JOEY O'BRIEN: ‘Standards are rising’ - O’Brien on Shelbourne's plans for the upcoming League of Ireland season
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What are Shelbourne's ambitions for the 2026 League of Ireland season?
Yeah, it was very, very tough, but the first objective was to do my body. I wanted to take the needed time to come back in the best way as I can.
Talking about getting ready and the big thing in closed season for clubs, for managers, is trying to build your squad. Shelbourne, as everybody knows, has this new data analytics system. Is that something you've been heavily involved with?
Yeah look it's just another, I think there's a lot of stuff maybe on the background or outside, I don't really understand what it is, basically it's just a response to the scouting network to give you an opinion on players or maybe something that you're an area of the pitch you want to recruit on and stuff like that, they provide you with players. Listen I think from our point of view, and you can see this, the way the league has changed for the better, obviously the teams are full time, but a lot of lads are on full-time, long-term contracts, so the extra turnover of players in the league is not what it used to be five, six years ago. So, I think from our point of view, we have to go outside, and we've done that, to look outside.
So, obviously, having a tail like that, it's all that can help you a little bit, but still, you go and watch them, you still do all your homework the way you obviously want a player, you know, where they're from, their background, their stuff like that, how they play, you go and watch them multiple times, which we have done as a football club with these players, and then, again, it's about trying to get a deal in place and trying to, yeah, It's seeing how they adapt and getting them into the country and stuff like that. From our point of view, we're happy with our business. With them players, it's going to take them a little time because, as you know yourself, they're coming from a different country, so settling in a new country, never mind the football side of things.
And then to adapt to our league and the standard of our league, it's going to take them a little bit of time. But I feel that quality will come out and if you play well this season, we'll be all good players for you.
How have the standards in the League of Ireland evolved in recent years?
Are you happy to continue with the back three formation that you used? Could we see Shell change to a back four? And just with that in mind, speaking to people who support Shelburne, maybe a little concerned that you might be short one or two centre backs for next season?
Yeah, look, I think last year, previously, but as far as just my point of view, when I took over, yeah, we mixed in between the three-handed, a back four and a five. and that's where it's going to be probably i suppose for the season really in certain games and certain players would suit it here i'm happy with where we're at especially in squad and recruiting the players what we could find is we brought in arden i think it's going to be a big player for a football club over the years a young player and but lots of experience and coming into their environment coming into full-time football and stuff like that i think over the course of this contract Top player in the league. Sam Bowens coming back in, obviously had bad injuries.
Again, I'm a huge fan of Sam. Played with him myself a long time ago. I think, again, had a few injuries last year, but again, on his day, from my point of view, I had to try to keep him fit. I think on his day, he's a super centre-back. Again, that's added to the people that are already there. Here in Milan, I'm still there. He was experienced. Cameron Ledwidge, Chuck, Kareem.
What key storylines and players should we watch in the upcoming season?
There's plenty of defensive options. Chuck James Norris, good to get him on a permanent deal. Yeah, great.
Chuck Norris, yeah. Great to get him in, great lad, came in, obviously played. Real high level obviously. We were delighted to have plenty of options in England as you'd expect, leading Liverpool. So delighted that he signed for us. So to get him back and to get Vez back was big. To have that continuity, then two players that know what they're about. And at least two high performers, especially Vez when he came into the team.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What are Shelbourne's ambitions for the 2026 League of Ireland season?
0:00–1:46
2
How have the standards in the League of Ireland evolved in recent years?
1:46–3:00
3
What key storylines and players should we watch in the upcoming season?
3:00–4:02
4
What challenges do players and coaches face in a part-time league?
4:02–5:06
5
How does the League of Ireland fit into the wider Irish football pathway?
5:06–6:01
6
Why is the 2026 season considered potentially defining for the League of Ireland?
6:01–8:33
7
Can Shelbourne challenge for the title this season?
8:33–9:04
Speakers
3 identifiedMore from OTB Football
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