CLUB MAY GO DOWN LEGAL ROUTE TO TIE UP HAN DEAL
INTEREST in Dundalk’s opening pre-season game against Bohemians at Oriel Park on Friday last was more obvious than in previous seasons, mainly because of the number of foreign players recruited for the new season.
The newly recruited players have arrived in town from countries as diverse as Faroe Islands, Latvia, Norway, Scotland, America and England and combine to give the group a ‘United Nations’ tag that will undoubtedly become the source of banter when fans eventually return to League of Ireland grounds.
The new players were signed to replace established and popular honours laden players who left the club during the close season, a number to join Dundalk’s main challenges for the season’s trophies.
Four of the new recruits started against Bohemians, and three others were introduced at various stages of the game, while the welcome opportunity was also given to a number of academy players, one of whom, 17-year-old Ryan O’Kane caught the eye with an impressive debut.
In total 19 players got an outing in the new swanky away kit, while others who have back-boned the team in recent seasons, like Michael Duffy, Brian Gartland, Patrick Hoban, Daniel Kelly and Sean Murray sat on the sidelines nursing injuries.
The outcome, a 2-1 win for Dundalk who came from behind having conceded a sloppy first-half goal was not all that significant, nor could any real assessment be made on the merit of the performance or the quality of the new arrivals.
Coach Filippo Giovangnoli experimented with formations starting with a 3-4-3, reverting in the second half to a 4-3-3 and finishing with a system that was hard to evaluate.
The worry is that with just two games remaining before the start of the League, against Drogheda in the Malone Cup and Shamrock Rovers in the President’s Cup, there is little time or opportunity to settle on the playing system that the coach wants to bed in and the players best suited to that system.
Unquestionably there were promising aspects about Dundalk’s display on Friday such as the manner in which they constructed and finished their two goals, and the spirit that the players showed to come back from conceding that soft first-half concession.
In addition there were some promising contributions from new arrivals, especially Latvian Raivis Jurkovskis, regulars like David McMillan and the promising Ryan O’Kane, while skipper Chris Shields was yet again an inspiring leader.
Equally however the defence experienced some rather shaky moments which were a cause of concern, while a legacy problem from last season, the lack of a creative presence and ball retention skills in midfield, was still evident.
Against a very well organised Bohs side who had the benefit of a previous pre-season game, Dundalk struggled to match the better passing an movement of their opponents in the midfield sector and at times relied too heavily on long balls to get themselves into the game.
The uncertainty that surfaced at the back at times could be attributed not entirely to the decision to go with a back three which the coach seems to favour, but more to do with players getting used to a new ‘keeper, having played with Gary Rogers for so long.
The new ‘keeper, Alessio Abibi, could do little about Burt’s shot that beat him, but he had a few nervy moments caused by indecision in front of him.
He was replaced at half-time by a returning old face to Oriel, Peter Cherrie, who was part of the first title winning season under Stephen Kenny and is an experienced understudy, although he may harbour hopes of regaining the number 1 slot.
The back three employed in the first half had two regulars, Daniel Cleary on the left, Andy Boyle in the middle and newcomer, Faroese, Sonni Nattestad who was replaced just after half-time by Darragh Leahy as the coach reverted to a more orthodox back four.
All had competent performances, although doubts remain that the lack of pace that can be exposed when playing the three at the back system, and if Giovangnoli and his backroom team eventually settle for that system they will have to decide on the best combination between Cleary, Boyle, Gartland and Nattestad, although he may be tempted to play Jurkovskis in one of the central roles, for he looks to have the pace, skill and composure for the task.
Against Bohs the Latvian international was played first as a wing back in the 3-43 system and later as a more orthodox right-back.
His quality shone throughout, for apart from setting up the equaliser for McMillan with a fine cross he looked very comfortable on the ball and linked well with his attackers.
Strangely enough Cameron Dummigan was again given the other wing back role in the first half on the left, when he is more comfortable on the right, but he’s a talent footballer who has become a favourite of the coach since taking over the club, and in the first half he combined well with O’Kane to create situations for the winger to bring his accurate left foot into dangerous situations.
Again as was the case many times last season, Shields and Chris Sloggett anchored the midfield, but the feeling persists that they are a combination that are not suited as both prefer the holding role, with Shields by far the better operator.
