QuotePanic signings from Bohemians, I bet they were working simultaneously in all the operations and they thought some of them wouldn't go through.
They have too many players now.
Pure panic but it might work out? I think the bit that stands out is how many targets they missed out on during the proper time to do business. Really misguided stuff.Originally Posted by pineapple stu
If the stories are true and Fenlon came to Devine with 4-5 players lined up and was rejected only for Devine to go after players that would ultimately move to Waterford, or stay at Shamrock Rovers....then I'd be moving Devine away from any sort of decisions pretty lively. Maybe make him a coach? I'd love to know how much time they wasted trying to sign Hoare from us. Utter fools errand but they chose it voluntarily.
Divin could be good though. We were looking at him a while back. Never seem him play mind you but interesting to see how he steps up at least.
Bohs for the league now.
21 leagues and 25 cups.
Panic signings from Bohemians, I bet they were working simultaneously in all the operations and they thought some of them wouldn't go through.
They have too many players now.
We have not. They are all defenders which brings the defence up to acceptable numbers.
Yeah we have 4 fit Cb's and 4 fit fullbacks. Maybe 1 too many but considering they are mostly loans I don't think that's an issue at all.
The squad size seems large but you have to remember that Talbot and Cornwall won't play this year and Buckley could be back this season but it will take a significant amount of time for him to reach full fitness.So from the 27 listed as squad members you quickly get down to 24 active players then at least one of the loans only lasts until June and there are rumours about McManus moving to the UK once he's back fit. The squad gets very thin very quickly when you start examining it with a critical eye.
Conversation at Bohs training today
Fenlon "Well, Declan it's great to see you've signed 2 new defenders" .
Devine "No Pat I've signed 3"
Fenlon "that's OK plenty of cover" who's the other fella over there?
Devine" I don't know, I though he was with you Pat".
Me, We'll see how his works out. I just hope there is quality and not just bodies to make up numbers.
It's so hard to not see Bohs signings yesterday as panic moves but I do wonder how they would be viewed had they been signed a month or 6 weeks ago?
Ismala is a player we had in the last 2 preseasons and was linked to Blackpool I believe it was last year and from what I know that was why he didn't sign for Bohs.
Matheson is young but has played a significant number of senior games in the UK through various divisions and has England underage caps which is no mean feat.
Aboubacar Keita again has underage international experience with the US as well as a number MLS games which is a step above where good players in the league like Dan Casey, lee Desmond and Mark Doyle have/will play.
The biggest unknown would be the young fella from Hull then which can be worth a punt every now and again.
But bringing them in so late means that it's going to take a few weeks for them to get up to speed which puts them and the club in a **** position.
It's a fair question - although part of the concern has to be that they're only being signed now rather than 4/6 weeks ago.
You could say Keita hasn't played MLS in three years and was actually in the third tier last year.
Matheson hasn't played a senior league game of any description since a brief League Two spell ended 20 months ago. He then joined Conor Carty at Bolton B - Carty was at Pat's last year. He's only been capped up to U18 level - wouldn't read too much into that.
The Polish lad who wasn't getting his game in the Japanese third tier is just bizarre - it would surely reflect badly on the LoI if he did well (which isn't to say he won't). And yet he scored in the Polish top flight as recently as Nov 2021 - though I think his stats suggest he was increasingly viewed as someone not up to that level (starts and minutes reducing year on year). Still be interesting to know what happened in Japan though.
Mills - Solihull Moore and Gateshead? Meh
Any one of them could be worth a punt in the squad as you say, and there's certainly some random signings who've done ok recently (Tulloch at Dundalk wasn't bad despite a handful of lower league appearances by age 22, bit like Mills). All four of them together though sounds a bit much.
And you still have to wonder is there nobody better in their academy to bring through instead? Matheson is 21, Mills is 20, Keita is 23 - not like they're grizzled veterans.
Last edited by pineapple stu; 23/02/2024 at 9:27 AM.
It's definitely the optics and timing that are the main issue rather than the players individually. Getting 4 players in - all defenders - on the last day of the window just shines an even bigger light on the obvious mess the off-season has been in terms of recruitment for Bohs.
Mills and Ismala are the kind of unknown punts you see happen often in this league so it's a matter of who knows with them, the other pair walk that thin line between marquee signings on paper and having huge question marks due to fitness etc. Keita clearly had an awful injury and has only played reserve football - and not much at that - in the last two and a bit years, while Matheson had wonder kid vibes about him initially but never reached his potential and apparently has had similar troubles with fitness. Saw a couple of Bolton fans saying he's struggled to even get U23 minutes this season, but there's no doubting that both have great pedigree for the league, they wouldn't even be here if there wasn't an asterisk next to their names, so if they can get back approaching previous levels they could make a huge difference. Still think Bohs have the bones of a better squad than most teams in the league but you couldn't be confident in Devine, nor the preparation they've had to really make the most of what they have.
The core of my point I suppose is that if these signings were made 4-6 weeks ago there would be some cause for optimism but as it is they are panic signings.
On whether there are better players in the u20's. They had an opportunity to play during the preseason in the Leinster senior cup and at least from what I saw the majority of them were a year away from being ready for the physicality and speed of the Premier division. If we were in a position where we had a settled back 4 with some good rotation options I'd say they could be worth a punt in games where you have a solid lead or even cup games against first division opponents but that's not the case. Matheson and Keita actually having 1st team minutes is a big plus IMO because even if they are a couple of years removed they already know that the pace is quicker, the tackles harder and have played at a level that is comparable to the LOI even if it was a couple of years ago. Yes the u20's need time to get up to the level but so many of them are quite small and light so putting them in the position to be easily bullied could set them back significantly as well.
Post match interview
Commentator "hard luck tonight Declan, it was a good game, but what do you think went wrong?
Devine" well John, it's a new squad, we are in transition, we are still getting to know each other and gel as a squad, but we'll come good and maby go on a good run".
Commentator " but Declan there are only three weeks left in the season"
Yep - but they weren't. Piszczek and Keita seem to have been unattached for the entire transfer window for example - that's not entirely encouraging. Ditto did Hull want Mills to go on loan but couldn't find anyone interested?
So the lateness of the signings is something that I don't think can be overlooked.
Keita is on loan
The unattached lads could easily have played a few friendlies if they were being lined up to see if they would work out. We had a few fellas in the last month or so we didn’t sign based on training and friendlies. Pity we couldn’t have done that with Bogdan.
Ok - so put him in with Mills instead of Piszczek so. Same point
Has Dignam retired? I see he played in the Collingwood cup but not part of the squad
That's Louis, Mark's brother
Mark left last summer to move to London for work. Louis is on the LSL team
Last edited by pineapple stu; 23/02/2024 at 10:49 PM.
Presumably known for his sticky coverage of attacking players
#NeverStopNotGivingUp
Strong in the tackle is Macadam. Has a hard shoulder.
Hello, hello? What's going on? What's all this shouting, we'll have no trouble here!
- E Tattsyrup.
I heard his Father Tar was well known for being rock solid.
Yeah and his mother loved her asphalt
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