2018 Transfers

[Martinho II]

Longford have trained in Leixlip for years - assume they still do. Bray were training in north Dublin and I think have moved now to south Dublin.

for last nine years we have being training in leixlip..

[Longfordian]

We trained in Westmanstown before that too.

[TonyD]

The two Dennehys look very heavy and ineffectual imo..

No change there then. Billy was ok for the last half dozen games last year, but apart from that did nothing much for two years. As for Darren, well, less said the better. Two years wages wasted on both of them by Pats.

[ToberonaTornado]

Dundalk announce Sam Byrne with 45mins to ko,expected to feature tonight.


https://twitter.com/DundalkFC/status/964575104691834880

[Longfordian]

Nine minutes ago it was subject to international clearance and now he’s on the bench. That’s some efficient work.

[Martinho II]

We trained in Westmanstown before that too.

where is the hell is that Longfordian? I knew we trained elsewhere in Dublin before but couldn't remember the area!

[Longfordian]

West Dublin. Beside Lucan pretty much. It was or is the Garda sports facilities.

[osarusan]

Not quite a transfer, but Freddy Hall asked to be released from Redacted FC, and is leaving the club to return to Bermuda.

[Briuk]

Not quite a transfer, but Freddy Hall asked to be released from Redacted FC, and is leaving the club to return to Bermuda.
Was he expecting to be the starter this season?

[osarusan]

I wouldn't think so, he was clearly backup since early last season. He has a wife and very young child back in Bermuda, and might have just decided he'd been away from them long enough.

A bit confusing why he would have waited until the season started though.

[derm]

Michael Howard has signed for Cork City from Preston North End on loan.

The young winger/stiker that is. Not the ex-leader of the conservative party.

[oriel]

Nine minutes ago it was subject to international clearance and now he’s on the bench. That’s some efficient work.


Even better, Sam Byrne was listed in the match programme (I only realised when flicking through just before ko v Bray !)

[Ezeikial]

Sean Kavanagh confirmed for Shamrock Rovers

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2018/0220/942197-duff-proves-key-in-rovers-swoop-for-sean-kavanagh/

https://shamrockrovers.ie/2018/02/20/sean-kavanagh-is-a-hoop/

Yet another to declare he has signed for the biggest club in the country!

It's nearly as cliched as having the 4th largest budget

[sbgawa]

Maybe both are true :)
ABU IN IRELAND Is absrfc :)
Strange how no one ever says I've signed for dundalk the biggest club in Ireland;)

[mcgonigle]

Strange how no one ever says I've signed for dundalk the biggest club in Ireland;)

No they say "I've signed for Dundalk to win trophies"

[gufct]

http://galwayunitedfc.ie/danny-furlong-signs-for-united/

[Ezeikial]

Maybe both are true :)
ABU IN IRELAND Is absrfc :)
Strange how no one ever says I've signed for dundalk the biggest club in Ireland;)

Jeez you spend a lot of your life being offended

It was not a dig at Rovers, but rather at the banality of the clichés uttered by players. It is regularly trotted out by players including close season signings for 2018 at Dundalk and Cork

[sbgawa]

I wasn't offended EZ its just the way it is.

[Sam_Heggy]

I wasn't offended EZ its just the way it is.

Next you'll be saying "it's our year"

[dundalkfc10]

Maybe both are true :)
ABU IN IRELAND Is absrfc :)
Strange how no one ever says I've signed for dundalk the biggest club in Ireland

Do they not no

http://www.the42.ie/sam-byrne-dundalk-everton-six-month-loan-deal-3837425-Feb2018/

Dan Cleary "“I’ve watched the League of Ireland when I’ve come home during the summers and they’re probably the biggest club in Ireland at the moment"

[oriel]

Probably the final Dundalk signing of this transfer window. New striker confirmed earlier.

Awaiting Nigerian / Italian translations for 'the biggest club'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Tagbajumi

[El-Pietro]

Its an interesting squad Dundalk are building. Lots of attacking options but limited depth at the back or in central/defensive midfield. We on the other hand have no strikers.

[gormacha]

Patrick McClean to Sligeach from Waterford.

Sorry to see him go. Great cover to have for CB and LB.

I wonder what the story was...

[White Horse]

Its an interesting squad Dundalk are building. Lots of attacking options but limited depth at the back or in central/defensive midfield. We on the other hand have no strikers.

I think we are OK at the back, four centre-halfs (Gartland, Hoare, Folan, and Cleary), Massey/Jarvis at left back, and Gannon/Poynton at right back.

Central midfield is looking very bare at the moment as O'Donnell is injured and Chevdukas is out with the flu. However, when both are fit, I think we have decent cover there.

The squad looks balanced to me. Whether it is good enough will determined by the season.

