2024 Season, Arrivals and Departures

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Dundalk, Sligo and Drogheda looking the obvious relegation candidates at this stage you'd have thought?

Not sure what Galway and Waterford have done to avoid that list

[sulywaterfordfc]

It’s probably early days to call who’ll be in danger,you’d imagine Galway and Waterford will be looking to add strikers to their squads yet,I’d say it’ll be a proper dogfight though no UCD’s, Harps or Cork’s !! to make life easier for them!

We only got 15 signed (officially announced), we’ll definitely be looking to add several more I’d say. As there’s no UCD, could be any one of Dundalk, Sligo, Drogs, Galway and Waterford occupy the bottom two. None standout out from one another imo, and I don’t think any on paper right now are good enough to challenge the top half. Think Bohs will be comfortable 5th, a distant off top 4. Things don’t look good for Dundalk though, losing a lot of players, there’s next to no quality experienced league players available either. Could be a difficult year if there squad is filled with inexperienced youths from the different UK leagues.

[Shinkicker]

Dundalk, Sligo and Drogheda looking the obvious relegation candidates at this stage you'd have thought?
I hope you are correct, that would mean Bohs are safe!! We've let approx 6 go for different reasons and only signed 2

[pineapple stu]

Not sure what Galway and Waterford have done to avoid that list
Galway walked the First Division and hammered two Premier sides in the Cup last year. It'd surprise me if they were in a dogfight, but then Galway have surprised me before

Waterford probably a fair call; Coughlan is a huge loss.

Sligo and Dundalk the two sides most obviously going backwards at the moment I think, and from not great starting points


I hope you are correct, that would mean Bohs are safe!! We've let approx 6 go for different reasons and only signed 2
If Bohs are in a relegation fight next year too, then I think we can start to crack out the "weakest league ever" moniker again!

[placid casual]

Galway and Waterford will fight it out for the bottom spot imo,they haven't got remotely the kind of talent that's going to see them in mid table. Would choke to death with laughter at dundalk getting relegated but they'd have to really fall apart for that to happen. Think Sligo are the one team from this season's premier division who might be "in the mixer" for the playoff's.
Drogs and boez are too solid to be anywhere near the bottom.

[Another Bohemia]

We only got 15 signed (officially announced), we’ll definitely be looking to add several more I’d say. As there’s no UCD, could be any one of Dundalk, Sligo, Drogs, Galway and Waterford occupy the bottom two. None standout out from one another imo, and I don’t think any on paper right now are good enough to challenge the top half. Think Bohs will be comfortable 5th, a distant off top 4. Things don’t look good for Dundalk though, losing a lot of players, there’s next to no quality experienced league players available either. Could be a difficult year if there squad is filled with inexperienced youths from the different UK leagues.

Not sure why you think Bohs will be comfortable next year. I read here that we have 18 signed for next year. That number remains the same but with the noticeable loss of Afolabi our only senior striker on the books. We have probably the worst keeper in the league as our starter. Our captain is starting the season on the injury list barring a miraculous recovery (even when he recovers he was always reliant on being the fittest player on the pitch so it will be some time before he's back to form) and we only have 4 recognised defenders in a defence that has been a weak spot for the last 3 seasons. It's great having 18 players signed but if they are all trying to fit into the same 2 or 3 positions then it's worth feck all

[D24Saint]

On paper the league looks set to be less competitive than normal for the European places. It seems several clubs are struggling with recruitment. How our new players gel into the squad will be interesting. If we can get back into Europe and give Derry and Rovers a close run id be happy.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Galway walked the First Division and hammered two Premier sides in the Cup last year. It'd surprise me if they were in a dogfight, but then Galway have surprised me before

Waterford probably a fair call; Coughlan is a huge loss.

Sligo and Dundalk the two sides most obviously going backwards at the moment I think, and from not great starting points


If Bohs are in a relegation fight next year too, then I think we can start to crack out the "weakest league ever" moniker again!

Plenty of examples of teams cruising to the first division title not finding the premier division straightforward in the past. Be interesting to see how they get on.

