Troy Parrott F AZ Alkmaar b.2002

[tetsujin1979]

Starts for Alkmaar in their season opener against Almere
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[yurt]

AZ are 6/6 to start the season is a great start for him there.

Have not watched a minute of him play but from livescore seeing him only get substituted in injury time in a 1-0W is a good sign to his effectiveness early door. Or at the very least he's considered to be a much better option to what's on the bench to replace him. Hopefully to get of the mark with a goal next week to really cement his place in what looks like it'll be a competitive team in the Eredivisie.

[tetsujin1979]

Seems to be well liked at Alkmaar already
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[Olé Olé]

Seems to be well liked at Alkmaar already
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What will they do when he scores a winner...

Lovely jersey btw.

[Razors left peg]

Watched the full game yesterday, he was excellent. His work rate making him a favorite with the fans already. He has a lovely touch, and was unlucky not to score.

If he stays fit this might be a fun season to watch

[Jolly Red Giant]

Watched the full game yesterday, he was excellent. His work rate making him a favorite with the fans already. He has a lovely touch, and was unlucky not to score.

If he stays fit this might be a fun season to watch
Remember Parrott was tipped to great things 5 years ago - things haven't exactly gone to plan since - but the guy has buckets of ability. If he gets a good run this season we could see a major turnaround in where he is at.

[tetsujin1979]

Going back to Spurs with Alkmaar in the Europa league
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[Acornvilla]

Scored his first league goal tonight!

[pineapple stu]

Nice to get that duck broken!

[Eirambler]

Easy enough goal but good for him to get it, there were a few negative rumblings about him already from supporters before the international break when he had no goals or assists up to that point.

[Olé Olé]

Scored his first league goal tonight!

And now his second.

[Olé Olé]

And now his second.
And a third. Congrats to him.

[Olé Olé]

And a third. Congrats to him.

Four for Troy. Joint top scorer in the league now!

[pineapple stu]

Holy Christ!

Still half an hour to go too. Super stuff

You'd have to say he's stolen a march on Idah and Robinson to start in October

[Eirambler]

Just need Tets now to tell us when was the last time an Irish senior international scored four in one game...

[elatedscum]

Solid management from HH, not giving him a minute across the two games

[Eirambler]

At international level, Don Givens v Turkey in 1978 Euro qualifiers.

I think it might have been a while, but I'm hoping someone else has done it at club level since 1978!

[Eirambler]

Solid management from HH, not giving him a minute across the two games

To be fair he had no goals and no assists for his club before tonight, so he wasn't exactly banging down the door before the international games. Personally I'd have brought him on before Robinson but, given I didn't hear anyone complaining about Parrott not playing amidst all the other complaints this week, I think it's a stretch to suddenly now retrospectively call that one as some kind of mistake.

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, there's definitely the benefit of hindsight in it alright - and I suppose he's probably not the type to lead the line on his own when we can expect very little possession (ie the England game)

[Eirambler]

https://x.com/FootballReprt/status/1835037014376562880?t=xsX8BdwyG925p2CoZMybBg&s=19

https://x.com/FootballReprt/status/1835048250715316621?t=SiCqMwZMzEgHkLZOg9v2lg&s=19

https://x.com/FootballReprt/status/1835049143297098167?t=St9Yb21MEAERZgmbNLzuAA&s=19

https://x.com/FootballReprt/status/1835050943911530920?t=vbeyVs07jDz8daXHyftDVw&s=19

Reminds me of the ones he used to score for fun at youth level for Tottenham and Ireland. Maybe now developing to the level where he can start to do the same at senior level.

Then again, the standard of the weaker teams in that league needs to be taken into account as well. AZ scored nine tonight.

[dr_peepee]

Just need Tets now to tell us when was the last time an Irish senior international scored four in one game...

David Connolly for Wolves????

[elatedscum]

To be fair he had no goals and no assists for his club before tonight, so he wasn't exactly banging down the door before the international games. Personally I'd have brought him on before Robinson but, given I didn't hear anyone complaining about Parrott not playing amidst all the other complaints this week, I think it's a stretch to suddenly now retrospectively call that one as some kind of mistake.

