2021 Season , Arrivals and departures

[Nesta99]

Whatever about jacks options, duffy about to sign back with DFC as cant get a decent offer from uk.
Good news for dfc dissapointing for him

Duffy is a key player for Dundalk, but is he better than Horgan? Horgan has done his stint in Scotland and is cutting a path at Wycombe, in to the Ireland setup and one of the better attacking players in a disrupted squad. But at 28 he is only now really getting the full credit for the potential he showed in LoI. Finances are all over the place in general so Duffy may not have the options to take a punt on lower leagues in England or cannon fodder in the SPL - in that if the career doesnt kick on then at least there has been a payday. He is still only what 23 or 24 so taking another year at Dundalk could be the better choice and there could be those cant say no contracts on offers when clubs loosen the purse strings. So few of the recent LoI 'superstars' have made a real impact that clubs are not likely to take the (financial) gamble currently. That include Maguire who seemed to be the one that would make the breakthrough.

All that said, players in general do seem to be older before getting chances at the top table unless they are exceptional youngsters.

[nigel-harps1954]

Duffy is a key player for Dundalk, but is he better than Horgan? Horgan has done his stint in Scotland and is cutting a path at Wycombe, in to the Ireland setup and one of the better attacking players in a disrupted squad. But at 28 he is only now really getting the full credit for the potential he showed in LoI. Finances are all over the place in general so Duffy may not have the options to take a punt on lower leagues in England or cannon fodder in the SPL - in that if the career doesnt kick on then at least there has been a payday. He is still only what 23 or 24 so taking another year at Dundalk could be the better choice and there could be those cant say no contracts on offers when clubs loosen the purse strings. So few of the recent LoI 'superstars' have made a real impact that clubs are not likely to take the (financial) gamble currently. That include Maguire who seemed to be the one that would make the breakthrough.

All that said, players in general do seem to be older before getting chances at the top table unless they are exceptional youngsters.

Duffy will be 27 next summer..

[Charlie Darwin]

APOEL have sold players or seen them move free to the Bundesliga, Eredivisie and Champions League sides the last couple of years ago. Whatever you think about him not getting an offer from Preston or Gillingham, going to Cyprus is a huge opportunity to move himself forward. He might not make it but it's a good step for him.

[Nesta99]

Duffy will be 27 next summer..

Ha! Well time flies and 2020 just disappeared...

[CorribsideSteve]

APOEL have sold players or seen them move free to the Bundesliga, Eredivisie and Champions League sides the last couple of years ago. Whatever you think about him not getting an offer from Preston or Gillingham, going to Cyprus is a huge opportunity to move himself forward. He might not make it but it's a good step for him.

Exactly. We are 99.9% Anglo-centric. Poor weather, he will probably play out of position, 442/541 grit and graft long ball, and tough as nails man-mountain defenders. Not a place where techincal ability flourishes, as has been evidenced by many a skillful player leaving the LOI and getting mired in League 2. All that the holy land of England has over the LOI really is bigger wages, much bigger. Hopefully more players (if they're anywhere on the level of JB) in the future try Antwerp, Vitesse or Molde over Accrington Stanley, Rotherham and Grimsby Town in the coming decade. Good luck to him, great move, on a personal and competitive level.

[joey B]

Gearóid Morrissey back at Cork, important piece for them to build around.....

[Brusher]

One of the reasons I love the LoI, when a "star"of the league leaves, then invariably new names shine the following season.So, is it too early to pick a few possibilities ??The first division will surely throw up a few names.

[joey B]

Not a player but Kevin Deery departed as Derry's assistant manager.....

[oriel]

It's the LoI way, but is it a clubs' market where players are taking what they can get without pushing the boat out too far under the circumstances. It does seem that Galway are making a big push with going FT, though FT doesnt always mean daytime split session training with sports catering/nutrition in between!?

With the Jack Byrne speculation, while he would be a loss to any side Rovers are more than capable of filling his boots. Maybe not with like for like but what is freed up in the players budget and if the rumours of what was on the table well there is plenty of scope of going out and recruiting some high calibre player/s.

I dunno whether it is good or bad that things are quiet out of Oriel Park. Imo there is enough retention in the squad for it not to be a complete rebuilding process. I do think that fresh faces are needed, though the likes of Gannon isnt a player that should have been on the exit list. Next season will depend a lot on players like Colovic showing his worth in the 'second season' make or break situation we have gotten used to. Certainly if rumours are to be believed, the money involved would want to see some classy performances. The Albanian keeper talk I took with a pinch or salt but it seems there is somthing to it and is rated. I hope so as we saw how Mannus really was the missing piece for Rovers - more than Byrne imo.

