Dan Sweeney Off Already?

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

I'm only reading between the lines here so I may be wrong, but I doubt Gavin Rose would have picked Sweeney against Hendon if he thought he was likely to accept Maidstone's approach. Gavin is consistently intransigent about accommodating anyone who becomes ambivalent about wanting to play for his team. We've got a strong squad, we had Dixon, Scannell and McDonald on the bench for that game, all of whom can offer varying alternatives at 'number 10', and we're on a good run of form and scoring lots of goals. Sweeney was rested from the previous two games with a minor knock (Trophy & League Cup) so I doubt we'd have brought him back on Saturday if he was likely to leave before the following game.

I'm a bit surprised Maidstone announced their approach before making sure the player was likely to join. If nothing else it may have alreted some of their rivals to his possible availability. I guess that's a by-produce of the Twitter age: some eager young lackey gets delegated to update the club's official Twitter feed and feels the need to get every snippet of info out there ASAP. I wouldn't be surprised if their manager was none too pleased to see the matter publicised like that.

Did they actually announce it, rather than it just filtering out? That is a bit silly if so.

My guess is that if he doesn't go to Maidstone it's more likely the League interest is genuine. If he's got Pro teams looking at him with a view to a potential move based on how he's playing for us, why risk that for a month a league higher?

 

[Pink Panther]

Did they actually announce it, rather than it just filtering out? That is a bit silly if so.

My guess is that if he doesn't go to Maidstone it's more likely the League interest is genuine. If he's got Pro teams looking at him with a view to a potential move based on how he's playing for us, why risk that for a month a league higher?

I'm sure I read that they'd announced it on their Twitter feed. Maybe it filtered out and individual supporters tweeted it?

Assuming all these League clubs are genuinely interested, the only real incentive to go to Maidstone is that he'd probably get an immediate starting place in a higher profile league as opposed to possibly getting stuck in a Reserve team for a season or two.

 

[B.I.G]

I'm sure I read that they'd announced it on their Twitter feed. Maybe it filtered out and individual supporters tweeted it?

Assuming all these League clubs are genuinely interested, the only real incentive to go to Maidstone is that he'd probably get an immediate starting place in a higher profile league as opposed to possibly getting stuck in a Reserve team for a season or two.

It was a typically smug Kingstonian twitter feed, an unofficial one. Then the Maidstone fans made a thread about what they had seen, which is fair enough.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Assuming all these League clubs are genuinely interested, the only real incentive to go to Maidstone is that he'd probably get an immediate starting place in a higher profile league as opposed to possibly getting stuck in a Reserve team for a season or two.

I think you have to get quite high up the leagues before anyone has a reserve team these days. If he did move to a league club they'd be signing him with a view to being a first team player (and they'd get shot of him ASAP if he didn't make it).

 

[Pink Panther]

I think you have to get quite high up the leagues before anyone has a reserve team these days. If he did move to a league club they'd be signing him with a view to being a first team player (and they'd get shot of him ASAP if he didn't make it).

I was assuming the likes of Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City (the biggest clubs I recall being linked with him) would at least have some sort of Under 21 Development team, for which he would be eligible. Then again, if a club that size offered him a contract it would probably be decent enough money for him to back himself to work his way through the ranks even if it meant a season below first team level.

 

[liamdhfc]

As Gavin said in today's Southwark News - it's agents talking and spreading rumours. That is what they do to get people talking about their clients.

 

[Dulwich Mishi]

It's also worth noting that just because another club puts a seven day notice on a player...that doesn't mean they are going to leave.
As was mentioned, a lot of this is down to his meddling agents, as has been reported in both the local papers over the last two days...you can read these, if you haven't seen them, as I've just finished typing up their reports for this week on the official Club website:

Newspaper time - News - Dulwich Hamlet Football Club

 

[Scutta]

 

[Scutta]

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

I think Reading is probably a bit above his level if I'm honest. Upper Championship is a huge leap. If they're looking at him there'll be plenty of others though so I guess he'll be off in January.

 

[StephenMac]

I think Reading is probably a bit above his level if I'm honest. Upper Championship is a huge leap. If they're looking at him there'll be plenty of others though so I guess he'll be off in January.

The fact that the bloke with the supposed inside knowledge describes him as a Kingstonian player would suggest it's utter bollocks.

 

[B.I.G]

Nearly all our players can or will play at higher levels. But a trial or trials can take some to reach fruition. See vidal and erhun.

 

[Dulwich Mishi]

Indeed..and the fact the trial coincides with our trophy game (as in Gavin could well choose to rotate the squad) strongly suggests, coupled with his comments in the local press this week, point toward it all being done with Gavin's blessing.

Personally I'd love him to stay with us, but if he gets signed professionally, good luck to him...and as a 'Brucie bonus' it won't 'arf piss off the bitter K's fans!

 

[LocalMadMan]

It could well be the case that a championship club would sign him then loan him out for a time to a, say, League 2 club or something. I wouldn't be surprised if Reading saw that as an option.

 

[Christian Burt]

Obviously he has done wonders for us with the goals, but in all honesty, I'd be more worried losing Carew or Waldren.
As long as Dixon can step up of course.

 

[GregDHFC]

Obviously he has done wonders for us with the goals, but in all honesty, I'd be more worried losing Carew or Waldren.
As long as Dixon can step up of course.

