The Big Kick Off

gimmick · 03-03-2008 11:46AM #1

Well, the eL close season is finally at an end with the new term kicking off this weekend. Both divisions are looking quite close, with Drogs, Cork City, SPA, Bohs, and Derry all looking strong, and the 1st division looks like it could be very competitive with Shels having strengthened, Dundalk, Waterford and Longford all looking decent. There will also the be unknown quantity in Sporting Frigall. Its made all the more exciting all round given that 3 will be relegated and one promoted.

For my own club, Cork City, times are certainly looking exciting. A new manager in place who will try and rid his name of a hoofballer in his first foray into professional management, a very strong squad boasting 3 full Irish internationals, new signings which include last years top scorer in the league Dave Mooney, and the returns of league winners Danny Murphy and more importantly George O Callaghan. Its hard to predict exactly what will happen, but anything less than a top 2 finish will see Matthews out of the job.

Other predictions

Drogs to win the league
Cork City to win the Cup
Derry to retain the league cup again as no one else is interested in it.

Cobh, Bray and Galway to be relegated.
Dundalk to get promoted.

_blank_ · 03-03-2008 11:58AM

I really can't see Longford doing much in the First tbh.

It's great though, the first game of the season in Tolka, Shels v Dundalk is already a six-pointer.

Shels are looking good, and didn't loose a game in pre-season with draws against four Premier sides. Including Cork City with all their internationals!

To say we have strenghtened is a bit of a misnomer too, we have a completely new squad. I think there are only four players left from last season, or something like that.

We have better players in all areas, and WILL challenge.

Dundalk have bottled it the last few years, hopefully they do that again.

********************************
Premier is looking good imo. Derry will falter early on I feel, and Bohs will probably be there, or there abouts for a long time, but will ultimately finish third or fourth.

Definitely between Drogs and SPA, with Cork a small distance behind.

Who's looking like going down? Harps/Galway?

Oh, by the way, Extratime.ie is up and running.

Ronan|Raven · 03-03-2008 01:12PM

We wont do much in the first this year. Have an average squad but we have a lot of locals for a change and some promising younger players. A midtable finish is all I can see and tbh will be happy enough with that. The club is being run a hell of a lot better these days at long last. Hopefully with financial sense and stability the club can begin rebuilding over the coming season(s)

The team is training back in Longford now at long last.

Shels have a great squad assembled along with Dundalk and Kildare have a few handy players, Waterford as well should do well.

I can't wait for it all to begin.

DSB · 03-03-2008 01:20PM

Really can't wait for Friday. Having gone unbeaten in preseason (Shels), aswell as having such quality players at our disposal, can't really help but be excited for the season to come. I think Dundalk will flap it again and we'll come away with the title.

Drogs for the Premier, Cork second.

whatawaster · 03-03-2008 01:24PM

Drogheda to win the Premier, just. Their strikers will do it for them i think.

KdjaCL · 03-03-2008 02:23PM

We have possibly the geatest EL squad ever from defence to midfield but lack a striker, we only have 2 and if they get injured or go off form we are screwed.

Hope for a 2nd place or higher finish and get out of the group in the SSC, and to score an away goal in europe.

kdjac

_blank_ · 03-03-2008 02:27PM

KdjaCL wrote: »

lack a striker...away goal in europe.

I sense a problem in the force.

Yeah, on the Europe side of things, be good to see at least one of the teams give it a decent shot this season.

I'm going to try to get around the PD grounds in Dublin this year, when we are playing in the arsehole of nowhere on a Friday evening, and down to see Sporting Fingal a few times too in Santry.

Jonny Arson · 03-03-2008 11:13PM

firstly, The BIG League

1. Shelbourne
1. Dundalk
1. Sporting Franchise
1. Waterford United
5. Limerick 37
6. Monaghan United
7. Longford Town
8. Athlone Town
9. Kildare County
10. Wexford Youths

i'm not going to bother calling it because i genuinely think there are 4 teams with little between them and have the ability to win the yoke, it should be exciting! at this moment i think Shels and Dundalk would be considered favourites with the Franchise and Waterford just behind them. Franchise really are the unknown quantities with a brand new squad that looks very solid on paper and practically unlimited funds to buy those 3/4 Premier division quality players they can afford in the July window to bring them to the level of Shels and Dundalk. If they remain in touch of the leaders by the July window I could see them having a really good chance

Shels have had a great pre-season but i still think there are a few weak links in Keely's 1st choice starting XI and Philly Hughes who i was hoping may score 15-20 goals this season.... is still fat

i'd expect a title challenge anyway with signings of the caliber of Brennan, McGill, Keddy, Delaney, Rutherford, O'Halloran. The other teams apart from Limerick 37 should be a comfortable 12 points for the top 4.

