Gary Dempsey has left Aberdeen and signed for Yeovil in the First Division.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...il/6756869.stm
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Gary Dempsey has left Aberdeen and signed for Yeovil in the First Division.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...il/6756869.stm
Owen Garvan was given some time off for "Personal Reasons"..... Oh NO!! It's Thomas Butler all over again!!!
McGeady before tomorrow's first pre-season match against Basel (on Setanta 1):
"There are always areas which I can improve upon. I felt my form dipped over the last five or six games last time around so I want to get back to the way I played at the start of the season.
"One of the things I will look to improve upon is scoring goals, as well as creating more. But the main aim for me is to get my name on the scoresheet far more often.
"I think double figures for me is a necessity and I know I'm capable of it. It's up to how good my finishing is and how many chances I'll get, of course.
"Why didn't I score more last season? I think my finishing let me down. I would stick a chance past the post, put one over the bar or hit the woodwork, which I did a lot.
"I think I should really have been scoring more. I know I didn't get enough goals.
"A midfielder should really be wanting to chip in with double figures every season. You look at what Petrov and Thompson did when they were in their prime at Celtic Park. They did that every year.
"If you can get into double figures every season then it's going to be a big boost to the team.
"Just look at last season. Our scoring tally was really down on the season before and that was down to the midfielders as well as the strikers, which is something we can improve on.
"I was always a bit of a goalscorer until I got into the first team. Maybe that's to do with playing out on the wing - not that I'm an orthodox winger but I've been told to play there.
"I always played inside but that changed when I made the step up.
"Hopefully I can be a big personality now. Those guys before were the older players such as Thompson, Sutton, Larsson and Petrov.
"I want to be one them this season. I want to become one of the main men in the team.
"I haven't spoken to the manager about it yet.
"I played more central against AC Milan and that's eventually where I would like to play. I'm not 18 any more. I'm not the little skinny boy who has just got in the team.
"It was easy to push me out wide and not be in the middle of the hustle-bustle in midfield. I was small and the best thing to do was to play me outside - and I've been there ever since.
"I've worked hard in the gym because I'm clearly not the biggest lad. I feel as if I've got gradually bigger. When our former fitness coach Jim Henry was here, I did a lot of work for him.
"He was good because he knew that I didn't need to bulk myself up too much.
"I wouldn't want to lose a little bit of speed or that burst of space."
I see Nicky Weaver has signed for Charlton on a free transfer....bad news for Darren Randolph then...
Could have been worse... Pardew would have been crazy not to buy another keeper given Randolphs age and experience... And Weavers profile isn't such that it automatically relegates Randolph to sub keeper. If he's gonna succeed he's gonna have to keep out better keepers than Weaver.
Richard Dunne will captain Man City again under Eriksson - http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....svens_men.html
Sean Thornton has been signed by Orient
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia
Where are Orient? League 1/League 2??? Think he would have been better off going back to Pats imho...
Hopefully it is not anything that is going to hinder his progress.He is my great hope for this season.Looked at Ipswich board a few days ago and they are excited about his progree.Apparantly he was playing great stuff in his last few games of the seasom.If anybody has got any explaination for him being ignored by Caffery & Staunton last season it would be gratefully recieved.Quote:
Originally Posted by dr_peepee
They're in League 1, finished 5th from bottom last season :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Ogba
If Thornton couldn't resist the bright lights of Sunderland and Doncaster what is he going to be like in London
Edit*
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheifo
Garvan is back at Ipswich now and is reported to be in fine fettle for the new season.
He's been included in their training squad at Loughborough University: http://www.itfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page...069454,00.htmlQuote:
Originally Posted by drummerboy
Sqaud also includes Alex Bruce, Alan Lee, Billy Clarke, George O'Callaghan, Jon Walters, Shane Supple and Michael Synnott
Peter Murphy's signed a 2-year deal with Carlisle, having previously looked likely to leave on a Bosman.
Still cant believe he has a cap, even worse than LapiraQuote:
Originally Posted by Hitman
Red-hot Cillian awaits chance to show Strach he’s got fire in his belly
Quote:
THE debate over who will be Celtic's main strike pairing this year is already spicing up the Parkhead club's pre-season.
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink is universally perceived to be immovable as one of the front two, injury allowing.
