Michael Obafemi F Plymouth Argyle (loan from Burnley) b.2000

[JR89]

Don't think he starts and is used from the bench to begin with. Ogbene, Robinson, and Knight finished the Luxembourg game strongly and played 76mins against Belgium as the front three. Can't see Kenny moving from that front three and you'd be looking at Obafemi coming on to replace one of them.

[liamoo11]

Don't think he starts and is used from the bench to begin with. Ogbene, Robinson, and Knight finished the Luxembourg game strongly and played 76mins against Belgium as the front three. Can't see Kenny moving from that front three and you'd be looking at Obafemi coming on to replace one of them.

I think he plays central given that idah is out with parrott for knight to allow him play centre midfield and Robinson the other front player. Ogbene might play right wing back for some of the games with doherty injured and seamus unlikely I would have thought to play so many games close together

[third policeman]

I think he plays central given that idah is out with parrott for knight to allow him play centre midfield and Robinson the other front player. Ogbene might play right wing back for some of the games with doherty injured and seamus unlikely I would have thought to play so many games close together

Decent suggestions. I know Hendrick has done well in recent games, but his club career is a major concern. Not been getting games at QPR and it’s difficult to see where and at what level he’s likely to end up. It would be interesting to see how Knight and Cullen combine in midfield.

[JR89]

Decent suggestions. I know Hendrick has done well in recent games, but his club career is a major concern. Not been getting games at QPR and it’s difficult to see where and at what level he’s likely to end up. It would be interesting to see how Knight and Cullen combine in midfield.

More chance of O'Shea or Collins slotting in at RWB than Ogbene. Big difference playing their for Ireland compared to Rotherham who have the best defence in the league so can get away with playing him there. He'll also be wasted playing there for us rather than RW. Christie will be in the squad and has played well since joining Swansea.

Long term Knights position will hopefully be where Hendrick plays but he's been good for us playing in one of the advanced roles and against bigger teams drops back to make it three in midfield.

[third policeman]

More chance of O'Shea or Collins slotting in at RWB than Ogbene. Big difference playing their for Ireland compared to Rotherham who have the best defence in the league so can get away with playing him there. He'll also be wasted playing there for us rather than RW. Christie will be in the squad and has played well since joining Swansea.

Long term Knights position will hopefully be where Hendrick plays but he's been good for us playing in one of the advanced roles and against bigger teams drops back to make it three in midfield.

Agree about Christie. Probably playing the best football of his career getting assists and a couple of goals. I think we have better genuine forward options than Knight with Robinson, Ogbene, Parrott and Obafemi. Midfield is the one area where we don’t have depth or much emerging talent. Kilkenny, Coventry, Smallbone don’t look like obvious upgrades on what we have. If Cullen got injured we’d really struggle. Hourihane is a name that should never be on a team sheet going forward.

[Eirambler]

We can't just go with two in midfield, we'll get overrun. One of the forwards needs to be able to drop back into midfield. That's why we need Knight to be one of the forward three - or if he's going back into Hendrick's position someone like McGrath or Browne needs to be further forward.

[third policeman]

We can't just go with two in midfield, we'll get overrun. One of the forwards needs to be able to drop back into midfield. That's why we need Knight to be one of the forward three - or if he's going back into Hendrick's position someone like McGrath or Browne needs to be further forward.

I think Robinson and even Parrott are capable of doing that whilst offering more to the attack as well. I don’t think either McGrath or Browne are international quality players. I’d like to see Ronan given an opportunity. Didn’t see the point in calling him up and not even putting him on the bench.

[elatedscum]

Jamie McGrath has played well in every game he’s played for Ireland.

Kenny often plays 3 out and out attackers for the games we should find easy and 2 and a midfielder doing half and half (McGrath or Knight generally, you’d imagine Ronan and Sykes would also fit the mould).

Obafemi is probably playing centrally unless he’s alongside Idah.

As for RWB, Cyrus Christie and Danny McNamara are the most likely candidates

[samhaydenjr]

Don't think he starts and is used from the bench to begin with. Ogbene, Robinson, and Knight finished the Luxembourg game strongly and played 76mins against Belgium as the front three. Can't see Kenny moving from that front three and you'd be looking at Obafemi coming on to replace one of them.

