2021 Season , Arrivals and departures

[Yossarian]

In fairness when Bradley was getting his stick he hadn’t got Rovers into the groups of European competition. So you can argue that Filippo is already ahead of Bradley at the same stage of their respective jobs. I’ve no idea if Filippo will be a long term success or not and questions have to be asked around some of his tactics, but maybe with a DoF in there aswell it will work.
You’re right aswell that if Lopes had’ve scored we’d be talking differently but then if Rovers hadn’t have been handed two ridiculous penalties against Harps then they wouldn’t even have been in the final. So no point talking about what if decisions in games.
The point about players downing tools is valid, but they were downed under Perth’s watch. The second half of the season was a shambles in the league so long arguments there but I think the players have shown overall they were happy under Filippo.

[Nesta99]

With the way the players very quickly changed from looking like going toe to toe with Rovers, being well beaten by an average enough Celje and collapsing after the resumption of the league, a lot of focus was on the madcap stuff about the chairman. Looking back its seems like more of a smokescreen and possible lead to greater issues with the squad not becoming public. It was assumed that signings were forced on the manager and team selection was being interfered with. The first team named by FG left out entirely the players it was assumed VP was told to play.

It was all very strange, players were devoid of confidence and someone like Sean Gannon, the consummate pro looked particularly like he was going through the motions. Garts as the senior player and at this stage a clubman as much as just a member of a squad seemed very unhappy. He was never a chap that sulked for not getting game time so it wouldnt have been that as his issue. We may never know what was truly going on with the players and that is testament to the professionalism in itself, but within days of FG taking training noise from the camp was that they players were enjoying the sessions. He even added additional training where say Wednesdays were a day off usually and 2 additional sessions were added. It was a bizarre appointment that was a baptism of fire for FG that he coped with.

With some luck in the covid changes in formats he did meet the alleged targets set + the cup. More telling though is that players were playing. McEleney put in some of the better performances for a while, Murray showed his worth, Gannon was not only playing but with some extra bite. Tactics were changed and there were serious weaknesses especially in zonal defence but no player can change to an entirely new system in weeks but the affort was apparent. Work ethic was back. I liked the way the squad was rotated with all players on a clean slate.

For whatever its worth FG also comes across as an honest and genuine person without the ascorbic tone. What other managers said on the sideline didnt become the story of a game for example. We dont know how things will progress for next season but all things considered it wasnt too bad in the short space of time this season. It could have been a lot worse and with a LoI merrygoround managerial appointment that was possible. Overall the players seemed happy and trusted FG which is the important starting point or any appointment. The only down side was the supposed sending of Gatt to train on his own unless a point was being made.

[patsdad]

If jack b does leave us forester has that touch of unpredictability about him and if given a free role to express himself in a team where he has a lot of good players around him might recapture some of the old magic.

Chris is under contract for another year so that won't be happening.

[2 Year Contract]

I see Bolger has been released by rovers. Would like to see him back at Pats, he was a top class player with us and his performance levels haven’t dropped at Cork or rovers. Unfortunate to miss so much of the already shortened season through injury this year

[sbgawa]

I would say he is looking for more game time than "released" if you know what i mean, he is coming to an age where he needs to be playing.
Sorry to see him going, delighted to see him get back for the semi and the final of the cup. Was well thought of at Rovers

[2 Year Contract]

I would say he is looking for more game time than "released" if you know what i mean, he is coming to an age where he needs to be playing.
Sorry to see him going, delighted to see him get back for the semi and the final of the cup. Was well thought of at Rovers

https://twitter.com/greggyb6/status/1336648439870988290?s=21

Reading this gives the impression that it was the clubs decision rather than his so I based the 'released' off that

[sbgawa]

Yeah you could be right but it may have been more of a "cant guarantee you lots of game time conversation" rather than we are letting you go.
He was straight back on the bench when fit from the broken leg and came on ahead of others who are staying at the club.
Either way am really sorry to see him go, great signing for someone.

[joey B]

Dinny Corcoran signed for Drogheda.....

[Kiki Balboa]

Dinny Corcoran to Drogheda and Paddy Kirk to Longford. Seems two great signings for the promoted teams.

[boynemunich]

Dinny Corcoran signed for Drogheda.....

Excellent signing. And good experience which we will need in the premier.

[Martinho II]

Dinny Corcoran to Drogheda and Paddy Kirk to Longford. Seems two great signings for the promoted teams.

Yeah Im surprised with the two moves. I thought Paddy Kirk was highly rated at Bohs I thought?

[2 Year Contract]

I can see why Bohs let Corcoran go with his age/injury record the last few years but Kirk going to Longford is a big shock for me, great coup for them. Corcoran is a great signing for Drogs too and will do well for them if he can stay injury free

[ger121]

Dinny Corcoran signed for Drogheda.....