[Jack B]

Still too early to say how good certain sides will be with any confidence really. Bohs are in a dodgy situation up front and in defence, and likewise Dundalk look to be in a particularly worrying state with their squad, especially once Hoban is gone, yet for all the negativity around them at the moment you wouldn't put it past a few correct calls in recruitment meaning they don't have much to worry about in terms of getting caught up at the bottom of the table. Considering some of the players already there too. Feels like Rovers, Derry, Pats and Shels are the only sides you can get a gauge on at the moment as to varying degrees they were able to hold onto the bulk of the existing squad and largely add to it with players from within the league/that have experience of it.

[Nesta99]

Galway and Waterford will fight it out for the bottom spot imo,they haven't got remotely the kind of talent that's going to see them in mid table. Would choke to death with laughter at dundalk getting relegated but they'd have to really fall apart for that to happen. Think Sligo are the one team from this season's premier division who might be "in the mixer" for the playoff's.
Drogs and boez are too solid to be anywhere near the bottom.

Well every cloud has a silver lining!

[pineapple stu]

Plenty of examples of teams cruising to the first division title not finding the premier division straightforward in the past. Be interesting to see how they get on.
Maybe not by quite that margin though, and hammering two Premier sides in the Cup as well. (Granted, everyone hammered us, so that win just indicates they can keep up)

Limerick and Waterford (2016/17) were the last two to romp the division and ended up seventh and fourth the following season.

But that doesn't mean Galway will do the same of course. Be an interesting one, as you say.

[nigel-harps1954]

I don't think anyone outside of Shamrock Rovers, Derry, Pats or Shelbourne can sit too comfortably at the minute.

It's very early days yet, but Sligo and Waterford seem the two at danger for me currently.

[gufct]

Looks like Coughlan to Fleetwood to be confirmed shortly . Don’t know what the link is doing for Waterford.

[Nesta99]

I don't think anyone outside of Shamrock Rovers, Derry, Pats or Shelbourne can sit too comfortably at the minute.

It's very early days yet, but Sligo and Waterford seem the two at danger for me currently.

Agree on the 1st point but Bohs have a squad even if lacking in some key positions. Dundalk are in trouble unless there is a lot in the works that we dont know about but currently I would have us in yer group with Sligo and Waterford. Even if we make a bunch of world class signings it is another rushed and disrupted preseason without anything like a settled squad/ By this stage we should be adding to a stable base yet it feels a lot more like a rebuild - Hoban or no Hoban.

[sbgawa]

No such thing as to good to go down, who would have had Cork going down and that was with UCD (no offence Stu) probably occupying 1 of the bottom 2 last year and this year there is no obvious weak link for number 10 position.
Waterford look the weakest at the moment i reckon but i went along to the playoff final in Tallaght and i couldnt get over the antics of the owners Son. If he is 25% as committed to Waterford as his MULTIPLE celebrations there might be a few bob or loans going into Waterford in Jan.

Sligo almost managed to fall into the playoff place last year and were abject at times so id have them next in line.
Then Drogs, then Dundalk unless either sort themselves out soon.
Cant see Bohs not being in a decent state by the start of the season, even losing Afolabis 12? goals they have the money to spend on replacements.

I think Galway will surprise people and be better then people think

[oriel]

Any clubs fortunes can change with 4 or 5 new decent additions, will reserve judgement on Dundalk until the numbers are filled up.

For now no point as clearly 7-8 maybe even more are required, will all depend on that quality, Hoban will be moving on that's clear, his pace has gone a little and didn't do much in europe last season (1 goal in 4 games), that said I'd have kept him, but whats the point with a player clearly disgruntled and wanting out, could effect whole team, still the whole episode was so badly managed.

As things stand, its not looking great for 2024, hopefully things will settle down in the next week or so.

[total hoofball]

Looks like on average across the 10 Premier Divisions teams about 75% of squads of filled now with the 4 European teams around 90% filled they probably only have maybe 2-3 signings each to make

The other 6 clubs are going to have to recruit seriously well within the next 6 weeks to have optimism of punching into that top 3 of 4, I think Shels will be the most vulnerable to fall out of that top 4. With the pool of known LOI players mostly snapped up by now I'm expecting alot of unknown UK, foreign and loan signings to be announced by the other 6 which is an expensive lottery if you get it wrong as Cork, Sligo, Finn Harps and Dundalk have experienced in recent years

I think Galway and Waterford look to be in a bit better shape than UCD and Cork from last season but I do think those two and Drogheda are looking early contenders for the relegation spots, if Dundalk and Sligo balls things up with recruitment then they can easily be in the relegation mix

[joey B]

Dundalk signed Koen Oostenbrink,Dutch midfielder last played in May for Eindhoven in the Dutch Eerste Division,played 19 times for them in 22/23,as always its a wait and see with these types of players…..

