Fern Mc Costigan: May 2016

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

A Bohemian awakening at Dalymont Park in the Dublin Derby

What a way to get back in the winning column for the Bohemian Army, after their recent rout over their cross town rivals the St. Patrick Athletic Boys. After last weekend competitions in the FAI Cup, the SSE Airtricity League was back in business on a Monday schedule.

With a one sided score and match dominated in its entirety by the Gypsies, this edition of the Dublin Derby turned out to be a bit sour for the Pats at the end, on a very scandalous score.

If one man was amazed for his squad performance, Keith Long the Bohs Manager by seeing how his side scoring frenzy seal the deal with an absolute with a 5-1 on a very inspired afternoon for the Gypsy strikers.

Leaving at the same time a negative streak coming to its end, this at the end became a one sided match, with the visiting Pats lone score coming from the boots of Ian Bermingham in the 79^th minute.

In the case of the Bohs scoring back-to-back goals with Roberto Lopes in the third minute and immediate Ishmahil Akinade did the feat in the fourth, then followed by a double from Jake Kelly in the 13^th and 31^st minutes. The local’s last goal came in the 83^rd minute by Kurtis Byrne putting the icing on the cake to close a field day via a penal.

For the visiting Pats Boss Liam Buckley seeing his side fell horribly and clueless of his defensive backfield allowing many liberties to the home squad, Phibsborough lived a great day when it is Bohs decided to leave their goalless slump behind.

As Keith Long with this win, his Bohemians have some breathing room and with one, more match in league play before the EURO competitions break. This win meant the world for him, lifts his squad hopes up of finishing on a higher note, and a comfortable place with another win in the overall table.

In their next match for the Cumann Peile Bóithéamaigh at Ferrycarrig Park to play Wexford Youths, once again the prospects of another challenging match will be on display for Manager Keith Long chaps, suddenly finding their target in the opponent’s goal.

This win, places the Bohs in eight spot in the overall table with fourteen points and with a seven-point cushion away from the relegation spots held currently by the Cumann Peile Bhaile Longfort or Longford Town and Cumann Peile Fánaithe Bhréor or Bray Wanderers.

At the end the Bohs with this win are back in contention to start their ascent in the league overall table as for the Patrick's and their Manager Liam Buckley will be back to the drawing board as prepare his Boys in their next compromise. As St. Patrick's are to play the Shamrock Rovers in another edition of the Dublin Derby.

For the more than 1500 in attendance at Dalymont Park did not left dissapointed after seeing their Bohs netting a goal fest as well winning the bragging rights of another edition of the Dublin Derby, over their cross town rivals the Pats.

This time score one for the Gypsies in the Dublin Derby won with an all- around authority over a squad that is playing far better than them and they underestimated their rival, the Bohs!

Photos Credit and Property of © RTÉ 2016-RTÉ Commercial Enterprises

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright SSE Airtricity League 2016

Monday, May 30, 2016

The PTFC up for a mean and serious challenge at CONCACHAMPIONS

The Rose City Boys will indeed have their hands full in this edition of the CONCACHAMPIONS tournament, with five American squads representing Major League Soccer. Some of the American clubs already placed in their group of play, some were more fortunate than the others were.

Being one of them the PTFC, seeded in Group B and with top-notch rivals one unknown in El Salvador Club Deportivo Dragon and one club known for its hardened and competitive style of play in Club Deportivo Saprissa from Costa Rica.

As you recall Saprissa played in the semifinals with the Montreal Impact and despite the Canadians win over the Costa Rican side, this was not an easy foe to mess with for the City of Mary chaps. This club has a reputation of being a tough club to play as well one that plays one on one against the Mexican clubs considered the best in these competitions and the CONCACAF region.

The Purple Monster has an impressive record as well the experience in these tournaments, where they have collected three shields in 1993, 1995 and 2005 along of several runners up finishes.

For Caleb Porter and his PTFC, Saprissa will be one tough customer, especially when they go to play at always difficult and tough Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma, considered a tough venue to play as a visiting entity with 24,000 in its seating capacity. Alongside of a club known to provide players to the Costa Rican National squad as well an exporter of top Costa Rican players to various world renowned clubs.

