The main reason for not letting Russell go was the lack of a better alternative. This is still a worry. Sacking someone for the sake of it is pointless really, we need someone who can actually improve the team.
But Iāve never thought Russell offered anything more than Taylor did. Scully was let go after winning the first division, Taylor was let go after not kicking on and there were strong rumours that Russell was gone during the summer. Instead they gave him 6 games.
Heās a nice fella and I wouldnāt blame him for the relegation in 2015 and obviously did well enough for us to be promoted so convincingly. But he has consistently made strange tactical decisions which have baffled the fans and have not worked.
Stuff like persisting with OāDonnell despite him being absolutely shit, Holland mightnāt be great but he is definitely better than a keeper whose confidence is completely shot.
Playing the bombscare Kanyuka instead of Paudie ended up getting us relegated after we had fought to get into a play-off.
Playing his son at left-back ahead of Shane Tracy in the cup final.
Playing his son at all.
Dropping Jason Hughes when the squad was filled with shite.
And not starting Lee J against Finn Harps and leaving Turner on for 90 minutes against Cork just tipped the fans (and Pat) over the edge.
Playing shit football too.
I donāt know who weāll get and I am worried weāll get someone that is no better but Russell wasnāt good enough.
Oh and the consistent lack of performances in front of big crowds had to have been a worry. Bar maybe the home play-off against Finn Harps but they never kicked on in that match.
That is something that is a much bigger thing in League of Ireland football than say, the Premiership. Winning is all well and good, everyone likes a winner, but when the big crowds come in, we have to put in a performance and at least try and play decent football. An extra 500 people makes a big difference to a team like Limerick.
Six games in is brutally harsh and callous. Weāve won two, drawn one and lost three (two of those to Dundalk and Cork). Not a great start but not catastrophic either.
He was on borrowed time, didnāt think heād last the season but this is a surprise to get rid so quickly. Heās a nice guy, probably too nice and thatās done for him. He never sorted us out defensively and we were so easy to play against.
Sad to see him go though and I wish him well. Hope the club already have someone lined up and this isnāt a knee jerk reaction. We could be smack bang in a relegation dogfight in jig time.
There wouldnāt be a club today without Pat but Iād say he is a tough man to work under.
I was distracted by the unlikely triumvirate of old Jonjo, a former Limerick intercounty footballer and a portly friend of Dorothy serving behind the bar.
I was below in the Square Bar getting accosted by two old codgers as to why there is a need for away fans segregation in association football and thereād be no such seperation required for the rugby football proceedings at Thomond Park the following day.
According to Wikipedia, Malky has only been in charge of one team and lost every single match. Maybe heās an impressive coach but that doesnāt always translate into a good manager.
