We have Sjoberg and McLaughlin to cover right back. Light on cover at lb alright, though Jay McLelland can cover at a push. Squad looking good to me. Might need another midfielder if Adam Murphy goes.Quote:
Originally Posted by D24Saint
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We have Sjoberg and McLaughlin to cover right back. Light on cover at lb alright, though Jay McLelland can cover at a push. Squad looking good to me. Might need another midfielder if Adam Murphy goes.Quote:
Originally Posted by D24Saint
Agreed on all that. I don't think he necessarily guarantees a title push like a lot of other team's fans on social media seem to, but in the grand scheme of things given the state of the market and the striker position in general in the league I don't think the club could have done much better. He's certainly a big upgrade on what were young and talented but inconsistent lads in Carty and Lonergan last season, with the latter and Kavanagh still being decent back-ups compared to the rest of the league. You'd imagine it'll be a trigger event for other moves within the league, as you say there's limited options around and Keating is an obvious one off the table. Would imagine there's a serious scramble about to occur for Hoban.Quote:
Originally Posted by Another Bohemia
Agree on McLaughlin, don't even know if he's signed for next season but if he is and can stay fit I think he's of a good enough pedigree to come in. Axel just can't get fit though which has been a shame as he's looked handy on the rare occasions he's played. I think whether Murphy stays or not we really need someone that can cover Lennon/play a similar role because we don't really have that DM position covered elsewhere in the squad and were fortunate he was available for most of the season. Think that's an important one to get sorted as well as the squad bits like left back that you mention. In terms of the definite starting XI though I'd say the current priority is either convincing Lyness to stay on or finding an able replacement.Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyD
I didn’t realise Keating was 28. Just assumed he was much younger. Be interesting to see how he gets on with Pats on the back on one good season.
Afolabi has had one decent season if i was Bohs id cash in, Kenny had a good season with Sligo and did nothing at Celtic before coming home and doing nothing for Rovers. Young players can be built up quickly but dont often follow through. Its a risky business.
Keating at least has scored goals over a couple of seasons for Glaway and then Cork so might have a bit more of a chance.
Interesting to see where Hooooban shows up. Maybe if Kenny heads back to Celtic the budget mioght be there at Rovers but ive never seen him as a Bradley type of forward, doesnt do enough off the ball.....plan B maybe
On Afolabi he scored 20 goals in all competitions for Bohs this season and had 7 assists. It's more than a decent season. If he stays I believe he would put up similar if not better numbers next year but he has eyes on playing at as high a level as he can. If we had have secured European football I could see him staying to gain that experience but as it stands I fully expect him to be gone. I hope Bohs do look at Hoban as a replacement because any time I've seen him play he does plenty of work off the ball and would add some leadership that is sorely missing within the squad.Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
If Kenny is returning to Celtic then Hoban would be a great signing for us - and if nothing else getting to hear him say “…. I’ve always wanted to sign for Rovers the biggest and best club in Ireland…” would be a laughQuote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
Childhood dream to play for RoversQuote:
Originally Posted by Calcio Jack
And not forgetting the scarf held aloft while sitting in the stands !Quote:
Originally Posted by Calcio Jack
Anyway you won't be getting him, the Arabs are coming to Dundalk with bags and bags of money............................:D
https://twitter.com/LMFMRADIO/status...05301384581313
Luke Byrne retired….
I remember Keating looking really bad dumped out on the wing against Shels in an empty Tolka in the First Division for Galway during covid 2 years ago and now the hottest signing in the LOI funny times. Good for him though he a had great season in 2023 even more impressive with all he had to deal with personally
Not surprising, a big loss on an off the pitch a truly great bloke and leader but happy for him that he is no longer pushing his body through the pain barrier. He will have a great career in coaching if he wants to continue on with his badgesQuote:
Originally Posted by joey B
https://shelbournefc.ie/luke-byrne-r...onal-football/
Well I presume he's still coming on board as UCD's (non-playing) coach for next season, so I guess he is going down that route.
Sure it will be different this time ….Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
Our best player near the end of the season. No idea why the Scouse Bluffer dropped him for so long.Quote:
Originally Posted by joey B
Feels like he played for Harps a lifetime ago!Quote:
Originally Posted by Yossarian
Keating to Pats reminds me of when Pats got Ronan Coughlin from Sligo, he was the top available forward that off season but ultimately wasnt able to make the step up in level. Keating's age I think is a positive, CF more than most positions I think you need that experience
Gerard Nash in advanced talks to be new Cork City manager. currently over Aston Villa under 18s
He went for the pats job several times since it came up as far back as when Liam Buckley went in 2018, he was interviewed a few times for it but was always beaten to the job.Quote:
Originally Posted by Burnsie
According to Dan McDonnell in his newsletter today Hoban is keen on a move to Derry but everything is on hold at the moment with investment maybe coming into Dundalk.
