Jonathan Afolabi F Cambuur (loan from KV Kortrijk) b.2000

[paul_oshea]

Yes definitely, where there was a lot of talk around toulon tournaments and prospects coming through, but as we review the year in May, what can really be said? Couple of lads holding their own in mid-table championship teams?

[SkStu]

Yes definitely, where there was a lot of talk around toulon tournaments and prospects coming through, but as we review the year in May, what can really be said? Couple of lads holding their own in mid-table championship teams?

Connolly (20) - breakthrough and premier league goals, senior MNT caps
Parrott (18) - game time
Idah (19) - league and cup game time and goals
Obafemi (19) - regular game time for premier league team and goals
Molumby (20) - breakthrough and top performances
Knight (19) - breakthrough, goals and top performances
O'Shea (21) - breakthrough and being praised by his manager
Masterson (21) - regular game time
Kilkenny (20) - senior appearances for Premier League team
Collins (18) - breakthrough with regular game time
Kelleher (21) - game time

The future is bright.

[Eirambler]

To be fair I don't think anyone was realistically suggesting much more than that by now given the ages of the players involved.

Overall it has been a very decent season for young Irish players in the top three divisions in England. The big disappointment has been around the three lads that moved to Celtic - I'm pretty sure that if you had told Connell that he wouldn't have played for the Celtic first team yet and told O'Connor and Afolabi that they'd the only football they'd be playing was at the equivalent of the league of Ireland first division they wouldn't have gone there. Unfortunately they did and the damage that has been done to their careers as a result is difficult to measure.

[Exgrad]

Doesn't seem to be impressing the Pars fans so far going by their forum. You'd still hope the loan will be beneficial for him though, certainly better than playing youth football with Celtic.

Man of the match in game at weekend. Guess you shouldnt pay too much attention to what people on fourms say.

[Olé Olé]

Connolly (20) - breakthrough and premier league goals, senior MNT caps
Parrott (18) - game time
Idah (19) - league and cup game time and goals
Obafemi (19) - regular game time for premier league team and goals
Molumby (20) - breakthrough and top performances
Knight (19) - breakthrough, goals and top performances
O'Shea (21) - breakthrough and being praised by his manager
Masterson (21) - regular game time
Kilkenny (20) - senior appearances for Premier League team
Collins (18) - breakthrough with regular game time
Kelleher (21) - game time

The future is bright.

All between 18 and 21 and at clubs in the ultra-competitive championship and Premier League. Given how barren the last couple of years have been for our young players at these levels then some optimism would be no harm.

[Exgrad]

Yes definitely, where there was a lot of talk around toulon tournaments and prospects coming through, but as we review the year in May, what can really be said? Couple of lads holding their own in mid-table championship teams?

Well thats just nonsense. We've had three teenage strikers make their premier league debuts this season. Who knows if they will all go on and develop how we would hope, but thats a decent start.

[tetsujin1979]

Celtic taking West Ham striker Ajeti on loan: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11787/12046663/albian-ajeti-west-ham-forward-in-glasgow-to-complete-celtic-loan
Afolabi really needs to get out of there

[Trequartista20]

Afolabi is reportedly close to joining Dundee on loan.

[youngirish]

Afolabi is reportedly close to joining Dundee on loan.

He needs to get away from Celtic and the SPL as soon as possible if his career is to kick on. Hopefully he has a successful loan spell and ignites some interest in an English Championship or League 1 club before he finds himself back in Ireland playing for Waterford.

[paul_oshea]

Sadly that sounds about right.

[Eirambler]

Disappointing but not surprising to see him heading back to the Scottish Championship. Dundee are one of the stronger teams which is something I suppose, but the standard of the league is just really poor, probably lower than even the conference/national league in England.

Would be interesting to know what teams he turned down to sign for Celtic - given that it was reported that he had a lot of options at the time it must be one of the worst transfer decisions made by an Irish player in recent years.

[Razors left peg]

He needs to get away from Celtic and the SPL as soon as possible if his career is to kick on. Hopefully he has a successful loan spell and ignites some interest in an English Championship or League 1 club before he finds himself back in Ireland playing for Waterford.