I would think a lot of this is purely down to holiday leave, people with their families over xmas etc. Prob get next bit of news from Mon 4th onwards. As for Duffy, it does appear the links have gone quiet in UK, then maybe clubs who were interested looked at him and thought at 26, maybe his peak is over for that level? They may also have looked at his EL group stage level performances and thought maybe he didnt stand out too much, for me I can only think of Rapid away as a superb performance from him at this level.

I would expect he will sign back, but you just never know. It was expected too that Gartland was due to agree a contract, but no news on that also at the minute.

PS I would have loved to have got Morrissey from Cork, think he's a gem of a player that would only improve with better players around him, but getting him to leave his roots would be hard, to be fair have to admire him for sticking with Cork City in the FD.

[oriel]

It's the LoI way, but is it a clubs' market where players are taking what they can get without pushing the boat out too far under the circumstances. It does seem that Galway are making a big push with going FT, though FT doesnt always mean daytime split session training with sports catering/nutrition in between!?

With the Jack Byrne speculation, while he would be a loss to any side Rovers are more than capable of filling his boots. Maybe not with like for like but what is freed up in the players budget and if the rumours of what was on the table well there is plenty of scope of going out and recruiting some high calibre player/s.

I dunno whether it is good or bad that things are quiet out of Oriel Park. Imo there is enough retention in the squad for it not to be a complete rebuilding process. I do think that fresh faces are needed, though the likes of Gannon isnt a player that should have been on the exit list. Next season will depend a lot on players like Colovic showing his worth in the 'second season' make or break situation we have gotten used to. Certainly if rumours are to be believed, the money involved would want to see some classy performances. The Albanian keeper talk I took with a pinch or salt but it seems there is somthing to it and is rated. I hope so as we saw how Mannus really was the missing piece for Rovers - more than Byrne imo.

Forgot to comment on this, yes Gannon is a massive loss, when in form, in my view there is no better player in the league at owning that right hand corner of the pitch, playing one-twos, then the killer cross / or goal. Also at same time keeping an eye to track back when needed, a big loss, but with 5 leagues and 3 cups, nothing but admiration for the guy as he was brilliant for us. Should never have been in the position of losing him but players move on, end of.

[D24Saint]

I wonder will transfers slow down with the news that the start date of the league is still uncertain & the funding is yet in place.

[Nesta99]

I wonder will transfers slow down with the news that the start date of the league is still uncertain & the funding is yet in place.

Maybe Mad Bill wasnt being so mad after all!!

[sulywaterfordfc]

Shane Griffin and John Martin signed up Waterford’s 2021 squad. Squad stands at 4, unofficially announced yet but two others have reportedly re-signed also.

[oriel]

I wonder will transfers slow down with the news that the start date of the league is still uncertain & the funding is yet in place.

Plus no confirm that Airtricity can be tempted to stay on for one more year, as things stand their contract expires tonight.

[lofty9]

Whatever about jacks options, duffy about to sign back with DFC as cant get a decent offer from uk.
Good news for dfc dissapointing for him

Duffy has no real desire to go to England, Sunderland and Oxford were very keen. Dundalk off their heads paying what they are though.

[nigel-harps1954]

Duffy has no real desire to go to England, Sunderland and Oxford were very keen. Dundalk off their heads paying what they are though.

https://www.derryjournal.com/sport/f...terest-3067796

Were these quotes by someone else then?

[lofty9]

https://www.derryjournal.com/sport/f...terest-3067796Were these quotes by someone else then?

Agent Spin. You naive enough to believe that rag ?

[sbgawa]

https://www.derryjournal.com/sport/f...terest-3067796

Were these quotes by someone else then?

That article is two weeks old, Huddersfield signed Danny Grant instead and the others didn't follow through.
His Agent managed to get DFC to anti up so that's good for him.
Peak 6 have all the money in the world so it doesn't really matter , DFC are getting a good if not particularly committed player to re-sign.
Positive for them, next season is shaping up to be compeititive

[Yossarian]

DFC are getting a good if not particularly committed player to re-sign.

A bit like Rovers signing Gannon and Hoare then, who didn’t particularly want to leave.

[sbgawa]

It was always Gannons dream to come back and play for Rovers and Hoares Dad actually played for Rovers so all good here