Sammie Szmodics M Blackburn Rovers b.1995

[Stuttgart88]

Would modern defenders know how to deal with it? Nobody does it anymore.
Ironically the midfielders Jack was having us boot the ball over the top of were some of the best the English league had to offer. What we could do with someone like Ronnie Whelan now.This was on twitter yesterday
1772881319355195566

Just look at how combative and dominant our midfielders were...

[seanfhear]

This was on twitter yesterday
1772881319355195566

Just look at how comabtive and dominant our midfielders were...
Certainly " enjoyed " a tackle ~ ~ Some of the English lads didn't quite fancy them as much ~ ~ Different refereeing from today mind ~ ~ How many frees would there be in that 2 minutes 6 seconds today ? !

[backstothewall]

This was on twitter yesterday
1772881319355195566


As seanfhear rightly points out thethreshold for a free kick is a lot lower these days. Though I think we would have had as many as England in that clip.

I have no idea if that would work today. But I wouldn't mind finding out.


Just look at how combative and dominant our midfielders were...

I counted Andy Townsend getting 2 touches. I think what you're trying to say is: "Just look at how combative and dominant Paul McGrath was!"

[elatedscum]

one of the big things is how deep the England defenders are. modern defences would just push up five yards further and the keeper would be much more advanced as well. you'd never be able to pen in a team of England's quality like that. It felt also like we had better footballers: McGrath was winning everything, so we're the fullbacks Irwin and Stan. Quinn was winning more than his fair share. Moran cleaning up at the back.

[joey B]

2 goals in the first half today away at Sunderland….

[Eirambler]

23 for the season, he's a Premier League striker in waiting. Blackburn would probably have gone down this year if they didn't have him.

Good age profile for us as well, we have a shortage of quality players in their late 20s, he could be huge for us for the next four or five years.

[Olé Olé]

Article in the Athletic where journos pick their POTY in Championship, League One and League Two.

There's a shout for Sammie in there, as well as two for Eiran Cashin and one for Dan Crowley.

Ethan Ampadu gets a shout too. Looks like he might be laying the foundations for a good career after some uneventful loans from Chelsea.

Eoin Toal receives a League One nomination and a reference to his Gaelic Football background in the copy.

Dewsbury-Hall got a Championship nomination. I reckon he's as likely as Ampadu and Toal are to play for us...

[Eirambler]

Fully expect Ampadu to return to anonymity next year when he returns to top league football (assuming Leeds go up). It's what he does. I don't think Dewsbury-Hall has any interest in playing for us, we've never heard a peep out of him. England will probably throw him a cap in a Nations League game at some point to tie him down and then never play him again. They'd probably have tried for Szmodics as well if he was a couple of years younger.

[joey B]

Blackburn hammered this evening and look bang in trouble,3 points above the relegation zone and still have to go to Leeds and Leicester and their 2 home games are not easy either for different reasons…..

[joey B]

Huge goal to beat Leeds at Elland road,massive at both ends of the table!

[pineapple stu]

Nobody wants to win that division it seems. None of the top eight has more than one win in their last three games.

[tetsujin1979]

Can't decide if none of them want automatic promotion, or if they really, really want to be in the play offs

[SkStu]

Had to come into work today so missed the last 15 minutes - is that 30 goals now for an Irish striker?? Incredible haul. Is there a chance that he gets picked up by a Premier League team this summer or is he at his level now?

[JR89]

Yup his 30th of the season and first Blackburn player to reach 30 since Shearer in 95/96.

[Diggs246]

Surely he will be bought

I thought Brentford and Fulham were interested

It's literally impossible to know if he works out at premier level.

[SkStu]

Surely he will be bought

I thought Brentford and Fulham were interested

It's literally impossible to know if he works out at premier level.

Its funny - i was going to say he should go to a Fulham or Bournemouth where there is a bit of club stability within the Premier League context. I think that would be to his benefit as opposed to going up with a promoted club or a premier league club that is annually struggling to stay above relegation.

I do wonder about him the same way Diggs... there is a chance he goes the way of Teemu Pukki, Dwight Gayle or others of that ilk - absolutely tears it up in the Championship but struggles with the step up to the Premier League level...

[pineapple stu]

Yup his 30th of the season and first Blackburn player to reach 30 since Shearer in 95/96.
That's a great little stat.

