Monday nights game against Cliftonville was similar to the Drogheda game as Cliftonville came and played 4-5-1 as they attempted to curtail our attacking threat. It was a much changed Rovers team with 7 changes to Friday nights line up and it really showed our strength in depth.
Billy Dennehy, who scored the final goal in last years competition, got the ball rolling after he converted Gary McCabes superb low cross at the back post. In truth the Cliftonville defender should have cleared it out for a corner but he was unaware that Dennehy was behind him and Billy finished well. Chris Turner and Aaron Greene missed great chances to extend the lead before Colin Hawkins eventually gave us a two goal cushion when he headed home from a Gary McCabe corner.
At 2-0 you would have taught that we would go on and win comfortably but we tired at the back and as Cliftonville pushed 2 up front in search of the away goal they had 3 great chances to score and we were slightly fortunate to keep a clean sheet. The main thing is that we did keep a clean sheet and we are now in the driving seat to progress to the semi-final. Decent performances on the night from Hawkins, Turner and Greene.
There was a reasonable crowd of over around 1,500 and a decent travelling support but the fans still haven't taken to this competition and if all four Airtricty League teams prevail over the Irish League teams in the quarter finals then it is hard to see a future for the competition as the gap between the standard in North and South gets greater every year.
Thursday, 8 March 2012
The League Begins
We always enjoy the short trip to Drogheda and although it was disappointing not to start the league campaign with a home game, it was a good night in Drogheda. We arrived up there at 5:30pm, got our tickets and then it was time for a few pints in the Windwill. With game an early 7:05pm kick off for tv it meant there was probably less Hoops than expected at the game but there was still 1,000 or so packed into the shed as the pre-game excitment built.
With high expectations going into the game, the most important thing was just to get the 3 points and that's what we did. We started well and dominated possession early on without really creating many chances, Drogheda played a 4-5-1 as most teams will against us this year and with Peter Hynes up front on his own they rarely looked a threat and seemed happy to sit and defend. We fell behind to a shock goal after Dean Marshalls free kick was aimed for the head of Alan McNally but missed everybody and bounced into the top corner of Oscar Janssons net. It was a set back but luckily we hit back before the break as Gary Twigg done what he does best by rounding keeper Gabriel Sava and finishing to level the scores.
We started the 2nd half strong and Twiggy put us into the lead after he vollyed home when the ball dropped to him in the 6 yard box following a Rovers free-kick. We expected to press home our advantage as Drogheda game in search of an equaliser but Drogheda still sat deep and only had one real chance to level the scores but Cathal Brady hooked the ball over Janssons crossbar.
It was a good 3 points and comeback from us and without hitting top form we played reasonably well. Gilbert and Powell impressed in the full back positions and look like good attacking options for us this year. Jansson had a few ropey moments but will still be happy with his debut and Sives and Oman where rarely tested, we flattered to decive in midfield and our centre midfielders will need to get to grips with being outnumbered if we are going to continue to play 4-4-2. Twiggy was quiet but still got 2, how often have we said that! Finding him a regular partner will be one of Stephen Kennys key decisions this year.
With high expectations going into the game, the most important thing was just to get the 3 points and that's what we did. We started well and dominated possession early on without really creating many chances, Drogheda played a 4-5-1 as most teams will against us this year and with Peter Hynes up front on his own they rarely looked a threat and seemed happy to sit and defend. We fell behind to a shock goal after Dean Marshalls free kick was aimed for the head of Alan McNally but missed everybody and bounced into the top corner of Oscar Janssons net. It was a set back but luckily we hit back before the break as Gary Twigg done what he does best by rounding keeper Gabriel Sava and finishing to level the scores.
We started the 2nd half strong and Twiggy put us into the lead after he vollyed home when the ball dropped to him in the 6 yard box following a Rovers free-kick. We expected to press home our advantage as Drogheda game in search of an equaliser but Drogheda still sat deep and only had one real chance to level the scores but Cathal Brady hooked the ball over Janssons crossbar.
It was a good 3 points and comeback from us and without hitting top form we played reasonably well. Gilbert and Powell impressed in the full back positions and look like good attacking options for us this year. Jansson had a few ropey moments but will still be happy with his debut and Sives and Oman where rarely tested, we flattered to decive in midfield and our centre midfielders will need to get to grips with being outnumbered if we are going to continue to play 4-4-2. Twiggy was quiet but still got 2, how often have we said that! Finding him a regular partner will be one of Stephen Kennys key decisions this year.
