SHAMROCK ROVERS’ GOALKEEPING situation could cost the team any chance of the title this season and even put manager Stephen Bradley out of a job.
That’s the view of former UCD and Bray midfielder Alan Cawley who says the manager must take some of the responsibility for the problems his players have been having between the sticks this seasons.
Rovers lost 2-1 to Dundalk on Friday, largely as a result of another goalkeeping error, and Cawley says it’s not good enough for a team with title aspirations.
“I’ve been saying this a long time, I’m almost blue in the face saying it,” Cawley told RTÉ’s Soccer Republic last night.
“Fans can see it, everyone who watches League of Ireland football can see it. The Rovers’ goalkeeping situation is literally a shambles at this stage.
“You look at the games so far that Rovers have lost. They have played 10 games, [Kevin] Horgan has played seven, [Tomer] Chencinski three and any time that they have made a mistake, they get dropped straight away.
“Now, I think that is a little unfair on the goalkeepers.
“But if you keep making mistake after mistake after mistake — I’ve no problem with a goalkeeper making one or two mistakes — but they’ve already lost four games and every game they have lost has been a goalkeeping error.
“They are in a position now, Shamrock Rovers, where obviously they want to challenge… but if you are conceding goals as sloppy as they are against the top teams, you’ve no chance.
“Ultimately I blame the manager. It’s going to cost the team and it could cost him his job if he keeps sticking with this making mistake after mistake every match.”
You can watch Cawley’s comments — and the mistakes he mentions — here:
"The @ShamrockRovers goalkeeper situation is a shambles." - @alancaw highlights what he sees is the biggest weakness in their squad and says it's possible it could cost Stephen Bradley his job. pic.twitter.com/CMWvV5GV7g
— Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) April 9, 2018
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
I suppose a natural development since Kilkenny’s physicality in the air has evolved the game into more of a physical battle. Hope there’s still a place for a Joe Deane or eoin Kelly type player in the modern game, hurling would be much poorer otherwise
There are not enough hardy lads in Tipp for the kind of game Ryan wants to impose .
I’d like to think you still need to be able to hurl to succeed tho. It’ll be interesting to see how Clare do with their pace and skill based game. I think it would be good for hurling to see them in croke park again. Hopefully Tipp can get the balance of brain and brawn right tho
Just because lads are after getting big and strong it does not mean that we after loosing a type of player.I think lads like TJ,Richie Hogan,JJ Delaney,Joe Canning and Callanan are just as skillful and class as Deane and Kelly.Just look at the player of the year nominees this year…….all three are like Houdini when they have a sliotar in their hands.Its the way the game is being played is changing.I think Kilkenny just brought more intensity rather than physicality,as the game was much more physical just as far back as 20 years ago.And more again 40 and 50yrs ago
For too long now ,Tipp have thrown away Munsters and all-Irelands due to their non physicality….
As Tommy Docherty once said when describing a Ladies team ” their lovely to look at,, but they wont hurt you ”
Maybe its time to bring back Hells Kitchen !!
I’m still scratching my head trying to figure out why maher was centre forward last year. I think right half back is his best position , in midfield he goes in and out of games. He’s more solid than Barrett.
Just as long as he doesn’t throw the baby out with the bath water. EOS was on the cusp of cracking it but his team lacked a bit of edge, not helped by injuries to the like if Mahony, Cahill, Stapleton etc. who add a bit of bite to the team. I would nearly prefer lose than sacrifice EOS’s hurling philosophy in favour of that sweeper system/ Donegal tactic that other teams are employing. Also if Michael Quinlivan can hurl he would be well worth a try.
That’s the worry Johnny, but I hope with the likes of bubbles, Callanan and Noel McGrath you have the bones of a hurling front 6 as opposed to a blunt battering ram. Galway even uppe’d the physicality stakes this year as well. Where’s it all going to end.. in puke football territory maybe? I like you still want to retain our nice brand of hurling identity if possible
Tipp need to find a few more players. No Denis Maher? The question you need to ask as a fan is how many of this squad would start on a Kilkenny first 15? 4-5 at a push, this is the bench mark for Tipp unfortunately.