2024 Season, Arrivals and Departures

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Originally Posted by Another Bohemia

Any names or confirmation of the signings from the club? Had heard McGinty on loan was a done deal before and now he's signed on loan for Sligo.

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https://www.thesun.ie/sport/12069439...-lukka-miller/

Martin Miller and Michael Lilander sign for Bohs from Flora Tallinn on multi-year deals

Ferdia O'Brien, two time Minor All Ireland winner with Kerry, is swapping gaelic games for football in 2024.

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Originally Posted by RealJohn91

I'm not sure why you're stunned. The recruitment in the last few years under Long was pretty bad too and all of our players kept getting pinched by Rovers or the UK so we were never able to build anything stable. Then the likes of Derry started splashing the cash and Shels got their act together. The pool of players keeps getting smaller and smaller so you're resorted to taking punts on players. Even Daly was talking about how hard it was to sign a certain profile of players before Christmas.

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When in doubt, blame Rovers?

We all lose players to bigger clubs and all the Dublin clubs are facing the same problems in this market. Bohs issues are a bit closer to home I think. From the outside looking it it looks like Devine, Fenlon or maybe Lambert aren't working well together but you are right in that it goes back as far as Long's last season. The raft of signings he made then was pretty desperate.

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Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

When in doubt, blame Rovers?

We all lose players to bigger clubs and all the Dublin clubs are facing the same problems in this market. Bohs issues are a bit closer to home I think. From the outside looking it it looks like Devine, Fenlon or maybe Lambert aren't working well together but you are right in that it goes back as far as Long's last season. The raft of signings he made then was pretty desperate.

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I wasn't blaming Rovers, stop being so defensive. Just stating a fact.

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Originally Posted by total hoofball

Even if some of these foreign players from abroad have ability I don't think it's mentioned enough that things like settling into a new country/language/culture are definitely a factor in the high percentage of these players not working out.
I'm really stunned Bohs have got themselves tangled into knots on late sticking plaster risky recruitment for a 2nd season in a row

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Why? What during 2023 suggested Devine or Fenlon had the ability to ensure this wasn't the way it would pan out?

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Originally Posted by RealJohn91

I'm not sure why you're stunned. The recruitment in the last few years under Long was pretty bad too and all of our players kept getting pinched by Rovers or the UK so we were never able to build anything stable. Then the likes of Derry started splashing the cash and Shels got their act together. The pool of players keeps getting smaller and smaller so you're resorted to taking punts on players. Even Daly was talking about how hard it was to sign a certain profile of players before Christmas.

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I'm stunned because despite considered as a bad season last season Bohs only finished 4 points off 3rd spot and lost in the cup final should be aiming to build up to finish top 3/4, with the club's financial windfalls in recent years and excellent growth off the pitch it's staggering to me the late sticking plaster recruitment over the past 2 seasons, something is wrong that Dayle Rooney was your only new signing over the important November/December recruitment period you can't blame Rovers or UK clubs picking off players for that

This season the league will be more competitive Galway/Waterford are an upgrade on Cork/UCD, looking at that current Bohs squad question marks over Devine and the unknowns from Estonia it is a possibility Bohs will be in a tight bottom half of the table looking over the shoulder at the bottom two spots instead of pushing the club for top 3/4

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Originally Posted by Kingdom

Why? What during 2023 suggested Devine or Fenlon had the ability to ensure this wasn't the way it would pan out?

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That's what I'm asking, something is wrong at that club, if Fenlon is meant to be overseeing the recruitment then the buck stops with him, if they don't have faith in Devine to work with players they want to sign they really need to move on from him

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Originally Posted by total hoofball

I'm stunned because despite considered as a bad season last season Bohs only finished 4 points off 3rd spot and lost in the cup final should be aiming to build up to finish top 3/4, with the club's financial windfalls in recent years and excellent growth off the pitch it's staggering to me the late sticking plaster recruitment over the past 2 seasons, something is wrong that Dayle Rooney was your only new signing over the important November/December recruitment period you can't blame Rovers or UK clubs picking off players for that

This season the league will be more competitive Galway/Waterford are an upgrade on Cork/UCD, looking at that current Bohs squad question marks over Devine and the unknowns from Estonia it is a possibility Bohs will be in a tight bottom half of the table looking over the shoulder at the bottom two spots instead of pushing the club for top 3/4

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Are we supposed to just magic up players who don't exist or something? The reason why Rooney was our main signing from inside the league is because the players weren't available. Hell we couldn't even sign fecking Sean Hoare for 50k. In an ideal world we'd be signing lads with at least 100/150 appearances in the league here or the UK but that's not a realistic idea at all.