Premier

1. Drogheda United
2. St. Pats
3. Bohs
4. Cork City
5. Derry City
6. Sligo Rovers
7. Shamrock Rovers
8. Bray Wanderers
8. Galway United
8. Finn Harps
8. UCD
12. Cobh Ramblers

should be another boring stroll for Drogheda, i think they'll win it by 10-15 points. Pats only look marginally improved, Bohs and Cork looked sh!te in their friendlies against Shels so i think the exciting race will be who will get sacked first, Fenlon or Mathews?

more interestingly 3 teams are going down this season so it's going to be dog eat dog. Cobh are certainties, UCD are going to have a tough time but i did see them in a pre-season friendly and honestly they impressed me more than Bohs and Cork! They have good young players and a good manager so i wouldn't write them off.... yet. I think the last spot could be between Bray, Galway and Harps. Galway and Harps are full time so that's a big advantage over Bray but Galway have a dodgy manager who has made risky signings and Harps are going to have it tough either way only coming up. Bray have signed well but i wouldnt rate Gormley as a manager like Cousins so i think they'll be down there.

looking forward to it, better than that other league across the water for sure

KdjaCL · 03-03-2008 11:17PM

Jonny Arson wrote: »

Franchise really are the unknown quantities with a brand new squad that looks very solid on paper and practically unlimited funds to buy those 3/4 Premier division quality players they can afford in the July window to bring them to the level of Shels and Dundalk

Bucko is a damn good manager, plays attacking football unlike some.

Jonny Arson wrote: »

looking forward to it, better than that other league across the water for sure

lol

kdjac

DSB · 03-03-2008 11:24PM

I don't think Cobh will go down. I think they will surprise everyone.

KdjaCL · 04-03-2008 12:20AM

DesF wrote: »

Oh, by the way, Extratime.ie is up and running.

oh they got enough sponsorship to be running this season.

kdjac

Gavin "shels" · 04-03-2008 12:31AM

Only 4 more days, can't bloody wait.

1st Shels
2nd Dundalk
3rd Waterford
4th Sporting Feck All

1st Drogs
2nd Cork
3rd Pats
4th Bohs

For anyone interested, the EL preview supplement is in this Saturdays Mirror.;)

MrJoeSoap · 04-03-2008 01:54AM

DesF wrote: »

Oh, by the way, Extratime.ie is up and running.

Very nice. Bookmarked.

All I can say is roll on Friday night! What a way to start the season!

_blank_ · 04-03-2008 09:48AM

KdjaCL wrote: »

oh they got enough sponsorship to be running this season.

Nothing to do with money why it didn't run last season.

The owner had some very hard personal difficulties, and I know for a fact that that Racecaller ad is the only one raising funds for the site, plus the google ad banners.

KdjaCL · 04-03-2008 09:53AM

pull out in todays star.

kdjac

Roar · 04-03-2008 10:53AM

DSB wrote: »

I don't think Cobh will go down. I think they will surprise everyone.

i was talking to their manager over the weekend and he said they're aiming to finish fifth, and how the looked at rovers when they came back up, and how they did well with pretty much the same squad of players from the first divison, and that's what they'll be aiming to do.

i think they'll stay up alright. they have a very good work ethic and some quality players (davin o'neill is superb, and kieran o'reilly WILL score goals)

as for the race for the title, i have a feeling in me waters that Cork City will do it, although it will be hard with all the dublin based teams, particularly drogheda and bohs, looking strong.

it's certainly shaping up to be the most exciting league race in years!

whatawaster · 04-03-2008 11:15AM

Roar wrote: »

although it will be hard with all the dublin based teams, particularly drogheda and bohs, looking strong.

that won't go down well

chopperbyrne · 04-03-2008 11:39AM

Hopefully I'll be getting to Drogheda on Saturday for the match.

If not, I'll be at the first home match.

Pighead · 04-03-2008 12:02PM

DesF wrote: »

Dundalk have bottled it the last few years, hopefully they do that again.