[total hoofball]

Looks like Coughlan to Fleetwood to be confirmed shortly . Don’t know what the link is doing for Waterford.

Confirmed now. I'm sure Fleetwood will sort them out with a replacement striker. You can maybe see why in their predicament at the bottom of the table they would want to try an in-form goalscorer albeit at a bad level, not camparing Coughlan to their signing of Jamie Vardy from the Northern Premier League years ago


https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2024/january/coughlan-announcement/

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Looks like on average across the 10 Premier Divisions teams about 75% of squads of filled now with the 4 European teams around 90% filled they probably only have maybe 2-3 signings each to make

The other 6 clubs are going to have to recruit seriously well within the next 6 weeks to have optimism of punching into that top 3 of 4, I think Shels will be the most vulnerable to fall out of that top 4. With the pool of known LOI players mostly snapped up by now I'm expecting alot of unknown UK, foreign and loan signings to be announced by the other 6 which is an expensive lottery if you get it wrong as Cork, Sligo, Finn Harps and Dundalk have experienced in recent years

I think Galway and Waterford look to be in a bit better shape than UCD and Cork from last season but I do think those two and Drogheda are looking early contenders for the relegation spots, if Dundalk and Sligo balls things up with recruitment then they can easily be in the relegation mix

Id have Drogheda ahead of us and Dundalk at the moment

[Jack B]

Saying that about the four European sides, are there any you'd say have improved on paper at this point? Obvious caveat again that it's still early days and subject to immediate change.

Derry you'd say so with Hoban all but confirmed and no huge losses. Brandon Kavanagh is a quality player but they already have some of his type so Kelly coming in probably gives them better balance too.

Rovers have lost Mannus, Poom, Clarke and a few older/squad players were let go, with only Burns in thus far as a notable addition.

Pats are a bit half and half, definite improvement in some areas but still some big departures and in the keeper position at least have a more pressing first eleven spot to fill than the others do.

Shels have made some solid moves but they relied for much of last season on Moylan, who was then latterly given great help by Wood and Jarvis, and I'm not sure they've replaced that quality as of yet.

Obviously the majority of the rest of the league have more work to do but still an interesting January ahead for everyone really.

[Nesta99]

Any clubs fortunes can change with 4 or 5 new decent additions, will reserve judgement on Dundalk until the numbers are filled up.

For now no point as clearly 7-8 maybe even more are required, will all depend on that quality, Hoban will be moving on that's clear, his pace has gone a little and didn't do much in europe last season (1 goal in 4 games), that said I'd have kept him, but whats the point with a player clearly disgruntled and wanting out, could effect whole team, still the whole episode was so badly managed.

As things stand, its not looking great for 2024, hopefully things will settle down in the next week or so.

Its the hustle of the decade! Whoban is finished, ready to join the rest of the former Dundalk contingent at Derry that were sent out the pasture.

[dundalkfc10]

Its the hustle of the decade! Whoban is finished, ready to join the rest of the former Dundalk contingent at Derry that were sent out the pasture.

Why even bother posting such nonsense? Connolly, Duffy, McEleney, Hoban and Kelly would all walk onto our team

[Another Bohemia]

Why even bother posting such nonsense? Connolly, Duffy, McEleney, Hoban and Kelly would all walk onto our team

Well with Duffy, McEleney & Kelly you run the risk of them injuring themselves in that walk

[outspoken]

No such thing as to good to go down, who would have had Cork going down

Tbf, a lot of people who follow the First Division said Cork would struggle without significant investment and the two teams coming up this year are coming out of the weakest first division in history. I think a lot of people are understating just how poor the standard of the first division was last season. I expect Galway and waterford to struggle unless they do some good business.

[sbgawa]

Tbf, a lot of people who follow the First Division said Cork would struggle without significant investment and the two teams coming up this year are coming out of the weakest first division in history. I think a lot of people are understating just how poor the standard of the first division was last season. I expect Galway and waterford to struggle unless they do some good business.

I should have made clearer i meant who would have seen Cork going down in 2020 not last year....i was thinking in the context of the success they during the "Dundalk era" and then going down.

