Zachary Elbouzedi M St Pat's Athletic b.1998

[tommy_c12000]

Agree, I wouldn’t quite be as hyperbolic. Playing in a pretty average league and appears to be doing ok, hardly tearing it up. Deserves a earnest chance this year for sure, but wouldn’t hang my hat on him being a future senior irish stalwart. But may make a telling contribution here and there, who knows

[Exgrad]

Id still like to see more of him this season before going that far. He only had a couple of assists last season and is not that far removed from hardly being able to get a game in L2. No harm in calling him up to squad to have a look at him in training but Im not sure Id have him near the team yet

Yeah he couldn't make the Bolton team a lot of the time in L2. Swedish league may not be great but its better preparation for the style of football you'll have to deal with at international level.

[nigel-harps1954]

To be fair, style of football sometimes outperforms standard of football. Some players simply aren't suited to the rough and tumble of League One/League Two football and are better suited to a more technical league. Elbouzedi proving to be one of them.

[Razors left peg]

To be fair, style of football sometimes outperforms standard of football. Some players simply aren't suited to the rough and tumble of League One/League Two football and are better suited to a more technical league. Elbouzedi proving to be one of them.

Maybe..... he still only had 2 assists last season. I'm not saying I dont think hes any good, I just think he needs to more to get a call up

[paul_oshea]

To be fair, style of football sometimes outperforms standard of football. Some players simply aren't suited to the rough and tumble of League One/League Two football and are better suited to a more technical league. Elbouzedi proving to be one of them.

I've been to a few games in Sweden. It's fairly poor fare. To compare to what I've seen in English league football Barnet maybe 15 years ago.

[ifk101]

I've been to a few games in Sweden. It's fairly poor fare. To compare to what I've seen in English league football Barnet maybe 15 years ago.

True - the standard is not great, the top division is beefed out with some tiny clubs, but he is with one of the traditional top clubs in Swedish football with an established professional infrastructure. I think where he is currently at is comparable to League One and we are currently picking players at that level ...

But he keeps doing well, he probably has a better chance of advancing to a higher ranked European league playing with AIK than in League One.

[Kingdom]

We're picking Daryl Horgan, who isn't starting for Wigan, and who will never be anything more than a fringe player at best for us.
For me the argument ends there. He's worthy of a call-up now, because let's be honest, we're not going to be doing too much experimenting in June.

[Razors left peg]

We're picking Daryl Horgan, who isn't starting for Wigan, and who will never be anything more than a fringe player at best for us.
For me the argument ends there. He's worthy of a call-up now, because let's be honest, we're not going to be doing too much experimenting in June.

Except I think we'll be replacing Horgan with Ebosele whos done more to justify a call up. As I said Im not against calling him up to have a look at him in training etc, but I think hes behind others in picking him in team

[samhaydenjr]

We're picking Daryl Horgan, who isn't starting for Wigan, and who will never be anything more than a fringe player at best for us.
For me the argument ends there. He's worthy of a call-up now, because let's be honest, we're not going to be doing too much experimenting in June.

Well you can't really criticise Horgan for not getting minutes at Wigan...

[Kingdom]

Well you can't really criticise Horgan for not getting minutes at Wigan...

I said Wycome in my head (so no idea why I wrote Wigan!), but in saying that I nearly caused a diplomatic incident here on Monday by misprouncing Czechia as Check-ia, to which everyone thought I was saying Checnia.

[tetsujin1979]

Swedish league returns today, Elbouzedi named in the AIK starting XI against Hacken
Losing 2-1 at half time
1510262030720249857

[tetsujin1979]

Brought off the bench with 13 minutes to go, and in the last minute of the game, Elbouzedi scored this goal
1579161153707872256

[pineapple stu]

First goal of the season though, and he's only gotten two-thirds as many minutes as last season, which is disappointing.

