(Very early) Transfer gossip/squad retention

**Conroy** · 03/12/2013, 11:36 PM

Horgan to Dundalk

**avvenalaf** · 03/12/2013, 11:45 PM

We (The Real Rovers) are announcing the signing of a former player this week. It is either Horgan or Quigley and the dogs in the street have been saying for months that Horgan was coming back to us.

**Charlie Darwin** · 03/12/2013, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by avvenalaf

We (The Real Rovers) are announcing the signing of a former player this week. It is either Horgan or Quigley and the dogs in the street have been saying for months that Horgan was coming back to us.

Haha, lads. You've won the league and finished above us for two years. If you're going to be true champions, you need to drop the obsession and believe in yourselves. Can't be comparing yourselves to us forever.

**Bawnville Hoop** · 04/12/2013, 1:07 AM

Who cares what they call us. Uefa calling us Shamrock Rovers and them Sleego means 100 times more to me than some bogger calling us shams or da reeealll roooovers

**Fivesilver** · 04/12/2013, 6:48 AM

He makes a very good point, avvenalaf. You should be able to acknowledge Shams' irrelevance and allow them to get on with celebrating winning Mickey Mouse cups and the fact that they're not boggers (being from Dublin automatically making you intelligent and sophisticated, naturally).

Seriously, though, two points:

* No need to get your onesie in a twist over 'Shams'. It's not a pejorative (@BawnvilleHoop: that means a 'bad word'), just a nickname like Bohs, Pats or Shels. If you're from Sligo you'll only refer to one team as Rovers.

* I do indeed get a special pleasure out of beating Shams. I can't speak for anyone else, but for me that has nothing to do with historical success and everything to do with the fact that no other club's fans have come remotely close to creating such unpleasantness in Sligo on a regular basis. And it doesn't help that other fans and club officials consistently try to make excuses for it.

**Nah Nah Nah Nah** · 04/12/2013, 8:18 AM

Originally Posted by Bawnville Hoop

Who cares what they call us. Uefa calling us Shamrock Rovers and them Sleego means 100 times more to me than some bogger calling us shams or da reeealll roooovers

What in the world wide world of sport are you on about?

**A face** · 04/12/2013, 8:44 AM

Dundalk are spending a fair bit this season it seems, where is the money coming from do we know?

**Acer** · 04/12/2013, 9:17 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Rovers let all their midfielders go, remember? Even Finn might not be staying. Unless Croly is planning on bussing in a load of players from Europe, it looks like whoever he signs will get game time.

edit: Am I correct that Ryan Brennan is the youngest Brennan? The one who looks least like a Brennan?

If the rumours of Bradley coming in to replace Finn are true, I might start supporting Dundalk.

Yes, that's him. He's the one that most seem to think 'has the potential'.
A midfield of him and Bradley is not winning the league next season.

**White Horse** · 04/12/2013, 9:34 AM

Originally Posted by A face

Dundalk are spending a fair bit this season it seems, where is the money coming from do we know?

There are five sources:

1. 2013 attendances were up 110% compared to 2012
2. 2014 match day ticket prices are up between 33% and 50%
3. Club are reporting an increase in sponsorship (though not releasing the specific figures).
4. Club introduced a membership scheme towards the end of 2013. Take up is slow but it is still addtional revenue.
5. European football in 2014

**A face** · 04/12/2013, 9:41 AM

Originally Posted by White Horse

There are five sources:

1. 2013 attendances were up 110% compared to 2012
2. 2014 match day ticket prices are up between 33% and 50%
3. Club are reporting an increase in sponsorship (though not releasing the specific figures).
4. Club introduced a membership scheme towards the end of 2013. Take up is slow but it is still addtional revenue.
5. European football in 2014

Are the membership on top of it? Are there questions being asked before its too late? Just saying there seems to be a huge spike in spending, which is great if ye can foot the bill, not so great if there is a big hole in the books in 2-3 years time. And Dundalk were on thin ice about 2-3 years ago already yeah?

**poster** · 04/12/2013, 9:49 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

The only area they look weaker is at the back. Davoran is a better left full than Ledwith.

Going from what IB's been saying recently, Ledwith will be our back up left back with Gaynor (fitness pending) being first choice.

**Dodge** · 04/12/2013, 9:55 AM

Interesting. Cheers. I feel teams will try an attack down that wing so as he's not a great defender (Not that Davoran was either)

**poster** · 04/12/2013, 9:58 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Interesting. Cheers. I feel teams will try an attack down that wing so as he's not a great defender (Not that Davoran was either)

He was great for us in 2012 both defending and going forward. I would have had him ahead of Davoren at the beginning of last year too if he hadn't struggled with injury.

**Louth4sam** · 04/12/2013, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by White Horse

There are five sources:

1. 2013 attendances were up 110% compared to 2012
2. 2014 match day ticket prices are up between 33% and 50%
3. Club are reporting an increase in sponsorship (though not releasing the specific figures).
4. Club introduced a membership scheme towards the end of 2013. Take up is slow but it is still addtional revenue.
5. European football in 2014

It also helps when you have a company that has a turnover of billions of euro helping out with player wages.

No matter how financially secure a club seems there is always that niggling doubt that it will all go wrong though as we have seen far too many times over the past few years.

**Louth4sam** · 04/12/2013, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by A face

And Dundalk were on thin ice about 2-3 years ago already yeah?

Dundalk were on very thin Ice and could have easily gone out of existence in both 2006 and 2012. We were saved both times by new owners. Apart from ticket prices for next season the new owners have done a fantastic job and as things stand the club is in a great position.

**redobit** · 04/12/2013, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

What was the John Terry thing?

The night we won the trophy he wore a full Chelsea kit and a JT mask. It just looked odd and when you win the league for the first time in 35 years who the fcuk wants JT in those pictures in years to come (thankfully he's not in many pics). In fairness it may seem like a bit of crack now but at the time JT was acting the goat, off riding his mates wife or whatever, and was seen as a horrible cnut.

**oriel** · 04/12/2013, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by avvenalaf

We (The Real Rovers) are announcing the signing of a former player this week. It is either Horgan or Quigley and the dogs in the street have been saying for months that Horgan was coming back to us.

I think Horgan was talking to Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk only, heard Rovers offered more money but he was not guaranteed first team there, and its meant to be announced this weekend or Monday that he has agreed terms with Dundalk.

Possibly Quigley will return to Sligo then.

Subject to late changes, as ever, but thats what we have been told. Either way its a big loss for Cork.

**Louth4sam** · 04/12/2013, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by oriel

Possibly Quigley will return to Sligo then.

I wouldn't rule out Quigley signing for Dundalk yet

**oriel** · 04/12/2013, 10:46 AM

I would much prefer Horgan, think Quigley was excellent in 2011 with us, but didn't seem to the same player last season. If he did come he would def be a risk, and would have to be reduced wages.

But nothing has been confirmed, so who knows ?