LOI In Europe 2020

[Nesta99]

Its understandable that the 'reserve' players didnt look up to it last Sunday. But I think it exposed issues with training as much too. Match sharpness aside, they looked disjointed and in some cases not up to scratch fitness wise. The fitness issue wouldnt have happened in the past but we were shown up similarly in I think as LSC final or semi-final v St Pats under Stephen Kenny and it was felt even then that the squad wasnt being utilised enough to keep players ready to step up if there was injury.

A good few in the team, like Dummigan wouldnt weaken a starting 11 and if had been fit may have been in instead of Hoare at right back. Patching can play but needs a lot of work by the looks of him. Weakness with Oduwa has been identified and can be sorted. I've never really been convinced by the quality of our youths.U19s coming through but its a big part of FGs plans and tbh where he could be very good with his background and could even be a part of the reasoning for his appointment by the owners. If he can cut it in the managerial position (Keegan has to be a help there early on) along with developing the youth structures then bonus as its needed. I wouldnt be surprised to see a DoF appointed in the off season depending on league and cup performnces and EL to a lesser extent. Fans are fickle creatures but its hard not to like FG and his relaxed and honest demeanour. But then us Dundalk fans talked up VPs honest, no fluff, take on things.

Bit early for transfer talk maybe but the old nugget of getting a pacey front man in. Maybe a keeper but Rogers isnt showing his age really. Hope to hold on to the likes of Duffy. A creative type central mid if others are not showing the can do that but Murray is coming in to being able to pick a pass, run from deep, can shoot from distance and has an engine (1st full 90mins last Thursday). If Flores gets some consistancy, full fitness and drops the inflated opinion of himself after one top goal, he is superb at set pieces and can get himself about - just needs to stop drifiting out of games. Leahy shows his inexperience at times but bags of potential, he had a facinating battle against the FI right winger who was physically bigger. Dan Kelly is still somone to bring on against a tired defence but as a young lads is yards ahead of most at his age. Ganno if he stays will find his form again. Sloggett deputised nicely for Shields, occasionally sloppy and especially for the KI goal but tbh Shields can have the odd moment too. Cleary's development has stalled a bit, he was more assured when he had that feisty streak, wreckless in the challange at times. All in all plenty to work with and no need for a clearout.

Things get stale with little change to a squad or more that the same players of a squad always get a starting nod. This might come back to haunt me but if Dundalk didnt change a single player I still think we'd be closer to Rovers than we have been since the league resumption.

[Nesta99]

I don't think your maths are correct there. I've taken the squad details off wiki and the average age (excluding the three guys out on loan, and the keeper born in 1820) is 27.8. Take Gartland and Rogers out and it drops to 27.0 (but of course by March, the earliest they'll retire, everyone else will be five months older). There's only two players under 24 (Patching and Leahy), so the average age can't be close to 23?

So I don't think it's a misnomer to call it an old squad. Rovers' squad is a year younger (26.7), but they have eight players under 24, so I think their age profile is a bit healthier.

Well I did list players ages from memory so give or take a bit. Still dont think the squad is 'old', maybe its me thats old and have a different perspective on that but a single year between squad average profiles isnt a whole lot (didnt think you'd deduct the elder statesmen as a maths principle ;p ) Rounded down the 80 year old, which gave me a laugh checking the squad a while back, to 27. But even at 27, with other younger players that are cover for a good few positions. I included the 3 lads on loan but guessed at Tanner's age - at 12 or something to enhance my point....not very mathematical or scientific.... (not really)!

[pineapple stu]

It's not a massive gap, but I suppose the difference is that Rovers have the players coming through, whereas Dundalk don't. It's that recruitment that's going to be an issue for Dundalk in the coming couple of years.

It's hard to really compare international and club teams (because club teams can sign players), but let's do it anyway to try put the figures in perspective. Ireland's squad at Euro 2016 was the oldest at 29.4 years. To aul fellas like you and me, that sounds quite young, but for a football team it's very old. It was 0.6 years older on average than any other squad for example. It was really obvious at the time that our squad was over the hill, and we can see the effects in the years since.