But who lines up alongside the giant Dutchman is anyone's guess, with Scott McDonald and Chris Killen arriving in the last few weeks to challenge Maciej Zurawski, Kenny Miller and Derek Riordan for the role of main supporting act.
With goals as short in supply last season as dry days have been since the Scottish Cup was lifted by Neil Lennon at the end of May, the hope was that the game-intensive pre-season schedule would yield a few clues as to where the remedy would be found.
But with just two goals in two games against Basel and Young Boys of Berne - Miller and Jiri Jarosik opening their accounts - it is clear the flood gates are going to take a bit longer to open.
Of course, it is far too early to be repeating the folly of 12 months ago when no goals in the first four games of pre-season prompted crisis headlines.
But manager Gordon Strachan would like to see things begin to click up front sooner rather than later as the next double header - at Peterborough tomorrow and against QPR on Sunday - awaits before games Stateside against MLS All-Stars then Chicago Fire.
But could yet another option be given his chance to shine during upcoming games? Cillian Sheridan certainly hopes so.
This time last year, the teenager's ambitions lay no higher than to enjoy a game with his mates in the local park.
Now, after getting a taste of the big-time last season when he came on to set up the last-minute winner in the Scottish Cup tie against Inverness -- the reward for some sensational performances at youth and reserve level - all eyes are on this lanky scoring machine to see if he has continued his amazing progress.
The coach who oversaw his rapid rise to the first team, ex-youth team manager and now reserve team boss Willie McStay, would like nothing better than to discover the 18-year-old can give Strachan another serious option in the quest for goals.
McStay said: "It was a whirlwind season for Cillian. He only came into the club in August, trained with the youths and then went to Villarreal for a tournament."You could immediately see potential in him, and he is a player who has improved not game to game, but day to day.
"This will be a big season for Cillian because it has all happened so quickly for him.
"I'm sure now he will be trying to take stock of what has happened to him already, and it will be interesting to see how he comes back."
McStay is speaking holistically as the bean-pole striker not only needs to add to his physique, but must also toughen up mentally if he is to cope with the demands of delivering on a regular basis.
An injury put an untimely spoke in his wheel when he was flying following his breakthrough to the first team, and by the time he was fit again his talents were required more at youth and reserve level.
But Sheridan's promise is one reason Strachan was prepared to allow Craig Beattie to move to West Brom, netting the club £1.25million in the process.
And McStay hopes he can now step into the void left by the Scotland striker.
The coach said: "The most important thing is that we see a bit of development in his physical side because Cillian needs to get a bit stronger.
"He is quick and can run all day, but he needs a little more body strength, especially playing high up the pitch as a No.9.
"You need that in this league especially. So, he will be one to look for this season."
Short article about Jim O'Brien on celticfc.net:
http://www.celticfc.net/news/stories...707141525.aspx
Graham Stack looking to fight for his place on the Reading team: http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk...072390,00.html
Billy Dennehy has been training with the Sunderland first team, and has been given the squad number 35 for the upcoming season
Jim O'Brien scored and was Celtic's motm against Peterborough tonight.
Quote:
AS the preseason programme continues to gather pace, Gordon Strachan’s side received a genuine physical test in the shape of Peterborough United, with Scott McDonald and Jim O’Brien’s goals earning the 2-1 win.
Celtic initially took time to warm to the task at London Road, with McDonald’s 19th minute opener and first goal in Celtic colours cancelled out by Aaron Mclean just three minutes later.
But as half-time approached, the Scottish champions began to get to grips with the game and in the opening period of the second half, they blitzed their English opponents, with O’Brien rattling home the sweetest of right foot finishes in the 53rd minute.
The Celtic youngster was in fact a stand-out in this match, with on-trial Calgiari playmaker Andrea Capone also showing some nice touches on the opposite flank.
O’Brien actually set-up Celtic’s first chance with just one minute on the clock, with his dipping free-kick screwed wide on the turn by McDonald.
The little Australian covered almost every square inch of the park during the course of the 90 minutes and in the latter stages of the game was a constant thorn in the Posh’s side, having two efforts chopped-off for offside.
However a ball swung in from the right, that was knocked down by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink in the 19th minute, allowed him the room to turn and drill a perfect low finish beneath goalkeeper Mark Tyler from seven yards out.
A defensive mix-up and scramble in the penalty box allowed Peterborough back into the game just three minutes later, with Rene Howe’s lay-off running through to Mclean who produced a side-footed finish from close range to level.
