It's easy to be swept up in the current wave of skepticism surrounding Bohemians' start to the season.
Five defeats in their opening eight games is a rough statistic on paper, but football isn't played on paper, and seasons aren't defined in April.
With a Dublin derby against the champions in Tolka Park tonight, the mood around the club is teetering between cautious optimism and an all-too-familiar frustration.
Yet when you peel back the layers of inconsistency, there's more going right at Dalymount than people are giving credit for.
Bohemians are just a point behind Shelbourne if they win tonight. That’s the Shelbourne who themselves only sit two points off the top.
A Bohemians campaign labelled with softness, dropped points, and familiar flaws still sees them sit within touching distance of the champions.
That fact alone highlights just how wildly competitive and erratic this year’s Premier Division is shaping up to be.
Let’s start with the obvious. Off the field, Bohemians continue to operate in a way that should be the envy of most clubs on the island.
They are fully fan-owned, a rarity in modern football, and yet their commercial growth and community integration are second to none.
They’ve secured vital infrastructure gains with Dalymount's redevelopment on the horizon, a long-term training base, and are building global brand recognition through clever marketing and merchandising.
In many ways, Bohemians are overachieving everywhere except on the pitch, but that disconnect is the root of the growing impatience among supporters.
Since Alan Reynolds took charge, squad building has followed a methodical and long-term path.
Each window has brought with it better footballers. The signings of Dawson Devoy and Ross Tierney last season were crucial in adding legs and composure to a midfield that had too often been overrun.
Leigh Kavanagh, a young prospect with a bright future ahead of him looks to be another good signing for the long term and comes into the side beside Rob Cornwall who missed all last season through injury.
While in Niall Morahan, they’ve found a genuinely versatile player who adds balance, bite, and depth. His arrival from Sligo is perhaps a little underappreciated in the conversation.
However, recruitment alone can’t mask some deficiencies.
The soft underbelly of this side continues to cost them. Sloppy goals conceded in nearly identical fashion - second balls in the box, poor reaction times, and a lack of defensive authority - have cost them valuable points.
Chris Forrester's goal for St Pat’s, Thomas Oluwa’s strike for Drogheda, and both goals conceded against Galway fit the same narrative. They all came after balls were allowed to bounce, bodies switched off, and no one took charge in defence.
For a club with European ambitions, they need to improve in this area.
Last season’s performances were rooted in the same failings.
Alan Reynolds’ focus must now be on whether he can harden this side’s mentality and clean up those chaotic moments in their own box.
There were improvements last week against Sligo Rovers and a first home win in nearly a year felt like a release valve.
Devoy and Tierney ran the show in midfield and both players show signs of being genuine stars in the league. Their energy, decision-making, and knack for driving forward help the tempo of this Bohs’ side.
Colm Whelan, meanwhile, has added directness up front. With improved service, he could easily be in contention for the golden boot come the end of the season.
The potential for a turnaround is there and tonight’s clash against Shelbourne is a perfect test.
Shelbourne are champions for a reason, but they have been inconsistent this season and look like they could be vulnerable. What Bohemians need isn’t just a performance, they need to show more bite.
A higher defensive line, a more front-footed approach to second balls, and the kind of aggression that’s been sorely lacking when defending crosses and setpieces.
Softness is one of the worst tags you can pin on a football team, it suggests more than technical flaws—it points to character issues.
Bohs must respond with the kind of edge that says they’re tired of being seen as promising but flawed.
Because if this group gets it right, there’s a very real path into Europe. The table’s that tight.
Bohemians aren’t miles off it. Despite the narrative, despite the teething issues, despite the noise, they’re one good result away from momentum.
Football rewards resilience and if Reynolds can instil that over the coming weeks, this season can still finish with reward, not regret.
