Given they've thrown Axworthy straight into their starting XI, they're not afraid to change things up anyway. Ironically, this'll be the second straight season he'll play Ringmahon in the first round of the Cup!
Printable View
What on earth happened to Aodh Dervin? I thought he had made a solid start at Galway Utd.:confused:
It really is a skill of SK to get the most out of a player, lads whose career have gone astray, not enjoying playing, not appreciating talent with off field lifestyle, getting players to buy in to his ways. Hasnt always worked, Clifford probably tops the one that didnt work and Maguire the one that got away (hard to oust McMillan, Kilduff but was ahead of Byrne, with hindsight and all that). So Elbouzedi is a risk free lovely signing that unless there is something badly wrong will be the signing of this window imo and Hakiki has been excellent at Dundalk since coming in. Be interesting to see if more can be got out of Kavanagh/Keating or if they will figure beyond this season, Kavanagh has age on his side. Like ourselves goals are hard to come by and needing a front man firing is the difference between bottom half and Europe. Be a bit of s surprise if St Pats are not targeting another out and out striker.
Looking at the tabe there and Galways position is even more remarkable considering their 19 goals in 23 - making those goals count as wins rather than being mean at the back and picking up single points like Dundalk have (at home), take a couple of heavy defeats out 1st round and GD difference is not massive yet league position is relegation slot v 3rd ish. Galway and Waterford being competative after promotion, if Cork can do the same and replacing a p/t Drogheda outfit...., next season any dodgy run of form could throw any club in to a panic and conversely a run of wins and who knows where a leage challange could come from. Id back St Pats now for a 2025 title. As much as I roll eyes at Derry, they are putting in a run at Shels now and could nip ahead, momentum in this 10 team malarkey makes or breaks. But in terms of looking ahead and at risk of it being thrown up as premature from Dundalk perspective, there is some good business being done that will beneft next season. If sides performing top end now strengthen then there could be a decent upward curve in quality of league again where sidees have to do a lot more than go through the motions.
Jack Brady signed from Longford Town as a back-up keeper.
https://galwayunitedfc.ie/jack-brady...galway-united/
As much as Elbouzedi is indeed an excellent signing, Pats would need at least 4-5 more top top players to have a chance of winning the league in my view. Plus SK last win of anything was the PD in 2018, thats already 6 years ago, added to his very poor win rate with Ireland, he would also need to up his game considerably to win a league.
I think he might do well at Pats, but I wouldn't think they will win the league next season. If 2024 has shown to be a very competitive league, next year could be the tightest ever in terms of standards.
Sometimes it just doesn't work out for certain players at clubs, Kilduff was very poor at Pats giving one example, possibly not even getting a game for long periods, bought by Kenny and ended up scoring two goals in EL group stage to draw and win a game, granted this was 2016 but one high profile example that springs to mind. Shels have also picked up players who were under performing elsewhere in recent times, it happens all the time.
Dervin is a very good addition for the MF for Dundalk, wonder how much the fee was, probably small enough I`d think, mid season.
He went to Shelbourne and started off great, Duff publicly saying how good he was. Then he tailed off, lost his place. Same thing happened in Galway. A few people have mentioned his attitude and that he thinks he's much better than he actually is.
I never thought Dervin looked up to much at Shels if you were looking to become a top-half team as we are now, he had decent technical ability and did put in a shift for us but he couldn't do anything useful with the ball a mis-place passing merchant
dervin is an attack dog, grand for chasing and getting the ball back. not good enough at all with the ball though
I see Promise Omochere has been bought by Bristol Rovers for 500k, Bohs have a sell on of some form.
Its not just pure faith in SK albeit I dont think he's out of the loop in some significant way cause his last silverware was 2018. If he hadnt taken the bait of JD wranglings i've no doubt he'd have more recent LoI trophies, If he had stayed in the league Dundalk would have at least given Rovers a fight. Its that his transfer targets can be comfortably resourced without fear of no Europe breaking everything so he can build quick and if there is dead weight it can be carried until being shifted. His transfers havent always worked but I dunno, I think there is something to work with to start the process now, there was an intent to Kelleher's going after his man and will be backing him after a pretty unstable period since Buckley left. A lot will depend what business other clubs do but those 4 or 5 players in for a damn good tilt at the title is doable. We'll see, sure we all did so well in the league predictions thread that my early 2025 prediction with the tradition of not being relegated thrown in to the mix from this year could mean its as likely Bohs and St Pats will be relegated.
Dylan Connolly signs for Declan Devine up with Glentoran
Some fans love a crest kisser. What more needs to be said but he has as many red cards as goals in a Bohs shirt so no great loss. I do think there needs to be some cover brought in for the wings. McDaid isn't up to it. Rooney is just a free kick specialist, not much else and Grant (who has contributed more that Connolly) is looking limited since he came back.