2021 Season , Arrivals and departures

[pineapple stu]

"I'm the gaffer. The buck stops with me."

[dundalkfc10]

This is a simple box ticking exercise. They have to name Keegan and state Fillipo will not be picking the team.

Its the exact same set up as last season.

[sbgawa]

Shamrock rovers social media guys stirring it this evening, little promo video for season launch with mandroiu kissing the badge ;)

[sbgawa]

FG cant be to happy at such a public downgrade compared to the john gill appointment for vinny. Does it matter ...meh

[Nesta99]

"I'm the gaffer. The buck stops with me."

He has to know the irony!! Or he is now pure Dundalk.....ffs

[sadloserkid]

I don't know. If they were to do a deal it wouldn't necessarily mean paying more up front. It just seems to not be happening for whatever reason.

Well, yeah, it is SK's decision and I suspect both Mick and SK handled it in their own way to assert their own authority and he's probably been hung out to dry in the process. I wouldn't have too much sympathy for him but I could understood why he'd dig in his heels.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/mar/09/robbie-keane-led-player-now-want-coach-i-can-be

Keane touches on it a little bit here.

[Sonny]

FG cant be to happy at such a public downgrade compared to the john gill appointment for vinny. Does it matter ...meh

According to the RTE article, he doesn't even have an A license let alone a pro license! That is absolutely ridiculous. He's less qualified than a lot of schoolboy coaches in this country!

[Jack B]

Dundalk have beeb brilliant value recently, who would have thought we'd end up like this. Almost would rather pre-season never ending considering we're winning it again and Keegan is nailed on to make it 3 relegations out of 3.

[Longfordian]

According to the RTE article, he doesn't even have an A license let alone a pro license! That is absolutely ridiculous. He's less qualified than a lot of schoolboy coaches in this country!

That's the other chap Rossi I think. They're talking about getting FG on the next available Pro Licence course with another association so he must have an A licence or he wouldn't be able to get on it.

[Sonny]

That's the other chap Rossi I think. They're talking about getting FG on the next available Pro Licence course with another association so he must have an A licence or he wouldn't be able to get on it.

Ah apologies I misread the article! It was indeed referring to the other chap!

[D24Saint]

That's the other chap Rossi I think. They're talking about getting FG on the next available Pro Licence course with another association so he must have an A licence or he wouldn't be able to get on it.

The backlog must be huge for them courses id say it will be a while until he does one.

[Dalymountrower]

Shamrock rovers social media guys stirring it this evening, little promo video for season launch with mandroiu kissing the badge ;)

One of a long line of WUM signings, bowel stirring rather than interest stirring.

[Longfordian]

The madness at Dundalk is overshadowing the Pats situation a bit. Mark Scanlon being very forthright today about it being obvious to them that Keegan is the manager at Dundalk and he was named in the licence application etc. Is Alan Mathews clearly the manager at Pats?

[forza]

The madness at Dundalk is overshadowing the Pats situation a bit. Mark Scanlon being very forthright today about it being obvious to them that Keegan is the manager at Dundalk and he was named in the licence application etc. Is Alan Mathews clearly the manager at Pats?

He is indeed, in Matthews we trust 😉

[Burnsie]

or is the difference that Dundalk have already embarrassed the FAI once last season, whereas Pats aren't in Europe so won't be on UEFA's radar?

[Longfordian]

or is the difference that Dundalk have already embarrassed the FAI once last season, whereas Pats aren't in Europe so won't be on UEFA's radar?

Practically, I expect that's exactly it but it's an obvious question if you want to go harping on about your stringent licencing requirements.

[Jack B]

Pats revealed a pretty significant signing on the season launch video event earlier. Will be formally announced at noon tomorrow but I'm surprised that they seem to have managed to keep it quiet in the meantime.

[2 Year Contract]

https://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=8869

Barry Murphy back at pats


Pats revealed a pretty significant signing on the season launch video event earlier. Will be formally announced at noon tomorrow but I'm surprised that they seem to have managed to keep it quiet in the meantime.

Bit far no? He’s 35 years old and is coming off the back off being without a club in 2020 and playing 2 league games in 2019. Having said that I’m happy with him coming in given the lack of goalkeeping options available, particularly experienced ones. He was always a solid second choice keeper for Pats and should help the 19 and 17 year old keepers we have

[Jack B]

https://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=8869

Barry Murphy back at pats



Bit far no? He’s 35 years old and is coming off the back off being without a club in 2020 and playing 2 league games in 2019. Having said that I’m happy with him coming in given the lack of goalkeeping options available, particularly experienced ones. He was always a solid second choice keeper for Pats and should help the 19 and 17 year old keepers we have

Haha I was taking the **** mate, just building 12 or so hours worth of suspense for those who weren't in the know. Agree with you though.