Pretty sure I mentioned it before and after both games :)

[elatedscum]

To be fair he had no goals and no assists for his club before tonight, so he wasn't exactly banging down the door before the international games. Personally I'd have brought him on before Robinson but, given I didn't hear anyone complaining about Parrott not playing amidst all the other complaints this week, I think it's a stretch to suddenly now retrospectively call that one as some kind of mistake.

Game 1: „The secondary cost of us making those initial lineup mistakes meant that we then couldn’t make the changes we needed to. Ideally, you’d have hooked Szmodics for Parrott, he was knackered and on a booking but we needed 7 changes rather than 5.“

Game 2: “I felt the majority of the substitutions were mistakes. I would have taken off Browne instead of Molumby and Smallbone instead of Knight. Knight did himself no favours by getting booked for descent but he had much more left in his legs than Browne and Smallbone struggled dropping back.

Also I would have done Parrott instead of Idah and taken off Brady rather than Ogbene - Brady was knackered and had nothing left to give.”

[tetsujin1979]

Just need Tets now to tell us when was the last time an Irish senior international scored four in one game...
There's been a few players without senior caps to do it recently
Ruairi Paton scored four for Queen's Park against Elgin in a Scottish League Cup game in June 2023: https://queensparkfc.co.uk/queens-park-5-elgin-city-0/
Gerry McDonagh scored four for Cove Rangers against Dunipace in a Scottish Cup game in November 2022: https://coverangersfc.com/2022/11/26/seven-up-for-cove-in-scottish-cup-romp/

If you want to restrict it to players with caps
Andy Keogh scored four for Perth Glory against Western Sydney Wanderers in May 2021: https://perthglory.com.au/news/match-report-glory-v-wsw/
Anthony Stokes scored four for Tractor Sazi against Esteghlal in August 2018: https://videocelts.com/2018/09/blogs/former-celts/watch-four-goal-stokes-scoring-for-fun-in-iran/

In English football, the last senior internationals to do were:
James Collins scored four for Swindon Town against Portsmouth in January 2013(as a substitute!): https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20841100
Robbie Keane scored four for Spurs against Burnley in September 2009: https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2020/april/the-archive-spurs-5-0-burnley-2009/

[Acornvilla]

Conor Gethins formerly of Finn Harps fame has done it at least twice as well :D


I also complained about Parrott not having any minutes fwiw if we're keeping score. He'd still played way more football than Idah/Ferguson and reports from AZ were not all bad by any means. Looking forward to how he does in Europe too, a decent range of opponents.

[Olé Olé]

It was interesting that Robinson got game time against Greece before Parrott. I would have to imagine that was based on something Halgrimsson saw in training.

Between that and hanging off Jack Grealish post match the Saturday, Robinson made far more of an impact in the Aviva last week than poor Troy.

[Trequartista20]

I thought Robinson was bright and positive when he came on. He's technically sound, a good passer and links the the play up well. Generally always looks like he has a goal in him.

Anyway, I thought Ferguson came on for Molumby to play up top with Szmodics as we changed to a 4-4-2 after an hour, with Idah replacing Szmodics with twenty to go and Robinson replacing Ogbene on the wing.

It was more a case of Ferguson and Idah being preferred to Parrott. And I wouldn't hold Robinson's longstanding friendship with Grealish against him.

[Jolly Red Giant]

It looked like Parrott hurt his hamstring in the run up to the sixth goal - he looked uncomfortable when he was subbed straight afterwards. He has had a lot of trouble with that injury over the past couple of years. I hope he's not hurt because his confidence would have been sky high after that game.

[John83]

It was interesting that Robinson got game time against Greece before Parrott. I would have to imagine that was based on something Halgrimsson saw in training.