When the Timbers and Saprissa meet this will be a good match up between both Managers in Caleb Porter and his colleague in the S Boss Carlos Watson, seen as a mano a mano between these two top-notch strategists.

For the PTFC second rival and unknown in its game, the Mythological of Club Deportivo Dragon will be another challenge in both of their compromises when the Rose City Boys head to El Salvador Province of San Miguel. The high levels of difficulty by playing in Estadio Juan Francisco Barraza with a capacity of 10,000 seats were the crowd’s would not be too friendly to the PTFC.

Still this club comes as the 2016 champion from the league of El Salvador ahead of Aguila, Luis Angel Firpo, Metapan and Alianza considered the best clubs from this Central American nation. In addition, this club once had in its ranks a very familiar name in MLS once famous striker in Raul Diaz Arce.

Very well, for the Timbers Boss Caleb Porter going against his Salvadorian colleague will be another potential challenge and looking forward to much disputed matches with the Manager of Dragon Omar Sevilla. As the Portland Timbers will be seeing a lot of competition and much tough play in their second adventure in the always prestigious CONCACHAMPIONS Cup.

Not easy will be the challenge ahead in this edition of CONCACAF utmost tournament to select its representative in the upcoming World Cup of Clubs. Will the Portland Timbers do the miracle of being the first MLS squad to win it, you never know.

One thing this club has is an arsenal of players capable of doing a good performance and really makes a living hell to their foes to meet in this excellent event, nothing written and maybe this time Caleb Porter and his Timbers can advance to the next rounds.

Photos Credit and Property of Portland Timbers Football Club and USA TODAY 2016

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Major League Soccer. com 2016

A Barnsley celebration turned sour by a violent Millwall faction

What a bunch of sore losers is this Millwall horde, anything to start the usual mayhem and expose their uncontrolled levels of violence- with just a simple pretext of losing a match. In play between Barnsley and Millwall was the promotion into the Championship League.

Once again, the clash of the bastards in the stands showing off their resentment of losing another promotion match, no wonder the FA in England prays for this squad disappearance one day.

Well that is the pretext they use to start their all-around mayhem and start clashes in the stands regardless the people in it, as they did it this weekend in Wembley attacking and throwing missiles to any Barnley supporter. Not even families, children or elders left out of these scoundrels’ attacks and victims of the abuse of this crude and ignorant imperils of this so-called soccer enthusiasts.

Anyway, this post is all about the game and not giving to much importance to a certain unadaptable gang of idiots as Millwall fans known throughout England and the soccer world.

This time we had two titans to clash on netting a spot into England’s second tier league, with the Tykes of Barnsley going against the Lions of Millwall for the last ticket into Skybet Championship League. This playoff system is the same one used recently on Championship between Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday and being the winner going on to Premiership.

In league one with two squads already netting their pass automatically into Championship; four squad where looking to net their pass with a playoff with Barnley against Wallsall and Millwall versus Bradford City. At the end both Barnley and Millwall, overcome the odds to the grand finale played in Wembley.

With the game underway both Managers knew of each other’s arsenals, still the Reds did the ultimate of feats, as the Tykes Manager Paul Heckingbottom put in place a nice 4-4-2 formation with two strikers among one of them United prospect Ashley Fletcher.

Being Fletcher the one that scored the first goal on the 2^nd minute, followed by Hamill 19^th and Iskgove on the 74^th and for Millwall Beevers di it on the 34^th.

So far, for Ashley Fletcher this match and since becoming a Red he has been a very productive chap who has been a total asset to Manager Heckingbottom plans, very well drawing a lot of attention to Old Trafford front office because of his development. As Ashley Fletcher along with Marcus Rashford being so close friends in the academy, he hopes Mourinho takes notice of his talents.

At the end the Tykes did the ultimate of efforts and did it with style and overall conviction to lead them to this raucous win and among one of the positives of this match being a much contested from start to finish.

The only ill- fated situation to condemn was the improper conduct of these criminals that have given Millwall that unfortunate reputation in all of England’s football circles. A very loud applause for the Tykes and their recent promotion, I hope one day we can see them playing in the ranks of Premiership.

