Fern Mc Costigan

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Cork City building up a contender for 2020

The Rebel Army is building up but doesn’t hold your breath for this team to show off its might as they at least will be pushing for a decorous campaign and possibly finish among the top five spots, but no with no run for the shield.

As this upcoming season, the club is building up with a more youthful approach and for manager Neal Fenn his approach will be a more relax one instead of putting a winner in the field, opting for a calmer attitude and positive results in the end.

For a season that saw one of its most winningest managers of this club John Caulfield losing his job after poor results from his Leesiders in the 2019 season, for Neale Fenn his job was to keep City firm in the top circuit and look for a more positive 2020.

Still, I credit manager Fenn approach and leveling the club to close strong and saved it from possible disaster as the way this club saw several players leaving for England’s Championship league.

So far, in the preseason the club has to build some of its most vulnerable spots with several important players that maybe could uplift this club to finish above the top three spots and earn a return to European competitions.

Somehow this can be a sort of boost for the team confidence in its players, but this club will not be that hard fighting and a competitive squad that delights us with its game back in 2017 when they almost won all the league competition shields.

The need to develop young talent and get some notable rookies to make their debut and putting minutes in the field will be one of manager Fenn tasks to uplift this team academy as well as thinking of this club's immediate future.

However, the team has seen a few important players leave the institution as the likes of Connor McCarthy going to Saint Mirren of the SPL, Shane Griffin, Tadgh Ryan, Connor McCormack, Liam Kearney, and Dan Casey.

For manager Fenn it was business as usual before the end of last campaign as the man assured the return of several players to the club as he was busy at work alongside their new GM Joe Gamble.

As the club with players like Cian Coleman, David Harrington, Cian Murphy, Ronan Hurley, Alec Byrne, Rob Slevin, Charlie Fleming, Cian Bargary, Liam Bossin, Mark McNulty sealed their compromise and return to the club.

On the transfers market the arrivals of Cory Galvin from Waterford, Dylan McGlade Bray Wanderers, Connor Davis Derry City, Joe Redmond Birmingham City, Reyon Dillon formerly from Crystal Palace and Corinthians and Harry Ochieng from the English side Wingate & Finchley.

In addition to giving professional contracts to U-19 prospect’s Beineón O’Brien-Whitmarsh, Rory Doyle and Dale Holland as the team are looking forward to its youth academy to build upon its future.

In the end, Cork City will not be the cup winner but it will have its shoots to win some trophies, but I doubt this squad will make a dash to finish among the top three even winning the league shield, a sixth-place finish is my forecast.

Photos Credit, Property, and Courtesy of © Cork City Football Club 2020

Monday, February 3, 2020

Jose Mourinho and his Spurs uplifting win at home over Man City

What a debut for Steve Bergwijn as the former PSV midfielder delivering the opening goal against a dominating Manchester City that if they would be on target this match could be ended in favor of the defending champions.

With a Spurs side suddenly playing a revived game since Mou took charge, the London based club is suddenly turning into a contender and with today’s win, these climbed up the table to fifth place with 37 points.

Moving within three points of their cross-town rivals Chelsea Blues currently in fourth place and not playing so brilliant football and this may open the doors to the Lilywhites to move up the table.

To play against a squad o the likes of Man City somehow is not easy especially when most of its squad and important players are coming back from injuries and for now, City is looking to at least finish second in the season.

After a scoreless first half and with the number of opportunities the Citizens had in the course of 45 minutes, but an unsurmountable number of misses with Sergio Aguero shoot hitting the left post and a failed penal by Ilkay Gundohan.

As the second half went underway the dominance of the defending champions were still evident but with no cigar for the defending champions, as the fortunes continue to take a toll for the Sky Blues after the red card to Oleksandr Zinchenko in the 60 minutes.

For Lucas Mora, his pass became providential for debutante Steve Bergwijn in the 63 minutes who brought the ball with such delicacy and sending a shot out of reach of City keeper Ederson to send the whole of White Hart in a frenzy.

Suddenly the tables were turning against City and despite their efforts with eighteen shots at goal contrary to the local Spurs just three and well-taken advantage as one goal was not sufficient to defeat the likes of Pep Guardiola and company.

The second goal of the afternoon came from a series of moves from Mou to protect his players after Bergwin had to leave the match with cramps and Dele Alli substituted by Lamela and Ndombele in the 70’ minute.

This move became significant for Jose Mourinho and City a minute later his side counter and pass by Ndombele to Son Heung- Min scoring the go-ahead and cushion goal for the home side.

In the end, Tottenham defended deeply and raise to the occasion when City came close with a couple of near goals plays that keeper Hugo Lloris and the wood denied the visitors of the opportunity to break the clean sheet.

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Premier League. com 2019

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Bournemouth staging a revival by looking forward for its salvation

Forget the race in the top spots as the hottest one is being staged at the bottom of the table with several squads looking for their salvation and seeing another campaign in Premiership.

Let’s see the way the Cherries are playing lately with back to back wins over troubled sides, and despite being one man less in the starting eleven, these persevered for the win against a hard pushing Villains side.

With two first-half goals from Phillip billing in the 37 minute and seven minutes later Nathan Ake scoring the go-ahead and game-winning goal in the 44 minutes, for Eddie Howe and company this win somehow spells relief.

As the AFC coming from horrendous losses against troublesome sides like West Ham, Watford and Norwich City, the Cherries were destining into relegation and being prime candidates for Championship.

Suddenly, the Cherries are back in the winning column and with such determination after seeing midfielder Jefferson Lerma seeing red in the 51 minutes, the workload suddenly climbed for the locals.

Still, with a goal from Dean Smith's side in the 70’ minute by debutante Mbwana Samatta that put Howe’s team on full alert and looking forward to closing strong in the remaining minute to persevere with the win.

As the crowd remained defiant and loudly signing “were staying up”, the locals eleven delivered a grand game and showing off a defensive gem stopping the visitors in their tracks for them not to spoil their afternoon for them and their fans.

Despite the Villains recovery and looking to start a possible rally but in the end the way the Cherries played very deep in their backfield to earn a rewarding win.

By earning their second consecutive win, Bournemouth can breathe a little easier in sixteenth place with 26 points and with two away from their closest chaser the Hammers sitting with 24 and in eighteenth place in the relegation zone.