I think losing Carew or Waldren would be a big loss as well, but I thought that Sweeney had a bit of a (uncharacteristic) shocker on Saturday, and the team as a whole looked a bit like it did before he turned up (until he was subbed off). I know correlation isn't causation, but I really think that Sweeney performing at his usual high level changes the way the rest of the team plays. I think his contribution goes well beyond his goals, and although obviously it is the nature of football at this level and I wish him all the best, I think we would really miss him as much as Carew, and maybe Waldren.

 

[Christian Burt]

Good points dude

 

[clog]

I think losing Carew or Waldren would be a big loss as well, but I thought that Sweeney had a bit of a (uncharacteristic) shocker on Saturday, and the team as a whole looked a bit like it did before he turned up (until he was subbed off). I know correlation isn't causation, but I really think that Sweeney performing at his usual high level changes the way the rest of the team plays. I think his contribution goes well beyond his goals, and although obviously it is the nature of football at this level and I wish him all the best, I think we would really miss him as much as Carew, and maybe Waldren.

I think we were rubbish on Saturday until Clunis came on.

 

[Joe K]

I do feel like some people are overstating our badness on Saturday. Thought we strung some nice stuff together, and there were a few moments of Proper Stiker-ness from Moss when he came on.

 

[vornstyle76]

We rather effortlessly, if unspectacularly, saw off VCD in a game that was possibly their last hope of getting anything out of the season. Could be worse.

 

[Christian Burt]

I think Pink Panther summed it up nicely.

I've certainly seen some Hamlet performances over the years that 100% were rubbish, this way far from that.

 

[3010]

Gavin getting tough on Sweeney: Dulwich star to be fined after training with pro club | South London Press

 

[AndyDHFC]

Gavin getting tough on Sweeney: Dulwich star to be fined after training with pro club | South London Press

I'm only reading between the lines here so I may be wrong, but I doubt Gavin Rose would have picked Sweeney against Hendon if he thought he was likely to accept Maidstone's approach. Gavin is consistently intransigent about accommodating anyone who becomes ambivalent about wanting to play for his team. We've got a strong squad, we had Dixon, Scannell and McDonald on the bench for that game, all of whom can offer varying alternatives at 'number 10', and we're on a good run of form and scoring lots of goals. Sweeney was rested from the previous two games with a minor knock (Trophy & League Cup) so I doubt we'd have brought him back on Saturday if he was likely to leave before the following game.

Pink Panther 's comment seems somewhat prescient!

 

[StephenMac]

Pink Panther 's comment seems somewhat prescient!

Quite. I suspect the Sweeney era may be coming to a spectacularly early end.

 

[Dulwich Mishi]

Thanks for my 'word of the day'!

Reminds me of my favourite teacher at school, my English teacher, Mr. Power. He'd start the lesson by ripping the daily 'posh' papers apart, into single pages & handing them out to each one of us. We had to circle five words we didn't know the meaning of, then look them up in the dictionary, then he'd pick a few of us to share one of them with the rest of the class.

 

[Scutta]

Quite. I suspect the Sweeney era may be coming to a spectacularly early end.

well if he aint in the team tomorrow.... I think it will be unlikely to see him again, which is a shame. But hopefully Dicko may get a run of games.

 

[Moroccan Sunset]

I'd say it's entirely in Sweeney's hands. Gav's a reasonable chap. If Dan apologises to his face and promises it won't happen again, I'm sure Gav will be happy to bring him back into the fold. If he decides to be a total knob about it though and starts throwing his toys out the pram, then there's only going to be one conclusion. I wouldn't want to be the player who severely pisses Gav off either.

Given that he's gone from an above average Ryman midfielder to a trialist for Reading in a matter of months, I think he'd be incredibly stupid to walk out.

Tomorrow's starting XI will be telling.

 

[blueheaven]

Is anyone else a bit surprised he's receiving that level of interest in the first place? I mean, he's done a decent job and his goalscoring record is very impressive (albeit completely unsustainable). But I wouldn't say he's stood out to me as an incredible player at this level. Even Erhun was only really getting interest from League 1/League 2 level.

There are several other players in the regular starting line-up who I'd be much more bothered about losing. More than happy to see anyone from Dixon/Scannell/MacDonald get the opportunity in his place.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

I'd say it's entirely in Sweeney's hands. Gav's a reasonable chap. If Dan apologises to his face and promises it won't happen again, I'm sure Gav will be happy to bring him back into the fold. If he decides to be a total knob about it though and starts throwing his toys out the pram, then there's only going to be one conclusion. I wouldn't want to be the player who severely pisses Gav off either.

Given that he's gone from an above average Ryman midfielder to a trialist for Reading in a matter of months, I think he'd be incredibly stupid to walk out.

Tomorrow's starting XI will be telling.

Agreed. Gavin has consistently shown that he'll help players make that transition (where a lot of managers might try and get in the way) as long as players behave properly. If Sweeney apologises and plays it straight I'm sure he'll get his move, and hopefully we'll get some good performances in the mean time.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Is anyone else a bit surprised he's receiving that level of interest in the first place? I mean, he's done a decent job and his goalscoring record is very impressive (albeit completely unsustainable). But I wouldn't say he's stood out to me as an incredible player at this level. Even Erhun was only really getting interest from League 1/League 2 level.

There are several other players in the regular starting line-up who I'd be much more bothered about losing. More than happy to see anyone from Dixon/Scannell/MacDonald get the opportunity in his place.

Well the fact that he's a big bloke does make a difference, this being British football, but yes I wouldn't see him as a Championship player.

If he does go though it has to be DIxon to come in for me, not the other two. We've been much more effective with 3 proper midfielders, I wouldn't want to go back to what was more or less a 4-2-4 that we started the season with.