Messages

Tough run of fixtures coming up until the end of January. Good job they've a ten point lead with a game in hand! I would expect the reserves out against Everton.

Thu Dec 26th 20:00 Leicester City Away
Sun Dec 29th 16:30 Wolverhampton Wanderers Home
Thu Jan 2nd 20:00 Sheffield United Home
Sun Jan 5th 16:00 Everton Home FA Cup
Sat Jan 11th 17:30 Tottenham Hotspur Away
Sun Jan 19th 16:30 Manchester United Home
Thu Jan 23rd 20:00 Wolverhampton Wanderers Away

Started that run of matches with a ten point lead.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think they'd stretch the lead out to 16! 

Yep unreal. I was sure the gap would be closed a bit. They've rode their luck while not at their best but I suppose that's the sign of a great team.
If they click properly they really could achieve something extraordinary this year.
Just on Salah, wonder what Liverpool fans in general think of him. He can be frustrating at times with his selfishness and did the wrong thing on a few occasions last night at very critical points in a difficult game. It can be a trend with him.
Would cashing in on him if the offer was crazy be good business? No better man than Klopp to make it to the teams improvement.

[roughing up and getting roughed up by the opposition big men,]

Utd have spent plenty of money. Financial backing to me hasn't been a problem.
They've made a few big mistakes in the hiring process. Signing Sanchez. Hiring OGS. Letting Lukaku go without a replacement. Hiring Mourinho and not backing him (some will say he cooked his goose signing Sanchez. I do not believe this was his doing based solely on my opinion).
A few important positions have a huge effect on a club. Look at Klopp. People talk about all the players he brought in but the real transformation started since the GK and CH. Before that the GK situation and defense was a real nightmare for the club and undoing some of their brilliant attacking play.
There are no mug teams in the PL. If you pass up too many scoring chances you will get beat, even by the lesser teams. Conceding is a fact of life but is only compounded at the other end. CF is a massive position, a leading position. In terms of hold up play, taking pressure off defense, roughing up and getting roughed up by the opposition big men, bringing others into play and dealing with the pressure and physical demands of being expected to score every week. It takes a brute of a man to do this at a top club. Utd let their brute go and went with unproven kids. Blame Woodward, the owner, the bean counters blah blah blah but OGS is in charge of footballing matters and let this happen. It was his job to kick up a stink and impress on non footballing executive men last summer that this is a non runner for a big club.
So I don't know how people can say a world class manager wouldn't do things different or make a difference. To me it looks simpler and all the bed wetting I hear in the media of clear-outs, spending another billion etc is a bit OTT. There's over half a billion of footballing talent there already. Get a top class manager in, get a bloody centre forward, get a formation that kinda works and then see what signings are needed and who is surplus.

Man City or Liverpool dont have a player like this and seem to be doing ok?

Yes they do. They might not be big burly brutes but they are freaks. You cannot hold up and turn PL defenders without exceptional physical attributes and you cannot last a season without exceptional physical conditioning.

Ok so the top two teams in the PL dont have big brutes so to be one of the top teams you dont have to go down that route.

Exceptional physical condition should be a given at that level

I didn't say big brutes. A brute can be small. Conditioning does not equal fitness. Conditioning is obtained over years. Playing CF is the toughest role in a team and to lead the line for a top club takes exceptional physical and mental endurance. Utd threw out theirs and went with a kid. A proper manager would not start a season like has happened at Utd.

So who is the brute that plays up front in the Man City or Liverpool team?

Aguero, sterling,Mane and Salah are all strong as bulls. Their hold play is exceptional. A lot better than the vast majority of big men that has played up top in the premier league. I think
thats Look it Ups point.

Rashford is probably stronger than all of those listed and Martial is at probably as strong as Sterling, Mane or Salah too.

Rashford is a kid with a double fracture in his back. People on here seem very confused with the difference between fitness, strength and conditioning.
And comparing Martial's hold up play to those other players??? He is not interested like those guys.

So team named. A lot of low mileage sprinkled every throughout. You'd be hoping the two debutantes in defense come good. If so it's a big positive.
Good to see McKiernan there and as much as we'd like to see him upfront I think he'll be dragged back to midfield. That looks like it could be a problem area for us.
Forwards in general look like good honest footballers but don't know where the scores will come from. I assume McKiernan will be on free taking duty. We'll need big performances from Madden and some consistency this year to be any chance of a threat in this division.
The bench looks like carrying a bigger scoring threat however inexperienced. Maybe we'll see changes before throw in.
A little surprised at some of the unnamed. Maybe Sigerson or injury a factor.

