I'm sure there's more than a few that can speak English. Big Dave their centre forward was in Sheffield long enough, he'll be a help.
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English is very widely spoken in Cyprus, almost universally so. That coupled with it being the primary language in football and a few players in that squad having spent time in England language will be no barrier.
Didn’t Byrne play a season in the Eridivisie as well? He should be in good shape as a footballer and a person for playing abroad imo.
I am also inclined to feel that McCarthys early departure could be a blessing as he can quickly shake of the shackles of being McCarthy’s man from Ireland, and as well as he clearly gets on with McCarthy, Mick’s style of football is probably not to Jack’s benefit overall or particularly suited to him.
If he doesn’t succeed at Apoel there will be very few mitigating circumstances or excuses and I feel it will be more the case that he just isn’t up to scratch, but I don’t think that’ll be the case and believe it remains an excellent move.
Jack B still on a 2.5 year, some say up to 12k a week, great deal. Regardless if the new man likes him or not, he will still have the contract. He needs to play though to be considered for Ireland.
He has the talent though to give himself as good a chance as the rest to make it, plus its the squad before him that got them into this mess, they are currently 11th from 14.
In local news, Brian Gartland signed new deal with DFC this am, although not confirmed, would appear he will be the last of the 2020 squad to get offered a deal.
Good point! I think myself that the sudden change in manager can be downheartening for a player who has just signed. I hope the new manager will be openminded to signings of previous coaching staff. It could be unsettling initially but hopefully then his ability will see him in to the first 11.
I vaguely remember I think it was Padraig Staunton signing for PNE by Moyes and days later Moyes took the Everton job and Staunton was immediately out in the cold, loaned out (Leonidas FC?) and then ended up back at Dundalk and ultimately in GAA. It was a strange one as Dundalk didnt get a fee in the end as the new manager at PNE stopped outstanding transfers but something like player registration had changed hands so Staunton was hence a PNE player. DFC officials travelled over to try and sort it out but its never been down as a transfer fee in for Dundalk. Im open to correction on details there if any Dundalk fans happen to know what the complications were - maybe he wasnt on a contract that demanded a fee and it would have been a goodwill fee or something!? Im pretty sure Dundalk were told to get lost though!
You can argue the case it either way, but a manager suddenly leaving can often be a real problem for a player - a new manager could take a dislike to you and you're frozen out entirely.
Wouldn't be entirely confident this is good news for him. But sure we'll we see how it goes I guess. I know the Cypriot league is unstable, but I don't think anyone expected Mick to be sacked quite that quickly!
Yeah, that's fair for sure.
Worst case scenario is I'm sure Rovers would take him back. Though it's not great for the LoI to be seen to be taking back too many of its transfers (McMillan, Boyle, Hoban, Burke, McEleney) cos it makes it hard to argue for a decent fee in future.
But he's a decent player who can do a job more than pretty much any LoI player of the last few years
Aaron Dobbs back at LTFC after a year at Shels. Not too sure why to be honest. He didn't do much in the First Division in his last spell.
He's still young maybe he'll come good yet. Won't be holding my breath though.
I agree with this. With Apoel appointing their FIFTEENTH manager since 2015 today, it’s likely that Byrne would’ve been aware that it would be unlikely Mick would be the only manager he played under out there. Granted he obviously would’ve expected to have played more than 5 minutes under Mick but still. As said in the thread by someone, his ability should see him get a run in the team at some stage and if he performs well then he will build his reputation in Cyprus
There is so much about the origins of money in the Cypriot league that is said to be dodge, paying off managers could help launder a few quid... If they were in lockdown they'd be getting desperate as gate income often came in at much higher than ticket sales and attendances, lots of cash on the gate paid to get in, premium hospitality tickets given out... and its tip of the iceberg!
John Mountney has signed for Pats.