[2 Year Contract]

Did anyone have Wilfred Zahibo suing Dundalk in their LOI off season bingo card? :)

https://thecurrency.news/articles/138645/wilfred-zahibo-played-18-games-for-dundalf-fc-the-international-footballer-is-now-suing-the-club/

[2 Year Contract]

Drogheda have signed goalkeeper Jethren Barr from Portadown. He made his senior debut for South Africa only last year

[outspoken]

I should have made clearer i meant who would have seen Cork going down in 2020 not last year....i was thinking in the context of the success they during the "Dundalk era" and then going down.

I think it was clear the wheels had come off at Cork, was no surprise they went down.

[Jd2793]

we had no money or players in 2020 tbf, wasnt a big surprise. last season was a bigger shambles

[ger121]

You can call it Mor anything. Trophies for a start.

Happy new year Ger.

And a Happy New Year to you too!

[joey B]

https://m.soccernet.ee/artikkel/kuhu-kadusid-mehed-koondisest-poomi-ja-kuuske-ootavad-ees-muudatused-klubirindel

Markus Poom heading back to Shamrock Rovers on loan according to that article….

[ger121]

Cant see Bohs not being in a decent state by the start of the season, even losing Afolabis 12? goals they have the money to spend on replacements.


I would love to share your optimism, but at the moment, we are in even worse shape than we were prior to last season. Players needed to be in by now and we have been very quiet in the transfer market. Dodgy and the back and nothing up front. If you can’t score and you leak goals you are in big trouble. I could honestly see us in a battle to avoid the relegation play-off spot. I hope I am wrong.

[nigel-harps1954]

Drogheda have signed goalkeeper Jethren Barr from Portadown. He made his senior debut for South Africa only last year

I don't think there were too many Ports fans too disappointed to see him leaving. Bit of a calamity keeper up North. Was let go after relegation last year.

[ger121]

Poom back to Rovers for another season. Not sure what is happening with Clarke but they really have lost nobody they would want to keep,bar Mannus and maybe Kenny?

[sbgawa]

Manus is a big loss as is Clarke.
Ronan Finn has made the right move for himself long term to UCD and is a big loss, he played all the big matches for us ahead of the other WB's even when they were available. Kenny...........he is young and might improve but given he scored hardly any goals if he doesnt stay you couldnt say we would be weaker for it

[RealJohn91]

I would love to share your optimism, but at the moment, we are in even worse shape than we were prior to last season. Players needed to be in by now and we have been very quiet in the transfer market. Dodgy and the back and nothing up front. If you can’t score and you leak goals you are in big trouble. I could honestly see us in a battle to avoid the relegation play-off spot. I hope I am wrong.
"Players needed to be in" but who though?I'm not quite sure why people can't understand that we were never going to sign a load of players before this month. We got Rooney from Drogheda and Cornwall was a free agent. Everyone else home based went somewhere else or was under contract already.

Half the league aren't shopping here anymore cause the pool of available players is so shallow and that situation is going to get worse before it gets better. I understand it's frustrating but it is what it is.

[SkStu]

I would love to share your optimism, but at the moment, we are in even worse shape than we were prior to last season. Players needed to be in by now and we have been very quiet in the transfer market. Dodgy and the back and nothing up front. If you can’t score and you leak goals you are in big trouble. I could honestly see us in a battle to avoid the relegation play-off spot. I hope I am wrong.

For what its worth, I am definitely on the same page as this in terms of how anxious I am about the season ahead. The lack of activity in areas that were issues last year is boggling to me, in addition to my concerns around Devine as our manager. I'm also not sure is it Fenlon or Devine who is supposed to be identifying and getting players into the squad? If its not Fenlon, then what does he do?

[D24Saint]

Jay McGrath has left Pats for Doncaster Rovers. He played a vital role last year when Redmond was injured. I never got the impression that Daly rated him and his departure was expected.

[Calcio Jack]

Manus is a big loss as is Clarke.
Ronan Finn has made the right move for himself long term to UCD and is a big loss, he played all the big matches for us ahead of the other WB's even when they were available. Kenny...........he is young and might improve but given he scored hardly any goals if he doesnt stay you couldnt say we would be weaker for it

Thought we are working on securing Clarke for another season on loan ? If that happens and rumours about Aaron Mceneff are true then we’ll be fine

[joey B]

Kacper Radkowski joined Waterford…

Karl O’Sullivan joined Galway from Sligo Rovers….