Like all ex Bohs players when they move on, he is guaranteed to score a winner at Dalymount next Season. A good player for the club but unfortunately a bit injury prone and liked to double job with the Gah in the earlier days which I thought should never have been allowed by Long.

[Charlie Darwin]

Yeah Im surprised with the two moves. I thought Paddy Kirk was highly rated at Bohs I thought?
He was but they signed Wilson from Waterford so I guess any chance of gametime at full back was even more remote. He's been there a few years and never got a run of games so probably wanted to go somewhere he'll play.

[placid casual]

If Corcoran was a bit less injury probe I would have gladly welcomed him at Rovers - the guy is a actual real life goalscorer, which are few and far between in this league.
When Rovers won 1nil against bohs in tallaght it was him coming on, not mandriou, that worried me.
If drogs can keep him on the pitch he will keep them up on his own, in my view.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Greg Bolger has signed for us. Delighted with that.

[Jack B]

Bolger will be brilliant for Sligo assuming the injury didn't take too much out of him, which it didn't seem to in the couple of outings he got in the cup. Bit gutted with that as I'd have had him back in a heartbeat.

[Kiki Balboa]

Apart from Dundalk players... Are there many other (big name) free agents left to sign?

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Ronan Coughlan and Junior haven’t signed for us yet so they’re still available

[joey B]

Kevin O'Connor signed for Shelbourne from Cork City.

[joey B]

Mark McGinley signed back with us.

[sbgawa]

Greg Bolger has signed for us. Delighted with that.

brilliant signing, a real man on and off the pitch

[pineapple stu]

Gary Rogers retiring per Twitter.

So that gives Rovers and Dundalk one key position to fill already.

Interesting pre-season ahead.

[placid casual]

Gary O'Neill was 1st choice last year with Rovers so Bolger was back up ultimately. Still needs replacing tho.

[pineapple stu]

Meant Jack Byrne, although I guess that's just strongly rumoured, not confirmed alright.

[GerByrne001]

The Mandriou to Rovers rumours just wont go away. Any word on this from the Rovers fans here?

[sbgawa]

Nothing confirmed on Jack yet.

Dessie Farrell signs for Dublin County, apparently his previous form at centreforward was spotted by the foriegn owners
Chairman Bill also tracking this move

[Charlie Darwin]

Greg Bolger has signed for us. Delighted with that.
Big decision by Bradley to let him go. He wouldn't have been first-choice next season with O'Neill fit but he'd have been a great player to rotate in and we'll need to replace him. He's definitely good enough to play for a team competing for Europe.

[mrtndvn]

Man who wins league titles everywhere he does is good enough to play for a Europe challenging side.

[trevy]

Robbie McCourt also signed for Sligo Rovers. No signings to announce yet from Waterford. This is the usual story in our off season until late in the day.

[Neish]

Mark McGinley signed back with us.

Massive resigning there

[CorribsideSteve]

I really thought Dundalk would convince Rogers to stay on another year or two, seeing as it's not been a priority to get a new keeper these last few years. Now they actually need one. I know McCarey's there, but from what I saw of him vs Wien, he's a lesser version of Rogers. Maybe this is his chance to show how good he can be, however.

[Kiki Balboa]

I really thought Dundalk would convince Rogers to stay on another year or two, seeing as it's not been a priority to get a new keeper these last few years. Now they actually need one. I know McCarey's there, but from what I saw of him vs Wien, he's a lesser version of Rogers. Maybe this is his chance to show how good he can be, however.

The hope was high for McCarey in Dundalk, it wasn't so long since he was in the national squad before returing to Ireland. Unfortunatly, Rogers was too stable to replace (side not, I dont think Rogers ever got the respect he deserved from other LOI fans....). Seems McCarey got the 'yips' when he did get a run (especially coming for crosses). Maybe he needs a fresh start too, and might make a very decent LOI keeper for someone else. Rumours is Dundalk are going abroad for a keeper before Rogers retired, so maybe they will go abroad for two (which doesnt fill me with much hope).

[oriel]

McCarey is not good enough, I wouldn't like to see him staying. We needed a top class GK regardless for 2021.

Timing is always key for a player to retire, and I think Rogers has made the right call, he leaves very much on a high, and has been a fantastic servant to DFC in 6 great seasons, winning 10 major trophies and playing in 2 EL group stages.

[sbgawa]

With the benefit of the nightmare we had at rovers before big al cane back there is no position more important.