After the interval Sloggett was replaced by the 26-year-old much travelled Scotsman Sam Stanton who showed some nice touches, but he will need time and games before an assessment can be made of the attributes he will bring to the midfield sector.
There was more invention in the midfield sector when Patrick McEleney was introduced in the second half, and his fitness could be vital in these crucial early stages of the season when the new players will be trying to settle into the team and get to know their new environment.
The one area of the team that showed most promise was the attack where McMillan looks to have retained the sharpness he displayed at the end of last season with his confidence boosted by his Cup final hat-trick, and apart from his goal he came close with another fine effort in the first half that came back off the bar.
The pity was that Norwegian Ole Erik Midskogen, of whom much is expected and who started on the right side of the attacking trio in the 3-4-3 formation, only lasted less than half an hour and had to be replaced by another new recruit, American, Jesus ‘Chino’ Perez who was then taken off at half-time, but later brought back in the second half.
Talking the place of the injured Duffy in that attacking trio that started was Ryan O’Kane, making his debut with his home town club at the age of 17, and he was unlucky not to mark the occasion with a goal.
The second half saw the introduction of the latest new arrival at the club, English born Junior Ogedi Uzokwe, who previously played with Derry and always managed to cause Dundalk problems when he played against the Lilywhites and with Sligo Rovers last season.
Fans of the League will know his value, for he is skillful on the ball, doesn’t lack strength or determination and has an eye for a goal - as he showed when converting the winning goal from a Leahy cross in the 75th minute.
In the dying stages of the game another two players Val Adedokum who made his debut last season and academy player, Mayowa Animasahun were introduced and whatever about the sight of Bohs playing in Dundalk’s colours, black and white, and Dundalk in the new attractive orange and black outfit, the presence of three black players on the team at the end of the 90 minutes was a first, and a welcome one at that given the ‘Black Lives’ matter campaign.
The Malone Cup game against Drogheda will hopefully tell more about the newly recruited players and the system and combination of players that the coach sees as his best, but it may take more time - time that is not really available before the big Presidents Cup clash with Rovers.
WE’VE BEEN WITH THE BOY THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE JOURNEY AND WE’VE TRIED VERY HARD TO GET TO A REASONABLE PLACE WITH THE FAI
Dundalk may take legal action to ensure that South Korean winger Han Eui-gwon can join the club this season.
Interest in the 26-year-old has been ongoing since before Christmas with a deal agreed between the club and player but so far the FAI have refused to sign off on his work permit application as he does not meet the terms set out in their participation agreement.
As part of an agreement between the FAI and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, a player seeking a work permit must ‘have participated in a minimum of 25% of his club’s league fixtures during the current or most recent full season.’
The issue with Eui-gwon is that he falls just outside this criteria having only played in 22% of K League matches for Suwon Samsung Bluewings last year.
Given that he was just one game away from reaching the quota required to receive a work permit in a season that was curtailed due to Covid-19 and in which he was often sidelined by injury, Dundalk have argued that the ‘most recent full season’ should apply.
In the 2019 campaign, Eui-gwon played in 76% of his side’s K League 1 matches.
The signing of American Taner Dogan - who has since gone on loan to Athlone Town - is believed to have complicated matters, however, with the FAI understood to be of the belief that as 2020 criteria was used to assist his application, Dundalk couldn’t have it both ways by picking and choosing which year applied.
The Argus understands, however, that Dundalk chairman Bill Hulsizer has sought legal advice and the associated costings over the matter and is considering taking action to push Eui-gwon’s move through.
Sporting Director Jim Magilton confirmed to The Argus on Monday morning that the club had yet to give up on signing the winger, who could still join at any time as a free agent having departed Suwon Samsung Bluewings late last year.
‘We’ve been with the boy throughout this whole journey and we’ve tried very hard to get to a reasonable place with the FAI,’ said Magilton.
‘We understand that there are rules and regulations. We’ve tried to put a case forward in relation to all the challenges around last season and we feel a case should be heard for Han.
‘We’re very respectful of how Han and his agent have dealt with this whole situation and because of their loyalty to this we feel we should be given a chance to talk through it and that’s what we’re looking at doing.’