The Opposition
So with the league now underway and all squads assembled it’s time to take a look at the opposition to see who are rivals will be this season:
Bohemians
The old foe have had a dramatic fall from grace over the past two seasons and this year’s squad is a shadow of the all conquering teams of a few years ago. Aaron Callaghan was a surprise appointment as Bohs manager this year but he is a hugely experienced coach and they will be well organised and hard to break down. They certainly won't be the most exciting team to match and goals will be at a premium but survival will be Bohs aim and I think they will have enough quality stay off the bottom.
Final Prediction: 8th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Karl Moore - The former Man City youngster never got a chance to show his worth at Rovers last year after his mid season signing from Galway and he will be keen to prove his worth and kick start his career at Bohs
Bray Wanderers
Bray have proven to be a tough nut to crack for Rovers in the past and it seems like Pat Devlin’s men always perform against us. We have been lucky to get some crucial results in the Carlisle Grounds in the past 2 seasons but we have also been beaten in Tallaght and we can't underestimate Bray again this year although their squad isn't as strong as last year and will particularly miss midfield stalwart Gary Dempsey. Much will depend on the emergence of the next crop of youngsters and trying to keep their first XI fit.
Final Prediction: 11th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Danny O'Connor - re vitalised at Bray, Danny was a firm favourite for Hoops fans during his spell with us but put in some superb performances against us and scored a cracker in Tallaght last year. He was key to Brays survival along with Dempsey last year and will be their key man again this year.
Cork City
Great to have Cork back in the league and I'm already looking forward to the trip to Turners Cross on March 16th. They will be looking to push for a top half finish and former Hoops Tommy Dunne has added well to his squad to by bringing Dan Murray, Tadhg Purcell, Shane O'Connor and the excellent Colin Healy. They will pick up a lot of points at home and may even challenge for the top spots.
Final Prediction: 4th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Tadhg Purcell - The former Hoops striker was deemed surplus to requirements by Michael O'Neill and after an excellent goalscoring spell at Darlington he moved to Northampton where injury curtailed his first team appearances. Tommy Dunne moved to secure the big man on loan last month and he could prove a handful for a lot of defenders in the league this year.
Derry City
Surprised most with such a strong season last year in their first season back in the Premier Division but with the loss of McClean, Zayed and Lafferty and a reduced budget this year it will be tough for Declan Devine’s men to compete at the top. There are still quite a few top players at Derry this year and trips to the Brandywell are always enjoyable but never easy.
Final Prediction: 6th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Simon Madden - signed for Derry from Dundalk after he had an excellent season last year. Played in our first game ever game in Tallaght and if we didn't sign Gilbert he may have made a return this season. Good attacking full back who will provide a tough challenge for most LoI wingers.
Drogheda United
Mick Cooke worked miracles to keep Drogheda up last year after it had looked like they were set for the drop but a combination of being well organised and Galways poor form they ended the season well above the drop zone. This year will be about consolidating again Mick Cooke has signed well bringing in 5 players from his ex club Monaghan and it looks like a much stronger team this year. Special mention and best wishes to Drogheda left winger Philly Hand who is brother of our very own Trim Hoop Andrew ‘Giggsy’ Hand!
Final Prediction: 7th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Mark O'Brien - began his LoI career with us and disappointed a lot of fans by leaving to join Bohs, has really fell from grace since that early promise but will be a key player for Drogheda.
Dundalk
Last season early promise under Ian Foster faded away with a poor second half of the season. Another club who have drastically cut their budget and new manager Sean McCaffrey will have to rely on youth this season and it could be a steep learning curve for the young players, luckily McCaffrey’s experience should be enough to keep them in the division.
Final Prediction: 9th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Darren Stapleton, hardly a household name to many Rovers fans but after his brief spell with us 2008 he went on to play non-league in England and then America and is now back in league with Dundalk.
Monaghan United
Back in the top flight after a 10 year absence, Roddy Collins team were the surprise package last season in the First Division. They have lost a number of players to ex manager Mick Cooke at Drogheda this year and they will be just aiming to retain their top flight status come October.
Final Prediction: 12th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Robert Bayly – was a last minute Michael O’Neill signing in 2010 and will always be remembered for his late goal at home to Bnei Yehuda but ruined his reputation at Rovers with a poor performance and sending off at UCD in the title run in before a heated exchange with Rovers fans. Ruined it further by signing for Bohs last year and now for Roddy! Has the potential to still be a good player but too temperamental and unreliable.
Shelbourne
Great season last year with promotion and a cup final and Shels will be relishing their top flight return. Alan Matthews teams are always very defensive and hard to break down and this Shels team is no different, kept all their key players from last year and have added well to the squad, I think Shels will surprise many and finish in the top half. Special mention and best wishes to Kevin Dawson who is a brother of our very own Trim Hoops Brendan Dawson!