Eight of the 24 Euro 2016 squads were older than 27.8 (Dundalk's squad), while only four were younger than 26.7 (Rovers' squad), which gives an indication that maybe Dundalk's and Rovers' squads are at either end of normal. But Dundalk's is at the wrong end of course.

Again, that's not a massively scientific comparison, but I think it's an interesting indication.

On elder statesmen - ye both have ancient keepers (less than a year between Mannus and Rogers), so it doesn't change things if they both get discounted :p

[A N Mouse]

It's not a massive gap, but I suppose the difference is that Rovers have the players coming through, whereas Dundalk don't. It's that recruitment that's going to be an issue for Dundalk in the coming couple of years.

It's hard to really compare international and club teams (because club teams can sign players), but let's do it anyway to try put the figures in perspective. Ireland's squad at Euro 2016 was the oldest at 29.4 years. To aul fellas like you and me, that sounds quite young, but for a football team it's very old. It was 0.6 years older on average than any other squad for example. It was really obvious at the time that our squad was over the hill, and we can see the effects in the years since.

Eight of the 24 Euro 2016 squads were older than 27.8 (Dundalk's squad), while only four were younger than 26.7 (Rovers' squad), which gives an indication that maybe Dundalk's and Rovers' squads are at either end of normal. But Dundalk's is at the wrong end of course.

Again, that's not a massively scientific comparison, but I think it's an interesting indication.

On elder statesmen - ye both have ancient keepers (less than a year between Mannus and Rogers), so it doesn't change things if they both get discounted :p

I'm just going to leave this post on the rationale for data visualisations here.

https://www.autodesk.com/research/publications/same-stats-different-graphs

[Nesta99]

I do agree that Rovers have more players coming toward their prime from younger than say 25/26 and Dundalk have players in the 26/29 area. So for sure Dundalk will hit the point of needing a transition season earlier. Idealy signings in, sooner than later, and integrated over a period is what will be needed. I just dont think, yet, that this Dundalk squad needs a massive overhaul. Its quite possible that this season we dont get Europe and why Thursday was key as it could bridge that transition period. That said, with the resources available, there shouldnt be a year outside the top 3. Squads always need experience with youth so there is potential in the off season to look toward a more balanced squad - age/position/calibre etc. If we'd lost on Thursday i'd have started to feel that this was the end of Dundalk time in the sun. Now I feel more that the bit will be between the teeth to go again. We had setbacks against Cork but made up for it. Wont be as easy with Rovers as they are a genuinely good side that can play ball and are also tough when they need to be. Tbh the strengths of Dundalk of recent seasons. Its up in the air for Dundalk though - under SK we'd definitely be back at it, its wait and see now with the new coaching team. Rovers stuck with Bradley, in the face of a chunk of fans losing faith in him but he has grown with the team - champs!

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, I'd agree with most of that alright.

I don't think ye'll finish outside top 4 this year, but I guess if you look at the signings Dundalk have made this year, how many have really worked out? Sloggett and Leahy seem solid signings (although I never had Sloggett down in the same calibre as Finn or Benson). Colovic has been a regular, so I guess he's doing ok? The other four seem to be struggling (Patching, Smith, Gatt and Oduwa) based off comments here (and foot.ie is never wrong of course). Two new first-teamers a season is probably a solid outcome, although I guess the concern is over the random foreigners. McKee, Flores, Chvedukas, Adorjan, Tagbajumi - has any really made a real impact? (Apart from Flores' goal v Rovers of course!)

[oriel]

Is Duffy out of contract there at seasons end. His decision one way or the other could be seen as a weather vane for their hope next season.
He'd be welcome at all other LOI clubs anyway, including Rovers.

All others ? Who else is going to match the wages he is currently on at DFC? Now he might want to go home to Derry but they will need a huge budget increase to sign him, plus not sure they will make Europe.

