Team and next season...

[Xlex]

GK: Digger, Dempsey, Cassin
Def: Barry, McGovern, Dillon, Paisley, Murph, Silke, Gartland
Mid: Kirby, Vinny, Pip, Byrne, Prunty, Gary Murphy, Sheridan
Fw: Barrett, Francis, Lavine, Adrian Murphy, Mulvihill, Kelly

GK: Quite rumours are that Digger is to retire this season, would he given that were in Europe? we hope not... I think Dempsey should be released but really he's the best back-up we've had and if Cassin isn't up to it then we need him... Cassin is meant to be on big bucks so any sort of a come down from that would be needed...

Def: Given Prunty's performance at LB we need to shed some weight in the back line, it looks like the end of the road for Silke, who I feel sorry for, but if Barry stays, I can't see Silke staying... Paisley has got called up before Dillon and on what I've seen I believe Dillon the better player... Paisley is wanted back at Man. City so I suppose he'll move on anyway, I don't think he's going to be a great loss... Gartland is really touch and go, i'd let him go...

Midfield: Sheridan is surplus, he offers damn all... he hasn't really been missed since injury... Byrne hasn't played much but he's under contract and a run of games will sort him out... Gary Murphy would benefit from a season or two in the first.

Forwards: Paddy has to go. if Dessie Baker comes to LTFC then I'd suspect Barrett, Francis, Lavine, Murphy and Baker being the front men next year... Might be hard to say but I think Adrian needs 1 or 2 seasons in the first division, he's a little green... Lavine needs to make his mind up and work harder for us, if this doesn't happen, there's only one direction for him... if we bring in another forward he's defo on his way out...

Next seasons squad.

GK: Digger, Other, Cassin
Def: Barry, McGovern, Dillon, Murph, Gartland
Mid: Kirby, Vinny, Pip, Byrne, Prunty, Other
Fw: Barrett, Francis, Lavine/Other, Other

that's the guts of it... I'm only leaving out the two Murphy's as they need 1st team football to devolop... I don't think they'd make any premier side on a regular basis... I might be leaving the squad shallow but i feel we need to shed wages too... we have to become more economical

[Macy]

Gary Murphy has been excellent when I've seen him, and I am disappointed that he hasn't been given more of a chance, given our problems in the middle of the Park.

Ditto Adrian Murphy. I'd say it's pretty obvious that Kelly won't be staying and Lavine is past it. Murph should've been given a sustainted run after the cup final.

We must try to off load Lavine at any cost, as in my opinion he is no way a net contributor to the team anymore. I'd also be tempted to off load Byrne, as I would assume he's on decent money and he just hasn't done it consistently. He's done alright in spells, but remain to be totally convinced....

Depending on whose coming in, I think we'd have to listen to offers for Francis.... My player of the season, but depending on who comes in, he won't be first choice - and we may as well be blooding a player like Murph than having Seanie on the bench.

As with Francis, I'd also say that vinny is in a similar boat. The guy is a fantastic servant to the club and town through and through, but the other Murph should be at least blooded as first reserve in the middle of the park.

If Digger stays (get the prayer mats out), I'd ditch Bigger and give Cassin the sub keepers role. As with the two murphs, he should be given his chance.

[Xlex]

well I thought that Adrian Murphy played alright against Waterford but he's very green and such is the reserve team football in the eL that it's poor and I don't think it devolps anyone... The league is very tight and the oppertunity to blood players is fast disappearing... I feel Gary Murphy can avail of the oppertunities in a fickle midfield but if these guys are to devolop they really need to play more often then 6/7 times...

agree about Byrne, has done it when in the first team for a while but when out in the cold and brought in he's been average at best...

most of the time you and I are agreeable but listening to offers for Francis is completely of the off the wall, can't see the logic... he's one of the bigger reasons we won the cup...

anyway, if you take the two posts together we'd need a strikers and 2 midfielders...

[Macy]

Originally posted by Xlex
well I thought that Adrian Murphy played alright against Waterford but he's very green and such is the reserve team football in the eL that it's poor and I don't think it devolps anyone... The league is very tight and the oppertunity to blood players is fast disappearing... I feel Gary Murphy can avail of the oppertunities in a fickle midfield but if these guys are to devolop they really need to play more often then 6/7 times...
Well personally I think Gary Murphy should've been given a run this season. The only way I'd remotely agree with these young, talented locals leaving the club would be on loan. Regardless of football talent (which I think they both have), these two and Cassin as sub keeper plus Prunty would give us 4 locals in the first team squad. Don't agree with locals for the sake of it, but that would be a great marketing tool for the club and help further develop the youth structures....


