Kevin Long D Toronto FC b.1990

[DannyInvincible]

The42.ie has an in-depth look at Kevin Long's career to date and the seemingly-relentless injury troubles he has overcome: http://www.the42.ie/kevin-long-25-june-2017-3456612-Jun2017/

[samhaydenjr]

Opportunity for Long to cement his place in the first-team squad at Burnley? Michael Keane on his way to Everton: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40447200

[CraftyToePoke]

New deal from Burnley, a three year one. he had a year remaining on the old one. No big money signing that I can see to replace Keane there so maybe he is about to get his shot.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11708/10974173/kevin-long-signs-new-three-year-deal-at-burnley

[liamoo11]

New deal from Burnley, a three year one. he had a year remaining on the old one. No big money signing that I can see to replace Keane there so maybe he is about to get his shot.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11708/10974173/kevin-long-signs-new-three-year-deal-at-burnley

Fair play to him hopefully sets him up for life. What kind of money would he likely be on would he now make 20 grand a week?

[Olé Olé]

Long doesn't get the start for the first game of the season against Chelsea. Walters is on the bench with him.

Brady, Hendrick and Ward all start though for the Clarets.

[Diggs246]

I think Long will get his chance. I thought tarkowski was poor today

[Olé Olé]

I think Long will get his chance. I thought tarkowski was poor today

Agree with this. Mee was okay. Tarkowski looks to be shy of PL level.

[osarusan]

Rare start for Long today, at centre-half against Spurs. He and the rest of the team had a rough 90 minutes, and he gave away a soft penalty to Dele Alli and was given the runaround by Kane.

[tetsujin1979]

he's started three of Burnley's last four league games, mainly due to injury and suspension, and should be involved in their next fixture away to United on St Stephen's Day.
Incidentally, today was his fifth start of the season, he only managed four in total in 2016/17

[tricky_colour]

Think he started a week or two ago too I remember commenting on the 3 Irish playing at Burnley despite the absence of Brady.

[CraftyToePoke]

Started and finished V Man City on Saturday when Burnley took a point in a 1-1 while managing just 28% possession, so he must have done ok, was booked also.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42842351

[Fizzer]

Goal for him today and played well.Positive for us that we’ve four decent premier league centre halves albeit that Rice will hopefully be deployed further forward.With our present lack of forwards we could be relying on headers from set pieces from our defenders.

[irishfan86]

I see West Ham look pretty keen on nabbing Tarkowski. Would be great if that deal went through and opened up a starting spot for Long who hasn’t let Burnley down too often.

[tommy_c12000]

I see West Ham look pretty keen on nabbing Tarkowski. Would be great if that deal went through and opened up a starting spot for Long who hasn’t let Burnley down too often.

He hasn’t had much of an opportunity to let Burnley down over the years has he?! But would be nice for him to get a run

[Bielsa´s irish]

Had a tremendous performance in the game against Spurs, very neat against Son. Played a lot of long balls , but that was their tactic from the back four

[Trequartista20]

Started, and scored, today. His first since September 2018.

[Bielsa´s irish]

i watched that Mee last matched and cant comprehend how this irish guy is his understudy, Mee is crap as centerback, the other day backpass to Origi.... amateur stuff!!

Burnley got a gift of 3 points from Liverpool this season, unbelievable! Kevin Long is twice the player Mee is

[Colbert Report]

i watched that Mee last matched and cant comprehend how this irish guy is his understudy, Mee is crap as centerback, the other day backpass to Origi.... amateur stuff!!

Burnley got a gift of 3 points from Liverpool this season, unbelievable! Kevin Long is twice the player Mee is

Tarkowski is definitely better than Ben Mee, but Mee has been immense for most of the season. Admittedly hasn't been good over the past couple of matches, but rarely puts a foot wrong.

If Long has indeed received an offer of a contract extension at Burnley, he should take it. Tarkowski is almost certainly gone in the summer. Kevin Long has had an amazingly interesting career when you look at how long he's been with Burnley but how few matches he's actually played. He must be a great guy to be around or something.

