Greatest League in the World 2024 [new thread available]

Another diabolical performance from the officials tonight. It's a massive problem with no obvious solution. Diallo almost took Bolger's leg off and got away with a yellow and John Mahon was given a yellow for complaining about that decision. I've no idea what Mahon was given a second yellow for but the referee played on for 3 or 4 seconds and then stopped it when we were through 1 v 1 to send him off. Absolutely bizarre unless there was some altercation off the ball I missed.

And then the topper was the linesman awarding a throw to Derry right at the end when the ball was quite clearly headed out by their left back right in front of him and me. Can't even get the basics right.

Don't understand why he went with that strikerless formation given how inept we've been defensively this season. Derry didn't threaten most of the night and your best chance was probably that shot from about 30m out which McNicholas parried wide.

Let us off the hook in that regard.

A lot of what Higgins does leaves me scratching my head. And many Derry fans are the same.

The ref standard is shocking for sure.

As for Higgins, we heard how we were so lucky to get him, how he was in high demand etc. I know he turned around his first season when Devine had us heading for relegation, but we had a decent team and I think a lot of managers could have brought us up the table.

I haven't been convinced for a long time. He is incredibly Conservative. He only wants to win games 1 nil. He likes his team to pass for the sake of it, and it can be a hard watch at times. He seems to have no ideas as to how to break down a camped defence, which we often face at home, and as a result our home games are generally devoid of any entertainment.

Added to this we have now brought in a highly paid no2, but performances aren't improving. As I said, the chairman is pumping a lot of money into this team, we should be playing much better, much more attractive football.

The fact that we are now starting games with no forwards is worrying. Does he think he's Pep?

Hopefully he'll prove me wrong and win the league, but can't see it.

Not sure who it was as I came in in the middle of interview, but someone associated with Cork City on rte radio this morning saying they have identified 2 individuals who were chanting about Stephen Bradley's son, and they will be issued with lifetime bans.

Good to hear.

I can't wrap my head around the anger surrounding the Towell appeal failing. He attempted to kick a player in the face which is violent conduct. Overturning the red card would have been absurd.

The Cork lad grabbing his face when Towells boot didn't make contact with him deserves a card for simulation as well, but unfortunately that's not possible (yet).

There's a creeping trend of players feigning injury, it needs to be clamped down on. Walker is a classic example, lies down holding his face until he realises Towell got a red and jumps up. Hoare wins the ball with both players having their feet same height but Cork man goes down like he's shot.

Grant has given 15 yellows and 5 reds to Rovers in 2 games he's reffed. Maybe in Fridays game it's time for rovers to play the game and just make a meal of every tackle

You're right. Mist players do feign injury. It's really po*y to look at though.

No, what’s your point?

Rovers have a red card. Nothing against them but was hoping that would happen for the lols

The injury list at Sligo Rovers is just stupid at this point. Two more gone in the first 30' tonight and we're playing with our 6th and 7th choice CBs (neither of whom are actual CBs of course). Is it bad luck or something else? I don't know.

Another nothing game against Derry, but honestly if anyone was winning it was us. Last 20 minutes Derry took control of the game, but was shocked how poor they were before that.

Drogheda's worst performance of the season tonight.

It's hard to be critical of the ten outfield players as we have such a small squad.

The clown in goal cost us again and will likely be the reason if we don't stay up.

We only play against 3 teams in the league. The rest we don’t seem arsed to play against.

Another shiite 45min performance from us.

We are going backwards.

Was surprised with how bad Derry were defensively tonight. Connolly looked very slow and old and Doherty had a horrid match against Carthy.Even though Maher made a mess of the first goal he prevented that match being a 5 or 6-1 win. We were excellent and dominated after the first 20 minutes. Thought Higgins's usually stunt of having Maher go down injured in the 15-20 minutes to bring the team in for a team talk backfired tonight. It killed their own momentum and allowed us to take control. Curtis, Murphy and McCormack are excellent talents. Conor Carthy although he didn't score was brilliant and hassled the Derry defence without stop. Lennon controlled the midfield and McGrath and Lewis were solid despite been our 3rd and 4th choice center backs. Really top stuff from us.

Game of 2 halves in Tolka there. 2 dreadful teams in the first half with Drogheda kind of stealing one towards HT.

In the 2nd half, Drogheda remained dreadful but with Boyd on at HT, we looked a whole different animal. We’d have a whole lot more points on the board if we had Boyd (or even a semi-competent backup striker) since week 1.

Id be a bit worried if I was a Drogheda fan, as with Cork on the turnaround, and Sligo probably likely to change manager soon, they may be heading towards the playoff in a year when the Premier Division team is projecting to be a big underdog against Galway or (more likely) Waterford. If there’s any available budget there in the summer window, they really need reinforcements. Do any of the loan lads from England go back in July or are they all for the full season? Those seem to be the best players there.