Originally posted by Xlex
most of the time you and I are agreeable but listening to offers for Francis is completely of the off the wall, can't see the logic... he's one of the bigger reasons we won the cup...
Totally agree that he was the main reason for winning the cup, but if we sign a young striker who is going to be first choice, where's the logic of having an expensive wage sat on the bench? Not saying I'll be anything other than happy if he stays, as I already stated he was my player of the season, but if (and it is if) we sign a proven, younger striker I don't think my logic is that flawed.


Originally posted by Xlex
anyway, if you take the two posts together we'd need a strikers and 2 midfielders...
Yes plus a pretty big clear out - smaller first team squad of better quality....

[max power]

too big of a clear out would be a problem, we need to be the same team in the main aeras next season, gary murphy has lots of potential but needs to get into the gym and build himself up, he would be pushed around just like duff was a couple of years ago, but he build himself up and is all the better for it, we do need another top class striker, what is all this about dessie baker ????

vinny has to stay, you know when he walks onto the pitch that he will do all he can for the whole game, a true red n black pioneer for the old days.....

lavine ??? don't know, i like him but his wages could be better spent else where, ie new midfielder to back up the defence, as george graham has always said, if you don't let in goals you don't lose games, nick a goal at some stage and you'll do well and with the speed we have in the side, playing in the break suits us.

prunty, if he doesn't have a good contract give him one now !!!

mcgovern, best signing of the season i feel, i saw him in one of his first games against kildare in the league cup and wasn't impressed, but i eat my words and he is one of my first names on any town team sheet


barry, keep him but stop him from takin penaltys

dillon, solid but can lose concentration at times

alan murphy, best right back we have and excellent at coming forward

kirby, nuf said

pip, solid but a bit small, impressed me over all this season

brian byrne, hot/cold, good sub and man to have in the wings

barrett, once again nuf said

digger, don't go , don't leave me now now now etc

dempsey, bring him round the back and bullet to the head

cassin, should be given a go nesxt season in league cup etc

francis, not fast enough but has improved vastly for the start of the season

adrain murphy, blood him slowly, he is a good asset to the club.

gartland, don't know what sort of wages he is on but is cover for the back two

silke, bye bye, but thanks for the good times

kelly, and the point of signing this player was ???????

paddy, not fast enough again, decision time keep him or release him ???

paisley, haven't really seen him, but he is an international, but then again so is kevin kilbane


have to say alan hasn't really done too much wrong in the transfer market overall

have i missed anyone ???


oh i almost forgot .....

sherdian, sh*t other words fail me

[techs]

My views on the squad and who we should keep are:

DIGGER- althought it truly kills me to say this but the wee man isn¡¦t what he used to be, to many errors in recent months, maybe its time the gloves were hung up ƒ¼ maybe keeper coach would suit him, after all he is the best keeper we ever had

ALAN MURPHY- startin to show true form again worth keeping I think

SEAN DILLON- true class can¡¦t not have him in the team

GRAHAM GARTLAND- one for the future looks very impressive

BARRY FERGUSON- he is typical hardman centre half gotta keep him

BRIAN MCGOVERN- uses his arms too often but has settled in very very well

TOM SILKE- I¡¦d like to ask matthews what this guy did wrong, never let us down and had super season last year, sadly though I think his town days are numbered

STEPHEN PAISLEY- haven¡¦t seen enough of him would like him to stay next season to see does he live up to his rep

SEAN PRUNTY- playin the football of his life gotta stay

ALAN KIRBY- too inconsistent, when he is good he looks like the best in the league but when he is bad he looks terrible

BRIAN BYRNE- same as Kirby not consistent enough think its time to say goodbye

VINNY PERTH- always gives 150% he is Longford town, would never respect matthews if he let our hero go

PIP KEOGH- does his talking on the pitch very impressive

DARRAGH SHERIDAN- I will show you the door myself, say no more

ERIC LAVINE- maybe you could give darragh a lift home!

SEAN FRANCIS- 15 goals and he won us the cup, worth his weight in gold

SHANE BARRETT- biggest town talent, would be a bonus if we could hang on to him for couple more seasons

PADDY MULVIHILL- didn¡¦t happen this year, I think his clock has run out

ADRIAN MURPHY- wasn¡¦t used enough this season hopefully will get a decent look in next season

GARY MURPHY- same as Adrian

LIAM KELLY- best of luck can¡¦t see rovers even wanting him

MICK DEMPSEY- lovely bloke but don¡¦t drop the car keys on your way out

GARY CASSIN- got a very rough deal this year can¡¦t see him stickin around

[Macy]

Wouldn't disagree too much, although think you're harsh on Digger and Kirby....