[Eirambler]

I think Long is the equivalent of a solid back up goalie, one of those players who is happy to make a decent living as cover for others, wont complain when not picked and won't let the team down when called upon. I expect Burnley will sign a direct replacement for Tarkowski, it may even be Nathan Collins, and Long will continue in his backup role for another while.

[Olé Olé]

He's a good player to have as your third choice centre half, particularly for a bottom half side like Burnley. If he were at a side which rotated their team slightly more then he might have more appearances under his belt.

Another way of looking at it for him is that there is such risk in moving on. Let's assume that he would join a top half Championship side. The competition down there and the odds of promotion are so slim for most sides that he may never get another run in the Premiership again. Plus he's 30.

Hats off to Long and the career he has carved out. Really admire it.

[Bielsa´s irish]

replaced that Mee donkey. Tarkowski on the left, Long as right center back

[samhaydenjr]

After John Egan's injury, good to see that Long got 90 minutes today against Fulham: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55456854

[Charlie Darwin]

Mee's concussion likely won't keep him out for too long but Long has always shown he's capable of stepping up when he's had little football.

[Demesne Lad]

On the bench yet again v Huddersfield in the FA Cup. In the squad for just one of the 3 EFL Cup games this season. In the squad for 9 of 21 PL games. Total playing time this season - 154 minutes in two PL U-23 games. 18 months left on his contract at Burnley.

[Colbert Report]

Comes on today with five minutes to play for only his second league appearance of the season.

[tommy_c12000]

Collins really good again. An amazing end to the season. Hopefully Burnley can stay in Premiership. Encouraging signs that our senior players are slowly returning to top level football for next season:

A Bournemouth and Sheff United promotion will help matters. Ferguson will hopefully start seeing some proper cameos. Bazunu and Kelleher will hopefully get regular football in a top league. Ebosele is a dark horse to break into Udinese’s side. Noss is starting to get a taste of Bundesliga. Knight might get prem move as well. Parrott probably still a bit away from regular top tier football. If Obafemi starts next season like he’s finishing this one, it will only be a matter of time before he gets a move…will need to stay fit and keep working hard…big ifs. Anyone else dark horses to get some regular top tier football next season? Obviously, the older stalwarts like Long x2, Duffy, Coleman might still get a sprinkle of game time. Loan moves for the likes of Adaramola, Moran, Costello?

[Diggs246]

Collins really good again. An amazing end to the season. Hopefully Burnley can stay in Premiership. Encouraging signs that our senior players are slowly returning to top level football for next season:

A Bournemouth and Sheff United promotion will help matters. Ferguson will hopefully start seeing some proper cameos. Bazunu and Kelleher will hopefully get regular football in a top league. Ebosele is a dark horse to break into Udinese’s side. Noss is starting to get a taste of Bundesliga. Knight might get prem move as well. Parrott probably still a bit away from regular top tier football. If Obafemi starts next season like he’s finishing this one, it will only be a matter of time before he gets a move…will need to stay fit and keep working hard…big ifs. Anyone else dark horses to get some regular top tier football next season? Obviously, the older stalwarts like Long x2, Duffy, Coleman might still get a sprinkle of game time. Loan moves for the likes of Adaramola, Moran, Costello?

I think the last day of the season will be a very very good day for the red of Liverpool and a very very bad day for the blues. Burnley should be fine, if you look at Evertons run in I would say they will definitely get relegated.
Collins is a ferrari. He will be playing in the champions league with 3 years. (Unless he goes to Utd of course!!)

[Colbert Report]

There's a chance that Long and Collins are the CB pairing for Burnley's remaining three matches. Mee might be able to come back in time for the final match, and Tarkowski could miss the rest of the season with a hamstring problem.

Burnley are now even odds to get relegated. Leeds are 10/11 and Everton are 10/1 after their big win today.

[Demesne Lad]

On the bench for the EFL Cup game at home to the mighty Crawley Town. League of Ireland next season?

[JR89]

Highly doubt he'll be that desperate to find a club. Has been well settled into that NW area since joining Burnley and would be a fair few clubs in the area he could join next season. Always looked decent whenever I saw him play and still has something to give at championship level.