Between that and hanging off Jack Grealish post match the Saturday, Robinson made far more of an impact in the Aviva last week than poor Troy.
I think Robinson was preferred for being more comfortable playing wide. As someone else said, it was Idah and Ferguson who Parrott was really competing with. Ferguson had played no football and it seemed to show. Idah wasn't supposed to be pulling up trees in Scotland in the first games of the season either, but they're not exact like for like players, and maybe Hallgrimsson or O'Shea was thinking about a big presence for going direct chasing the game. Whatever caveats one might have about hindsight, neither Ferguson or Idah made much of a case for their selection having been correct.

Let's hope that hamstring is just a little thing he'll be over in days.

[Olé Olé]

I think Robinson was preferred for being more comfortable playing wide. As someone else said, it was Idah and Ferguson who Parrott was really competing with. Ferguson had played no football and it seemed to show. Idah wasn't supposed to be pulling up trees in Scotland in the first games of the season either, but they're not exact like for like players, and maybe Hallgrimsson or O'Shea was thinking about a big presence for going direct chasing the game. Whatever caveats one might have about hindsight, neither Ferguson or Idah made much of a case for their selection having been correct.

Let's hope that hamstring is just a little thing he'll be over in days.

I don't disagree regarding him competing for a central spot but he started wide against Portugal and came on wide against Hungary - his and our prior two international games for which O'Shea was interim head coach.

[Olé Olé]

I thought Robinson was bright and positive when he came on. He's technically sound, a good passer and links the the play up well. Generally always looks like he has a goal in him.

Anyway, I thought Ferguson came on for Molumby to play up top with Szmodics as we changed to a 4-4-2 after an hour, with Idah replacing Szmodics with twenty to go and Robinson replacing Ogbene on the wing.

It was more a case of Ferguson and Idah being preferred to Parrott. And I wouldn't hold Robinson's longstanding friendship with Grealish against him.

It wasn't so much him having a long standing friendship with Grealish that I was referring to because I don't hold that against him. I found Robinson bringing his family down to the dug out for pictures with Grealish post match a bit strange. Surely something that could have been done away from the pitch after that.

[Acornvilla]

Being down on the pitch is more for the kids than the adults or the cameras I imagine.

[Trequartista20]

I didn't see that on the feed I was watching. Not a good look after a defeat.

[tetsujin1979]

Highlights from the game
Parrott's goals at 2:05, 3:50, 4:30, and 5:30
EkiUP5B8F0Y

[ifk101]

Holding his calf muscle for the fifth goal and subbed thereafter. Hopefully nothing but encouraging to see him scoring those goals.

[Acornvilla]

Highlights from the game
Parrott's goals at 2:05, 3:50, 4:30, and 5:30
EkiUP5B8F0Y
My big takeaway was his finishing, ability to take things quickly and positioning was good, but also there were some passes in from the wing we could only dream of!

[JR89]

Will hopefully double his league tally from last season and reach the 20 goal mark.

[Bungle]

He was a world class underage player if that makes sense.

If he becomes a good quality international player that is good enough for me.

I do wonder with us could be used as an attacking midfielder while we wait for Moran to come through. He's technically excellent.

[Razors left peg]

I do wonder with us could be used as an attacking midfielder while we wait for Moran to come through. He's technically excellent.

Or maybe he could be used as a striker whos a very good goalscorer :)

[Eirambler]

Nothing doing for Troy tonight in the Eredivisie. A player that did score though was Dylan Vente, the centre forward for Zwolle, who bombed at Hibs last season but seems to have started well in the Eredivisie. Important to remember that - outside of the top three or four teams - the standard of the league isn't that great.

[Razors left peg]

Nothing doing for Troy tonight in the Eredivisie. A player that did score though was Dylan Vente, the centre forward for Zwolle, who bombed at Hibs last season but seems to have started well in the Eredivisie. Important to remember that - outside of the top three or four teams - the standard of the league isn't that great.

I watched it and he actually played well, on another night would have had a hattrick. Missed a good chance 1 on 1 early in first half. Keeper hit the ball straight at his head few mins later that basically just rebounded over the bar, would have been a lucky goal but reward for closing down keeper. Then before half time he hit the post. In 2nd half he was quieter, but he did have a free header he should have scored with.

Important to remember to stop always comparing one league with another. Good players are playing across multiple different leagues and better footballing nations than us are happy to pick from other leagues.

Garcia McNulty also played in that game. He's a good footballer. Not very quick or big, but solid and good on the ball. Reminds me a bit of Liam Scales

[JR89]

Someone posted this on YBIG that watched the game:

Played 75 mins today and was unlucky not to score.

Was very involved in the first half and a lot went through him. Was put through in one chance and the keeper made a save with his feet, had another chance a little later where he hit the post with a first time shot from a difficult angle. Was a little quieter in the second half but should have done better with a header. All in all his all round play was very good, uses the ball quickly and looks very composed.

Also playing in the same match was mcnulty who was really good, it's the first time I've seen him outside of the u21s. He made some really good hard challenges and used the ball exceptionally well.never misplaced a pass.
I definitely think he's a good option for the seniors

[tetsujin1979]

AZ top of the table now, at least until Sunday when PSV play Fortuna Sittard
Should play in their Europa League opener against Elfsburg on Wednesday

[seanfhear]

AZ top of the table now, at least until Sunday when PSV play Fortuna Sittard
Should play in their Europa League opener against Elfsburg on Wednesday
In the great scheme of things ~ How big are Elfsburg ? !

[Razors left peg]

Someone posted this on YBIG that watched the game:

Played 75 mins today and was unlucky not to score.

Was very involved in the first half and a lot went through him. Was put through in one chance and the keeper made a save with his feet, had another chance a little later where he hit the post with a first time shot from a difficult angle. Was a little quieter in the second half but should have done better with a header. All in all his all round play was very good, uses the ball quickly and looks very composed.

Also playing in the same match was mcnulty who was really good, it's the first time I've seen him outside of the u21s. He made some really good hard challenges and used the ball exceptionally well.never misplaced a pass.
I definitely think he's a good option for the seniors
So basically exactly the same as what I said LOL

[seanfhear]

So basically exactly the same as what I said LOL
Maybe ~ We are in a circular post matrix ! ! !

[samhaydenjr]

Nothing doing for Troy tonight in the Eredivisie. A player that did score though was Dylan Vente, the centre forward for Zwolle, who bombed at Hibs last season but seems to have started well in the Eredivisie. Important to remember that - outside of the top three or four teams - the standard of the league isn't that great.

I had a think about the standard of the Eredivisie and AZ's opposition, particularly this season, and realized that the varied nature of quality in the division might actually be a blessing in disguise. Assuming he plays regularly, he could get six games against EPL-standard teams, with about 10 against teams comparable to Championship level, with the rest against League One Level teams (roughly). He will also play against three teams from Big 5 leagues and two of the biggest Turkish teams in the Europa League along with three other middling teams. So good preparation for the type of range in quality that he might expect to face in an international qualifying campaign.

[Eirambler]

Absolutely, it's just that sometimes the likes of the Eredivisie or the SPL are considered as one consistent league, a bit like the Championship where "everyone is as bad as each other" as Mick McCarthy once said. But the variance of standards is huge in these leagues. I guess it's just useful to remember that, even though they're in the same division, a goal (or four) against Heerenveen is not the same achievement as a goal (or four) against PSV.

[EalingGreen]

I had a think about the standard of the Eredivisie and AZ's opposition, particularly this season, and realized that the varied nature of quality in the division might actually be a blessing in disguise. Assuming he plays regularly, he could get six games against EPL-standard teams, with about 10 against teams comparable to Championship level, with the rest against League One Level teams (roughly). He will also play against three teams from Big 5 leagues and two of the biggest Turkish teams in the Europa League along with three other middling teams. So good preparation for the type of range in quality that he might expect to face in an international qualifying campaign.So what you're saying is that playing against a mediocre club side is better preparation for playing a mediocre international side than playing against a top club side?

Novel.

[Acornvilla]

Lookit, playing at all is a good start, we now have a few options getting in to form/fitness at hopefully the right time :D