'Tam' A Believer!
THE SURPRISE signing of Tam McManus yesterday has, according to Brandywell boss Stephen Kenny, given Derry City a chance of wrestling the Premier Division title away from Bohemians.
ARTHUR DUFFY reports
And having signed a quality player who has performed at a much higher level, Kenny was predictably in an upbeat mood as he boarded the team bus yesterday afternoon, preparing his troops for the visit to Shamrock Rovers' new Tallaght Stadium this evening. (Kick-off: 7.45 p.m.)
"We lost two of our best players last year - Paddy McCourt and Niall McGinn - yet there's still an expectation throughout the league that we will be the main challengers to Bohemians, which is interesting," noted Kenny. "If that is the case, then we may as well give ourselves a chance," he smiled.
"Tam McManus has played at a very high level, particularly for Hibs as a young player. He's very highly thought of in Scotland and while manager of Dunfermline, I signed him from Falkirk on loan. He was fantastic for us then, we won five games on the trot and he nearly kept us in the SPL with his performances, scoring vital goals including two great winners against Dundee United and St. Mirren.
"To be honest, we were not looking to sign any players outside the "Window." It was just a chance meeting when I ran into his representative and we had a chat. Tam did very well in America enjoying a good spell at Colorado Rapids and he's a player in the prime of his career. He's a real genuine talent and a player who will fit in well at the Brandywell," claimed the Derry boss.
"He can play wide right, play off the main striker or be the main central striker. He's versatile and is a good type to have on the books. He plays with a smile on his face, he loves the game of football, comes in every day to enjoy training, loves to have a laugh and gives 100 per cent."
Aware that Yeovil Town and Partick Thistle had made representations to sign him since his return from the States, Kenny was delighted to secure his services and he claimed McManus will excite the Brandywell Faithful.
"Yeovil came in for him as did Partick Thistle, but when I rang him he said he wanted to experience playing in the League of Ireland. He's a player Derry supporters will enjoy watching. He's capable of the unexpected, he's very good technically, boasts good energy as well as having a bubbly personality.
"As I've said, it was a signing that wasn't planned, but to get a player like him on a 'free,' makes me very grateful to our Board of Directors who agreed to bring him in and that move will help us this season," added the Derry boss.
While McManus was not on the team bus bound for Dublin yesterday, he will make an appearance at the Coleraine Showgrounds next Monday night where Derry will play the "Bannsiders" in a special challenge game, that fixture arranged to give peripheral members of the first team squad vital game time.
Kenny agreed that the timing of the new signing was also significant. "He won't be involved against Rovers due to international clearance, but he will be involved in the panel for next Friday night's game against Galway. With Mark Farren suspended for that game, it's a timely signing. In fact, we face three games in a week with Galway followed by St. Pat's on Tuesday night and then Sligo Rovers at the Brandywell," said Kenny.
Gray Doubtful
Meanwhile, Steven Gray has been pronounced a major doubt for tonight's game against Rovers, the full-back experiencing pain in an ankle and has struggled in running, confirmed Kenny.
Knee victims Kevin Deery and David Scullion failed to travel to Dublin and while Sammy Morrow has been added to the squad, he's considered unlikely to start having overcome ankle ligament difficulties.
However, with Clive Delaney and Barry Molloy both returning after suspension, the "Candy Stripes" have cover and it will be interesting to see the midfield line-up given last weekend's dramatic victory over Cork City on Foyleside.
Kenny admitted he did have options. "Yes, we've now got cover for most positions which is important. Steven had experienced pains in his ankle and is uncomfortable running, so at this stage he is a major doubt but we do have options."
He also agreed that the big pitch at Tallaght would suit Derry's style of play and that tonight's game would be "totally different" from that which took place at the Brandywell last weekend.
"Both teams prefer to get the ball down and play. The new surface in Tallaght will be top quality and I expect an end-to-end game. To be fair to Rovers, they are a good team and will definitely be up there in the top four at least in my view. They have experience in Shane Robinson and Ollie Cahill and I think they will be very dangerous, particularly in Tallaght, so it's up to us to try and get the victory we need to keep our run going.
"While we recorded a very good win over Cork in what was a highly dramatic finale, we will need to play better overall against Rovers. But I expect the two teams will play to win and, in that case, usually the team which plays better will take the points. It will be up to us to show that we are good enough.
"Rovers will be gunning to win their home games and they will want to bounce back after the Bohemians defeat so we'll have to be at our best. We must enter the game with confidence, get a stranglehold and attempt to dominate the midfield area, keep the ball well and take the chances we create," concluded the Dubliner.
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Weather for Derry
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
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Temperature: 14 C to 22 C
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