Just an observation. Only three players I can make out in the entire panel from County finalists.

Anyway good luck to all in Armagh. Hopefully we get off to a good start.

                     Raymond Galligan
Paddy Meade    Padraig Faulkner    Luke Fortune
Ciaran Brady     Benjamin Kelly      Oisin Kiernan
               Killian Brady  Evan Fortune
Stephen Smith   Simon Cadden      Niall Murray
Martin Reilly   Gearoid McKiernan   Conor Madden

Subs: Liam Brady, Gerard Smith, Paul Gilcreest, Chris Conroy, Bryan Magee, Oisin Pierson, Conor Smith, Evan Doughty, James Smith, Liam Buchanan, Ryan Connolly.

Unnamed: Conor Brady, Thomas Galligan, Paul Graham, Jason McLoughlin, Kian Monahan, Stephen Murray, Cormac O'Reilly.

[Whether Martial is a good enough centre forward to be winning big titles with I just don't know yet]

I think what people underestimate with Klopp and the patience to build is that the owners looked at the situation and then modified their approach. They saw that Klopp needed assistance and got Michael Edwards in. Boom....success. Let's not forget that less than 10 years ago the club was on the verge of collapse and we had Roy Hodgson as manager. The problems in United won't be solved by sacking Ole but call a spade a spade they're not helped with him there either. He is out if his depth but will anyone touch it now even if he is sacked?  I don't know ...

Perhaps I'm been naive but when United have everyone fit its a decent side, its not good enough to be challenging for top honours but it would be good enough to finish top 4. We've seen evidence of that in some of the performances before xmas when everyone was fit apart from Pogba. The issue is lack of strength in depth, there isn't any which is making things look worse then they actually are. If United had a good creative midfielder or even a fit Pogba this season I'd have expected us to have several more points. United have 21 points from 18 games against teams outside of top 6, thats pathetic.

Klopp has performed miracles in the transfer market probably similar to what Fergie did around 90/91/92 when he signed Irwin, Kanchelskis, Schmeichel & Cantona for about £3.5m who all went on to be the best player in league in their position just like what Klopp has done with Robertson, Mane & Salah. He's signed 3 players for about £70m that are now world class, in addition to that nearly every signing he's made has paid off which is very rare.

This is what I'm inclined to lean towards. When fully fit Utd are an exceptionally talented counter attacking team. But Top 4 I have my doubts because they do not have a CF. Rashford however good he is is not a 9 (yet if ever). Top 4 however slim went out the window when Lukaku left without a replacement. And the situation won't change till they buy again.

Don't necessarily agree with the lack of a centre forward. Rashford from wide left was on course for 30 goals this season before his injury. Whether Martial is a good enough centre forward to be winning big titles with I just don't know yet but one of United's is goals from elsewhere. Taking out the front 3 the rest just aren't contributing and that needs changing. For as much as I want rid of him Pogba got 16 goals last season, probably 4 or 5 were pens but at least he was contributing. James, Lingard, Pereira, Mata, Fred & Matic have 7 goals between them I think and have probably played nearly 150 games between them.

Defensively is where I'd criticise Ole most.

If last night's viewing didn't convince you there's nothing I can say.
I guess it's a matter of opinion but IMO Utd have no CF. I've said this from start of season and nothing has changed my mind. In fact judging from some of Jose's comments from the punditry box since I'm more convinced.
They have talent and under the right conditions, mainly counter attacking, they will clock up the goals. Rashford was doing great although not sure he was on quite that high of a PL finish. Unfortunately for him games caught up with him and he needed a break before getting injured.

I think what people underestimate with Klopp and the patience to build is that the owners looked at the situation and then modified their approach. They saw that Klopp needed assistance and got Michael Edwards in. Boom....success. Let's not forget that less than 10 years ago the club was on the verge of collapse and we had Roy Hodgson as manager. The problems in United won't be solved by sacking Ole but call a spade a spade they're not helped with him there either. He is out if his depth but will anyone touch it now even if he is sacked?  I don't know ...

