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

[Fizzer]

Just listened to a Ken Early interview with him today on the 2nd captains podcast.Seems like a nice,confident young fella.Wasn’t a great interview overall to be honest but two interesting things came up.
He spoke a bit about O’Neill and what went on prior to being capped.To summarize:O’Neill told him he had other options and there was no rush to decide.This led to Obafemis’ ‘all in’ tweet,basically forcing O’Neill to cap him.Now maybe there’s some kind of sensible explanation for this,but I doubt it.
Second thing that’s a bit odd perhaps is that he hasn’t been contacted by Mick yet,but Stephen Kenny has been in touch.I dont know if Mick’s been tied up with the qualifiers but i’d rather he gave Obafemi a quick buzz rather than leaving voicemails every week for Bamford.

[Olé Olé]

Listened to it and found these points interesting too. I think it sums Kenny up more than it is a slight on Mick. Kenny seems to have an encyclopedic knowledge of the lads eligible for his squad and has thrown himself into it.

Also enjoyed when Obafemi said "loyalty is a big thing for me" and "I'm Irish".

[Fizzer]

Yes great to hear,still only 18 as well,if he keeps developing and adds a bit of ruthlessness to his finishing he could be brilliant for us.Robbie may be a useful mentor to help him with a bit of cuteness in the box..Southampton staying up is really important to us,hopefully they can kick on a bit next season,Austin’s not getting any younger and Ings is only on loan so 20 games or so for Obafemi would be great progress.

[liamoo11]

Hopefully there' is no trying to rush him back for that toulon' tournament or the 19s euros. Let him have a summer to rehab and do full preseason.

In the small amounts I ve seen of him in Southampton s first team I have been surprised st how good his hold up and link play was which is a nice addition to that power and pace he has

[Razors left peg]

Hopefully there' is no trying to rush him back for that toulon' tournament or the 19s euros. Let him have a summer to rehab and do full preseason.

In the small amounts I ve seen of him in Southampton s first team I have been surprised st how good his hold up and link play was which is a nice addition to that power and pace he has

I thought the same thing with the bits Ive seen of him, I expected him to be a ball over the top and sprint onto it type of player, but hes a tidy footballer. Was very impressed with him but I always worry about bad hamstring injuries for a young player. I hope it doesn't take something away from him

[samhaydenjr]

Reckons he's faster than Mbappe: https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/17557972.southampton-striker-michael-obafemi-talks-kylian-mbappe/

Wouldn't it be awesome to let Long free to run defenders ragged without having to worry about lasting 90 minutes and then replace him with Obafemi for the last 20-30 minutes?

[Diggs246]

Here are the highlight from the Preston v southhampton game
Obafemi looks very lively, I think if he looks after himself he will be a really good player for us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9QRDxmEIf8

[samhaydenjr]

Here are the highlight from the Preston v southhampton game
Obafemi looks very lively, I think if he looks after himself he will be a really good player for us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9QRDxmEIf8

Yeah, great run and pass for the first chance and decent snapshot later

[Charlie Darwin]

Here are the highlight from the Preston v southhampton game
Obafemi looks very lively, I think if he looks after himself he will be a really good player for us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9QRDxmEIf8
I don't think he's ever not looked after himself, to be fair, he just has the hamstring curse that a lot of small, lightning quick lads have. Michael Owen only lasted a couple of years before he had problems - Obafemi didn't even get that.

[passinginterest]

Connolly and Obafemi scores in the last few mins.

[Razors left peg]

Two for him now. Obafemi off with a possible hamstring again...

Hopefully its just cramp after first start of the season for him?

[tetsujin1979]

Manager says he thinks it's just cramp, and Obafemi should be fine at 1:45 in the interview
1166457807882936320

[Diggs246]

Manager says he thinks it's just cramp, and Obafemi should be fine at 1:45 in the interview
1166457807882936320

If we are losing one nil top the swiss, I would mind seeing Judgy and Obafemi coming on with 20 mins to go, playing 10 and 9 respectively

[third policeman]

If we are losing one nil top the swiss, I would mind seeing Judgy and Obafemi coming on with 20 mins to go, playing 10 and 9 respectively


Would prefer Byrne and Obafemi if Byrne doesn't start.

[livehead1]

Would prefer Byrne and Obafemi if Byrne doesn't start.

Jack Byrne starting for Ireland v Switzerland?

Couldn't get a start for Kilmarnock.

[DeLorean]

Yeah, he'll be doing very well to make the final squad. Some game time against Bulgaria would be the max he could hope for at this point I'd say.

