Transfer Rumours 2016 season

[Dodge]

He had previously said he was the best player in Ireland.

[Longfordian]

Just had a look there he reckons he's the best midfielder he's ever signed and if a Championship club wanted him he'd cost "way, way over" £3m. Do Pats have any sell on clause?

[White Horse]

Just had a look there he reckons he's the best midfielder he's ever signed and if a Championship club wanted him he'd cost "way, way over" £3m. Do Pats have any sell on clause?

He was under contract when the transfer occurred. I expect Pats insisted on including a sell on.

[oriel]

How much did Pats sell him for?

Whatever the price, English clubs will always be in the driving seat, most players will want to go over and clubs over there generally don't like to pay a transfer fee to LOI clubs, they much prefer offering a nominal amount, or in the case of Towell, simply hang around until he is out of contract and get him for nothing. Then again likes of Towell would have been nuts not to go, even to a league 1 club, its just the way it goes, clubs getting nothing in these cases, no rules were broken.

In the case of Forrester, his value would have increased so much more playing there and in such a short space of time, so its a win win for Peterborough.

[Mr A]

Equally LOI clubs aren't exactly keen to compensate intermediate and junior clubs when acquiring their players- again because the money isn't there.

[Dodge]

Forrester had 3 months left at Pats and then would have walked for free. Not sur they were in much of a position to argue re the fee/add ons

Great to see him doing well

[CityBoy]

When Cork City got rolled over 4-0 in Oriel Park in 2014, Rob Lehane and Brian Lenihan were the only Cork players to show some bottle and skill.

While I can understand the geographical attraction to joining Cobh, Lehane is surely a premier division player. At 21 years old he could still develop into a serious player

That is nonsense and you know it - none of our players showed any bottle that night! I'm still scarred by that game...

Agree on the part about Lehane being a Permier Division player though, don't think he's good enough for us at the moment but surely he could have gotten a mid to lower table team.

[Longfordian]

Is he in college or is there some other specific reason he wouldn't be prepared to leave Cork?

[Trainee]

Ryan Manning to Sligo seems to be a rumor that is gathering some pace, I heard few different versions from differnt people but the lastest seems to be it could be a season long loan.

[patrickccfc]

What chance of Forrester getting a national team call up? Maybe not this side of the euro's though. Brian lenihan got called up about 2 weeks after leaving us without even getting a game for hull, compared to how Forrester is doing.

Aside from that, it's great to see him doing well for Peterborough

[wonder88]

Forde is one, but how many English 3rd tier players have got into Irish squad in last 2 decades? Like all I always hope LoI players go right to the top once transferred over cross channel, but in Forrester's case I would look to other opinions apart from the Posh owner.

[Sam_Heggy]

Gavin Dykes leaves Sligo.
Harps need a new Assistant manager.

Sure what could go wrong?????

[outspoken]

Rice linked to Sligo in today's Sun. Also says Tommy Dunne is going to Oslo (fully paid for by the PFAI) to scout players. The article in the sun claims the PFAI offer to pay for all managers to go so I don't understand why Dunne is the only one heading over.

[Mr A]

I guess most of them would know the players involved already. Seems utterly mad to bring people all the way to Norway to look at Irish players. But then they usually bring a solicitor for some reason.

[Olander]

I guess most of them would know the players involved already. Seems utterly mad to bring people all the way to Norway to look at Irish players. But then they usually bring a solicitor for some reason.
Dunne will presumably be looking at players from Sweden and Finland also etc...?

[Charlie Darwin]

Dunne will presumably be looking at players from Sweden and Finland also etc...?
Yeah, the PFAI pays costs and expenses for any player who is invited to Ireland for a trial. Rovers had some Finnish lad over under Croly.

[Longfordian]

Should the Swedish (or wherever) PFA not pay the expenses? In theory they could be getting a contract ahead of one of the PFAI members. Maybe it's a central fund run by FIFPRO or something.

