What a difference an Autumn makes?
The Spring was a decent period for Athlone Town as they progressed in league and cup competitions. While we would have been foolish to expect a Fingalesque rise up the table, progress, in performance and position, was not an unreasonable expectation in light of Brendan Place’s side’s early season form and organisation. That early season form was embodied in the simple things of the game. While Athlone did not posses vast quality all over the park, they did have an organisation and a purpose complemented by enough creative outlets to cause teams trouble. Take, as an example, the Easter period draw with Finn Harps. While the ultimate concession of 2 goals was a dissapointment, the positive end of the performance was the attacking prowess that yielded that 2 goal lead. A sure sign of progress on the previous year’s unfortunate and, at times, chaotic showing. This team was settled and, though experiencing many problems, was showing a rising ability to cope with the demands of First Division football.
Fast forward a couple of months and a damning 5-2 defeat to Longford Town at home made for difficult viewing. Worse still was the 6-1 hammering in Limerick and the madness of a similar defeat against a Finn Harps side stuggling for form. One 6 goal hammering should set off alarm bells but two is simply ridiculous. UCD came to town for their promotion show and easily dispatched a by now mutilated side, in terms of personnel, by 5 goals. Yet the 3-2 victory in Fingal on the season’s final day showed, inherently, that this team is capable of putting in a performance. What indeed has happened?
Primary among Brendan Place’s problems is his huge turnover of players. 42 players in total have worn an Athlone jersey at senior level in 2009. That’s two large squads worth of players. Many are promising but how do we expect progress when they are passing through a revolving door that never stops turning? Goalkeepers, defenders, forwards; noone has been exempt making it a difficult and bizzare process to learn the team line-up on match day. Beginning with the likes of Emeka and Thomas McGauley, continuing with Damien Rushe and then becoming an almost every day occurence with players we never even knew were with Athlone, teams have been built and re-built after barely a game on the field together. Hardly a recepie for progress.
While Athlone have not suffered the fate of many other teams in LOI football this year, Kildare being a case in point, their chaotic end to the season is not healthy. The football has become disjointed, lacking purpose, and disorganised. The attacking and defensive aspects of our game have not developed and, somewhat similar to last year, younger squad members have suffered in confidence while experiencing the hard and unforgiving conditions of a cold evening, a dirty pitch, even dirtier tackles, and a heavy defeat.
As we stand upon the cusp of yet another new season, looking back, as one is drawn to do, upon a decade of missed opportunity, hope is hard to come by but it most certainly exists. In 2002 Athlone were an overspent club, Liam Buckley had left after a near miss at promotion and the money which bankrolled that heady yet ultimately fruitless season was reduced to nil and a by now well familiar ‘local’ policy was being implemented. By 2008, like a vicious and unforgiving circle, we had reached a similar point and, in both cases, the heart of said policy was not based around a vision of a team but rather a desperate attempt to keep the club intact.
The above, however, is well trodden ground cured now, perhaps, by the increased supporter involvement in the future of the club. This brings us nicely to Brendan Place’s new squad. The arrivals fo Chris Bennion (Dundalk), Stephen Caffrey (free), and Robbie Farrell (Drogheda) point to a far more experienced core than last year. There are good omens too in the likes of Mark Nolan (Bohemians) and regulars such as Des Hope and, contract permitting, Noel McGee returning for another year. Another player many would like to see again is Tom O’ Halleron, a player with enormous talent and potential. His re-signing is a good thing and shows a real ambition to nurture seriously talented players with attacking capabilties.
Where this team will go this year is open to interpretation. I believe a shot at the play-offs is possible but one thing Athlone must learn and learn quickly is a physical alternative to their play. Too often last year our midfield was literally beaten to the ground and had little alternative when faced with a physical challenge. In that regard Stephen Caffrey, though expected to play a defensive role, will offer experience and a little ‘cuteness.’ Up front the pontential combination of Noel McGee and Farrell could do well and goals aplenty will be needed if Athlone are to stand up to scrutiny. A new decade beckons and with it the challenge of a return to the top table. In the chaos that has enveloped many clubs in the Premier division, Athlone offer a fresh and sustainable alternative to the boom and bust of the Corks, Derrys, and Droghedas of this world.
