Dagenham & Redbridge have signed James Shea on a season long loan, following the news that Daggers legend Tony Roberts has retired. Roberts will now become Arsenal’s full time Reserve goalkeeper coach.
Shea linked up with the League Two outfit last week, and played 90 minutes of their friendly against Leyton Orient. The 20-year-old has now agreed terms on a loan move, and is on the bench for Dagenham’s clash with West Ham tonight.
James was recommended to manager John Still by Roberts, after the 41-year-old decided to call time on a professional career in which he made almost 600 professional appearances. Tony will now become Arsenal’s full time goalkeeper coach, working mainly with the Reserves and Under 18’s. This is a role he has held for a number of years, in tandem with his playing duties.
Shea is expected to be Dagenham’s first choice for the forthcoming season, as they look to win promotion back to League One.
Couldn’t have James Shea done better than a League 2 club?
James Shea is older then Martinez but not even half as good so don’t think he can do better than a League 2 club.
not really considering he’s being offered the opportunity to be 1st choice which a lot of clubs wouldn’t be able
In my opinion, it won’t matter that much as really it doesn’t matter if it’s League One or Two, any professional player can shoot :D he just needs to play regularly.
Couldn’t have James Shea done better than a League 2 club??????
The worse the team the better it is for the goalkeeper to learn I suppose.
the kid is only young still, especially for a keeper, so a season as no.1 anywhere is pretty damn good in my opinion.
Lets face it with 2 u19 international keepers a year younger than him and 3 international keepers (all in their early 20’s) ahead of him, you have to think this is Wenger saying to Shea “go and do something for the good of your career whether it be Arsenal or otherwise”. Shea is one of 12 youngsters that will reach the over 21 status within the next 2 summers that batch also includes Szcesney as well as the likes of Ramsey, Bartley, Lansbury, Coquelin and Henderson. Last season we did not feel the full impact of the 25 man rule, this season we are feeling the pinch the next 3 seasons will really hit and we will shed great prospects under 21 as well as the odd underachiever over 21. If we dont we wont be able to make new signings.
He’s pretty mediocre. It’s all about Emiliano Martinez, hell of a talent!
Shea put in a good shift on his debut tonight, keeping a clean sheet in his 45 minutes. The daggers went down due to a goal in the first half.
JET also played tonight linking up well with fellow new striker and ex-cardiff man Chopra. There was no goals and the match was abandoned with 12 mins to go due to an injury!!
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Shea is better than Martinez and he’ll get better in league 2, its better than being in the reserves and somebody said, the worse, the league, the better. He’ll be seeing strange things in League 2 and that’s what he needs, top class young keeper