Richie Towell

[johnnyc]

Nice finish. Hopefully the first of many. Deserves to be in the championship at least.

[samhaydenjr]

Scored Rotherham's third in their Checkatrade trophy win over Bradford tonight. https://www.themillers.co.uk/news/2017/november/match-report-for-bradford-city-vs-rotherham-united-on-07-nov-17/

[tetsujin1979]

Towell ready to kick on again after injury nightmare: https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/towell-ready-to-kick-on-again-after-injury-nightmare-36434231.html

He'll be 27 when the 2018/19 season starts, hopefully he can break into the Brighton side.

[OwlsFan]

He'll be 27 when the 2018/19 season starts, hopefully he can break into the Brighton side.

I heard Chris Hughton talking about strengthening the side in the transfer window so it won't be easy.

[Kingdom]

I heard Chris Hughton talking about strengthening the side in the transfer window so it won't be easy.

It's not going to happen realistically at this stage. He's not going to feature for them this season; if they stay up they'll have to strengthen again. He'd be as well off looking for a move.

[DeLorean]

A couple of important assists for the forgotten man at the weekend - http://www.the42.ie/richie-towell-rotherham-assists-league-one-ireland-4009089-May2018/

(the first considerably more deliberate than the second!)

[CraftyToePoke]

Promoted to the Championship with Rotherham, been in the side solidly there since he joined and played a full part in today's win - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44186999

Honourable mention for Limerick man Anthony Forde came on on ET also.

[tetsujin1979]

What happens next? Does he go back to Brighton and try to get into their team, or maybe look for a move to the championship?

[CraftyToePoke]

Hard to say, but main thing is as soon as someone put him in their side, he took his chance and could have done no more than he has and is in a much better position now than he was with hopefully some good options. I guess if getting in a Brighton side pushing for promotion was beyond him, then getting in that side shopping to consolidate a Prem position might be tough. A good Championship move, another good season, another step up measure up would be my view.

[tetsujin1979]

not given a squad number at Brighton (Duffy is number 4): https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/2018/august/albions-201819-squad-numbers-confirmed/
and linked with a move away from Brighton, with a return to Rotherham, and a loan to Portsmouth mentioned on twitter

[Diggs246]

Why did they sign him?? Is it a case of signed on the back of excellent Dundalk performances and then when he starts training with Brighton, chris quickly realises he isnt good enough and he has made a mistake

[pineapple stu]

Maybe hoping he'd kick on when he signed, but that didn't happen (injury didn't help)

Also they got promoted in the meantime; maybe they saw a potential Championship player but now don't see a premiership player

[Ezeikial]

Why did they sign him?? Is it a case of signed on the back of excellent Dundalk performances and then when he starts training with Brighton, chris quickly realises he isnt good enough and he has made a mistake

Hardly - he signed at the end of 2015 and was offered a new 2 year contract in summer of 2017, which contracts him to Brighton to 2019.

Injuries have hardly helped his cause, but it seems fair to conclude that Chris Hughton probably does not have him in his immediate plans.

[liamoo11]

Really admire towell always seems to maximise his physical abilities which Is a credit to him. He another year On excellent money until his contract Is up. Portsmouth would be a good move play alot push för promotion and be on a free to get decent money again next summer

[tetsujin1979]

Back on loan to Rotherham until the end of the season: https://www.themillers.co.uk/news/2018/august/signing--rotherham-complete-loan-return-for-richie

[samhaydenjr]

Back on loan to Rotherham until the end of the season: https://www.themillers.co.uk/news/2018/august/signing--rotherham-complete-loan-return-for-richie

Probably the ideal move for him - at 27 he needs to be playing regularly at Championship level immediately

[samhaydenjr]

Well, this move does seem to be working out for Towell - playing regularly and has now started scoring, with his second in two games and third of the season - looks like he's found his level, which is good, even if he doesn't go higher - https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46408820

[OwlsFan]

Richie scored Rotherham's second against Wednesday but the latter got a 10th minute equaliser. Hard to remember any later goal than that :)

[DeLorean]

Hard to remember any later goal than that :)

Your own manager against your good selves came to mind straight away. I was surprised to discover that was only six minutes into injury time.

