Karl Sheppard said he fears for Shelbourne this season as they possess the dangerous combination of looking fragile defensively and toothless in the final third.
Finn Harps cruised to a 3-0 win at Tolka Park last Friday night, a result that left Shels with six points after seven games. They've scored four times and conceded nine in that time, and though they are currently ahead of Drogheda Unted, Harps and UCD in the table, Sheppard sees concerning signs.
"It's a very bad problem to have, when you're poor in both boxes," the former Shamrock Rovers, Cork City and Shels striker told the RTÉ Soccer Podcast.
"You can be a team that's great in both boxes and you'll finish mid-table, but if you're poor in both boxes and good in the middle of the pitch, you're really struggling.
"I watched about 45 minutes of their game against Finn Harps and it would be very, very worrying if you're Damien Duff. If I was an opposition manager I'd say, 'let them play out from the back and after one pass go and press them' because [Kameron] Ledwidge on the left side of the back three gave it away three, four times in a row.
"That all led to huge chances for Finn Harps. It spreads panic among the back three. I'd be very worried for them.
"The pitch certainly doesn't help them at Tolka Park at the moment. They do try and play nice football but they just seem so open at times, especially when they're trying to play out and they lose it. They also don't look like scoring many this year."
Sheppard also offered his assessment of another Dublin outfit. Bohemians were lethargic in a 1-1 draw with UCD last time out but, under the shrewd management of Keith Long, Sheppard expects them to be okay once again.
"At the moment Bohs are mid-table and to be honest that's where I'd see them finishing this year with the squad they have.
"I know they brought in Kris Twardek but to lose the players they've lost in the winter and to expect Keith Long to hit the ground running with the current squad is so unrealistic.
"Bohs would be lost without Keith Long. That man has performed miracles season after season with them.
"Every year or two they have great players and the next thing they've to sign another six players and put them into the squad... it always seem to click after a couple of games, where he has them motoring along and hard to beat.
"Next thing they start to climb the table. I'd fully expect that this year - they have plenty of quality."
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