Ten Conclusions from Bohemians vs Sligo
Credit:
1) If anyone can finish above Sligo they will be champions…guaranteed. No discussion. It’s only five games into the season and they are five points clear.
2) What was already a very difficult task for the Gypsies was made harder by some diabolical defending. Roberto Lopes has the potential to grow into a top class centre half but in order to do so he needs to cut out mistakes like the one he made on Friday. It was either poor communication between him and Owen Heary or a slip in concentration but Cretaro’s opener was a gift. Just the worst possible start for Bohs.
3) Sligo rightfully earn plaudits and praise for their brand of precession passing and open attacking football. One thing that is very rarely mentioned though is just how physically dominant they are over teams. The midfield trio of Ryan Connolly, Lee Lynch and David Cawley constantly broke at pace while the front duo of Cretaro and Elding not only have the technical talent to cause havoc to opposing defenders but they can also physically intimidate them. Whatever they did in the gym during preseason it is paying off.
4) The turning point in the game was in the 26th minute. Bohemians carved open the Sligo back four following a lovely patient built up. Derek Pender played Kevin Devaney in and the ex-Sligo man had a glorious chance to level the scoring but he snatched at his shot and fired wide. Five minutes later Sligo doubled their lead thanks to an absolutely stunning strike from Aaron Greene. The game was finished as a contest.
5) I always think that the sign of a good player is if they still go looking for the ball and have the courage to pass even when the chips are down. Credit to Bohs for still adhering to their passing principles when route one could have been the easier way out. Sligo will do the same to countless other teams this season also so the Gypsies just have to draw a line under this game, regroup and move onto their match with Shelbourne on Monday.
6) The standard of crossing from both sides was poor but this may in part be due to the bobbly Dalymount surface.
7) Despite being physically overpowered in the engine room Ryan McEvoy and Stephen Traynor are showing signs of an emerging midfield partnership. McEvoy seems to be comfortable taking up the mantle as Bohs creator in chief while Traynor does the less glamorous side of the game showing for the ball and building from the back. One thing I would question is Aaron Callaghan’s insistence in playing Keith Buckley wide right. Buckley has stamina, decent passing ability and positional awareness but he has never convinced me as an out and out winger. At times he seems reluctant to cross the ball and prefers to check back and retain possession.
8) Special praise should go to Alan Keane and Ross Gaynor. I’m almost reluctant to call them full backs because they play like wingers! Both players handled their defensive duties very well but they also attacked with menace and frequently pinned the Bohs midfield back into their own half.
9) Bohs are a better side than last season but they still suffer the same problems. They keep the ball well, are sound defensively (3-0 wasn’t a completely fair reflection) and well drilled but they struggle to create real genuine goal scoring chances.
10) With Ndo, North , Peers and Ventre all to come back the Bit O’Red will only get better. The champions are going to take some stopping this season.
