And Clive Delaney signs for...

**Slash/ED** · 30/08/2003, 7:18 PM

Pats!? Didn't see that coming....

Delaney a Saint

St Patrick's Athletic have secured the signature of former UCD and West Ham central defender Clive Delaney.

Clive returned to Dublin on Thursday evening following a weeklong trial at Sunderland where he scored in a reserve team game.

Delaney was on the "wanted list" of at least four clubs and it was speculated that Shelbourne were favourites for his services.

Clive told soccercentral.ie "I put pen to paper this afternoon (Saturday) took part in a training session and watched the under 21 side play in Baldonnel."

Competition for starting spots in Inchicore will be tough with the incumbents Daragh Maguire and Colm Foley not expected to give up their places without a fight.

http://www.soccercentral.ie/viewstor...&viewstory=yes

Great signing for Pats, would have loved to see him goto Shels, but they (Pats) were the only of the Dublin four not to be strongly linked with him from what I saw so it's a bit of a suprise.

**pineapple stu** · 30/08/2003, 7:26 PM

He was supposed to have been at the Shels UEFA Cup match on Thursday - that probably put him off a bit!

He'll do very well there I'd say - should score a few from the numerous set pieces Pat's lump into the box!

Judging by what I've read elsewhere, I'd say he could head back to England at the end of this (Irish) season and try and find a club when the transfer window opens again. There's supposed to still be a fair bit of interest in him - some good performances for Pat's will only help that.

**Slash/ED** · 30/08/2003, 7:34 PM

Yeah, set peice Athletic will suit him alright!

He scored on his one reserve match for Sunderland and was, supposedly, very impressive but McCarthy didn't sign him for some reason.

**A face** · 30/08/2003, 8:16 PM

Originally posted by Slash/ED
Yeah, set peice Athletic will suit him alright!

He'll fit right in there

**kdjaC** · 31/08/2003, 1:54 PM

Hes a good signing ,but another Liam George methinks Pats taking him to get him playing then off he goes at the end of season.

set peice Athletic

Not our fault the rest of league defends set pieces like schoolboys and we are really really good at them.
Every team in any league should score at least 10 goals from set pieces we get about 20

But others team should know better than to give silly free kicks around the box when playing Pats.

kdjac

**Schumi** · 01/09/2003, 1:54 PM

Originally posted by Slash/ED
He scored on his one reserve match for Sunderland and was, supposedly, very impressive but McCarthy didn't sign him for some reason.

I think McCarthy said that there was no point in signing players unless they were better than what he had already, i.e. go straight into the first team.

**liamon** · 01/09/2003, 2:15 PM

Well If Mick McCarthy doesn't rate him, he's joined a group of players that include Denis Irwin. Maybe McCarthy fely that Delaney has somehting to prove.

**pineapple stu** · 01/09/2003, 4:39 PM

Originally posted by liamon
Well If Mick McCarthy doesn't rate him, he's joined a group of players that include Denis Irwin. Maybe McCarthy fely that Delaney has somehting to prove.

There's a difference between not rating someone and not thinking that they'll go straight into the first team. Sunderland are in serious financial trouble, especially after going down - they have to think three or four times before buying a player. No good buying him because he's kind of handy!

**liamon** · 01/09/2003, 4:45 PM

Yeah Pineapple, i know you're right. But I'm not a big fan of McCarthy and I just the felt like referring to Mick's disgraceful treatment of another Irish defender.

Cork perspective.

In this case, he may have made a good decision, though it pains me to admit it. Sunderland probably can't afford to sign anyone at present.

**tiktok** · 03/09/2003, 6:09 PM

has to be said it's a great signing by Pat's. delaney is a good defender, he's the main reason UCD were city's 'bogey' team for so long.
and yes, he will add a bit of height at set pieces too, nothing wrong with that though.

**pineapple stu** · 03/09/2003, 7:39 PM

Originally posted by tiktok
Delaney is a good defender, he's the main reason UCD were city's 'bogey' team for so long.

That and the fact that youz kept hoofing the ball at him!

**tiktok** · 03/09/2003, 9:26 PM

Originally posted by pineapple stu
That and the fact that youz kept hoofing the ball at him!

suddenly it's all become clear

**liamon** · 04/09/2003, 8:09 AM

Yes, it's obvious. He's tall, and we kept knocking in high balls that he dealt with. Clearly, the answer is to knock in even higher balls so he can't reach them. That's the answer.

**Aberdonian Stu** · 04/09/2003, 9:43 AM

I think the best example of City's 'intelligent' tactics in dealing with Clive came in the second half of the City vs UCD game on the last day of last season.

I was at the very back of the main stand in the press box which is just about high enough for you to see the ball at eye level given the way City played. They used the same tactic every time just hoofing the ball as high as possible in the hope that the (relative) midget they had up front could outjump Clive.

Strangely it didn't work.