[Ezeikial]

Probably the final Dundalk signing of this transfer window. New striker confirmed earlier.

Awaiting Nigerian / Italian translations for 'the biggest club'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Tagbajumi

This chap is multilingual and can dish out clichés in several languages



Marco in Italian: Dundalk è il più grande club in Irlanda


Marco in Norwegian: Dundalk er den største klubben i Irland

[sbgawa]

Was his boyhood dream :)

[gufcfan]

Awaiting Nigerian / Italian translations for 'the biggest club'

He lived in London. His English is probably more intelligible than the average Dundalk fan's.

[El-Pietro]

I think we are OK at the back, four centre-halfs (Gartland, Hoare, Folan, and Cleary), Massey/Jarvis at left back, and Gannon/Poynton at right back.

Central midfield is looking very bare at the moment as O'Donnell is injured and Chevdukas is out with the flu. However, when both are fit, I think we have decent cover there.

The squad looks balanced to me. Whether it is good enough will determined by the season.
I can't agree that its balanced but prhaps you have more cover than I realised. I don't see how you get enough game time for all the attacking options you have.
Murray, Hoban, Byrne and this new striker for one position.

Mountney, McGrath, Benson, Adorjan and potentially Murray all competing for one position. I suppose McGrath or Mountney could play wide, Benson could (he really can't) play in midfield, but really you are looking at 8 players who primarily play in two positions.

You say you are covered in midfield, but am I right in saying you have three primary midfielders (not attacking mids). O'Donnell, Shields and Chevdukas? Obviously they are different players who do different jobs but they are nominally all central midfielders. I don't understand why Kenny would sign another striker when there are only 3 midfielders and one of those spends a lot of time injured each year.

Equally I don't understand why John Caulfield has left us so light up front but has Beattie, Dunleavy, Horgan and Adebayo-Rowling for right back (as well as other players who can cover).

[Ezeikial]

He lived in London. His English is probably more intelligible than the average Dundalk fan's.

you wot, mate?

He lived in London for a year when he was 20 years old , but he seems to be okay with the queens lingo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Tagbajumi#cite_note-godset_sign_loan-1

You can listen to this deeply insightful interview to check it out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO77Mn06aNk

The real test will come in Ridleys

[Ezeikial]

I can't agree that its balanced but prhaps you have more cover than I realised. I don't see how you get enough game time for all the attacking options you have.
Murray, Hoban, Byrne and this new striker for one position.

Mountney, McGrath, Benson, Adorjan and potentially Murray all competing for one position. I suppose McGrath or Mountney could play wide, Benson could (he really can't) play in midfield, but really you are looking at 8 players who primarily play in two positions.

You say you are covered in midfield, but am I right in saying you have three primary midfielders (not attacking mids). O'Donnell, Shields and Chevdukas? Obviously they are different players who do different jobs but they are nominally all central midfielders. I don't understand why Kenny would sign another striker when there are only 3 midfielders and one of those spends a lot of time injured each year.

Equally I don't understand why John Caulfield has left us so light up front but has Beattie, Dunleavy, Horgan and Adebayo-Rowling for right back (as well as other players who can cover).

Your original opinion was about querying "limited depth at the back or in central/defensive midfield".

As White Horse has already outlined there is no shortage of options at the back with four centre backs and competition for both full back places.

Dundalk normally play with one defensive midfielder and a fit Stephen O'Donnell has been the first choice there over the last 5 seasons. Chris Shields will continue to provide the competition for that spot, while Karolis Chvedukas may present a serious alternative this season. Georgie Poynton will also be looking to compete in this area too.

Whatever about queries on quality there is certainly no issue about depth or numbers from a defensive perspective

With Marco Tagbajumi signed today it takes the squad size to 24 including 3 goalkeepers but excluding any u-19's. Obviously that presents its own challenges, but good options appear to exist in every position. Time will tell

[El-Pietro]

So who is your midfield three? You surely don't normally play with two attacking midfielders. Shields and O'Donnell would play together if fit?

[Ezeikial]

So who is your midfield three? You surely don't normally play with two attacking midfielders. Shields and O'Donnell would play together if fit?

The norm has been a defensive midfielder (no 6) central midfielder (no 8) and an attacking midfielder (no 10) with two wide players. Last years the first choices for these positions were O'Donnell, Benson and McEleney respectively

Shields and O'Donnell have both been in the squad since Stephen Kenny came in - but they have rarely played together. On the rare occasions that they have played together in the usual formation, O'Donnell has moved to no 8.

While Stephen Kenny could vary the formation the competition and permutations as they appear currently are

No 6
O'Donnell, Shields, *Chvedukas, Poynton

No 8
Benson, *Chvedukas, Adorjan, O'Donnell, Mountney, Poynton

No 10
McGrath, Murray, Adorjan, *Chvedukas

* It remains to be seen what Chvedukas' best position is or how suited he is to the holding role - but he looks a serious player from the little we have seen from him in pre-season.