Perhaps I'm been naive but when United have everyone fit its a decent side, its not good enough to be challenging for top honours but it would be good enough to finish top 4. We've seen evidence of that in some of the performances before xmas when everyone was fit apart from Pogba. The issue is lack of strength in depth, there isn't any which is making things look worse then they actually are. If United had a good creative midfielder or even a fit Pogba this season I'd have expected us to have several more points. United have 21 points from 18 games against teams outside of top 6, thats pathetic.

Klopp has performed miracles in the transfer market probably similar to what Fergie did around 90/91/92 when he signed Irwin, Kanchelskis, Schmeichel & Cantona for about £3.5m who all went on to be the best player in league in their position just like what Klopp has done with Robertson, Mane & Salah. He's signed 3 players for about £70m that are now world class, in addition to that nearly every signing he's made has paid off which is very rare.

This is what I'm inclined to lean towards. When fully fit Utd are an exceptionally talented counter attacking team. But Top 4 I have my doubts because they do not have a CF. Rashford however good he is is not a 9 (yet if ever). Top 4 however slim went out the window when Lukaku left without a replacement. And the situation won't change till they buy again.

[roughing up and getting roughed up by the opposition big men,]

Utd have spent plenty of money. Financial backing to me hasn't been a problem.
They've made a few big mistakes in the hiring process. Signing Sanchez. Hiring OGS. Letting Lukaku go without a replacement. Hiring Mourinho and not backing him (some will say he cooked his goose signing Sanchez. I do not believe this was his doing based solely on my opinion).
A few important positions have a huge effect on a club. Look at Klopp. People talk about all the players he brought in but the real transformation started since the GK and CH. Before that the GK situation and defense was a real nightmare for the club and undoing some of their brilliant attacking play.
There are no mug teams in the PL. If you pass up too many scoring chances you will get beat, even by the lesser teams. Conceding is a fact of life but is only compounded at the other end. CF is a massive position, a leading position. In terms of hold up play, taking pressure off defense, roughing up and getting roughed up by the opposition big men, bringing others into play and dealing with the pressure and physical demands of being expected to score every week. It takes a brute of a man to do this at a top club. Utd let their brute go and went with unproven kids. Blame Woodward, the owner, the bean counters blah blah blah but OGS is in charge of footballing matters and let this happen. It was his job to kick up a stink and impress on non footballing executive men last summer that this is a non runner for a big club.
So I don't know how people can say a world class manager wouldn't do things different or make a difference. To me it looks simpler and all the bed wetting I hear in the media of clear-outs, spending another billion etc is a bit OTT. There's over half a billion of footballing talent there already. Get a top class manager in, get a bloody centre forward, get a formation that kinda works and then see what signings are needed and who is surplus.

Man City or Liverpool dont have a player like this and seem to be doing ok?

Yes they do. They might not be big burly brutes but they are freaks. You cannot hold up and turn PL defenders without exceptional physical attributes and you cannot last a season without exceptional physical conditioning.

Ok so the top two teams in the PL dont have big brutes so to be one of the top teams you dont have to go down that route.

Exceptional physical condition should be a given at that level

I didn't say big brutes. A brute can be small. Conditioning does not equal fitness. Conditioning is obtained over years. Playing CF is the toughest role in a team and to lead the line for a top club takes exceptional physical and mental endurance. Utd threw out theirs and went with a kid. A proper manager would not start a season like has happened at Utd.

[roughing up and getting roughed up by the opposition big men,]

Utd have spent plenty of money. Financial backing to me hasn't been a problem.
They've made a few big mistakes in the hiring process. Signing Sanchez. Hiring OGS. Letting Lukaku go without a replacement. Hiring Mourinho and not backing him (some will say he cooked his goose signing Sanchez. I do not believe this was his doing based solely on my opinion).
A few important positions have a huge effect on a club. Look at Klopp. People talk about all the players he brought in but the real transformation started since the GK and CH. Before that the GK situation and defense was a real nightmare for the club and undoing some of their brilliant attacking play.
There are no mug teams in the PL. If you pass up too many scoring chances you will get beat, even by the lesser teams. Conceding is a fact of life but is only compounded at the other end. CF is a massive position, a leading position. In terms of hold up play, taking pressure off defense, roughing up and getting roughed up by the opposition big men, bringing others into play and dealing with the pressure and physical demands of being expected to score every week. It takes a brute of a man to do this at a top club. Utd let their brute go and went with unproven kids. Blame Woodward, the owner, the bean counters blah blah blah but OGS is in charge of footballing matters and let this happen. It was his job to kick up a stink and impress on non footballing executive men last summer that this is a non runner for a big club.
So I don't know how people can say a world class manager wouldn't do things different or make a difference. To me it looks simpler and all the bed wetting I hear in the media of clear-outs, spending another billion etc is a bit OTT. There's over half a billion of footballing talent there already. Get a top class manager in, get a bloody centre forward, get a formation that kinda works and then see what signings are needed and who is surplus.

