I wouldn’t be as convinced as others at this stage that we are a shoe in for second. We could do with another centre (defensive) mid and another option up top.
I expected us to have at least a striker in by this stage we remain linked with some but clock is ticking.
In fairness it's still all up in the air and dependent on further business being done. Dundalk probably aren't done themselves but can still field a decent starting XI with what they have already, meanwhile as encouraging as things may be for us we still have to sign a minimum of two players that will come in as first choice.
If I may insert my two penneth:
I think Dundalk would be a good bet to finish 2nd- They have enough guys there who know how to win leagues and despite SOD's snakey behaviour, my opinion of him hasn't changed in that he looks to me like he has the makings of being a very successful manager.
If he was to take over from Bradley in 2/3 yrs that would be just mustard.
dundalk need a good few more loan players, theyve not really add much from within the league to the team. mountney and benson are just off injuries and declining, they've to deal with that horror of a pitch aswell. doyle i think is a decent prospect , martin is average enough for PD standards and bone is another one who is nothing special especially if hes used out right.
I'm not sure Dundalk will hit the ground running though. SOD had a very shaky start with Pats in his first season maybe due to implementing his style or just finding his feet in management ? Now might not be the case now as SOD has a handful of players he's already worked with but I think Dundalk fans need to try their best not to get too ahead of themselves they have a massive job on their hands to get anywhere near top 3.
I think Derry are going to fall very short of the hype and i can't wait.
Anthony Wordsworth signs for 2022 for Waterford. He was very good last year but looked like he was gone as was on PFAI transfer list but club announced today he is back. We have held on to most of last seasons squad.
Hard to see how that happens they were one of the best teams on a points per game from when RH took over and he's added Micheal Duffy , McEleney, Dummigan and Patching from Dundalk all of whom are great signings as well as Brandan Kavanagh and Maher (a good back up Keeper) and i doubt he is finished signing people yet.
waterford signing well doesnt bode well for us down in cork , clear favourites for me now. on derry i thought higgins side wasnt all that great last season tbh scraped a few lucky results and performances werent all that head turning. duffy is a big addition along with patching but i dont think mceleney will be near his past best. pats will fancy their chances of keeping 2nd place
Duffy irreplaceable, Patching was good in some games and Europe but nothing like the form he displayed for Derry, McEleney excellent in europe but missed half the season, Dumminghan very versatile so he'll be missed, as will Murray. (Forgot about Cleary too)
Plus side, still have Hoban, Boyle, Sloggett, Leahy, Dan Kelly, and Benson and Mountney back, Gartland for experience but I don't expect him to be first choice so a decent spine, also don't see any of the best of the rest challenging for 3rd, in saying that I do think 4th might be the highest place, but certainly challenging for europe will be the target.
I also think we need 2 more players with decent experience, even if yet another Welsh u21 arrived today.
Last edited by oriel; 17/01/2022 at 1:07 PM.
#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).
Ha Jesus I was having a brain fart there. Apologies JD. I genuinely forgot they went down for a minute. I stopped paying close attention to the play off situations about half way through the season.
Upwards to the vanguard where the pressure is too high.
Major coup for us in division one. A strong squad is coming together. A good mix of youth and experience, we need a few more additions though, lack of depth last year unfortunately played a role in us getting relegated. By all accounts Wordsworth turned down a premier division club to stay at Waterford.
I read it as GK meaning Georgie Kelly.
On the topic of him, one of the papers had an article online a few weeks ago saying he has options in Holland and Denmark as well as the UK. Would be interesting to see how he’d do in another European league rather than a Ross County etc
Paaatrick's Agletic
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