I guess I'll just repost this article from Jon Daly saying he can't sign players who have families or responsibilities in other countries cause he can't get the housing for them. I'm sure Duff was saying the same recently enough too but people just don't want to hear that reality for some bizarre reason.

https://extra.ie/2023/12/06/sport/so...n-daly-housing

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Originally Posted by total hoofball

I'm stunned because despite considered as a bad season last season Bohs only finished 4 points off 3rd spot and lost in the cup final should be aiming to build up to finish top 3/4, with the club's financial windfalls in recent years and excellent growth off the pitch it's staggering to me the late sticking plaster recruitment over the past 2 seasons, something is wrong that Dayle Rooney was your only new signing over the important November/December recruitment period you can't blame Rovers or UK clubs picking off players for that

This season the league will be more competitive Galway/Waterford are an upgrade on Cork/UCD, looking at that current Bohs squad question marks over Devine and the unknowns from Estonia it is a possibility Bohs will be in a tight bottom half of the table looking over the shoulder at the bottom two spots instead of pushing the club for top 3/4

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I think context on why Fans believe it was a bad season is needed. After the first series of games Bohs had 21 pts in the league. They finished with 58. More than a third of their points and just under half of their wins came in the first 9 league games. They slowly got worse through the season. They struggled against teams that finished above them and were flat out bad against teams in Dublin. Devine speaks a big game but it really fell flat towards the end of the season culminating in a cup final which ended up being a flop of a performance where players who were widely known to be on their way out (Coote & O'Sullivan) came on to try to turn the game around and actively made the team worse. The cup final was almost a perfect snapshot of the season. Came out of the gates like men possessed and slowly got worse throughout.

As to whether Devine and Fenlon are working well together or slowing each other down I can't say but what I will say is Fenlon at least has form of building league winning teams here and up north as a manager and General manager so he has at least got form to give the benefit of doubt to. Devine on the other hand not so much. I'd wager if Bohs don't get a good start to the season like they did last year you could see a change quite early on. Devine's teams don't get stronger through the season so no real point in sticking with him to see if it improves when his track record says otherwise. IMO it was a big mistake sticking with him this off season as he really failed to get the most out of a good squad in a very inconsistent league last year.

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Originally Posted by legendz

Ferdia O'Brien, two time Minor All Ireland winner with Kerry, is swapping gaelic games for football in 2024.

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At least it seems evident he must have been one of the trialists at the club in recent weeks, which is a better means of assessing KDL players than there was last year with Wayne Guthrie and Steven McCarthy.

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Originally Posted by RealJohn91

Are we supposed to just magic up players who don't exist or something? The reason why Rooney was our main signing from inside the league is because the players weren't available. Hell we couldn't even sign fecking Sean Hoare for 50k. In an ideal world we'd be signing lads with at least 100/150 appearances in the league here or the UK but that's not a realistic idea at all.

I guess I'll just repost this article from Jon Daly saying he can't sign players who have families or responsibilities in other countries cause he can't get the housing for them. I'm sure Duff was saying the same recently enough too but people just don't want to hear that reality for some bizarre reason.

https://extra.ie/2023/12/06/sport/so...n-daly-housing

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I think the point is that every club is dealing with that same reality a bit better than bohs. Daly, Duff and I think Bradley all mentioned the market being tricky but they've all gone out and gotten business done while keeping a core team together.

It could still come together. These Estonian lads could be quality and Devine might dig up a Gary Twigg or Kevin Hunt on his travels in the UK but it just seems a bit chaotic for a second season.

