Irish diaspora in Italy

[tommy_c12000]

If Festy starts a string of serie A games, talk of keeping him with the 21s is just silly. We are not exactly blessed with top tier talent

[tetsujin1979]

Are we liable to lose him? it's unlikely, but he is dual qualified. He was an unused substitute twice during the four games in June 2022, which would have been an ideal time to cap him IMO

[pineapple stu]

But there's been no even semi-serious talk of him switching has there? I think he's fine

Italian clubs often field an understrength team in the cups AFAIK. The league season will be more interesting. Obviously if, as Tommy says, he starts a string of league games he should be called up. McClean's drop to the fourth tier has highlighted (again) how urgent our fullback problems are

[JR89]

Cathal Heffernan is in Newcastle to finalise his transfer.

[Demesne Lad]

Cathal Heffernan is in Newcastle to finalise his transfer.

To be followed soon by Zefi, according to the Shields Gazette today.

[Razors left peg]

Festy starts season opener at home to Juventus

[tetsujin1979]

Festy starts season opener at home to Juventus
Abankwah named in the bench too
Game is on TNT Sports

[tommy_c12000]

Gave away a penalty due to handball, very harsh IMO. Udinese v poor, 0-2 down. Festy doing ok defensively, certainly improved that aspect. Not much chance going forward so far

[tommy_c12000]

McJannet played for Lecce u19 in their 1-0 loss to Roma in the primavera final yesterday. Seems to do ok. Full match easily found on YouTube. Will be interesting to see his loan move (presumably) this season

[Jolly Red Giant]

James Abankwah has joined Charlton on loan

[tommy_c12000]

Serie A remains as boring as ever. Watched 15 minutes or so of Festy after Evan was taken off. Couple of opportunities to get forward but nothing compelling. 0-0 into added time. Udinese will struggle for goals this season even more than last without Beto…

[tommy_c12000]

One nice run, skinned the full back with his amazing acceleration. Made some solid interceptions. I’ve no qualms with starting him now given the alternatives. I want Knight central, he is lighting it up at Bristol City. We have to embrace talent like Festy

[Eirambler]

I'd definitely cap him this month but I wouldn't start him. We need to figure out how we're going to use him, how do you get the best out of his incredible pace while covering for his defensive limitations. Super-sub winger? Support forward? Starting wing back against weaker teams and trust our centre backs to cover for him when he flies up the park? Probably one for the next manager to work out realistically.

[tetsujin1979]

Ferizaj scored a penalty today for the Frosinone U19s, in what I think is his first appearance for them?

[liamoo11]

Rep ireland tracker twitter account saying zefi is leaving inter this month but not going to Newcastle. Quality player hopefully his athleticism has improved over the last year great educationhopefat inter that he can use now to get firstvteam footbal lsomewhere.

[liamoo11]

Made his debut for roma prinevera today

[tetsujin1979]

Justin Ferizaj given squad number 19 at Frosinone
1822666135394734148

[tetsujin1979]

Ed McJannett will wear number 27 for Lecce this season
1821503987343929587

[Razors left peg]

Ed McJannett will wear number 27 for Lecce this season
1821503987343929587


McJannet is actually on the bench for Lecce today in their Copa Italia game against Mantova.

[pineapple stu]

Naj Razi has been given 11 at Como, though Liam Kerrigan isn't listed in their squad on the website. Can't see that he's gone on loan anywhere - not sure what the craic there is. (I'm assuming he's recovered from the injury that ended his season early last time out)

[tetsujin1979]

There's some confusion about Como's jersey numbers
According to their Twitter account, Belotti is wearing number eleven, which he wore in their cup tie against Sampdoria last night
1822285000907104726
And you can buy Kerrigan's jersey with number 21 from their website, but there's no option for Razi
https://shop.comofootball.com/en/products/home-authentic-jersey-2024-26

[pineapple stu]

That fits in with wiki actually, which links to the club site which has Razi at 11 and Strefezza as 21 (who's 7 on wiki)

All a bit weird.

No Kerrigan or Razi in the squad (even with 13 on the bench) as they lost on penalties to Sampdoria in the Copa.

[samhaydenjr]

Razi on the bench for Como against Milan - would have been a tight squeeze, though, with fourteen other subs! https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cy4mldx7py0t

[seanfhear]

Razi on the bench for Como against Milan - would have been a tight squeeze, though, with fourteen other subs! https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cy4mldx7py0t
Bit of a pantomime after Christmas ! 14 subs !

[Eirambler]

Yeah making the bench in Italy isn't a particularly big achievement. Almost more of a story when a player doesn't make the bench. I think James Abankwah spent an entire season on the bench for Udinese a couple of years ago and only actually played in one game. That would only happen to a goalkeeper in most leagues.

[tetsujin1979]

Are there many 18 year olds being named as subs for teams in Serie A?

[pineapple stu]

Como had two other 19-year-olds on the bench for that match, and AC Milan had two 19-year-olds and a 16-year-old.

So I'd say there's a few. I'd agree with Eirambler that we've seen enough young players get on the bench in recent years to know it's not worth a huge amount of itself. Abwankwah and Adaramola being two obvious examples.

McJannet was on the bench for Lecce too btw.

[tetsujin1979]

He's been an ever present on the bench for them this season, but still hasn't made an appearance

[pineapple stu]

He's been an ever present on the bench for them this season, but still hasn't made an appearance
I think Eirambler covered that off well though -


Yeah making the bench in Italy isn't a particularly big achievement. Almost more of a story when a player doesn't make the bench. I think James Abankwah spent an entire season on the bench for Udinese a couple of years ago and only actually played in one game. That would only happen to a goalkeeper in most leagues.

[tetsujin1979]

Naj Razi talks about his call up to Como's first team
https://www.fai.ie/latest/ireland-and-comos-naj-razi-tallaght-street-football-prepping-ac-milan/

[Razors left peg]

Senan Mullen who I've never heard of was on bench for Torino today

[tetsujin1979]

Senan Mullen who I've never heard of was on bench for Torino today
Signed from Dundalk only a year ago
https://www.dundalkfc.com/senan-moves-to-torino/

<EDIT>

Last played for Dundalk in October 2023. Like I say with all of these former LOI players, the club should turn to everyone in the lineup for their next game and tell them they could be in Serie A in 16 months

[tetsujin1979]

With Torino playing bottom of the table Monza at the weekend, I thought there was a chance Mullen would be involved with the first team again, but he was back with their U20s against Juventus in the Primavera
Torino were 3-0 down before Mullen scored, starting a comeback to 3-3, before losing to a late goal
Mullen's goal is here at 2:45
ppnle5IEnjA