Final Prediction: 5th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Paddy Kavanagh – signed for Rovers from Bray with a big expectation and the winger showed glimpses of class but never commanded a regular starting place. After being left out of a squad by Michael O’Neill last year he claimed: “What a load of me sack” on Twitter and rarely featured for us last season!! Still a Trim Hoops favourite but hopefully he won’t come back to haunt us this year.
Sligo Rovers
Pushed us all the way last season and after 2 FAI Cup triumphs in a row they will have their eye on the league title this year. They have assembled a strong squad but losing Paul Cook just before the start of the season was not ideal and new manager Ian Bariclough will have to hit the ground running if Sligo are to challenge this season. Lack of strength in depth at the back will be their biggest worry this year and any injuries to Peers and McGuinness will see them struggle.
Final Prediction: 2nd
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Mark Quigley – The former Millwall youngster had a ill fated spell with us where he never seemed like he was even trying and then signed for Pats where he had an excellent season before breaking his leg the following year, has played for Bohs and Dundalk since and now he joins Danny North in a potent Sligo frontline.
St. Patricks Athletic
Liam Buckley will bring an attacking brand of football to Pats this year which they lacked under Peter Mahon and Bucko has put together a strong squad of experience LoI players. They ran out of steam towards the end of last season and will be keen to stay the distance this year but a cup win will be a big aim for them and if coupled with a high league finish it will be a successful first season for Buckley.
Final Prediction: 3rd
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Dean Kelly – scored that all important last minute goal against UCD in the Bowl to secure the 2011 league title for us. Was a fans favourite with his effort and ability but injury prevent us from seeing the best of Deano. Had to move on this year due to work commitments clashing with our training and he will be a key man for Pats this year.
UCD
Martin Russell’s young side need to applauded for sticking to their guns last season and continuing to try play football in the right way. This led to a couple of heavy defeats against us and some of the other top teams but the students also showed some real top performances last year and some of their players will no doubt be stars of the future in the league. It will be another struggle this year and success will once again be survival. Special mention and best wishes to Trim lad David O’Connor who is now in his third season at UCD and improving each year, maybe somebody he will become the first Trim Hoop player!
Final Prediction: 10th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Chris Mulhall – ‘Hip’ as he is known to Rovers fans is best known for appearing on the Rovers club texts as injured week on week as a hip injury kept him out for most of his Rovers career. Done well for UCD last season and will be key player in their midfield this season.
Hopefully you have enjoyed our review of our opponents and here is a summary of how we think the table will look at the end of October:
Bohemians
The old foe have had a dramatic fall from grace over the past two seasons and this year’s squad is a shadow of the all conquering teams of a few years ago. Aaron Callaghan was a surprise appointment as Bohs manager this year but he is a hugely experienced coach and they will be well organised and hard to break down. They certainly won't be the most exciting team to match and goals will be at a premium but survival will be Bohs aim and I think they will have enough quality stay off the bottom.
Final Prediction: 8th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Karl Moore - The former Man City youngster never got a chance to show his worth at Rovers last year after his mid season signing from Galway and he will be keen to prove his worth and kick start his career at Bohs
Bray Wanderers
Bray have proven to be a tough nut to crack for Rovers in the past and it seems like Pat Devlin’s men always perform against us. We have been lucky to get some crucial results in the Carlisle Grounds in the past 2 seasons but we have also been beaten in Tallaght and we can't underestimate Bray again this year although their squad isn't as strong as last year and will particularly miss midfield stalwart Gary Dempsey. Much will depend on the emergence of the next crop of youngsters and trying to keep their first XI fit.
Final Prediction: 11th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Danny O'Connor - re vitalised at Bray, Danny was a firm favourite for Hoops fans during his spell with us but put in some superb performances against us and scored a cracker in Tallaght last year. He was key to Brays survival along with Dempsey last year and will be their key man again this year.
Cork City
Great to have Cork back in the league and I'm already looking forward to the trip to Turners Cross on March 16th. They will be looking to push for a top half finish and former Hoops Tommy Dunne has added well to his squad to by bringing Dan Murray, Tadhg Purcell, Shane O'Connor and the excellent Colin Healy. They will pick up a lot of points at home and may even challenge for the top spots.
Final Prediction: 4th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Tadhg Purcell - The former Hoops striker was deemed surplus to requirements by Michael O'Neill and after an excellent goalscoring spell at Darlington he moved to Northampton where injury curtailed his first team appearances. Tommy Dunne moved to secure the big man on loan last month and he could prove a handful for a lot of defenders in the league this year.
Derry City
Surprised most with such a strong season last year in their first season back in the Premier Division but with the loss of McClean, Zayed and Lafferty and a reduced budget this year it will be tough for Declan Devine’s men to compete at the top. There are still quite a few top players at Derry this year and trips to the Brandywell are always enjoyable but never easy.
