2024 Season, Arrivals and Departures

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Originally Posted by oriel

Think I heard at the time when he had the choice to re-join DFC (but in P6 part 2 madness, he was right not to go back) and Rovers, the deal at the time with euro bonuses would be just under 500k for the duration of his contract. Big money.

I always think of Towell of having almost 4 careers, under the radar at Hibs (after Celtic), but he ran up some serious starts to be fair in a good standard Hibs side in a tough SPL season, then almost 'Blitzkrieg' pace at Dundalk 2013 - 2015, back to UK, did ok then again completely different level of football mainly at Salford, but a totally different role at Rovers last few seasons and to be fair he has been solid albeit pace going a little, I'd still pick him every week.

When he winds down his playing days, I think fair to say he can look back at having a very good career, always liked him as a player, was more than decent to towards kids / photos etc, good luck to him.

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Now you know why we like to go out of Europe early doors.

Cork's Gordon Walker has signed for Arbroath in the Scottish championship on an 18 month deal

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Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

Now you know why we like to go out of Europe early doors.

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That's not the attitude, keep Towell fit and revved up and you get a better chance of a first ever group stage euro win!

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Originally Posted by oriel

That's not the attitude, keep Towell fit and revved up and you get a better chance of a first ever group stage euro win!

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We can't afford to win if he plays!

Callum McNamara returns to Treaty United after a year injured while on the books of Galway United.

In 2022 he would have been Treaty's player of the year only for one Enda Curran scoring 20 goals.

Hitting the point now where it's going to be difficult to gauge certain business done by teams as the players coming in are completely unknown quantities in the league.

Seen Dundalk getting linked to players who have played mostly in the lower end of the Scottish leagues and Bohs have apparently gotten an Estonian defender who has good pedigree on paper, but the likes of Rovers, Pats and Sligo have recruited similar in the last year with extremely varying success on that front. Similarly, keeper was a big position for Pats to get right but the jury will firmly be out on Pitaluga until he gets going despite how highly-rated he seems to be.

For Bohs and Dundalk especially it feels like these signings in the next couple of weeks could make or break their seasons. They could each put out a decent starting eleven with what they have already but the squads are bare beyond that.

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Originally Posted by Jack B

Hitting the point now where it's going to be difficult to gauge certain business done by teams as the players coming in are completely unknown quantities in the league.

Seen Dundalk getting linked to players who have played mostly in the lower end of the Scottish leagues and Bohs have apparently gotten an Estonian defender who has good pedigree on paper, but the likes of Rovers, Pats and Sligo have recruited similar in the last year with extremely varying success on that front. Similarly, keeper was a big position for Pats to get right but the jury will firmly be out on Pitaluga until he gets going despite how highly-rated he seems to be.

For Bohs and Dundalk especially it feels like these signings in the next couple of weeks could make or break their seasons. They could each put out a decent starting eleven with what they have already but the squads are bare beyond that.

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From DFC perspective, you are spot on with that analysis.

Bohs released a statement on James Talbot and him currently facing mental health issues,missing for an unspecified period of time but it could be quite a while,hopefully he can get the help he needs and is back playing sooner rather than later…..

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Originally Posted by joey B

Bohs released a statement on James Talbot and him currently facing mental health issues,missing for an unspecified period of time but it could be quite a while,hopefully he can get the help he needs and is back playing sooner rather than later…..

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Best of luck to the chap in his recovery. Who have Bohs got to fill in while he is out ?

Luke Dennison is the back up keeper

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Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

Absolutely. He might be a bit more mobile without the big arms but his contribution on the pitch was brilliant, particularly at the start and end of the season. He's added a real bite to his game. We've been missing that since Bolger left.

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I don't agree at all. Towell was indeed superb in the 3-2 win against Pats and scored a great goal up in Derry but I thought he was ordinary for the most part and even outright poor. Coughed up possession stupidly to let Bohs back into it at Dalymount, acted the maggott in Cork and was frequently careless in possession. I think he cost us a goal against Drogs at home too but I can't remember if it was he who it was that gave the ball away. I want more from him. I feel we're keeping him just so someone else doesn't have him.

