Greatest League in the World 2024 [new thread available]

He’s been ok, but the second goal yesterday was a massive howler from him, which I’m sure even he’d admit. Not too sure about him for the third either.

It’s been a poor enough start from Stephen Kenny, I’ve even seen some comments that suggests that the knives are out for him already. It’s ridiculous after five games, but it’s kind of why I had reservations about hiring him in the first place. There is definitely a hangover from the Ireland job with some people, with snide comments about his performance in post match interviews, to comments like it’s all about the possession stats never mind the results ( something that Kenny never even hinted at being his approach.) A lot of this coming from non Pats fans in fairness. He has the job now and should be given time. The team just looks in a bad place at the minute.

Pity Shelvey didnt work out, I think he will go on to have decent career.

No cup run for Pats this year so.

That’s the top 4 teams in my pre-season league table prediction (excluding us) playing against each other in round 1. I’ll take that. If the surviving 2 can play each other in the 2nd round, that would be nice also.

Bray about as mid table as it gets in the First Division, but with the game sandwiched between 2 euro games, it will be a challenge still.

A team like Pats will have that extra drive for the cup this year (not that they’ve struggled in recent years in it), as it’s probably their best remaining chance of making this year a successful one.

Our form this year is the simple reason. Three games v Derry, three defeats. I’d say we have next to no chance. It’s hard to be anything but pessimistic. Obviously I’d be delighted to be proven wrong.

What's the issue with Pats in a nutshell? Is it underperforming player or is a massive clear out needed? You'd expect a bit of a new manager bounce but the forms as bad as it was with Daly. Presumably Kenny will look to bring in player next month when the transfer window opens.

You would hope so, but it’s hard to see there being that much of an upturn.

As to what’s gone wrong this year, I think it’s a mixture of a few things. Some underperformance for sure.Chris Forrestor is not playing as well this year. We have defensive issues. The loss of Lyness has been big I think, and also Sam Curtis. Lots of chopping and changing in the defence, with the suggestion that Joe Redmond is playing with a injury ( not sure if that’s true). Then upfront, Ruairi Keating hasn’t got the goals we’d hoped, Mason Melia is a great prospect, but still young. Jake Mulreany continues to be frustrating, just doesn’t contribute enough. Add it all up and it’s why we are where we are. We are terribly pedestrian in possession at times, which predates Stephen Kenny. He really needs to address that. It will be interesting to see who comes in during the window.

As a Longford fan, I am not happy about anything right now 😅

Two poor sides in Drogheda although we probably had the best chance of the match that Mulraney should have scored. Lost McLoughlin and Redmond to injury which meant that we ended the match with a midfielder and a winger as our full backs.

Absolutely thrilled with that performance from the blues tonight. Sligo are a balls of a team to play against with them being so negative so it was nice to just swat them aside so easily. Should have won by about 6 but we will take the 4-1 win. Roll on the league leaders now on Thursday. Home form is improving and we are now 15 points above the relegation play off spot.

Great times to be a blue. Long may it continue.

We weren’t great, but we won. Take that all day. Lovely bit of quality from Jarvis to get us out of jail.

Fair result in United Park.

Either side could have one, either side could have lost.

Both sides lack quality. We (Drogheda) need at least four decent players to give us a chance of staying up.

Nah he's out for another 5 weeks, Baggley might make it back end of July, probably August though. It's him we miss most, Asamoah is just pace, not much else there with him but Baggley gives us an extra dimension creatively.

We need to strengthen the squad cause it's paper thing really when it comes to those kind first teamers being out, and no cover for Podge. Man is doing full games week in week out. Macadam is back in Fleetwood for treatment too I believe.

We were shocking again in the 1st half, bar the first couple of minutes.

So ponderous and slow. Making it easy to defend against.

We are a completely different team when we play with a bit of tempo, not sure why the manager doesn't try it more often!

We have been generally dreadful for large parts of this season, yet still 2nd and in a good position to challenge.

I just wonder how far we'd be ahead if we actually click?

Galway disappointing, came for the 0-0, and at half time thought theyd get it.

Hoban has 11 goals with a poor supply.

Imagine if we actually got the ball into him fast and often.

Parking the bus tends to be the way to succeed against us. We’re not great at breaking teams down but thrive in the chaos of an end to end game because we defend so well.

You're still upset that we turned you over at the RSC a few months ago, grabbing a goal from nowhere and then seeing it out, which is hilarious considering Waterford did a similar job on us at the Showgrounds last month.

It could have been 2-2 or 3-3 at HT and you're calling us negative.

That was a good bounce back for Shels last night after the Sligo defeat still top of the league. Dundalk apart from that shot which hit the bar never really looked like threatening us, I just wish we could find it easier to put the ball in the back of the net to alleviate anxiety, too many of our one goal wins really should have been more comfortable two goals wins

Just felt it was important too, to keep people informed with in depth analysis of how Jarvis is doing. He's one of the most discussed topics on here

Sure speaking of fellas having good seasons, Podge Amond has been unbelievable. Hit the top of the scorers charts this week and fully deserved, the work he does for the team and the leadership he provides is invaluable and I believe the genuine difference between us fighting for our lives at the bottom of the table and knocking on the door of European qualification at the other end of the table.

His football IQ and nous at just nicking in before defenders for flicks or headers and his ability to be in the right place at the right time for a finish haven't left him just yet. It's made all the more impressive when you think of his age and that he is still running hard pressing with 90+ minutes in the clock most weeks, very very rarely comes off and has nobody to actually start over him and give him a break.

Signing of the season so far

Not to fan the flames of that conversation any further, but signing of the season is unquestionably Jarvis.

Has to be the front runner for player of the season in the league so far (if Rovers or Derry win the league then someone else from them will have likely pushed themselves into contention within the last 16-18 games)

Agreed, let’s leave it to the Shels lads