Man City or Liverpool dont have a player like this and seem to be doing ok?

Yes they do. They might not be big burly brutes but they are freaks. You cannot hold up and turn PL defenders without exceptional physical attributes and you cannot last a season without exceptional physical conditioning.

33 is probaly enough for a panel. Cavan had a large panel last year, they were carrying a lot of players who played no football all year, bar in the Mckenna Cup. The same players played very little League football with their clubs. No benefit just being on a County panel if not getting games. A good few panelists from last year weren't asked backed. It's also costly to have large panel. They might get a year of County training but they would become frustrated after a while.

Probably enough. 7 players not to make match day panel. Drop in a few injuries, opt outs or lads simply not at the required level and bench options could be limited. Hopefully some new names step up.

Utd have spent plenty of money. Financial backing to me hasn't been a problem.
They've made a few big mistakes in the hiring process. Signing Sanchez. Hiring OGS. Letting Lukaku go without a replacement. Hiring Mourinho and not backing him (some will say he cooked his goose signing Sanchez. I do not believe this was his doing based solely on my opinion).
A few important positions have a huge effect on a club. Look at Klopp. People talk about all the players he brought in but the real transformation started since the GK and CH. Before that the GK situation and defense was a real nightmare for the club and undoing some of their brilliant attacking play.
There are no mug teams in the PL. If you pass up too many scoring chances you will get beat, even by the lesser teams. Conceding is a fact of life but is only compounded at the other end. CF is a massive position, a leading position. In terms of hold up play, taking pressure off defense, roughing up and getting roughed up by the opposition big men, bringing others into play and dealing with the pressure and physical demands of being expected to score every week. It takes a brute of a man to do this at a top club. Utd let their brute go and went with unproven kids. Blame Woodward, the owner, the bean counters blah blah blah but OGS is in charge of footballing matters and let this happen. It was his job to kick up a stink and impress on non footballing executive men last summer that this is a non runner for a big club.
So I don't know how people can say a world class manager wouldn't do things different or make a difference. To me it looks simpler and all the bed wetting I hear in the media of clear-outs, spending another billion etc is a bit OTT. There's over half a billion of footballing talent there already. Get a top class manager in, get a bloody centre forward, get a formation that kinda works and then see what signings are needed and who is surplus.

There's very much an unknown factor about our chances this year. We've named a small panel and even at that there's a lot of names in there that are treading new ground. Hopefully they pleasantly surprise us but scores could be very hard to come by.
I only see potential in there, no go to names up front that some of the other teams have. I think we'll be relying on a lot of team scores. It's a big ask to expect lads to hit the ground running in this department. Physically we'll struggle I'd imagine and will probably need a bit of time to adjust. How long is anyone's guess.
Management will be under scrutiny too. They've made a lot of big noises this winter and ruffled a few feathers. It will be interesting to see how the panel react to their voice during the campaign when adversity hits. And it will hit. Do they have the players' ears or are they viewed as a bunch of bullshitters? They've gambled on upping the ante in terms of commitment. Grand some might say but my huge worry would be is that sustainable long term or are we just turning away better quality footballers and cutting our nose off? 
I think the nature of the performances more so than results is very important this year because we're up against it big time. Dropping a level is a possibility but there's a big difference in dropping while still swinging and dropping without a whimper. At the other end I'd love to see us go and chase promotion but I'm struggling to imagine it.

[End of the day he's the manager and it's his job to insist to the board what is needed player wise.]

Maybe I'm a bit harsh on Solskjaer and he's firefighting as best he can but I just don't think he has it. Comes out with a lot of rubbish and harks on too much about the old days. I think he threw some of his players under the bus a bit too quickly as well. End of the day he's the manager and it's his job to insist to the board what is needed player wise. Running them out the door without cover was stupid.

This is the main issue with Solskjaer. He doesn't have the clout to knock on Woodward's door and demand the players he needs. He's indebted to the guys that gave him a job the prestige of which he wouldn't have got anywhere else.