Photo Credit and Property of ©Associated Newspapers Getty, Empics Sports, Ian Hogdson 2016

Photos Credit and Property of © League One. com 2016

A valuable point away for the PTFC

As the Timbers Boss stated, this was one of those games, that at the end seeing how his squad prevailed, his overall satisfaction was of netting a valuable point on the road. Overall the PTFC coming with far better record than the Chicago Fire, situated in the cellar of the Eastern Conference.

The PTFC had the prospects of putting on a picture perfect performance as well try to gain their first three points, playing as a visitor. Unfortunate for them luck was not in their side as well seeing key absences in its initial eleven that at the end were felt heavily.

Especially in its midfield and top rated Darlington Nagbe concentrated with the USMNT and for defender Jermaine Taylor with the Jamaican National squad, both of these chaps presence felt very dearly, despite the latter one first year with the PTFC.

Still with a rival of the likes of the Fire playing a modest campaign, the PTFC never imagined how their hosts were going to outplayed them in ninety minutes. As they state that, there is no such thing than an easy foe, the Timbers found out the hard way.

With a first half, the visiting Timbers really had the game under their control, in the 18^th minute of play when the Fire defender could not clear the ball, it is when Diego Valeri took advantage of their situation with a nice sidekick, and the Timbers went up on the scoreboard.

No later than two minute’s a defensive mishap for the PTFC opened the gates for the Fire goal via David Accam and the game was one goal even. Exposing the Timbers backfield horribly on what many see a play in its entirety stopped.

Besides the play that netted the hosts the tying goal, being impossible for Jake Gleeson to prevent it, at the end all afternoon he had another great match to applaud him for his one of a kind performance. With his always spectacular saves and top notch defensive skills getting more acute in every match played, but miracles he cannot perform.

Another point of observation in my personal opinion that some players are a bit layback and not generating the enthusiasms of their game as last campaign, let us forget the last matches, but in the middle of the season! When despite being behind or even in the scoreboard, they fought their way not only at home but as visitors too, this squad is not showing that enthusiasm.

This is a team effort and not seen lately with the PTFC initial eleven in the field, a squad that so far has not shown any ambitious drive if they want to contend once again and play above the red zone. One thing for sure the PTFC initial eleven needs to awaken once again and treat us to that excitement of last campaign.

For Manager Caleb Porter doing the best he can to keep his squad leveled, he cannot do it alone as well this is a team effort where not only they have to rely on Diego Valeri, Diego Chara and Jake Gleeson. Once again, are we going to see the specter of the defensive backfield blues, with a lack of attention and effortless playing?

Remember, last campaign the Timbers defense was one of the tops in all MLS with several matches with a clean sheet, something in this edition of MLS they have not seen one of those matches, very well its dynamic duo of Borchers and Ridgewell not getting their rhythm.

Very well not leading Chris Klute, Zarek Valentin and Jermaine Taylor in generating a type of wall to their foes as well not allowed opposing squads any liberties in their territory. As in the Fire match, the PTFC was outshoot on a 17-9, considered one of the worst squads offensively in MLS.

So far, the PTFC is situated four points behind sixth place the San Jose Quakes, who they play this upcoming Wednesday at Providence Park in what promises to be a much-disputed match as their last meeting where it got a bit feisty at the end.

A win can give the PTFC a breather before the league break on the eve of Copa America Centennial, the rest and relaxation for some players as well Manager Porter will be to reevaluate his squad weak points and assess it in what ways their future performances can get better.

Being one of them his squad consistency to put in play in all the matches ninety minutes of play, evaluating his players’ mores seriously in their game and productivity and start making the necessary changes if needed. Discipline, seriousness and brethren amongst players and coaches alike this can become a recipe for success once again.

The PTFC needs to take advantage of many situations and opportunities their foes give them and not let them go, if one or two stellar players are not around the remaining ones, they should step up and put more efforts in play if they would like one day to net the starting job.

Caleb Porter is a great Manager but not too considered him a Saint or miracle maker, or turn things around overnight if his players do not contribute in the field and play with a dynamic or team effort. At the end if this squad continues playing as like in the Chicago match, we can have one of those campaigns without the prospects of at least a postseason.

Ambition and determination are the keys of making a winner and this squad has all the elements to do it, soon this squad regroups and start getting that winning feeling , the PTFC can do it and with style!

Photos Credit and Property of Portland Timbers Football Club and Mike Di Novo USA TODAY 2016