Who was the last Irish player to manage it? Simon Cox got 32 in the third tier; anyone since then? Will Keane got 27 with Wigan in League One and David Connolly got 29 in the Dutch second tier. But if we exclude lower levels than Sammie, how far back are we going? Robbie Keane's most was 25 with LA Galaxy. Long got 25 in the Championship. I'm struggling on this one even with Google. It's hardly John Aldridge (31 in 1988/89) is it?

[Eirambler]

Worth noting that Szmodics 30 are across all competitions, he's on 24 in the league. Daryl Murphy scored 27 in the Championship in the 2014/15 season.

Another thing I noticed was that there were 15 Irish goals scored across the four English divisions, the SPL and the Eredivisie last night and today. 14 of the 15 were scored by players born 1998 or later, the former "Kenny's Kids" generation so to speak. Szmodics' was the only goal scored by a player older than that generation, i.e. aged 26 or over. Just another example of the gap we're still having to plug with the lack of Irish players that came through for a number of years before the 1998s and later groups emerged.

[tetsujin1979]

That's a great little stat.

Who was the last Irish player to manage it? Simon Cox got 32 in the third tier; anyone since then? Will Keane got 27 with Wigan in League One and David Connolly got 29 in the Dutch second tier. But if we exclude lower levels than Sammie, how far back are we going? Robbie Keane's most was 25 with LA Galaxy. Long got 25 in the Championship. I'm struggling on this one even with Google. It's hardly John Aldridge (31 in 1988/89) is it?
It might be Aldridge, the best I can find is Eoin Doyle, who had 30 in 2014/15, split between 25 in League One with Chesterfield, and 5 in the Championship with Cardiff, he also managed 25 with Swindon in League Two in 2019/20
Adam Rooney had 28 in 2014/15 for Aberdeen, split across the SPL(18), Scottish Cup(4), and Europa League(6)

[Stuttgart88]

Surely he will be bought

I thought Brentford and Fulham were interested

It's literally impossible to know if he works out at premier level.
Unless he plays at premier level…:)

[joey B]

Surely he will be bought

I thought Brentford and Fulham were interested

It's literally impossible to know if he works out at premier level.

I think Everton would be a good destination,crying out for a goalscorer and will looking to move on players in the summer,could definitely see him getting a decent chance there even if they’re pretty unstable at the minute….

[Jolly Red Giant]

I think Szmodics could do a really good job for a lower half PL team. I'd be surprised if someone like Brentford or Everton didn't make a move for him.

[Eirambler]

Someone almost definitely will. If he was even two years younger there would be a queue for his services. And possibly not just at club level.

[pineapple stu]

Makes the Championship team of the season, in a surprise to pretty much no-one I'd say.

Dewsbury-Hall there as well, though I don't know have we worked out if he's interested or just eligible?

[Fixer82]

Should be player of the season. 30 goals for an average team is some going

[Jolly Red Giant]

Dewsbury-Hall there as well, though I don't know have we worked out if he's interested or just eligible?
I think an agent and Leicester will be doing to best to knock any interest on the head - far more money to be made as an English player.

[Diggs246]

I think an agent and Leicester will be doing to best to knock any interest on the head - far more money to be made as an English player.

True but he is surely miles away from England. He's still a second tier player
Now is the time for Steve bruce! to approach him

[JR89]

Is Dewsbury-Hall even eligible. When you search Dewsbury-Hall Ireland on Ireland you find about five tweets talking about it from last year. Surely we would have heard from more reliable people if he's actually eligible by now.

[CraftyToePoke]

Is Dewsbury-Hall even eligible. When you search Dewsbury-Hall Ireland on Ireland you find about five tweets talking about it from last year. Surely we would have heard from more reliable people if he's actually eligible by now.

I quoted The42 article which said he was eligible on here about a month ago. Gavin Cooney one IIRC.

[SkStu]

Another one for Sammie. Looks like it is going to guarantee Blackburn’s safety.

[seanfhear]

Another one for Sammie. Looks like it is going to guarantee Blackburn’s safety.
They should name a Stand after him, for this season.

[Eirambler]

Another late on brings him to 27 league goals for the season. Ties Daryl Murphy's record from nine years ago as the most goals by an Irish player since the first division became the Championship (the 131 Irish Championship goals this season is the most for 15 years also).

Szmodics pretty much kept Blackburn up by himself and fully deserves the Premier League move that is likely to come his way this summer.

