Stephen Bradley's Shamrock Rovers squad shake up

The Hoops have looked to sharpen their squad quickly since the transfer window opened at the start of the month.

They’ve added to the quality they already have in midfield with the acquistion of UCD ‘Students’ Neil Farrugia and Gary O’Neill plus they captured striker Graham Cummins from Cork City. Defender Sean Callan and striker Sean Boyd have returned from loan spells in the First Division too.

With Cummins coming from Cork City, Joel Coustrain went the other way and Sam Bone was allowed join Waterford on loan until the end of the season when his contract is up. Other changes saw Aaron Bolger make his loan move to Cardiff City permanent (see here) while striker Dean Dillon was released by the club.

At Rovers’ press event on the eve of their game on Friday against Sligo Rovers, Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley spoke about the changes in his squad.

“When we made the deal with Cork City we felt that Joel Coustrain needed to go and play,” said Bradley. “The game time wasn’t there for him here at this moment in time.

“Dean Dillon and Aaron Bolger are two really good people first of all and two different footballers and scenarios. Dean wants to go and pursue avenues in America. We obviously allowed him to do that and we wish him the best. 

“Aaron is a player that I rate highly, I gave him his debut at 16. He’s played a lot of first team games for usfor someone so young. He has a great attitude and I wish him nothing but the best in his career with Cardiff. He’s worked hard and he deserves this opportunity.

“It’s been a frustrating year for Sam Bone with injury and when he’s been fit the chances haven’t been there for him to play. I knew Waterford liked him so we felt it was right for everybody.”

The arrival of Cummins could prove crucial for Rovers as he will give another dimension to the Hoops attacking line up. Their wastefulness in front of goal is one of the reason Rovers have lost their lead at the top of the table to Dundalk who are beginning to fire on all cylinders – winning their last nine competititve games they have played.

However earning just a solitary point from a possible 18 on offer from the three games each against third place Bohemians and table toppers Dundalk hasn’t helped the Hoops either.

Rovers fans will complain about refereeing decisions shaping four of those defeats involving what they see as red cards errors going against Aaron Greene and Lee Grace in their sendings off while Dundalk ‘keeper Gary Rogers only saw yellow last week for his foul outsider the box on Trevor Clarke. 

Even Liam Buckley, who brings his team to Tallaght on Friday, feels Rovers have been unfortunate in those home defeats. “I think the only defeats they have had there (in Tallaght) are ones they can count themselves unfortunate against Dundalk and Bohs,” said Buckley on the eve of the game. 

Some Rovers supporters might take solace in saying that if the defeats this season against the Gypsies and the Lilywhites had been turned at a minimum into draws, Rovers would be top of the league.

However the Hoops have been authors of their own misfortune, not finishing the multitude of chances they have created and there can be no excuses around their most recent loss in Dalymount, their deserved defeat in Sligo and the two goal second half lead they threw away to Derry back in June.

Bradley’s moves in the transfer window have been to bring in something a bit different to their squad with the addition of Cummins giving them more fire power up front, while Gary O’Neill gives them an option of more creativity from deep, with Neil Ferrugia when fit adding more width.

“Neil Farrugia is still a bit away and he is a bit frustrated because he can’t train. Gary O’Neill has been training away and getting to know how we play and Graham Cummins has been in since Saturday. They’re three good lads and they’re fitting in well.”

Finally, the Hoops have looked at the loan arrangements that had and have brought Sean Callan (Wexford) and Sean Boyd (Finn Harps) back to Tallaght while moving Dean Williams’ loan deal onto Bray Wanderers. 

“We had Sean Callan, Sean Boyd and Dean Williams watched a lot and we were getting reports every week” said Buckley. “They did well and we’re delighted to have the two of them back. 

“Dean’s gone and played men’s football, learned what it’s all about and scored goals at Athlone and now we feel Bray is the next step for him. They’re fighting for promotion and it’s going to be a great learning curve for him.”

League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Sligo Rovers https://t.co/73NADhkrHPpic.twitter.com/oCYQvZC7xC

— Extratime.ie (@ExtratimeNews) July 4, 2019