Sligo going strong…
MONDAY NIGHT’S 3-1 win at home to Bohemians leaves Sligo Rovers well in control of the Premier Division title race, nine points clear of Drogheda United.
With just seven games remaining, the chasing pack can be forgiven if they start to scour the fixture list in the hope of finding some tricky tests which might stall Sligo’s momentum. Their run-in is by no means easy — they finish with Pat’s (H), Drogheda (A) and Shamrock Rovers (H) — but if they can keep the foot on the pedal with six points from upcoming games against Dundalk and Bray, the Bit O’Red could preempt any possible wobble.
… as the race for Europe heats up
Behind Sligo a real tussle is emerging for the two remaining European spots though Drogheda, Pat’s and Rovers might well argue that the race for top prize isn’t over until the mathematical calculations say so.
As it stands Drogheda (41 points) are two ahead of the two Dublin clubs (39 pts) having played a game more than both Pat’s and Rovers.
Rovers’ resurgence marginally makes them the form team with 13 points from their last five league games, compared to 10 for Pat’s and just six for Drogheda over the same period. The acid test will come before the end of the month though when Pat’s welcome Stephen Kenny’s Hoops to Inchicore (21 September) and then head north to Hunky Dory Park a week later (28 September).
The smart money would be on the more experienced Dublin clubs to get the job done but Drogheda’s form under Mick Cooke has been excellent this season and can’t be discounted.
Cork slump continues
Not so long ago, Barstooler focused (to the point of obsession?) on the long undefeated streak that Tommy Dunne’s Cork City were stringing together in the league. Sure, the Leesiders might not have been winning too many games but they certainly knew how not to lose.
The wheels have come off in recent weeks though and Cork have lost three of their last four in the league. It’s frustrating as the results haven’t always matched the endeavour of their performances, seen again in Turner’s Cross on Friday night when Shamrock Rovers came from behind to win 2-1.
If there’s any saving grace, it’s that Cork’s earlier invincibility and the withdrawal of Monaghan United from the league have combined to leave them with a rather large safety net through this trying time. With no automatic relegation and the 11th-placed team entering a promotion/relegation playoff, the nine-point gap between City and Dundalk should calm any nerves.
More pressure on Mathews
Another week, another defeat for Shelbourne. The murmurings of discontent around Tolka Park are growing steadily louder and a chorus of boos greeted the final whistle on Friday night as Shels went down 2-0 to Derry City.
The Reds have taken just two points from the last 18 on offer on the league, fewer than bottom-placed Dundalk who have managed three draws from their own last six games. Supporter dissatisfaction with manager Alan Mathews is clear and he will need a minor miracle from back-to-back derbies against Shamrock Rovers and St Pat’s to start to turn the tide back in his favour.
Life after Corry
It hasn’t been the easiest season for Martin Russell and UCD, and although all at Belfield were delighted to see midfielder Paul Corry finally get his deserved move to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday, there must have been slight concern at how it would impact the club for the rest of the season.
Corry’s loss wasn’t immediately felt as the Students beat Bray Wanderers 3-1 in Belfield on Friday night, just their fifth league win of the season. The result moves them four points clear of Dundalk at the foot of the table, though the Lilywhites can close the gap back to one with a game in hand.
Meanwhile Wenger might be putting in a bid for Johnny Evans.
Football is such a toxic sport.
True. I’m delighted Pogba has signed but I admit I’m finding it hard to identify with Man United since Woodward became chief exec and the club became this huge marketing machine. Announcing Pogba at midnight so the Asian and American fans could hear first is a case in point.
The same is true of most Premier League clubs. The football is a distant second compared to the money that could be made in new markets.
Why
I really can’t understand all the fuss about it. Money in football is mad. Absolutely. But it’s the way the game is. Every club spends stupid money. Madrid do it year on year. United do it and it’s abhorrent! If I had 300k to spend on a Ferrari I would but I don’t. It’s all relevant. I don’t care how much any club spend it’s not my money, but as a fan I’d rather see them spend it. And as for letting him go for 800k and buying back now, well clubs have done it in the past. Fabregas went to barca for 35 million after they let him go for nothing.
No but when City and Chelsea were doing it United fans said they were buying the league and ruining football. But now its United at it and its fine because they have the money!
But United always spent big money on players so dunno where that’s coming from. The problem most football fans have with city and Chelsea is that they have no history. They didn’t build a club from scratch like Liverpool or United. They just won the lotto. But that will come back to bite when the Arabs and the Russians get bored
Chelsea and city have been around for 100 years, chelsea won there first league title in 1955 and there first European trophy in 1971 they’ve also been second only to United in the last 20 years for trophies won, and that includes before abramovich, so to say they or city have no history is just ignorant.
What Colm says. United have been breaking domestic transfer records for decades. Suddenly they are like Chelsea/Man City in the eyes of their biggest rivals, pure jealousy.
