The League Table Does Lie

Dundalk were crowned League Of Ireland champions back in 1995 yet in most people’s opinion they weren’t even the second best team in the country. An extremely unlikely chain of events in the closing months saw Dermot Keely’s lilywhites secure the title at Oriel Park when finally overcoming a stubborn Galway Utd side by two goals to nil.

One of the oldest clichés in the game is ‘the table never lies, at the end of the campaign,’ however, in my experience, that isn’t necessarily the case.

What the table will never really indicate is how well or badly you’ve actually played during the season.

Looking at recent events cross channel, for example, Sir Alex Ferguson has probably got the worst set of players at his disposal for many years and United only lost the league title on goal difference. The Red’s were really poor last season but incredibly were only two minutes away from being champions; City were by far the better side yet that wasn’t reflected in the final standings.

During the last 72 hours, I’ve watched four matches at various levels of the game and in every instance the better side on the day, by the proverbial country mile, lost.

Certainly, there will be days when you play badly and win but similar to a number of controversial decisions that don’t go your way, you hope they even themselves out during the year, however, that doesn’t always occur- ask Owen Coyle, the Bolton manager, who’s side were the victims this season of some awful decisions which has ultimately cost them their place in the premier league in England.

Liverpool have just recorded their worst position since the introduction of the premier division and King Kenny has paid the price having been relieved of his managerial duties at Anfield.

However, as anyone who has watched the ‘Pool play this year will tell you, they actually dominated quite a number of games, particularly at home but just couldn’t score on numerous occasions when in control.

Once again, the table hasn’t accurately reflected how Dalglish’s side have actually played.

Back in 1995, I was managing Derry City at the time and with three games to go we looked set to become champions, however, on a dreadful pitch in Cobh, we were held to a 1-1 draw following a freak goal by the home side and the following week at Athlone a similar scoreline denied us the title.

The events of that day are often recalled at the Brandywell and the main topic of conversation is, of course, the penalty miss by Stuart Gauld, the Derry centre-back, five minutes from the end.

However, what never generates the same debate is the freak goal that Athlone scored after just 15 seconds of play. Two freak goals in the space of seven days denied the Candystripes the title.

The League table never lies is a cliché that isn’t always true!

In a similar vein, I watched a match recently where the away team totally outplayed the opposition yet were only one goal ahead at the break.

However, despite being taken to pieces the team behind carved out two very good chances in the opening half hour, which they should have converted.

At the break, the general consensus of the people in my vicinity was that the home side were rubbish and could only get better.

The home side actually triumphed by two goals to one - they took the only two chances they created- but as in the first half the away side totally dominated the proceedings and missed several great opportunities.

What was the reaction from the supporters around me?

What a performance from our team in the second half, we were brilliant.

It really is a funny old game!