[Closed Account]

https://streamja.com/z36M

Nice assist

[DeLorean]

Lovely pass. Curtis, not so much.

[tommy_c12000]

Back to back starts for him today, first time in his career. Huge chance for him vs Watford at home. When was the last time we had two teenage strikers start on the same weekend in premier league? Or two teenagers start period?

[Eirambler]

Was only kind of half watching it and trying to watch another game at the same time, but it didn't look like anything fell for him during the 55 minutes he was on before Long replaced him.

Southampton were 1-0 down when he went off and went on to win 2-1. Wouldn't be surprised if Long replaced him in the team next time out, Long looked decent and was unlucky not to score when he came on.

[tommy_c12000]

Obafemi didn’t see much of the ball, but was industrious when he saw it. Long did reasonable when introduced. Important 2-1 win for Southampton with the 2 goals scored after Obafemi was subbed. So chances are he won’t start the next game. Hopefully he will though and get the run of games he so badly needs.

[Olé Olé]

Such a pity Mick won't give Long his due shot.

[irishfan86]

I like Long and believe he should be in the squad. But he isn’t doing anything exceptional and this match was a perfect demonstration of his lack of killer instinct in front of goal. He was heavily involved while scuffing at least two half chances.

I don’t criticize Mick for examining alternatives even if it hasn’t worked out.

[Olé Olé]

I like Long and believe he should be in the squad. But he isn’t doing anything exceptional and this match was a perfect demonstration of his lack of killer instinct in front of goal. He was heavily involved while scuffing at least two half chances.

I don’t criticize Mick for examining alternatives even if it hasn’t worked out.

Not saying he should be always there and starting but when Scott Hogan is getting more chance, well...

[tetsujin1979]

Back to back starts for him today, first time in his career. Huge chance for him vs Watford at home. When was the last time we had two teenage strikers start on the same weekend in premier league? Or two teenagers start period?
Two Irish teenagers last started on Saturday, 21 January 2006, when Joey O'Brien and Stephen Ireland and were both 19 when they lined out against each other for Bolton and Manchester City, respectively.

[samhaydenjr]

Obafemi didn’t see much of the ball, but was industrious when he saw it. Long did reasonable when introduced. Important 2-1 win for Southampton with the 2 goals scored after Obafemi was subbed. So chances are he won’t start the next game. Hopefully he will though and get the run of games he so badly needs.

Yeah, it was frustrating to watch - Southampton were rubbish when he was on and collectively woke up after he went off and suddenly started creating chances (although Boufal's arrival helped with that)

[tommy_c12000]

Big chance again for him today vs Chelsea. Ings being rested ahead of big 6 pointer vs Palace on Saturday. Hopefully he does well

[liamoo11]

Fantastic goal

[Olé Olé]

Opens the scoring with a cracker of a goal where he takes on the Chelsea defence and curls it into the top corner with his left. Beautiful.

[tommy_c12000]

Superb goal by Obafemi, top left corner finish with left. Just what his career needed, now just needs his hamstrings to remain intact

[Diggs246]

Any link lads for the goal

[liamoo11]

Doesnt get alot of love amongst Irish fans really compared to Connolly parrott and even afolabi. Bit like idah lads just dont seem to fancy him which seems odd to me. Just like idah he has pace, power good hold up and decent amount of goals underage. What's not to like?

[tetsujin1979]

Cracking finish
1210222840747896832

[Diggs246]

Cracking finish
1210222840747896832

Thanks. Great goal.

[tommy_c12000]

Doesnt get alot of love amongst Irish fans really compared to Connolly parrott and even afolabi. Bit like idah lads just dont seem to fancy him which seems odd to me. Just like idah he has pace, power good hold up and decent amount of goals underage. What's not to like?

Haven’t noticed the lack of love for Obafemi among irish fans. I’ve always liked Obafemi, his touch, vision and composure has been very impressive. I’d have higher hopes for him over Idah for sure. Main thing is getting game time and staying fit, can certainly go places if both of these occur

[Diggs246]

He is defo an option for us against Slovakia. Mick might not think so though.
I wonder who is faster him or long

[tetsujin1979]

Obafemi is the tenth Irish player to score in the Premier League in the 2019/20 season


This is the first time ten, or more, players have scored in the same season since the 2016/17 season

[Olé Olé]

And there's surely something about teenagers scoring that we can cling to.

[tricky_colour]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sr4CJZ14aD4

Other video not work for my location.

[Diggs246]

Have I had too much brandy or would this team beat Slovakia
________Randy
Coleman Duffy Egan Steven's
Doherty Cullen McCarthy Connolly
---‐‐--------mcgoldrick
-------------- obafemi

[ColourfulPeanut]

Cullen is goosed long term I think but yeah I agree to an extent.