Bohs and Galway are interested in Franz Pierrot from Athlone. Leo Gaxha has agreed to move to Galway and Caulfield wants Arron Dobbs and Ethan Boyle from Wexford too.
Shels are trying to sign Ali Coote but it looks more likely he'll go to Pat's like expected. There might be interest in Tommy Lonergan from other teams in the league as well.
Aaron Dobbs is lethal at First Division level but remains to be seen if he can do it at top flight. Didn't do anything for Shels, managed 3 goals for Longford which isn't bad considering.Quote:
Originally Posted by RealJohn91
Ethan Boyle is a headscratcher.
And failed this time seemingly… Tim Clancy just announced as the new Cork managerQuote:
Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
At this point I'm convinced Gerard Nash isn't a real person.
Think Clancy will do well for Cork. Obviously didn't quite do the business at Pats but Cork aren't exactly going to be competing at the top end of the PD for a while, and he's proven to be solid at the level below.
Boyle to Galway would probably be heavily influenced by Ollie Horgan who signed him twice when he was manager of HarpsQuote:
Originally Posted by Shearer
I'd agree on Dobbs he didn't look up to Premier Division level at Shels but he was still young in a poor team and same with Longford the following season. 24 goals in 50 FD starts in two seasons he may well be worth another look for PD teams with the lack of goalscorers around
Shels have re-signed the following for 2024 and all I'm very happy with
Tyreke Wilson, Shane Griffin, Kameron Ledwidge, Brian McManus, Shane Farrell
Would love to know why we waited this long to appoint him, hes been available since May. Clearly not our first choice. Everything is a mess.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack B
Quote:
Originally Posted by total hoofball
I think Dobbs has been hampered by injuries over the years & is probably more ready for PD football than before, but his his celing will be fairly low maybe on par with Sean Boyd who when fit has been ok with Shels? Sometimes we are too quick to decide on a player, not hard to believe you will be a better player at 24/25 than at 21.
Boyle is a very Caulfield signing, can put him with Aodh Dervin in a player that will try hard but is just too limited for a PD side
Kerry FC owner Brian Ainscough switches to Dundalk
More interested in how this impacts Kerry than Dundalk...
A competent coach in fairness to him. Not the sweetest rose in the garden , could do with more people skills. He should do a job for Cork.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack B
Was this fella not on the BTS Podcast a couple weeks ago taking about his plans for Kerry in 2024 and beyond. Bit strange.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shearer
Absolutely - the article says that the departure is "on amicable terms", but given the KDL only own 25% of the club, Dennehy himself has a portion, and Ainscough presumably put forward the remainder, it's hard to see at this remove who is waiting in the wings.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shearer
Was probably the standout choice for a recent LOI manager without a job. Hope he does well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack B
had a great scoring year this year by the looks. cant comment as i didnt see him this season but i was very impressed with him last season in the first division. Ryan seemed to use him as more of a 10 than a 9 ... assume that changed this year with the goal count rising. hes a very tidy technician IMO. Would love if City went in for him.Quote:
Originally Posted by total hoofball
Niall Morahan rumoured to be off to Galway,would be a loss for Sligo that one…..
Jay McClelland signed up for his 5th season at Pats, quite happy with that. Wasn't a fan of his initially but he's proved to be a very useful squad player over time, has played everywhere from both wings, attacking midfield, central midfield, and left of a back four and five over the course of his time at the club and probably had his best season last time out. Not many better penalty takers around either.
Will be interesting to see if the Coote signing still happens as some of the more informed in the media still expect it to, because we're quite well-stocked in attacking areas right now. If you take players that can play across the forward line and in attacking midfield you've got: Keating, Cian Kavanagh, Lonergan, Melia, Mulraney, Brandon Kavanagh, Nolan, Leavy, Forrester and now McClelland. Granted one or two such as Forrester can and possibly will also play elsewhere but you'd imagine that's that part of the squad done with if/when Coote is signed.
Agree with all that. We probably need a defensive midfielder as cover for Jamie Lennon, a left back, another centre half if Norman goes, and possibly a right back if Sjoberg isn’t staying. Like you I’m glad to see McClelland staying. Forced his way into the team last season and deservedly so.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack B
Sam Aladesanusi re-signs at Kerry:
https://www.independent.ie/regionals...230299295.html
€200k bid made by Belgian side Kortrijk for Afolabi as per the Indo. Bohs holding out for €300k apparently.
Hard to know what to make of that move for Afolabi. Decent move for him personally if he plays week in week out and I'd they manage to survive in the top flight.
But if he's a bit part player in a team that goes down and he finds himself in the Belgian second tier next season it's hard to see him getting another call up any time soon.
Shame that the league is going to lose Afolabi but at least it looks like it'll be 250k+ instead of some poxy 20k release clause.
If he's not good enough to get beyond that level in due course then he doesn't deserve to be called up anyway.
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