Dave McMillan

**paul_oshea** · 08/08/2016, 10:19 AM

Not like geysir to make something up as fact.

I watched that documentary with mick lawlor recently it was good. Ya the grey locks suit him alright.

Stutts I was getting excited thinking you were on about the boxer.

**CraftyToePoke** · 08/08/2016, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

I had you as either 39 or 40, similar age to CTP :P But maybe it was CTPs age I got wrong

No, you are bang on the dollar there, 39, 40 next month. Whatever mad POS form of calculus you are in cahoots with.

**paul_oshea** · 08/08/2016, 1:05 PM

No calculus just using tidbits down through the years to figure things out, sometimes people map ages differently to times or events in the past, and trajectory. Its then easy figure out within a couple of years without DOBs or ages.

Dundalk in the Champions League groups stages, playing Leicester in Leicester, thats a good 40th birthday present

**geysir** · 08/08/2016, 8:47 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

I don't remember the hardcore Rovers fans being called "Ultras" in those days and I should know as I used to stand behind the goal Rovers were attacking and then move up to the other end for the second half with the rest of the Rovers' support. Hard to imagine that now in most grounds. As I grew older I went under the shed in the middle but never sat in the stands in Milltown: that was for the oldies and the big knobs.

Got talking to Mick Lawlor in a lift in Poland I think it was not so long ago. The years have been kind to him. Haven't seen Mick Leech since he used to score for fun for Rovers. The Gerd Muller of Irish football.

Ultras is obviously a modern term and didn't exist then, but it exists now.
For want of a better word I used 'ultras', in parentheses to emphasise it was a word out of place but not entirely inaccurate.
I could have used a word that I used then to describe that shower, but .....

**tetsujin1979** · 08/08/2016, 11:09 PM

anyway, moving on from the ages of various forum members

**paul_oshea** · 09/08/2016, 1:12 PM

Don't worry tets we won't mention your age.

If McMillian scores in either leg against Legia, i think he has justified a call up to the Oman squad. Nothing lost, only potentially gained, and some recognition to LOI players, especially those who can perform in Europe. It's also an incentive to them. I think I'd like to see Horgan get a call up also.

**Stuttgart88** · 09/08/2016, 2:07 PM

I'd also like to see O'Dowda and Forrester there, and maybe even Stokes or Rooney. Jonny Hayes is injured and Gibson, O'Kane and Arter should be in contention. Not all like for like, I'm just saying that there are several fresh additions to the squad worth considering, and there won't be room for all. I agree with the sentiment, maybe not the substance in cold light of day. Legia will be a good test alright.

**passinginterest** · 09/08/2016, 2:48 PM

If McMillan and Horgan perform well against Legia and in the group stages of Europa or Champions league they'll almost certainly move to at least Championship level in January. Would be no harm throwing them into a squad at this stage, when they'd 100% bein contention if they move to Championship level.

**pineapple stu** · 09/08/2016, 3:21 PM

How many Rovers players got a big move after their group stage participation?

Think it was actually none, wasn't it?

Granted, they lost all six games, but McMillan is a 27-year-old part-time footballer. I think we need a little bit of perspective!

Even look at Richie Towell - what has moving to the Championship done for him? Nothing as yet; can't even get on the bench at the moment.

**tetsujin1979** · 09/08/2016, 3:36 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

How many Rovers players got a big move after their group stage participation?

Think it was actually none, wasn't it?

Granted, they lost all six games, but McMillan is a 27-year-old part-time footballer. I think we need a little bit of perspective!

Even look at Richie Towell - what has moving to the Championship done for him? Nothing as yet; can't even get on the bench at the moment.

Enda Stevens moved to Villa

**Stuttgart88** · 09/08/2016, 3:43 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Enda Stevens moved to Villa

I think with that factual rebuttal you have actually reinforced Stu’s point!

**nigel-harps1954** · 09/08/2016, 3:43 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

How many Rovers players got a big move after their group stage participation?

Think it was actually none, wasn't it?

Granted, they lost all six games, but McMillan is a 27-year-old part-time footballer. I think we need a little bit of perspective!

Even look at Richie Towell - what has moving to the Championship done for him? Nothing as yet; can't even get on the bench at the moment.

