Originally Posted by Nesta99
Well, if they had, he wasn't up to much if he didn't spot Wes.
Nobody took a chance on Hoolahan in fairness he ended up going over to the Scottish First Division if memory serves. I guess they all thought he was too slight. United apparently pulled the plug on whatever deal they had when Anthony Stokes ended up at Arsenal when they really wanted him at the time.
Upwards to the vanguard where the pressure is too high.
Wes Holohan has been unfortunate, he has really had to work to prove himself and is still doing so. I thought his performance against Deportivo would have made him. The backward thinking of football on these isles that a player regardless of skill and technique is not good enough if they aren't the physical type well good job Messi, Silva, Iniesta, aguero, Lennon etc, all about 5"6 and of slight build, weren't being scouted by the English game early on!! I think there is a bit of a change here with the likes of Stephen Kenny signing players based on skill sets rather than the battering rams, Benson the most recent example.
Except by far the biggest advantage Dundalk had over the rest of the league was physicality
And the league has always found a home for small talented players
Dont be so priggish Dodge, you know what I meant! There is also a difference between physical fitness and conditioning than physicality. If by 'the league' you mean LoI well yes some smaller players have carved out a slot but I was talking more about English scouting priorities which of course we have been influenced by.
Nothing stopping any other side getting a proper strength and conditioning programme introduced to their club. Players will need to buy into it though.
On actual transfers, with only two incoming, in McEleney and Benson (and O'Connor returning) this is great consistency, there is nothing worse than trying to pick out players for the first few league games, getting used to different styles etc. In the case of the first game of 2013 we had at least 8 if not 9 changes to the last season xi, then again that wouldn't be hard, our 2012 side was dreadful.
Are most PD clubs now finished in terms of their squads?
Last edited by oriel; 11/01/2016 at 7:58 AM.
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), only Irish club to win a game / points in Europa League Group Stage (2016).
I highly doubt it. Sligo have signed around 8 players I think... ourselves and Longford have around 15 signed. I'd say most clubs will be aiming to sign 20 or so, backed up by a few U19 players.
roddy collins you're a flanker you're a flanker!
Horgan, Meenan, Finn and Gannon not the most physically imposing. Towell only about 5ft 9 aswell. Was more down to physical fitness
Physicality implies a team that uses strength to overcome teams of a greater skill level. Perhaps that is not what you meant.
Dundalk's advantage was that they had the best balance of technical skill, team management, conditioning, and concentration.
I would actually say Dundalk wouldn't be blessed with good technical ability, bar maybe Towell and Horgan. The main thing for me was fitness and good discipline to their gameplan. Of course every player in the Dundalk squad have terrific ability, but IMO there isnt many players in the LOI blessed with good technical ability
At least add O'Donnell and Finn to that very short list.
Meenan is as wide as he is tall. He has no neck anymore!
It wasn't implied at all. I didn't use physicality in a pejorative way either. Dundalk were stronger than all other teams. There's no question about that.
My initial response was to disagree with the notion that Stephen Kenny was changing things by signing small players. All clubs here have always done it. Even those who relied more on brut force than this current, excellent, Dundalk team
54,321 sold - wws will never die - ***
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Have you ever actually seen Horgan up close? He's massive.
By being flippant in response? and not what I was saying but apologies if that's how it came across. To clarify I believe that SK is putting a higher value on players with technique (big or small) than many other teams in the past. Players that are better suited to European football than some of the helter skelter ball domestically. The Alan Cawley type dilemma where he often had limited impact in league games but yet excelled in Europe. The balance swaying almost entirely toward attack with a quick short passing game out from the back, on the deck with all players comfortable on the ball; away from the more conservative and common direct approach maybe mixing it up a bit but more often going long and getting rid of it quick. SK doesn't seem to want to deviate from his game plan at all. I feel that his real target is to make an impact on Europe and is targeting this by signing/having more flair but riskier players in domestic terms. So far the Dundalk squad has coped well with domestic affairs but close the gap with strength and conditioning and the ability to score so many late goals and I believe a player like Shields will always start over Benson or Finn. McEleney has both physical and technical attributes for example. Anyway I was really blabbing on about how coaches and scouts look for different things in the UK and Ireland than on the continent putting a greater emphasis on physical attributes and that IF they had been part of the English or Irish game as youths may not have excelled to world class levels getting payed 100s of thousands per week. Thinking out loud on how many potentially good footballers that have been overlooked for one reason or another. One player kicking around Dundalk for sure struggled to get in a local team yet was one of best chaps ive ever seen with a ball at his feet, coaches took one look before a ball was touched and had minds made up (was very like Luka Modric in build and style and even looks)!!
As an aside there are times that i have felt Dundalk could have played the longer ball especially against a high pressing defence trying to break up the passing style, turning the opposition with McMillan running on to the ball making the opposition defence sit deeper. Also I still feel that against Bate Shields should have started and we should have been more defensive at home initially rather than trying to go at them form the start. So i think SK is not infallible.... just a little bit!
Last edited by Nesta99; 11/01/2016 at 10:15 AM.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/...winger-dooley/
Is this the "big signing from the UK" that Caulfield was promising?
Stephen Dooley off to Cork is great signing for them.
Last edited by brendy_éire; 11/01/2016 at 11:33 AM.
Sun today says that we are set to sign ex Leeds Utd trainee Ian Molloy to compete with Paul Skinner as GK. Molloy was released by Leeds last summer after two years. Does anyone know anything about him?
Gary Cronin is he the right man to manage Longford Town?
19 year old lad from Lucan by the sounds of things. No idea if he's any good but he won't have a lot of experience.
http://www.gazettegroup.com/sport/mo...ted-for-leeds/
Last edited by Longfordian; 11/01/2016 at 9:46 PM.
Upwards to the vanguard where the pressure is too high.
" FREDDIES HOME". I think that JC is trying his best to bring in as many quality players that he can. His budget only allows him a certain amount you know. I feel if we can get in a good CB and a natural LB/ WINGER then we wont be that far off. The only worry I would have is can he get them to gel. This year is going to be competitive and not as one sided as last year unless SK is after waving his magic wand. A few clubs have bought in well. With preseason ongoing for some and about to start for others, I wish you all well for the coming season.
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