After three appearances on loan for Elgin City, he made his debut for Inverness Caledonian Thistle yesterday against Crusaders as a second half substitute for Jake Mulraney.
Time to resurrect this thread. A few of us were saying that we were surprised he hasn’t had much of a look in yet at Lincoln City who are flying high in league 1 after his recent Irish u21 showings. Zach was MOTM (goal and 2 assists) tonight, granted only FA league trophy vs Shrewsbury. But I think we will see a lot more of him with Lincoln City this season, on the back of this performance
Linked with a loan move down to League 2, possibly Bolton, for the rest of the season. Would be good to see him get a run of first team football as he hasn't had that since joining Lincoln.
Based on everything I've seen of him at under 21 level for Ireland, the reports of cup outings for Lincoln and his skillset, I reckon he would rip it up at League Two level. Bolton are a big club and he would have a serious marksman at that level in Eoin Doyle to be supplying. I definitely think you're right and that a proper run will do him a lot of good.
Confirmed now to Bolton for the rest of the season.
Starts for Bolton today.
Was subbed off at half time today and seems to be getting an awful lot of stick from Bolton fans online for his display. Surely it's too soon to judge him though, he's only been there a week.
Delighted for this guy and his move to AIK. It didn’t happen for him at Lincoln or Bolton last season, but he really impressed me towards the end of his Irish under 21 career. He clearly impressed the former Swedish U21 assistant manager who saw Elbouzedi play against his side twice a couple of years ago as he’s now taking Zach to AIK. They are already into their season, AIK lie 5th. Wishing him all the best, hopefully he’ll get some game time!
Last edited by tommy_c12000; 15/07/2021 at 2:42 PM.
Interesting move. Football wise the standard is comparable to what he has been playing (L1/ L2) but the infrastructure is a step-up (AIK's stadium is the national stadium). Swedish club football is slower, less physical and more deliberate - so should suit him depending on how he adapts off-the-field.
A three and a half year deal is pretty good going for him
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/...-40337891.html
Very nice move for him. Lower divisions of English football obviously didnt suit him
Yep. He's joining a squad that had a couple of players at the Euros, its some jump up from L2. Shows what underage international football, or rather excelling at that level, can do for your profile.
I wouldn't be getting too excited about a player going to the Swedish league, having seen it first hand, bar decent crowds it's nothing to write home about.
I'm a bloke,I'm an ocker
And I really love your knockers,I'm a labourer by day,
I **** up all me pay,Watching footy on TV,
Just feed me more VB,Just pour my beer,And get my smokes, And go away
I think it's probably a sideways step but an interesting step given where he was and given that four players from that league were in the Swedish squad for the Euros, albeit they were all there based on their careers as a whole I would imagine.
It's also a different style of football and one that may suit him and maybe will provide a platform for an international call up or a move to a better league. Or maybe a move back to the LOI.. Who knows.
It's a relatively poor standard, though better than the LoI, and I wish him the very best.
With 11 senior internationals in the AIK squad alone, I'd say it's quite a bit higher than LoI - probably comparable with SPFL, with a few big clubs, padded out by lower standard teams - luckily Zach is going to one of the big ones. Or perhaps it will be like Josh Cullen at Anderlecht
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