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Originally Posted by total hoofball

Poom looks the pick of the Estonian international LOI cohort. Liivak and Vastuk were also bad for Sligo last season. Sander Puri is only other Estonian international I can recall who was with Sligo and Waterford who done ok but he was no worldbeater either

Even if some of these foreign players from abroad have ability I don't think it's mentioned enough that things like settling into a new country/language/culture are definitely a factor in the high percentage of these players not working out. I'm really stunned Bohs have got themselves tangled into knots on late sticking plaster risky recruitment for a 2nd season in a row

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I’ll reserve judgement on whether they are Poom or bust until they have played a few games. Miller scored twice against Rovers in the 2021 ECL Playoff so he might be good for a few goals, especially in the derby.

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Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

I think the point is that every club is dealing with that same reality a bit better than bohs. Daly, Duff and I think Bradley all mentioned the market being tricky but they've all gone out and gotten business done while keeping a core team together.

It could still come together. These Estonian lads could be quality and Devine might dig up a Gary Twigg or Kevin Hunt on his travels in the UK but it just seems a bit chaotic for a second season.

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Well those clubs are dealing with the reality better because they have more money to offer the few players available either here or in the UK and they also have European football. Like I said we can't magic up players. Is there even any decent players without a club here at the moment? Sloggett I guess is one but I'm pretty sure the vast majority were tied down before last season even ended.

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Originally Posted by RealJohn91

Well those clubs are dealing with the reality better because they have more money to offer the few players available either here or in the UK and they also have European football. Like I said we can't magic up players. Is there even any decent players without a club here at the moment? Sloggett I guess is one but I'm pretty sure the vast majority were tied down before last season even ended.

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You've plenty of money John so that's not the issue. Another 500k from McManus just this week. You were in for Jack Byrne and Aaron McEneff by all accounts so you're not offering peanuts. Is European football that big a draw at this level? Maybe for the players on the way up.

Again, it could all come together but surely you're a bit concerned with the lack of planning?

Hoban too I should say. And 50k for Sean Hoare....doubt he'd move to bohs for a poorer contract than he has with us.....again I don't think your terms are the issue.

Pats and Bohs in for Cliftonville centre back Luke Turner apparently. Would imagine Bohs would be in the driver's seat there given they'll have a lot of budget left and are desperate for a player in that position to come in.

Find it interesting that Pats are so evidently so actively looking at another CB. You've already got Redmond, Keeley, Grivosti and the loanee Turner there, Giles Phillips plus another on trial and now this news. Curious if we'll end up seeing a back 5 being used this season.

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Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

Hoban too I should say. And 50k for Sean Hoare....doubt he'd move to bohs for a poorer contract than he has with us.....again I don't think your terms are the issue.

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I already mentioned Hoare earlier, please keep up.

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Originally Posted by Jack B

Pats and Bohs in for Cliftonville centre back Luke Turner apparently. Would imagine Bohs would be in the driver's seat there given they'll have a lot of budget left and are desperate for a player in that position to come in.

Find it interesting that Pats are so evidently so actively looking at another CB. You've already got Redmond, Keeley, Grivosti and the loanee Turner there, Giles Phillips plus another on trial and now this news. Curious if we'll end up seeing a back 5 being used this season.

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Has to be Grivosti related, very good player but doubts have crept in over whether he is injury prone or just had a bad run of luck.

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Originally Posted by Jack B

Pats and Bohs in for Cliftonville centre back Luke Turner apparently. Would imagine Bohs would be in the driver's seat there given they'll have a lot of budget left and are desperate for a player in that position to come in.

Find it interesting that Pats are so evidently so actively looking at another CB. You've already got Redmond, Keeley, Grivosti and the loanee Turner there, Giles Phillips plus another on trial and now this news. Curious if we'll end up seeing a back 5 being used this season.

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I wonder if it's a fear that if something was to happen to Redmond again it could derail their season whereas now they have serious options in that position. Losing Redmond cost them dearly in Europe last season.