Read up a little on United’s spending in the late 80′s and early 90′s. They basically did what Chelsea and City did more recently. Raised money on the stock market a number of times to keep spending. The fact that they got lucky that Premier League and Champions League money kicked in seems to be lost on their fans. Before that they had about the same success as Everton. So for their fans to bang on about history, when they don’t even know their own, is quite ironic. But I guess for most of them, football was invented in 1992.
@William : I began following United in 1979, I was mesmerised by their “history” and Phoenix like resurrection from the wreckage of the Munich disaster and by the players that Matt Busby brought through the ranks who went on to scale the heights of European football just 10 years after being decimated. Sure there was the 26 year wait for a league title (1967-1993) but that just strengthened the resolve of this fan. You trot out the old cliche aimed at Man Utd fans that football was only “invented” in 1992 forgetting that for a lot of Liverpool fans it “ended” in 1990 and hasn’t been the same since.
Ah lads now lets stop this bickering. United have had an awful last few years and have thrown money at the problem and are hoping that solves it. Liverpool have had an awful past 26 years and have thrown money at Southampton hoping that solves it. Uncertain times for us all. But right now we need to come together against a common enemy, Leicester fans. I think theres one in Drogheda. And he’s an a**hole
Lold
And 14 of those 20 have come since abramovich came in. United first European cup 1968. Chelsea 2012. Nottingham forest have a better tradition than Chelsea.
United spent in 89 when fergusson came in. Don’t forget they also let 4/5 top players go that time too. Everything else you said is rubbish and not worth responding too.
The thing is if you think about it, Liverpool fans are mostly of an age where they would have grown up seeing Liverpool win all around them. No kids follow Liverpool nowadays. So you could say that those fans are nothing but glory hunters. They slag off United fans about football. not being invented till 1992 but to them football war invented in 77/78! And as you said ended in 90. Good while it lasted though. United fans are actually true fans. We went through years of nothing. Suppose like pool fans are now. We never though every year was our year though
First off, I am not a Liverpool fan. Second, thank you for your well reasoned arguments, I must be wrong cause I can’t argue with them.
You can look it up though, United outspent all of the other teams in Division 1 combined over those years. It was a gamble and it paid off. But to paint United as this mega historical club, when two-thirds of their success has come in the past 20 odd years. Yes they have had success in the past, but to paint it as their birth right is just a fallacy.
I just assumed you were when you rolled out the ‘united fans only think football was invented in 92′ speel that Liverpool fans throw at you. It’s their second favorite saying after ’5 times’! My deepest apologies for tarring you with the same brush!
I don’t argue with you at all. United did spend then. See my first post I don’t have a problem with any club spending money. If you’ve got it flaunt it. But someone made a comment that if Chelsea or Man City did it United and pool fans would be uo in arms. I was just pointing out why maybe, United and pool fans don’t have much time for city or Chelsea
Ah jaysus ,you’re a joke lad.
Good comment
United fans now celebrating being rich! And being able to afford to waste hundreds of millions on mediocre footballers….. But it’s ok cause the club has lots of money! That’s the “united way” nowadays
Every club is rich these days.. Everton paying £30million for an average winger from Palace, Palace paying close to £30million for a Liverpool flop, Liverpool giving £30million + ever year to Southampton.. Man City spending £100million for 2 players who have 15 international caps between.. There is no such thing as a poor premiership football team.. Nobody needs to sell anymore so only crazy money will be accepted..
I don’t think people actually care about how much money the club spends what’s really annoying is the hypocrisy from all United fans and mourinho recently
But Conor, does it really annoy you that bad what other people say?
Does it annoy you what I said?
I am just asking a question pal out of curiosity. I am not one bit annoyed.
Like I said on an article yesterday. The comment section used to be good craic between opposite fans. Now it’s just United and Pool fans going tit for tat on who’s club is better and who’s wasted the most money. The banter is long gone.
Agreed.
Sad to say it but Liverpool, Chelsea the rest couldn’t afford to deals like this. Then you read the haters & the sadness quickly passes
Chelsea? Really!?
Arsenal bought some unknown Korean fella for 2 million so in your face.
Hate to be that guy but Japanese and 800k
What’s your point? “Most” couldn’t afford Angel di Maria either.
Jaysus,that’s worse. I was convinced he was Korean. It’s gonna be a long season.
Most would be wise enough not to spend so much on a player they let go a fee years previously. It reeks of desperation. Almost like an all or nothing mentality. If city did it the United fans would be in uproar. But it’s “muh generated money” rather than Saudi money. Apparently this makes it all ok. Obviously i say that with bitterness because I’m a Liverpool fan but it’s partly true at least. I really want to see him fail and all the fans go mental :)
Sure. I understand. Hating everything that’s not about your club is a trait all Liverpool fans have
Why do you always have to mention Liverpool in all your comments
They see me trollin’, the haters…
Ah now Alan
The whole comments section reeks of jealousy, if Liverpool or Arsenal etc could afford to spend 90m plus on one player they would but that can’t ! So get over it lads and enjoy the season if you can
Why rigsby is this season uniteds season?
Groundhog Day.
What’s that Christmas Day?