[2 Year Contract]

Haha I was taking the **** mate, just building 12 or so hours worth of suspense for those who weren't in the know. Agree with you though.


Should help us with clinch the pre season title on Saturday anyways in our final friendly, the rest of the season is meaningless

[sbgawa]

Rovers announce a 3 and a half year deal for Grahme burke.
Fantastic news was worried he might be off in july.

[Bucket]

I might be alone on this but I just don't rate him. I think he's a very immature player that makes too many wrong choices.

[sbgawa]

31 goals for rovers in 63 matches and he isnt an out and out striker. Also creates a lot for others. I can see why if you only watch ocasional rovers games you could think that as he does have some games where he drifta a bit aimlessly but wben u look at his contribution over a season its huge

[Bucket]

Fair point, it's probably that he's so hyped that when I do see him I'm expecting too much and over critical.
Any worries among rovers fans about over-extending themselves financially?

[DCSIL]

To get €300,000 out of Preston, send him over there and bring him back on loan, and then re-sign him for nothing.

Bravo Rovers. Bravo.

[sbgawa]

Yeah we did prety well out of preston to be fair. We will have probably had hin for 4 or 5 years without costing us anything. :)

Regarding overextending ourselves financially i suppose thats a permanant worry in our league but thwy just announced a new spinsor which apparantly is a multiple of what jd were pating so all in all....i havent a clue

[Dalymountrower]

Yeah we did prety well out of preston to be fair. We will have probably had hin for 4 or 5 years without costing us anything. :)

Regarding overextending ourselves financially i suppose thats a permanant worry in our league but thwy just announced a new spinsor which apparantly is a multiple of what jd were pating so all in all....i havent a clue
Burke is a quality player, good bit of biz but could you sell him twice?

[sbgawa]

Insuppose if he lights it up this season and gets capped again we might. He was poorly used at preston they bought him as a number 10 and had him playing atbwingback. Would say very unlikely

[John83]

Burke is a quality player, good bit of biz but could you sell him twice?
Just as long as he isn't part owned by a shopping centre.

[Dalymountrower]

Just as long as he isn't part owned by a shopping centre.

Is the above an example of perennial studentsplaining?

[John83]

Is the above an example of perennial studentsplaining?
We in the business call that peer learning.

[Dalymountrower]

We in the business call that peer learning.
Peer learning is a lot catchier than "stating the bleeding obvious" , I suppose.

[Nesta99]

Peer learning is a lot catchier than "stating the bleeding obvious" , I suppose.

You did bring the subject up in fairness. Its an amusing quirk of LoI history that will never die - along with double contracts, asterisks, no direct bus routes, Cork dont tackle, Mad American owners, Sean Connors Dundalk side, Bob Marley and a host of other greatest moments!

[Dalymountrower]

You did bring the subject up in fairness. Its an amusing quirk of LoI history that will never die - along with double contracts, asterisks, no direct bus routes, Cork dont tackle, Mad American owners, Sean Connors Dundalk side, Bob Marley and a host of other greatest moments!

The expression was used as a joke, I thought selling anything twice was a self evident association, like plastic bucket collection for example, but now it has been triple explained, I feel queasy from the excess irony.

[Nesta99]

Explaining. running with the joke. or agreeing that it is shorthand along with many other great moments that have you look back and laugh at while shaking the head. St Pats and FAI Cup is probably the only one that got scrubbed!

[John83]

The expression was used as a joke, I thought selling anything twice was a self evident association, like plastic bucket collection for example, but now it has been triple explained, I feel queasy from the excess irony.
Making the same joke twice was a meta-joke.

[Nesta99]

Making the same joke twice was a meta-joke.

Bohs fans will be Dreading that!

[Nesta99]

Surprised that this hasnt been mentioned unless I missed it. Dundalk supposedly adding Wilifred Zahibo to the squad. Formerly on the books of Valencia and was in the 2018 MLS All-Star team. 27 so decent age and French born so helps with visas Im sure. From clips shared he could be a real star in the league if there isnt any catch like him being crocked.

[D24Saint]

Surprised that this hasnt been mentioned unless I missed it. Dundalk supposedly adding Wilifred Zahibo to the squad. Formerly on the books of Valencia and was in the 2018 MLS All-Star team. 27 so decent age and French born so helps with visas Im sure. From clips shared he could be a real star in the league if there isnt any catch like him being crocked.

Always tends to be with a player like that coming to this league. It’s like buying a Teamaster there is always some sort of a catch.

[Kiki Balboa]

Always tends to be with a player like that coming to this league. It’s like buying a Teamaster there is always some sort of a catch.

