 Time now for our weekly League of Ireland discussion and for the first time joining me this week This is former Finn Harps player Michael Fonston. Good to see you Michael. You're welcome to Highland radio Cheers Austin. Thanks for having me Another busy weekend of games to come Michael in the League of Ireland Premier Division full schedule on Friday there's a full schedule to come as well on Monday evening and Harps at home and then they go on the road before we look at those matches Michael So as I said, it's the first time I've had you on what have you met a harps over all this season Harps have been excellent this season They've kind of been a surprise package for everybody in the sense that you know They won't be surprised and they still dominate in their set plays and you know, they focus on that once they get the end They don't let you out, but it's a quality. That's always brought into the squad's been It's been not surprising, but it's surprising the way it's hit the ground running, you know And that's you know, it was credit to him. He kept the nucleus of last year squad, you know 2020 squad and you know 21 his attitude and you know Obviously with that, I'm no banging on the goals again gives them a real chance and no can solve one stepped up to the plate So, you know, it's been a really bright start to play some really good football Barry back to me there's ticking on nicely He's been playing kind of really well and as the man says like doing that dirty side of the game really well He's working hard but in the last three or four weeks He started to come under where we see Barry and that number 10 rule drop on and just you know Honestly for the goal and Derek and it's goal last week was top notch and you know Hopefully that's by build on nice momentum as we get on like, you know, we've done the first round of fixture So hopefully it's kind of all going well that way. Yeah, it's interesting was talking to you beforehand And the little to do in this Michael you had mentioned that you come away from a result against undock and you're disappointed Not to beat them. It's a fun park last week Yeah Again, I had to check myself actually because I was after the game as can I keep no given out? She's hard to be lose that game and then I had to say well, hold on a minute here You know, maybe it's just obviously the way the game went But you know, perhaps dominant at that first half obviously done dock with her call They kept took people off the bench and they threw the kitchen sink edit to try to get a result But perhaps we're more than capable of actually stealing the one that in the end, you know The second half was you know, it's a credit to Ali and Higsey and players to where they've got them that, you know You're playing done dock or okay They aren't and the position they were last year, but there's still the same squad pretty much of 2020 so like, you know, these are a serious talented group of players. Yes, they're lacking of Confidence and you know yourself the human factor That's what people forget when they do a better pondering you have to always take the human factor in But perhaps we're more than good for their draw last weekend As I said as a house fan had to check myself. I was spitting fire. We didn't actually won the game So that shows you we're in a good place. Yeah, well drama is the target this coming Friday night What sort of game are you expecting here, Mickey? Expecting goals actually. I'm just expecting goals, you know with Chris Lyons, obviously and young Mark Doyle for drama and obviously with her own firepower without fully I'm expecting goals because Actually, that's the kind of thing harps have kind of been caught on the double-edged sword kind of thing because they're going a little bit And I like to say the word little bit we're talking about all the horror there a little bit more expansive They have like the few more goals and they probably obviously do what I like and draw hot as the same You know, they've gone away, you know, they obviously play expensive football draw on a They play nice brand of football. So I expect goals. I actually I can Obviously tapping harps for the one, but you know, I think it's going to be a two one I really can see, you know a goals in the game. Hopefully I'm right Yeah, and there is the the carrot is supposed to anger them as well It's a battle for fourth so early in the season draw to just ahead by a point of harps I'll go back into that position if they get the full three points this coming weekend, Mickey Yeah, it's a great opportunity obviously with harps going to one of four on Monday It's a massive opportunity and obviously the players would just fully focus on the job tomorrow, right? But it's a real opportunity to you know pull back Sligo actually if you know if you can leap log jahada and you can get you know on the tail of Sligo I'm gonna stay there going really well and stay and stay you know stay as close as you can for as long as possible You know, it's it's exciting. It's going to be a it's a good going to be a good game You of course have worked on the various managers, Mickey Is that something only Hargan you think is telling his players listen We get three points here all of a sudden you could find yourself yourself chasing down third and Sligo Absolutely not. That's the last thing all I'll be saying all I'll be telling them to look out for the boys below the knocker common That's what all they'll be saying. I can't see all the heart Forget to carry the way talking about European football or anything like that. No, that's definitely something all they'll not be saying Anyway, the squad was definitely going to be tested this time around Mickey because we could game Draw to Friday Monday Waterford and then Sligo then the the following weekend harps have improved with their squad But in a period like this particularly as we are now into the thick of the second round of games It's really really going to be tested isn't it? Yeah, it is going to be a test of hard squad and obviously all I Likes to do things on knowing so there will be a change tomorrow night that we will probably won't foresee because all he likes to do that He likes to do that with other managers You know keeps get some plans to have his game that way So they'll definitely be a change tomorrow night with thinking of going to Waterford because all is You know, I'm working with him. He's a percentage manager He'll know his chance of getting the three points percentage wise will be in Waterford. So I actually see him probably Hold him back. We'll say his his better players or his players are in better form for the Monday game actually but and saying that you know harps of Mark Tamlin coming back there who Was obviously be out. Excuse me with that horrendous injury So, you know, he's got a little bit of game time So I can probably I would like to see him