Not seeing that he's really an option at senior level tbh

[dynamo kerry]

Was he injured this year? Definitely getting less game time for some reason

[ifk101]

The chap that brought him to Sweden got the sack in August so that hasn't helped as he has been a bench player since then. But he was being pushed out of the starting 11 prior to the sacking. Saw him play the other week, and he came on as a RB.

[tetsujin1979]

The Allsvenskan finished at the weekend, and AIK finished fifth. That's a big drop after finishing second in 2021, but their defence cost them - conceded 36 goals in 30 games, and finished with a goals differnce of +9
Their manager was sacked in August, with the team in fifth, and Andreas Brännström was announced today as a full time replacement. He led Mjallby AIF to ninth in the 2022 season.
It has to be a disappointing season for Elbouzedi, only started 12 games in the league, and only completed 90 minutes in one of those, scoring once.

[tetsujin1979]

Named as a substitute this afternoon for AIK. for the first time this season
1652279081226981376

[pineapple stu]

Signed for Pat's today - a few player threads ending up in the LoI in the last 24 hours.

[Eirambler]

On one hand it's good to see a few decent players heading for domestic clubs. In some cases though it's a case of lads returning with their tails between their legs having failed overseas. Devoy left Bohemians a few years ago as a highly rated player and stand out League of Ireland player who many thought could make an impact in England. He returns having failed to impress even in League 2. Elbouzedi has tried his hand at a number of clubs in England, Scotland and Sweden. Unfortunately in each case he has come up short.

The gap, even to League 2 in England, remains enormous.

[Acornvilla]

I think League 2 might just be a different sport, a lot of huge athletes kicking lumps out of one another, might not suit smaller fellas who want to play football.

[nigel-harps1954]

On one hand it's good to see a few decent players heading for domestic clubs. In some cases though it's a case of lads returning with their tails between their legs having failed overseas. Devoy left Bohemians a few years ago as a highly rated player and stand out League of Ireland player who many thought could make an impact in England. He returns having failed to impress even in League 2. Elbouzedi has tried his hand at a number of clubs in England, Scotland and Sweden. Unfortunately in each case he has come up short.

The gap, even to League 2 in England, remains enormous.

Take your point, to a certain extent, but few things to clarify there;

Elbouzedi was a prominent first team player at AIK for two years running. Got frozen out in 2023, spent the second half of last season on loan in League Two and played every game he was available for. I don't think it's fair to say it's a tail between the legs sort of deal.

Devoy played 60 games in League One and League Two since leaving Bohs 2 years ago.

Neither went away and failed to make the grade. They both done quite well, in fact.

[JR89]

I think League 2 might just be a different sport, a lot of huge athletes kicking lumps out of one another, might not suit smaller fellas who want to play football.

You'd be surprised that a few teams actually play decent football in League 2. Went to a Bradford City game about two years ago when Paudie was still with them and they played some good football on the day. Played Tranmere and I was surprised at the style of play from both teams.

You'll still get a few teams that will have that old school vibe in terms of style. Just need to look at Calum Kavanaghs few stints in League 2. First two loans he played with teams that were 442 with the little and large strike partnership I believe.

Didn't really amount to anything but since joining Bradford he's thrived under Graham Alexander who plays 3421 with Kavanagh as one of the two supporting the striker.

[Eirambler]

Take your point, to a certain extent, but few things to clarify there;

Elbouzedi was a prominent first team player at AIK for two years running. Got frozen out in 2023, spent the second half of last season on loan in League Two and played every game he was available for. I don't think it's fair to say it's a tail between the legs sort of deal.

Devoy played 60 games in League One and League Two since leaving Bohs 2 years ago.

Neither went away and failed to make the grade. They both done quite well, in fact.

While that's true to an extent (and factual in terms of games played etc.) there's also a kind of reality that, if things had worked out as intended/predicted, they wouldn't be making the moves they have made this week - definitely not at this point in their careers. Devoy is potentially young enough to maybe get another shot in a couple of years. Elbouzedi most likely isn't. He'd be as well to take the Libya caps now if still on offer and maybe see if that might lead to any opportunities in the Arab world maybe (thinking Qatar/Saudi leagues if he wants to try overseas again).