Yeah, 100 percent. You would think too that he would be able to get a contract with one or two other professional teams in America (MLS or USL) if he was in the all-star team only 3 years ago. Seemed to be rated enough, going on Reddit, but a bit 'lax' defending. Maybe he isnt allowed to stay in America anymore, and Dundalk is the best european option......

[Nesta99]

Yeah, 100 percent. You would think too that he would be able to get a contract with one or two other professional teams in America (MLS or USL) if he was in the all-star team only 3 years ago. Seemed to be rated enough, going on Reddit, but a bit 'lax' defending. Maybe he isnt allowed to stay in America anymore, and Dundalk is the best european option......

Nathan Oduwa MkII. Or he could be that once in a generation gem like a Joey N'Do. Or we have crazy American owners with pretty deep pockets and some soccer contacts like our Tea Lady masquerading as a coach and that could yet turn out to be an excellent coach, judge of player and future manager of Dundalk FC that was demoted from head coach after winning the cup, getting to EL groups, qualifying for Europe, while getting a 3 match touchline ban for coaching at a level that wasnt allowed, so a pro license holder who has been relegated twice and wasnt actually coaching at the club has been promoted to manager where the buck stops with him no matter how good the 'cups of tea' are. All at a time when there are legitimate reasons for nobody being at LoI games and every pub in Ireland is closed on St Patrick's Day. Crazy times indeed!!!

[2 Year Contract]

Derry City goalkeeper Nathan Gartside has just been called up to the senior Northern Ireland squad for next weeks world cup qualifiers.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0318/1204709-derry-city-keeper-gartside-in-northern-ireland-squad/

Pretty bizarre given he's 23 years old and only has 3 League of Ireland appearances to his name.

That makes it 4 players from the league involved in the World Cup qualifiers next week alongside Nattestad with Faroe Islands, Jurkovskis with Latvia and Roberto Lopes with Cape Verde good to see

[joey B]

Derry City goalkeeper Nathan Gartside has just been called up to the senior Northern Ireland squad for next weeks world cup qualifiers.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0318/1204709-derry-city-keeper-gartside-in-northern-ireland-squad/

Pretty bizarre given he's 23 years old and only has 3 League of Ireland appearances to his name.

That makes it 3 players from the league involved in the World Cup qualifiers next week alongside Nattestad with Faroe Islands and Jurkovskis with Latvia, good to see

I think Derry can ask for a postponement because its northern Ireland.....

[2 Year Contract]

I think Derry can ask for a postponement because its northern Ireland.....

They’d have to have a second player called up to be able to postpone their game (this can include underage internationals)

Interestingly the rule only comes into play for clubs missing 2 or more Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland internationals but no other countries. Dundalk's game against Finn Harps will go ahead as a result even though they’ll be without the 2 players mentioned above and also possibly Abibi who is reportedly in with a shout of being included in the Albania squad

https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/dundalk-unable-postpone-finn-harps-23740971

[Yossarian]

They can call off the game if a keeper is called up, even if it’s only one player, as it’s a specialised position, so I’d imagine the Derry Rovers game will be postponed.

[sbgawa]

They can call off the game if a keeper is called up, even if it’s only one player, as it’s a specialised position, so I’d imagine the Derry Rovers game will be postponed.

Did not know that. bit like a front row in the egg chasing game.
If you dont have a front row on the bench and one of your starting front rows is injured you go to uncontested scrums.

[Kiki Balboa]

Derry City goalkeeper Nathan Gartside has just been called up to the senior Northern Ireland squad for next weeks world cup qualifiers.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0318/1204709-derry-city-keeper-gartside-in-northern-ireland-squad/

Pretty bizarre given he's 23 years old and only has 3 League of Ireland appearances to his name.

That makes it 4 players from the league involved in the World Cup qualifiers next week alongside Nattestad with Faroe Islands, Jurkovskis with Latvia and Roberto Lopes with Cape Verde good to see


Troy Parrot, a striker, only scored 1 club goal in League 1 and is in our senior panel.....

[2 Year Contract]

Troy Parrot, a striker, only scored 1 club goal in League 1 and is in our senior panel.....

I see your point but a 23 year old that has spent 99% of the last last 3/4 years playing in the Ulster Senior League is quite different to a 19 year old training and playing in the Premier League/Championship/League One off the back of a prolific youth team breakthrough at club and international level

[Nesta99]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0324/1205880-dundalk-hopeful-new-signing-woo-will-face-harps/

[Sonny]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0324/1205880-dundalk-hopeful-new-signing-woo-will-face-harps/

Has Bill literally just gone and signed another bloke named Han because he couldn't get the work permit for Han Eui-gwon??:D The quotes from Magilton about expanding the brand in Asia are like something from a comedy sketch!