2021 Season , Arrivals and departures

**Nesta99** · 17/08/2021, 8:43 PM

Been at the club on trial too, though Im not sure Armar was going to be signed from what was said previously, but things may have changed after the game in Derry.

**placid casual** · 17/08/2021, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

Great signing.Your chances of finishing third are up a notch.

I would have presumed he would go back bohs, DR , no? you better hope gorgeous george doesn't get injured

**Dalymountrower** · 17/08/2021, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by placid casual

I would have presumed he would go back bohs, DR , no? you better hope gorgeous george doesn't get injured

Yep, absolutely up **** creek if he does.

**Longfordian** · 18/08/2021, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by joey B

Adrian Carberry left Athlone,8 points off the play offs with what looked on paper a decent first division squad,the result the other night must have sealed his fate…

Paul Doolin in as new manager. Didn't see that one coming I must say.

**Burnsie** · 18/08/2021, 10:10 AM

no more Mr NIce Guy

**pineapple stu** · 18/08/2021, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by Longfordian

Paul Doolin in as new manager. Didn't see that one coming I must say.

Hahahahahahahaaaaa!

Poor Athlone

**D24Saint** · 18/08/2021, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by Longfordian

Paul Doolin in as new manager. Didn't see that one coming I must say.

Never thought I’d see him back in the league to be honest.

**joey B** · 18/08/2021, 11:14 AM

12 years since he’s managed in the league….

**Nesta99** · 18/08/2021, 12:49 PM

Maybe worth a hail mary chance though I dont think Athlone will have money to squeeze in to a player budget. Said he applied for Rovers and Galway would have though Dundalk would have been in the mix with recent haphazard free spending policy fitting his methods with little value for money needed....

**2 Year Contract** · 19/08/2021, 4:15 PM

Pats have signed right back Jak Hickman who was last with Bolton Wanderers to fill the gap left by John Mountney who’s out for the rest of the season after doing his cruciate in Oriel the other week

**vinnie** · 19/08/2021, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Pats have signed right back Jak Hickman who was last with Bolton Wanderers to fill the gap left by John Mountney who’s out for the rest of the season after doing his cruciate in Oriel the other week

Speaking of Crutiates and Oriel, any word on how Gartland is recovering? Be terrible to see a player like him retiring because of that injury

**Kiki Balboa** · 20/08/2021, 9:06 AM

This might be a controversial opinion, but I find it amazing the overprice of the Scales transfer. A good LOI player, but to me, doesnt seem a standard above which warrents such money. In the biggest games he doesnt stand out, such as in Europe, and for the final last year lost McMillian for his goal and gave a needless penalty away. Not saying Im right, just think its a inflated price (which is great for Rovers), but would be surprised if he made it at a higher standard like Celtic.

If Scales goes, from the starting 11 last night in Europe, only Dylan Watt is under 26 years old, with five players over 30, and three more on the bench. It is an old team, and it really doesnt suit Rovers to lose their youngest starting player.

From my quick calculations , the average of the team last night was 29.4, and without Scales, it would be 30.1 years old. I really doubt there would have been a team in Europe last night with an older team. Including the bench it was 28.4 (bench had an average age of 26.8).

Point being, that is a lot of players potentially declining together in the next few years, or more likely, Rovers needing to bring in a heap of lads over the next few windows, which is fairly difficult (just ask Dundalk + Cork).

**Dalymountrower** · 20/08/2021, 9:46 AM

Originally Posted by vinnie

Speaking of Crutiates and Oriel, any word on how Gartland is recovering? Be terrible to see a player like him retiring because of that injury

I hope for his sake that gets a few more years on the pitch as his expert commentary on TV last night was very poor.

**placid casual** · 20/08/2021, 9:50 AM

He's talking about Brian Gartland, not Graham Gartland who is very much retired and working with Rovers underage teams

**Dalymountrower** · 20/08/2021, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by placid casual

He's talking about Brian Gartland, not Graham Gartland who is very much retired and working with Rovers underage teams

Cheers, Brian Gartland may well be an excellent TV pundit then.

**ToberonaTornado** · 21/08/2021, 3:47 AM

Seems to have gone a bit under the radar here a bit but Dundalk defender Val Adedokun is apparently on his way to Brentford for a substantial 6 figure sum and with all clubs who played a part in his development due for reward.

https://extra.ie/2021/08/20/sport/so...s/val-adedokun

**DCWA** · 21/08/2021, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Kiki Balboa

This might be a controversial opinion, but I find it amazing the overprice of the Scales transfer. A good LOI player, but to me, doesnt seem a standard above which warrents such money.

As a Celtic fan as well I agree with this and don’t want him, a lot of us can’t help but feel it’s simply a Dermot Desmond manoeuvre.

**Sonny** · 21/08/2021, 1:00 PM

Originally Posted by Sonny

There must be something in the water up there because I'd genuinely love to have the levels of optimism the vast majority of Dundalk fans have. If roles were reversed, and Rovers had lost two players to Dundalk, lost out on Towell, and had recruited the same group of players Dundalk have, the pitchforks would be out and the 'Enough is Enough' banner would be making another appearance!

The goalkeeping situation alone would have me throwing a wobbler tbh.

Bump.

**Poor Student** · 21/08/2021, 6:26 PM

Originally Posted by DCWA

As a Celtic fan as well I agree with this and don’t want him, a lot of us can’t help but feel it’s simply a Dermot Desmond manoeuvre.

It's a very low cost low risk punt from Celtic's perspective. Makes a lot more sense than the money wasted loaning Laxalt, Kenny and Duffy last year. The terrible strategic planning has left an absurd amount of gaps to be filled in the squad and his ability to cover LCB and LB would be majorly beneficial as it doesn't look like anyone is being signed to push Taylor whilst Boli is also sitting on the books. Postecoglu appears to be a good coach who gives his players clearly defined roles and instructions and if Scales does indeed have the ability to make the step up it looks like the right move to flourish.

**DCWA** · 22/08/2021, 12:24 AM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

It's a very low cost low risk punt from Celtic's perspective. Makes a lot more sense than the money wasted loaning Laxalt, Kenny and Duffy last year. The terrible strategic planning has left an absurd amount of gaps to be filled in the squad and his ability to cover LCB and LB would be majorly beneficial as it doesn't look like anyone is being signed to push Taylor whilst Boli is also sitting on the books. Postecoglu appears to be a good coach who gives his players clearly defined roles and instructions and if Scales does indeed have the ability to make the step up it looks like the right move to flourish.

I don’t disagree with any of that.

However the concern from a Celtic perspective is that he will be sold to fans as a first team signing and not a punt as you mention.

The reality is if he signs it will be Celtic saying “here, we HAVE signed more defensive cover”, when the team is crying out for a good centre half and left back this is what we end up fobbed off with, a 0.5 mil League of Ireland defender. This is Desmond all over. Obviously on this occasion it has the added bonus of shifting funds to this other club.

If Scales is signed as a “punt” alongside a centre half and a left back, fair enough. That is unlikely.