WE HAD DISAPPOINTING results in Europe this past week with all four SSE Airtricity League teams going out.
What you can say, however, is that the performances across the board were an improvement on last year’s. There is no doubt about that.
Considering how close a couple of the clubs went this year, it has hopefully helped them rediscovered their appetite for European football and the importance of it all because the incentive is huge to do well.
If you want to look at the positives from this year, a lot of young players experienced the competitions for the first time. They will have learned so much from the games over the past few weeks — especially those playing for the clubs who came through two rounds. They will be better prepared for it next year.
It emphasises the difference in quality between the Europa League and the Champions League.
Pat’s were disappointing in the second leg defeat to Legia Warsaw and got the basics wrong. Everyone was expecting Legia Warsaw to give a better account of themselves but the Saints were below-par.
They were very tentative on the night and gave Henning Berg’s men far too much respect. To be fair to Liam Buckley, he said as much in his post-match comments. They just didn’t turn up.
I have been there as a player and it did take us a couple of years to gel and crack it. So it’s very much a work in progress.
Dundalk recorded the best result out of all the sides against Hadjuk Split but we weren’t able to speak about it on Soccer Republic last night. It was a fantastic result but I didn’t get to see any of the goals so it is hard to know exactly how the teams played.
To come back from the disappointment of that and go beat Bray Wanderers 5-1 in the league was impressive. They are flying at the moment and don’t show any signs of letting up at all.
Their level of performance is consistently high and it must be a worry for the rest of the teams in the Premier Division. It’s so difficult to lead from the front because you’re always there to be picked off but it’s just not getting to them at all.
Dundalk are going out and playing with a freedom and their energy levels are incredible. They are probably the fittest team in the league and it is showing week-in, week-out.
What they have also done is react really well to the couple of poor performances that they have had throughout the season. They are a progressive team who learn from their mistakes, and, at the moment I can’t see anyone catching them.
Sligo Rovers have disappointed me so far, as have Shamrock Rovers who don’t seem to know what they want to do anymore.
This is a football club that has huge resources in terms of financial strength and support but they seem to be losing their identity. The last two home performances have been poor and I can’t remember the last time I’ve gone to Tallaght and really experienced a special night.
Looking at Pat’s, they are struggling with injuries in key areas. Ken Oman hasn’t been able to settle in as he has picked up injuries and now they’ve lost their captain Ger O’Brien, who has been struggling with a niggly problem.
Injury education could prove vital
Cork City’s young defender Brian Lenihan suffered a serious-looking fall at Dalymount Park on Friday night and credit is due to the medical staff who dealt with it swiftly and got him to the Mater Hospital.
I was talking to Bohemians manager Owen Heary and it possibly raises another issue. When a player picks up a neck or potential spinal injury, you are told not to move them.
Bohs goalscorer Steven Beattie also took a knock to the head while scoring the opener and, with both injuries and while it was safe to put Beattie into the recovery position as he was conscious but with Lenihan, the safest thing to do is wait for the experts.
Players are the first on the scene and the fear may have been that he had swallowed his tongue, so they got him into the recovery position.
My point is, we should be making players more educated. It’s interesting because there have been a few similar incidents involving the likes of Ryan McBride and Barry Murphy in recent times.
Even if it’s a half-hour talk with squads to make them more aware of how to deal with thing like that would be beneficial as they could have a huge impact on what happens. It’s great to hear that Lenihan is recovering well but it does raise awareness about what they should and shouldn’t do in such circumstances.
Rico will bring experience to Drogs
Drogheda United have appointed Damien Richardson in the past few days.
I think it was well-known that they wanted Liam Kelly to come in but neither he nor Darius Kierans have got their Pro Licence. So they’ve taken their time over the decision and brought in Richardson, who has a wealth of experience.
They need someone who can settle the ship and I think they will be fine until the end of the season. Keeping Darius involved was very important. The players seem to like him and he has got a reaction out of them in the games he took charge of.
I know him from when he was younger and he is a great fella with a super attitude. He has got big aspirations in the coaching world and will be an asset to Damien.