Tbh I wouldn't mind if he moved to another SPL club but I think Afolabi might not make it. He was released by Southampton, got the move to Celtic off the back of good underage performances for us where he was generally able to outmuscle other young guys, its different story playing against men and hes had a year where he's been irrelevant. He needs football anywhere now

[Olé Olé]

That is all very harsh, in my opinion. He's a fine player with plenty of potential and had a fantastic under 19 tournament because he is that fine player. I don't agree he earned that move from "outmuscling" others. That's... Stereotyping, I feel.

[Razors left peg]

That is all very harsh, in my opinion. He's a fine player with plenty of potential and had a fantastic under 19 tournament because he is that fine player. I don't agree he earned that move from "outmuscling" others. That's... Stereotyping, I feel.

Its far from stereotyping, its exactly what he did for 1 goal in particular that I remember from that tournament.

A lot of people say here that Celtic are bad for youth players but that's not always true, good players have always come through the ranks. But Celtic are a massive club and sign a lot of players so you have to be very good to make breakthrough there. I get the feeling that some of our players that have gone there in last couple seasons probably felt it was an easy route to 1st team football coming from England but found its not that easy when Celtic constantly sign players for 5 or 10 million.

Afolabi went on loan last year and didn't set the world on fire. Lee O Connor the same. Connell is stagnated completely too. Can blame Celtic to a degree but players have to step up too. Afolabi has done nothing to suggest he's not more than a good u19 player. If he goes on loan to Scottish Championship he needs to be scoring 20 goals to have a hope of getting into 1st team at Celtic

[tommy_c12000]

I can see RLP’s point, but I honestly thought I saw enough to convince me there was a bit more about Jonathan. He brought players into the game well with intelligent link up play and seemed to be a promising dribbling. Anyways, his Celtic days have severely hampered any development. Senior football anywhere will do. Agree he needs to knock in >15 goals at that level this year to justify playing at higher level. No championship side would take a punt on him as he’s unproven. It will take him a few weeks to get back up to any semblance of match fitness I assume so the sooner his loan deal is wrapped up the better

[Charlie Darwin]

He was named in the team of the tournament so he was hardly just rewarded for one goal.

[elatedscum]

That whole campaign (including qualifiers), he showed strength, pace, skill, good link up and hold up play and good shooting. He was unplayable. Himself and Joe Hodge were the clear standout players...

Lennon said that he was on the verge of the first team within a few months of signing, and then never gave him an opportunity. It’s really a lack of joined up thinking at the club.

They spend good money on promising young players and then they stifle them with mediocrity in front of them, primarily for short term gains...

Frankly, it’s a club where it should be easy to integrate young attackers. There’s so many games where they’re winning 3-0 or whatever with half an hour left. It’s the ideal scenario.

Honestly, if you go through the 5 youngsters...

Afolabi – rejected offers from premier league sides and was rated higher than Idah by most when he signed

Connell - proved at 17, he was good enough to compete in the championship. Has yet to play since signing...

Okoflex - was given a guarantee by Rodgers that he’d be playing first team football at 18. Rodgers left before than became a reality and he never got an opportunity

O’Connor - left United to play first team football. Ireland international. Hasn’t ever gotten a game.

Coffey - better player than someone like Conor Grant who is starting to make his breakthrough for Sheffield Wednesday now.

Real shame for every player...

[youngirish]

Young players need regular games at a decent level to develop. Who knows how good they can be without those games? Look at someone like Dara O'Shea. A year on loan at Exeter improved his game immensely. The regular game time helped him develop into a better player (currently) than the more highly rated Masterson who sat in the U23's at Liverpool during the same period and whose career is now in limbo.

At Celtic not one of the young Irish players have managed to get any game time so all are stagnating at a crucial time in their career.

Afolabi needs to be banging goals in for fun at Dundee to get his career back on track. He's almost 21 and even at this tender age this could easily be his last chance to make a career for himself at a decent level.

[Stuttgart88]

I can see RLP’s point, but I honestly thought I saw enough to convince me there was a bit more about Jonathan. I agree with this. I'd say the same about Connell too.

[livehead1]

Its far from stereotyping, its exactly what he did for 1 goal in particular that I remember from that tournament.

A lot of people say here that Celtic are bad for youth players but that's not always true, good players have always come through the ranks. But Celtic are a massive club and sign a lot of players so you have to be very good to make breakthrough there. I get the feeling that some of our players that have gone there in last couple seasons probably felt it was an easy route to 1st team football coming from England but found its not that easy when Celtic constantly sign players for 5 or 10 million.

