Bohs appoint Fenlon

[GavinZac]

The year Fenlon had his biggest, most expensive squad at Shels - 2005- was also their least successful of his reign; Ollie went on a shopping spree at the end of '04 which unsettled the side that had won 2 in a row. And you're right that Pat's and Drogs will be competing next year in terms of spending - if Cork and Derry want to be there or thereabouts they're both going to have to find some money and appoint managers ASAP.

we have the money. however, our general manager appears intent on staying under the 65% wage cap, unlike a lot of other clubs. how long that will last, if the offenders go unpunished, remains to be seen.

[superfrank]

Let's say, a team I'd expect a top eL club to progress past 50% of the time.

Jesus, you've high expectations.

There's no shame going out to Steua (in the Champions League now), Depor (had reached the CL semis the year before), Odense (disposed of Pats this year so it's not as if beating Shels was a shock result) or Lille (qualified for the CL that season and reached the QF's in 2005/06). I'd rate them a lot higher then any Irish team. The earlier years were bad granted but he did improve on it in later years.

You learn from your experiences and I think his European experience will help Bohs in their Intertoto run.

[fanatic]

Fenlon is the most successful manager currently working in LOI football. We'll be title challengers this year.

stay positive !

[pineapple stu]

There's no shame going out to Steua (in the Champions League now), Depor (had reached the CL semis the year before), Odense (disposed of Pats this year so it's not as if beating Shels was a shock result) or Lille (qualified for the CL that season and reached the QF's in 2005/06). I'd rate them a lot higher then any Irish team. The earlier years were bad granted but he did improve on it in later years.

But they're the kind of teams you're going to have to beat to "go far" in Europe, like you suggested. Odense were in fact a team who stopped Shels going far in the InterToto, so it's fair to use them to argue against your point. And he has to do it with half the budget. And results suggest he didn't really learn from his experiences - he was just given more money to go and buy more players. He was still sticking to 4-5-1 in silly situations right to the end.

[niallsparky]

http://bohsfc.blogspot.com/

Fenlon Is The New Bohs Manager

Bohemians have today announced that Pat Fenlon is to become their new manager. Fenlon will replace the outgoing Sean Connor and early reactions are postitive amongst the majority of Bohemians' fans. The official website has announced that a press conference will take place at 1 pm of Thursday, December 27th at Dalymount Park to formally unveil their decision to award him with a 3 year contract.

Fenlon rejoins the Gypsies having spent some of his playing career at The Big Club. Between 1991 and 1994, "Nutsy" made 88 appearances for Bohs, scoring 29 times. Fenlon managed to win the PFAI Player of the Year award in his first season at Bohs.

His managerial career has been a succesful one so far, winning three league titles during his five years at local rivals Shelbourne. He has also managed Derry City in a brief and relatively unsuccessful spell at the start of last season. It remains to be seen whether Fenlon will remain in his position as manager of the Irish Under 23 squad or if he will forfeit it to focus entirely on his new role in "the biggest job in Irish domestic football"*[1] at Bohs.


*Quote courtesy of the one and only Roddy Collins. Rico also said something along the same lines...

[superfrank]

And results suggest he didn't really learn from his experiences - he was just given more money to go and buy more players. He was still sticking to 4-5-1 in silly situations right to the end.

So he just bought the players for a laugh then?

Ollie was the kind of chairman who was willing to give his manager more money and Fenlon used it to improve the team, like any manager would. And as your summary of his European results shows the results did improve. He believed in his tactics, whether they were adventurous or not, and the side did go further as the years went on.

They may not have reached the heights of 2004 again but the side had still improved on that showing against the Slovenian side that you saw.

That's why I believe he learnt from his experiences in Europe.

[niallsparky]

So he just bought the players for a laugh then?

Ollie was the kind of chairman who was willing to give his manager more money and Fenlon used it to improve the team, like any manager would. And as your summary of his European results shows the results did improve. He believed in his tactics, whether they were adventurous or not, and the side did go further as the years went on.

They may not have reached the heights of 2004 again but the side had still improved on that showing against the Slovenian side that you saw.

That's why I believe he learnt from his experiences in Europe.

Seconded. When judging a manager, you judge him on his most recent performances. As regards Europe, his most recent results are very impressive.

[pineapple stu]

So he just bought the players for a laugh then?

He bought the players because he's a chequebook manager, and that's how he manages. With better players, obviously he got (slightly) better results. A good manager would improve the current players; Fenlon just bought in more. You're continuing to ignore the fact that he won't have anything near the same budget at Bohs as at Shels, which is a very important factor.

