Games weekend 18th/21st June

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Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

That's quality. How was the Sligo academy set up? Is it a partnership with local schoolboy clubs or it's own thing entirely? Don't know a thing about it.

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I said it on here already but probably the most pleasing thing so far this season is seeing the amount of academy players coming through and starting games. Having 6 starters and being top of the table is some achievement and they are keeping the likes of Figeura, Parks and DeVries out of the team on merit.

There is no official connection with local teams, there are trials at the start of the season and anybody can come along. When Rovers underage teams used to play in the Sligo/ Leitrim league there would be a bit of resentment from local clubs that 'here are Rovers poaching our players' and they'd be lining out against then soon after. With the national underage leagues that attitude seems to have changed and clubs for most part see it as a good opportunity for a player. Young lads are looked after so well here and see other academy players getting into first team so The Showgrounds is a good option for them. They come from Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim, South Donegal. Conor O'Grady is head of academy (full time position) and from talking to him he reckons there are a few diamonds coming through too.

Edit: Another academy player just signed back ... Seamus Keogh.

It's a sign that Bradley is still learning on the managerial job, when you see his decision to let Bolger go, and pick up McCann instead - i can't imagine it was about money. Whatever reason it was it was the wrong decision.

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Originally Posted by placid casual

It's a sign that Bradley is still learning on the managerial job, when you see his decision to let Bolger go, and pick up McCann instead - i can't imagine it was about money. Whatever reason it was it was the wrong decision.

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Other than Hoare I am struggling to pick a quality signing by Bradley for this season.
(You will be duty bound to argue that Mandriou is one , but despite flashes here and there, he isnt)..Will be interesting to see whether Towell adapts quickly to the disappointment of not making it cross channel
.Still a strong enough squad to grind out a top two finish,

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Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

Other than Hoare I am struggling to pick a quality signing by Bradley for this season.
(You will be duty bound to argue that Mandriou is one , but despite flashes here and there, he isnt)..Will be interesting to see whether Towell adapts quickly to the disappointment of not making it cross channel
.Still a strong enough squad to grind out a top two finish,

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Towell had a very successful time in England, a champ player for a season and then offered massive money to join Salford (nobody would have turned that down), has played and won at Wembley twice aswell.

To say he never made it is just not true

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Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

Other than Hoare I am struggling to pick a quality signing by Bradley for this season.
(You will be duty bound to argue that Mandriou is one , but despite flashes here and there, he isnt)..Will be interesting to see whether Towell adapts quickly to the disappointment of not making it cross channel
.Still a strong enough squad to grind out a top two finish,

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I hate to be the bearer of bad news for you DR, but , Danny has been an overwhelming success and his impact has been very positive. He's still a work in progress, and he needs to iron out the inconsistencies he was allowed when playing for boez.
He has had to move back into defensive central midfield due to injuries and mccann dying on his arse back there, and that's bit really where Danny belongs. I'm looking forward to seeing him and Towell in midfield, working together to make us more dangerous in the final third - at the moment we're a bit lacking there.

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Originally Posted by dundalkfc10

Towell had a very successful time in England, a champ player for a season and then offered massive money to join Salford (nobody would have turned that down), has played and won at Wembley twice aswell.

To say he never made it is just not true

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'Never made it' is probably harsh but Towell definitely didn’t live up to the expectations on him when he got the move to Brighton. There was genuine and not too unrealistic hopes that he’d get into the Ireland squad and become a championship regular or possibly premier league player. In reality the highest level he played at was 1 loan season in the championship in a poor side that were relegated. I know he had his injury problems early on at Brighton but he was expected to be another Keith Fahey when going over and he got nowhere near that level

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Originally Posted by redobit

There is no official connection with local teams, there are trials at the start of the season and anybody can come along. When Rovers underage teams used to play in the Sligo/ Leitrim league there would be a bit of resentment from local clubs that 'here are Rovers poaching our players' and they'd be lining out against then soon after. With the national underage leagues that attitude seems to have changed and clubs for most part see it as a good opportunity for a player. Young lads are looked after so well here and see other academy players getting into first team so The Showgrounds is a good option for them. They come from Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim, South Donegal. Conor O'Grady is head of academy (full time position) and from talking to him he reckons there are a few diamonds coming through too.

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O'Grady was on the LoICentral podcast this week, saying just that. Quick to praise the local clubs, saying that it's not just to the work that Sligo did with them that made them the players they are.
Having O'Grady in there full time must be a massive help, which is something many clubs probably couldn't afford at present.

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Originally Posted by placid casual

It's a sign that Bradley is still learning on the managerial job, when you see his decision to let Bolger go, and pick up McCann instead - i can't imagine it was about money. Whatever reason it was it was the wrong decision.

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Thats as fair a comment Ive seen PC. In fairness even the most experienced managers dont always get decisions on players right. Its just that Bolger has been one of the most consistent and influential players at any club he has been at for a number of years and it was a miss to let him go when midfield wasnt at all settled at Rovers. I wasnt that fussed on Bolger after his season at Dundalk but ye cant take away his success or that Id have him back at Dundalk right now. Towell should make an impact but still a bit of a roll of the dice than playing it safer with holding on to Bolger even to the Summer window. Maybe he wanted away from Tallaght but cant see it as everyone wants to play for Rovers of course. Maybe terms were agreed before Byrne/McEneff upped sticks? Only reason I can see for Bradley not covering bases even with players to come in.

