Back in the hotseat: From Glentoran to God Knows Where

Holland and Smyth sign for Glentoran

Monday 21 July 2014

Two days before the second leg against Celtic, Glentoran boosted their defensive core when securing deals to bring Barry Holland and Marc Smyth to The Oval.

Holland is a very experienced 30 year old defender, released by Cliftonville at the end of the season. He has signed a two year contract with the Glens and will add to the defensive options open to Mark Duell. He is predominatly a centre half but can fill in either full back position if needed which makes a valuable asset indeed.

Fellow new signing Smyth, 31, was also freed by Cliftonville at the end of the season and like Holland has penned a two year deal here in East Belfast. He possesses extensive experience from his time in his native Scotland, and is capable as well of playing in various positions.

"I am very pleased to bring both Marc and Barry to the Club today." Manager Mark Duell gushed as he unveiled his latest captures. "Both are solid and experienced professionals that will enhance the Club's squad size and give me more and more options. Marc actually turned down a move to England to join us here which speaks volumes about what a character we have bought here. I look forward to both guys buying into the philosophy we are adopting here and helping the team move to much better things.

Our young players can only but learn from these guys. We've got a couple of decent signings here.

Are they the last signings I will make before the window closes? Ah that would be telling..."

Cliftonville rebuffed in loan offer

Tuesday 22 July 2014

A day after bringing Barry Holland to the Club, Glentoran can today confirm they have rebuffed a loan attempt by Holland's previous club Cliftonville for the player.

"Why would I buy a player one day and then farm him out on loan the next?" Mark Duell questioned. "I have no plans to let Barry go back to Cliftonville, he is a very important player to what I want here.

Cliftonville are being dead cheeky here, they must think I was born yesterday."

Derk at the double as Bhoys see off Glens

Wednesday 23 July 2014, Champions League: Second Qualifying Round - Second Leg
Venue: Celtic Park. Attendance: 53789

Dutch winger Derk Boerrigter scored twice in the first 33 minutes as Neil Lennon's men cruised into the third qualifying round of this season's Championship League. Liam Trotter and Tom Rogic also netted as the Bhoys completed a 10-1 aggregate win over their opponents from across the sea.

If losing the first leg 6-1 in East Belfast was bad enough, Glentoran endured the worst possible start at Celtic Park. Some good interplay saw the four goal hero Teemu Pukki lay the ball off to Trotter and his shot went into the net aided and abetted by the post. The time on the watch, just 12 seconds gone. So much for Glentoran hoping to settle down and play.

Celtic were always in control and added a second on 17 minutes. An inswinging corner from Charlie Mulgrew was met by a glancing header from Boerrigter and the ball found its way home. The Dutchman added his second and Celtic's third on the 33 minute mark, Pukki's shot was parried by Elliot Morris and Boerrigter picked up the pieces to find the back of the net again.

After that the game really fizzled out, Glentoran's best chance coming when Jamie Mulgrew was clean through but the midfielder put his shot too close to Fraser Forster in the home goal. Would Celtic cap it off with a fourth was the question? They did do though with three minutes left to play, Trotter playing substitute Rogic and the visitors looking for offside, the Australian strode on before rounding Morris and tucking it away into the empty net.

The Teams:

Forster; Lustig, Van Dijk (Ambrose 68), Moisander, Robertson; Biton (Matthews 85), S.Brown ©, C.Mulgrew, Boerrigter; Trotter; Pukki (Rogic 68). Unused substitutes: Zaluska, Burn, Balde, Findlay.


Morris ©; O'Neill, Birney, R.Brown, McCullough; Scullion (Duffin 60), Clarke, Mulgrew (Sharvin 68), Kane; Morrow; McCready (Chisanga 60). Unused substitutes: Devlin, Lupton, Carson, Stewart.
Trotter (1), Boerrigter (17, 33), Rogic (87)
Van Dijk (2), Boerrigter (6), C.Mulgrew (55)
Referee: Mr Carlo Bertolini (Switzerland)
Man of the Match: Derk Boerrigter (Celtic)

Boss after Champions League exit

Thursday 24 July 2014

24 hours after exiting the Champions League in the second qualifying round to Celtic, manager Mark Duell contemplated on it and what lies ahead for his Glens squad.