[Park_Lane]

Signed for Salford City on a two year deal.
Pity he had to drop two leagues down, hard to see him being considered for Ireland now.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByIxN1-lgwK/?igshid=142v6ja22sse5

[IsMiseSean]

A move motivated by money.

[tetsujin1979]

It's easy to say it's motivated by money, but it didn't look like he was in any plans at Brighton, and was in and out of a Rotherham side that just got relegated, so it's unlikely a championship side would be interested. Salford clearly are looking to spend to get promoted again, so why blame him for taking a contract?

[IsMiseSean]

I don't blame him one bit, I'd do the same - but if he had any ambitions to play for Ireland, he's all but ended them.

Could he have held out another month for a Championship or L1 team to come in for him.

[geysir]

It’s a dirty old town.

[seanfhear]

A move motivated by money.
Professional Footballer . Only so long make a few pound .

[Olé Olé]

https://www.the42.ie/richie-towell-rotherham-united-championship-ireland-international-call-up-4349822-Nov2018/
"As a player you always want to represent your country, and that is my aim. "

[Diggs246]

[QUOTE=Olé Olé;2004004]https://www.the42.ie/richie-towell-rotherham-united-championship-ireland-international-call-up-4349822-Nov2018/
"As a player you always want to represent your country, and that is my aim. "[/QUOTE

Nowhere near good enough imo

[samhaydenjr]

https://www.the42.ie/richie-towell-rotherham-united-championship-ireland-international-call-up-4349822-Nov2018/
"As a player you always want to represent your country, and that is my aim. "


Nowhere near good enough imo

"Nowhere near good enough" might be a little harsh as he has been within sight of the squad a few times and was a Championship regular this season - but with Conor Hourihane moving up to the EPL, Alan Browne and Callum O'Dowda having big seasons, and a bunch of young midfielders looking ready or nearly to step up (Connell, Ronan, Crowley, Barrett, Knight, Molumby, O'Reilly, Smallbone, Shodipo), the door to international recognition does appear to be closing, a bit like it did for his new colleague, Adam Rooney. So good luck to Towell, I hope he has a good career from here on out and enjoys some glory with Salford

[IsMiseSean]

I wonder is there a tendency to over rate players leaving the LOI with big reputations in the last few years?
Hoban, Forrester, McEleney, McMillan, Boyle, Burke have had unsuccessful spells in the UK.

In fairness to Forrester - he had looked good for awhile, but had some off field issues.


*Nevermind - there's a similar post/discussion in the LOI section.

[Jolly Red Giant]

It's easy to say it's motivated by money, but it didn't look like he was in any plans at Brighton, and was in and out of a Rotherham side that just got relegated, so it's unlikely a championship side would be interested. Salford clearly are looking to spend to get promoted again, so why blame him for taking a contract?
Towell was reputed to be on £8K a week at Brighton. He was out of contract this summer.

Rooney is the highest paid player at Salford and is supposed to earn £4K a week - Towell is probably going to be higher paid but it won't be anything like what he was getting at Brighton. He would be unlikely to get much more from a team in the Championship so going to Salford, who are targeting immediate promotion from League 2, will see him as the main player on the team and significantly raise his profile (that is of course unless they go and bring in another high profile player - but they tend only to do one of those a season, and have for the past 3 seasons).

[TonyD]

I wonder is there a tendency to over rate players leaving the LOI with big reputations in the last few years?
Hoban, Forrester, McEleney, McMillan, Boyle, Burke have had unsuccessful spells in the UK.

In fairness to Forrester - he had looked good for awhile, but had some off field issues.


*Nevermind - there's a similar post/discussion in the LOI section.

Dont know what happened to Forrestor after his early promise in the UK, but he hasn't looked the same player since he's come back to Pats. One quality goal against Sligo is it really. Still, we need to persist with him I think.

