Wish List / 23.

[Johnnybegood33]

1. An air tight defence similar to Lawlor , Keeley , Mc Conville . Dunning .
2. Stevie not to get a red , or yellow .
Gotta say the squad discipline on the park is super.
3. I do not want to see , the likes of Sligo Rovers coming to Oriel & scoring 3 goals . WTF.
4. So Stevie , I like a bit of passion , but u gotta stay on the pitch.
5. Pat Hoban , to do a full season , without getting injured , & score a hat full of goals . Target a record Pat & reach for the stars .
6. And , my last request , Dundalk FC . to do the double .
7. Oh , I forgot , a new Oriel Pk.
Now lads , & lassies , if I forgot anything there , feel free to add your wish .Stay cool like “ The Fonz “.

[superman]

-Out of the back 5- only Sheppard and Leahy should be considered certainty starters for next season (so get contracts sorted). Once Connolly left, it crippled our season. Air-tight defence is right. Unfortunate Macari will be gone, so he will need a replacement. How many seasons are left in Boyle is a question? Garts has to be replaced too. Bone is a squad player, and not near good enough a starter at the back. Havent seen enough of McCourt
-We need another striker. McMillian's time is up. Great servant. But we need another option outside of Hoban, and Martin doesn't seem consistent enough. Thomas Lonergan or Dean Williams would be the first options I would look at.
-Hopefully, we can get another season from O'Kane, who flourishes. Dan Kelly can't be relied on physically, so we need to replace Bradley/Hauge with another starter.

Basically, I feel our offseason success is going to be defined by who we get in at the back. If we can get the right lads in, no reason why we shouldn't challenge for the league next year. I feel, players will be coming in from abroad again, especially as most of the u-23 talent has been already picked up, and Rovers will be throwing money at the others left.

[Johnnybegood33]

Well , it’s definitely build from a commanding back four , all the great Dundalk teams over the years had , miserly defences . There was a major inquiry when the opposition scored in Oriel . So that’s the recipe for success. Two young centre backs are needed , with aerial power 6’-2 “ plus , who win everything in the air , have pace , & score headers from corner kicks . Now , that’s not much to ask for , the scouts might have to travel afar to get them in to Oriel.😊👍

[niall_hearty2000]

Need to tie Sheppard down to a long term deal to stop RVs sniffing around. I'd try and get Macari too esp if we can hopefully offer European football next season. I could see him carving a good LoI career for himself. Good solid LoI player. Not sure he is strong enough for Stoke's level. Def need at least one strong Cb if not two. And depends on who resigns to see if we need RB and LB. Need a creative mf and a Chris shields type mf winger to replace Bradley and a proven striker with pace to either play alongside Hoban or to challenge him for a starting place. We will prob go down the loan route again, but personally see that as the road to nowhere as you end up losing the players after one season and for the last month or two they tend to avoid getting injuries and as such are less committed.

[Richie87]

It will be a competitive Division next year. Cork City coming up and possibly Waterford. Bohemians going full time. If Finn Harps go down, Drogheda would be the only part time team in the Division.

Dundalk would need to get Europe first, to see what type of players they can bring in.

[mike]

I would think Cork will have a similar budget to Shels, do not see them top 6 even.

Defence - We need at least 3 defenders, have also changed my mind of Boyle, thats v good experience leaving if he goes, Shep has another year on his 1+1 deal, Leahy I'd keep, can't see Macari staying, Garltand in his last season, and I don't rate McCourt whom we paid a small fee for. Mountney has impressed at right full. Sam Bone, I'm really not sure, prob release but he has done much better in MF last few games.

MF - Lewis / Sloggett both under contract, almost sure Doyle is too, Adams I'd prob keep but he is on one year loan, Benson only does one year deals, prob keep him but christ he needs to stay fit. We need at least 2 more, Doyle was supposed to have added steel, didn't play near enough, Ward I`d keep.

