| Manager widens net for new players |
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| Friday, 26 January 2007 | |
 The realities of the eircom League transfer market has been hitting Rob McDonald hard as he casts his net further afield than initially anticipated, reports Rory HoustonAt yesterday’s (25 Jan) press conference, Rob Mc Donald took the opportunity to give details of his first week in pre season with Sligo Rovers and to give an update on squad building progress. The first item up for discussion was progress on players. "We are getting trialists in next week and having a good look at them - not only can we have a good look at them as footballers but also as people. We have a group which is so close to each other and they are really upbeat so we do not want any bad apples. It will be a matter of weeks not days [when new players sign]. I don’t want to make a panic buy, I want to make sure everything is right and obviously they are affordable". Squad building The manager is looking to have a squad of 23-25 players with 2 players for each position and 3 goalkeepers. He gave details of how he is doing on trying to achieve this. "It is still a target. I am obviously looking for more central defenders. That is the position we need some extra, preferably left footed. A controlling midfielder too, although, personally, I think Jamie McKenzie could be an incredibly good player for that position and I have had a word with him. Some wingers and another target man to challenge Choice Aisien. However, Choice is extremely hot at the moment, he is looking the part. I can not just rely on Choice though. My game is more or less getting the ball to a big man so I need another". Local talent Mc Donald has been true to his word in his promise to scour the junior league for potential Premiership players. His presence at the Abbey United Vs Killester United was mentioned and he was asked on his thoughts for the players on display. “I saw Abbey United and to be honest, I can see why everyone talks about Paddy Conlon. He looks a decent player but if I was to put him into the hustle and bustle of Premiership football it might be a bit of a step up at this stage. But a good player. “I’ve seen other players in the league and whilst there is talent there, some of the players have bad habits, others need to prove they are serious about getting to the fitness levels required. You look at players with a critical eye for a reason and I do not want to bring a local for the sake of a couple of people saying " Oh that is great, a local". Raf Cretaro, I brought him in for a reason, because he can get past players, he is a great personality. He has never been coached before so he will be coached now." As the manager praised the starts made by Cretaro and Jason Mc Cartney in pre season he revealed some local players had actually asked him for a chance to show him what they can do "There are certain local players who have phoned me up and asked for trials. My door is open, but they need to prove they are serious and will commit to the club 100%. I will not mention any names. But if they can prove themselves, I will then seriously think about it. I want people coming in with a serious attitude who have the ability to play at the top level in Ireland. The search for Irish talent is perhaps proving more difficult than McDonald initially thought. "To be honest if I'm looking at Irish players and what they are asking for them...well I am thinking "that is frightening". I think some are worth it but others which I think are not. So ideally we would love to have local talent. I have asked everyone for tips or whatever but os far, it has not worked out that way for us". "We want to get up to get up to the quality of battling for 4th position. So we need quality players and it looks as if we are going to have to get foreigners in. That is the way to go forward. We don't want to have the public being less interested because we are in 8th or 9th place". Pre-season training With the first week of training had been mostly building up fitness rather than implementing the new tactical system, Rob revealed he was trying to get a pre season game arranged for Feb 3rd. He also mentioned that the planned match against Athlone on Feb 19th had been cancelled "I want a reasonably good but not too difficult team to start with. The week previous to the 3rd I will touch on some things with the players and let them go out and try it for themselves. Seeing how they adapt to what I've told them will give me a great learning session and let me think what I have to do. Unfortunately, Athlone Town have had to pull out of the friendly on the 19th which is disappointing." He concluded the press conference by saying the most crucial signing he will make this year is the new physiotherapist, Michael Hegarty "My biggest and best signing is Michael. Gerry Cassidy phoned me up and asked who would be my most important signing and I said " a physio" .The welfare of the players is paramount. That’s when we came up with Michael" By Rory Houston |
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