Final Prediction: 6th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Simon Madden - signed for Derry from Dundalk after he had an excellent season last year. Played in our first game ever game in Tallaght and if we didn't sign Gilbert he may have made a return this season. Good attacking full back who will provide a tough challenge for most LoI wingers.
Drogheda United
Mick Cooke worked miracles to keep Drogheda up last year after it had looked like they were set for the drop but a combination of being well organised and Galways poor form they ended the season well above the drop zone. This year will be about consolidating again Mick Cooke has signed well bringing in 5 players from his ex club Monaghan and it looks like a much stronger team this year. Special mention and best wishes to Drogheda left winger Philly Hand who is brother of our very own Trim Hoop Andrew ‘Giggsy’ Hand!
Final Prediction: 7th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Mark O'Brien - began his LoI career with us and disappointed a lot of fans by leaving to join Bohs, has really fell from grace since that early promise but will be a key player for Drogheda.
Dundalk
Last season early promise under Ian Foster faded away with a poor second half of the season. Another club who have drastically cut their budget and new manager Sean McCaffrey will have to rely on youth this season and it could be a steep learning curve for the young players, luckily McCaffrey’s experience should be enough to keep them in the division.
Final Prediction: 9th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Darren Stapleton, hardly a household name to many Rovers fans but after his brief spell with us 2008 he went on to play non-league in England and then America and is now back in league with Dundalk.
Monaghan United
Back in the top flight after a 10 year absence, Roddy Collins team were the surprise package last season in the First Division. They have lost a number of players to ex manager Mick Cooke at Drogheda this year and they will be just aiming to retain their top flight status come October.
Final Prediction: 12th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Robert Bayly – was a last minute Michael O’Neill signing in 2010 and will always be remembered for his late goal at home to Bnei Yehuda but ruined his reputation at Rovers with a poor performance and sending off at UCD in the title run in before a heated exchange with Rovers fans. Ruined it further by signing for Bohs last year and now for Roddy! Has the potential to still be a good player but too temperamental and unreliable.
Shelbourne
Great season last year with promotion and a cup final and Shels will be relishing their top flight return. Alan Matthews teams are always very defensive and hard to break down and this Shels team is no different, kept all their key players from last year and have added well to the squad, I think Shels will surprise many and finish in the top half. Special mention and best wishes to Kevin Dawson who is a brother of our very own Trim Hoops Brendan Dawson!
Final Prediction: 5th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Paddy Kavanagh – signed for Rovers from Bray with a big expectation and the winger showed glimpses of class but never commanded a regular starting place. After being left out of a squad by Michael O’Neill last year he claimed: “What a load of me sack” on Twitter and rarely featured for us last season!! Still a Trim Hoops favourite but hopefully he won’t come back to haunt us this year.
Sligo Rovers
Pushed us all the way last season and after 2 FAI Cup triumphs in a row they will have their eye on the league title this year. They have assembled a strong squad but losing Paul Cook just before the start of the season was not ideal and new manager Ian Bariclough will have to hit the ground running if Sligo are to challenge this season. Lack of strength in depth at the back will be their biggest worry this year and any injuries to Peers and McGuinness will see them struggle.
Final Prediction: 2nd
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Mark Quigley – The former Millwall youngster had a ill fated spell with us where he never seemed like he was even trying and then signed for Pats where he had an excellent season before breaking his leg the following year, has played for Bohs and Dundalk since and now he joins Danny North in a potent Sligo frontline.
St. Patricks Athletic
Liam Buckley will bring an attacking brand of football to Pats this year which they lacked under Peter Mahon and Bucko has put together a strong squad of experience LoI players. They ran out of steam towards the end of last season and will be keen to stay the distance this year but a cup win will be a big aim for them and if coupled with a high league finish it will be a successful first season for Buckley.
Final Prediction: 3rd
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Dean Kelly – scored that all important last minute goal against UCD in the Bowl to secure the 2011 league title for us. Was a fans favourite with his effort and ability but injury prevent us from seeing the best of Deano. Had to move on this year due to work commitments clashing with our training and he will be a key man for Pats this year.
UCD
Martin Russell’s young side need to applauded for sticking to their guns last season and continuing to try play football in the right way. This led to a couple of heavy defeats against us and some of the other top teams but the students also showed some real top performances last year and some of their players will no doubt be stars of the future in the league. It will be another struggle this year and success will once again be survival. Special mention and best wishes to Trim lad David O’Connor who is now in his third season at UCD and improving each year, maybe somebody he will become the first Trim Hoop player!