Attack - Hoban and O'Kane (2024) and Kelly (2023 with poss 1 extra year option) - said on another thread if all keep fit, that is some pace and some front trio, Bradley - started brilliantly, got league POTM, faded badly, can't see him staying,

McMillan / Martin - I'd release both, so need two strikers

So that's 3 defenders, at least 2 MF and 2 more up front, big shopping list and we will have challenges, as we are clearly 3rd choice for players, getting to europe is essential, if we don't budget could be cut and quality incoming could be too.

[Pepsi]

Wont even go anywhere near suggesting players names as it all depend on if we get Europe or not. Regardless of what happens we will need to replace all loan players and will have to improve a few current players. If we get Europe we will certainly need a bigger squad and more experienced quality. If the club continue their policy of loan players from the UK we will be looking at this situation every end of season. As I say, all will depend on if we get European money and if the owners are willing to dip into their own pockets to get that extra 10% that might be needed, if we miss Europe it may see us slip further away from the top.

[dundalkfc1903]

I'd let Benson go. 19 starts is effectively paying a decent wedge for half a player. Has managed over 30 league games once in his career. You would have to question how he looks after himself
Others to go would be Gartland, Bone, McCourt, McMillan and Adams. Along with the loanees going that would represent a large turnover.

Boyles situation is interesting as he is the last of the P6 mega contracts. Is he going to accept a 50% paycut ? Or possibly even more than that. His rumoured contract on his return from uk was in the region of 3 grand a week.

[oldfogey]

Knives are out.

[niall_hearty2000]

I would think Cork will have a similar budget to Shels, do not see them top 6 even.

Defence - We need at least 3 defenders, have also changed my mind of Boyle, thats v good experience leaving if he goes, Shep has another year on his 1+1 deal, Leahy I'd keep, can't see Macari staying, Garltand in his last season, and I don't rate McCourt whom we paid a small fee for. Mountney has impressed at right full. Sam Bone, I'm really not sure, prob release but he has done much better in MF last few games.

MF - Lewis / Sloggett both under contract, almost sure Doyle is too, Adams I'd prob keep but he is on one year loan, Benson only does one year deals, prob keep him but christ he needs to stay fit. We need at least 2 more, Doyle was supposed to have added steel, didn't play near enough, Ward I`d keep.

Attack - Hoban and O'Kane (2024) and Kelly (2023 with poss 1 extra year option) - said on another thread if all keep fit, that is some pace and some front trio, Bradley - started brilliantly, got league POTM, faded badly, can't see him staying,

McMillan / Martin - I'd release both, so need two strikers

So that's 3 defenders, at least 2 MF and 2 more up front, big shopping list and we will have challenges, as we are clearly 3rd choice for players, getting to europe is essential, if we don't budget could be cut and quality incoming could be too.

Cork will have a big budget. They were getting 6k into the cross most weeks and will be hugely supported in the top flight next season. And Adams was signed I think. He isn't on a loan deal.

[Midfield11]

Would Boyle get big money anywhere else? He’s worth keeping for a reduced wage, as for benson, does he not work for stat sports so I’d say his wages are split between Dundalk and statsports, I think sloggett is in the same boat but I’m open to correction. Getting Europe will decide the futures of a lot of players but there’s no doubt we have some very good young players and some that have reached the end of the road.

[dundalkfc1903]

If there was a chance to sign macari or Bradley permanently that would be great. Unlikely tho I assume.
Would be happy to see Boyle see out his career here, if a deal can be struck.

[Richie87]

Jordan Adeyemo seems to be playing really well with Longford. He had been with Drogheda and was well regarded before a bad injury then went to Galway. Out of contract next month

[oldfogey]

Unless we clinch 3rd tomorrow night/Sunday week, ourselves, Pats, and Shelbourne won't know our fate until after the cup final. That would put us at a bit of a disadvantage in terms of signing LOI players.

[Richie87]

That's true, though some other clubs are making moves. Sligo linked with an ambitious move for Liam Burt. https://t.co/GRaTX0M6vL