[Charlie Darwin]

Assume any successful trailist would join the PFAI and pay them money.

[Longfordian]

Hmm so prioritising potential new members over existing ones who don't have to stick with the PFAI to get a club? Doesn't seem sensible but maybe there's something I'm missing.

[Charlie Darwin]

Hmm so prioritising potential new members over existing ones who don't have to stick with the PFAI to get a club? Doesn't seem sensible but maybe there's something I'm missing.
They have more money than they know what to do with. The whole FIFPro tournament is just a holiday for most.

[gufcfan]

Hmm so prioritising potential new members over existing ones who don't have to stick with the PFAI to get a club? Doesn't seem sensible but maybe there's something I'm missing.

You're not missing anything. They're a management company, not a union of any kind.

[Aaron]

Barry Molloy turns down Derry's offer and will either sign for Institute or retire

[KeepersBall]

Barry Molloy turns down Derry's offer and will either sign for Institute or retire What division are Retire in

[wonder88]

I recall Alan Mathews on radio 1 Sunday sport programme a few years ago casting doubts on this whole exercise by the PFAI. The only reason for it I suppose is that it is paid for by UEFA (am I correct in this?) and people don't usually turn down a free trip. Tony Cousins when at Galway signed Tracey (Limerick now) after watching him at trial/showcase of players released by English clubs over at the FA centre. Maybe something like this would be more beneficial for LoI clubs?

[Jofspring]

You'd have to imagine one in Engalnd would be far more beneficial alright. Does anything like that happen over or do they just rely on the clubs themselves bringing players in on trial?

[Charlie Darwin]

You'd have to imagine one in Engalnd would be far more beneficial alright. Does anything like that happen over or do they just rely on the clubs themselves bringing players in on trial?
Don Givens just writes a list of the ones that haven't ****ed him off and posts it to the FAI.

[Mark]

I wouldn't say it's the PFAI that are paying for managers to go over. It's more likely that FIFPro are paying for it and the PFAI organise it. I remember working on the glossy PFAI guides that the Irish Mirror gave away free about a decade ago. The publisher said it was only going ahead because the PFAI (headed by Fran Gavin at the time) had funding from FIFPro. It is hard to get info from PFAI on things like this but I would guess personally that FIFPro fund a lot of what they do.

[wonder88]

Saw online that Hartlepool have formed a partnership with a Finnish Club, where the two can exchange players. Of course the winter/summer season divide makes this easier. Was there a partnership/alliance between Shels and Man Utd back in the Ollie Byrne days? I remember Pat Doolan making a smart comment about it on tv once (think he gave flowers to the Bohs fans the same night). Was Home Farm/Everton a sort of agreement/alliance as well?
With summer soccer, would it be of benefit to Irish clubs to have such arrangement now, but with less grand clubs than Man Utd or Everton, a club like Crewe Alex maybe.

[Charlie Darwin]

Saw online that Hartlepool have formed a partnership with a Finnish Club, where the two can exchange players. Of course the winter/summer season divide makes this easier. Was there a partnership/alliance between Shels and Man Utd back in the Ollie Byrne days? I remember Pat Doolan making a smart comment about it on tv once (think he gave flowers to the Bohs fans the same night). Was Home Farm/Everton a sort of agreement/alliance as well?
With summer soccer, would it be of benefit to Irish clubs to have such arrangement now, but with less grand clubs than Man Utd or Everton, a club like Crewe Alex maybe.
Home Farm Everton was a full partnership, hence the rebrand of the club.

[Nesta99]

Partnership implies equal status rather than what was actually a we will pay you a few grand a year and any of your half decent players we own. But aye it was a formal arrangement rather than a first option type thing. I think Shels just had an Ireland based Man Utd scout involved or as a fan!?

[avvenalaf]

Partnership implies equal status rather than what was actually a we will pay you a few grand a year and any of your half decent players we own. But aye it was a formal arrangement rather than a first option type thing. I think Shels just had an Ireland based Man Utd scout involved or as a fan!?