Digger - if nothing else, who is there (gettable - not dream land)to replace him?

Kirby - think he's been excellent this year, and there's not many around that are as good in the league....

We have to face facts, there is going to have to be changes in the squad, and that includes some players we would like to keep in an ideal world (talking of losing respect for a manager over one player is just ridiculous!).

[validate]

must agree with macy, you're totally off the mark there techs with kirby and digger!!

[Longfordian]

I'd pretty much agree with most of the posts here. A lot depends on who Alan can bring in, e.g if he gets another good goalie then Dempsey will go, i think paddy is definitely on his bike, Silkey too, Paisley will stay if Man City don't want him back. Hard to know about Brian Byrne, had a brilliant game against Shels but was crap gainst Waterford, he's out of contract too so its hard to know..

Cassin hasn't been all that impressive whenever i've seen him in the 21's plus he's on big bucks. A lot to learn and from what i've heard his attitude aint the Mae West..could be on his bike too..

Sheridan and Vinny will both be around next year i would say. Alan likes Darragh more for his destructive impact on the opposition than anything else, he really puts them off their game plus he's got alot of useful connections in the game..Another midfielder is top priority though

If there's any chance of gettin shut of Lavine he'll be gone..someone like Alan Murphy would be a good replacement but he's now lookin for ridiculous money apparently..

[Macy]

Originally posted by The Longfordian
Alan likes Darragh more for his destructive impact on the opposition than anything else, he really puts them off their game
I'd say the constant ear bashing would put you off okay.... :)

[max power]

he is also destructive for his own team too, so what is the story with dessie baker

[Macy]

Interesting the following Rovers players are out of contract: Reynolds, Keddy, McGuinness, Fitzpatrick, O'Dowd, Doyle Deans Colwell, & Broughenam.

O'Dowd as sub keeper, and Fitzpatrick upfront anyone?

[max power]

how many of our players are out of contrat, i think that is more important ???

[Xlex]

As I said, i'd take Cowell and Fitz.... maybe T'OD

As for our players,

I'd say Cassin, Ferguson, Byrne, Mulvihill, 2x Murphys, Silke, Paisley...

Doubts: Kirby, Digger, Dillon, Prunty

I haven't a clue and I wonder: Barrett, Keogh, Gartland, Paisley... (in preference)

Defo have contracts: Francis, Vinny and Hasbeen.... dunno after that

[Longfordian]

Theres a few out of contract alright but most have already agreed in principle to new ones.European football helps hwne it comes to keeping your players. Our top players are staying put as far as i've heard. As far as Dessie Baker goes, apparently Town are interested but he's lookin for a 52 week contract and we cant afford too many of them, he may come yet, wouldn't be that bothered about him personally..Alan McNally and Alan Cawley are two names i've heard mentioned in dark corners, not sure exactly what the story is there..

[Macy]

Originally posted by The Longfordian
Alan McNally and Alan Cawley are two names i've heard mentioned in dark corners, not sure exactly what the story is there..
Hmmmm you could look at that two ways ahead of sunday.... Matthews gets the team going to ensure UCD's relegation and the signing of the two players, or the players play for their place by doing their best to keep UCD up..... :)

[Xlex]

Baker can take the equilvalent of a the season salary over the 52 week salary, would break an ducks with signing a Baker... heard he looked fat and lazy... Lavine has to be rid of before we break any backs to sign someone... We need to stick to some sort of structure in a rigid manner....

What is all the fuss over Baker anyway?

[Macy]

Originally posted by Xlex
What is all the fuss over Baker anyway?
Sure didn't you know, he's a ex-United - he must be good :rolleyes:

[Macy]

Actually, thinking about it I suppose there's not many that know what Baker's like or what he can/could do than Matthews considering all the time he was at Shels......

[Xlex]

to ask for a calendar long salary is madness, he has alot to prove after his injuries and should be paid accordingly... besides if he was all that he'd stake a claim for a starting berth at Shels, he's lost something, perhaps a gonad?

[Macy]

And he'll be missing his brother....

"If you've tried all the rest, but incest is still best....."

[Xlex]

some chap on Bohs msg board is chatting about Brian Byrne, but someone else claims he's a cousin...

I think that provided he's not on mad money as it is he should be offered a one year contract on an equilvalent wage, he can't have got that bad in two - three years... he's a good footballer and if we play good football he'd fit in nicely...

[Enda M]

LAVINE TO STAY !!!!!!!