2020 season arrivals and departures

[Bunny Kelly]

I don't mean this in a mean way but why has he chosen Harps? Is the dream of working Ollie that much of a pull?

[oriel]

Incredible signing - must have been a row in the camp, but had Derry not finalised his contract for 2020, seems very late in the day jumping ship?

Maybe it was over losing the captaincy to McCormack, but the of them together would have been more than decent for Derry.

Huge signing for Harps, and even only one player, he could be a difference in them staying up.

[joey B]

Incredible signing - must have been a row in the camp, but had Derry not finalised his contract for 2020, seems very late in the day jumping ship?

Maybe it was over losing the captaincy to McCormack, but the of them together would have been more than decent for Derry.

Huge signing for Harps, and even only one player, he could be a difference in them staying up.

He was a free agent and turned down a contract with Derry and a few clubs in the Irish league,he wanted part time due to sorting a career outside football and no one can blame a player for that....

[sbgawa]

Great signing.
Harps are going to be competitive this season

[Jack B]

Genuine question Harps fans - how do you reckon he'll fit in? Obviously a cracking signing at face value but I just wonder how well he'll fit into the style of play you're often forced into given your means.

[outspoken]

Looks a good signing for Harps but we've not seen the best of him for about 3 seasons now

[nigel-harps1954]

Genuine question Harps fans - how do you reckon he'll fit in? Obviously a cracking signing at face value but I just wonder how well he'll fit into the style of play you're often forced into given your means.

We'll probably hold a gun to Ollies head and force him to play hoof football. Bypass midfield, get relegated, and then complain.

Or, Ollie would make wholesale changes to a squad who struggled to stay up last season, implement a new style of football, and have a go at being competitive.

I'd guess the latter to be honest judging by the work so far.

Expect another few signings in the next few days to solidify this too.

[Bunny Kelly]

Later day Paddy McCourt role as deep lying playmaker? In fairness Raf did well enough under Ollie last season & not exactly a giant

[outspoken]

We'll probably hold a gun to Ollies head and force him to play hoof football. Bypass midfield, get relegated, and then complain.

Or, Ollie would make wholesale changes to a squad who struggled to stay up last season, implement a new style of football, and have a go at being competitive.

I'd guess the latter to be honest judging by the work so far.

Expect another few signings in the next few days to solidify this too.

Is he good at hacking lads down at least?

[nigel-harps1954]

Is he good at hacking lads down at least?

That honour is reserved for Longford and UCD.

[lofty9]

He was a free agent and turned down a contract with Derry and a few clubs in the Irish league,he wanted part time due to sorting a career outside football and no one can blame a player for that....


Don't believe Devine's BS in that Barry wanted part time football. That statement was Derry pulling the contract from under his feet. Derry have shafted the McNamee's for some reason unknown to anyone but in the higher tiers of Derry City. As a Derry fan, disgusted at the treatment.

[joey B]

I see,strange from Devine and Derry ,on his day he can be one of the best players in the league.

[Martinho II]

I was certain that McNamee had gone to Cliftonville. Very surprised that Derry City didnt keep him at all.I would say that Paul Hegarty influence considering his Brandywell connections was key in him going to Harps.

[Ezeikial]

I was certain that McNamee had gone to Cliftonville. Very surprised that Derry City didnt keep him at all.I would say that Paul Hegarty influence considering his Brandywell connections was key in him going to Harps.

Maybe the presence of his brother at Harps had an influence. Or even the close proximity of Harps to Derry considering his part time aspirations.

[lofty9]

Maybe the presence of his brother at Harps had an influence. Or even the close proximity of Harps to Derry considering his part time aspirations.

Can we knock the part time aspirations nonsense? Just not true.

[Ezeikial]

Can we knock the part time aspirations nonsense? Just not true.

If you say so, although there are plenty of media sources quoting this very reason (https://www.donegaldaily.com/2020/01/07/finn-harps-hopeful-of-landing-barry-mcnamee/)

Have Finn Harps gone full-time?

[Mr A]

Nope.

[JC_GUFC]

Is there a list of all these transfers anywhere?

I just see a lad called Colm Whelan assisted a goal for UCD in the Colleges tournament.

I assume that's the lad that was at Waterford last season? Going only off his performance in the u19 final he could be a seriously good signing for UCD and good to see he's not gone to England but staying here to pursue studies.

[Longfordian]

This is a heart warming story about a new signing for Athlone. I must be going soft in my old age. He's probably not very good but it's a nice story.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020/0212/1114846-from-sierra-leone-to-athlone-town-the-dave-ball-dream/

[Bunny Kelly]

Positive story about overcoming adversity, how did anyone manage to get that published!!

