He'd have something to prove alright.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
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He'd have something to prove alright.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
If the limit of Rovers ambitions is to be the perennial 4th place team, then the defense is adequate for that. The 4 consecutive clean sheets and being the team with the 3rd best defensive record in the league is ok.Quote:
Originally Posted by Park_Lane
If you look at the current league table you will see a big gulf in results: the clean sheet and goals conceded record between Rovers to Cork and Dundalk is substantial. The 24 points gap to the top of the table and the goal difference of +17 to + 51 (is that a 300% difference?) illustrates the enormous ground to make up.
Watts, Greene & Mannus will help to bridge this gap for 2019, but a defence that is picking form these guys will continue to suffer
Ethan Boyle
Roberto Lopes
Sam Bone
Joey O’Brien
Ally Gilchrist
Luke Byrne
Lee Grace
The other major obstacle for a 2019 title challenge is obvious and requires no further comment
Fair enough, watt joined shams because he could get more playing time than at Dundalk (and it was his dream) ;) and took a pay cut from the massive amount he was on at Bohs. Finn is actually playing for his 'love' of shams and has no contract with any company sponsoring a LOI club :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
.....if thats what you want to believe.
Obsessed Much?!Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
Well Watts is not being paid 156K per year if thats what you believe!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by marinobohs
Just replying to your comment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Park_Lane
If you disagree, by all means offer an alternative opinion, instead of that hackneyed old line
Rumours from opposition fans when finn signed was that he was geting 3k a week, a car, a helicopter and a job at pepper. Although I've never seen that helicopter and he has never worked for pepper.:confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
Would that that were so...Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
We've conceded ten more goals than Dundalk and that with two **** keepers that conceded a lot of ridiculous goals. Defence really isn't much of a problem, iv'e been more impressed with Boyle that I was with Madden he offers a lot more. Grace is one of the best center backs in the league and we will have Clarke at left back again next season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
Main problem was the keepers and thats now fixed.
That's hardly a brilliant addition to the discussionQuote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
With nearly 29,000 posts on here you are not exactly adverse to making a comment or two yourself
(even if you are irritated about being called out on some of the bizarre claims you make)
O'Brien has been great for us apart from the sending off at pats. Grace has not been in the best of form but is still a very decent CD. Ally G will be released come end of season. Not convinced on Boyle either but has had a fair few decent games of late. A decent right back is a priority.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
A back line of
Manus - Kavanagh - O'Brien - Grace - AN other looks fairly decent for next season.
Rovers like all the other clubs in the league are miles behind the Dundalk and Cork Squads, but its not insurmountable as you are led to believe by your stats.
We have been inconsistent but so have Derry/Pats etc.
I honestly take more joy with seeing the likes of Bazunu, Bolger and Brandon Kavanagh coming through than worrying how far we are off from the top 2, we will eventually rise to the top again. Its just a matter of time.
eh that's not what I said at all , just that they weren't on 3k a week which I doubt anyone on the league is on but don't let what I actually said interfere with what you want to say I said :)Quote:
Originally Posted by marinobohs
How's them lemons ?
In fairness to him I doubt his percentage on the one topic is as high as yoursQuote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
We probably offered Eoghan Stokes 3k a week as well, but he went to bohs. Wonder what you lot must be paying him.Quote:
Originally Posted by marinobohs
So you have doubts about Grace, Gilchirst and Boyle?Quote:
Originally Posted by Park_Lane
Throw in reservations about Pico Lopes and Luke Byrne and we are almost in complete agreement - Rovers remain defensively vulnerable despite two excellent signing in Watts and Greene
Rovers back line next season
Manus
Boyle.....Grace.....O Brien........Clarke
Clarke coming back will be huge for us. B
oyle had a bad few games at the start and everyone has taken the lazy view that he was bad at the start he is still bad but for those of us going to all the games Boyle has become huge for us.
I genuinely think if he leaves us it will be to England.
Cue lots of disagreement but I think over time people will see this.
No doubts about Grace, just needs experience beside him. Byrne is a squad player, Pico also a squad player at best.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
Our issues this year were goalkeeper related mainly, that has been addressed.
Agree RE Boyle, not sure he is UK material but has vastly improved since start of season.
I respect our view as you have obviously seen much more of these guys than I have, but I can really only go on what I have seen.Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
I sincerely hope that the Rovers Head Coach and Sporting Director (and whoever else makes up the transfer delegations) agree with your assessment and make no defensive signings.
Sam Byrne has joined Dundalk on an 18 month contract following his release by Everton.
Fans haven't seen much of him in his six month loan spell, but Kenny must see enough in training to offer him a deal.
https://www.dundalkfc.com/byrne-sign...nent-contract/
Dundalk also announced Marco Tagbajumi left the club today, he was on a 12 month contract. He was popular as a cult figure amongst the shed side and I`m sure he tried his best, but he was never up to the standard in my view. Although I repeat a previous post, his performance away to Rovers in the earlier season league game offered real hope he would be a very useful addition, that never seemed to be materialise and he was used less and less.