Rovers? They might be able to afford to offer wages, but they have big outlays already on big players, 2-3 in particular, besides he seems settled in Blackrock LH, group stages and a confirm on perm manager would help swing things in our favour, but as always with out of contract players, nothing certain until its signed.

Just on recent recruits, I think the squad from say 1-15 is quite good, 16-22 not so, so depth is not there, and I would release them as soon as possible, some we are stuck with Patching on a 2 year contract, has offered nothing, Odawu, Gatt, Flores even, he can score great goals, far too injury prone though, again offers little when stuck into deep end, all these players out of their depth as seen last Sunday.

There is no doubt DFC need to strengthen for 2021, that's obvious, as for group stage 2020, also obv the squad not as strong as 2016 but this is where we are now, so have to embrace it and try and challenge with what we have. Arsenal will run away with the group.

If we can target points at home to Molde first, then Rapid who knows, but its a big ask, a very big ask, then again the group could have been a lot lot worse.

[Nesta99]

I really am going to sound like one of Waldorf and Statler but I think we will do well to pick up a point or 2 in this groups campaign. But again in context of the season we have already achieved the unexpected regardless of some luck along the way with the draw and covid helping Ki geeting to the playoff. That there werent 2 legs probably helped us also as it was a cup final seige mentality each time. Counted against us v Celje though as we probably would have kept it tight to have a pop in the 2nd leg.

Just on the whole average age of any squad, taking SRFC as an example, they are a season or 2 from being in the exact same situations as Dundalk currently. A championship team that will need to recruit younger lads not to be classed as an old side with Mannus, Finn, Greene, O'Brien, Lafferty and Bolger north of 30. Disregarding (the important) calibre of player recruitment, its quite possible that Dundalk could be rejuvinating the squad, somthing that Rovers will also have to do a season or 2 later. No intending to disregard any other club by the way, just in the context of the young/old profile of the squads in question. Bohs probably have the young up and coming squad that is also competative and with the 14th top budget too :p Also debating such a topic with a fan of a college team has its slamdunk (if UCD are promoted). Its possible that i'd be a bit touchy on the general premise what is an 'old squad' from seeing Dundalk signing really top class LoI players over the years....when they were pushing 40 odd...

[Charlie Darwin]

I really am going to sound like one of Waldorf and Statler but I think we will do well to pick up a point or 2 in this groups campaign.
https://www.extratime.com/media/extratime/images/articles/Ollie_Horgan_1.jpg

[sparky12345678]

That's the starting position for 22/23 season. i.e. before a ball is kicked in 21/22. So the big drop is the 2.6 from 16/17.

Conceivably a few results from dundalk could see us back in the thirties, before that ball is kicked next year.
Yea so going on this years seedings dundalk would have been seeded for 3Qualifier rounds and unseeded in the 4th. So they should keep things ticking over... Rovers however might well not be seeded in the first round next year but hopefully they can add a few points as well to make up for the 2.6 loss...

[Nesta99]

https://www.extratime.com/media/extratime/images/articles/Ollie_Horgan_1.jpg

Ah here even myself, Waldorf, and Statler combined arent that miserable!! I do like Ollie though...likable misery!

Never got the McKee signing, Tagbajumi was just a waster, Chevdukas just didnt seem right in the head in the end, did he do anything at Waterford? Pity as he had ability but ye got the feeling he was happy about being sent off and suspended. Most telling comment there from Stephen Kenny was 'he thinks he is injured and needs an operation' the physios and surgeon seemed to differ from the player - Stuart Connolly stuff from years ago with his sore toe. Flores Ive mentioned, would have thought he'd have appreciated the chance and support he got at the club, maybe unfair but the way he was abandoned by Wigan may have some context now. Still could have an important role to play if he focuses on football first to earn a contract even on better terms after. Adorjan was quality, club wanted him to stay he wanted to stay but his club started looking for silly transfer money, moved then for damn all I think and picked up a bad injury. Cant blame the player or DFC on that one much - maybe some better background work on his agent and contract situation, but the night the league trophy was presented the players had an Adorjan shirt on display during the celebrations so he was rated. Had the impact that the likes of Chevdukas could have had but recalled from his loan back to the parent club against his wishes. He worked hard to get up to the helter skelter pace of LoI so was a shame he didnt get to stay.