[pineapple stu]

I just see a lad called Colm Whelan assisted a goal for UCD in the Colleges tournament.

I assume that's the lad that was at Waterford last season? Going only off his performance in the u19 final he could be a seriously good signing for UCD and good to see he's not gone to England but staying here to pursue studies.
Yeah, same guy. Scored what - 30 goals for Waterford's 19s last year? Scored against Dundalk in a friendly last month (Dundalk scored 7, granted...)

Him and Mahdy up front could score a few hopefully.

[outspoken]

Is there a list of all these transfers anywhere?

I just see a lad called Colm Whelan assisted a goal for UCD in the Colleges tournament.

I assume that's the lad that was at Waterford last season? Going only off his performance in the u19 final he could be a seriously good signing for UCD and good to see he's not gone to England but staying here to pursue studies.

Yeah that's him he scored v Dundalk in pre season and looked really impressive

[sulywaterfordfc]

Whelan is a superb talent. Definitely one to watch. Big career ahead of him if he keeps his head screwed on.

Brian Murphy tonight signed for Waterford from Cardiff.

Rennie has gone quietly about his business and has built a potentially serious little squad. Much more optimistic then this time last year. Can’t wait for it to get going again

[outspoken]

Whelan is a superb talent. Definitely one to watch. Big career ahead of him if he keeps his head screwed on.

Brian Murphy tonight signed for Waterford from Cardiff.

Rennie has gone quietly about his business and has built a potentially serious little squad. Much more optimistic then this time last year. Can’t wait for it to get going again

I'm not sure how Waterford will do this season but I think Rennie deserves huge credit for building the squad he has and at least giving the blues some sort of chance. 5 or 6 weeks ago they barely had a single player on the books

[Bunny Kelly]

Hard to pass up the opportunity to sign Murphy but now 2 keepers & still only one centre half in Bone who is more or a midfielder.

Waterford have some interesting signings but the side looks so unbalanced

[sulywaterfordfc]

I'm not sure how Waterford will do this season but I think Rennie deserves huge credit for building the squad he has and at least giving the blues some sort of chance. 5 or 6 weeks ago they barely had a single player on the books

In fairness when it was announced Rennie signed a new contract, most assumed he wouldn’t stay on without an competitive budget. Even going back 5/6 weeks ago, with the players that were on the the books it was looking likely we’d build a good albeit small squad for 2020. At that stage we’d some highly rated youngsters signed on first team contracts with Cummins, Bone, Kev OConnor, Tagh Ryan, Allardice, FitzGerald etc.

Our two most interesting signings without a shadow are Wilson from Man City andAle Coote from Brentford B, Coote was their play of the year last season and was also the B team captain. Interesting season ahead for sure

[trevy]

Graham Cummins can play centre back and started his career in that position before making his name as a striker. Good interview in local paper with him this week about that. We definitely need a few more defenders as squad still lacks depth. I agree that Reynolds deserves credit for squad with he has got together over last 6 weeks.

[sulywaterfordfc]

Hard to pass up the opportunity to sign Murphy but now 2 keepers & still only one centre half in Bone who is more or a midfielder.

Waterford have some interesting signings but the side looks so unbalanced

No offense but you need two keepers in the first team squad, you can’t run the risk at premier division level of the first choice getting injured for a lengthy period and then having to rely on underage keepers.

Aside from that, Rennie has players training throughout preseason, just because a player hasn’t been announced doesn’t mean he wont be signing. I’ve heard we’ve potentially 3/4 others to be announced. The PFAI gave away a couple on a recent social media post.

When Cummins last played with the club he signed as a centre back and then was converted into a striker from when we played and beat Monaghan 6/0 if I remember correctly. Cummins has played at centre back a couple of times during preseason, wouldn’t surprise me if he played centre back this year with a couple of defenders to come in before the deadline.

I think goals might be our biggest problem this year.

[Bunny Kelly]

You need two keepers but I’d imagine Ryan is on a wage for a starting keeper & Murphy won’t be cheap either so that is a large chunk of your budget especially when you have a small squad

Cummins as a starting level prem division centre back is a massive leap of faith, you may get away with something like that in the first division but I’d have serious reservations at this level.

On the plus side if Cummins is at centre back then O’Connor is less likely to be shifted out to the wing, he didn’t get loads of goals at the end of last season but I really liked his all round play which could be a great foil for someone like coote who is a really interesting pick up

[Nesta99]

Graham Cummins can play centre back and started his career in that position before making his name as a striker. Good interview in local paper with him this week about that. We definitely need a few more defenders as squad still lacks depth. I agree that Reynolds deserves credit for squad with he has got together over last 6 weeks.