It's a bonkers situation. Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea offering up a CL spot on a plate, yet United show no urgency to go and grab it. 10 days left in the window and nothing seems imminent. Go and get a couple of players and have a proper go at fourth place. Surely the continued rebuilding would be easier from the summer onwards with CL football to offer prospective recruits. But then you remember this quote and everything makes sense:

"Playing performance doesn't really have a meaningful impact on what we can do on the commercial side of the business."

c***ts.

Yep it's a bad hole Utd have dug themselves into. Apparently there's a strategy forward though. I wouldn't be overly confident though.
For a start it looks like the wrong man at the wheel. I never bought into that rubbish either of clearing out the deadwood and having a reset at the club. That's what perennial relegation struggling clubs come out with. That's not how top clubs go about their business. They had plenty of talent there but needed to tweak things a bit with a top class man in charge backed financially. Granted the Sanchez contract was wreaking havoc but I think they talked themselves into believing the squad was a bigger mess than it actually was.
I'd definitely agree with you on the importance of CL qualification attracting new talent. So their next moves are important. As you said Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea are very likely to improve and will be flexing their clout in the transfer markets too so there's no cheap way out of it no matter what they say. Some bit of leadership and experience wouldn't go amiss either when they do select their targets. I think they've thrown the baby out with the bathwater on that front over the last few windows.

[The lack of strength in depth is going to really hurt United but most sensible reds knew this was a problem at the beginning of the season.]

Yesterdays result was to be expected, United played better than I anticipated. I don't know how long Ole is going to persist with zonal marking from set pieces but its about time he realised its not working, we've got no chancing of climbing the table if we keep conceding soft goals which has been a terrible habit for the last 2 months. I keep saying it but Lindelof & Maguire isn't a partnership I like, lack of real pace is an issue especially when chasing games.

Rashford injury is a huge blow, I think its more likely the middle of April before we see him again. The lack of strength in depth is going to really hurt United but most sensible reds knew this was a problem at the beginning of the season. Looks like missing out on Haaland was a huge blow, no idea which way they turn now. Woodward is a disgrace, this is his 7th year in the job and his tenure has been a disaster.

Exactly. This situation was entirely predictable, almost inevitable at start of season. Solskjaer butchered the squad and failed to get in proper replacements. But he gets a free pass from so many fans and pundits. People on here were saying replacing experienced, quality players with fresh air I think was the line, was good business. I think some of his chickens are coming home to roost a bit.
Utd need to be careful with their next move. See Neville is calling for gap fillers to be signed immediately to alleviate the "crisis". Before it was culling, resetting and not rushing into signings. And he accuses the board of flip flopping.
The Norwegian does need backing by the board though but they have to be strategic with whatever they sign and not reactionary. At this stage the damage is already done. Rashford injury is a setback but realistically he has been a bit of a surprise bonus this season and bigger holes lie elsewhere.
I suppose it's hard to say at this stage what they should do. The lure of top 4 is still there so do they sign with that in mind and worry about possible fallout next season? Or do they sign with a long term replacement strategy (Pogba,Martial?) in mind ignoring immediate positional problems and be prepared to treat the rest of the season as a free hit, risking writing it off, but having guys in the squad ready to hit the ground running in September.
I'm sure they're wet under the collar over it. With every passing transfer window they're becoming less of a lure for the top talented footballers. So new contracts will come with a bit more of a premium. Even domestically, they cannot raid the top teams in the league for talent anymore like they used to. There's bigger attractions for young ambitious footballers elsewhere. So they'll need a bit of luck and a big cheque book to sort themselves out over the next season or two. But TBH, I'd have zero confidence in the man at the wheel.

Without knowing all the facts its difficult to point the finger but if Ole didn't and try and bring anyone in last summer and after agreeing to let Lukaku & Sanchez leave then he's made a huge mistake, we just don't know what pressure he was under from Woodward either.

United don't have a bottomless pit of money and do have to be careful hence why I'd rather they brought in a couple of players on loan and wait fore the summer to bring in their primary targets. I thought they needed 2 players prior to Rashfords injury so it should be 2 in at a bare minimum. I'd like to think they've learned from the last 6 years in the transfer market, buying bad is on thing but United have easily performed the worst of the big clubs in terms of selling players and that is down to Woodward because too many players have come in and been put on huge money. Countless players were let go too cheap, mainly because they were on massive wages.  Nani, Chicarito, Evans, Rafael, Depay, Blind & Fellaini to name a few. Then there's Herrera who was let run down his contract because they waited until the last year of it to negotiate with him, nearly forgot about the idiotic contract Sanchez is on. Woodward is a very lucky man to still be in the job.