[D24Saint]

The hope was high for McCarey in Dundalk, it wasn't so long since he was in the national squad before returing to Ireland. Unfortunatly, Rogers was too stable to replace (side not, I dont think Rogers ever got the respect he deserved from other LOI fans....). Seems McCarey got the 'yips' when he did get a run (especially coming for crosses). Maybe he needs a fresh start too, and might make a very decent LOI keeper for someone else. Rumours is Dundalk are going abroad for a keeper before Rogers retired, so maybe they will go abroad for two (which doesnt fill me with much hope).

I always thought highly of Rogers , particularly as a person. He was absolutely rubbish during the Jeff Kenna season but wasn’t on his own in that regard. He then bounced back the following year under Peter Mahon and became very dependable between the sticks. I’d say it was easy to let the 09 season affect his confidence but he shook it off and went on to have a fantastic career.

[Kiki Balboa]

Deegan to Drogheda... adds a bit of steel to them. Drogheda seem to be recruiting very well so far.

[Martinho II]

Wonder would ex Dundalk GK whos left Derry City Peter Cherrie go back to his old haunt as a stop gap?

[pineapple stu]

I see Athlone as well have added two players - Shane Barnes from Cabo and Stephen Meaney from Drogheda

You wonder how clubs are budgeting for next season, or indeed how they've come through this season. OK, the Athlone guys may well be on amateur terms. But it feels a normal enough (early) pre-season so far, when I might have expected things to be a fair bit quieter - at least until there's some view as to when next season will start or whether fans will be allowed into games.

[Yossarian]

Wonder would ex Dundalk GK whos left Derry City Peter Cherrie go back to his old haunt as a stop gap?

If Dundalk want even more howlers next season than this, then yes he’d be ideal. We need to improve our goalkeeper next season not go backwards.

[D24Saint]

Wonder would ex Dundalk GK whos left Derry City Peter Cherrie go back to his old haunt as a stop gap?

He seems like the type of player we will sign rather than Dundalk.

[Ezeikial]

Peter Cherrie is a great chap and well liked in Dundalk, but new recruitment likely to come from overseas

[total hoofball]

Deegan to Drogheda... adds a bit of steel to them. Drogheda seem to be recruiting very well so far.
He was excellent for us in the few games before lockdown and for a few games after the resumption but his performances then mostly nose dived coinciding with our dreadful 2nd series of games. I didn't think he looked fit towards the end, his legs may be gone for his disruptive defensive midfield role at Premier Division level for a side who will be defending more than attacking next season

[total hoofball]

You wonder how clubs are budgeting for next season, or indeed how they've come through this season. OK, the Athlone guys may well be on amateur terms. But it feels a normal enough (early) pre-season so far, when I might have expected things to be a fair bit quieter - at least until there's some view as to when next season will start or whether fans will be allowed into games.
Many clubs are budgeting on another anticipated FAI/government assistance for the 1st half of next season with restricted attendances. Athlone have signed up a number of decent First Division level players who were on semi-pro wages with their former respective clubs

[Kiki Balboa]

He was excellent for us in the few games before lockdown and for a few games after the resumption but his performances then mostly nose dived coinciding with our dreadful 2nd series of games. I didn't think he looked fit towards the end, his legs may be gone for his disruptive defensive midfield role at Premier Division level for a side who will be defending more than attacking next season

Noticed that .... Just from watching Shels, once Deegan didnt perform well/ didnt play, seemed like the whole team took a nose dive.... Also Deegan is a big character, so might be hard to handle in the dressing room.

[Charlie Darwin]

Man who wins league titles everywhere he does is good enough to play for a Europe challenging side.
I didn't mean it that way, I meant more that he's had a very serious injury this year and it's going to be tough for him to return to his previous level and Sligo and him are a great match.

[DCWA]

Cherrie has had an awful year I don’t rate Gary Rogers at all but Christ you aren’t going to replace him with Cherrie. Glad to see him away.

[Nesta99]

Deegan to Drogheda... adds a bit of steel to them. Drogheda seem to be recruiting very well so far.

All they need to ensure their squad is unmanageable is add another Brennan. So far arguably Shels have recruited more sensibly and picking up those who let Shels down is not sensible or cheap.

[boynemunich]

All they need to ensure their squad is unmanageable is add another Brennan. So far arguably Shels have recruited more sensibly and picking up those who let Shels down is not sensible or cheap.

Who else in the squad could be deemed as unmanageable ? Deegan and Tim Clancy played together with Hibs so assume they know each other well enough. He's valuable experience we need and I don't think anyone could doubt his hunger is still there. Add a bit of coaching and a game plan which he didn't get at Shels into the mix then I think he'll be a good signing.

[2 Year Contract]

So far arguably Shels have recruited more sensibly and picking up those who let Shels down is not sensible or cheap.

I'd agree with this, if they continue the way they’re going Shels first division team for next year looks like it’s going to be a far better squad than the premier division squad from this year