Bottled it the last few years me arse! How dare you cast such a slur on such a fine club.

We bottled it, the season just gone and thats about it. Season before, we came 2nd to what has proven to be a very decent Rovers side. In previous years we didn't even manage to challenge as we were pants.

_blank_ · 04-03-2008 12:05PM

Pighead wrote: »

Bottled it the last few years me arse! How dare you cast such a slur on such a fine club.

We bottled it, the season just gone and thats about it. Season before, we came 2nd to what has proven to be a very decent Rovers side. In previous years we didn't even manage to challenge as we were pants.

Actually, yeah.

Last year.

I paid no attention to the division before that.

ibh · 04-03-2008 02:25PM

Jonny Arson wrote: »

firstly, The BIG League

Shels have had a great pre-season but i still think there are a few weak links in Keely's 1st choice starting XI and Philly Hughes who i was hoping may score 15-20 goals this season.... is still fat

I can still see Philly banging in a hatful of goals this year. He was p1ss poor last year but the season before he was top drawer..

_blank_ · 04-03-2008 02:36PM

ibh wrote: »

I can still see Philly banging in a hatful of goals this year. He was p1ss poor last year but the season before he was top drawer..

Been to any of the pre-season matches?

Philly looks like he has a good touch, he hasn't lost that part of his game, but he is just very, very unfit. I'd be surprised if he was first choice from the off, or if he is, then Dermo will quickly tire of him.

I agree that he could be decent, and on the season before last's showing I'd have no hesitation about sticking him in, but he needs to get fit first.

imo.

Pighead · 04-03-2008 02:56PM

DesF wrote: »

I agree that he could be decent, and on the season before last's showing I'd have no hesitation about sticking him in, but he needs to get fit first.

imo.

Can't see that happening anytime soon. The lads just not interested. As Des says he's got great touch but his mindboggling the way he refuses to shed them pounds.

_blank_ · 04-03-2008 02:59PM

Pighead wrote: »

As Des says he's got great touch but his mindboggling the way he refuses to shed them pounds.

Mindboggling for sure.

I seriously believe he has the footballing talent to be playing for one of the top PD clubs, but he's a waster.

MrJoeSoap · 04-03-2008 03:23PM

KdjaCL wrote: »

pull out in todays star.

kdjac

Got it. Was surprised how big it was, plenty of good reading in it.

raheny red · 04-03-2008 07:19PM

DesF wrote: »

I agree that he could be decent, and on the season before last's showing I'd have no hesitation about sticking him in, but he needs to get fit first.

I think his performance last season is enough evidence to show that he is a pointless signing and a waste of money. At this rate, you're better off dropping the second 'h' and the 's' from his surname.

_blank_ · 04-03-2008 07:46PM

raheny red wrote: »

I think his performance last season is enough evidence to show that he is a pointless signing and a waste of money.

See, I don't know about that tbh.

You know the way Dermo does spend nearly the whole game ranting at Flood to keep him on his toes?

I reckon if he does that to Philly in training, then we could have a mean, lean goal scoring machine on our hands.

Or not.

raheny red wrote: »

At this rate, you're better off dropping the second 'h' and the 's' from his surname.

I spent too long trying to work that out.

_blank_ · 04-03-2008 07:48PM

MrJoeSoap wrote: »

Got it. Was surprised how big it was, plenty of good reading in it.

rofl.

They say Longford are the ones going to push Dundalk for promotion :eek:

They say Shels' "One to watch" is Philly.

Gavin "shels" · 04-03-2008 07:49PM

DesF wrote: »

rofl.

They say Longford are the ones going to push Dundalk for promotion :eek:

They say Shels' "One to watch" is Philly.

And they weren't even arsed getting our crest.:rolleyes:

MrJoeSoap · 04-03-2008 07:51PM

DesF wrote: »

rofl.

They say Longford are the ones going to push Dundalk for promotion :eek:

They say Shels' "One to watch" is Philly.

They only said Longford to keep Shels off the radar and then BANG, we're back.

As for Hughes, you never know. FM never lies and he's been a saviour for me in that more than once!

KdjaCL · 04-03-2008 07:57PM

you have 5 of our ex players and we have 5 of yours....spooky

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelbourne_F.C.#Current_First_Team_Squad

lol notable ex players, guess Haverty was decent for you after all in with geoghan and sheridan

kdjac

The Big Kick Off

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