St Patrick's Athletic Preview 2012

Last season: Fourth (Premier Division)

In: Brendan Clarke (Sligo Rovers), Barry Murphy (Bohemians), Mark Rossiter (Bohemians), Chris Forrester (Bohemians), Pat Flynn (Shamrock Rovers), Ger O'Brien (Bohemians), Jake Kelly (Bray Wanderers), Kenny Browne (Waterford United), John Russell (Sligo Rovers), James Chambers (Hamilton Academicals), Dean Kelly (Shamrock Rovers), Greg Bolger (Dundalk), Darren Meenan (UCD), Stephen O'Flynn (Limerick), Christy Fagan (Bohemians)  

Out: Gary Rogers (Sligo Rovers), Danny North (Sligo Rovers), Daryl Kavanagh (Shamrock Rovers), Evan McMillan (Bohemians), Shane McFaul, Stephen Bradley (Limerick), Shane Guthrie (Limerick), John O'Connor (Bohemians), Sean Stewart (Bohemians), Dave Mulcahy (Bohemians), Derek Pender (Bohemians), Neil Harney (Bohemians), Paul Crowley (Drogheda United), Chris Bennion (Monaghn United), Anto Murphy (Shelbourne), Brian Shortall (Shelbourne),

 
Manager: Liam Buckley

Stadium:  Richmond Park

If there's one thing St Patrick's Athletic need to achieve this season it is consistency. Time and again the Supersaints get themselves into a great position in the league only for their form to diminish in the final third of the season. Last season player fatigue was a real factor for former boss Pete Mahon who had serious mileage in Europe (yes Kazahkstan is in Europe apparently), a decent cup run and the league run-in to contend with. 

New boss Liam Buckley knows the league inside out and wasted no time in changing the guard at Richmond Park bringing in 14 new faces with 16 departures. He's got a great blend of young exciting players mixed with players with tremendous experience and Pats will be seen by many as serious challengers this season.

A strong contingent of former Shamrock Rovers manager Michael O'Neill's backroom team are now in the dugout alongside Buckley - including goalkeeper coach Tim Dalton, former assistant manager Trevor Croly and physiotherapist Fearghal Kerin. Their experience with Rovers over the last few seasons will certainly help the process of development at Richmond Park.

It remains to be seen though if this term comes too early in Buckley's rein for a league winning season but pre-season signs show some tidy football that the fans will enjoy watching.

Getting enough goals will be the key to Pats' success or otherwise this season. They'll create plenty of chances the question is whether they will be clinical enough when those opportunities arise.    

ExtraTime.ie Prediction: 4th