Transfer Rumours 2016 season

**Nesta99** · 29/10/2015, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by Olander

Cork fans used to call O'Donnell "Sideways Stevie" when he played for them. They didn't rate him. Enough said.

Now one of their lot is claiming that Chris Shields is better than him. Behave

He was was at Cork during a rough old time at Turners Cross - a young Liam Brady would have been hard to rate then (never mind adding in the notorious Cork annual fall guy player) and with Matthews and Doolin for a short while as manager too.... More games and 10 goals the following season in a ridiculous Sean Connor Galway side was very impressive return!! He is currently better all round than Sheilds but one day that might change.

**Ezeikial** · 29/10/2015, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

More games and 10 goals the following season in a ridiculous Sean Connor Galway side was very impressive return!!

Stephen O'Donnell provided a real presence in what was a very poor Galway side under Sideshow Seannie.

Along with Towell, both O'Donnell and Shields are among the top 3 most influential midfielders in the country - I expect that both of them will be involved against Cork in the Cup Final

**The Donie Forde** · 29/10/2015, 1:17 PM

Originally Posted by Ezeikial

Stephen O'Donnell provided a real presence in what was a very poor Galway side under Sideshow Seannie.

Along with Towell, both O'Donnell and Shields are among the top 3 most influential midfielders in the country - I expect that both of them will be involved against Cork in the Cup Final

Are you actually suggesting Dundalk only have three midfielders among the top three? More, surely!

**White Horse** · 29/10/2015, 1:31 PM

Akinade stays at Bohs for 2016.

**mcgonigle** · 29/10/2015, 2:51 PM

Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

O'Donnell is twice the player shiels is. I like shiels, he is a good solid option for us and is excellent at winning the ball and breaking up the oppositions play but his main weakness is when he has the ball and his passing is very poor and limited. other midfielders have to be within 10 metres of him so we play deeper as a result.
O'Donnell can do what shiels does and is 10 times a better passer of the ball too. So this allows Towel, Horgan & Meenan to push up

While I think O'Donnell is our best player I also think you are doing Shields a massive disservice in this post. O'Donnell is not twice the player Shields is, overall slightly better right now but Shields game is improving all the time. Also to say Shields passing is very poor and limited is outrageous, while his passing is not at the same level as O'Donnell, Towell and Finn it is not a million miles off and constantly improving, you are comparing him to 3 of the best passers in the league.

O'Donnell can play DM alright but not to the same level as Shields and when he does I believe he is wasted, his attacking attributes outweigh his defensive, whereas Shields is the opposite. Both are important though

**White Horse** · 29/10/2015, 3:08 PM

Shields is perfect in games where the midfield is stretched and he has to cover a lot of ground. In games where the midfield is congested, he is prone to losing possession when pressed.

O'Donnell has quicker feet and holds on to the ball better. However, he can drift into wide areas and leave the back four exposed. With Shields out of the team we are more vulnerable to counter attacks.

**nigel-harps1954** · 29/10/2015, 3:25 PM

Richie Towell linked to Bristol Rovers, their manager has supposedly confirmed his interest in Towell.

Bristol Rovers are struggling in English League Two. Dundalk are after winning the league and looking to push further and have a go in Europe next season. He's the poster boy of League of Ireland football and his girlfriend due to give birth to a child, or something of the like posted here recently.

Am I the only person who thinks he'd be mad to take such a move?

**White Horse** · 29/10/2015, 3:30 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Richie Towell linked to Bristol Rovers, their manager has supposedly confirmed his interest in Towell.

Bristol Rovers are struggling in English League Two. Dundalk are after winning the league and looking to push further and have a go in Europe next season. He's the poster boy of League of Ireland football and his girlfriend due to give birth to a child, or something of the like posted here recently.

Am I the only person who thinks he'd be mad to take such a move?

Towell is quoted as saying that he wouldn't consider League 1 or 2. He is on a good contract at Dundalk and says that he wouldn't be financially better off in League 1 or 2. He said that he would consider a move to the Championship as that would give him the opportunity to get into the Irish squad.

As for Bristol Rovers, all the manager has said is that they'll send someone over to Ireland "in the future" to have a look at him. They don't sound very committed.

**Nesta99** · 29/10/2015, 4:07 PM

It would be nuts to go to Bristol Rovers, Bristol City on the other hand are going somewhere. A struggling League 2 club saying they might send someone over to have a look at him, with 2 games left of a season is exactly the sort of attitude the Towell will tell where to go!

**Longfordian** · 29/10/2015, 4:25 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Richie Towell linked to Bristol Rovers, their manager has supposedly confirmed his interest in Towell.

Bristol Rovers are struggling in English League Two. Dundalk are after winning the league and looking to push further and have a go in Europe next season. He's the poster boy of League of Ireland football and his girlfriend due to give birth to a child, or something of the like posted here recently.

Am I the only person who thinks he'd be mad to take such a move?

Jaysus hopefully it's a child she's giving birth to.

**Dunny** · 29/10/2015, 4:52 PM

Originally Posted by Ezeikial

I suspect Dunny was relating to a well known local journalist who often speculates on rumours that he has created himselfl

100%.He has a Towell exclusive on his timeline since 7.30 this morning.

https://twitter.com/LiveatOriel/stat...33250302877696

**seand** · 29/10/2015, 4:55 PM

Originally Posted by The Donie Forde

Are you actually suggesting Dundalk only have three midfielders among the top three? More, surely!

O'Donnell, Shields, Towell, Finn, Horgan, Mountney, Meenan..... I make it 7 in the top 3

**The Donie Forde** · 29/10/2015, 6:59 PM

Originally Posted by seand

O'Donnell, Shields, Towell, Finn, Horgan, Mountney, Meenan..... I make it 7 in the top 3

That's more like it.

**avvenalaf** · 29/10/2015, 8:21 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Richie Towell linked to Bristol Rovers, their manager has supposedly confirmed his interest in Towell.

Bristol Rovers are struggling in English League Two. Dundalk are after winning the league and looking to push further and have a go in Europe next season. He's the poster boy of League of Ireland football and his girlfriend due to give birth to a child, or something of the like posted here recently.

Am I the only person who thinks he'd be mad to take such a move?

Is she from Drogheda ?