"For Pete's sake..."

[DmanDmythDledge]

No. 2 (go to page 22). (http://www.ucd.ie/tribune/archives/Iss3.College%20Tribune.pdf)

No. 3 (go to page 21). (http://www.ucd.ie/tribune/archives/Iss4.College%20Tribune.pdf)

They're both in pdf.

[One To Watch]

Pete talks of bringing in 3 or 4 experienced players and also the development of both forsyth and purcell, both strikers forsyth with 8 goals and purcell with 3. purcell has already played in first team, with forsyth yet to play. what your thoughts on petes comments??

[pineapple stu]

We need to bring in a couple of experienced players. It's great having a stream of young players like we do, but you need one or two players who have been around and have experience. There's no hiding what Derek Swan did when he joined (basically saved us from relegation), or what Brian Mooney and Peter Hanrahan did in 1999/00 in helping us qualify for Europe.

[One To Watch]

A hard man in centre mid would be great asset as it would give dicker and finn more time to play, and to allow to boss the middle of the park. pete must rate the two lads?? but they both forwards aren't they?

[DmanDmythDledge]

A hard man in centre mid would be great asset as it would give dicker and finn more time to play, and to allow to boss the middle of the park. pete must rate the two lads?? but they both forwards aren't they?
Dicker is a CM and Finn is an attacking mid/forward.

We have Tony Mc and Paul Crowley who are both capable of doing a good job in CM. Dicker is also good at breaking up play, but there's no doubt that he is better utilised in a more attacking role.

I think it is important to find the right balance in the team. Playing a Finn/Dicker combination in central midfield may work against the weaker teams in the league, but against the likes of Shels, Derry and Cork they would struggle to cope physically. We need either Tony Mc or Crowley(Kieran Harte is a good young player too) in there to break up the opposition's attacks, which in turn will give us more possesion of the ball, and thus more goalscoring opportunities.

Im order to accomodate Finn and Dicker in the same line-up we have to play either with one out and out striker, or move Finn to the wing where he would be less effective. The problem with playing Sammon on his own up front is that the supporting players(Finn in most cases) don't have the finishing capablities to put away the chances he creates. Even though he would be less effective playing on the wing, I think it is worth putting Finn there and see how he gets on. Give him a freedom to cut inside and causes problems in the oppostion's defence.

Another way around all that would be a change in system, but I would be not to keen on that. 3-5-2;
Shorthall, McNally, Kenna,
Hurley(IMO), Dicker, Crowley, Finn, Doyle,
Sammo, PB.

[One To Watch]

i know this is a stupid thing to say, but i think if one of finn or dicker move on it would benefit the club. would mean play 4-4-2 and could change things. but who is there to play up with sammo??

[DmanDmythDledge]

i know this is a stupid thing to say, but i think if one of finn or dicker move on it would benefit the club. would mean play 4-4-2 and could change things. but who is there to play up with sammo??
If Dicker moved on it would gives us the cash to improve other areas of the side. We would already have a replacement in Finn. However, it would be in the team's best interests to hold on to our better players. It is up to the management to find a system that best suits our squad.

Paul Byrne has showed a lot of promise, but injuries have held him back a bit. John Brophy was scoring goals for fun for the U-21s before he left for Kilkenny, and made a promising appearance against Drogheda earlier in the season, when only nerves prevented him from scoring. Darren Forsyth is also a player who is scoring in the U-21s.

[pineapple stu]

i know this is a stupid thing to say, but i think if one of finn or dicker move on it would benefit the club. would mean play 4-4-2 and could change things. but who is there to play up with sammo??
Yeah, I was thinking the same recently. Two quality players, but both in the same position. We need someone to play alongside Sammo - like Paul Byrne - but to do that would at the moment require dropping Finn or Dicker, or moving them to the wing.

[One To Watch]

but does mahon have faith in forsyth? he hasn't involved him in the first team?

[DmanDmythDledge]

but to do that would at the moment require dropping Finn or Dicker, or moving them to the wing.
I reckon Finn would be a good player on the wing. However it would a bit like the Stevie G situation at Liverpool.

but does mahon have faith in forsyth? he hasn't involved him in the first team?
Going by what he has said he will introduce him to first team football next season. Timmy Purcell is another player in the U-21s, and he made his first team debut this season.

[One To Watch]

ye that true. we need to rate the strikers :D . the perfect partnership needs to be found!!!