Afolabi went on loan last year and didn't set the world on fire. Lee O Connor the same. Connell is stagnated completely too. Can blame Celtic to a degree but players have to step up too. Afolabi has done nothing to suggest he's not more than a good u19 player. If he goes on loan to Scottish Championship he needs to be scoring 20 goals to have a hope of getting into 1st team at Celtic

I watched the games Luca Connell was involved in during pre-season and he did better than almost every player. Who is to blame for his stagnation, because from what I witnessed, it wasn't him?

[elatedscum]

Young players need regular games at a decent level to develop. Who knows how good they can be without those games? Look at someone like Dara O'Shea. A year on loan at Exeter improved his game immensely. The regular game time helped him develop into a better player (currently) than the more highly rated Masterson who sat in the U23's at Liverpool during the same period and whose career is now in limbo.


That is the conventional thinking and there’s definitely truth in it. A good loan spell can do wonders for a player but a bad loan spell can be equally detrimental to a player.

There are also avenues for players to develop without a loan. I’ll use Liverpool as an example, because they were mentioned RE Masterson.

Trent Alexander-Arnold developed and became young player of the year without ever needing a loan out of the club. Currently, Curtis Jones is on the same pathway, and probably Neco Williams too. (at Man Utd, you could use Rashford, Greenwood and Brandon Williams).

Thinking of players they recently sold, Ki-Jana Hoever the lad who Wolves just bought for 13.5m and made his debut came through the club’s academy without going on loan. Equally, Rafael Camacho, they sold to Sporting Lisbon last summer and he was nominated for the golden boy this year.

Meanwhile, Rhian Brewster went on a very successful loan to Swansea last year as they felt he was first team ready and recent debutant centre-half Rhys Williams was sent on loan to non-league because they felt he needed to be toughened up.

Meanwhile someone like Ben Woodburn looked like a really promising player at 16,17,18 but a series of bad loan moves have stunted his development.

I recognise that more often young players suffer from a lack of playing time in terms of development but it’s not as black and white as it’s portrayed. Generally we criticise the clubs for not giving players either opportunities or loans, and we criticise the players for either a) resting on their laurels or b) when they go on loan and struggle or don’t play, then it’s a case of “he couldn’t get his game at league 1” or whatever. When often clubs are guilty of sending their players out on loan to a side where they shouldn’t be going, simply because they’re prepared to pay more of the players wages. Once the player is out on loan, he’s totally neglected until the next season. I’ve heard stories of players going to a league 1 or league 2 club on loan as a teenager, being put in a rundown bedsit without any working kitchen except a microwave. The player stops eating right etc etc.

In this instance, I’d be critical of Celtic for both their handling of young players at the club and the loans they’ve arranged for their players.

[Eirambler]

Season long loan to Dundee confirmed anyway. Better than sitting about doing next to nothing in Dublin or Glasgow is about the most positive spin you could put on it.

Hopefully Connell gets a loan move at a better level before the window closes.

[seanfhear]

The idea that Clubs will let potentially Valuable players slip through their fingers willy nilly is a bit silly. Sure there are exceptions. Sometime a young fella that may have been going the wrong way reacts to being let go in a manner that can turn a career around. Often they don’t !

Why would most clubs let Valuable Assets not work out ? ? That does not make sense !

[elatedscum]

The idea that Clubs will let potentially Valuable players slip through their fingers willy nilly is a bit silly. Sure there are exceptions. Sometime a young fella that may have been going the wrong way reacts to being let go in a manner that can turn a career around. Often they don’t !

Why would most clubs let Valuable Assets not work out ? ? That does not make sense !

It's all relative though, isn't it? Clubs overall wages bills and running costs for academies aren't insignificant. You're limited to probably about 18-20 U23s and 18-20 U18s. There's often limited capacity within the infrastructure itself. Often it's a choice between player A and player B, two players with decent potential - and clubs aren't always right in terms of evaluation. Obviously, the younger the player is, the harder that decision is (see Harry Kane at Arsenal, and Declan Rice at Chelsea).

You'd imagine offering him a two year deal would have cost £400k (at just under 4k per week), but then a 2 year deal is a little risky because if he continues in your academy for a year at 23s, then he's got a year left on his deal and you've got to offer him a new deal then, because he's not gonna go out on loan for the last year of his contract, or else you give him a 3 year deal, at which point you're committing 600k to him. Those were some of the issues that Kian Flanagan had in getting a loan.

