John Martin gone?

[pineapple stu]

The Longford board has a post saying he's signed for them - as back-up!!

Anyone any news on this?

General word is we're supposed to be keeping most of the remainder of the squad though.

[UCD_4_Life]

"Remainder of the squad" is right, there's bugger all of it left at this stage. PJ, Cawley, Rooney, Johnny, Griffin, Finn and Donnelly are all gone and it's barely a month since we went down. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the likes of Sullivan and Robbie Martin go either.

Our squad was small enough as it was, we'll need to sign about a dozen new players (I wish I was exaggerating) if we're to sustain a challenge in the first next season. I can barely name a squad of sixteen, in fact - I can't!

[pineapple stu]

Originally posted by UCD_4_Life
I can barely name a squad of sixteen, in fact - I can't!

It's not that bad - we're still left with (checks match programme here!) -
GOALKEEPERS
Neil Gallagher

DEFENDERS
Hugh Davey
Alan Mahon
Rob McAuley
Tony McDonnell
Darragh Ryan
Pat Sullivan

MIDFIELDERS
John Gaffney
Alan McNally
Mick O'Donnell
Gavin Whelan

FORWARDS
Lloyd Colfer
Alan Gallen
Mark Leech
Robbie Martin
Tadhg Purcell
Pat Burke
Pat McWalter

Hmmm...smaller than I thought, but still 18 players. Pete Mahon's been given the go ahead to bring in three outsiders (i.e. experienced campaigners) - haven't heard anything on that yet. Then there's the new scholarshippers next month and...em...I'll play if we're stuck!

I don't think most of the losses are that significant though. Donnelly and Rooney aren't really great losses. Finn was always injured; he and Griffin were released primarily as cost-cutting measures which seems to be allowing us go after the likes of Geoghegan. Jennings, Cawley and Johnny Martin are big losses, but Gallagher sounds very promising and a capable replacement for Jennings; Johnny Martin didn't really feature in our last ten games of the season when we showed our best form, so he's not irreplaceable. Where we're going to get a new Cawley from I don't know... Keddy maybe???

Course, the others seem to be losing players as well. We'll be up there at the end. Would have been easier with the entire squad, but there you go!

[Schumi]

Can't say I'm overly surprised, it'd been mooted since before the end of the season. I think Whelan is well capable of replacing him on the right but he's a loss.

[John83]

It's disappointing to see so many go, especially since we get nothing for them. Surely it would have been worthwhile to have had Johnny Martin on a two year contract so Longford would have to pay us something now?

We're desperately short of midfielders, and experience counts for a lot there. If we don't sign someone experiecned for there, I'd hope to see Tony Mac play midfield. First thing next year, we should cheer the first-teamers who stay with us

[pineapple stu]

This might open the way for Pat Sullivan to move to midfield with Alan Mahon at full-back? I'd like to see him there for a couple of games anyway'cos he's always looked dangerous going forward.

[John83]

Sullivan could definately be a useful player on the right wing. Would that be a big improvement on Sullivan in rightback and Whelan on the wing though? Or would Whelan be a big help in the middle? It's an option of course.

Actually, come to think of it, Sullivan played in central midfield for the Cork game just before Doolo j.b. left, and he was pretty good there, even setting up the goal for Rooney. It's worth a look.

[Roo69]

Doyle

can play up front or on the right of midfield either so its not that bad but you have lost most of your best players, but with a few shrewd signings i reckon you will be up there or there abouts at the end of the season, just depends on who the others (Bray and Harps mainly) hold on to or let go/leave. We've managed to re-sign Charles, Tresson and O'Connor (keeper) so it's looking a lot better at the moment than it did a few weeks ago with all the talk of up to 8/9 players leaving, but it's still early days at the moment.

Just looking at the free agents list and there are some very handy players on it, just up to weather Devo, King or Mahon could persuade them to play 1st division footie.

Chris Bennion
Keith Doyle
Stephen McGuinness
Greg O’Dowd
Darren Beesley
Jason Colwell
Gary Cronin
Robbie Dunne
James Keddy
Mark Quinless
Dessie Baker
Stephen Geoghegan

all well capable of doing a great job for any of the top sides in the 1st division

[pineapple stu]

Re: Doyle

Originally posted by Roo69
Chris Bennion
Keith Doyle
Stephen McGuinness
Greg O’Dowd
Darren Beesley
Jason Colwell
Gary Cronin
Robbie Dunne
James Keddy
Mark Quinless
Dessie Baker
Stephen Geoghegan

Wow - eleven handy players AND Greg O'Dowd!

[UCD_4_Life]

Mark Quinless resigned for Drogheda, I believe.

[Schumi]

Bennion's gone to Dundalk as well.