[trevy]

Chevdukas didn't do a lot at Waterford. He was in and out of team and a bit injury prone and was let go before end of last season not long after Alan Reynolds criticised him publicly after he got sent off v Shamrock Rovers.
Will 4th place in the league still get a Europa league place next season if one of the top 3 win the FAI Cup?
I reckon Dundalk will finish 3rd with their games in hand and any of 4 teams battle it out for 4th.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Yeah fourth will get Europe if one of top 3 win the cup

[sbgawa]

Derry city in 2012 were the only team in the past decade to win the cup from outside the top 3 .
It's as close to a sure thing as u can get.

[Nesta99]

Oh no, potentially hoping for a Rovers league and cup double if we were in 4th wouldnt sit too well...

[sbgawa]

You could come and sit in with the ultras and cheer us on :)

[The Lilywhites]

Don't think there's any chance of us finishing outside the top 3. The other teams are rubbish.

Could still get 2nd.

[oriel]

Yea so going on this years seedings dundalk would have been seeded for 3Qualifier rounds and unseeded in the 4th. So they should keep things ticking over... Rovers however might well not be seeded in the first round next year but hopefully they can add a few points as well to make up for the 2.6 loss...

I had a look at this last week, and based on the cut that was required in the CL this year, Rovers will probably be unseeded in 2021. Plus if they lose that first game, (as DFC did), their lower coefficient would mean they will drop out of the champions route for the next stage, being Uefa Conference R2 or so.

Just shows how important club coefficient is, for seeding and what route you take after, both helped us this year.

[oriel]

Don't think there's any chance of us finishing outside the top 3. The other teams are rubbish.

Could still get 2nd.

I was thinking of this over the weekend, we have hardly made any strides in the last 4 weeks league wise, yet we can jump from 5th to 3rd tonight, if we beat FH, and still have games in hand on others.

Sligo + Waterford are two who have not taken the opportunity to chase down 3rd spot, Derry look like they have left it late, maybe Pats are best placed to challenge, but still there is that 4th spot if one outside top 3 wins the cup.

[Nesta99]

You could come and sit in with the ultras and cheer us on :)

Id have to borrow that jersey if i wanted to keep my head ;)

[Ezeikial]

All others ? Who else is going to match the wages he is currently on at DFC? Now he might want to go home to Derry but they will need a huge budget increase to sign him, plus not sure they will make Europe.

Rovers? They might be able to afford to offer wages, but they have big outlays already on big players, 2-3 in particular, besides he seems settled in Blackrock LH, group stages and a confirm on perm manager would help swing things in our favour, but as always with out of contract players, nothing certain until its signed.

Just on recent recruits, I think the squad from say 1-15 is quite good, 16-22 not so, so depth is not there, and I would release them as soon as possible, some we are stuck with Patching on a 2 year contract, has offered nothing, Odawu, Gatt, Flores even, he can score great goals, far too injury prone though, again offers little when stuck into deep end, all these players out of their depth as seen last Sunday.

There is no doubt DFC need to strengthen for 2021, that's obvious, as for group stage 2020, also obv the squad not as strong as 2016 but this is where we are now, so have to embrace it and try and challenge with what we have. Arsenal will run away with the group.

If we can target points at home to Molde first, then Rapid who knows, but its a big ask, a very big ask, then again the group could have been a lot lot worse.

Michael Duffy could easily decide to have another crack at it in the UK and could well get worthwhile offers in lower Championship or League 1

While it does not necessarily follow that players in contract will automatically be retained (Will Patching for example is at risk) some of the out-of-contract players are likely to be resigned

These players are out of contract

Michael Duffy,
Brian Gartland,
Gary Rogers,
Jordan Flores,
Sean Murray,
Sean Hoare,
Georgie Kelly,
Aaron McCarey,
Daniel Kelly,
Lido Lotefa,
Dane Massey
John Mountney.