Well, if they had, he wasn't up to much if he didn't spot Wes.

[Longfordian]

Nobody took a chance on Hoolahan in fairness he ended up going over to the Scottish First Division if memory serves. I guess they all thought he was too slight. United apparently pulled the plug on whatever deal they had when Anthony Stokes ended up at Arsenal when they really wanted him at the time.

[Nesta99]

Wes Holohan has been unfortunate, he has really had to work to prove himself and is still doing so. I thought his performance against Deportivo would have made him. The backward thinking of football on these isles that a player regardless of skill and technique is not good enough if they aren't the physical type well good job Messi, Silva, Iniesta, aguero, Lennon etc, all about 5"6 and of slight build, weren't being scouted by the English game early on!! I think there is a bit of a change here with the likes of Stephen Kenny signing players based on skill sets rather than the battering rams, Benson the most recent example.

[Dodge]

Except by far the biggest advantage Dundalk had over the rest of the league was physicality

And the league has always found a home for small talented players

[Nesta99]

Dont be so priggish Dodge, you know what I meant! There is also a difference between physical fitness and conditioning than physicality. If by 'the league' you mean LoI well yes some smaller players have carved out a slot but I was talking more about English scouting priorities which of course we have been influenced by.

[oriel]

Except by far the biggest advantage Dundalk had over the rest of the league was physicality

And the league has always found a home for small talented players


Nothing stopping any other side getting a proper strength and conditioning programme introduced to their club. Players will need to buy into it though.

On actual transfers, with only two incoming, in McEleney and Benson (and O'Connor returning) this is great consistency, there is nothing worse than trying to pick out players for the first few league games, getting used to different styles etc. In the case of the first game of 2013 we had at least 8 if not 9 changes to the last season xi, then again that wouldn't be hard, our 2012 side was dreadful.

Are most PD clubs now finished in terms of their squads?

[Olander]

Are most PD clubs now finished in terms of their squads?I highly doubt it. Sligo have signed around 8 players I think... ourselves and Longford have around 15 signed. I'd say most clubs will be aiming to sign 20 or so, backed up by a few U19 players.

[ybig]

Except by far the biggest advantage Dundalk had over the rest of the league was physicality

And the league has always found a home for small talented players

Horgan, Meenan, Finn and Gannon not the most physically imposing. Towell only about 5ft 9 aswell. Was more down to physical fitness

[White Horse]

Except by far the biggest advantage Dundalk had over the rest of the league was physicality


Physicality implies a team that uses strength to overcome teams of a greater skill level. Perhaps that is not what you meant.

Dundalk's advantage was that they had the best balance of technical skill, team management, conditioning, and concentration.

[Aaron]

Physicality implies a team that uses strength to overcome teams of a greater skill level. Perhaps that is not what you meant.

Dundalk's advantage was that they had the best balance of technical skill, team management, conditioning, and concentration.

I would actually say Dundalk wouldn't be blessed with good technical ability, bar maybe Towell and Horgan. The main thing for me was fitness and good discipline to their gameplan. Of course every player in the Dundalk squad have terrific ability, but IMO there isnt many players in the LOI blessed with good technical ability

[White Horse]

I would actually say Dundalk wouldn't be blessed with good technical ability, bar maybe Towell and Horgan. The main thing for me was fitness and good discipline to their gameplan. Of course every player in the Dundalk squad have terrific ability, but IMO there isnt many players in the LOI blessed with good technical ability

At least add O'Donnell and Finn to that very short list.

[El-Pietro]

Horgan, Meenan, Finn and Gannon not the most physically imposing. Towell only about 5ft 9 aswell. Was more down to physical fitness

Meenan is as wide as he is tall. He has no neck anymore!

[Dodge]

Physicality implies a team that uses strength to overcome teams of a greater skill level. Perhaps that is not what you meant.