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What a difference an Autumn makes?
The Spring was a decent period for Athlone Town as they progressed in league and cup competitions. While we would have been foolish to expect a Fingalesque rise up the table, progress, in performance and position, was not an unreasonable expectation in light of Brendan Place’s side’s early season form and organisation. That early season form was embodied in the simple things of the game. While Athlone did not posses vast quality all over the park, they did have an organisation and a purpose complemented by enough creative outlets to cause teams trouble. Take, as an example, the Easter period draw with Finn Harps. While the ultimate concession of 2 goals was a dissapointment, the positive end of the performance was the attacking prowess that yielded that 2 goal lead. A sure sign of progress on the previous year’s unfortunate and, at times, chaotic showing. This team was settled and, though experiencing many problems, was showing a rising ability to cope with the demands of First Division football.
Fast forward a couple of months and a damning 5-2 defeat to Longford Town at home made for difficult viewing. Worse still was the 6-1 hammering in Limerick and the madness of a similar defeat against a Finn Harps side stuggling for form. One 6 goal hammering should set off alarm bells but two is simply ridiculous. UCD came to town for their promotion show and easily dispatched a by now mutilated side, in terms of personnel, by 5 goals. Yet the 3-2 victory in Fingal on the season’s final day showed, inherently, that this team is capable of putting in a performance. What indeed has happened?
Primary among Brendan Place’s problems is his huge turnover of players. 42 players in total have worn an Athlone jersey at senior level in 2009. That’s two large squads worth of players. Many are promising but how do we expect progress when they are passing through a revolving door that never stops turning? Goalkeepers, defenders, forwards; noone has been exempt making it a difficult and bizzare process to learn the team line-up on match day. Beginning with the likes of Emeka and Thomas McGauley, continuing with Damien Rushe and then becoming an almost every day occurence with players we never even knew were with Athlone, teams have been built and re-built after barely a game on the field together. Hardly a recepie for progress.
While Athlone have not suffered the fate of many other teams in LOI football this year, Kildare being a case in point, their chaotic end to the season is not healthy. The football has become disjointed, lacking purpose, and disorganised. The attacking and defensive aspects of our game have not developed and, somewhat similar to last year, younger squad members have suffered in confidence while experiencing the hard and unforgiving conditions of a cold evening, a dirty pitch, even dirtier tackles, and a heavy defeat.
As we stand upon the cusp of yet another new season, looking back, as one is drawn to do, upon a decade of missed opportunity, hope is hard to come by but it most certainly exists. In 2002 Athlone were an overspent club, Liam Buckley had left after a near miss at promotion and the money which bankrolled that heady yet ultimately fruitless season was reduced to nil and a by now well familiar ‘local’ policy was being implemented. By 2008, like a vicious and unforgiving circle, we had reached a similar point and, in both cases, the heart of said policy was not based around a vision of a team but rather a desperate attempt to keep the club intact.
The above, however, is well trodden ground cured now, perhaps, by the increased supporter involvement in the future of the club. This brings us nicely to Brendan Place’s new squad. The arrivals fo Chris Bennion (Dundalk), Stephen Caffrey (free), and Robbie Farrell (Drogheda) point to a far more experienced core than last year. There are good omens too in the likes of Mark Nolan (Bohemians) and regulars such as Des Hope and, contract permitting, Noel McGee returning for another year. Another player many would like to see again is Tom O’ Halleron, a player with enormous talent and potential. His re-signing is a good thing and shows a real ambition to nurture seriously talented players with attacking capabilties.
Where this team will go this year is open to interpretation. I believe a shot at the play-offs is possible but one thing Athlone must learn and learn quickly is a physical alternative to their play. Too often last year our midfield was literally beaten to the ground and had little alternative when faced with a physical challenge. In that regard Stephen Caffrey, though expected to play a defensive role, will offer experience and a little ‘cuteness.’ Up front the pontential combination of Noel McGee and Farrell could do well and goals aplenty will be needed if Athlone are to stand up to scrutiny. A new decade beckons and with it the challenge of a return to the top table. In the chaos that has enveloped many clubs in the Premier division, Athlone offer a fresh and sustainable alternative to the boom and bust of the Corks, Derrys, and Droghedas of this world.
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