[Colbert Report]

Not sure why anyone has a problem with this player making this move to make some money. I've quit jobs to go elsewhere for many reasons, including money and family. If someone were to offer treble my wages to go work in the middle of nowhere, I wouldn't think twice either and I certainly wouldn't give a toss what anyone on here thought about me doing so.

[Olé Olé]

Not sure why anyone has a problem with this player making this move to make some money. I've quit jobs to go elsewhere for many reasons, including money and family. If someone were to offer treble my wages to go work in the middle of nowhere, I wouldn't think twice either and I certainly wouldn't give a toss what anyone on here thought about me doing so.

He's hardly being castigated. If you think he is then quote the post instead of making sweeping statements.

Personally, I just think he is throwing the potential Ireland career he wishes he had away. Maybe it wouldn't have even started. We won't know.

[tetsujin1979]

Not sure why anyone has a problem with this player making this move to make some money. I've quit jobs to go elsewhere for many reasons, including money and family. If someone were to offer treble my wages to go work in the middle of nowhere, I wouldn't think twice either and I certainly wouldn't give a toss what anyone on here thought about me doing so.

Don't think anyone had a problem with the move itself, but most fans are sidelined that the move to Brighton didn't work out, and that it looks like he's resigned himself to not playing senior international football for Ireland in the near future

[SkStu]

He's hardly being castigated. If you think he is then quote the post instead of making sweeping statements.

Personally, I just think he is throwing the potential Ireland career he wishes he had away. Maybe it wouldn't have even started. We won't know.

There is a lot of negativity about the move in the comments of the online articles I’ve read and in other media outlets.

[seanfhear]

I assume if they though he was good enough other championship clubs would have come in for him .

Football is pretty much a meritocracy . If clubs think you can add value at a price they can afford you they will probably sign you . Sometimes they even do it a price they cannot afford with bad end results .

If you were an alien from outer space and happened to be really good at football and could pass for human or football authorities standards / acceptance then most clubs would sign you if they thought you would improve their team .

[Olé Olé]

There is a lot of negativity about the move in the comments of the online articles I’ve read and in other media outlets.

My issue is that the original post is sweeping and isn't accurate of the tone of the discussion on the point here. "Other media outlets" wasn't addressed by me. Was it?

[SkStu]

Relax. I was just pointing out that he’s been criticized by a lot of folks - message boarders and journalists - for the move. Balanced enough on here as usual. I won’t speak for Colbert but I read his post as a general observation about the reaction to the move and the motives as opposed to singling out specific foot.ie posters.

[Olé Olé]

Relax. I was just pointing out that he’s been criticized by a lot of folks - message boarders and journalists - for the move. Balanced enough on here as usual. I won’t speak for Colbert but I read his post as a general observation about the reaction to the move and the motives as opposed to singling out specific foot.ie posters.
Relax. Couldn't have been more specific in my post.

[Colbert Report]

Apologies, Ole Ole. I wasn't looking to stir up trouble. I was indeed just making a general observation about the seemingly overwhelming negative reaction whenever a standout LOI player doesn't make the grade and drops down a few divisions to make a decent living before his body gives out. The more I've watched football over the years the more I've come to realize that at the top level, it is more about luck and avoiding major injuries than anything else.

[SkStu]

Relax. Couldn't have been more specific in my post.

Me neither.

[Colbert Report]

Sounds like he's coming back to Ireland to play for Shamrock Rovers at the end of the English season.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/richie-towell-set-for-summer-league-of-ireland-return-and-opts-for-shamrock-rovers-over-dundalk-40132163.html

[Razors left peg]

Sounds like he's coming back to Ireland to play for Shamrock Rovers at the end of the English season.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/richie-towell-set-for-summer-league-of-ireland-return-and-opts-for-shamrock-rovers-over-dundalk-40132163.html

Great signing for Rovers, I thought he was a lot older than 29

[Trequartista20]

Sounds like he's coming back to Ireland to play for Shamrock Rovers at the end of the English season.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/richie-towell-set-for-summer-league-of-ireland-return-and-opts-for-shamrock-rovers-over-dundalk-40132163.html

Good news for the league, I think.