Fern Mc Costigan

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Derry City sweet move to the Airtricity top

It looks like the Dundalk Lilywhites will have a sort of challenger or chaser in this edition of the Airtricity League of Ireland with a sweetened and determined Derry City.

As the Boys from the North s are looking a bit contentious and somehow ambitious of making a championship run if not netting the league most coveted of trophies in its shield!

In this edition of the Airtricity Premiership of Ireland, the Derry Boys are poised to win it all!

Tied in first against, the defending champions with sixteen points in seven matches played so far, the Candy stripes are looking a bit hungry to make an all-around impact in this campaign and give its followers a reason to celebrate.

Still the league is in its early stages and anything can happen, so far the Candy stripes are looking good and very overzealous not to allow its rivals, any moves towards the league top as well displace the defending champions Dundalk FC.

For the Manager of the Cumann Peile Chathair Dhoire, its business as usual and with an upcoming league matches against Longford Town and agasint the Sligo Rovers in the prestigious EA Sports Cup.

So far for Derry City Boss Kenny Shiels it will be a test of endurance as well have his Boys perform positive in both compromises one league and the other in Cup play, seeking the always important and coveted EA trophy.

On this weekend a win is a win and especially against rivals of the likes of the Shamrock Rovers now out of contention for now from any European competition in the Airtricity Premiership.

With a wonderful executed match and a convincing 3-0 win at Brandywell Stadium, the Candy-stripes moved within the top and with a differential of points they can be considered alone at the top a without any danger in sight.

Seeing scores from Harry Monaghan, Kory Patterson and Ronan Curtis, the Candy stripes sealed the deal and sending the Tobar an Fhíoruisce colossus located at Lane Moor Road into a frenzy.

Still the Derry Boys are still celebrating out-loud their win and seeing themselves as a team to beat in this campaign, as well situated in first with a very busy schedule in this month of April.

So far their unbeaten run numbering six matches, gives you an idea of how the Candy-stripes are a team to beat in this campaign and seeing a dream campaign unfold for them- if the streak and great exhibiton of football continues.

Something that for Manager Kenny Shiels its back to the drawing board and find ways to keep his squad momentum going strong as well assuring their spot in the top of the league for a long time.

Crest Credit and Property of Derry City Football Club 2016

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright SSE Airtricity League 2016

Monday, April 11, 2016

When will it be Everton’s time?

A squad always built with great players, considered as a contender, and at the end, it is another major disappointment to its followers and seen as a total fracas.

At the start of every campaign so promising, a squad seen as a favorite to mount a very top of the line run and seen as a squad built with the best all-around players and seen with a lot of respect by the so-called giants of Premiership.

Their unfortunate side is their lack of consistency and hunger.

Yes, this squad has so much potential but at the end in every campaign, it is always the same story and the results that make this squad go trophy less.

In disbelief but I think the era of Roberto Martinez has reached a dead end and nothing in his power he can do but leave the spot to someone with a certain ingenuity and ambition to turn things around in a dramatic way.

This squad is been considered as a breeding ground for young players from its academy as well the ones they purchase to reinforce their ranks later on move to other squads to become top-notch superstars.

With an example in Wayne Rooney, Marouanne Fellaini now at Manu, Steven Naismith with Norwich City, Mikel Arteta with Arsenal and Tim Cahill to MLS Red Bulls this to name you a few.

Still before this campaign Man United was looking to net the services of one of their stellar wingers in Seamus Coleman, a deal at the end that did not fell through.

Always short of their ideals and goals, this squad has all the elements to become as big as a Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manu and Man City, but something missing.

As many know Everton as such a competitor, still in every campaign its fans are filled with sheer disappointment as well its fans false hopes of their Toffees mounting a stellar campaign.

Since those stellar performances that lead the School of Science to that amazing final played at Wembley against Chelsea, and losing by one goal, still the feat of this squad to reach these stages was phenomenal.

Nothing is impossible and written that only the traditional squads have to net the league shield, as so far this campaign we are about to witness history in the making after seeing a surprising Leicester City almost wrapping things up.

When the time will be somewhat generous for the Toffees and come, this is a question many of this club followers ask themselves with certain inquisitiveness and anxiety after seeing their Blues submerged in 13^th place.

Is it time to make some needed changes of this club helm, will this club under a possible new ownership will see its revival in campaigns to come as well a capable chap with sufficient courage to make this club not only a contender.

One champion that can write its own history and deliver some needed shields to its halls back at its colossus at Goodison Road, something that has been missing from its halls new pieces of silverware.

I mean this squad can do the ultimate of feats; the question is when its board will make the right move and the time to make a champion out of this dormant giant.

Photo Credit and Property of Everton Football Club, Telegraph Media Group, Rex 2016

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Premier League. com 2016

Leicester City nearing its destiny one match at a time

For the Foxes, man at the helm in every match played is a sort of mission accomplished, with his club being on the verge of making all around history in the English Premier League.

Very well, with their previous campaign, after netting a direct promotion, still the levels of Premiership became too much for the Foxes and almost netted them a return ticket to the ranks of the Championship League once again.