It wasn't implied at all. I didn't use physicality in a pejorative way either. Dundalk were stronger than all other teams. There's no question about that.

My initial response was to disagree with the notion that Stephen Kenny was changing things by signing small players. All clubs here have always done it. Even those who relied more on brut force than this current, excellent, Dundalk team

[Charlie Darwin]

Horgan, Meenan, Finn and Gannon not the most physically imposing. Towell only about 5ft 9 aswell. Was more down to physical fitness
Have you ever actually seen Horgan up close? He's massive.

[Nesta99]

It wasn't implied at all. I didn't use physicality in a pejorative way either. Dundalk were stronger than all other teams. There's no question about that.

My initial response was to disagree with the notion that Stephen Kenny was changing things by signing small players. All clubs here have always done it. Even those who relied more on brut force than this current, excellent, Dundalk team

By being flippant in response? and not what I was saying but apologies if that's how it came across. To clarify I believe that SK is putting a higher value on players with technique (big or small) than many other teams in the past. Players that are better suited to European football than some of the helter skelter ball domestically. The Alan Cawley type dilemma where he often had limited impact in league games but yet excelled in Europe. The balance swaying almost entirely toward attack with a quick short passing game out from the back, on the deck with all players comfortable on the ball; away from the more conservative and common direct approach maybe mixing it up a bit but more often going long and getting rid of it quick. SK doesn't seem to want to deviate from his game plan at all. I feel that his real target is to make an impact on Europe and is targeting this by signing/having more flair but riskier players in domestic terms. So far the Dundalk squad has coped well with domestic affairs but close the gap with strength and conditioning and the ability to score so many late goals and I believe a player like Shields will always start over Benson or Finn. McEleney has both physical and technical attributes for example. Anyway I was really blabbing on about how coaches and scouts look for different things in the UK and Ireland than on the continent putting a greater emphasis on physical attributes and that IF they had been part of the English or Irish game as youths may not have excelled to world class levels getting payed 100s of thousands per week. Thinking out loud on how many potentially good footballers that have been overlooked for one reason or another. One player kicking around Dundalk for sure struggled to get in a local team yet was one of best chaps ive ever seen with a ball at his feet, coaches took one look before a ball was touched and had minds made up (was very like Luka Modric in build and style and even looks)!!

As an aside there are times that i have felt Dundalk could have played the longer ball especially against a high pressing defence trying to break up the passing style, turning the opposition with McMillan running on to the ball making the opposition defence sit deeper. Also I still feel that against Bate Shields should have started and we should have been more defensive at home initially rather than trying to go at them form the start. So i think SK is not infallible.... just a little bit!

[White Horse]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/0111/759172-caulfield-swoops-for-exciting-winger-dooley/

Is this the "big signing from the UK" that Caulfield was promising?

[brendy_éire]

Stephen Dooley off to Cork is great signing for them.

[Martinho II]

Sun today says that we are set to sign ex Leeds Utd trainee Ian Molloy to compete with Paul Skinner as GK. Molloy was released by Leeds last summer after two years. Does anyone know anything about him?

[Longfordian]

19 year old lad from Lucan by the sounds of things. No idea if he's any good but he won't have a lot of experience.

http://www.gazettegroup.com/sport/molloy-united-for-leeds/

[strikeforce]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/0111/759172-caulfield-swoops-for-exciting-winger-dooley/

Is this the "big signing from the UK" that Caulfield was promising?
" FREDDIES HOME". I think that JC is trying his best to bring in as many quality players that he can. His budget only allows him a certain amount you know. I feel if we can get in a good CB and a natural LB/ WINGER then we wont be that far off. The only worry I would have is can he get them to gel. This year is going to be competitive and not as one sided as last year unless SK is after waving his magic wand. A few clubs have bought in well. With preseason ongoing for some and about to start for others, I wish you all well for the coming season.