[Poor Student]

One to Watch, like at any club (England, Scotland, anywhere) we have youth players that tear the place up at U-21 level but don't progress too well onto senior level. Conan Byrne scored tonnes of goals at U-21 level immediately but hasn't looked like a lethal striker at senior level (I know he's been used in a good few positions). I hope Purcell and Forsyth are as good as they sound but it doesn't always translate that way. You can be sure they'll get a chance at this club as we rely on developing young players.

I've also thought the same thing about the Dicker/Finn situation. Perhaps Dicker moving on might free things up but at the same time I'd love to see how Dicker could be next season with another year's experience behind him.

[Schumi]

I'm glad I haven't been the only one thinking that someone moving on would solve some problems. :) There's no point in moving anyone on unless there's some money involved though really.

I don't think a 3-5-2 formation would be useful with the players we have, the wing-backs are very important in that formation and I don't think we really have that kind of player. It's not a formation I'm particularly comfortable with anyway.

I'm sure Forsyth will get his chance, there's no point in rushing him into the first team. The 21s still have (hopefully) 4 more games so he's better not to be distracted from that IMO.

[One To Watch]

ye i haven't seen forsyth. i tried to find out bout him but all i got was that he played for cherry orchard and he is 18. what kind of striker is he?? is he as good as he is talked about?

[CollegeTillIDie]

Maybe we should sign Anthony Stokes on loan for the first half of the 2007 summer season!

[DmanDmythDledge]

Maybe we should sign Anthony Stokes on loan for the first half of the 2007 summer season!
Why not go for Ronaldinho why we're at it?:cool:

[CollegeTillIDie]

Why not go for Ronaldinho why we're at it?:cool:

He's playing sh!t at the moment so not interested.:D

[DmanDmythDledge]

No. 4 (go to page 21). (http://www.ucd.ie/tribune/archives/Iss5.College%20Tribune.pdf)

Recent issues haven't been put online.

[CollegeTillIDie]

They are good pieces , we could do with them in the programme .

[pineapple stu]

Awww...that one's boring!

CTID - we'd never get away with his usual style piece in the programme!!! The SC could never afford the fines...

[CollegeTillIDie]

Awww...that one's boring!

CTID - we'd never get away with his usual style piece in the programme!!! The SC could never afford the fines...
That's what an editor is supposed to be for :rolleyes:

[pineapple stu]

And that's why I'm telling you we could never have his usual piece in the programme!

[Schumi]

No. 4 (go to page 21). (http://www.ucd.ie/tribune/archives/Iss5.College%20Tribune.pdf)

Recent issues haven't been put online.
I don't think there've been more recent ones. I'd say they'll start up again at the start of the season.

[Student Mullet]

I don't think there've been more recent ones. I'd say they'll start up again at the start of the season.There was one last week.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Yes that was the one where he said at the start that he wasn't going to mention the Shels thing.

[John83]

Awww...that one's boring!

CTID - we'd never get away with his usual style piece in the programme!!! The SC could never afford the fines...
What happened to the rumour that the fanzine was going to bid for his uncensored opinion?

[thegit]

What is the league coming to when UCD are wishing one of there best players away, you must be glad Dickers gone for the time being anyway.:D

[Student Mullet]

What is the league coming to when UCD are wishing one of there best players away, you must be glad Dickers gone for the time being anyway.:DHe's a good player but he's no Ronan Finn.

[John83]

He's a good player but he's no Ronan Finn.
You see, he was never the finished article.

[thegit]

Yeh cause Finn set the league alight last year:D come on lads every team wants to keep hold of there best players for once you have a nice little midfield with plenty of options and yeh have a little panic attack.... Did any of you ever think maybe someone could get injured during the year:eek:

[Poor Student]

Yeh cause Finn set the league alight last year:D come on lads every team wants to keep hold of there best players for once you have a nice little midfield with plenty of options and yeh have a little panic attack.... Did any of you ever think maybe someone could get injured during the year:eek:

Tony Mac, Paul Crowley, Ronan Finn, Kieran Harte, Stephen Hurley, Conan Byrne and possibly Brian King. Is central midfield really that much of a problem?

[Schumi]

Yeh cause Finn set the league alight last year:DEasily the best player to watch on the team, I'm very much looking forward to seeing more of him next year.

I'd rather we kept Dicker but I don't think his loss will be disastrous. I hope he does as well as possible in Birmingham, good luck to him.

[thegit]

I didn't mean it that way lads, but from reading some of this stuff it seemed like you were wishing some of the players ie Dicker away just to make the selection easier most successful clubs like to have headaches over which players to pick. In my opinion Finn is a good player he gets around the pitch, but he seems far to light maybe in another year or two he will fill out. He has bags of energy but sometimes just cause your running around it doesnt mean your effecting the game all that much.