Final Prediction: 10th
Former Hoop that hopefully won't come back to haunt us: Chris Mulhall – ‘Hip’ as he is known to Rovers fans is best known for appearing on the Rovers club texts as injured week on week as a hip injury kept him out for most of his Rovers career. Done well for UCD last season and will be key player in their midfield this season.
Hopefully you have enjoyed our review of our opponents and here is a summary of how we think the table will look at the end of October:
1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Sligo Rovers
3. St. Patricks Athletic
4. Cork City
5. Shelbourne
6. Derry City
7. Drogheda United
8. Bohemians
9. Dundalk
10. UCD
11. Bray Wanderers
12. Monaghan United
Saturday, 25 February 2012
The 2012 Squad
So it seems like the squad has now been fully assembled and I can't see anymore signings in the next week so here is a run through what we think so far:
Goalkeepers
Oscar Jannson: The on loan Spurs youngster has impressed in his performances to doubt and although he hasn't been tested much in terms of shot stopping he certainly looks like a guy who commands his box, comes for crosses and looks like a safe pair of hands. His constant communication with the back four is evident and he is always available to receive back passes from his back four. His positional sense in realtion to the back four is superb and I think he could be a real hit with Rovers fans and a great addition to the squad.
Reyaad Pieterse: Seems set to be signing after impressing against us for the Nike Academy during our week in England. Excellent reports about the promising young South African but we haven't seen him first hand yet. Work permit issues may scuper a deal but hopefully this won't be the case.
Conor Winn: Another youngster who was trust in at the deep end last season for dismal Galway United and although he performed well against us in Terryland he made a number of mistakes costing goals but the 19 year old has impressed enough to earn a contract and will surely improve working with goalkeeping coach Stephen O'Brien and Oscar Jannson, won't be afirst team regular but maybe one for the future.
Defenders
Kerrea Gilbert: Quick, strong and an attacking full back true to the Stephen Kenny style, troubled career to date but hopefully a fresh start will see a new Kerrea and we can see his potential finally fulfilled. Expect overlaps galore when Kerrea plays.
Sean Gannon: Looking more impressive everytime I see him in action. Needs to get himself to the gym to catch up physically but the youngster will be pushing Gilbert all the way for first team selection this season and we can expect big things from Sean in the future.
Conor Powell: Probably the best attacking full back in the league two seasons ago but moves to Colchester and Sligo didn't work out well and with lack of games and confidence Powell looks a shadow of his former self. Probably our worst position in terms of strength in depth so Powell needs to improve soon but has shown enough in the past to suggest he can be an important player for us.
Craig Sives: Last seasons player of the year and probably the best defender in the league but the question is can he stay injury free for the season. Unfortunately he probably won't and luckily we have cover in this position, a lack of pace his really his only flaw, would also like to see him add more goals this season but first choice in this position for me.
Ken Oman: Very impressive first season with us last year after a disappointing final year at Bohs. Strong, aggresive and no nonsense, Ken doesn't quite have the quality on the ball that Sives and Gartland have but defensively and aerially he is second to none.
Graham Gartland: Great to secure Grahams services for this season after an injury prone spell at St. Johnstone he has a chance to become a local hero at Rovers. For me he would get the nod alongside Sives for his quality on the ball and more importantly because of the balance he would bring to the back four being a left sided centre half. Needs to curb his aggression and not pick up needless suspensions.
Colin Hawkins: Plenty of eyebrows raised when Kenny brough Hawks in but he impressed we with his willingness to carry the ball out of the back four and contstant attempt to play through midfield in pre-season. Looks fitter and sharper than I expected and will keep the other 3 on their toes and fill in when need. His main role will be on the coaching staff and he will bring valuable experience to the dressing room.
Midfielders
Conor McCormack: Top player, great professional and we did very well to secure him on a 2 year deal. Showed some real glimpses of quality last year and his versatility proved very useful, still young enough and certainly capable of a career in England. I would expect a big season from him with a possible move at the end of the year.
Chris Turner: A player who divides opinions amongst fans but has plenty of quality and potential. Always looks to play forward and attack and adds vital goals. Switches off defensively and will probably not be first choice for me but only because we have real quality in this area.
Stephen O'Donnell: Will always be a hero for the penalty in Belgrade but another who seemed to be a better player against us than he has been for us. Great vision and range of passing but lacks pace and will struggle to make an impact this season unless we have injuries in this area.
Stephen Rice: Everybodys favourite player and longest serving players at the club, best workrate and attitude at the club and this makes up for flaws technically. Would not be first choice for me as we shouldn't need to defend enough to make Ricer useful but will be needed in big games and has a big part to play as a squad player.
