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Its definitely both. Lessons learned on the gamble of too many foreign recruits. Budget down on last season given there is no European money.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Our budget was 7th highest last season. To put that into perspective, it was more than the budget in 2012 ... the year we won the league.
Ben McCormack has signed for Waterford. I expected him to leave. He has a bit about him and regular football could help him improve.
Agree on that, good to get a fee for him and comical that Dundalk have missed out on him againQuote:
Originally Posted by D24Saint
There's prob a good player in Malley, but he frustrated a lot of Dundalk fans getting picked so many times by SOD last season, had some good games, a lot though he looked almost disinterested.
Good passer of the ball, but always thought he wanted to slow the game down to suit himself, but just wouldn't get 'stuck in', in summary I could never make my mind up on him, be interesting to see how he gets on at Sligo.
The link from Dundalk cooled well over a week ago on McCormack, probably down to wages offered, but we were definitely in for him from early Dec.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
Are things that tight budget wise ? I wouldn’t have imagined that his demands were that high. He barely kicked a ball for us last season.Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
Kerry sign Jack Kavanagh from Athlone, meaning the defence seems well covered now, but as things stand, we have four midfielders and two strikers, so that'll presumably be the New Year focus. Interesting that he is 21, and Spain is 22, so perhaps there's a deliberate policy to concentrate on younger players?
New DFC owner said budget for 2024 would be same as 2023, so not fully sure, maybe it was the difference of a few hundred and player went for higher offer (understandable), but def Dundalk seemed to cool off on their interest from what I heard last few weeks.Quote:
Originally Posted by D24Saint
Interesting that the club has paid out yet another fee for a player here, a third one to be announced tomorrow, also a fee paid.
It's going to become more and more common now. I don't think it's really dawned on a lot fans who follow the league how small the pool of home based proven players there is available. Going by the reactions online to the lack of business being done by some clubs it'll probably take a while yet for that to happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by SPXcyan
Kenny has real potential, he is very quick, has a great touch and can turn defenders at ease. Yes his finishing has been poor but is he even 20 yet? hopefully he is with us next year and can convert more of the chances he gets.Quote:
Originally Posted by Philosophizer
Surprised by the mention of a fee being thrown around for McCormack, seemed to be assumed that he was out of contract but perhaps not. Good player in there but it's a matter of getting it out of him as there were some question marks over him at Pats. I think he'll probably be more of an impactful signing for Waterford than he would have been Dundalk.
I believe McCormack was out of contract at Pats but they would still be entitled to the usual u23 compensation fee as he is still only 20
I can't see Waterford having to pay any crazy sum as he only made 21 first team starts with 49 substitute appearances over 4 seasons, with him playing there under 3 different managers with no contract renewal being offered doesn't sound like Pats believe he was going to be a top LOI player
Afolabi is a huge loss for us, nigh on impossible to pick up lads that good in this league. Wish him all the best, never ever gave it less than flat out effort, and a lovely lad too.
Right now any signing for Dundalk will feel like an impactful signing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack B
Rumours that Dundalk and a few others were after Evan Weir but just announced that he is now with Walsaw FC and on loan to Drogs till the summer at least.
This could end up being an interesting case in due course. A player moving from a club to another club having the same owner with a fee and then loan back. Not a big deal in this case but could be if top clubs use this loophole in muticlub ownership to manipulate FFP. Hypothetical, Sheik Mansour owns Man City and say Valencia, City are pushing limits on players they can sign for major money so Valencia sign the player and then the player is loaned to City. It may be happening already but on a scale below the radar but I can see the potential for abuse meaning a rule change which would then change the whole 'feeder club' setup. Waterford/Fleetwood, Drogs/Walsall, Shels/Hull wont cause a furore but its only a matter of time that it does elsewhere and that could be a problem for these linkups if their purpoe ends up being limited.Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanDrog
Chris Lyons has signed for LTFC. Could be a useful addition.
Wasn’t it announced the Hull owner relinquished his shares in Shels club and handed them back to the board for free?Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesta99
A player you hate when he's on the opposite side, a proper pain in the hoop. Good addition.Quote:
Originally Posted by Longfordian
Adam Murphy on his way to Bristol City. Pats will get almost €250k compensation though which is great money for any player that’s out of contract
https://www.thesun.ie/sport/11925964...-bristol-city/
Seems the move was driven by Pats not wanting to do business with Dundalk as opposed to any compensation to agree, odd if true, but nothing really should surprise these days in LOI.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack B
Sean Guerins and Conor Barry leave Treaty United.