There were other chances for Peterborough in the wake of the goal, with Jamie Day stinging the palms of Mark Brown with a dipping volley. But as half-time approached, Celtic had the bit between their teeth and with Gordon Strachan making no changes during the interval, they took control after the restart.
Attacking in waves, Celtic penned in a home side, who in contrast had been completely changed at half-time by manager Darren Ferguson and the goal that followed in the 53rd minute was one of outstanding quality.
Jim O’Brien had shown some great touches throughout this match, at one point nut-megging his marker on the right as he took control of a long ball, but his winning strike was undoubtedly the highlight.
The ball arrived to him at the edge of the box and in one movement, the 20-year-old stepped onto the ball and placed a beautifully measured right-foot shot with the outside of his boot into the bottom corner.
With Celtic making changes late in the match and with the ‘new’ Peterborough line-up having found the pace, the home side succeeded in exerting some late pressure.
But the Scottish champions finished well and Gordon Strachan is likely to be pleased with the aptitude, ability and growing fitness of his players.
he's right sided, correct?Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
Yeah and can also play up front. He didn't set the world alight at Dunfermline imo but Kenny wanted to make the move permanent.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
/edit - his goal is in here:
http://www.letthepeoplesing.com/vide...ltic_goals_ssn
Cheers, nice finish. Comical defending for the equaliser.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
I rarely saw O'Brien last season, didn't stand out to be honest, but didn't seem to be doing much wrong, if Kenny wanted to keep him on he must have seen something in him. He'll have some battle to get into the starting midfield at Celtic, there must be at least 8 players going for 4 positions
Pardew has quoted that he plans to kepp Any Reid at Charlton for the coming season... Not big news I know but it's indicative of a couple of nibbles for him.. Hopefully he moves on. I think any of the promote clubs or even the Fulhams and Wigans of the world could do much worse!
Update on Steven Reid's progress: http://www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk/pa...072442,00.html
Interview with Jim O'Brien:
http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/hea...549350.0.0.php
Finnan signs new 3 year contract with Liverpool.
hello all
just a quick update from the leicetser Irish pre-season angle.
Logan, and new signing form reading, Jonathan Hayes have featured regularly in the build up and have both done well enough to travel on the clubs preseason tour of Scotland. Alan Maybury is transfer listed and has been left behind despite other listed players making the trip.
and remarkably, forgotten man Alan Sheehan has also been involved in the preseason games and played well in one game i watched against unibond side Quorn, interchanging between left back and left midfield and maknig 2 r 3 eyecatching passes. he has made the trip ahead of other left sided player Levi Porter, who was a first team regular last season, scoring several times.
also last season, leicester, pre Mandaric takeover, were on the brink of administraton again, and despite being in a relegation battle had to shed 4 first team regulars, yet through all this Alan Sheehan has remained a leicester player despite not having been in a matchday 16 all season, now on his 3rd manager he finds himself back in the mix, for now at least as there are more signings expected.
Welcome back crafty!!:)
thanks doc:)Quote:
Originally Posted by dr_peepee
in tonights game v Partick Thistle, Leicesters only Irish involvement was Alan Sheehan, playing left midfield ahead of a summer signing.He was injured however and replaced on the hour, no word yet on how serious the injury is.
Logan was on the bench for Leicester.
Ipswich Town have released their squad numbers for the upcoming season: http://www.itfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page...078973,00.html
Quote:
1.Shane Supple
5.Alex Bruce
7.Owen Garvan
14.Alan Lee
19. Jon Walters
21.George O'Callaghan
24.Billy Clarke
31. Michael Synnott
LUTON are set to move for Arsenal's Joe O'Cearuill after he impressed in a trial.
The defender, 20, has been told he can leave the Gunners after failing to break into the first team.
Hatters manager Kevin Blackwell is keen to sign defensive cover after the departure of centre-half Leon Barnett to West Brom
Leicesters squad numbers have been announced also,
Maybury doesnt get one at all, Conrad Logan gets 21, with other keeper Henderson getting 31, with Rab Douglas being omitted completely.
Jonathan Hayes gets 15 with Alan Sheehan getting nr 16.
