Dundalk V Shamrock Rovers March 31st

[condor]

Anyone feeling optimistic about this one? Any word on tickets, injuries/suspensions?

[tip on]

Tickets on sale through Oriel park office or online for those who purchased tickets online previously.
A great chance to beat rovers.

[superman]

Massive game for us. If we want to be competing at the top of the league, it is so important to put in big performances at home against other top teams.

Rovers are not a bad side, despite their league standing. They should have beaten St. Pats by four or five, and probably have the best squad still in the league. I don't think there is any doubt that they will come good eventually.

There would be pretty big consequences for this year's league if we beat them. We would get 7 out of 9 points from the three hardest games in a row of the year - while it would mean Rovers would be 7 games without their first win, piling the pressure on. Exciting times.

[carrickfan]

I fear the international window will break our momentum, they are overdue a win and it will sicken us if they break their duck against us. Let’s hope we sellout oriel and rattle them from the terraces

[seand]

Rovers are in a false position, they should have more points on the board and I'll still be surprised if they don't finish Top 2. Lack of real quality up front is a big problem for them, but the squad in general is ridiculously strong.
After a poor start we're building nicely, with a good crowd behind us the place will be hopping and it might be a good time to play them

[Louth4sam]

I still think Rovers will win the league. They have the best squad by miles and have enough big game players to put in a long winning run. From all accounts they have been unlucky in several games and any time I've had a chance to watch them they've looked good.

If we have all of our best players back we have a chance though. Our strongest line-up of the season was against Pats. Muller at right back and Annesley in the centre will have us fairly solid again after a few ropey enough defensive displayes. Plenty of steel and football in the midfield too. The only question mark is what do we do if Benson is fit.

[mike]

I'm not sure Annesely will be ready L4S, also I`d dispute the RF spot, thought Archie Davies was superb away to Derry, he got sick pre Drogs game.

Will be very interesting who he picks alongside Boyle, but its great we have such good options now, also a pity not much competition for Leahy at LF.

The subs too are vital, no good having just 'bodies' as they say on the bench, having real quality like Benson and Kelly (if he can't start) are proper options, same for young Ryan O'Kane.

I don't see us losing, yes we won ugly away to Drogs (good sign in any team) but we have not been playing too well, apart from v a Pats team almost asleep, be great to put in a big performance tomorrow and get a result.

[Richie87]

I still think Rovers will win the league. They have the best squad by miles and have enough big game players to put in a long winning run. From all accounts they have been unlucky in several games and any time I've had a chance to watch them they've looked good.

If we have all of our best players back we have a chance though. Our strongest line-up of the season was against Pats. Muller at right back and Annesley in the centre will have us fairly solid again after a few ropey enough defensive displayes. Plenty of steel and football in the midfield too. The only question mark is what do we do if Benson is fit.

I watched a few of their games and they played some good football in spells but the defence was very loose. The first 3 games of the season they had players sent off. Daniel Cleary an Sean Hoare while decent LOI players, always seem to have a error in them. They conceded 4 at home to Cork City and got a draw. The last game against Pats they played with a good tempo but weren't fully convincing and Pats got a draw.

A few players like Trevor Clarke and Johnny Kenny still finding their way into the team. Andy Lyons hit the ground running from the beginning of last season after joining from Bohs

[niall_hearty2000]

Rovers are an ageing squad that will require major surgery to improve it. As much as I don't want to see a bluffer like Higgins win the league, I absolutely don't want to see rovers doing 4 in a row. It was painful enough being around to witness them doing it in 87. This squad isn't a patch on that side. My fear is that they could well break their duck against us.
We seem to struggle to sell games out. Still stand tickets available apparently. Dundalk v RVs is always the big game we should have had little problem selling oriel out. But we can't seem to get to that level of support.

[Richie87]

Yeah they do have an ageing Squad. Aaron Greene was kept on for another season when they could have brought in a younger player. Ronan Finn is 35. Alan Mannus 41

Alex Ferguson got 1 last title out of United but that was an old team when Moyes took over. Giggs, Carrick, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic. The rebuild should have happened earlier

[mike]

Rovers are an ageing squad that will require major surgery to improve it. As much as I don't want to see a bluffer like Higgins win the league, I absolutely don't want to see rovers doing 4 in a row. It was painful enough being around to witness them doing it in 87. This squad isn't a patch on that side. My fear is that they could well break their duck against us.
We seem to struggle to sell games out. Still stand tickets available apparently. Dundalk v RVs is always the big game we should have had little problem selling oriel out. But we can't seem to get to that level of support.

Thinking same myself Niall, this is a game which we should be getting 4k but we probably wont. Rovers have sold out their allocation so prob 600 terrace + 150 stand, we would need to get over 3,200 home fans to get to 4k which I can't see. What is not helping is early easter hols, there are 3 or 4 in our row in the stand already gone on hols, but thats just an excuse. Dundalk races on, another.

I can see a crowd of 3,600 tops for this one (3,700 at a push), which to be fair will be poor, then again I checked back and the two home games last year were 3,546 + 3,400, so we have 'form' in not turning up in bigger numbers.

Even during SK era, we did get loads of 'around 3k crowds' but that was about it, only Cork City games and trophy night did it get over the 4 mark, and I don't see this happening tomorrow (but it should !!!).

[Martin Lawlor80]

I think the stand is sold out now

[colymull]

Rovers are an ageing squad that will require major surgery to improve it. As much as I don't want to see a bluffer like Higgins win the league, I absolutely don't want to see rovers doing 4 in a row. It was painful enough being around to witness them doing it in 87. This squad isn't a patch on that side. My fear is that they could well break their duck against us.
We seem to struggle to sell games out. Still stand tickets available apparently. Dundalk v RVs is always the big game we should have had little problem selling oriel out. But we can't seem to get to that level of support.

Thinking same myself Niall, this is a game which we should be getting 4k but we probably wont. Rovers have sold out their allocation so prob 600 terrace + 150 stand, we would need to get over 3,200 home fans to get to 4k which I can't see. What is not helping is early easter hols, there are 3 or 4 in our row in the stand already gone on hols, but thats just an excuse. Dundalk races on, another.

I can see a crowd of 3,600 tops for this one (3,700 at a push), which to be fair will be poor, then again I checked back and the two home games last year were 3,546 + 3,400, so we have 'form' in not turning up in bigger numbers.

Even during SK era, we did get loads of 'around 3k crowds' but that was about it, only Cork City games and trophy night did it get over the 4 mark, and I don't see this happening tomorrow (but it should !!!).

Quay Celtic's first team have a league game at home tonight which could take a few bodies away too.

[niall_hearty2000]

No hoban or Elliott tonight.
Sheppard
Davies Leahy Boyle wasiri
Lewis Benson Sloggett
Malley tulloch martin
Subs
Cherrie
Byrne
Ward
Okane
Muller
Kelly
McCourt
Kokko

[niall_hearty2000]

Have to say it looks worrying as to where the goals will come from