Poor when he came on in Dalymount alright but a key part of another title-winning squad. Us 'keeping him' is more to do with being able to afford a larger, more experienced squad - that's how you win multiple leagues.

Lack of depth in other areas, specifically at wing back, hurt us in Europe for instance but Towell is by no means a luxury IMO. Granted, if the rumoured new midfield signing is confirmed it becomes harder to see how he gets much game time.

Joseph Forde versatile defender age 20 joins Waterford from Perth Glory. He's been capped for Australia at under 20 level.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I don't agree at all. Towell was indeed superb in the 3-2 win against Pats and scored a great goal up in Derry but I thought he was ordinary for the most part and even outright poor. Coughed up possession stupidly to let Bohs back into it at Dalymount, acted the maggott in Cork and was frequently careless in possession. I think he cost us a goal against Drogs at home too but I can't remember if it was he who it was that gave the ball away. I want more from him. I feel we're keeping him just so someone else doesn't have him.

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Surprised by that Stutts. I think he was one of our better players, towards the end in particular. Fairly sure he was up for PotM at least once? Has a mistake in him alright. Not sure he's the brightest lad.

To your other point, I think we signed him because any team in their right mind would sign him budget willing. Nice bonus that he didn't go to Dundalk but Bradley doesn't really make decisions based on what other teams do. Remember we let Cleary go to Dundalk after having him on trial?

Won't even talk about Cork outside of saying Sean Grant only reffed one more time after that.

I think the expectation of Towell from fans (and probably himself) was that he would have the impact returning to the league that he had first time with Dundalk. That was the bar and anything else, no matter how good, was going to cause some grumbling. The league changed as had the player. I dont think Towell was ever a tidy player, could be sloppy, but he had both O'Donnell roaring at him and he he had the tenacity and physicality to work after a sloppy ball. You'd hear him being instructed at times at Dundalk to play it safe, probably give it to a real baller and delay those runs in to the box. Put him beside Byrne and he'd have looked like an Offaly hurler, he'd a big hole to fill in midfield when he arrived and he did try to hard and looked too often caught out of position, was poorly timing his runs. When he reverted to being a spoiler, getting around to put himself in the way, which is what Rovers needed when they werent playing well, he showed his value again imo.

If its anything of a guage, I was obviously very disappointed if unsurprised considering the messing at Oriel, that he didnt sign back. After a while that disappointment had ebbed away. He would have had a bigger impact returning to Dudalk than Rovers in relative terms but I dont think he'd have been the game changer that we needed or that we'd have expected. The context being the Mad Bill era, and that his roll with the leading side in the country wouldnt stand out as much. When he settled in to the side and accepted rotation he was arguably worth his wage in title winning squad. Id have him in a heartbeat now again!!!

Very fair assessment Nesta but, just for context, Towell's second LOI coming has seen him win 3 League medals.

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Originally Posted by WeAreRovers

Very fair assessment Nesta but, just for context, Towell's second LOI coming has seen him win 3 League medals.

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Not sure what that adds other than getting to brag about Rovers winning the league. Johnny Kenny has a league medal from last year but all you see on this forum in regards to him is that he had a poor season other than the odd flash. Winning a league is a team achievement and a bad player or a bit part player can win one in spite of what they achieved personally during a season. The question is have Towells performances deliver on what Rovers staff & Fans expected and likely what he expected?

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Originally Posted by WeAreRovers

Very fair assessment Nesta but, just for context, Towell's second LOI coming has seen him win 3 League medals.

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In fairness Leon Pohls had at least 3 medals having played probably 6 games over the years.
Towell hasnt been a starting 11 player when all are fit. that wouldnt have beem expected i reckon.

Not saying he has been terible or anything but expectations were high

Lecce signed UCD left-back Jesse Dempsey.

Waterford signed 19 year old striker Gbemi Arubi from Shelbourne. He made a few sub appearances for Shels last year.