was that poor all about opinions but I think yours is miles off. Not saying Kelly is perfect but its not like Nzuzi wasn't caught at times either.

We were our best by far when those played for one reason mainly and that is Sam Oji.

Fireball07

Jofspring wrote: »

O'Leary is supposed to be off to Shamrock Rovers.

Nzuzi is probably a better right full going on his end of season performances but he is going to be needed for centre mid. I think Kelly will do a fine job with a settled back 4. All our defenders were getting caught out at one stage or another because we had to chop and change so much.

I like Nzuzi in midfield from what little we saw. He was very good at right-back at the end of the season... he really grew into the league, I think, was a bit of a liability at the start but by the end, he was one of our best performers.


As for Kelly, I think he's generally pretty solid... I just wish he'd attack more. He has pace, he's able to cross, and when he does get forward, he can do damage... too often, he'd be content to stay back around the halfway line. Nzuzi does at least attempt to get forward.

Iang87

TheBeast17 wrote: »

I'm not the one who said he only had one bad game but I think that is a much fairer assessment then what you are giving tbh. Dunno what you were watching if you think Kelly was that poor all about opinions but I think yours is miles off. Not saying Kelly is perfect but its not like Nzuzi wasn't caught at times either.

We were our best by far when those played for one reason mainly and that is Sam Oji.

Ah you're overlooking just how good Nzuzi was towards the end. Kelly was poor to start I really dont see how you can think otherwise. He didnt play the first few weeks through suspension afaik and when he started he wasnt very good. Got better as the season went on not to the point i'd have him start ahead of Nzuzi at Full back but if Nzuzi is to play midfield then he is defintely more than capable of playing well there

TheBeast17

Iang87 wrote: »

Ah you're overlooking just how good Nzuzi was towards the end. Kelly was poor to start I really dont see how you can think otherwise. He didnt play the first few weeks through suspension afaik and when he started he wasnt very good. Got better as the season went on not to the point i'd have him start ahead of Nzuzi at Full back but if Nzuzi is to play midfield then he is defintely more than capable of playing well there

Nzuzi was poor when he first started too tbh. I think Kelly had far more good games then he did bad so I found your criticism of him over the top. I'm not saying Nzuzi wasn't good at the end him and Oji were the first two I wanted re-signed tbh.

TheBeast17

I know a lot of people will disagree with me but I think if we get a decent striker in then we have a better squad then last season not by loads but better.
A bench of Cusack,Costelloe,Leahy,Rainsford,Hughes,Coughlan,Decent striker is better then what we had last season.

I think where most will disagree with me is my view that Nzuzi,Duggan and Tracy are a stronger midfield 3 then Bradley,Gamble and O'Leary.

Fireball07

TheBeast17 wrote: »

I know a lot of people will disagree with me but I think if we get a decent striker in then we have a better squad then last season not by loads but better.
A bench of Cusack,Costelloe,Leahy,Rainsford,Hughes,Coughlan,Decent striker is better then what we had last season.

I think where most will disagree with me is my view that Nzuzi,Duggan and Tracy are a stronger midfield 3 then Bradley,Gamble and O'Leary.

We'd have to see it in action to judge. But as I've said before, I really don't think Tracy is a central midfielder, he didn't impress there last year... when it was him, O'Leary and Gamble in the middle; he was probably the least effective of the three.... bar his set-pieces which were obviously class.

We'll miss O'Leary's set-pieces too.

Vision of Disorder

I'd probably start Jason Hughes ahead of Shane Tracy if it were up to me. He's a lot more mobile for starters. Based on what we have at the moment and presuming everybody is fit and we stick with the same system I'd probably line out with:

Ryan

Kelly
Leahy
Oji
Williams

Hughes
Duggan
Nzuzi/Tracy

Galbraith
Curran
Gaffney