I like that idea for a couple of reasons:

Let those lads run a defense ragged for 60-70 minutes and then bring on a player who makes the starting forwards look slow - also if we're defending a lead would give a great outlet for somebody like Cullen to play balls in behind a high defensive line

If Obafemi's hamstrings are still a concern, allows him to protect himself with limited minutes to start

[Olé Olé]

I think Robinson and even Parrott are capable of doing that whilst offering more to the attack as well. I don’t think either McGrath or Browne are international quality players. I’d like to see Ronan given an opportunity. Didn’t see the point in calling him up and not even putting him on the bench.

I really don't think that Robinson is capable of it. Against Belgium he was the least hard working of our front three by a mile. He drifts in and out of games too much to consistently execute that role. That drifting is fine when he can contribute some great moments and be involved in good attacks. Against Belgium Knight was tireless and Ogbene was behind him slightly in terms of effort but not by much. It would be a lot to ask of Parrott too in that he is an out and out forward but maybe he is capable.

Watching how Knight instigated the press against Belgium and organized those around him and then contributed going forward, I think he has to be kept where he is for now.

[Eirambler]

I would agree with that. While Robinson and Ogbene have stolen the headlines it's the positioning of Knight as one of the three forwards that has been the main driver of our upturn in form for me. He absolutely has to be one of the three when fit, he gets back and covers the midfield well when we don't have the ball but also manages to contribute to our attack with crosses and assists when we're in possession - he's the perfect player for that link position between midfield and attack, an out and out forward like Robinson will never be able to do the job as well as him. Parrott might be able to in time as he develops his all round game, but I don't think he's there yet and I would just pick him as a forward for now if picking him.

I'd go as far as to say Knight is our most important player at the moment, although Cullen is up there also. We are so light in terms of quality midfielders that they are both absolutely crucial for us.

It annoys me when pages like Kenny's Kids and the likes post things like "what's your front three for June" and the responses are all Ogbene/Obafemi/Robinson or similar with no mention of Knight. People have a very simplistic view of football sometimes - more goalscoring forwards doesn't necessarily mean more goals.

In terms of Obafemi I'd like to see him in the squad and capped off the bench to begin with, I like the idea of giving teams 70 minutes of Ogbene running at them and then sending on Obafemi to finish the job. Hopefully he is fully committed to us. I see him, Parrott, Robinson and Ogbene competing for two starting spots as things stand with Idah also competing with them once he's back fit.

[liamoo11]

I would agree with that. While Robinson and Ogbene have stolen the headlines it's the positioning of Knight as one of the three forwards that has been the main driver of our upturn in form for me. He absolutely has to be one of the three when fit, he gets back and covers the midfield well when we don't have the ball but also manages to contribute to our attack with crosses and assists when we're in possession - he's the perfect player for that link position between midfield and attack, an out and out forward like Robinson will never be able to do the job as well as him. Parrott might be able to in time as he develops his all round game, but I don't think he's there yet and I would just pick him as a forward for now if picking him.

I'd go as far as to say Knight is our most important player at the moment, although Cullen is up there also. We are so light in terms of quality midfielders that they are both absolutely crucial for us.

It annoys me when pages like Kenny's Kids and the likes post things like "what's your front three for June" and the responses are all Ogbene/Obafemi/Robinson or similar with no mention of Knight. People have a very simplistic view of football sometimes - more goalscoring forwards doesn't necessarily mean more goals.

In terms of Obafemi I'd like to see him in the squad and capped off the bench to begin with, I like the idea of giving teams 70 minutes of Ogbene running at them and then sending on Obafemi to finish the job. Hopefully he is fully committed to us. I see him, Parrott, Robinson and Ogbene competing for two starting spots as things stand with Idah also competing with them once he's back fit.

I'd like to see Connolly involved as well . He offers us a threat off the bench and a skillset that we should try to develop even if his club career has stalled

[Olé Olé]

I would agree with that. While Robinson and Ogbene have stolen the headlines it's the positioning of Knight as one of the three forwards that has been the main driver of our upturn in form for me. He absolutely has to be one of the three when fit, he gets back and covers the midfield well when we don't have the ball but also manages to contribute to our attack with crosses and assists when we're in possession - he's the perfect player for that link position between midfield and attack, an out and out forward like Robinson will never be able to do the job as well as him. Parrott might be able to in time as he develops his all round game, but I don't think he's there yet and I would just pick him as a forward for now if picking him.

I'd go as far as to say Knight is our most important player at the moment, although Cullen is up there also. We are so light in terms of quality midfielders that they are both absolutely crucial for us.

It annoys me when pages like Kenny's Kids and the likes post things like "what's your front three for June" and the responses are all Ogbene/Obafemi/Robinson or similar with no mention of Knight. People have a very simplistic view of football sometimes - more goalscoring forwards doesn't necessarily mean more goals.