At Southampton, he was certainly behind Obafemi. There's other good young attacking players coming through as well.

You can see the difference though, between say him and Glen McAuley, who are both from the 2000 class. When Afolabi was released, he contacted by clubs from Premier League, Championship, League 1, SPL, League of Ireland and around Europe. The perception was that he was a valuable asset to everyone else...

McAuley meanwhile received enquiries from the league of ireland.

[Razors left peg]

I watched the games Luca Connell was involved in during pre-season and he did better than almost every player. Who is to blame for his stagnation, because from what I witnessed, it wasn't him?

I seen a half of preseason football where Connell was very good against I think Hibs, but we dont know what hes like in day to day training. I dont see him being linked with a load of clubs fighting to try sign him. Celtics midfield is full of good pros and its not that easy to get into

[Eirambler]

Afolabi has signed a year's contract extension at Celtic as well. Contracted until 2023 now.

[Razors left peg]

Afolabi has signed a year's contract extension at Celtic as well. Contracted until 2023 now.

When Anthony Stokes had his loan with Falkirk he tore up the division and made himself hot property. If Afolabi can do the same I'd be delighted and I'll happily admit I was wrong about him.

[tommy_c12000]

He just smashed a debut goal in from 25 yards in a friendly against the mighty Peterhead. Good start. Hopefully he has kept himself in shape well. But I heard he was training by himself at home in Dublin, as Celtic have abandoned their underage setup for now

[DeLorean]

He just smashed a debut goal in from 25 yards in a friendly against the mighty Peterhead.

1311032277091209216

[liamoo11]

Afolabi has signed a year's contract extension at Celtic as well. Contracted until 2023 now.

Contrary to all the talk on here Jonathon must feel Celtic see a future for him and have helped his development up to now

[Razors left peg]

1311032277091209216
Nice goal, hopefully the 1st of many

[liamoo11]

When Anthony Stokes had his loan with Falkirk he tore up the division and made himself hot property. If Afolabi can do the same I'd be delighted and I'll happily admit I was wrong about him.

Stokes did that in the top division in Scotland at 18 he was as serious a talent as parrott is now back then pity he never kicked on. Him and bendtner in the youth team at arsenal were not good influences on each other behavioually I'd say

[Razors left peg]

Stokes did that in the top division in Scotland at 18 he was as serious a talent as parrott is now back then pity he never kicked on. Him and bendtner in the youth team at arsenal were not good influences on each other behavioually I'd say

Stokes issues went much further than Bentner unfortunately

[youngirish]

Scored today. Hopefully he can score some more goals and attract some interest from an English Championship or League 1 club to reignite his career.

[Exgrad]

Has been out injured for last while but back training now and should make next match, just missed out at weekend. Update at bottom of this piece:

https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/dundee-boss-james-mcpake-says-jordan-mcghee-can-make-box-to-box-midfield-slot-his-own-and-be-the-dark-blues-murray-davidson/

[nigel-harps1954]

Goal from the penalty spot for Afolabi today. Valuable 3 points for Dundee against Hearts.

1345476453413117952

[samhaydenjr]

Came on to score an equaliser in injury time to deny Bonnyrigg Rose a cup upset: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55512468. Then was subjected to racist abuse by some lowlife: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55605817

[samhaydenjr]

Fourth of the season for Afolabi - https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56563639 - that might sound unimpressive as we go into April but he has only played about 600 minutes total - hopefully he'll get more of a chance to prove himself in the last few weeks and put himself in the shop window

[Eirambler]

I'm not sure where he goes from here to be honest. He has had two fairly uninspiring loan spells in the Scottish second tier now. He is not a first team starter at Dundee so maybe needs to drop down another level to play week in week out. To put his current situation into context Corrie Ndaba, who is a similar age and never got a look in with our Under 21s, is a first team regular in the same division.

Afolabi has a decent contract at Celtic I think so he'll probably want to see that out from a financial point of view but his next permanent move may well be to the League of Ireland.

[Olé Olé]

I'm not sure where he goes from here to be honest. He has had two fairly uninspiring loan spells in the Scottish second tier now. He is not a first team starter at Dundee so maybe needs to drop down another level to play week in week out. To put his current situation into context Corrie Ndaba, who is a similar age and never got a look in with our Under 21s, is a first team regular in the same division.

Afolabi has a decent contract at Celtic I think so he'll probably want to see that out from a financial point of view but his next permanent move may well be to the League of Ireland.