Ronan Finn: Amazing ability to drift past players and keep possession in tight areas, last season he frustrated me in the final third by constantly playing passes wide instead of having the real quality to split defences and create chances for our front me. If he adds this to his game he can go far, would start the season as first choice for me along with McCormack.
Billy Dennehy: Scored alot of goals last year and added a number of assists but still frustrated me beacuse for somebody with so much pace he disappoints in 1 v 1 situations by not going past players enough, when he plays on the right he is so one footed that he is easy to defend and his delivery from set-pieces is not good enough for the amount of chances he gets.
Killian Brennan: Poor season by his standards last year but I was still delighted to see him join. Hasn't set the world alight in pre-season but has real quality and would be my first choice in the left wing position. Set piece delivery is superb and could be a make or break season for his career.
Gary McCabe: Start so promisingly last year and had sporadic good performances throughout the year but wouldn't be my first choice this year and needs to become more consistent and effective to gain a starting place.
Aaron Greene: Late signing in place of Dean Kelly and a shrewd one by Stephen Kenny. Greene improved drastically as last season went on and now looks like a real star. Impressed on his debut last week as a front man but for me he would be first choice as a wide right in an attacking 4-4-2 line up.
Forwards
Gary Twigg: Goalscoring record has been astonishing since joining us. Only problem that Twiggy creates is if he plays we really need to play 4-4-2 to accomodate him but if he keeps scoring 20+ goals a season then we need to play to his strengths. Was at his best with Dessie Baker playing off him and I can see O'Neill or Kavanagh doing that role this season.
Daryl Kavanagh: Was superb for Pats last season as a striker, number 10 and wide man but I think he will be primarly used as a second striker for Rovers or playing as a 10 behind Twigg. Excellent goal against Waterford last week and it will be interesting to see how he settles in at Rovers.
Gary O'Neill: Was the butt of many jokes from Rovers fans last season due to his lack of goals and more importantly lack of fitness. Started so promisingly last year but drifted out of favour, looks much fitter and sharper this seasona and I think he will be the type of player Kenny will use a lot this season due to his compatability with Twigg. May start the season as first choice and then its up to him to keep himself in the team.
Ciaran Kilduff: Flattered to deceive last season after an excellent season at UCD in 2010. Best when playing as a loan frontman but all to often we reverted to long ball tactics when he played. Kilduff is better with the ball to feet linking up with midfielders and playing on the shoulder of defenders. Unlucky to miss most of pre-season with injuries and will find it difficult to establish himself this season.
So thats our review of the squad and what a squad it is, with strength in depth in every position.
Keep on Hooping!
Goalkeepers
Oscar Jannson: The on loan Spurs youngster has impressed in his performances to doubt and although he hasn't been tested much in terms of shot stopping he certainly looks like a guy who commands his box, comes for crosses and looks like a safe pair of hands. His constant communication with the back four is evident and he is always available to receive back passes from his back four. His positional sense in realtion to the back four is superb and I think he could be a real hit with Rovers fans and a great addition to the squad.
Reyaad Pieterse: Seems set to be signing after impressing against us for the Nike Academy during our week in England. Excellent reports about the promising young South African but we haven't seen him first hand yet. Work permit issues may scuper a deal but hopefully this won't be the case.
Conor Winn: Another youngster who was trust in at the deep end last season for dismal Galway United and although he performed well against us in Terryland he made a number of mistakes costing goals but the 19 year old has impressed enough to earn a contract and will surely improve working with goalkeeping coach Stephen O'Brien and Oscar Jannson, won't be afirst team regular but maybe one for the future.
Defenders
Kerrea Gilbert: Quick, strong and an attacking full back true to the Stephen Kenny style, troubled career to date but hopefully a fresh start will see a new Kerrea and we can see his potential finally fulfilled. Expect overlaps galore when Kerrea plays.
Sean Gannon: Looking more impressive everytime I see him in action. Needs to get himself to the gym to catch up physically but the youngster will be pushing Gilbert all the way for first team selection this season and we can expect big things from Sean in the future.
Conor Powell: Probably the best attacking full back in the league two seasons ago but moves to Colchester and Sligo didn't work out well and with lack of games and confidence Powell looks a shadow of his former self. Probably our worst position in terms of strength in depth so Powell needs to improve soon but has shown enough in the past to suggest he can be an important player for us.
Craig Sives: Last seasons player of the year and probably the best defender in the league but the question is can he stay injury free for the season. Unfortunately he probably won't and luckily we have cover in this position, a lack of pace his really his only flaw, would also like to see him add more goals this season but first choice in this position for me.
Ken Oman: Very impressive first season with us last year after a disappointing final year at Bohs. Strong, aggresive and no nonsense, Ken doesn't quite have the quality on the ball that Sives and Gartland have but defensively and aerially he is second to none.