Steven Reid back in training, but still a few weeks from playing, according to is diary: http://www.icons.com/reid/diary.html?26.07.07
Gareth McAuley (played 90 minutes) might disagree...;)Quote:
Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke
Anyhow, do you know was Gareth given a squad number for the new season? Is he likely to feature in Mad Dog's plans?
Kevin O'Connor is going on loan to Gillingham from Wolves until the new year: http://www.wolves.premiumtv.co.uk/pa...080014,00.html
From BBC Sport:
Quote:
New Bristol City striker Lee Trundle has revealed he is determined to force his way into the international reckoning with the Republic of Ireland.
The Liverpool-born forward, who has an Irish grandfather, is set to complete his £1m move from Swansea on Monday.
He impressed when scoring on his City debut in a 2-2 home friendly draw with Yeovil Town on Saturday.
And afterwards, Trundle told BBC Sport: "I'd like to play at the highest level and that includes internationals."
The arrival of the prolific 30-year-old, who has a pop star girlfriend and dapper dress sense, has caused a real buzz around Ashton Gate.
At Swansea, where he was revered by fans, Trundle even secured his own image rights deal.
His grandfather is from Inchicore, a suburb of Dublin, and Trundle has dreamed of playing international football since he was a schoolboy.
He said Republic manager Steve Staunton was aware of his eligibility and will keep an eye on his progress in the second tier of the English game.
"I scored 20-plus goals a season four years running for Swansea and I believe in my own ability, otherwise I wouldn't have come to the Championship," said the 6ft frontman.
"I could have stayed in the comfort zone at Swansea but I had to take the chance to step up and prove myself at a higher level."
He has an amiable personality, good looks and is engaged to former Atomic Kitten pop star Liz McClarnon, a fellow Everton supporter.
She has been scouring the property pages of the Bristol Evening Post to find somewhere for them to settle in the city.
It is the latest step in Trundle's blossoming professional career, which only started at the age of 24.
Trundle's path so far has some parallels with former Republic of Ireland striker John Aldridge.
Both Liverpool-born strikers did not turn professional until their 20s, before making a big impression at Welsh clubs (Aldridge for Newport) and going on to rise through the divisions.
Staunton is not overloaded with options up front as he struggles to lead the Republic to qualification for Euro 2008 but Trundle is an interesting prospect.
"Steve Staunton knows I'm eligible to play and looked at the level I was at, scoring goals, so I now have to do it in the Championship," he added.
Trundle looked sharp as he scored and also set up City's equaliser against Yeovil and manager Gary Johnson is confident he can improve further.
"I'm pleased we've been able to get a top person," revealed Johnson.
"He loves training and playing football, he has ambition and enthusiasm and that's why I like him so much. He's a great individual but with a team ethic.
"He was Swansea's best player for four years so they weren't going to give him up lightly.
"I don't normally talk to people over 30, never mind sign them, but he has the ambition of a 25-year-old."
Trundle, who angered rival fans with an anti-Cardiff City T-shirt during one controversial post-match celebration with the Swans, clearly wants to keep his supporters in south Wales on side.
He commented: "There might be some fans who are sad that I left but I hope the majority look at what I've done for the club because Swansea is a city I would like to go back to for visits.
"I do think they will be in the Championship soon. I'll keep a look out for them because it's a club close to my heart."
2 years ago, maybe he would. Strikers were thin on the ground, and if one of Keane or Morrison was injured, or suspended, it was usually left to the Doc or Connolly to go up front.Quote:
Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge
this season, we can look to Keane, Doyle, Stokes, Long, Murphy, Connolly, Folan, even Macken, all in the Premiership
In the Championship, there's Morrison, Best, Elliot, Keogh, Ward, Lee all looking good, with Clarke, Rooney and Walters all with potential.
Trundle is 31 in October, the average age of those players listed about would be about 24-25, I think it's too late for him.
Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
the temptaton to poke you with the wind up stick is strong, at this moment in time EG,but strongly suspect the mods wouldnt deem it the appropriate place to do so, but with Gods help i will conquer this terrible affliction ;)
yes, McCauley has been given nr.5 for the upcoming campaign and with one out one in thus far for the CB spots he does look like a player who will feature, particularly as the arrival is N'Gotty, who at 35 is unlikely to play every game.
and rightly so too, IMO, as Gareth has made the step up from league 2 comfortably enough, and even managed to look half decent at times in a poor poor side last year, got a goal in him too from the set piece.