Ndaba was in one of Kenny's first under 21 squads in 2019. He has had a couple of underwhelming loan stints before the Ayr United move at two National League South sides.

Players develop differently. Afolabi hasn't got a whole pile of minutes and has a few goals to his name. He's done well at international level. Why wouldn't another Scottish Championship side want him next season? Jason Cummings is the Dundee FC striker and is older and has goals at Hibernian and he got a goal against Liverpool for Shrewsbury in the FA Cup if I remember correctly- hardly an indictment.

[Eirambler]

Cummings' career is in a bit of a tailspin to be honest. Possibly Afolabi can get another Championship side next year. Might need to be one further down the table though, Alloa or Arbroath or the likes. I just think he is a classic case of a big lad who looks good at underage level but loses that advantage playing senior men's football and finds the rest of his game isn't good enough to make up the difference. Hope I'm wrong.

[SkStu]

Gone on loan to Ayr United in the Championship.

[tommy_c12000]

Lee O'Connor and Luca Connell now need to follow suit in the coming days. They can't afford to rest on their laurels. I would love if Jim Goodwin came to their rescue! Lee, in particular, looks a prospect. He needs another season or two of toughening up but has the raw skills. At this stage, I am sure you'd get a nice loan deal with option to buy at cut price, or else just take a punt with a cut price deal up front. Their fees would be minimal with only 1 year left on contract. Probably wishful thinking

[elatedscum]

Lee O'Connor and Luca Connell now need to follow suit in the coming days. They can't afford to rest on their laurels. I would love if Jim Goodwin came to their rescue! Lee, in particular, looks a prospect. He needs another season or two of toughening up but has the raw skills. At this stage, I am sure you'd get a nice loan deal with option to buy at cut price, or else just take a punt with a cut price deal up front. Their fees would be minimal with only 1 year left on contract. Probably wishful thinking

I see Celtic are trying to buy Liam Scales. Weird one. I know they’re short on centre halves but tough to think that he’ll go there and play. Obviously at 22, he’s better placed to break through than the younger lads. But if he’s being bought as a low risk, low cost 4th / 5th centre half, there’s really no point for him

[Kingdom]

Stokes did that in the top division in Scotland at 18 he was as serious a talent as parrott is now back then pity he never kicked on. Him and bendtner in the youth team at arsenal were not good influences on each other behavioually I'd say

Liamoo, you know I respect your posts hugely, and regularly mention it, but that take on Stokes and Bendtner is miles off. Bendtner is just Danish. We all know what Stokes is.

[Kingdom]

I know it's probably not a practical move for Rovers in this instance, but I would love to see the likes of Afolabi (young highly regarded Irish-born* underage internationals) going on loan to our European-qualified clubs, or those clubs that are not in Europe but competing at the upper end of the league.
Good goal-scoring strikers are hard to keep at a particular level, but surely a move to Rovers would be more beneficial to Jonathan, than to Ayr, particularly with the set up that Rovers have?

I only say Rovers in this instance given his previous with them, so a move to Bohs or Pats or Dundalk isn't a runner likely.

[sbgawa]

I know it's probably not a practical move for Rovers in this instance, but I would love to see the likes of Afolabi (young highly regarded Irish-born* underage internationals) going on loan to our European-qualified clubs, or those clubs that are not in Europe but competing at the upper end of the league.
Good goal-scoring strikers are hard to keep at a particular level, but surely a move to Rovers would be more beneficial to Jonathan, than to Ayr, particularly with the set up that Rovers have?


I only say Rovers in this instance given his previous with them, so a move to Bohs or Pats or Dundalk isn't a runner likely.

The problem with him coming to Rovers is he wouldn't be guaranteed game time ahead of Greene and Gaffney where you will probably find Ayr have guaranteed to play him and Celtic want him playing. Nothing worse then sending a player out on loan and him not playing
Agree with your sentiment though

[Kingdom]

Yeah, appreciate that, hence the first line. I do think he's a fine goal-scoring cf though, and that's interesting that you'd have both Greene and Gaffney ahead of him.

[samhaydenjr]

First goal since his move to Ayr, scoring eleven minutes after coming on as a sub: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58936550

[Trequartista20]

Close to joining Portsmouth after impressing on trial, according to media reports.

https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/football-news/portsmouth-striker-transfer-danny-cowley-7315055