Graham Gartland: Great to secure Grahams services for this season after an injury prone spell at St. Johnstone he has a chance to become a local hero at Rovers. For me he would get the nod alongside Sives for his quality on the ball and more importantly because of the balance he would bring to the back four being a left sided centre half. Needs to curb his aggression and not pick up needless suspensions.
Colin Hawkins: Plenty of eyebrows raised when Kenny brough Hawks in but he impressed we with his willingness to carry the ball out of the back four and contstant attempt to play through midfield in pre-season. Looks fitter and sharper than I expected and will keep the other 3 on their toes and fill in when need. His main role will be on the coaching staff and he will bring valuable experience to the dressing room.
Midfielders
Conor McCormack: Top player, great professional and we did very well to secure him on a 2 year deal. Showed some real glimpses of quality last year and his versatility proved very useful, still young enough and certainly capable of a career in England. I would expect a big season from him with a possible move at the end of the year.
Chris Turner: A player who divides opinions amongst fans but has plenty of quality and potential. Always looks to play forward and attack and adds vital goals. Switches off defensively and will probably not be first choice for me but only because we have real quality in this area.
Stephen O'Donnell: Will always be a hero for the penalty in Belgrade but another who seemed to be a better player against us than he has been for us. Great vision and range of passing but lacks pace and will struggle to make an impact this season unless we have injuries in this area.
Stephen Rice: Everybodys favourite player and longest serving players at the club, best workrate and attitude at the club and this makes up for flaws technically. Would not be first choice for me as we shouldn't need to defend enough to make Ricer useful but will be needed in big games and has a big part to play as a squad player.
Ronan Finn: Amazing ability to drift past players and keep possession in tight areas, last season he frustrated me in the final third by constantly playing passes wide instead of having the real quality to split defences and create chances for our front me. If he adds this to his game he can go far, would start the season as first choice for me along with McCormack.
Billy Dennehy: Scored alot of goals last year and added a number of assists but still frustrated me beacuse for somebody with so much pace he disappoints in 1 v 1 situations by not going past players enough, when he plays on the right he is so one footed that he is easy to defend and his delivery from set-pieces is not good enough for the amount of chances he gets.
Killian Brennan: Poor season by his standards last year but I was still delighted to see him join. Hasn't set the world alight in pre-season but has real quality and would be my first choice in the left wing position. Set piece delivery is superb and could be a make or break season for his career.
Gary McCabe: Start so promisingly last year and had sporadic good performances throughout the year but wouldn't be my first choice this year and needs to become more consistent and effective to gain a starting place.
Aaron Greene: Late signing in place of Dean Kelly and a shrewd one by Stephen Kenny. Greene improved drastically as last season went on and now looks like a real star. Impressed on his debut last week as a front man but for me he would be first choice as a wide right in an attacking 4-4-2 line up.
Forwards
Gary Twigg: Goalscoring record has been astonishing since joining us. Only problem that Twiggy creates is if he plays we really need to play 4-4-2 to accomodate him but if he keeps scoring 20+ goals a season then we need to play to his strengths. Was at his best with Dessie Baker playing off him and I can see O'Neill or Kavanagh doing that role this season.
Daryl Kavanagh: Was superb for Pats last season as a striker, number 10 and wide man but I think he will be primarly used as a second striker for Rovers or playing as a 10 behind Twigg. Excellent goal against Waterford last week and it will be interesting to see how he settles in at Rovers.
Gary O'Neill: Was the butt of many jokes from Rovers fans last season due to his lack of goals and more importantly lack of fitness. Started so promisingly last year but drifted out of favour, looks much fitter and sharper this seasona and I think he will be the type of player Kenny will use a lot this season due to his compatability with Twigg. May start the season as first choice and then its up to him to keep himself in the team.
Ciaran Kilduff: Flattered to deceive last season after an excellent season at UCD in 2010. Best when playing as a loan frontman but all to often we reverted to long ball tactics when he played. Kilduff is better with the ball to feet linking up with midfielders and playing on the shoulder of defenders. Unlucky to miss most of pre-season with injuries and will find it difficult to establish himself this season.
So thats our review of the squad and what a squad it is, with strength in depth in every position.
Keep on Hooping!
Pre-season
Well with 6 pre-season games played and 5 won it can be considered a very successful pre-season for new manager Stephen Kenny and his staff but we really have to consider a number of other factors in pre-season rather than just results to say if it was a success.
Firstly we must consider the opposition: Mervue United, The Nike Academy, Birmingham City Reserves, Wexford Youths, Longford Town and Waterford United are certainly not the toughest tests we will have all season and in truth were we really have learned is from last seasons Europa League games, the players involved in those games will have gained valuable professional experience and this will stand to the squad again this season.
