Padraig Amond

[Fixer82]

We are talking about a country thats biggest tourist landmark is a sellotaped pole.

Correction!!! That sellotape has been ripped off and/or perished in the elements

[tetsujin1979]

We are talking about a country thats biggest tourist landmark is a sellotaped pole.

not even in the top ten: http://www.independent.ie/life/travel/ireland/tripadvisor-reveals-its-top-10-irish-landmarks-with-three-surprises-34719406.html

[tricky_colour]

But it is now, not 4 years ago. You could say the same about Vardy. How could
anyone be so pessimistic?

[tetsujin1979]

But it is now, not 4 years ago. You could say the same about Vardy. How could
anyone be so pessimistic?
because in four years, Amond will be 33. It's unlikely that a premier league club will sign a 33 year old striker with no experience at that level.

[OwlsFan]

because in four years, Amond will be 33. It's unlikely that a premier league club will sign a 33 year old striker with no experience at that level.

So is that the kernel of your argument?

[tetsujin1979]

So it that the kernel of your argument?
I'm not saying it's impossible, it's just very unlikely. Vardy started on his journey from non league at 25, and as a striker facing into his prime years. Amond is 29 now, very much in his prime as a striker, and out of contract. He's had a fantastic season at Grimsby, so presumably can hope for a contract in League Two, or one of the promoted sides/lower ranked sides in League One. It's unlikely that a Championship or Premier League side is going to take him straight to that level.
His best season in League Two yielded 11 goals (2013/14 with Morecambe) so he'll have to improve on that to get another move to a higher club, or get promoted. That's at least one season, if not two, when he'll be 31. Again with an excellent season behind him, he could get promoted at least once. That puts him at Championship level in three years, and he's 32. Very few 32 year old Championship (again assuming he's playing at that level) strikers, with no experience at a higher level, get transfers to the Premier League, so with a promotion, he could be playing Premier League football in four years.
That's a lot of coulds and assumptions. Has any striker, at that age, gone from non league to Premier League in a short space of time?

[pineapple stu]

Vardy is a very rare exception.

Amond - unlike Vardy - has, relatively speaking, failed to deliver at the fourth tier in England, in addition to the top flight in Portugal, over a spell of five seasons. Lots of forwards can drop down a level and then start banging goals in. Doesn't mean they're going to be able to jump four levels overnight.

Look at the previous top scorers in the Conference -
2014/15 - Akinade (31 for Barnet). Scored 23 for Barnet this year in the fourth tier.
2013/14 - Grey (30 for Luton). Immediately moved to Brentford in the second tier, and scored 16. Moved to Burnley and notched 25 this year - but he was only 22 at Luton.
2012/13 - Green (25 for Mansfield). Immediately moved to Birmingham - and after one goal in two seasons (much of which was injury-hit), he was released and is back at Mansfield again
2011/12 - Vardy (31) - and as noted, he's had four years with Leicester at this stage to get to Premiership standard.
2010/11 - Tubbs (37 for Crawley). Has scored 56 goals in 5 seasons since then and is back in the Conference with Eastleigh on loan.
2009/10 - Brodie (26 for York). Has only played one season outside the Conference, scoring 5 for Morecambe.
2008/09 - Mangan (26 for Forest Green). Has played Conference more often than not since, scoring 17 goals in three seasons in the League.

Vardy is the only one of that who's even played in the Premiership. Grey is the only other one who's really made an impact outside the fourth division. No reason at all to consider Amond the next Vardy unfortunately, even ignoring the issue of age.

[tricky_colour]

because in four years, Amond will be 33. It's unlikely that a premier league club will sign a 33 year old striker with no experience at that level.

I am talking about now, he has an eye for goal, seriously someone would be mad to not snap him up and give him a chance.

Lets face it you can splash out millions on a top striker and he can turn out to be useless.

I can't believe nobody is apparently too interest, I have seen no clubs mentioned.

You have to play him in a system that suits him though.

[DeLorean]

So is that the kernel of your argument?

Don't worry OwlsFan... I got it.

[pineapple stu]

I am talking about now
Even Vardy did nothing when he was first signed.

So you can't compare to Vardy and talk about immediate returns.

The history of top scorers in the Conference shows that the vast majority can't make it at a level beyond the next one up.