Josh Gatt
Nathan Oduwa

Out of the 14 players listed Michael Duffy is probably the only one that every Dundalk fan would be eager to see resigned.

Personally I would also like to see Brian Gartland, Gary Rogers, Sean Hoare, & Daniel Kelly resign, although obvious that view could change depending on the quality of potential replacements

[Charlie Darwin]

Never got the McKee signing
Had to look up McKee there. I have absolutely no memory of him.

Chvedukas is now playing in the Maltese regional leagues. Mad descent for an established international.

[The Lilywhites]

Had to look up McKee there. I have absolutely no memory of him.

Chvedukas is now playing in the Maltese regional leagues. Mad descent for an established international.

McKee is Andy Burton's mate.

Even after our injuries early last season, Perth played Hoare in midfield ahead of McKee. He never got a chance. Total waste of money that signing was.

[oriel]

Michael Duffy could easily decide to have another crack at it in the UK and could well get worthwhile offers in lower Championship or League 1

While it does not necessarily follow that players in contract will automatically be retained (Will Patching for example is at risk) some of the out-of-contract players are likely to be resigned

These players are out of contract

Michael Duffy,
Brian Gartland,
Gary Rogers,
Jordan Flores,
Sean Murray,
Sean Hoare,
Georgie Kelly,
Aaron McCarey,
Daniel Kelly,
Lido Lotefa,
Dane Massey
John Mountney.

Josh Gatt
Nathan Oduwa

Out of the 14 players listed Michael Duffy is probably the only one that every Dundalk fan would be eager to see resigned.

Personally I would also like to see Brian Gartland, Gary Rogers, Sean Hoare, & Daniel Kelly resign, although obvious that view could change depending on the quality of potential replacements

Sean Gannon is also out of contract end of 2020. Players in bold, I'd have no interest in keeping, and for that list, add in Patching, pay him off for 2021, an absolute waste of space.

[Charlie Darwin]

What's the story with McCarey? He was in the extended Ireland squad a couple of years ago.

[Ezeikial]

Sean Gannon is also out of contract end of 2020. Players in bold, I'd have no interest in keeping, and for that list, add in Patching, pay him off for 2021, an absolute waste of space.

It was an oversight to omit Sean Gannon from that list. If he has the hunger and does not need a kitchen sink I would also like to see him stay. He has been the top right full back in the country by some distance over the last number of years, but there are young guns emerging that will challenge that status - Andy Lyons and Tunmise Sobowale being the most obvious.

In order to rebuild the squad there will need to be more than six players released - but few would argue about those you highlighted

[Ezeikial]

What's the story with McCarey? He was in the extended Ireland squad a couple of years ago.

He officially signed up Jan 2019 after Stephen Kenny brokered an arrangement for him to play with Warrenpoint for the early part of their 2018/2019 season. He was called into the senior squad lhe previou March by Martin O’Neill for a friendly against Turkey.

Most would have expected him to claim the No 1 jersey from Gary Rogers, but a combination of fine performances by Rogers and his own form meant that he did not manage to achieve this. Perhaps a lack of game time hit is confidence and has left it doubly difficult to take his chances when presented.

It is probably in the interests of club and player that he gets a fresh start next season. He is 29 years in January - time is still on his side

[Ezeikial]

Whatever about ages the quality in the squad beyond the first 11 is poor and I would have always thought that was the key advantage dfc had for a couple of years lately. Big squad overhaul needed and integrating players isn't easy. The players on 52 week contracts that the club are running the clock down on will not be happy bunnies as new contracts are handed out to those staying on. In those circumstances some marginal calls get made to give extensions to keep the dressing room happy. But overall it's still a nice problem to have given the alternative was lose to Ki and lose 2m + this year.


