That one any better ? ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Poor Student
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That one any better ? ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Poor Student
Great signing for Rovers, think Burns has just had an unlucky time of it in England and is more so a classic case of a player choosing the wrong club at the wrong time rather than there being any lack of ability. Bit of a weird one with him in that he couldn't come across as more of a Pats lad in terms of coming up through the academy, the way he spoke to folk about the club, regularly turning up to games as a fan since he left etc, but there were also murmurs that he wanted a move to Rovers even before going abroad materialised so this seemed inevitable.
“…. Money doesn’t talk… “ etcQuote:
Originally Posted by Jack B
hope rovers dont play him as a wing back. one of the best wingers ive seen play here over the last 10 years.
On form he is explosive but can be moody. If Bradley handles him right he will be a good signing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jd2793
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Originally Posted by D24Saint
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Originally Posted by Poor Student
I just call it Mordor.Quote:
Originally Posted by D24Saint
Solid policyQuote:
Originally Posted by ger121
Pat's made no statement and Waterford's statement did not go into deep details other an undisclosed fee was involved, it's still technically a 'transfer' for an out-of-contract player involving a developmental fee as he was on an expired professional contract while under 23 years of ageQuote:
Originally Posted by sulywaterfordfc
Really is staggering incompetence by Dundalk to have told him in October that he was surplus to requirements without finalising their attempts to source investmentQuote:
Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
Totally agree, the only item I will raise in their defence is change of ownership was in between all of this, that said its just a mess.
You can call it Mor anything. Trophies for a start.Quote:
Originally Posted by ger121
Happy new year Ger.
Hoban could recognise the change in circumstances and back down. No issue with saving face as new ownership is all that needs to be pointed out. There is more to this than is the public domain. How about it being about a player that is getting toward the sell by date, wants a last decent payday, doesnt want damage to any legacy as a club legend so calls it as being forced out. If he was offered a new contract with an extension he'd stick. Id be surprised if he wasnt told that the club wants him to stay and contract talks start summer 24, where by then maybe he'd not be in as strog a position to make demands. Unless there is a falling out with management.
Its not the 1st time there has been contract issues with the same player/agent.
Id have liked to see him stay but in an adapted role where he plays deeper, behind or beside a new striker, and not just up top on his own. He can finish when chances are created of course but we werent providing him the service he thrves on last season - he roamed and got on the ball and claimed plenty of assists. More than his goals will be missed. That said Im not convinced that he will be that prolific at Derry as he is evolving away from a out and out striker with age.
So did taggart.Quote:
Originally Posted by ger121
Burns is a great signing for Rovers (hopefully). Also talk of the possibility of Aaron Mceniff coming back to play for the Hoops,which would be just dandy
derry getting hoban, how boring. how many is that now from dundalks great team? any chance of a bit of imagination up there
a last decent pay day (presume it’s longer contract than the yr he had left at Dundalk?) and a better chance of a few more medals. But bizarre for Dundalk to let him go for a nominal sumQuote:
Originally Posted by Nesta99
if he can be as good as Farrugia was a WB I’d be happy!Quote:
Originally Posted by Jd2793
You’d have to think Daryl Horgan is regretting moving back to Dundalk,2 and half years ago he was playing for Ireland and now it looks like he’ll be playing for mid table at best for Dundalk ….
Dundalk, Sligo and Drogheda looking the obvious relegation candidates at this stage you'd have thought?
It’s probably early days to call who’ll be in danger,you’d imagine Galway and Waterford will be looking to add strikers to their squads yet,I’d say it’ll be a proper dogfight though no UCD’s, Harps or Cork’s !! to make life easier for them!Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Not sure what Galway and Waterford have done to avoid that listQuote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
We only got 15 signed (officially announced), we’ll definitely be looking to add several more I’d say. As there’s no UCD, could be any one of Dundalk, Sligo, Drogs, Galway and Waterford occupy the bottom two. None standout out from one another imo, and I don’t think any on paper right now are good enough to challenge the top half. Think Bohs will be comfortable 5th, a distant off top 4. Things don’t look good for Dundalk though, losing a lot of players, there’s next to no quality experienced league players available either. Could be a difficult year if there squad is filled with inexperienced youths from the different UK leagues.Quote:
Originally Posted by joey B
I hope you are correct, that would mean Bohs are safe!! We've let approx 6 go for different reasons and only signed 2Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Galway walked the First Division and hammered two Premier sides in the Cup last year. It'd surprise me if they were in a dogfight, but then Galway have surprised me beforeQuote:
Originally Posted by Nah Nah Nah Nah
Waterford probably a fair call; Coughlan is a huge loss.
Sligo and Dundalk the two sides most obviously going backwards at the moment I think, and from not great starting points
If Bohs are in a relegation fight next year too, then I think we can start to crack out the "weakest league ever" moniker again!Quote:
Originally Posted by Shinkicker
Galway and Waterford will fight it out for the bottom spot imo,they haven't got remotely the kind of talent that's going to see them in mid table. Would choke to death with laughter at dundalk getting relegated but they'd have to really fall apart for that to happen. Think Sligo are the one team from this season's premier division who might be "in the mixer" for the playoff's.
Drogs and boez are too solid to be anywhere near the bottom.