Enda Stevens to Villa.
Karl Sheppard to Reading.
Jim Paterson to Bristol Rovers.
Rohan Ricketts to Exeter City.

Those were the only four moves from the Europa League squad outside of the League of Ireland besides Ryan Thompson who went to some non-league American side.

Pretty sure Towell has been injured for most of his time at Brighton too.

**paul_oshea** · 09/08/2016, 3:59 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

How many Rovers players got a big move after their group stage participation?

Think it was actually none, wasn't it?

Granted, they lost all six games, but McMillan is a 27-year-old part-time footballer. I think we need a little bit of perspective!

Even look at Richie Towell - what has moving to the Championship done for him? Nothing as yet; can't even get on the bench at the moment.

Perspective for sure, but we've seen from the Euros, lads playing in decent European leagues can perform at the required level for international football. I'm begining to think we are placing a bit too much emphasis on the championship, however the cream will always rise to the top, or almost always.

As I said previously, McMillian in the few games I've seen at least isn't your Long type, or your Murphy type, or Walters type, he is a Robbie keane type without his ability naturally - but he seems to be able convert chances, and we don't really have that at the moment. However if O'Neill picks him and deploys him up front on his own with no chances created for him then he might as well just not pick him.

**OwlsFan** · 09/08/2016, 5:10 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I'd also like to see O'Dowda and Forrester there, and maybe even Stokes or Rooney. Jonny Hayes is injured and Gibson, O'Kane and Arter should be in contention. Not all like for like, I'm just saying that there are several fresh additions to the squad worth considering, and there won't be room for all. I agree with the sentiment, maybe not the substance in cold light of day. Legia will be a good test alright.

Conor Hourihane ?

**sadloserkid** · 09/08/2016, 5:19 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Jim Paterson to Bristol Rovers.
Rohan Ricketts to Exeter City.

Paterson and Ricketts were hardly discovered by British teams while playing for Rovers either (not suggesting you're suggesting otherwise).

**pineapple stu** · 09/08/2016, 5:22 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Enda Stevens to Villa.
Karl Sheppard to Reading.
Jim Paterson to Bristol Rovers.
Rohan Ricketts to Exeter City.

Rovers bought Paterson and Ricketts in from Britain specially for the group stages; they don't count.

The other two are hardly ringing endorsements unfortunately.

Random stat I think I knew but had certainly forgotten - Harry Kane's first goal for Spurs was against Rovers in Tallaght.

Edit - Ricketts is great; after seven years in England, he then played in Canada, Hungary, Moldova, Germany, Ireland, England again, India, Ecuador, Thailand, Hong Kong and he's now in Bangladesh. You wonder how a career like that is even feasible.

**pineapple stu** · 09/08/2016, 5:30 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Perspective for sure, but we've seen from the Euros, lads playing in decent European leagues can perform at the required level for international football.

For sure. And I'm aware that on the one hand, I'm suggesting he might get an international call-up, and on the other hand dismissing that he's certain get a move to the Championship because he's only part-time.

I guess him maybe being worth a call-up says as much about our lack of striking options as it does about McMillan.

So I guess, yeah, as you say - perspective.

**geysir** · 09/08/2016, 6:00 PM

Hands off McMillan!
Dundalk's needs far outweigh Ireland's.
Dundalk have an important league fixture Sept 2, then Dave needs his quality time before the group stages commence mid sept.

**IsMiseSean** · 09/08/2016, 9:35 PM

This may be my Dunphy Ronaldo moment, but I'm not convinced by McMillan.

**Stuttgart88** · 09/08/2016, 9:59 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Conor Hourihane ?

yep, he has a bit of class about him, and maybe even Jack Byrne too. Doherty, Cunningham, Henderson...

I think the squad is ripe for some degree of renewal, but not 7 or 8 at one time. 2 or 3 progressive selections in the next 23 will be interesting.

I guess all I'm doing is pre-empting criticism of the non-selection of Dundalk players in the next squad by pointing out that other good players have a very good case too.

I haven't seen McMillan but if a new forward is to be called up I'd have thunk Rooney would be ahead of him. I'll leave tricky to ask the next question, is he better than...?