If the formation changes to 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 the deck gets shuffled again - it is possible that form and ability of Tagbajumi or Sam Byrne apart from Chvedukas or Adorjan could dictate changes

Choice will not be the issue

[White Horse]

So who is your midfield three? You surely don't normally play with two attacking midfielders. Shields and O'Donnell would play together if fit?

We do, and it is one of the reasons we have struggled against yourselves for the last year. We were frequently outnumbered in that key area when play breaks down.

The midfield formation Kenny plays requires midfielders to be very good readers of the game and positionally clever. Finn and Towell were very good at it, Benson less so, and McEleney not at all.

Ezeikial sets out the options this season very comprehensively.

[El-Pietro]

Thanks guys, I obviously don't watch Dundalk regularly and had a misunderstanding of Dundalks midfield and that was based partly on our games against you and partly on how we line up. I don't think I would call Gearoid a defensive midfielder in the same way you would describe McCormack but he does a lot of dirty work.

I would have expected the preferred lineup to be Shields in 6, O'Donnell in 8 where we play Gearoid and then a.n.other from the legion of 10s. I assumed injuries were preventing that in the games I've seen ye without O'Donnell.

If you do continue to line up with Benson alongside Shields in the coming weeks I think I might have to have a look at the odds on Rovers for Friday. I think they have a very physical midfield and it could potentially be a tough night for Dundalk.

[Charlie Darwin]

You can listen to this deeply insightful interview to check it out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO77Mn06aNk
I'd say the players tremble when they see that lad coming with another magazine of hard-hitting questions ready to fire.

[disgruntled]

you wot, mate?

He lived in London for a year when he was 20 years old , but he seems to be okay with the queens lingo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Tagbajumi#cite_note-godset_sign_loan-1

You can listen to this deeply insightful interview to check it out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO77Mn06aNk

The real test will come in Ridleys

The real test will be when he's in front of goal.
Seems like a nice lad but can he score goals ?

[Ezeikial]

The real test will be when he's in front of goal.
Seems like a nice lad but can he score goals ?


My post was in response to gufcfan comment on his English language proficiency - I doubt his level of articulation will have much impact on his ability to score goals.

Scoring in Ridleys is a different story

[**FrOsTy**]

Waterford IN:

Lawrence Vigouroux (Swindon Town) (Loan)

Courtney Duffus (Oldham Athletic) (Loan)

Waterford OUT:
Patrick McClean (Sligo) (undisclosed fee)

[Mr A]

Waterford IN:

Lawrence Vigouroux (Swindon Town) (Loan)

Courtney Duffus (Oldham Athletic) (Loan)

Waterford OUT:
Patrick McClean (Sligo) (undisclosed fee)

That guy must take so much abuse. Although whether he would understand it is the other question.

[disgruntled]

My post was in response to gufcfan comment on his English language proficiency - I doubt his level of articulation will have much impact on his ability to score goals.

Scoring in Ridleys is a different story

I'm sure he'll manage.
His problem will be understanding what they're saying 😁

[Lim till i die]

We've signed Barry Maguire.

Which on paper is a ridiculously good signing for us.

So yay team!

[sulywaterfordfc]

That guy must take so much abuse. Although whether he would understand it is the other question.

Considering he’s a former Irish U21 international and English born. I’d imagine he can understand his native tone.

[Mr A]

Considering he’s a former Irish U21 international and English born. I’d imagine he can understand his native tone.

Yes but his name is like he spelled Dufus wrong. Hours of hilarity for all the family.

Not his family though. It's probably a living hell for them.

[Ezeikial]

Craig Rodden gone from Sligo


Sligo Rovers wish to confirm that midfielder Craig Roddan has departed the #bitored (https://twitter.com/hashtag/bitored?src=hash) by mutual consent.We thank Craig for his service for over two seasons with the club and wish him well in the future.

https://twitter.com/sligorovers/status/983668951736619009

[MattB11]

Rovers signing Alan McManus and rumoured to be recalling Micheal O Connor

[Asterix]

At least we'll have the best keeper in the league in the summer.

[sbgawa]

Great news on manus.
If MOC is recalled can he play straight away or is it July?

[Ezeikial]

This should really restore the confidence of Horgan and Chencinski over the next 10 weeks before Mannus arrives

[Ezeikial]

If MOC is recalled can he play straight away or is it July?

He cannot play with Rovers again til July

[CorribsideSteve]

Didn't Mannus leave right as Shamrock Rovers played in the Europa League? Bad timing. Obviously there was better money etc, but still.Hopefully, his return will be better timed, given the recent mishaps between the sticks at the club.