Bohs won't go far in the InterToto. They'll get through one round at best (easy draws pending, obviously)

[CollegeTillIDie]

His signings were awful for us. Fenlons football was like that of Dermot Keely's Derry. I was fully behind him but as time went by the supporters got fed up with his long ball tactics. Really really brutal stuff to watch. I honestly can't see this one lasting too long, the Bohs fans will expect their team to play decent football.

As pints of bitter go - hell rub it up Brennan and Oman.

Pat Fenlon could not attract the players he actually wanted to , at The Brandywell. As Estate Agents are wont to say, '' location , location, location''. Because it is expected that players who line out for The Candystripes, will live in the area and the frozen Northwest just didn't appeal to a lot of players that Pat had on his wish list.

Also another aspect is , in order to do well at Finn Harps, Derry City or any Irish League club for that matter, and not be from the area, you need to understand the mindset. I had three grandparents who were either born or raised North of the border so I speak from personal experience on this issue. Fenlon never came to terms with that principle and didn't succeed largely for that reason. Stephen Kenny seemed to have cracked that particular nut and was much more successful as a result.

[Dazzy]

Fenlon is the most successful manager currently working in LOI football. We'll be title challengers this year.

Just 12 months ago we said that

And you're right that Pat's and Drogs will be competing next year in terms of spending - if Cork and Derry want to be there or thereabouts they're both going to have to find some money and appoint managers ASAP.

Best Derry could do would be 4th/5th and it would be stupid for us to be throwing money away trying to compete with Drogheda.

[sonofstan]

Best Derry could do would be 4th/5th and it would be stupid for us to be throwing money away trying to compete with Drogheda.

Just over 12 months ago you finished second for the second year in a row; Drogs were richer than you both times, and you finished ahead of them, first time you finished ahead of Shels with their limitless bucket of (not real) cash - the gap between the haves and have nots isn't that wide yet.

[Aaron]

It all depends on who comes in next season. I think if Kenny takes over he will get the team fit and playing good football again, and if reports of him looking to bring in 7 are true then I cant see why we cannot challenge

[GavinZac]

It all depends on who comes in next season. I think if Kenny takes over he will get the team fit and playing good football again, and if reports of him looking to bring in 7 are true then I cant see why we cannot challenge

Where are those 7 coming from? are they the same 7 mathews and fenlon will be looking for?

[Erstwhile Bóz]

Cautiously optimistic.

I'd say Heary is yopping his cacks.

[lofty9]

Pat Fenlon could not attract the players he actually wanted to , at The Brandywell. As Estate Agents are wont to say, '' location , location, location''. Because it is expected that players who line out for The Candystripes, will live in the area and the frozen Northwest just didn't appeal to a lot of players that Pat had on his wish list.

Also another aspect is , in order to do well at Finn Harps, Derry City or any Irish League club for that matter, and not be from the area, you need to understand the mindset. I had three grandparents who were either born or raised North of the border so I speak from personal experience on this issue. Fenlon never came to terms with that principle and didn't succeed largely for that reason. Stephen Kenny seemed to have cracked that particular nut and was much more successful as a result.

Agreed. But he got rid of players ie Holmes, O Flynn, Delaney, McChrystal (players of the mindset that you argue) and spent a lot of money on replacing with duds on large signing on fees and wages (who he told to kick the ball as long as possible)

[Aaron]

Where are those 7 coming from? are they the same 7 mathews and fenlon will be looking for?

What do you mean same 7 Matthews and Fenlon are after? Kenny wants assurances that if he comes he will have money to spend and wants to bring in 7 players as well as letting 5 senior players go. No names mentioned but he obviously feels that it will take 7 to bring the squad up to scratch

[NeilMcD]

Cautiously optimistic.

I'd say Heary is yopping his cacks.

Yeah I would feel the same. Feel he is a bit improvement on Connor but that is not saying much. Walter Mitty and David Brent are words that my mother said to me when she heard about the sacking of Connor and she does not even read the Bohs messageboard. The football should be better anyway.

[bennocelt]

Agree with Stu here, cant believe that Bohs gane Fenlon the job.
Can count Bohs out of the league so for next season. Can we bring up this thread when fenlon does crap, as im am 100% confident in that he wont win anything (well maybe the league cup!)

[Cosmo]

we have the money. however, our general manager appears intent on staying under the 65% wage cap.

Do you actually believe that?


Btw great appointment for bohs!

[Poor Student]

You learn from your experiences and I think his European experience will help Bohs in their Intertoto run.

While the results got better I don't feel Fenlon ever improved or adapted as a tactician. I think with his relationship with Heary he could restore a feel good factor in Bohs thatmay get him off to a good start but like Pineapple I don't rate him as that great a manager. The three clubs in the money at the moment all have managers who I wouldn't rate very highly and I doubt could win the league except for having a monumental budget.