In terms of Obafemi I'd like to see him in the squad and capped off the bench to begin with, I like the idea of giving teams 70 minutes of Ogbene running at them and then sending on Obafemi to finish the job. Hopefully he is fully committed to us. I see him, Parrott, Robinson and Ogbene competing for two starting spots as things stand with Idah also competing with them once he's back fit.
I agree with all the above too. I think Knight is essential. I actually think that when Idah comes back and if Obafemi comes in and impressed and Parrott maintains his present trajectory that Knight is nailed on but that Ogbene and Robinson will be more likely to interchange with the incumbents. Not that they will definitely be dropped but that they will be more susceptible to the competition that Knight is. The competition for his role is much slacker. McGrath and Browne have played the role Knight is in before (even in the same game) but neither is where Knight is now, not to mind where Knight is likely to get to.

Assume Idah comes back to full fitness and starts ripping up the Championship in August, picking up on the back of his good couple of Premiership performances, I would imagine Kenny will definitely pick him...

There's some nice healthy competition in those positions and some lovely variety in the players available. The lads that are of a good age to really progress have space for improvement too and some are targeting moves. Fingers crossed.

[tommy_c12000]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qlh7kp45xEc

An excellent goal from Obafemi. I look forward to seeing him back in a irish shirt in the summer. Connolly chance at the end, good first touch, a bit of a timid attempt but unlucky to have it come off the post…short on confidence clearly

[pineapple stu]

Assume Idah comes back to full fitness and starts ripping up the Championship in August
That latter is quite a big assumption, isn't it?

He had a couple of decent performances and a couple of ineffective ones (and he was far from the only Norwich player to have some poor games). He scored one - slightly lucky - goal and had a pretty bad miss in the same game. And he got two assists in the same time I think. It's a long way from there to "ripping up the Championship" though.

We've four games in June though, so we're going to need some squad rotation (and I wonder will club managers have any say as to how many games players play?) On that basis, let's hope Obafemi accepts the call-up which will surely come his way, and then I agree with you that Robinson is the most likely to miss out when Obafemi plays.

[samhaydenjr]

Keeping the Obafemi appreciation going, didn't score tonight but, as mentioned in the Cyrus Christie thread, was credited with two assists and was involved in the third one as well: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60652952 - this is another aspect of his game that I've noticed - he has a good eye for a key pass

[NeverFeltBetter]

Police investigating racial abuse of Obafemi at a recent Cardiff/Swansea game: https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2022/0429/1295147-police-to-investigate-claim-of-racism-aimed-at-obafemi/

[third policeman]

Another goal today

[Insidetherock]

He has to be called up in June.. whether he comes.. that'll be the big thing

[Insidetherock]

and a brilliant finish it was

[SkStu]

He has to be called up in June.. whether he comes.. that'll be the big thing

Kenny’s Kids with an update on this today. Good news.

1520511407837614080

[Insidetherock]

Brilliant stuff... Obafemi looks so far, and it us very early days yet, to being the closest Robbie Keane type player we've produced since..Robbie Keane

[Razors left peg]

Looks like Mr Obafemi will be in the next Ireland squad....

https://punditarena.com/football/andrew-dempsey/stephen-kenny-hints-michael-obafemi-recall-nations-league/

[Diggs246]

I will actually be crestfallen if he pulls out

He is exactly what we need , speed and an excellent finisher

[Razors left peg]

I will actually be crestfallen if he pulls out

He is exactly what we need , speed and an excellent finisher

Agreed, but I'll be more disappointed because the "will he, wont he" will carry on for longer

[Diggs246]

www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/swansea-city-goal-aces-who-24549119.amp

I agree with this journalist. .. we did it with parrott and Swansea did it with piroe. To get this best out if him he needs a ten behind him.

[pineapple stu]

A remarkable miss today against Rotherham. I think the second half of last season established him enough that he can brush this off and laugh at it soon enough - but I don't know how he's managed to miss this so badly. Must have been celebrating it already!

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/12662114/rotherham-1-1-swansea-championship

[tommy_c12000]

I have not seen a worse miss that I recall, the ball is traveling nice and smoothly on the surface too…. He was pretty awful throughout the game too according to the Swansea fans.

Let’s hope he hasn’t got too big for his boots again and he bounces back nicely!!

[Eirambler]

Shocker of a miss alright. I think Obafemi is one that needs to show last season's form over a longer period to fully convince everyone that has fully turned around his attitude to the game. If he does there will be bigger teams in for him before long, but it could go the other way for him also if he slips back into his old ways.