I didn't mean unwanted players EZ I meant marginal call players may be kept as the manager is bound to want to have as many happy players as possible in the dressing room..
Regards the strength in depth of the team the only players on the pitch against rovers I would say are positive to the dfc squad are shields, Colovic and maybe oduwa if he could be persuaded to track back. I'm probably forgetting someone obvious as I haven't gone looking for the tea.sheet but that was my take.

There appears to me to be a very thin line between what you term 'marginal call' and 'unwanted' players. Of course it often happens that a particular player is not the managers first choice signing - where he can't sign the player he wants.

But the notion of signing someone you don't want, in order to keep that player 'happy' sounds pretty madcap and straight out of the Sean Connor school of management

[sbgawa]

Its not that hard to imagine , i would say Duffy , Hoare and Murrey are the only players on that list + Gannon that would be Automatic 1st choices.
Several more if resigned at the moment are blocking potential better players coming in but expediency might be to resign players who are "good enough".
FG never having had to manage a professional team with the pressures that come with that (Players concerned about paying their mortgages in January with a contract running out and talking to other clubs) will not help either.
It might not happen but it is tempting to resign players rather than risk dressing room unrest when you are trying to keep players motivated and engaged.

[Scrufil]

If Dundalk were to go for another keeper, would it be Talbot? I've not a notion who the top strikers are but there must be someone in the first division or Irish league worth a punt for the current LoI champs? Looking at Daniel Kelly I'd say bring in a rugby coach to build up his upper body strength - that or have him train at GAA county level for Dublin.

[sbgawa]

Brian Murphy at Waterford is the best keeper in the league...... excluding Alan Manus naturally
If i was running DFC that's where i would be looking.

[wonder88]

Agree that Daniel Kelly needs a bit of GAA training. If he gets that, there is something definitely about him that indicates he can play at higher level than LoI.

I know Sloggett was at UCD, I take it he is from Dublin.

[CorribsideSteve]

If Dundalk were to go for another keeper, would it be Talbot? I've not a notion who the top strikers are but there must be someone in the first division or Irish league worth a punt for the current LoI champs? Looking at Daniel Kelly I'd say bring in a rugby coach to build up his upper body strength - that or have him train at GAA county level for Dublin.

It's shocking how skinny and lightweight Kelly is. But it's not just him. Several players throughout the League are spindly stick insects. The lack of upper body strength among different players, even the top sides, plays a role in how easily they are knocked off the ball in Euro games.

[pineapple stu]

I know Sloggett was at UCD, I take it he is from Dublin.
From Meath apparently. So close enough.

[Scrufil]

I find it impossible to take Sloggett seriously with his pouncy hair. Gives the impression that he is above his station. (And that is mild - I give out to my son all the time about his 'gob****e' hair too. It is a pet peeve of mine.)

[paul_oshea]

Yes his contract is up this year. I agree to some extent but he might just fancy moving on either way or trying his luck in England. So it might not necessarily indicate a lack of ambition on the side of the owners. Having said that I think it's crucial to resign him. When he resigned 2 years ago it was right at the end of the season if I remember correctly so I assume he was continuing to keep his options open.

He's nowhere near good enough this year, on current form at least to make a move to England.

[paul_oshea]

It's not a massive gap, but I suppose the difference is that Rovers have the players coming through, whereas Dundalk don't. It's that recruitment that's going to be an issue for Dundalk in the coming couple of years.

It's hard to really compare international and club teams (because club teams can sign players), but let's do it anyway to try put the figures in perspective. Ireland's squad at Euro 2016 was the oldest at 29.4 years. To aul fellas like you and me, that sounds quite young, but for a football team it's very old. It was 0.6 years older on average than any other squad for example. It was really obvious at the time that our squad was over the hill, and we can see the effects in the years since.

Eight of the 24 Euro 2016 squads were older than 27.8 (Dundalk's squad), while only four were younger than 26.7 (Rovers' squad), which gives an indication that maybe Dundalk's and Rovers' squads are at either end of normal. But Dundalk's is at the wrong end of course.