"Well we had a tough draw, and not many expected us to progress and that's how it turned out sadly. Getting Celtic was a tough draw, probably one of the hardest ones at such an early stage in the competition. I relished both games but it certainly proved to be a massive learning curve for one and all as a collective group. We will know a lot more about this competition now we have experienced such a tough task.

The game itself was of a similar pattern to the first leg, that with Celtic on the offensive whilst we tried to come away with would be damage limitation or a rare surprise. Anything we planned obviously got thrown out of the proverbial window when Trotter scored after just 12 seconds. It certainly woke a few people up. But we were always chasing it beforehand. Boerrigter got a brace with our defence still in a daze, perhaps the emotion was getting to a few of them I don't know. But then again I am not here to make excuses.

We tried a 4-4-1-1 but it didn't seem to suit us, so that's why I went back to 4-4-2. The fourth goal was a bit harsh on us I felt, Rogic certainly looked to be offside when the ball was played through. I know Calum (Birney) was convinced it was. But the flag stayed down and he had a composed finish.

Now we have to think no more of this, and move on. We have a league and cup to defend this season, that's now the main focus for us all. There's no use crying over split milk as my Nan used to commonly say. And she was seldom wrong that's for sure."

Bookies odds for 2014-15 season

Friday 25 July 2014

The bookies have spoken, and they are convinced that current Premier Division title holders Glentoran are the team to beat again this season. Paddy Power make Mark Duell's men 1-2 favourites to retain their crown which is short price indeed. A Paddy Power spokesperson had this to say:

"Even with a much changed squad from last season, Glentoran certainly are going to be the team to beat again. They might have a comprehensive exit from Europe but at home they are the team that everyone (including us) must fear and that's why we make them as short 1-2 to win this season's Danske Bank Premiership.

Linfield, Portadown and Cliftonville will chase hard but the Glens are going to be the team again. The newcomers are going to find it tough, best price of the two is 40-1 for Harland and Wolff Welders."

The full odds are as follows:

1-2 Glentoran
5-4 Linfield, Cliftonville
2-1 Portadown
7-2 Crusaders
4-1 Glenavon, Coleraine
13-2 Dungannon
14-1 Ballinamallard
20-1 Ballymena
40-1 Harland and Wolff Welders
100-1 Bangor

When hearing the above, Glentoran manager Mark Duell had this to say:

"So the bookies have us as favourites, we shall see then. Anyone could win this season. Personally I read nothing into them, bookies seldom get everything right. Well they tipped me for the sack last year, proves their so-called "experts" are nothing but deluded fools."

Squad numbers for 2014-15 campaign

In addition, Elliot Morris will retain the captaincy with Marc Smyth assuming the role of vice-captain.

Spoils shared with Magpies

Monday 28 July 2014

In their final pre-season friendly before the league opener and first Big Two encounter of the new season, Glentoran took on the world's oldest professional club side Notts County on a warm Monday evening in East Belfast. The spoils were shared when Andy Morrow equalised Jordi Hiwula's goal for the Magpies.

Reverting back to their normal 4-4-2 formation, Glentoran looked a great deal more settled but went behind to an 18th minute goal. Jamal Campbell-Ryce's lofted free-kick found its way into the six yard box and Hiwula poached the finish past Conor Devlin. But the Glens didn't let this get to them and levelled matters after 33 minutes. Some good play from Peter Duffin and Ryan O'Neill, the latter being seen in a central midfield role, saw O'Neill find Morrow who skipped away from Magpies captain Dean Leacock and fire home from the edge of the box.

Both sides made a raft of changes in the second half, but neither could find a winner. The Magpies now turn their attention to English League One action whilst Glens fans have the Elliot Morris testimonial before starting the defence of their Danske Bank Premiership 12 days from now.

Manager Mark Duell sounded content:


Team: Devlin (Morris 74); Thompson (Lupton 74), Holland, Smyth ©, Crawford (Carson 64); Duffin (Scullion 64), O'Neill (Clarke 64), Mulgrew (Sharvin 64), Hill (Kane 74); Davidson (McCready 74), Morrow (McMurray 74). Unused substitutes: Birney, McCullough, McEntee.