York City close to landing Derry striker David McDaid (From York Press)
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York City close to landing Derry striker David McDaid
12:10pm Friday 25th January 2013 in Sport
By Dave Flett, Sports reporter
New York City recruit David McDaid
DERRY striker David McDaid will sign for York City subject to the clubs agreeing on a compensation fee for his services.
The 22-year-old forward has impressed Gary Mills during a trial period at Bootham Crescent and has agreed personal terms with the Minstermen chief.
But Martin Devaney, another League of Ireland trialist, will not be signing for City.
On his pursuit of McDaid, Mills said: “I’m a big fan of David McDaid and I’ve agreed terms with him. We are now trying to tie things up with Derry because he’s under 24 so there will be a compensation fee and that’s the stumbling block.
“But I’m doing everything possible to get things sorted and I am 99 per cent confident he will become a York City player. The Irish League finished in November so he’s only been back in pre-season training for a couple of weeks.
“He’s just got to find that sharpness again and I believe he’s a player who will go on in the game. There have been a couple of good Irish players that have come over to the English game in the last few years and I feel he will be another one.
“He’s a striker who can play through the middle or out wide and a good, good player who I think will do well for us.”
Mills added that age will prove no consideration when he decides whether to hand 18-year-old defender Jack O’Connell, signed this week on loan from Blackburn, his full debut in tomorrow’s League Two clash at high-flying Gillingham.
The City boss, left, said: “Age is no concern if I feel a player is man enough to do a job. I watched a 17-year-old left-back play for Southampton the other night and thought he was absolutely superb.
“Jack’s 18 but he’s a man and has a desire for the game. He’s a versatile centre-half who can also play at left-back.
“With David McGurk and Chris Doig both injured that only leaves us with Chris Smith and Tom Allan, although I know Dan Parslow can play there as can Lanre (Oyebanjo). But I wanted to balance things with a left-footer and that’s what Jack brings.
“We are also trying to bring Tom Allan along in the right way and I don’t think the time is quite right to throw him in.”
Mills went on to point out that the injuries to McGurk and Doig will see both sidelined for an indeterminate length of time.
Added Mills: “Dave McGurk’s is a hamstring problem and you never know with them. It could be one week but it could be anything up to six. Chris Doig will have another scan on his ankle on Monday so it’s a bit annoying what’s going on with him.”
The pair’s injuries are unlikely, however, to provide an opening for teenage defender Jameel Ible, who was also recruited from Salford City this week.
“At 19, Jameel’s just a young lad at this moment in time that I have seen something in,” Mills explained. “I’ve not signed him to come straight into the side but he’s had a good upbringing at Sheffield Wednesday before drifting out of the game.
“I like the look of him. He’s got good feet and is a good athlete and, as much as there is still a lot to do this season, we’ve got to look forward as well.
“Sometimes a young player comes along who you feel you can get something out of and you have to take a punt, if you like. He might even play a part this season at some stage.”
Mills added that Oli Johnson will join the travelling party for Gillingham after recovering from his groin and stomach problems, while John McReady has a good chance of featuring from the bench after impressing during this week’s 1-0 reserve defeat against Scunthorpe.
The City boss, meanwhile, will be looking for his side to impose their passing game on the hosts, as well as dealing with a direct approach from Martin Allen’s team.
“We will go to Gillingham confident and play our passing game,” Mills insisted. “We’ve not been able to play that as much as I would have liked in the last two matches but, if we are going to be successful, we’ve got to play the way I want us to play.
“We know it will be tough but we’ve been to Cheltenham recently and that was a good grounding for Gillingham. There will be a lot of long throws and set-pieces and they will be direct.
“We coped well with that at Cheltenham and will have to do tomorrow as well but I want them to worry about us. We won’t be changing the way we play to suit them. If you start doing that, it creates problems.”
Comments(30)
richardofyork
says...
5:48pm Thu 24 Jan 13
redbluelion
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5:50pm Thu 24 Jan 13
duffy
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6:06pm Thu 24 Jan 13
redbluelion wrote:I would rather we are 100% sure that its the right player on the right deal given this will probably be a player getting a two year deal. We dont need another Blinkhorne, Swallow, Blanchett, Henderson, Reed on one/two year contracts that fail to make the grade
yes don't dilly dally ...sign him now before anyone else comes sniffing..decent player with a decent track record..
duffy
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6:07pm Thu 24 Jan 13
lord_love_rocket
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6:07pm Thu 24 Jan 13
duffy
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6:16pm Thu 24 Jan 13
lord_love_rocket wrote:I would imagine he will want a decent deal and remember its probably going to be a two year deal. While the other new lads are on short term deals this is probably the first new player that will be part of the new look team of the future, its needs to be right for the club.