Not sure why you think Bohs will be comfortable next year. I read here that we have 18 signed for next year. That number remains the same but with the noticeable loss of Afolabi our only senior striker on the books. We have probably the worst keeper in the league as our starter. Our captain is starting the season on the injury list barring a miraculous recovery (even when he recovers he was always reliant on being the fittest player on the pitch so it will be some time before he's back to form) and we only have 4 recognised defenders in a defence that has been a weak spot for the last 3 seasons. It's great having 18 players signed but if they are all trying to fit into the same 2 or 3 positions then it's worth feck allQuote:
Originally Posted by sulywaterfordfc
On paper the league looks set to be less competitive than normal for the European places. It seems several clubs are struggling with recruitment. How our new players gel into the squad will be interesting. If we can get back into Europe and give Derry and Rovers a close run id be happy.
Plenty of examples of teams cruising to the first division title not finding the premier division straightforward in the past. Be interesting to see how they get on.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Still too early to say how good certain sides will be with any confidence really. Bohs are in a dodgy situation up front and in defence, and likewise Dundalk look to be in a particularly worrying state with their squad, especially once Hoban is gone, yet for all the negativity around them at the moment you wouldn't put it past a few correct calls in recruitment meaning they don't have much to worry about in terms of getting caught up at the bottom of the table. Considering some of the players already there too. Feels like Rovers, Derry, Pats and Shels are the only sides you can get a gauge on at the moment as to varying degrees they were able to hold onto the bulk of the existing squad and largely add to it with players from within the league/that have experience of it.
Well every cloud has a silver lining!Quote:
Originally Posted by placid casual
Maybe not by quite that margin though, and hammering two Premier sides in the Cup as well. (Granted, everyone hammered us, so that win just indicates they can keep up)Quote:
Originally Posted by Nah Nah Nah Nah
Limerick and Waterford (2016/17) were the last two to romp the division and ended up seventh and fourth the following season.
But that doesn't mean Galway will do the same of course. Be an interesting one, as you say.
I don't think anyone outside of Shamrock Rovers, Derry, Pats or Shelbourne can sit too comfortably at the minute.
It's very early days yet, but Sligo and Waterford seem the two at danger for me currently.
Looks like Coughlan to Fleetwood to be confirmed shortly . Don’t know what the link is doing for Waterford.
Agree on the 1st point but Bohs have a squad even if lacking in some key positions. Dundalk are in trouble unless there is a lot in the works that we dont know about but currently I would have us in yer group with Sligo and Waterford. Even if we make a bunch of world class signings it is another rushed and disrupted preseason without anything like a settled squad/ By this stage we should be adding to a stable base yet it feels a lot more like a rebuild - Hoban or no Hoban.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
No such thing as to good to go down, who would have had Cork going down and that was with UCD (no offence Stu) probably occupying 1 of the bottom 2 last year and this year there is no obvious weak link for number 10 position.
Waterford look the weakest at the moment i reckon but i went along to the playoff final in Tallaght and i couldnt get over the antics of the owners Son. If he is 25% as committed to Waterford as his MULTIPLE celebrations there might be a few bob or loans going into Waterford in Jan.
Sligo almost managed to fall into the playoff place last year and were abject at times so id have them next in line.
Then Drogs, then Dundalk unless either sort themselves out soon.
Cant see Bohs not being in a decent state by the start of the season, even losing Afolabis 12? goals they have the money to spend on replacements.
I think Galway will surprise people and be better then people think
Any clubs fortunes can change with 4 or 5 new decent additions, will reserve judgement on Dundalk until the numbers are filled up.
For now no point as clearly 7-8 maybe even more are required, will all depend on that quality, Hoban will be moving on that's clear, his pace has gone a little and didn't do much in europe last season (1 goal in 4 games), that said I'd have kept him, but whats the point with a player clearly disgruntled and wanting out, could effect whole team, still the whole episode was so badly managed.
As things stand, its not looking great for 2024, hopefully things will settle down in the next week or so.
Looks like on average across the 10 Premier Divisions teams about 75% of squads of filled now with the 4 European teams around 90% filled they probably only have maybe 2-3 signings each to make
The other 6 clubs are going to have to recruit seriously well within the next 6 weeks to have optimism of punching into that top 3 of 4, I think Shels will be the most vulnerable to fall out of that top 4. With the pool of known LOI players mostly snapped up by now I'm expecting alot of unknown UK, foreign and loan signings to be announced by the other 6 which is an expensive lottery if you get it wrong as Cork, Sligo, Finn Harps and Dundalk have experienced in recent years
I think Galway and Waterford look to be in a bit better shape than UCD and Cork from last season but I do think those two and Drogheda are looking early contenders for the relegation spots, if Dundalk and Sligo balls things up with recruitment then they can easily be in the relegation mix
Dundalk signed Koen Oostenbrink,Dutch midfielder last played in May for Eindhoven in the Dutch Eerste Division,played 19 times for them in 22/23,as always its a wait and see with these types of players…..
Confirmed now. I'm sure Fleetwood will sort them out with a replacement striker. You can maybe see why in their predicament at the bottom of the table they would want to try an in-form goalscorer albeit at a bad level, not camparing Coughlan to their signing of Jamie Vardy from the Northern Premier League years agoQuote:
Originally Posted by gufct
https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news...-announcement/
Id have Drogheda ahead of us and Dundalk at the momentQuote:
Originally Posted by total hoofball