start tomorrow night because it might bring a little bit of freshness under the squad Even for Monday, you know, and harps have a big squad like there's players like Tony McNamee's You know scheme times been, you know, few and far between and Tony's performances before he's been on the pitch has been excellent So harps do have a decent depth and squad, you know, like young Stephen Doherty's been in there He's done really really well He's kind of because I'd say Mark Coyle and by an act me have been going so well and out of fully He's kind of hasn't got that plot as he desires, but he's been going really really well And obviously he's come through the Academy So, you know, he's he's one will be trying to flag for the future to keep him A number of entries there obviously for Ollie Johnny Dunleavy is one Steven Fohlen I've also got a big cost cost of our Siddiqui who's also on the injured list But if he can get back for a game or two now Cost of our Siddiqui would be a huge huge benefit to the defensive harps. Wouldn't they make it? Yeah, he's been a man I guess leadership and everything and I think just because he's so big as presents gives them so much confidence You know, so obviously if you could get him, you know, that would be a big plus for Ollie Because Ollie likes a saddle back for that's something, you know He won't change unless he unless he needs to change. So hopefully hopefully he's fit Yeah, what would Ollie be looking for to the next three games? Obviously, you would say Mickey nine points would be nice But what's the realistic target out of the next three do you feel the realistic target? I suppose I would love nine points Realistically, you know, you're looking for two ones on a draw really would be would be what you want to do obviously If you could get a draw, you know, maybe a draw tomorrow night That keeps you right on draw this cusps and then get the one and a derby game I'd love to see us go, you know Big slaggo at home So, you know what I mean because they're going really well It was such a confidence booster, but at the same time, there's no reason harps can't aim for nine points like obviously the players can only take it one game at a time but You know, I'd love us to see us aim for nine points, but really if you get two ones on a draw I think that would probably over three games be like maximum return. All I would be delighted with that, you know Yeah, let's look at the other games. Dary said away from home against On Friday as well Michael Dary sitting in the bottom three in the table But very Higgins knows if they get a result down there tomorrow night That is going to open up about a daylight between them and the bottom club is what they really really want to avoid Yeah, everybody's saving grace really is that Waterford's going really really poorly and obviously with all the controversy down there They're just not in a good place So now obviously we were able to go down there looking for a maximum points to give them that little bit of breathing space You know, but Longford are decent are decent as well And they'll not hopefully not there I get too far away But no that should be you know this but when you're in that difficult situation like Roy is and you've come on And he's got a he's got really good results since he's come on You know, he's only been beat perhaps but and obviously got a really good draw last week against Shamrock Rovers and to be honest Shamrock Rovers equalizer how it stood. I don't think anybody knows if they were table of league and champions definitely for me I definitely wouldn't have I definitely wouldn't have stood because like the ball went out at the dugouts And they nearly took a throw on it the 18-yard box So I don't know how we actually kept us composure and stayed on the punch because I know if I was manager for there definitely I would have lost the kill but He's got them in a good place. They're going. Well, they're a young side, but they're playing decent football They're you know, and you know, they have goalscores among the ranks. Yeah, just need more goals So you do what about slay go long for turns the opposition for them on on Friday I you would expect slay go to come through this one make it. Yeah, you want it with a former slay goer showing at the moment you would definitely No expect him to come through against Longford Longford are going well You know, they lost the balls last time out But Longford are a decent side too, and they've got a couple of players that have been around the league for a while So they know what it takes just to kind of hang in there You know, they'll probably if they get anything out of this game was from Longford point of view. They have bonus But as for slay go like I just think slay go have too much. They've started off Really well in book base experience manager He's got a nice blend of youth and experience and that's slay go team, you know Just like I was able to start they've had they've just got really good momentum So I can't see I can't see anything else other than a one for slay go Even though the table doesn't reflect this Sympathetics athletic the bows done dock v. Shamrock rovers probably four of the Top five clubs and in the country But two real mouthwatering clashes to see how these ones fair out in Friday night making I know It's a good weekend for fixtures, you know, because like, you know, obviously we said hearts against Drutter You know we're telling each other and obviously the standard fix for probably everybody be looking at his rovers done doc done doc obviously, you know or Down the table, but with the squad of players they have I Like usually after 10 games you would know roughly that's where teams are going to be that kind of sets the total Yeah, but I can see obviously I can see done doc pushing off. I know they've studied the ship down there a little bit You know when they came back actually after playing really poorly in the first half from their point of view against harps I'm gonna draw I played some good stuff in the second half as you would expect from the players they have no expect that one to be You know to be a really interesting thing I probably will probably be a board won't all draw or something, but hopefully we get goals Yeah, hopefully so hopefully we'll see plenty of goals over the weekend so we will make it just finally then once again You're tipping a harps one for edit. Yeah, I'm tipping a harps one on Friday You know as I said, hopefully they'll be goals in it because the two teams have goals kind of All over the pitch if you know, I mean well harps four rely on a little bit You know, I can see them in goals, you know, as I said Mark Doyle and the going well for Jaha, so now I'm tipping a harps one and hopefully there goals on the harps one It'll be a good night at the office. Hopefully so Mackey Fonston. Thanks for joining us on early governance chat