Still the push and hard work paid off for then Manager Nigel Pearson that at the end of the campaign saw his efforts pay off with his club earning a permanency for another season and return to Premiership.

The one minus is that the board at City was not too happy with Pearson and by mutual accord decided to part ways, leaving the Manager spot open it is when this club decided to replace him with a new man at the helm.

After this entire Leicestershire County club announced at the beginning of this campaign the arrival of the Italian to take over at the helm of Leicester City.

Many of the club followers immediately voiced their opinions of disapproval, of why this club gave the helm to a man that already had a fracas in Premiership and could not do anything spectacular in his time at Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile at King Power Stadium it was business as usual, with a man that had an all-around challenge in turning this club into a contender, that their destinies were to stay put in Premiership and doing it with a series of goals.

Among his first one was to net 40 points and being a way to assure their stay in Premiership, even though he would mentioned about winning the league or reaching any of Europe’s top-notch tournaments.

These would make Rainieri in the entire league circles as a laughing stock and the showers of criticism be heard all across Europe and the world!

Still the way this club campaign started with a bit of a positive twist, with a winning streak that was halted abruptly, many thought that it was the end of the fairy tale start for this club not even being among the favorites in the league and with odds of 5000- 1.

Too early to dream, still this club saw in several players a certain revival in their careers along with newcomers that this club could net to reinforce its ranks in a very modest of ways, as this club is considered a small entity and with a low budget.

The buck did not stop there for the Foxes as their constant see saw between first and second place in a tight race with the London Boys of Arsenal and the always hardened Man City, all campaign long until the end of the first half of league play.

Very well, with several breaks in league play due to World Cup qualifiers, this club settled in the top spots of Premiership with a comfortable lead and looking as an utmost contender in every match played.

Whoever thought that this miracle was about to happen in this edition of Premiership, that in every campaign it has been a very disputed and contentious in every match played by its squads.

Alongside of dubbing this 2015-16 edition as the David version as many small entities really giving the big guns a run for their money and now we are on the verge of seeing a small club to win its first ever Barclay’s Cup.

After a win thanks to a Vardy double yesterday not only at the Stadium of Light, Leicester City assured itself a Champions League spot for next campaign, not envisioned or planned by its current Manager.

For now, this club and its Boss the Emperor Rainieri are taking it easy with one match at a time and with five left in this campaign the test will be on with West Ham, Man United, Everton, Swansea and Chelsea.

A test of fire that for sure this club can deliver in the clutch and possibly in one or two matches the deal can be seal and delivered to its followers at King Power Stadium.

Once again, this feat considered a first in this club history and now waiting for the next major hurdle to clear with seven points lead in the overall table, many await the moment to shout in unison at King Power Stadium, “We are the Champions”.

Photo Credit and Property of Leicester City Football Club, Telegraph Media Group 2016

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

The Old Firm Back to Scottish Premiership

It can happen, first but things first, when the Teddy Bears so far with 76 points and in first place in the overall table of the Championship League of Scotland.

With a league match scheduled on Tuesday and going against a hardened and difficult Dumbarton Sons squad, the promotion to Scottish Premier League is on the line for the Glasgow Boys.

With a win, the Rangers can seal the deal, and even with a loss against the Sons, the feat for the Ibrox Boys delivered with a little help with a Hibernian win over Livingston.

Four years absent, is what the time the Old Firm has been absent of the top tier in Scotland and top European competitions, after that embarrassing scandal that banned this club considered as of the winningest clubs in Scotland and Europe.

Imagine the return of the classics matches or Derbies dubbed as the Glasgow, considered as one of the most competed and passionate, and dominated by the Rangers throughout its history.

The return to Scottish Premiership of the Gers- seen with good eyes and once again, the levels of competition will be even, because of the ban, cross-town rivals Celtic Glasgow have become the sole dominators.

Still for the Rangers Manager Mark Warburton is business as usual and taking one match at a time, after all his Boys could wrap the promotion deal if the Raith Rovers in last week of competition ending with a six goal fest for both squads and a draw.

For the Light Blues Boss will be one major accomplishment to net his pass with a win as well seeing all of Ibrox in a party mode after their imminent return to Scotland’s top flight once again, stating it with a simple mission accomplished.

Still the challenges ahead for the Old Firm will be aplenty with a roughened cross-town rival Celtic Glasgow accustomed to be the sole dominator in Scottish Premiership, to make this club a competitive one and finish in the league top spots.

Very well offering a top class football as in the old days and assure its permanency for many years to come and see this club back in the always prestigious and coveted European competitions.

A time to celebrate for now as the airs of promotion are forthcoming for this Glasgow squad, very well assuring themselves a compromise soon with their cross town rivals in the Scottish Cup lifting an much awaited rivalry.

For now the Blue and White Army is back and will become a much uncomfortable company for the Hoops who really took over the SPL after the Gers absence, now is all about in making a contender out of the Teddy Bears.

The creation of a competitive squad is on the works by this club board, giving its man at the helm a squad ready to contend in this and many campaigns to come.

Without any fanfare and all-around authority, welcome back to the Scottish Premier League the Glasgow Rangers FC, what took you so long!

Crest Credit and Property of Rangers FC, Getty Images, Reuters and PA 2016