There are about 13 Irish strikers/forwards in the Championship this season:

Sinclair Armstrong
Dara Costelloe
Scott Hogan
Will Keane
Adam Idah
JJ Kayode
Georgie Kelly
Shane Long
Sean Maguire
Michael Obafemi
Chiedozie Ogbene
Troy Parrott
Callum Robinson

One or two of those might end up going out on loan though. It will be interesting to see how they get on over the season. Just the one goal (Ogbene) from the nine that played Friday night and yesterday is not the best of starts.

[tetsujin1979]

This is the list of forwards that I'm working of this season
http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/PositionDetails?positionID=4

[pineapple stu]

You're missing Liam Kerrigan off that I think?

[Demesne Lad]

And Olamide Shodipo, who played 65 mins for QPR on Saturday?

[tetsujin1979]

You're missing Liam Kerrigan off that I think?


And Olamide Shodipo, who played 65 mins for QPR on Saturday?

Under midfielders - http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/PositionDetails?positionID=3

[Demesne Lad]

Under midfielders - http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/PositionDetails?positionID=3

How could I have doubted you, Tetsujin1979? Silly me.

[Insidetherock]

Hate reading this.. from the BBC website

"Swansea's Michael Obafemi wasted a glorious chance as he blazed over from six yards but made amends by setting up Ntcham for an 87th-minute tap-in."

That's two glorious misses in his first three games..

[Insidetherock]

The commentators on Swans TV seem to have pretty good time for him all the same

VwB6zkRIIb8

[elatedscum]

the miss is at 7.20. goal move starts at 9.20

B5j2Xu2yx2g

he does really well for the goal. how he evades the foul, turns on the burners and squares it instead of shooting. won them the game.

[elatedscum]

more good and bad from obafemi. Manning scores the first. Obafemi scores a lovely second. In injury time, Danny McNamara gets down the line and puts in a good ball which the swansea defender puts into his own net to make it 2-1. Obafemi has a chance to end the game on the break and he doesn't pull the trigger. Millwall go up the other end and win a corner and there's another OG from that to make it a 2-2. Obafemi also has a lovely dummy to create a chance for Ntcham in the second half.

4kZZot8MrBw

[Exgrad]

in fairness thats a sensational tackle by the millwall centre back on his breakaway chance at 2-1. Lovely work for his goal.

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, agree with that.

Think Manning's goal is getting undersold though. Super strike.

[Trequartista20]

Yeah, agree with that.

Think Manning's goal is getting undersold though. Super strike.

An excellent hit from Manning. He's still ahead of Brady for the footballing left-wingback role for me, Clive.

And I think he's been under-utilised by Kenny thus far.

[pineapple stu]

Might be on the move today; Burnley have a second offer (this one £8m) turned down.

Mad money for a transfer between two second-tier sides, but that's the nature of the game these days

[third policeman]

Would be a good move, as Burnley look well equipped to challenge for promotion.

[Insidetherock]

Definitely a better chance of being back in the Prem with Burnley over Swansea

[samhaydenjr]

I think he might be as well off staying and continue building - if he has a full season like the last four months of the last campaign, then he will generate significant interest - that said, Burnley's front line isn't exactly prolific

[Diggs246]

Seems to be completely dropped today or is he injured?

[JR89]

Could be left out because of his transfer not happening. Whether the manager feels he isn't focused enough for today or pouting about it.

[JR89]

Russell Martins comments regarding his absence today. The part about his head being filled with nonsense is similar to Goodwins comments regarding Jamie McGrath and outside influences in his ear back in January before his move.


"Michael, we had a chat after the deadline day madness and both decided it was best for him to have the weekend off and that he couldn't contribute in a way that he should have. I'm a young manager and have to learn a lot, I shouldn't have brought him on Wednesday with what was going on, I made the wrong call. But I feel like we made the right call today, and Michael agreed.

"He'll come back in on Monday, we'll have a really good chat and we'll make sure he's in the right frame of mind to contribute. His head has been filled with all sorts of nonsense since we first came back in, so his energy has been a bit different.

"We need to get back to the Michael Obafemi we had from December onwards and I'm sure we will."

[pineapple stu]

Not in the squad again tonight, which if nothing else is bad timing with the Nations League coming up shortly

[Razors left peg]

I get him being left out in the game after the window closes but he must be really actin the cnut there if 2 weeks later hes still being left out.... worrying considering his previous attitude issues that we thought were left behing