The way McGoldrick plays for us, he's better suited as a 10 with someone pacy off him. Whether that's Connolly or Obafemi is up for debate!

[Diggs246]

Cullen is goosed long term I think but yeah I agree to an extent.

The way McGoldrick plays for us, he's better suited as a 10 with someone pacy off him. Whether that's Connolly or Obafemi is up for debate!

I think Cullen will be back playing within a month. Certainly well before our game

[Fixer82]

Fine finish!
McGoldrick needs to play as our number 10.
The two games that lost our instant qualification were the two games he missed.
He’s the linchpin.

I’d have Obafemi, Connolly, Long and McGoldrick as our strikers in the next squad

[ColourfulPeanut]

I think Cullen will be back playing within a month. Certainly well before our game
Ah that's great! I remember Bowyer saying "a long time" but never getting a follow up.

I don't think he'll play barring a major injury crisis though. He's only played friendlies for us and Mick I going to stick with what he knows for such a high stakes game.

Same goes for Obafemi's chances I reckon!

[Diggs246]

I'd play Connolly on the left as it might well be his best position and it removes McClean who has been a good servant but not in the last 2 years

[samhaydenjr]

He is defo an option for us against Slovakia. Mick might not think so though.
I wonder who is faster him or long

Good question - Long was clocked with the fastest speed in the PL in 2016/17 and the second fastest this season so far, while Obafemi has said he's faster than Mbappe. So either way, it's a tremendous weapon for us to have, if we can utilize it. In Long's case, we don't seem to have made full use of his pace through his career, with only his goals against Germany and Serbia (and maybe Moldova) coming as a result of him winning a footrace to a ball in behind. I mean, I know it flies in the face of the style of play a lot people want to see from Ireland, but wouldn't it be a good tactic to invite Slovakia or whoever to pressure us and when we gain possession, immediately belt it over the top for Long and/or Obafemi to chase, especially if their defenders are starting to tire?


Obafemi is the tenth Irish player to score in the Premier League in the 2019/20 season


This is the first time ten, or more, players have scored in the same season since the 2016/17 season

And with Egan, Long, McGoldrick, Coleman and McCarthy still to break their ducks for the season, plus the possibility of Parrott and/or Idah breaking through by the end of the season, it may well end up significantly higher than ten!


Fine finish!
McGoldrick needs to play as our number 10.
The two games that lost our instant qualification were the two games he missed.
He’s the linchpin.

I’d have Obafemi, Connolly, Long and McGoldrick as our strikers in the next squad

Agree totally at this point, plus Robinson, unless Parrott plays and scores in the Cup for Spurs

[tommy_c12000]

Not in squad today. I was hopeful considering he only played 60 minutes on Thursday but wasn’t to be. Adams starts. Interestingly Smallbone is on bench...

[Fizzer]

Scores today against West Ham, having started with Long up front.I really think he has potential to do great things for us, sometimes forget he’s still only 19.I like his pace and link up play but the most striking thing about him for me is how relaxed he is in front of goal.

[samhaydenjr]

Scores today against West Ham, having started with Long up front.I really think he has potential to do great things for us, sometimes forget he’s still only 19.I like his pace and link up play but the most striking thing about him for me is how relaxed he is in front of goal.

Excellent point - his goal against Chelsea was top class but, perhaps more importantly, he scored both his other goals in spite of not being ideally set up to shoot. For his debut goal, the ball was under his feet, yet he dug it out and forced it on goal before he got closed down. For today's effort the ball came at him very quickly - the commentators I was watching seemed to imply he was lucky to score but in fact he managed to sort his feet very well to direct it towards goal and maybe got a little bit of deserved luck with it looping past Fabianski.

Also, did he attempt to do an Irish jig in celebration?

[tommy_c12000]

Sounds like you were watching NBC where the co-commentator described him hitting the ball into the ground first and was very lucky. I didn’t see that, thought it was an excellent side foot finish curling high away from keeper.

Overall, Obafemi was very poor again today, goal apart, as I said in Smallbone thread. He has impressed me less and less as season has gone on, his link up play and ball protection has deteriorated and he looks unfit. For me, it is still very much touch and go whether he makes it consistently as a premier league striker, consider in his publicized “lack of professionalism” and I become even more pessimistic. He should be happy with an under 21 place in a few weeks, and try to impress at this level.

Long was also poor today, but he deserves to be a stop gap measure for playoffs, but can’t see him playing with us beyond this summer. Agree Hogan should be on the bench given current form for playoffs.