[pineapple stu]

Another late on brings him to 27 league goals for the season.

Szmodics pretty much kept Blackburn up by himself
A phenomenal season - pity in a way we missed out on a lot of it given the will he/won't he stuff that inevitably went around. 27 of Blackburn's 60 league goals this season - almost half the tally. They stayed up by three points - had they lost away to the new champions today instead of winning 2-0 they'd have gone down.

Just realising now how big a gap there is between the end of the season and the June friendlies. With the talk of some players not wanting to turn up (don't know whether that has substance or not) you really hope Szmodics will be involved up front and centre in those games. Be great to fully integrate him into the line-up - has to be our best attacking option these days. Someone who can score bucketloads in a crap team has to be a godsend for us!

[SkStu]

Someone who can score bucketloads in a crap team has to be a godsend for us!

Exactly my analysis too :D

[JR89]

He looks like a guy straight out of school but Harry Watkinsons who writes for Team Talk and Football 365 is linking Everton and Galatasaray with Szmodics.

Says Everton and other PL clubs could miss out on Szmodics as Galatasaray are ready to submit a £12m bid for the player.

[Eirambler]

As a general rule it's not a good idea for professional footballers in this part of the world to go to Turkey. Given Szmodics current rating and potential earning power in the Premier League he'd be absolutely mad to even consider it.

[pineapple stu]

You'd imagine it'd be a bit too big a jump given his family situation too.

Everton could be good unless FFP gets at them again. Seán Dyche doing good work there.

Solid start to pre-season though if those two are already interested (and it's all tabloid gossip for now I presume)

[JR89]

Reports linking Szmodics with a move to Ipswich. Both clubs are in talks according to reports.

[Demesne Lad]

Leeds Utd in the hunt too, according to the Yorkshire Post today.

[pineapple stu]

Big risk for Sammie is that he'll be a one-season wonder.

So a goal on opening day is a doubly nice start to the season!

[Olé Olé]

Piece about Ipswich in the Times by Rowan today. Seems like he visited Portman Road and got some words from Matt Holland and Alan Lee. Some from Kieran McKenna too but not sure if they are directly sourced.

Then Szmodics deal seems to be rumbling on after a few of £8m + £2m was agreed but Blackburn are seeking more.

Not sure why they are seeking more. Maybe another club came in. However, the article points out that Szmodics home town of Colchester is close to Ipswich. Had a look. It appears it's only 20 miles. He must be incredibly keen on this move himself, assuming that is a big factor. So, even if a Galatasaray or someone came in with more than Ipswich it wouldn't appear that he would want to give up on Premiership football close to him.

Mention of Marcus Harness impressing on pre season and being hopeful of an Irish cap if he can get games for Ipswich at the top level. Article states his mother is from Crosshaven in Cork.

The names of Jack Taylor and Liam Delap are mentioned too. As well as Leon Ayinde who has played in pre season but at 19 is one for the future.

[pineapple stu]

Second and third of the season tonight, and it's only half time in the League Cup so far. Blackburn 4-0 up away to Stockport.

[elatedscum]

Sammie Szmodics banged in two more so far tonight for Blackburn

[JR89]

Second and third of the season tonight, and it's only half time in the League Cup so far. Blackburn 4-0 up away to Stockport.

Speaking of Stockport, was wondering where Tayo was as he missed both games. Got injured in their final pre season game. Manager confirmed he'll be out 6 to 8 weeks.

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[joey B]

Agreement in principle with Ipswich being reported this evening….

[CraftyToePoke]

Agreement in principle with Ipswich being reported this evening….

Himself & Delap so. Interesting times.

[Razors left peg]

Himself & Delap so. Interesting times.

Will Jack Talyor be supplying those 2 or should he try go out on loan?

[CraftyToePoke]

Will Jack Talyor be supplying those 2 or should he try go out on loan?

Talks of them signing Kalvin Phillips & some other lad for midfield too. He's already slightly on the margins.

[Razors left peg]

Talks of them signing Kalvin Phillips & some other lad for midfield too. He's already slightly on the margins.

At this stage of his career he needs football, needs to go back down to the Championship and play. He'd be a good player for a lot of teams

[Trequartista20]

Move confirmed. Registered in time for the Liverpool game tomorrow.

https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2024/august/16/szmodics-is-a-blue/