Greatest League in the World 2026 [LOI Thread]

CSF · 06-03-2026 04:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124290826#Comment_124290826

I understand it took a gigantic push to allow us to even stay there. They were desperate to get us out and sell it off so they could fund their Dalymount promises.

andekwarhola · 06-03-2026 05:20PM

Wealthy benefactors pumping in money to Rovers 'year after year' sounds great but it doesn't actually happen.

European prize money is great but ultimately cyclical. Rovers do have a large membership which is another income stream.

Also there's been a good run of player sales of late but at the end of the day, you're trying to build teams that can challenge in Europe, pay large ground rent, travel etc, there's no escaping the fact that none of the big clubs here have sustained, huge attendances or big TV money etc so as said, money just gets spent or plugs up previous losses.

budgemook · 06-03-2026 09:28PM

Harry Vaughan isn't getting much of a look in for Bohs. He looked like an exciting player in the game against Pats but have seen very little of him since.

GLaDOS · 06-03-2026 09:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124291766#Comment_124291766

Named in the starting lineup tonight but pulled up in the warm up

artanevilla · 06-03-2026 09:37PM

Dawson Devoy is a different level.

Barnaboy · 06-03-2026 09:52PM

Bohs should be out of sight. Some poor finishing. But our general play is excellent. Look dangerous every time we go forward. Bit ropey at the back.

Need to be more clinical in second half or we'll end up dropping points.

NIMAN · 06-03-2026 09:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124291806#Comment_124291806

Best player in the league.

CSF · 06-03-2026 11:21PM

Can’t be that injury ravaged and that poorly coached at the same time. We are in huge trouble.

ben.schlomo · 06-03-2026 11:26PM

Mad game at EDP. Dundalk by far the better team first half. We were then well in top until 75 and probably should have seen it out but Dundalk got back on top and we hung on. Very impressed with Arubi and Dundalk's strength off the bench was impressive.

Hodors Appletart · 06-03-2026 11:34PM

SPA fans covering their club in glory yet again.

ben.schlomo · 06-03-2026 11:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124292456#Comment_124292456

Doing what?

Hodors Appletart · 06-03-2026 11:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124292462#Comment_124292462

Throwing flares and smoke bombs onto the pitch. This week of all weeks. Silly behaviour

The fai will have no choice but to mete out similar to what they gave Drogs

ben.schlomo · 06-03-2026 11:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124292494#Comment_124292494

Very silly indeed.

Ferris_Bueller · 06-03-2026 11:52PM

Rovers dominant and deserved the win vs Derry who were fairly poor. It had a feeling of a game where we would have a lot of possession but not hit the back of the net until the late penalty was given. We had 2-3 good chances throughout the game. Jack Byrne played very well and was involved in a lot of the positive play, Brennan looked very good again and won the penalty. Hopefully the Shels heads are down on Monday now.

CSF · 06-03-2026 11:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124292524#Comment_124292524

I wouldn’t think of it as about heads down. I would think about it more as we are potentially without all of Paddy Barrett, Odhran Casey, Milan Mbeng, Jack Henry Francis, Kerr McInroy and Mipo Odubeko.

And even fully fit, we will not be the same team we were under Damien Duff. The difference in level is unfortunately huge.

Hodors Appletart · 07-03-2026 12:02AM

Exactly that yeah, can't be missing those two centre halfs, those 2 midfielders and the starting LB/LWB

It's excuses at the end of the day, but them injuries this early in the season are a killer.

We're so bleeding ponderous in possession, but we're the same under Duff at times too

Hodors Appletart · 07-03-2026 12:03AM

Also that Portuguese midget isn't it. He can go on the Ellis Chapman pile

CSF · 07-03-2026 12:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124292563#Comment_124292563

Lad has played less than 150 minutes in a brand new country and league. This is madness talk.

Hodors Appletart · 07-03-2026 12:11AM

I don't disagree with you at all. But I'm correct

trashcan · 07-03-2026 01:03AM

Great result for Pats. We looked dominant after going two up, then pretty shaky once Shels scored. As the commentators were saying it did look at that stage that if there was going to be a winner it would be them. In all honesty I'd have taken a point at that stage, but to come back and win it at the death was sweet. Couldn't believe Joey O'Brien thought Shels were the better team in the second half. For fifteen minutes maybe.

artanevilla · 07-03-2026 01:04AM

Completely dominated the first half and game should have been put to bed then. We looked like the home side. 2nd half it was a bit sloppy which suited Waterford more, but manged the game ok. Need to finish the chances we created though, on another night it's only a point.

Also freezing cold.

On to the next one.

Ohmeha · 07-03-2026 10:09AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124292558#Comment_124292558

We had fully fit Barrett, Casey, Mbeng, JHF, Kerry, Mipo versus Waterford and we saw many of the same problems in that game against a poorer quality team compared to Pats

I'm not going to go into a panic mode just yet at this early stage of the season but there have been emerging cracks for 18 months that may have cemented into a fluffy directionless Shels team compared to the effective streetwise hard to beat DNA of 2023/2024.