Be fun this evening, whether that is drinking through a chastening result for Dundalk or for ongoing recovery we shall see...

The dogs in the LOI street know why Bolger was moved on, not a footballing issue is all I'll say. Up there with Shields as the best/most influential player in the league over the last decade and a serial winner.

While McCann has a been a disappointment, the loss of Watts as a direct McEneff replacement has been a bigger blow for Rovers as they were the midfielders giving us go forward momentum and goals from MF. Hopefully Watts is back very soon, maybe even tonight with a bit of luck.

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Originally Posted by WeAreRovers

The dogs in the LOI street know why Bolger was moved on, not a footballing issue is all I'll say. Up there with Shields as the best/most influential player in the league over the last decade and a serial winner.

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Agree with all of this, the League of Ireland's John Terry in every sense ;)

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Originally Posted by WeAreRovers

The dogs in the LOI street know why Bolger was moved on, not a footballing issue is all I'll say. Up there with Shields as the best/most influential player in the league over the last decade and a serial winner.

While McCann has a been a disappointment, the loss of Watts as a direct McEneff replacement has been a bigger blow for Rovers as they were the midfielders giving us go forward momentum and goals from MF. Hopefully Watts is back very soon, maybe even tonight with a bit of luck.

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Not this dog, was there bridges to be built?

Our bench compared to Bohs' puts it in perspective a bit how well we're doing with the size of squad we have. Few absentees and we're really down to the bare bones.

[QUOTE=WeAreRovers;2080765]The dogs in the LOI street know why Bolger was moved on, not a footballing issue is all I'll say..


Rumour is completely denied by all concerned..Good move for Bolger

[QUOTE=Dalymountrower;2080811]

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Originally Posted by WeAreRovers

The dogs in the LOI street know why Bolger was moved on, not a footballing issue is all I'll say..


Rumour is completely denied by all concerned..Good move for Bolger

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That's that settled then! This isnt love island ffs, why would they want to talk about it if it was true?

He is missed. He had to go.

Other than McCann there's been no bad signings and even McCann looked good for the first few games. Would be interested to see how he gets on with the other midfielders now back. Gannon isn't the player he was but ..well he did OK tonight.

We look far better with two proper centre mids in with ONeill who has been lost trying to do jobs he isn't suited to. Back to his best tonight and we looked back to ours for the first time in a long time.

Thanks for taking down Pats.

[QUOTE=ontheotherhand;2080820]

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Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

That's that settled then! This isnt love island ffs, why would they want to talk about it if it was true?

(I know that most of the speculation above is non specific but recent defamation actions re on -line rumours would suggest that denials be given prominence)

Thanks for taking down Pats.

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Pat's took themselves down.6 yellows 2 red , they were a disgrace.Enjoyavle game though..

No Coughlan, Mountney or Lewis as well as a lack of discipline is what killed pats last night. Really are down to the barebones as the bench showed. The 9 subs included 2 keepers, 24 year old McClelland and the remaining 6 being 16, 17 and 18 year olds. Thank god the transfer window is open as bodies are severely needed

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

No Coughlan, Mountney or Lewis as well as a lack of discipline is what killed pats last night. Really are down to the barebones as the bench showed. The 9 subs included 2 keepers, 24 year old McClelland and the remaining 6 being 16, 17 and 18 year olds. Thank god the transfer window is open as bodies are severely needed

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Harps been decimated by injuries lately too. Webster, Folan, Connolly, McEleney, Timlin, Doherty and young Pat McGarvey all injured or playing through injury. Johnny Dunleavy playing when he really shouldn't be. Conor Barry just back from long term injury, and we've lost several first team squad members from the start of the season so far.

We've had Nathan Logue, Joel Bradley-Walsh and Luke Rudden from our under-19's on the bench and making appearances the last couple of games. Just had to sign 39 year old Gerard Doherty as second choice goalkeeper because of the same issues after Luke McNicholas loan finished.

Barry McNamee at left back last night, Will Seymore at right back against Pats, we've only three 'fit' senior defenders in the squad, and that includes the crocked Johnny Dunleavy. On top of that, Kosovar Sadiki is due to be suspended next week, so that leaves two fit defenders in the squad.

Any wonder our form has gone down the drain.

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Harps been decimated by injuries lately too. Webster, Folan, Connolly, McEleney, Timlin, Doherty and young Pat McGarvey all injured or playing through injury. Johnny Dunleavy playing when he really shouldn't be. Conor Barry just back from long term injury, and we've lost several first team squad members from the start of the season so far.

We've had Nathan Logue, Joel Bradley-Walsh and Luke Rudden from our under-19's on the bench and making appearances the last couple of games. Just had to sign 39 year old Gerard Doherty as second choice goalkeeper because of the same issues after Luke McNicholas loan finished.

Barry McNamee at left back last night, Will Seymore at right back against Pats, we've only three 'fit' senior defenders in the squad, and that includes the crocked Johnny Dunleavy. On top of that, Kosovar Sadiki is due to be suspended next week, so that leaves two fit defenders in the squad.

Any wonder our form has gone down the drain.

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Was wondering why Ger Doherty rang a bell with me? I am not as clued up as I would like how recently was he a first team player?

I assume it's the same Ger Doherty that played LOI for many years with Derry!