[DeLorean]

I can't believe nobody is apparently too interest, I have seen no clubs mentioned.

I guess it's because if clubs were to take a punt on every player that scores loads of goals at a much, much lower level they'd be seriously overstocked.

[pineapple stu]

A nicely succinct way of putting it!

[tetsujin1979]

I am talking about now, he has an eye for goal, seriously someone would be mad to not snap him up and give him a chance.

Lets face it you can splash out millions on a top striker and he can turn out to be useless.

I can't believe nobody is apparently too interest, I have seen no clubs mentioned.

You have to play him in a system that suits him though.
are you really asking why a Premier League club is not linked with a non-league striker?

[tricky_colour]

As for his age Colonel Sanders was 66 when he started Kentucky Fried Chicken.

[pineapple stu]

Eh, ok.

Not entirely relevant, but there you go.

[tricky_colour]

are you really asking why a Premier League club is not linked with a non-league striker?

A goal is a goal an accurate header or shot works just as well in the pub car park and it does in the Bernabéu

Why didn't Villa sign him? He got more goal than the shower of expensive sh*te currently at the club.

Were they better buys? I don't think so.

Where the players they signed from Premiership clubs a better option?

Including Barcelona Man City and Liverpool.

Anyhow someone will come in for him.

[pineapple stu]

A goal is a goal an accurate header or shot works just as well in the pub car park and it does in the Bernabéu
Hm. Not entirely sure you understand how football works, tbh.

[tricky_colour]

Hm. Not entirely sure you understand how football works, tbh.

Oh I am, it is basically bag of wind which gets kicked around a park, nothing more.

[Charlie Darwin]

"Bag of wind" - excellent.

[SkStu]

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d9/ab/a0/d9aba0513dec357105398a4b302bda43.jpg

[tricky_colour]

Would be easier to admit I am right, Players like Roy Keane and Seamus Coleman prove that.

And what about Shane Long who had only played one game of football in the LOI before
Reading signed him.

I am afraid if some of you lot were Premiership managers there would be quite a few bankrupt
clubs around full of over priced fancy dans.

Opportunities such as these are rare.

Indeed I would not be at all surprised if Leicester City signed him, I will certainly have the last laugh if/when that happens!!

[tetsujin1979]

Would be easier to admit I am right, Players like Roy Keane and Seamus Coleman prove that.Prove what? Neither played non league football, and both were far younger than Amond when they signed for a Premier League club


And what about Shane Long who had only played one game of football in the LOI before Reading signed him.
Reading were in the Championship at the time - and he was far younger than Amond. Not sure what your point is


I am afraid if some of you lot were Premiership managers there would be quite a few bankrupt clubs around full of over priced fancy dans.Good thing there's no "overpriced fancy dans" at any Premier League club right now!


Opportunities such as these are rare.

Indeed I would not be at all surprised if Leicester City signed him, I will certainly have the last laugh if/when that happens!!
I'd be surprised if Amond starts the 2016/17 season at a club playing in the Championship, or higher

[Olé Olé]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI_kKZ_RQ_o

1.48!!

21 Goals of Amond, he has another 11 since then, why has no big club not gone after him?

They would be nuts not too. ;)

Seriously he is the next Jamie Vardy, were I a Premiership manager I would
snap him up, got to be worth the gamble I mean they will be paying peanuts for
him, if he had a season like Vardy how much would he be worth?

I think the vast, vast majority of those goals are one touch finishes. He still got 32 of them in the league but I'm not sure whether a poacher can move up the ladders against tougher defences as easily for a poacher? Lambert and Holt were big and physical and had good inter and hold-up play. Vardy is an incessant runner. Maybe I'm gleaning the wrong thing from those goals...

[osarusan]

The spirit of Crosby lives on on Tricky.

[tricky_colour]

I think the vast, vast majority of those goals are one touch finishes. He still got 32 of them in the league but I'm not sure whether a poacher can move up the ladders against tougher defences as easily for a poacher? Lambert and Holt were big and physical and had good inter and hold-up play. Vardy is an incessant runner. Maybe I'm gleaning the wrong thing from those goals...


Look at 1.48, that is an incredible goal frm an impossible angle, the fact he though he could score from there says something in itself.

Have look at the goals and remind yourself how effective our top strikers are in from of goal.