That certainly explains why Caulfield was so eager to bring him in as a striker. I doubt he can be seriously a considereation for centre half. If a patched up defence due to injuries/suspensions of course, but even as proper cover after years of playing up front?

[El-Pietro]

City bring Joseph Olowu in on loan from Arsenal until the summer. Center back, looked very comfortable on the ball against Longford on Saturday.

[2 Year Contract]

Pats have signed Ollie Younger on loan from Burnley until July. Plays at centre back

[patrickccfc]

Deshane Dalling also joins us on loan from QPR

[trevy]

Waterford signed two players Andre Burley and Akin Odimayo on loan from Reading. John O'Shea who is a coach there helped arrange the loan move. Both played very well last night by all accounts.

[Martinho II]

Waterford signed two players Andre Burley and Akin Odimayo on loan from Reading. John O'Shea who is a coach there helped arrange the loan move. Both played very well last night by all accounts.

Was wondering who those lads were when reading the match report. That clears things up.

[gufct]

Vinny Faherty resigns for gufc.

[sulywaterfordfc]

I wonder are Preston hoping Burke does well between now and July so they can sell him in the summer. He still has one year left on his contract after the current English season. I wonder if they’ll try to recoup some of the transfer fee in the summer by shipping him off to a league one club or have they already cut their losses and they’re willing to send him back on loan in July for the remainder of his contract?

[sulywaterfordfc]

Will Longbottom signs from Waterford having been released by Doncaster in recent weeks

[Asterix]

Will Longbottom signs from Waterford having been released by Doncaster in recent weeks

He was on trial with Rovers, we are supposed to be signing a new striker this week I thought it was going to be him. Be interesting to see who we sign now, were being linked to Adam Rooney.

[sbgawa]

No chance of Rooney signing he is on megabuvks at Salford and he is their top scorer with them chasing a playoff place.

[sulywaterfordfc]

He was on trial with Rovers, we are supposed to be signing a new striker this week I thought it was going to be him. Be interesting to see who we sign now, were being linked to Adam Rooney.

Chances of Rovers are signing Rooney are extremely slim. He’s on reportedly £4/5,000 a week and is under contract till June 2021 at Salford. Not a hope he’s going to give up over 100k in gross income. I’d say he’d sooner sit on the bench on Salford for the rest of his contract then sign for Rovers for half the wage. The only way it happens is if Salford paid him off in full the rest of his contract and then Rovers made him highest earner in the league and you’re probably looking anyway between €2/3k.

[nigel-harps1954]

Dermot Desmond looking to buy the league for Rovers..

[sbgawa]

not a chance lads he is Salfords top scorer , this is newspaper nonsense

[D24Saint]

Wouldnt rate the chances of signing him that highly, the only thing is that he has shown himself to be a mercenary leaving one countrys top tier for non league football in another for cash. If Rovers have the money it could be that simple.

[Bunny Kelly]

Wouldnt rate the chances of signing him that highly, the only thing is that he has shown himself to be a mercenary leaving one countrys top tier for non league football in another for cash. If Rovers have the money it could be that simple.


Call him a mercenary is harsh, he is a professional going to a job that pays more like 99% of us out there, outside the top few leagues lads are just trying to what they can while they can

[sulywaterfordfc]

Wouldnt rate the chances of signing him that highly, the only thing is that he has shown himself to be a mercenary leaving one countrys top tier for non league football in another for cash. If Rovers have the money it could be that simple.

You would do the exact some thing if it meant doubling your salary...

[Martinho II]

I am surprised rovers arent in for Dave Mooney considering hes back home in Ireland and now playing for Lucan Utd. I am gutted we didnt go back in for him myself considering Daire doyle played with him in 07.

[2 Year Contract]

I am surprised rovers arent in for Dave Mooney considering hes back home in Ireland and now playing for Lucan Utd. I am gutted we didnt go back in for him myself considering Daire doyle played with him in 07.

Really? You're surprised one of the top two richest clubs in the country isn't interested in a 35 year old player that's currently in the Leinster Senior League?

Admittedly I haven't seen him play in years but he's definitely past it, his last club in England was someone called Royston Town who he was loaned to from the dizzy heights of non league benchwarmer for Leyton Orient

[D24Saint]

Brian Maher gone on loan to Bray, good move for the chap. Im not sure if he will be No.1 or backup at Bray but hopefully he gets more game time than he would have by staying put.

[outspoken]

Really? You're surprised one of the top two richest clubs in the country isn't interested in a 35 year old player that's currently in the Leinster Senior League?

Admittedly I haven't seen him play in years but he's definitely past it, his last club in England was someone called Royston Town who he was loaned to from the dizzy heights of non league benchwarmer for Leyton Orient

Don't think anyone could have put it much better than this