Any injury updates?

[Poor Student]

Alan Mahon, Paul Byrne, Anto Murphy and Robbie Mac have all been out for a while. Anyone know how close they are to fitness?

[pineapple stu]

Robbie Mac was giving his knee another week or two before deciding on surgery. If he's not back for Bray, it seems likely he's gone in for the operation. Mahon and Murphy were out for a month each, give or take - probably another couple of weeks away yet. No idea about Paul Byrne though...

[pineapple stu]

Alan Mahon's back in training as of last Wednesday. League Cup game may be too soon for him (bit of a run-out to gain fitness, etc.) ubt could be back for Bray. Anto Murphy's out for another two weeks, but Robbie Mac's out for yet another six weeks. Brian Gannon's also injured now.

[pineapple stu]

Paul Byrne's back next week, hopefully; Brian Gannon missed Drogheda through illness and should be back in the next week or two as well.

[Poor Student]

Thanks for the updates Stu. Can't wait for Mahon and Murphy to return. It'll make us more dynamic again down the right. I hope Pete Mahon brings in one of a left back or winger during the window, we'd have a decent squad then.

[Poor Student]

As far as I'm concerned Damo has been a great signing. He's no out and out striker though. We've been playing him on the left wing sometimes. As far as I remember he's started most games. Personally I like the guy. He runs and runs like hell and tries the whole time. Whether he is dropped, coming off the bench or subbed off he doesn't complain. He's reasonably skillful and strong. Only problem is he has a tendency to miss headers from 6 yards.

[Schumi]

He's played every game so far I think, a couple off the bench. He works really hard, the amount of times I've seen him making tackles back near our box is amazing for a front player. I get the impression that Mahon has him tracking back more than Galway did last year and that might be why he's not scoring as much he did there. I'd like to see him in an attacking midfield role (like Finn last year), I think that'd suit him.

[Poor Student]

I'd like to see him in an attacking midfield role (like Finn last year), I think that'd suit him.

Me too. He certainly has the engine to merit a centre field place. He'd run through a brick wall for us. He is also one of our most creative and skillful players. He showed he was a good provider in the game against Dublin City in the League Cup.

[John83]

Me too. He certainly has the engine to merit a centre field place. He'd run through a brick wall for us. He is also one of our most creative and skillful players. He showed he was a good provider in the game against Dublin City in the League Cup.

I'm not so sure about that. If I have a gripe about him, it's his passing. It's either poor or sloppy. Given the rest of his game, I'd suggest poor. That's far from ideal for an attacking mid.

[el tk]

He'd run through a brick wall for us..

Pity he won't score more than a goal for us...

[Poor Student]

Pity he won't score more than a goal for us...

It doesn't matter who scores as long as we win. He works hard and he hasn't alway been playing up front for us. Playing up front for UCD is a thankless task. We don't have a great link up between midfield and strikers this season and it involves a strong holding up job. I think he is doing fine.

Incidentally, welcome tk, always nice to see a new Student join the forums. That is unless you're someone with just a new username.

[el tk]

Sure he does a lot of donkey work but even when he's in forward positions he never looks threatening - UCD need a tall target man in the shape of Doherty or Quinn that the rest of them can play off.

Thanks for the welcome, I am indeed new to here, as far as I can remember

[pineapple stu]

I am indeed new to here, as far as I can remember

Good start anyway!

Sure he does a lot of donkey work but even when he's in forward positions he never looks threatening - UCD need a tall target man in the shape of Doherty or Quinn that the rest of them can play off.

What about Whitmarsh? Didn't get to the Bray game, but looks like the kind of lad who can hold the ball up. Haerd he set up a goal or two as well.

[el tk]

What about Whitmarsh? Didn't get to the Bray game, but looks like the kind of lad who can hold the ball up. Haerd he set up a goal or two as well.

He's not tall enough for an old-fashioned style target man.

[Poor Student]

el tk, I've debated this with myself and noticed we lacked the type of player you've described. However our strikers drop back very often and drift wide performing a lot of hard work for the team, picking up and winning the ball. That leaves the front line missing sometimes when we win the ball however I wonder how we would be doing without agile mobile front players to track back and get stuck in. We also don't really like to go the Route 1 option, again having such a player would require us to revaluate our game plan having to utilise such a player's strengths.