Again, that's not a massively scientific comparison, but I think it's an interesting indication.

On elder statesmen - ye both have ancient keepers (less than a year between Mannus and Rogers), so it doesn't change things if they both get discounted :p


The best way to explain average age differences, is by taking the general career of a senior player, I think given injuries and form and other things 22-32 creates a 10 year player lifecycle. If you base it off 10 years then you can say that the average age from 27.8 t0 26.8 is about 10%, that's quite significant especially if its two players contributing mainly to that number.

[paul_oshea]

It's shocking how skinny and lightweight Kelly is. But it's not just him. Several players throughout the League are spindly stick insects. The lack of upper body strength among different players, even the top sides, plays a role in how easily they are knocked off the ball in Euro games.

Was thinking the exact same thing, and then thinking thats why Colovic ended up there. Its a bit of a concern for byrne as well. Plenty of time in the off season, to go and sort yourself, with or without a PT/S&C coach.

And as ive said many times before no excuses in this day and age. It's mad to think that the GAA were well ahead of the LOI in getting this right 15 years ago or so.

[sbgawa]

I find it impossible to take Sloggett seriously with his pouncy hair. Gives the impression that he is above his station. (And that is mild - I give out to my son all the time about his 'gob****e' hair too. It is a pet peeve of mine.)

Mountney and his ponytail !!
although unless my eyes were deceiving me the other night he has had a haircut.

[Ezeikial]

Its not that hard to imagine , i would say Duffy , Hoare and Murrey are the only players on that list + Gannon that would be Automatic 1st choices.
Several more if resigned at the moment are blocking potential better players coming in but expediency might be to resign players who are "good enough".
FG never having had to manage a professional team with the pressures that come with that (Players concerned about paying their mortgages in January with a contract running out and talking to other clubs) will not help either.
It might not happen but it is tempting to resign players rather than risk dressing room unrest when you are trying to keep players motivated and engaged.

Marginal (unwanted) Player: Hey boss, do you intend to offer me a new contact?
Boss: No you are not in my plans for next season
Marginal (unwanted) Player: That's going to make me very unhappy 'cause I have a mortgage to pay. Micky and Paddy will also be ****ed off
Boss: OK so, will a 2 year deal keep you happy?

[sbgawa]

No worries, I'm sure FG won't have any difficulty with 15 or 16 players with the clock running down on them.
His vast experience will undoubtedly work in his favour here.
What did you think of his team selection against Harps ?

[Ezeikial]

No worries, I'm sure FG won't have any difficulty with 15 or 16 players with the clock running down on them.
His vast experience will undoubtedly work in his favour here.


We don't know what if any role Filippo is likely to have in recruitment



What did you think of his team selection against Harps ?

Wojus

[Martinho II]

As for GKS for Dundalk based on his performance the other night Micheal Schlingermann was immense for Galway Utd and if you get the chance see his superb save on twitter from our game the other night. I was behind the goal stewarding in 2nd half. He never stops bossing the players and has great organisational skills. I cant believe that hes not in the top flight imo!

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

He was poor enough with us

[Charlie Darwin]

Was thinking the exact same thing, and then thinking thats why Colovic ended up there. Its a bit of a concern for byrne as well. Plenty of time in the off season, to go and sort yourself, with or without a PT/S&C coach.

And as ive said many times before no excuses in this day and age. It's mad to think that the GAA were well ahead of the LOI in getting this right 15 years ago or so.
I had this discussion with someone here a few years and it gave me a different perspective. A lot of GAA players, to me, look too bulky to play soccer. Hoban and Gartland are probably the exceptions, Gartland in particular being massive, but they've probably sacrificed speed for size in a game that values speed over size more than GAA does. Look at the wingers in the Premier League and there's plenty of lads built like McClean or Antonio, but also plenty of Willians as well.