[Acornvilla]

I think wages for top players in the LOI has really ballooned in the past year or three, possibly unsustainably so, but we'll find out in a few years I suppose.

Lads might be deciding they can live somewhere they like and near family, win some stuff, and have European adventures for decent money. That's certainly true of older players. For younger ones, someone like Ross Tierney, if I'm not mistaken, while young himself also have very young kids, maybe it was a family decision that brought him home? Lower league football life in England/UK does not sound fun a lot of the time, can totally see the appeal of taking your chances and heading over, but I wouldn't necessarily say everyone who leaves isn't good enough, there were lads playing in the Euro's and doing well who left those sorts of places. Everyone is different, I can totally see Elbouzedi and Devoy having had other options, but choosing to come home for various reasons.

I don't think there's any one reason, but LOI clubs have been heavily investing recently, probably trying to make up for all of the players that have left, whilst capitalizing on the increased crowds. There were massive financial losses in the league last season, in the 5m region if I'm not mistaken.

[Eirambler]

I really wish all that additional money was being put into facilities and coaching so that it's a long term investment, rather than being spent on wages for senior players, which often just leads to unsustainable growth followed by yet more insolvency in the league.

[Acornvilla]

I really wish all that additional money was being put into facilities and coaching so that it's a long term investment, rather than being spent on wages for senior players, which often just leads to unsustainable growth followed by yet more insolvency in the league.
Depends on the club where it is going, a few of them are doing both, some clubs are doing neither :D

The LOI isn't one thing, each club has individual challenges or advantages, some will forever be fighting to survive but there's a lot of good being done in others, and it's easy to spot which is which.

[ifk101]

How much is he on at Pats? He was getting approximately €100,000 in Sweden.

[Acornvilla]

I don't think they make that stuff public, but I doubt he'd be far off it. A lot of clubs cover players accommodation to offset wages, so it's tough to quantify exactly at the best of times. Length of contract has become a bigger consideration as well, some clubs have been offering 3/4 year contracts which is the kind of stability some players prioritize.

[nigel-harps1954]

How much is he on at Pats? He was getting approximately €100,000 in Sweden.

Almost a certainty he'll be getting almost the same, if not more, at Pat's, plus accommodation paid for. Wages at the top of LOI have gone crazy again the last few years and Pat's owner Garret Kelleher is certainly backing Stephen Kenny in that regard too.

Plus, as Acornvilla says, length of contract can be a deciding factor for players too. Job security with two or three years deals now the norm in LOI, and no longer not being paid in off season.

[2 Year Contract]

While that's true to an extent (and factual in terms of games played etc.) there's also a kind of reality that, if things had worked out as intended/predicted, they wouldn't be making the moves they have made this week - definitely not at this point in their careers.

Swindon tried to sign Devoy this summer and he turned them down, with their manager seemingly gutted over it
https://www.thesun.ie/sport/13440458/bohemians-alan-reynolds-dawson-devoy-mark-kennedy/

Likewise in Elbouzedi’s interview he confirmed he turned down other options to come home

[liamoo11]

You'd be surprised that a few teams actually play decent football in League 2. Went to a Bradford City game about two years ago when Paudie was still with them and they played some good football on the day. Played Tranmere and I was surprised at the style of play from both teams.

You'll still get a few teams that will have that old school vibe in terms of style. Just need to look at Calum Kavanaghs few stints in League 2. First two loans he played with teams that were 442 with the little and large strike partnership I believe.

Didn't really amount to anything but since joining Bradford he's thrived under Graham Alexander who plays 3421 with Kavanagh as one of the two supporting the striker.

I watched Lot of league 2 last season to see crowley at notts county and the football was on the whole very good, notts county played lovely football and crowley was pure silk at that level