Will be tough going with a relatively young squad so far.
He was on a long term contract at Pats by all accounts. Probably the reason why he wasn’t offered a new contract, as he wasn’t out of contract…Quote:
Originally Posted by total hoofball
“Ben McCormack signs for Waterford for an undisclosed fee”. No mention of compensation/out of contract. Taking from St. Pats themselves.
That’s a huge blow. We will need to replace him quick and we need a RB in aswell.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
Can’t see a third right back being brought in. Definitely need another centre midfielder though, and another centre back too if one of McGrath or Norman aren’t here next year (both still TBC)Quote:
Originally Posted by D24Saint
Agreed, I think McLaughlin was probably signed in the first place with a view to replacing Curtis. Fitness allowing he and Sjoberg should be good. The squad looks pretty good overall but needs some depth in the other positions at the back and a good replacement for Murphy/Lyness would be nice.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
Well by all accounts from the Indo and Dundalk Democrat last month during Dundalk's interest he was out of contract at Pats. Also nothing further from Pats regarding any change in his contract status since they announced contract extensions for both McCormack and Burns back in July 2021Quote:
Originally Posted by sulywaterfordfc
https://www.independent.ie/regionals...708252651.html
https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/...23-season.html
https://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=8947
I’d have some faith in McLaughlin but not Sjoberg tbh. He isn’t good enough to be a regular RB at this level and he is constantly plagued by injuries.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack B
Hard to know with Sjoberg as he really barely played, he looked alright when he did and they obviously rate him enough to have kept him on, all going well he'll likely only be second choice anyway. Thought McLaughlin looked good when he played but he had Curtis ahead of him and had been without a club for a while so building up his fitness was an issue. He's got a good 150+ games across the Championship, SPL, League One and international level in his career though which by LOI standards is quite impressive, so with a good run of fitness I can see him being a perfectly able replacement even if not at the ridiculous level Curtis was. We've currently got three centre backs including Grivosti coming off an ACL injury and only one left back in Breslin so I'd see both positions as more of a priority for adding depth to right now.Quote:
Originally Posted by D24Saint
The wordings from Pats and the statement by Waterford have no mention of the player being out of contract. Imo it appears as though it is an actual transfer. Doesn’t matter hugely to be truth. I’m happy with the signing likewise is the fan base. Need several more incomings still, think we’ve 15 signed atm.Quote:
Originally Posted by total hoofball
Good point on Breslin. He missed a couple of games through suspension in 2022 but other than that he’s started pretty much every game for the last 2 years and we had no backup left back in the squad last season. If that free run of injuries ends then we’d be snookered really. McClelland can and has filled in there in the past (along with most positions on the pitch!) but if Breslin was to pick up a long term injury without another natural LB in the squad it would massively affect the team IMOQuote:
Originally Posted by Jack B
Yeah I think we've been fortunate with Breslin's availability, great trait to have mind! I suppose if we were to re-sign either Norman or McGrath then being left footed they could cover that final centre back position as well as Breslin if in a pinch though, as can McClelland as you say although he's been a bit ropey there on the rare times he's filled in there. Overall we're looking good but if I were being greedy I wouldn't say no to any of another keeper (Lyness/replacement for him), centre back, left back, centre mid (Murphy replacement) or winger.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
Hoban set to be sold to Derry this week for a ‘small undisclosed fee’
https://www.independent.ie/regionals...282676674.html
Jaysus, that's grim reading and I'm not even a Dundalk fan.
Certainly is. What’s the story with the new owner is he pumping any investment into the club or just a placeholder.Quote:
Originally Posted by RealJohn91
Jamie McGonigle departed Derry for Coleraine….
Darragh Burns announced at Castle Wolfenstein (Tallaght stadium)
You know Castle Greyskull is the home of the good guys right?Quote:
Originally Posted by D24Saint
Sounded dodgy as a kid. Delete that post.Quote:
Originally Posted by Poor Student