Countdown's on.

A quick check of the countdown clock on the flashy new League of Ireland site, www.loi.ie, indicates 2 day, 20 hours and 27 minutes to the start of the new season.

Doesn't seem long since the heartbreak in the RDS and yet we're off again.  Well, I'm not. Thanks to the geniuses in the ICAI I have exams this weekend so my first match will have to wait until City travel to Dalyer to play Bohs next week.  Nightmare isn't in it.

Drogheda are a far cry from the side that many reckoned could retain their title.  The bookies think the same, with City odds on for the win across the board.  In fact there is very little to keen a punt in the opening fixtures, with possibly only Sligo or Drogheda to tempt those who fancy a flutter.

I could roll out all the old cliches about a good start etc being needed but we know what we need to do.  We need to win more games and home and retain our 2008 away form.  Do that and we'll certain be there or there abouts at the end of the season.

We be blogging home and away, about on and off the field matters for the course of the 2009 seaon.  There will be up and downs, wins and losses, great trips and fiascos. All in all a standard League of Ireland season.

First up, enjoy Mr A's alternative prediction options from foot.ie

First Club to miss wage payments:
First Club to transfer list entire squad:
First club to enter examinership:
First Club (if any) to go under completely:
Likelihood of FAI having the balls to do anything meaningful about any of the above:

Number of clubs to gain asterisks this season:
Most bizarre reason for points deduction:
Number of times Bohs will sell Dalymount this year:
Number of times Bohs lose court cases:
In what month will Georgie leave Dundalk after a bust up:
Number of times Mental Mickey will receive red cards:
Number of players Roddy will mention that he signed or tried to sign previously:
Average time required to get a transfer fee owed by Derry City:
Month in which Sligo come up with their next scare story involving baby seals under threat of execution to raise funds:
Month in which Jeff Kenna jumps ship to move back to UK:
Number of different colours used for seats in the new stand in Tallaght:
Number of weeks before Hegarty loses it completely and batters the entire Harps squad, and how many times he uses the phrase 'to be perfectly honest' before that happens:
Number of EGMs Cobh will have this year: