Adam Idah F. Celtic b.2001

[texidub]

If we had a whip around, he might start posting here to boost his income during this troubled period as a new millionaire.

A euro per word seems fair. Two Euros per word if the post gets more than 600,000 thumbs up in a 24 hour time period.

[seanfhear]

If we had a whip around, he might start posting here to boost his income during this troubled period as a new millionaire.

A euro per word seems fair. Two Euros per word if the post gets more than 600,000 thumbs up in a 24 hour time period.No....

[pineapple stu]

New deal to 2028

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023/0202/1353371-ireland-striker-idah-commits-to-norwich-until-2028/
That's a serious contract extension for a guy with 10 league starts to his name (and more so given they seemingly consider him injury-compromised)

Fair dues to him.

[CraftyToePoke]

That's a serious contract extension for a guy with 10 league starts to his name (and more so given they seemingly consider him injury-compromised)

Fair dues to him.

It was a manager who was about to get the road who said that & probably knew his time was near, so who knows what politics were in the mix by that stage & he never said if it was the current situation or an ongoing one with Idah. This suggests Idah isn't the crock he was made out to be and that Norwich are fairly sure he'll turn out fine, which would be lovely. Didn't see this one coming at all, brilliant news.

[pineapple stu]

Starts for Pukki tonight, who's on the bench. Don't know what brought that on exactly, but has to be good chance for him.

They're 1-0 down at home to a Hull side missing Aaron Connolly to injury though

[Razors left peg]

He was good overall. His work rate was excellent, prob should have done better with a chance he had in 2nd half but he got the full 90 mins. The commentators on the stream I was watching were very impressed by him, especially his work rate and link up play.

I did think his movement still needs a lot of work, his instincts dont really dont seem to be brilliant but he is big, strong, fast and skillful.

Maybe with the confidence of getting a few starts he will kick on and get to where he seemed to be heading before he got injured last season.

[tetsujin1979]

Idah and Omobamidele started a league game for Norwich City for the first time since Sunday, 5th December 2021
1625566795577933824

[pineapple stu]

Starts again with Pukki unavailable. Sargent hauled off at halftime, but it's still 0-0 away to relegation battlers Wigan

[pineapple stu]

Another 85 minutes today, but not directly involved in either goal.

Pukki came on as a second half sub; I think he's had a knock the past couple of weeks (as has Sergeant) and it'll be interesting to see what happens next week.

Omobamidele came on as a late sub, as he did in midweek; not sure what's happened there that he's lost his place?

[tommy_c12000]

He was supposed to have been poor a couple of games ago, but wasn’t the worst. Seems to have been sacrificed rather than Hanley. His class should shine through though. Hanley and Gibson don’t have anywhere close to the talent Andy has. That injury took a lot out of him though

[John83]

You have to let a guy in his situation take a few games to get back up to match sharpness. It seems like they have some patience for that at least. Hopefully he keeps getting minutes anyway. I still think he could become a big player for us as he matures.

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, but he's three months back from injury at this stage. He's played some part in most of the games over the last three months, and pretty much all of the last four games. The Norwich forum isn't hugely supportive (https://forum.pinkun.com/index.php?/topic/151539-is-idah-the-worst-striker-to-ever-play-for-norwich/page/4/#comments) for example. Ignore the hyperbolic thread title - they've dismissed that - but the comments about today's game aren't great.

I think he needs a goal sooner rather than later or Pukki surely comes back into the team.

[Razors left peg]

The commentators in the bit I've seen today were very impressed with Idah and his work rate. Apparently he had good chance when he rounded the keeper. They were saying he's been good but needs a goal

[pineapple stu]

That missed chance is at 1:06 below actually. It's really poor. Credit to the keeper of course, but you have to be scoring those I think I do feel he lacks composure in front of goal, which obviously isn't great for a forward

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/12819870/norwich-city-2-0-cardiff-city-championship-highlights

[Razors left peg]

Hes not the best finisher for sure but he does bring other things to the table. His hold up play is excellent for example.

Stutts has said it before, and it's true, his instincts around the box aren't brilliant and he rarely seems to be in right place to finish. I still like him though

[Trequartista20]

Well, Wagner is clearly a fan of Idah, and has said as much, showing great faith in the player since his return from injury in using him in all of Norwich's last 13 matches, where he's started six and scored twice.

He's also recently signed a five-year contract. How many young players have that level of confidence shown in them?

Of course it's going to take some time before he's fully sharp and up to speed after such a lengthy lay-off, but I'm struggling to see where some of the negativity is coming from.

[tommy_c12000]

Poor miss alright but he just needs a couple to go in to get some confidence up. Hopefully goals will come soon!

[Snapshot]

He's not the best finisher for sure but he does bring other things to the table. His hold-up play is excellent for example.

Stutts has said it before, and it's true, his instincts around the box aren't brilliant and he rarely seems to be in right place to finish. I still like him though
A striker who's rarely in the right place to finish, not the best finisher, instincts around the box not brilliant etc. Bit like a tit on a bull then.

[tommy_c12000]

The guy should have had a season on loan, instead he stayed taking bit part minutes during key times in his development for years, which ultimately was complicated by a number of long term layoffs.

Looks like his manager has seen the talent in him. He’s giving him regular senior game time for the second time in his career (the first time was cut tragically short with season ending injury just as he was finding momentum in the premier league). Hopefully he can stay fit and continue getting game time, just need a couple of goals to really get him going. They’ve invested in him to be the future, pukki is gone this summer. Sargent injured currently. Great chance for him

[Yard of Pace]

The guy should have had a season on loan, instead he stayed taking bit part minutes during key times in his development for years, which ultimately was complicated by a number of long term layoffs.

Looks like his manager has seen the talent in him. He’s giving him regular senior game time for the second time in his career (the first time was cut tragically short with season ending injury just as he was finding momentum in the premier league). Hopefully he can stay fit and continue getting game time, just need a couple of goals to really get him going. They’ve invested in him to be the future, pukki is gone this summer. Sargent injured currently. Great chance for him

As a Huddersfield Town fan who watched pretty much every game that Wagner was our manager for, I can tell you that so long as Idah is hard-working etc, he will see the talent in him and improve him. He's better, by far, that Collin Quaner, a 6 foot 3 German forward who banged in all of 3 goals in the promotion season and 0 in 25 in the season in the Premier League when Huddersfield stayed up. Quaner became a cult hero to the fans. He was mostly useless. Wagner will be delighted to have Adam Idah, I can assure you of that.

[pineapple stu]

Well, Wagner is clearly a fan of Idah[...] using him in all of Norwich's last 13 matches, where he's started six and scored twice.
He's scored once in that time, not twice. His only other goal this season was in August against a weakened Bournemouth side in the League Cup.


Of course it's going to take some time before he's fully sharp and up to speed after such a lengthy lay-off, but I'm struggling to see where some of the negativity is coming from.
How long though? Because he's had three months so far.

When you look at Snapshot's summary (of RLP's post) -


A striker who's rarely in the right place to finish, not the best finisher, instincts around the box not brilliant etc. Bit like a tit on a bull then.

- you wonder where the positivity comes from tbh.

Only that holding the ball up might be useful against France, (and that we're short of options with Connolly and Robinson already out and Parrott not setting the Championship alight either) I probably wouldn't have him in the squad next month.

If Ferguson and Obafemi can play together they're the obvious starters. Ogbene deserves a squad place. Hogan and Keane have 20 goals between them this season; they've never shown much for Ireland but then neither has Idah. Heck, even Georgie Kelly has three times as many Championship goals this season from 200 minutes less with a weaker team. If we're looking to the future, Cannon would seem a more interesting option, though it might be too soon for him.

[Eirambler]

I think the frustrating thing with Idah is that he has a lot of attributes that should make him a good striker at that level, unfortunately he hasn't yet been able to put all the pieces of his game together. Tall quick strikers who can hold the ball up will always be in demand, but the thing that frustrates me about him is that he just seems to have a knack of rarely being in the right place, and lately he hasn't been finishing the chances even when he has had them.

I feel like a lot of what he's missing can be taught and might come together for him if he gets a good run of games. But he's a fringe squad option at best for us right now.

[Razors left peg]

A striker who's rarely in the right place to finish, not the best finisher, instincts around the box not brilliant etc. Bit like a tit on a bull then.
Hes strong, skillful, fast, good at holding ball up and bringing others into play. If he can add 10 goals a season to that he'll be a very good player. He's also still young with plenty to learn.

Norwich have gone on run of good form in last 4 games since he started. Could it be that he's helping the team even if he hasn't scored?

[pineapple stu]

I wonder how much of that is through green-tinted glasses though?

I don't think Snapshot's summary of your post ("A striker who's rarely in the right place to finish, not the best finisher, instincts around the box not brilliant") really justified the "skillful" tag.

[Razors left peg]

Hes is skillful with ball at his feet, but he's not a very natural goalscorer. I didn't think it was a difficult concept to understand that he's good at some things but not at others... obviously I was wrong

[pineapple stu]

I didn't think it was a difficult concept to understand that he's good at some things but not at others... obviously I was wrong
When you're abusing, you're losing RLP...

I don't think he is all that skillful with the ball at his feet tbh. Exhibit 1 - that one-on-one miss. And a similar one against Everton (I think it was) last year.

[elatedscum]

I wonder how much of that is through green-tinted glasses though?

I don't think Snapshot's summary of your post ("A striker who's rarely in the right place to finish, not the best finisher, instincts around the box not brilliant") really justified the "skillful" tag.

He's got quick feet, you'll see him spin defenders and get out of tight situations - but his touch is often heavy, which is a weird mix - maybe just the long limbs. His link up play is excellent, his hold up play is very good, he's quick enough and mobile enough to move out wide from the centre. He's tall, he wins his aerial battles and he's good and strong. He's had really poorly timed injuries which have hit his development. I think a slightly smaller and faster version of Wout Weghorst is probably the prototype as to what he could be. He scored enough goals at youth level to think there's a chance that goals will come, especially with better players around him.

Worth looking at this to remember his qualities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxGxQktBKEU - it's every touch of his in a premier league game, good and bad, so it gives a fairly realistic picture of his strengths and weaknesses.

[liamoo11]

He's scored once in that time, not twice. His only other goal this season was in August against a weakened Bournemouth side in the League Cup.


How long though? Because he's had three months so far.

When you look at Snapshot's summary (of RLP's post) -



- you wonder where the positivity comes from tbh.

Only that holding the ball up might be useful against France, (and that we're short of options with Connolly and Robinson already out and Parrott not setting the Championship alight either) I probably wouldn't have him in the squad next month.

If Ferguson and Obafemi can play together they're the obvious starters. Ogbene deserves a squad place. Hogan and Keane have 20 goals between them this season; they've never shown much for Ireland but then neither has Idah. Heck, even Georgie Kelly has three times as many Championship goals this season from 200 minutes less with a weaker team. If we're looking to the future, Cannon would seem a more interesting option, though it might be too soon for him.

I dont think ogbene has shown any ability to step up to international standard while idah has on moccasins like against Portugal.

[SkStu]

I dont think ogbene has shown any ability to step up to international standard while idah has on moccasins like against Portugal.

thats a great typo in fairness :D could explain the consistency issues with his touch.

[pineapple stu]

I dont think ogbene has shown any ability to step up to international standard while idah has on moccasins like against Portugal.
Ogbene has had more good games for us than Idah has tbf.

[Razors left peg]

Ogbene has had more good games for us than Idah has tbf.

Probably true, but Idahs best game against Portugal is better than any of Ogbenes

[pineapple stu]

That's probably fair, but it was his only good game, and the others kind of balance it out.

He was flagged in halftime analysis against Luxembourg as having a nightmare for example (particularly his first touch as I recall); came off after an hour at 0-0, and we went on to win 3-0.

Can honestly hardly remember a shot on target in his 12 caps, even against a tiring Andorra side.

I think Eirambler is right that he's a fringe squad option at the moment. We can't be blinded by regular caps in the past if there's better options coming through now

[Razors left peg]

That's probably fair, but it was his only good game, and the others kind of balance it out.

He was flagged in halftime analysis against Luxembourg as having a nightmare for example (particularly his first touch as I recall); came off after an hour at 0-0, and we went on to win 3-0.

Can honestly hardly remember a shot on target in his 12 caps, even against a tiring Andorra side.

I think Eirambler is right that he's a fringe squad option at the moment. We can't be blinded by regular caps in the past if there's better options coming through now

Most of his previous caps have come at the age of 19 and 20, I think we can allow a kid of that age to have room to learn. I've said already that I agree that he hasnt shown enough of a goal threat, but to me the game against Portugal shows what he could offer if he lives up to his potential. I've seen some of that in his last 4 starts for Norwich, so he may be getting there.

I'd have him 4th in the pecking order of our strikers right now, with Ferguson, Obafemi and Parrott ahead of him. Parrott has a bit of work to do to get back in form too to be fair.

[liamoo11]

Probably true, but Idahs best game against Portugal is better than any of Ogbenes

Yeah and his ceiling is much higher. Ogbene is not a central striker at international level

[John83]

Most of his previous caps have come at the age of 19 and 20, I think we can allow a kid of that age to have room to learn. I've said already that I agree that he hasnt shown enough of a goal threat, but to me the game against Portugal shows what he could offer if he lives up to his potential. I've seen some of that in his last 4 starts for Norwich, so he may be getting there.

I'd have him 4th in the pecking order of our strikers right now, with Ferguson, Obafemi and Parrott ahead of him. Parrott has a bit of work to do to get back in form too to be fair.
I think 4th is too generous at the moment. What he's done at 19 and 20 is reason to remain hopeful, but long term prospects aren't grounds for decisions next month.

[texidub]

Bit harsh on Ogbene, IMO. He lurks like a central striker in the build up to this goal. Maybe I am biased - I like him a lot - he brings a lot of enthusiasm and is likeable and has scored an overhead kick at international level for Ireland.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH4P5_XFNvk

[Razors left peg]

I think 4th is too generous at the moment. What he's done at 19 and 20 is reason to remain hopeful, but long term prospects aren't grounds for decisions next month.

I basing on that I think he's a better striker than the other options right now, not prospects.

I don't rate Robinson at all personally and I can't think of any other striker that would even be in the conversation. Ogbene is a wide play who looks out of place playing as a central striker, but he is a good option wide

[pineapple stu]

Hogan, Keane and Kelly all have significantly better goals-per-minute records than Idah, and with weaker teams in the same division too. It would be silly to suggest they're not in the conversation.

Sykes looked lively in his cameo in Malta; can he play wide of the three?

Parrott is another who's dropping down the pecking order at present I think - and again, injuries haven't helped. I wouldn't have him third choice though.

And Robinson, for all his inconsistency, has a habit of rescuing Kenny at key times (though whether that's a good thing or not is a different question)

None of those are great options. But then neither is Idah. I think they're all definitely in the mix. A great big splodge of depressing mediocrity to select from.

[John83]

Robinson is injured for next month anyway, I thought?

[CraftyToePoke]

Robinson is injured for next month anyway, I thought?

Recent hamstring injury has all but ruled him out I think.

[Razors left peg]

Hogan, Keane and Kelly all have significantly better goals-per-minute records than Idah, and with weaker teams in the same division too. It would be silly to suggest they're not in the conversation.

Sykes looked lively in his cameo in Malta; can he play wide of the three?

Parrott is another who's dropping down the pecking order at present I think - and again, injuries haven't helped. I wouldn't have him third choice though.

And Robinson, for all his inconsistency, has a habit of rescuing Kenny at key times (though whether that's a good thing or not is a different question)

None of those are great options. But then neither is Idah. I think they're all definitely in the mix. A great big splodge of depressing mediocrity to select from.

If you think Idah is on the same level as Hogan, Keane and Georgie Kelly then I'm just gonna hold up my hands and say I couldn't disagree with you any stronger and move on.

[Snapshot]

If you think Idah is on the same level as Hogan, Keane and Georgie Kelly then I'm just gonna hold up my hands and say I couldn't disagree with you any stronger and move on.
Hogan + Keane (season 21/22, to date 22/23): 56 goals (30 Championship +26 L1). How high can you hold your hands as you move on?

[pineapple stu]

That's what it comes down to for me too.

Neither Hogan nor Keane has translated that into international form (0 goals in 16 caps) but then neither has Idah (0 in 13).

The idea that they're not "even in the conversation" is nonsense

[pineapple stu]

Pukki back in today, so Idah pushed out wide.

Another 90 minutes, but another blank in a 3-2 win

[tommy_c12000]

Per report, seems to have had a good game, well needed. Now he just needs a couple of goals…

[yurt]

I'm just happy Idah is getting minutes. The fact he's getting starts and now even 90 minutes is a massive bonus.

Hopefully he stays in the team for the rest of the season and helps them to the playoffs.

[pineapple stu]

Another start today, but no goals again and subbed off for Sergeant at half-time. Will be interesting to see who starts next week if Sergeant is on the way back.

[tommy_c12000]

Didn’t play too bad, but didn’t impact the game at all. Norwich fans have him as a scapegoat at the moment, difficult time for him. Pukki played centrally with Idah out wide which does not suit him. Needs to keep the chin up and training hard

[paul_oshea]

I think this lads ceiling was u21s football. There really has been very little outside of the u21 games to take notice of.

[SkStu]

You might well be right (though he’s already a regular in the Championship after an unfortunate couple of injuries along the way) but let’s remember he just turned 22!

I know there’s a general sense from some that we’re far too positive on here (disillusioned even) about our young players but at the same time give the lad (and the other young fellas) a chance before consigning them to the junkyard!!