[Schumi]

I didn't mean it that way lads, but from reading some of this stuff it seemed like you were wishing some of the players ie Dicker away just to make the selection easier most successful clubs like to have headaches over which players to pick.I don't think that was the case really. Most of us expected him to leave and were looking at silver linings IMO. Of our high-profile players, he'll leave less of a hole behind than some others (Quigley in particular) would.


In my opinion Finn is a good player he gets around the pitch, but he seems far too light maybe in another year or two he will fill out. He has bags of energy but sometimes just cause your running around it doesn't mean your effecting the game all that much.'Not the finished article', you mean? :D

[DmanDmythDledge]

The last few ones haven't gone online (last one November actually:eek: ), but here is a small extract from the recent edition;

I have a strong belief our tean this year will be good. We have a couple of players, Paul Byrne in particular whose showing up particularly well in training. Now that he is injury-free at last, we are seeing the Paul that we saw three years ago, so I'm hoping that will continue into the season, and if it does it will be like getting a new signing.

Paul's a proven goal-scorer at every level he's played at, and that is something we've been lacking down through the years so I'm just hoping that he stays fit and gets a good run of games under his belt and then i think we will see him realise his potential.

He and Connor Sammon will start as our first-choice strike force this season.

Seems to confirm the expected that Finn will be playing CM, probably alongside Crowley or McCaul after Shorthall's departure, which means that Tony Mc will have to play CB, with Kenna are only recognised LB. Team should look like this next season:

------------Quigley------------

Mahon----McNally----Tony Mc----Kenna

Hurley------Finn---McCaul/Crowley--Doyle

---------P Byrne-----Sammon

Pretty similar to what we had for the most part last season, a fraction weaker though IMO.

[Schumi]

I'd start Pat Sullivan at right back, move Alan Mahon to left back, Conor Kenna to centre back and Tony Mac to midfield. Much stronger defence IMO.

Is Hurley still with us?

[DmanDmythDledge]

I'd start Pat Sullivan at right back, move Alan Mahon to left back, Conor Kenna to centre back and Tony Mac to midfield. Much stronger defence IMO.

Is Hurley still with us?
Forgot about Sully.

Presume Hurley is still with us.

[John83]

Forgot about Sully.

Presume Hurley is still with us.
He was rumoured to be training with Bray. Sully'd be a good fit for him if he's gone. If we still have Hurley, I'd go with Pineapple here. Kenna in CB and Tony in midfield can only be good.

[DmanDmythDledge]

He was rumoured to be training with Bray.
I presume you are referring to this (http://foot.ie/showpost.php?p=619584&postcount=9) post? It seems to be a mix up with Hurley and Hussey.

[John83]

I presume you are referring to this (http://foot.ie/showpost.php?p=619584&postcount=9) post? It seems to be a mix up with Hurley and Hussey.
Oh! Good. :cool:

[Schumi]

I'd go with Pineapple here.I assume you mean me.

[John83]

I assume you mean me.
Yes. Damn these non-unique avatars. :)

[Student Mullet]

Yes. Damn these non-unique avatars. :)I know, people are constantly mixing me up with Bald Student.

[Schumi]

I know, people are constantly mixing me up with Bald Student.
Quiet, John.

[pineapple stu]

Incidentally, Sully hasn't signed yet. It's expected to be confirmed shortly, but there's nothing official yet.

Despite what the website says...

[DmanDmythDledge]

Incidentally, Sully hasn't signed yet. It's expected to be confirmed shortly, but there's nothing official yet.

Despite what the website says...
From Irish Football Online: (http://www.irishfootballonline.com/news_story.php?newsid=5983)

UCD add two to squad

UCD have confirmed the signings of full back Pat Sullivan and goalkeeper Matt Gregg.

Gregg joins from Bohemians and is seen as cover for goalkeeper Darren Quigley who is likely to be the subject of transfer speculation again the summer. Gregg has also played for Bray Wanderers.

Sullivan is rejoining the College after a spell with Drogheda United. He left Belfield after the 2004 season but was recently released by Drogheda.

[pineapple stu]

Presumably taken from the website.

He's yet to sign per Maccer.

[DmanDmythDledge]

xLqeUTmLCQA

The cat's out of the bag.;) :D :eek:

[pineapple stu]

God, he sounded almost embarrassed to be doing that!

[CollegeTillIDie]

God, he sounded almost embarrassed to be doing that!
There's going to be a lot more of that kind of thing on EIRCOM.NET during the season folks