[Demesne Lad]

Aberdeen and Hibernian supposedly interested in Kevin Long (32) whose contract at Burnley expires in the summer. (Reporter Alan Nixon, cited by 'The 72' and by 'Football League World', 27 Dec).

[JR89]

Has flown the nest and joined Birmingham for six months on a free transfer possibly. Burnley probably happy to just get his wages off the books and wouldn't have wanted a transfer fee as he was gonna be let go in the summer anyway.

[Razors left peg]

Has flown the nest and joined Birmingham for six months on a free transfer possibly. Burnley probably happy to just get his wages off the books and wouldn't have wanted a transfer fee as he was gonna be let go in the summer anyway.

He has played at total of 158 club games since his debut with Cork City in 2008. Average of 10 games per season..... Mad career

[Demesne Lad]

He has played at total of 158 club games since his debut with Cork City in 2008. Average of 10 games per season..... Mad career

I hope it made sense financially -- from a sporting aspiration point of view, 'mad' sums it up.

[tetsujin1979]

Think he's the longest serving player at Burnley too.

[Demesne Lad]

"...Had a torrid afternoon" on his debut for Birmingham City, according to Birmingham Live. (The Blues lost 4-2).

[pineapple stu]

Had to go searching for this one! First goal for Birmingham today, and pretty much ever-present since making the move from Burnley.

32 now, so maybe down the list of centre-back options, but arguably he still deserves to be mentioned in and around the squad, along with the likes of Lenihan and Dunne.

[John83]

No doubt we have loads of cover there. I really don't see why Scales is still getting call-ups.

[Demesne Lad]

Long (32) has been released by Birmingham City. He made 20 first team starts this year, scoring 2 goals. (The 72, Transfermarkt).

[pineapple stu]

Re-signs for Birmingham, strangely.

Probably well down the pecking order at centre-back at this stage - though a player of his level would likely be a squad regular in most other positions we have.

[Demesne Lad]

15 appearances (all starts) and 3 yellow cards so far this season for Long, who is now 33. Having a rest today, joining Hogan on the bench at Southampton.

[Eirambler]

The change of playing style under Rooney won't suit him. A shame as he was going great under Eustace.

[Demesne Lad]

Long reacts to his recall under Mowbray:

Kevin Long opens up on Tony Mowbray impact and Scott Hogan comeback after Wayne Rooney exit - Birmingham Live (birminghammail.co.uk) (https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kevin-long-birmingham-city-mowbray-28448443)

[Demesne Lad]

Reportedly close to signing for Toronto Reds.
(Marisa Alcantar, www.torontoreds.com, 19 Feb.)

[2 Year Contract]

Reportedly close to signing for Toronto Reds.
(Marisa Alcantar, www.torontoreds.com (http://www.torontoreds.com), 19 Feb.)

Might do well there, I haven’t seen any of him at Birmingham Blues but he seemed to just be a backup player there similar to when he was at Burnley Clarets ;)

[samhaydenjr]

[QUOTE=2 Year Contract;2177724]Might do well there, I haven’t seen any of him at Birmingham Blues but he seemed to just be a backup player there similar to when he was at Burnley Clarets ;)[/QUOT
Can't do worse than the shower playing for Toronto FC currently... Finished last in the Eastern Conference last season, twelve points behind the next worst, with Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi in the team.

[OwlsFan]

Might do well there, I haven’t seen any of him at Birmingham Blues but he seemed to just be a backup player there similar to when he was at Burnley Clarets ;)

Well he played against Wednesday from the start in the last game but one and in the previous game against WBA, both of which they lost and was dropped for the most recent game which they won. He did ok against the Owls but picked up a knock late on which may have been why he was relegated to the bench for the Sunderland game.

[tetsujin1979]

Move confirmed
https://www.torontofc.ca/news/toronto-fc-acquire-defender-kevin-long

[tetsujin1979]

Long started for Toronto FC tonight, playing alongside Shane O'Neill, one time potential recruit for Ireland, but only played underage football for the USA, despite also being from Cork
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