2020 season arrivals and departures

**Ezeikial** · 23/02/2020, 2:00 PM

Originally Posted by placid casual

He scores from open play, so would be of no use to dundalk anyway.

Rory Gaffney's career goal scoring record is actually fairly modest, but it's possible that had he signed for Dundalk in 2014 Kenny and Perth could well have helped him improve.

Either way Dundalk have hardly lacked goal scorers since - either from open play or set pieces.

	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Dundalk	78	73	72	85	73
Rovers	56	46	49	57	62

On the other hand Rovers could really benefit from improving their goal-scoring with typically 40% difference in the league scoring rates between the 2 sides over that period

**Ezeikial** · 23/02/2020, 2:53 PM

Originally Posted by Nah Nah Nah Nah

Hoban hardly set the world alight in the UK either

That's true, although it is probably the only reasonable point of comparisons between the two players in terms of goal scoring records.

Patrick Hoban has had an outstanding scoring record in both spells with Dundalk and when he scored against Shamrock Rovers in April 2019 he become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer with a staggering return of 70 goals in just 109 league games.

His goal against Shelbourne on Friday takes him to 95 league goals with loads more goal scoring landmarks within his reach

**White Horse** · 23/02/2020, 3:01 PM

Time will tell if Gaffney is a good signing. However, Rovers need a player who can lead the line. If he develops and good partnership with Byrne, it will improve them.

**D24Saint** · 23/02/2020, 3:24 PM

Reckon he will be a good signing and will add important goals.

**oriel** · 23/02/2020, 5:50 PM

I like Gaffney, he should offer them a better option of holding the ball up, Greene does that to be fair but not a bad option to have. Not sure if he is the answer to getting additional goals, but they seem well served there with the 5 goals from Burke on Friday.

How long is Burke on loan for?

**Calcio Jack** · 23/02/2020, 6:10 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

I like Gaffney, he should offer them a better option of holding the ball up, Greene does that to be fair but not a bad option to have. Not sure if he is the answer to getting additional goals, but they seem well served there with the 5 goals from Burke on Friday.

How long is Burke on loan for?

Until July next

**sbgawa** · 23/02/2020, 6:28 PM

Can't see him going anywhere else in july

**The Lilywhites** · 23/02/2020, 8:35 PM

Gaffney will end up with about 5 goals and sign for Galway in the premier division next season.

**Calcio Jack** · 23/02/2020, 8:51 PM

Originally Posted by The Lilywhites

Gaffney will end up with about 5 goals and sign for Galway in the premier division next season.

I’m sure he’ll play more than one match with us

**YendorsMOT** · 23/02/2020, 9:17 PM

Cardiff keeping an eye on McPhail.
The Director of football post is likely to be held open for him

**The Lilywhites** · 23/02/2020, 9:18 PM

Originally Posted by Calcio Jack

I’m sure he’ll play more than one match with us

Lol. It's funny all the same that the rumour mixed up Adam Rooney and Rory Gaffney.

**nigel-harps1954** · 24/02/2020, 10:57 AM

Ambitious from Dundalk to say the least.

https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/dundalks-troy-parrott-talks-tottenham-21562039

**Nesta99** · 24/02/2020, 11:37 AM

Could be the start of a handy link up!

**sbgawa** · 24/02/2020, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Ambitious from Dundalk to say the least.

https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/dundalks-troy-parrott-talks-tottenham-21562039

To say the least indeed, although having said that we were about to sign Adam Rooney according to the Mirror

**Martinho II** · 24/02/2020, 1:35 PM

Originally Posted by Calcio Jack

Until July next

Saw somewhere that Rovers are interested in buying Burke when loan deal ends.

**Martinho II** · 24/02/2020, 1:37 PM

Originally Posted by Calcio Jack

I’m sure he’ll play more than one match with us

When was the last time Gaffney played in the LOI? Hard to believe hes now 30 where have the years gone to?

**Martinho II** · 24/02/2020, 1:38 PM

Originally Posted by YendorsMOT

Cardiff keeping an eye on McPhail.
The Director of football post is likely to be held open for him

Considering his past playing experience with Cardiff and played in a Cup Final wouldnt surprise me if he goes back to his old club.

**Ezeikial** · 24/02/2020, 1:53 PM

The media are hardly fawning over Rory Gaffney's goal scoring record this season.

Since he joined Walsall on loan in the summer, Ben Blake at the.42.ie reckons he has scored one goal in 15 appearances., while RTE reckon that the single goal came in 25 games. Local UK journo Liam Keen seems to remember the solitary goal as being last November in an away defeat at Swindon and that he has been out injured again since 7 January with an achilles problem

There have been no reports yet of demonstrations by Walsall fans at news of his departure

**Yossarian** · 24/02/2020, 2:07 PM

Gaffney had a decent season in his last in the LoI. He hasn’t really pulled up trees in England but the same could be said for Hoban and his time over there. It’s a decent signing for Rovers in a position they needed to strengthen. It really could go either way, he could be as successful as Hoban or as poor as Cummins on their returns from the UK, but Rovers would have to be happy with getting another striker on the books.