[sbgawa]

Thought we are working on securing Clarke for another season on loan ? If that happens and rumours about Aaron Mceneff are true then we’ll be fine

Be good news if tht happens but TC is injured a lot , i remember saying between himslef and Farrugia you can only count on having one available on average.

[Jack B]

Jay McGrath has left Pats for Doncaster Rovers. He played a vital role last year when Redmond was injured. I never got the impression that Daly rated him and his departure was expected.

Definitely a good player in there for the future but at the same time made a few costly mistakes last season and all going well availability-wise wasn't and wouldn't be first-choice centre back. Still and all though wouldn't mind a signing or two given it's been all departures of late with you'd imagine the Curtis announcement imminent too.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Kacper Radkowski joined Waterford…

Karl O’Sullivan joined Galway from Sligo Rovers….

Caulfield just can’t stop signing players who played for us. Had a full 11 during his time at Cork.

[timothydec77]

Caulfield just can’t stop signing players who played for us. Had a full 11 during his time at Cork.

He has a thing for Sligo Rovers players too.

[TonyD]

Definitely a good player in there for the future but at the same time made a few costly mistakes last season and all going well availability-wise wasn't and wouldn't be first-choice centre back. Still and all though wouldn't mind a signing or two given it's been all departures of late with you'd imagine the Curtis announcement imminent too.

I would have liked to see him stay. Would probably have been backup, but very decent back up in my view. Still, if Redmond, Keely and Grivosti stay fit we’ll be fine.

[Nesta99]

Why even bother posting such nonsense? Connolly, Duffy, McEleney, Hoban and Kelly would all walk onto our team

You diont get scarcasm much do you! Surely the flippant nature of dimissing some of a league's top players as good riddance when there isnt enough players to run a full sided training session didnt really go over your head? and anyway cant cant fans be impetulant about players leaving their club with a 'werent all that' in the first place?

I do actually think that Hoban is in decline as a goal scorer. He has lost some of what made him effective as a lone striker or target man - less mobile or something. But if his role was adapted he could be still be very effective as a deep lying attacker or false nine as fancy types like to call it these days. He'd create chances, can pick a pass, and would still nab a few goals. His strike rate has been helped by being the penalty taker and covered some wastefulness. I dont think that the player that Hoban has evolved in to is what Derry really need which imo is a poacher, a clinical finisher. Unfortunately if he leaves Dundalk we lose a player that potentially could solve the disconnect between midfield and attack that was a real problem last season. It would be vastly better than the experimenting with playing Horgan in the hole behind the point man. A quick look back at our European games v KA and how easily Hoban was neutralised as a threat was when I felt we needed to see him in a different role in the side.


Well with Duffy, McEleney & Kelly you run the risk of them injuring themselves in that walk

I lol'd at that! Of the former Dundlk contingent at Derry the players I'd still covet are Connolly, Dummigan, and Patching. The rest are luxuries if you have a large budget and a squad can carry injury prone players. I dont know why Patching was ostracized at Dundalk initially and sent out on loan, a total mystery (if it were footballing reasons). Its a bit of a trend at Dundalk to give players, fairly unknown to LoI, whose career had gone astray, for them to show their potential with us only to lose them and end up at rivals - Patching, Flores, Maguire, Murray(albeit Irish League), Dummigan, I think we will be saying the same with Malley and there's probably a couple more. We dont seem to do much on retaining players from the academy and considerinng the U17s lost out on the league and European qualification on goals scored, surely keeping them for U19s at minimum was within the clubs capabilities even if an a bit of disarray We are led to believe that the player budget isnt a problem so even late in the game we shuld at least have a keeper (re)signed.

[gufct]

2 ex Sligo players 1 he had at cork and the 2nd Olly had at harps . Get over yourself.

[nigel-harps1954]

Caulfield just can’t stop signing players who played for us. Had a full 11 during his time at Cork.

That's definitely an Ollie signing. He's a big fan of Karl O'Sullivan. Good signing for Galway too. Don't think Sligo ever saw his best.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

That's definitely an Ollie signing. He's a big fan of Karl O'Sullivan. Good signing for Galway too. Don't think Sligo ever saw his best.

Was never great with us. Always worked his arse off mind which is more then a lot of them.