QuoteIts an interesting squad Dundalk are building. Lots of attacking options but limited depth at the back or in central/defensive midfield. We on the other hand have no strikers.
Probably the final Dundalk signing of this transfer window. New striker confirmed earlier.
Awaiting Nigerian / Italian translations for 'the biggest club'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Tagbajumi
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), first Irish club to win points in a group stage in Europe (2016).
Its an interesting squad Dundalk are building. Lots of attacking options but limited depth at the back or in central/defensive midfield. We on the other hand have no strikers.
Patrick McClean to Sligeach from Waterford.
Sorry to see him go. Great cover to have for CB and LB.
I wonder what the story was...
I think we are OK at the back, four centre-halfs (Gartland, Hoare, Folan, and Cleary), Massey/Jarvis at left back, and Gannon/Poynton at right back.Originally Posted by El-Pietro
Central midfield is looking very bare at the moment as O'Donnell is injured and Chevdukas is out with the flu. However, when both are fit, I think we have decent cover there.
The squad looks balanced to me. Whether it is good enough will determined by the season.
This chap is multilingual and can dish out clichés in several languages
Marco in Italian: Dundalk è il più grande club in IrlandaMarco in Norwegian: Dundalk er den største klubben i Irland
Was his boyhood dream
He lived in London. His English is probably more intelligible than the average Dundalk fan's.
I can't agree that its balanced but prhaps you have more cover than I realised. I don't see how you get enough game time for all the attacking options you have.
Murray, Hoban, Byrne and this new striker for one position.
Mountney, McGrath, Benson, Adorjan and potentially Murray all competing for one position. I suppose McGrath or Mountney could play wide, Benson could (he really can't) play in midfield, but really you are looking at 8 players who primarily play in two positions.
You say you are covered in midfield, but am I right in saying you have three primary midfielders (not attacking mids). O'Donnell, Shields and Chevdukas? Obviously they are different players who do different jobs but they are nominally all central midfielders. I don't understand why Kenny would sign another striker when there are only 3 midfielders and one of those spends a lot of time injured each year.
Equally I don't understand why John Caulfield has left us so light up front but has Beattie, Dunleavy, Horgan and Adebayo-Rowling for right back (as well as other players who can cover).
you wot, mate?
He lived in London for a year when he was 20 years old , but he seems to be okay with the queens lingo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_...et_sign_loan-1
You can listen to this deeply insightful interview to check it out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO77Mn06aNk
The real test will come in Ridleys
Your original opinion was about querying "limited depth at the back or in central/defensive midfield".
As White Horse has already outlined there is no shortage of options at the back with four centre backs and competition for both full back places.
Dundalk normally play with one defensive midfielder and a fit Stephen O'Donnell has been the first choice there over the last 5 seasons. Chris Shields will continue to provide the competition for that spot, while Karolis Chvedukas may present a serious alternative this season. Georgie Poynton will also be looking to compete in this area too.
Whatever about queries on quality there is certainly no issue about depth or numbers from a defensive perspective
With Marco Tagbajumi signed today it takes the squad size to 24 including 3 goalkeepers but excluding any u-19's. Obviously that presents its own challenges, but good options appear to exist in every position. Time will tell
So who is your midfield three? You surely don't normally play with two attacking midfielders. Shields and O'Donnell would play together if fit?
The norm has been a defensive midfielder (no 6) central midfielder (no 8) and an attacking midfielder (no 10) with two wide players. Last years the first choices for these positions were O'Donnell, Benson and McEleney respectively
Shields and O'Donnell have both been in the squad since Stephen Kenny came in - but they have rarely played together. On the rare occasions that they have played together in the usual formation, O'Donnell has moved to no 8.
While Stephen Kenny could vary the formation the competition and permutations as they appear currently are
No 6
O'Donnell, Shields, *Chvedukas, Poynton
No 8
Benson, *Chvedukas, Adorjan, O'Donnell, Mountney, Poynton
No 10
McGrath, Murray, Adorjan, *Chvedukas
* It remains to be seen what Chvedukas' best position is or how suited he is to the holding role - but he looks a serious player from the little we have seen from him in pre-season.
If the formation changes to 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 the deck gets shuffled again - it is possible that form and ability of Tagbajumi or Sam Byrne apart from Chvedukas or Adorjan could dictate changes
Choice will not be the issue
We do, and it is one of the reasons we have struggled against yourselves for the last year. We were frequently outnumbered in that key area when play breaks down.
The midfield formation Kenny plays requires midfielders to be very good readers of the game and positionally clever. Finn and Towell were very good at it, Benson less so, and McEleney not at all.
Ezeikial sets out the options this season very comprehensively.
Thanks guys, I obviously don't watch Dundalk regularly and had a misunderstanding of Dundalks midfield and that was based partly on our games against you and partly on how we line up. I don't think I would call Gearoid a defensive midfielder in the same way you would describe McCormack but he does a lot of dirty work.
I would have expected the preferred lineup to be Shields in 6, O'Donnell in 8 where we play Gearoid and then a.n.other from the legion of 10s. I assumed injuries were preventing that in the games I've seen ye without O'Donnell.
If you do continue to line up with Benson alongside Shields in the coming weeks I think I might have to have a look at the odds on Rovers for Friday. I think they have a very physical midfield and it could potentially be a tough night for Dundalk.
I'd say the players tremble when they see that lad coming with another magazine of hard-hitting questions ready to fire.
The real test will be when he's in front of goal.
Seems like a nice lad but can he score goals ?
My post was in response to gufcfan comment on his English language proficiency - I doubt his level of articulation will have much impact on his ability to score goals.
Scoring in Ridleys is a different story
Waterford IN:
Lawrence Vigouroux (Swindon Town) (Loan)
Courtney Duffus (Oldham Athletic) (Loan)
Waterford OUT:
Patrick McClean (Sligo) (undisclosed fee)
That guy must take so much abuse. Although whether he would understand it is the other question.
#NeverStopNotGivingUp
I'm sure he'll manage.
His problem will be understanding what they're saying 😁
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