[CorribsideSteve]

I had this discussion with someone here a few years and it gave me a different perspective. A lot of GAA players, to me, look too bulky to play soccer. Hoban and Gartland are probably the exceptions, Gartland in particular being massive, but they've probably sacrificed speed for size in a game that values speed over size more than GAA does. Look at the wingers in the Premier League and there's plenty of lads built like McClean or Antonio, but also plenty of Willians as well.

I accept that, but to my mind, someone like Kelly, when compared with the likes of Gartland is comparing day and night. I just worry that there's too many guys in the LOI that only weigh 9 stone.

[Nesta99]

Rugby is probably the best example for this debate. So many follow after New Zealand thinking, but tend to be behind the curve of what they do. They became massive, even at scrum-half and everyone followed. They then adapted and brought slightly smaller but much faster lads in then so the big lads could barely get near them. Total rugby followed where everyone was basically interchangable in most positions but still huge. Now we have the issues around contact, or more apt would be collision, and head injury. The really bigs guys are going out of fashion again, and if they are in a side the ball is just kept away from them unless they get isolated by a speedster. Basic stuff here from a different sport but I started to think that by 2015 some of the Dunalk players had overdone the strength side of conditioned and slowed them as players. Different for players like Garts who has a massive fram anyway. I dont think you'd ever get Gannon or Kelly to seriously bulk no matter if it was tried. Gannon is surprisingly strong on the ball than he looks as while his is stringy it is all muscle. Kelly needs to mature but he will be similar to Ganno and anyway why lose the turn of pace that earns him so many fouls when he is in, around, near the box. Hoban never had real pace so it mades sense that he built strength to hold up the ball but also still be relatively mobile. Barrett could barely turn his neck he became that built, seemed to be all upper body work.

One stat I read a while back and it is probably relevant to most team sports as they developed over the years. The Ireland U18 rugby pack now, weighed more than the entire Lions squad that toured in 80's.

[paul_oshea]

I had this discussion with someone here a few years and it gave me a different perspective. A lot of GAA players, to me, look too bulky to play soccer. Hoban and Gartland are probably the exceptions, Gartland in particular being massive, but they've probably sacrificed speed for size in a game that values speed over size more than GAA does. Look at the wingers in the Premier League and there's plenty of lads built like McClean or Antonio, but also plenty of Willians as well.

No i wasnt saying to compare the two what i was trying to say is the focus changed in GAA and the professionalism involved with it did too. They realised the need for bulking up and fitness would gain an advantage as some teams got ahead of others they all caught up. In europe LOI sides didnt seem to fathom this but i can remember having the conversations on here and offline with LOI heads saying theres no excuse for not having fitness and strength and i was laughed off, and now look where we are, the average joe down the street is bulked up and has a BMI of a semi professional athlete from their spare time gymming. Anyway the point being that you dont have to be massive but you have to be at the level of your peers across Europe. Which was there with Dundalk from about 2015 onwards, under kenny i assume this became a focus with the backroom team he had in. You had players no longer getting outmuscled and thrown off the ball far too easily. But i see it creeping in again now with a lot of very skinny lads. Skinny in Gannons case isnt the same thing you can be very light but full of muscle and most importantly core strength. Its just about targeting the right areas for football players.

Also on Gartland, i wanted to reply on this before anyone else, having stood beside him (had a good chat with him sound fella) hes more naturally big boned than anything else. I was thinking hed be much bigger in person but he wasnt really.

[sbgawa]

Also on Gartland, i wanted to reply on this before anyone else, having stood beside him (had a good chat with him sound fella) hes more naturally big boned than anything else. I was thinking hed be much bigger in person but he wasnt really.

I'm always a bit shocked how small footballers in general are when you meet them in person compared to your impression of them from TV and even from watching matches live compared to actually standing beside them.

[nigel-harps1954]

LOI players bulk up very differently to GAA players. Their bulk is more akin to a rugby player.

Attitudes and professionalism has come lightyears in the LOI in the past decade or more.

Some of the players might look a little light, but the majority of them are built like tanks.