This is it. Whatever about buying poorly, Utd have sold poorly as well. Evans, Rafael and Nani shouldn't have been let go.

I'd imagine that Sanchez contract done untold damage elsewhere. It was always going to be a massive elephant in the room for any new signings or re-negotiated deals after that, pulling every final figure sum up towards it. Probably unsettled some of the high paid stars there at the time too and made their wages look like a pittance.
Maybe I'm a bit harsh on Solskjaer and he's firefighting as best he can but I just don't think he has it. Comes out with a lot of rubbish and harks on too much about the old days. I think he threw some of his players under the bus a bit too quickly as well. End of the day he's the manager and it's his job to insist to the board what is needed player wise. Running them out the door without cover was stupid.
We'll see how they fare for the rest of the season. City and Liverpool are so good at the moment there's no point looking at the gap to the top. Their points tally is unnaturally high. But on the other hand one thing would worry me if I were a Utd supporter. They are lucky still to be in the hunt for 4th. A lot of teams are in transition at the moment and are having a bad season. This situation will rectify itself soon I'd say but for the moment it's masking a little bit just how bad Utd actually are. At the rate they're going they are on course for about 56 points end of season. This is very poor form, shouldn't even be good enough for top 6. They need to improve rapidly or could end up looking up at a lot of teams next season.
 

[The lack of strength in depth is going to really hurt United but most sensible reds knew this was a problem at the beginning of the season.]

Yesterdays result was to be expected, United played better than I anticipated. I don't know how long Ole is going to persist with zonal marking from set pieces but its about time he realised its not working, we've got no chancing of climbing the table if we keep conceding soft goals which has been a terrible habit for the last 2 months. I keep saying it but Lindelof & Maguire isn't a partnership I like, lack of real pace is an issue especially when chasing games.

Rashford injury is a huge blow, I think its more likely the middle of April before we see him again. The lack of strength in depth is going to really hurt United but most sensible reds knew this was a problem at the beginning of the season. Looks like missing out on Haaland was a huge blow, no idea which way they turn now. Woodward is a disgrace, this is his 7th year in the job and his tenure has been a disaster.

Exactly. This situation was entirely predictable, almost inevitable at start of season. Solskjaer butchered the squad and failed to get in proper replacements. But he gets a free pass from so many fans and pundits. People on here were saying replacing experienced, quality players with fresh air I think was the line, was good business. I think some of his chickens are coming home to roost a bit.
Utd need to be careful with their next move. See Neville is calling for gap fillers to be signed immediately to alleviate the "crisis". Before it was culling, resetting and not rushing into signings. And he accuses the board of flip flopping.
The Norwegian does need backing by the board though but they have to be strategic with whatever they sign and not reactionary. At this stage the damage is already done. Rashford injury is a setback but realistically he has been a bit of a surprise bonus this season and bigger holes lie elsewhere.
I suppose it's hard to say at this stage what they should do. The lure of top 4 is still there so do they sign with that in mind and worry about possible fallout next season? Or do they sign with a long term replacement strategy (Pogba,Martial?) in mind ignoring immediate positional problems and be prepared to treat the rest of the season as a free hit, risking writing it off, but having guys in the squad ready to hit the ground running in September.
I'm sure they're wet under the collar over it. With every passing transfer window they're becoming less of a lure for the top talented footballers. So new contracts will come with a bit more of a premium. Even domestically, they cannot raid the top teams in the league for talent anymore like they used to. There's bigger attractions for young ambitious footballers elsewhere. So they'll need a bit of luck and a big cheque book to sort themselves out over the next season or two. But TBH, I'd have zero confidence in the man at the wheel. 

Cavan away to Armagh, Laois, Fermanagh and Kildare. First game away to Armagh. Our last 2 games are away to Kildare and finally home to Roscommon.
Think if we don't make some hay in the middle part of league especially in Breffni we will be in serious trouble for the home straight.
We're missing a good few of our starting line up and although that's a chance for others to step up I'd be worried from a physical point of view that we are prime candidates to be bullied out of it in a lot of the games. Division 2 is a tough baptism if you're blooding too many.
Bookies have us at 5/2 to drop which is maybe about right. 4 others at shorter odds but anyone can beat anyone in this division and there's usually one that upsets the books either way.