Won't be on much money though coming from Eire whereas Henderson for example came from Watford would have been on much more
lord_love_rocket
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6:21pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Tug job
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6:22pm Thu 24 Jan 13
richardofyork wrote:He's not been getting games because his first touch is poor, he is reluctant to take defenders on, he can't hold the ball up and he is unable to head the ball. All of which makes it difficult to give him starts because of how we play. Very good at finishing from close in but that's not been enough to get him in the first team. Wrexham fans think they're about to sign him.
Can this guy play as a winger? I don't know why we need another striker when we have just signed one, we play with only one up front and we have a proven goal scorer that wants to leave because he's not getting a game.
Dortmun
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6:24pm Thu 24 Jan 13
duffy wrote:Where have you got that from?
Sounds like Blanchett has also gone.
Exiled1
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6:27pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Tug job
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6:34pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Exiled1 wrote:Indeed, a likable bloke, he loves the fans but he's not ready for the Football League. Very good non-league player though. Wish him well.
I sometimes wonder if people have actually watched Reed. At times he doesn't even look like a footballer. Flattered by his goalscoring record in the Conf, he is out of his depth in lge 2.
lord_love_rocket
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6:35pm Thu 24 Jan 13
lord_love_rocket
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6:40pm Thu 24 Jan 13
nearlyman
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6:43pm Thu 24 Jan 13
OLD - HEAD
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7:14pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Tug job
says...
7:57pm Thu 24 Jan 13
lord_love_rocket wrote:Hope so, should give us a genuine option either playing off JW or playing him in. He can hold the ball up and his distribution is supposeed to be good Please let this come off.
Got a good feeling about this Irish kid though
tomwillo1
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8:26pm Thu 24 Jan 13
duffy
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8:35pm Thu 24 Jan 13
tomwillo1 wrote:I think Reed will be out within a week.
We definitely needed another striker even though I can see Reedy been with us until next season. It can only bring more competition and its good for the squad! Hopefully we ship out Bullock soon, taking up someone else's wage who we could sign!
lord_love_rocket
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9:21pm Thu 24 Jan 13
duffy wrote:I wager we'll pay up his contract
tomwillo1 wrote:I think Reed will be out within a week.
We definitely needed another striker even though I can see Reedy been with us until next season. It can only bring more competition and its good for the squad! Hopefully we ship out Bullock soon, taking up someone else's wage who we could sign!
Dortmun
says...
11:02pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Blanchett only joined the Minstermen from Burton Albion last summer as an intended replacement for Bradford City-bound James Meredith, but managed only four senior appearances.
The 24-year-old left-back hasn't actually featured in the first-team since coming on as a substitute in the dismal 2-0 defeat at Plymouth Argyle back in early December.
He has also had spells with both Peterborough United and Crewe Alexandra together with loans at Hereford United and AFC Wimbledon.
Read more: http://www.york.vita
lfootball.co.uk/arti
cle.asp?a=306554#ixz
z2Iw9QqwsG
dangermoose
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8:25am Fri 25 Jan 13
nearlyman wrote:About 5'9" actually. Ignore Wikipedia, it's as reliable as Fyfield is at left back!
6' 2" tall any good ?
nearlyman
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8:50am Fri 25 Jan 13
redwhiteblue
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9:51am Fri 25 Jan 13
Let's give these new guys a chance - don't wipe them off until we've seen what they can do over a few games. A few players have come over from Ireland and been a hit, Paddy's not bad either.
coin pratts brother
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1:09pm Fri 25 Jan 13
duffy
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1:14pm Fri 25 Jan 13
coin pratts brother wrote:Source ?
Reedy in talks with Chester F.C.
Wilbur
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1:30pm Fri 25 Jan 13
Yorkie41
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2:48pm Fri 25 Jan 13
van the man
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9:49pm Fri 25 Jan 13
lord_love_rocket wrote:Do you not think theres a reason why he,s not cost much !
Won't be on much money though coming from Eire whereas Henderson for example came from Watford would have been on much more
van the man
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12:04am Sat 26 Jan 13
redwhiteblue wrote:You dont think Reeds up to league standard !! Ever watched irish football ? The games about goals and we dont score enough, our home form is terrible and we our selling our best goal poacher, his career stats dont lie i suggest you check them, if mills would have used him properly, he would have been one of the top five goalscorers in this league by now, and the club would have been heading towards the top of table not the bottom.
Agree - Tug and Exiled are spot on about Reed - nice guy but not upto League standard - could do a good job for Harrogate (if they can afford him - and keep him fit!!!!)
Let's give these new guys a chance - don't wipe them off until we've seen what they can do over a few games. A few players have come over from Ireland and been a hit, Paddy's not bad either.
lord_love_rocket says...
5:37pm Thu 24 Jan 13