What I will say is 5 wins out of 6, including 4 clean sheets will certainly bring confidence to the new squad and you can only beat who is but in front of you. In the final week of pre-season we have certainly stepped it up a gear by sticking 12 goals past Division 1 promotion hopefuls Longord and Waterford. The difference in class, fitness and organisation was very evident in these games and it has a lot of Rovers fans already talking about the league title being in the bag. This is a dangerous attitude to have but fans will always get carried away and the manager will certainly have the players a lot more grounded.
The Stephen Kenny style of attacking football will go down very well with the Rovers faithful and hopefully we can put more teams to the sword this year when the opportunity arises. We have assembled a very well balanced and talented squad and it will be interesting to see who Kenny sees as his best XI for next weeks opener in Drogheda. Expect plenty of squad rotation during the season but the spine of the team will surely stay similar from week to week.
Another key observation from pre-season is the obvious superb physical condition of our players. Training was certainly tough and challenging and early morning sessions in England were just some of the demands put on the players in pre-season. One of the best things about having a big squad is competiton for places which keeps everybody on their toes and everybody knows they will need to be at their best to get into the team. I would even say that the toughest games in pre-season for the players were probably the 11-a-side training games! Which is a testament to our squad strength.
All in all things are looking good and there is plenty of reason to be optimistic about the season ahead, hopefully more silverware lies ahead.
Keep on Hooping
Firstly we must consider the opposition: Mervue United, The Nike Academy, Birmingham City Reserves, Wexford Youths, Longford Town and Waterford United are certainly not the toughest tests we will have all season and in truth were we really have learned is from last seasons Europa League games, the players involved in those games will have gained valuable professional experience and this will stand to the squad again this season.
What I will say is 5 wins out of 6, including 4 clean sheets will certainly bring confidence to the new squad and you can only beat who is but in front of you. In the final week of pre-season we have certainly stepped it up a gear by sticking 12 goals past Division 1 promotion hopefuls Longord and Waterford. The difference in class, fitness and organisation was very evident in these games and it has a lot of Rovers fans already talking about the league title being in the bag. This is a dangerous attitude to have but fans will always get carried away and the manager will certainly have the players a lot more grounded.
The Stephen Kenny style of attacking football will go down very well with the Rovers faithful and hopefully we can put more teams to the sword this year when the opportunity arises. We have assembled a very well balanced and talented squad and it will be interesting to see who Kenny sees as his best XI for next weeks opener in Drogheda. Expect plenty of squad rotation during the season but the spine of the team will surely stay similar from week to week.
Another key observation from pre-season is the obvious superb physical condition of our players. Training was certainly tough and challenging and early morning sessions in England were just some of the demands put on the players in pre-season. One of the best things about having a big squad is competiton for places which keeps everybody on their toes and everybody knows they will need to be at their best to get into the team. I would even say that the toughest games in pre-season for the players were probably the 11-a-side training games! Which is a testament to our squad strength.
All in all things are looking good and there is plenty of reason to be optimistic about the season ahead, hopefully more silverware lies ahead.
Keep on Hooping
Welcome
Hi everybody,
Last season we started our Twitter and Facebook account to keep you all updated with the adventures of the Trim Hoops and the latest Shamrock Rovers news. It was a superb season with Rovers retaining our league title, winning the Seteanta Cup for the first time and of course the historic European campaign which saw us become the first League of Ireland club to ever play in the group stages of a European competition.
There was so much to write about so much to talk about so this year we have decided to start a blog to chronicle the 2012 season. The other reason we start this blog was to keep our very own Eric Scanlon up to date with all things Rovers whilst he is thousands of miles away carrying out valuable volunteer work in Cambodia.
We will attempt to update every week with a summary of each weekends action, we hope you enjpy what we have to say and hopefully this season will be as successful as last.
Regards,
The Trim Hoops
Keep on Hooping
Last season we started our Twitter and Facebook account to keep you all updated with the adventures of the Trim Hoops and the latest Shamrock Rovers news. It was a superb season with Rovers retaining our league title, winning the Seteanta Cup for the first time and of course the historic European campaign which saw us become the first League of Ireland club to ever play in the group stages of a European competition.
There was so much to write about so much to talk about so this year we have decided to start a blog to chronicle the 2012 season. The other reason we start this blog was to keep our very own Eric Scanlon up to date with all things Rovers whilst he is thousands of miles away carrying out valuable volunteer work in Cambodia.
We will attempt to update every week with a summary of each weekends action, we hope you enjpy what we have to say and hopefully this season will be as successful as last.
Regards,
The Trim Hoops
Keep on Hooping
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