I will put it this way, it would not have been 21 goals it would probably have been about 7!!!!

[tricky_colour]

Prove what? Neither played non league football, and both were far younger than Amond when they signed for a Premier League club




Well actually Almond was about the same age when he sign for a top flight Portusese club, you know this I believe, so it is not like he is some non-league donkey,
he clearly had/has talent, and I can see that in his goals video. There was another lad who got a lot of goal a while back but seemed to go off the radar, I saw
his goals and they looked pretty ordinary stuff.
I am really quite surprised there is not more interest in him, he is worth the gamble as you could presumably get him for peanuts, or perhaps the
price if a small bag of Almonds ;)

[SkStu]

Given that you think he should be snapped up by a Premiership club, you must think he should be seriously considered as a call up to the Irish squad for the Euros?

[tricky_colour]

Given that you think he should be snapped up by a Premiership club, you must think he should be seriously considered as a call up to the Irish squad for the Euros?

Well it is a possibility I suppose, but it is rather late in the day, no time to get a look at him in a non-competitive game.

[pineapple stu]

Well actually Almond was about the same age when he sign for a top flight Portusese club, you know this I believe, so it is not like he is some non-league donkey,
How many goals did he score in the Portuguese league again?

The bottom half of which is lower-level English league standard anyway.

[tetsujin1979]

Won non league player of the year: http://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/article/padraig-amond-3118602.aspx
Call him up Trap!

[Olé Olé]

Look at 1.48, that is an incredible goal frm an impossible angle, the fact he though he could score from there says something in itself.

Have look at the goals and remind yourself how effective our top strikers are in from of goal.

I will put it this way, it would not have been 21 goals it would probably have been about 7!!!!

You're completely ignoring the crux of my point. I'm not arguing whether the finishes are good or clinical or whether he was effective in front of goal converting them. I'm saying he won't be afforded the space he got at a higher level and when the time comes to take a second touch to create his own space, I don't know how effective he'll be.

What makes you think Long or Keane would have got 7? Long has banged in more than 7 at PL level this season and is a much more rounded striker. Keane has been scoring those kind of goals at a higher level for close to 20 years. In fairness now...

I haven't seen much of Amond. One thing I'll say is he played a lot on the wing, apparently, when he was in League Two. Maybe teams will place more confidence in him as a front man with this record now and maybe he'll cope with better defenders with ease...

[DeLorean]

This discussion is surreal.

[Olé Olé]

This discussion is surreal.

Blame Jamie Vardy for it all. Well, until he's back in the Championship for the 17/18 season.

[seanfhear]

Does Dumbphy know how many goals he has scored and how well he has been playing for Barcelona !

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

How many goals did he score in the Portuguese league again?

The bottom half of which is lower-level English league standard anyway.

In fairness, he didn't start a single game and came on in the last fifteen minutes in the vast majority of them.

[pineapple stu]

Which tells its own story.

[SkStu]

Well it is a possibility I suppose, but it is rather late in the day, no time to get a look at him in a non-competitive game.

But Tricky, if you're good enough, you're good enough, right? That's the crux of your argument. And according to you he is Just. That. Good.

[CraftyToePoke]

As surreal as this is, I am drawn to it. So when David Mooney hit 20 for Leyton Orient in 13/14, Paul Heffernan hit 20 for Notts County on 03/04, Barry Corr hit 20 for Southend in 10/11, also Michael Reddy has a form season in the lower leagues, did it mean they were denied greatness in the bigger leagues ? Probably not. Lets face it, this could well be Amonds moment in the sun.

Even the blind squirrel must find a nut sometimes.

[Stuttgart88]

That's the kernel of this issue really. With luck he could have played for Brazil, but I'm sure he doesn't pine. Pecan pick himself up and move on.

[tricky_colour]

You're completely ignoring the crux of my point. I'm not arguing whether the finishes are good or clinical or whether he was effective in front of goal converting them. I'm saying he won't be afforded the space he got at a higher level and when the time comes to take a second touch to create his own space, I don't know how effective he'll be.

What makes you think Long or Keane would have got 7? Long has banged in more than 7 at PL level this season and is a much more rounded striker. Keane has been scoring those kind of goals at a higher level for close to 20 years. In fairness now...

