Didn't he say he's not willing to or at least doesn't want to, play on an artificial pitch? I imagine that would have limited his opportunities too. Even if he didn't refuse to play outright he's clearly not going to be at his best when he does play on it.
Upwards to the vanguard where the pressure is too high.
Paaatrick's Agletic
Sorry yes, reading that back I wasn't very clear. I was assuming he told Derry he was reluctant to play on their pitch so Higgins may not have wanted to use him even if he was fit.
Upwards to the vanguard where the pressure is too high.
That's a brilliant signing by Bohs with Colm Whelan. I watched every game that fella played for UCD and can say he's easily the best finisher I've seen in the last 15 years at The Bowl. Awful luck with 2 x ACL, but was never injury prone before that. Could easy see him getting 15+ goals for Bohs next season. I'd ignore recent form for Derry, he got limited starts after coming back from latest injury, in a team that were tailing off badly on general form, on a pitch he definitley didnt want to play on. Top quality lad with a brilliant attitude to go with it.
I saw him play an U20's game during the summer. He scored a worldy and then went off injured after 30 odd minutes. Seemed to sum up his time at Derry. Hopefully he gets a good run of games and gets some form and fitness back.
Rob Slevin the latest of last years squad to sign up.
Is there a summary for ins and outs for each club anywhere? I know it's still early but there is a lot of re-signings and releases happening.
For Bohs
Ins
Colm Whelan - Derry
Christopher Conlon - Bohs u17
Outs
Danny Grant
Paddy Kirk
Declan McDaid
Martin Miller
Brian McManus
James Akintunde
Philip Piszcech
Jevon Mills (end of loan)
I saw extratime had a list up but just at a glance I spotted some errors. Don't think the general lack of clarity from the clubs themselves helps with having any kind of good league-wide resource.
My understanding of where Pats are at currently is:
In:
Power
Under contract:
Anang
Rogers
Redmond
Turner
Keeley
Breslin
Kazeem
Lennon
Bolger
Forrester
B. Kavanagh
Leavy
Mulraney
Elbouzedi
Melia
Keena
Out of contract/unconfirmed/end of loan:
Sjoberg
McLaughlin
Grisvosti
Palmer
McClelland
Nolan
C. Kavanagh
The seemingly unlikely event of all of Sjoberg, Grivosti and Palmer staying would be wonderful. The rest are varying degrees of take it or leave it.
Niall Morahan signed for Bohs. Didn't see that one coming at all. That midfield is something else now.
I rate Morahan but that feels more like a devastating loss to Sligo than it is a big addition for Bohs, just given the respective squads.
Too many in midfield to get games imo- Tierney, Clarke, Devoy, Rooney, Morahan, Buckley, McDonnell, McManus and perhaps Flores- although you've got to assume that Flores is in doubt.
McManus would also be a surprising release, might be loaned out.
Would Reynolds keep him on for LB? Hasn't been convincing there. Also not sure if there's a place for Buckley- unless he might cover @RB.
You'd imagine Morahan will play given that signing. Would Clarke be back up for Whelan, not a striker though.
I can see Flores being kept just because he can play in so many positions. Now it's another story if he actually plays well in any of them but I can see a managers thinking with someone like him.
I thought Clarke grew into the striker role decently towards the end of the season, his link up play especially was coming on a lot but you'd really only want to be playing him there again in an emergency.
Bucko is a difficult one, love the fella but he's not a young lad anymore and his game was all about energy and running. Who knows if he's close to the same player after the ACL. Hasn't really happened for McManus either with his injuries, still only young mind but he needs a full season of football under his belt and I don't see that happening with us. I'd extend his deal if possible and send him out of loan.
I think this signing means McDonnell and Flores are gone, pretty sure both are out of contract at the end of November. Reynolds has been pretty ruthless in his squad building so wouldn't be surprised if Bucko moves on come July. Much like Grant he hasn't been the same since his return, is likely on a big wage and you can add to this his age and suffering a pretty significant injury and I think his place in the squad, never mind the team isn't a nailed on certainty. Rooneys a winger so him playing wouldn't impact the other lads. So I see it as 5 players for 3 spots in Morahan, McManus, Devoy, Tierney, Clarke
Flores has been played by Reynolds more often than not- irrespective of fans' antipathy towards him. Wouldn't be surprised if he was kept on. I'd move him on though. McDonnell was also one of the few players who performed consistently last year. Bucko seems the most obvious casualty, but a big decision to move him on. It will definitely be Reynolds' team now. No excuses.
Flores, like Patching, is an interesting footballing character, bags of ability that always seemed to be considered more as potential. Neither really grafted, moments of class meant they werent overly criticised for going missing in games, the sort of player that LoI fans tend to be most impatient with. Both should be playing at higher levels than LoI, or top of every LoI fans wishlist, tearing the league up. Both have or are letting their football careers drift past them, for the sake of some real drive, give either of these midfielders the work ethic of say a Conor McCormack and they'd have had super careers in the top 2 tiers in England imo. I think its telling that neither Bohs or Derry fans care that they are moving on. Dundalk fans were disapointed previously so yeah they showed moments but plateaued and is meh.
How do boez afford these signings, given as they wont be in Europe next season, and weren't this season either?
is it purely down to merch or do boez have a financial backer now?
Shamrock Rovers- Where trophies are won and envy is scarce
We don't have a backer
Everyone's going to have a lot more money next season
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