CSF · 07-03-2026 11:15AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293059#Comment_124293059

Duffer was transitioning to a completely new style in fairness to him, that was always going to be necessary to be a fixture at the top rather than a once off.

Patrick2010 · 07-03-2026 11:37AM

Watching in Tallaght last night I can see why the Derry fans think McClean is doing nothing for them. Watching a game live you can see what a player does off the ball and James looked lost playing in a different position, not his fault.

Great to see Jack Byrne back to his best and Adam Brennan is a joy to watch.

ollaetta · 07-03-2026 12:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293217#Comment_124293217

Adam Brennan has some pace. From his time with Rovers we know Barry Cotter is no slouch but at one stage in the first half Brennan just dinked the ball past him and easily beat him in a sprint to the end line. He chose the wrong option once or twice but he'll learn and overall he's been a fantastic addition to the squad.

On McClean, I can also see what Derry fans are saying and the dilemma they have. He was mostly anonymous yet stayed on the pitch for the full 90 mins when the likes of James Clarke were substituted.

dfx- · 07-03-2026 12:53PM

Rovers' best 90 minutes in ages with forward intent, shots on goal and periods of pressure. Derry were ineffective to say the least.

The lowpoint for Rovers and partnerships remains the horse fiasco and it's not going to be ever threatened for first place..

ShagNastii · 07-03-2026 12:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124292494#Comment_124292494

It was there and it was bad. There were a few flares, but some goon literally lit a flare and instantly fecked it onto the pitch.

Shels are tidy enough and very creative but it is all for nothing. Anywhere within the 20 yard line and the ball becomes a hot potato with no one wanting to do anything with it. Harry Wood needs to drop the hip and let rip a few more times a game.

Gonna be grim if all season it's dominate possession and controlling games yet shipping soft goals at set piece and counter attacks.

NIMAN · 07-03-2026 01:11PM

I would say I was disappointed with our performance in Tallaght, but to be honest I am not surprised.

We have a good squad of players, but the manager isnt getting anywhere the best out of them. We created nothing and a lot of aimless hoofball stuff.

I think it was obvious he was playing for a draw early on, and then it was too late when we gave away the penalty.

As for McClean, well im fed up looking at him now. We didnt need him, yet he is upsetting the entire squad due to him having to be played. I thought the only way we could accommodate him was either LB or LW, and with Fleming missing last night, it would have been a great opportunity to play him LB and see if he and Duffy could link up. But watching the state of him trying to get around the park, that young lad on the right wing would have left him for dead, as Ben Doherty is no slouch and struggled with him. So basically I only see the bench as an option for him now. But the manager will continue to try to shoe horn him into the team. I fear it'll ruin our season.

Many derry fans hate our plastic pitch and assume once we get a grass pitch we'll be like Barcelona. Last night proved we can be sh1t on grass too. So little composure all over the pitch.

Rovers fully deserving of the points, they were the only team trying to play football and win the game. Jack Byrne wont have an easier midfield match up this season.

Dogsdodogsstuff · 07-03-2026 01:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293400#Comment_124293400

Yeh, in between brief couple of minutes where team can seem comfortable and confident being more progressive, we look quite aimless and very similar to when we’d just play it around find third, back to defender probing for a chance but we create little and only seem to be able to create good chances after conceding and if game opens up a bit.

On paper we look stronger with good squad options but I don’t see things coming together. It’s either harry wood comes up with something special (we’d be fecked without him) or somebody else, reality has a “moments fc” feel about our goals.

Also, the intensity was seriously lacking at some points , with Pats out fighting for the ball and getting second balls more.

I’ve been at all our games this season so far and there’s no clear improvements. Outside of Drogheda away 2nd half (after our worst performance in first half), there’s not a lot to be optimistic about.

Like others , I’m not writing off season but it’s at best a concerning start. Pats deserved to win, we nearly nicked something from game but for the majority we were very poor. I know Jarvis will take time to get up to speed but his form so far hasn’t been good enough. Play to full fitness seems to be the goal , took woods ahold to get upto speed when he returned so I guess its the same gamble.

Bone has been really good. I noticed he looked much trimmer when I saw him after pre season and we’ve been lucky he’s been able to step up. Not sure how much injury’s are effecting us , defo missed the attacking intent from Mbeng and I’d like to see more of Henry Francis alongside McInroy.

Shels have had 4 captains this season, 3 in yesterday’s match, with Boyd and ledwidge taking over from McInroy. Maybe it is unfair to totally write off injuries impact and if I was to be optimistic, maybe if the team can build some momentum we will see a different performance. But I’m pessimistic by nature so I’m already thinking maybe we can win the cup…. (Not that we can’t qualify in league, too early for that , but we need to start picking up points soon and rovers , Derry and bohs in next 3 games could leave us in bad state if we don’t get motoring).

ozzy78 · 07-03-2026 10:52PM

I was at the game too and couldn't agree more about McClean...he just doesn't look comfortable in the middle at all. I was very impressed with Brennan again, but I thought Adam O'Reilly was incredible too in the middle for Derry. His pace and ability to get back and make a tackle was excellent.

Greatest League in the World 2026 [LOI Thread]

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