I haven't seen much of Amond. One thing I'll say is he played a lot on the wing, apparently, when he was in League Two. Maybe teams will place more confidence in him as a front man with this record now and maybe he'll cope with better defenders with ease...


Amond seems to be a better finisher than Long, granted he will likely not have his pace.
He is more like Keane except he is a much better header of the ball infact
he seems to be a better header of the ball than anyone were have.

Perhaps is the case he is not so good at the physical aspects.

[Closed Account]

That's the kernel of this issue really. With luck he could have played for Brazil, but I'm sure he doesn't pine. Pecan pick himself up and move on.
I heard he was very disappointed that he never got a call up under Trapattoni.

Apparently he's still Pi$$ed at Gio, nuts. :rolleyes:

[tricky_colour]

But Tricky, if you're good enough, you're good enough, right? That's the crux of your argument. And according to you he is Just. That. Good.

Well yes, and having looked at the squad we are taking (as in strikers) I think I could find a spot for him.

We are taking one player who has scored in 6 of his 39 championship games.

Amond 23 of his 46.

He can create a goal out of nothing, a pretty useful talent (especially when playing for Ireland :p)

We have stokes, 7 in 27 in the second tier of Scottish football.

Kevin Doyle 5 in 23 in the MSL

McGoldrick 5 in 27

So it is not like he would be competing again premiership class in the first place is it?

We would not be leaving a world beater at home.

Indeed I don't realise how weak the competition was until I looked.

2 of McGoldricks 5 were penalties!

[tricky_colour]

Some players only have one good season, think of Joe Johnson the snooker player, won the world championsships
and never heard of again.

http://prosnookerblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/wc87johnson-joe.jpg

[Stuttgart88]

I have a vague recollection that Johnson mounted a good defence of his title at the Crucible the following year?

[nigel-harps1954]

I am talking about now, he has an eye for goal, seriously someone would be mad to not snap him up and give him a chance.

Lets face it you can splash out millions on a top striker and he can turn out to be useless.

I can't believe nobody is apparently too interest, I have seen no clubs mentioned.

You have to play him in a system that suits him though.

Shouldn't he always have had that eye for goal though? Outside of one season at Sligo he never exactly set the league of Ireland alight to my memory. He's always sat around the lower leagues in England and this year is really the first year he's had a big goalscoring season.

I don't see how anyone would jump at a one-season wonder from the Conference. He'd be lucky if a top League Two or League One side came in for him in my view.

[Stuttgart88]

Of course nobody ever improved after leaving the LOI.

I'm sure he can conker League 2 defences, at least.

[tricky_colour]

I have a vague recollection that Johnson mounted a good defence of his title at the Crucible the following year?


Well maybe Amond will have a good second year too.

[SkStu]

Well yes, and having looked at the squad we are taking (as in strikers) I think I could find a spot for him.

We are taking one player who has scored in 6 of his 39 championship games.

Amond 23 of his 46.

He can create a goal out of nothing, a pretty useful talent (especially when playing for Ireland :p)

We have stokes, 7 in 27 in the second tier of Scottish football.

Kevin Doyle 5 in 23 in the MSL

McGoldrick 5 in 27

So it is not like he would be competing again premiership class in the first place is it?

We would not be leaving a world beater at home.

Indeed I don't realise how weak the competition was until I looked.

2 of McGoldricks 5 were penalties!

He's non-league man!

[tricky_colour]

Shouldn't he always have had that eye for goal though? Outside of one season at Sligo he never exactly set the league of Ireland alight to my memory. He's always sat around the lower leagues in England and this year is really the first year he's had a big goalscoring season.

I don't see how anyone would jump at a one-season wonder from the Conference. He'd be lucky if a top League Two or League One side came in for him in my view.

Not everyone has a great season every year, some players develop later in their career, Wes Hoolahan, Shane long to name but 3 if you include
Stephen Hunt.

Problem is here is that by the time players have passed the selection requirement of many here they will likely be dead
or going fast is downhill by the time they are selected.

You will not even get odds on a few of them being the top scorer at the Euros
because they do not exist as a goal threat so nothing to lose by leaving them behind.


the reason I can jump at a conference player is because I can read who is on the squad sheet already.

[tricky_colour]

He's non-league man!

So what?

The goals are the same size.