Scored 2 league goals I read earlier, one was a winner 2-0 v Waterford at home.
Lemons ? WTF are you on ? (not 3 grand a week ;)) watts was never staying at Dalymount - it was a short term loan arrangement. Why the hell would I care what shams latest money wasting scheme is ? Fourth place never cost so much, I just find it hilarious you spoofing Watts reason for joining shams was anything other than money. One of your fellow deniers isn't even aware of Finns arrangement with Pepper (or pretends it doesn't exist).Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
Hopefully watts can follow the trend set by Lopez and Byrne - 3 times the wages for half the player :cool:
Big shock this one- Stephen Kenny leaves by mutual consent.
Boyle > Madden is a mad claimQuote:
Originally Posted by Asterix
'Tis interesting how 2 Rovers fans see Boyle and Grace in very different ways
Quote:
Originally Posted by Park_Lane
I know who finn works for, its not Pepper.Quote:
Originally Posted by marinobohs
Jesus Christ man it's no secret the club helped get finn a job but it's not with pepper.Quote:
Originally Posted by marinobohs
How is very decent "very different" to one of the best in the league, its pretty much the same thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
This really is hilarious for a man who doesn't care :)Quote:
Originally Posted by marinobohs
My fellow denier is right by the way Ronan Finn does not have a part time job (or any for that matter) with Pepper.
people often disagree on players, I think McEleney is a super player and would have loved to have signed him but I know plenty of people who think he is a luxury flat track bully. its horses for coursesQuote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
On the Boyle to Madden thing I would have Boyle every day over Madden and ive seen a lot of both.
Grace has bags of potential, he showed it last year after he transferred in. Has been short of form this year but its obvious he has the talent. I suppose not having a regular central defense partner to gel with might explain it somewhat.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
As good as Madden is at running up and down the line he can't cross a ball. Its an easy choice for me to pick Boyle ahead of him.
You've actually nailed it there , he always looked good flying up the wing and saw a lot of the ball before Clarke came in but i got tired of the lack of end product in terms of assists and also the odd goal or two.Quote:
Originally Posted by Asterix
i actually think he scored 1 goal in 4 years although it was a great last minute winner against Limerick.
Fine by me if that is how you see it, but I think " not been in the best of form but is still a very decent CB" is a long way removed from "one of the best center backs in the league"Quote:
Originally Posted by RathfarnhamHoop
In my opinion the top five centre backs in the league are to be found among these players at Cork and Dundalk:
- Sean Hoare
- Brian Gartland
- Dan Cleary
- Sean McLaughlin
- Alan Bennett
- Damian Delaney (TBC)
Examples of "decent" centre backs in my view are
- Kyle McFadden
- Aaron Barry
- Dave Webster
- Rob Cornwall
- Lee Grace
- Dan Casey
"Decent" teams compete for top half finishes and maybe manage a Europa place. The best in the league challenge for and win trophies
I would put grace ahead of all of the the top 5 u have picked , but like I said horses for coursesQuote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
Which one of the 6 I listed would you rank ahead of Grace?Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
I assumed you were excluding Delaney with the TBC. personally I don't think he has anything to prove as an ex international the only thing that might mitigate against him is age.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
Of the others Gartland and Bennett are on the way out while Grace is a young guy who has great potential to improve and is already excellent.
The others are all very good but its hard to separate players , are they better than Kevin Toner??
I'm happy with Grace over the 6 (or 5 I thought) you had. I'm sure you will disagree but then like I said about McEleney earlier people disagree that's football.
I'll try to gracefully exit this thread now, with the mad notion ringing in my ear - not just is Lee Grace among the best centre backs in the country, but at least one Rovers fan has actually elevated him to be the very best centre back currently playing in the league!
Nothing queerer than folks opinions on their own clubs players
indeed that is very true , you do tend to prove that a lot :)
to be fair I said its hard to separate players and id have Grace over the others its hardly me saying he is the new Paul McGrath just I don't see much difference beween your list (I would exclude Gartland and Bennet for the same reason I assume you put the TBC against Delaney)
which side do u come down on re McEleney ..excellent player or McEleney flat track bully / luxury player?
Do i really have to break down for you that still very decent when out of form means theyre better when they're in form?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
To have some of those 6 above Grace is delusional tooQuote:
In my opinion the top five centre backs in the league are to be found among these players at Cork and Dundalk:
- Sean Hoare
- Brian Gartland
- Dan Cleary
- Sean McLaughlin
- Alan Bennett
- Damian Delaney (TBC)
Examples of "decent" centre backs in my view are
- Kyle McFadden
- Aaron Barry
- Dave Webster
- Rob Cornwall
- Lee Grace
- Dan Casey
"Decent" teams compete for top half finishes and maybe manage a Europa place. The best in the league challenge for and win trophies
Talk of him coming to Richmond , doesn't sound like the cure to our goals problem from what you've said.Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel