Pre-Season 2022/23

[samhaydenjr]

I think you've read the same goal twice there. He only got the second goal. Odoffin got the first

:doh:
So I did - in my defense, it's VERY hot here in Toronto

Anyway, Nathan Collins made his debut for Wolves, coming on at the hour mark against Alaves. Joe Hodge also got some minutes, while Connor Ronan was an unused sub: https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20220720-report-wolves-4-0-alaves/

Alan Browne was on the scoresheet for Preston against Hearts - Brady and Cunningham also played: https://www.pnefc.net/news/2022/july/match-report-preston-north-end-hearts/

Loads of Irish interest in QPR's 8-2 victory over Wealdstone. Olamide Shodipo and potential switcher Jake Clarke-Salter played in the first-half - Shodipo had a shot saved that led to one goal and won a penalty for another one. Jimmy Dunne, Conor Masterson and, most encouragingly, Sinclair Armstrong came on for the second half and received plaudits for his performance: setting up a goal with his first chance on the ball, nearly scoring with an audacious chip from thirty yards and putting in a challenge that brought "oohs" from the fans - definitely one to watch: https://www.qpr.co.uk/fixtures/first-team/2022/wealdstone-v-qpr/?tab=report

[samhaydenjr]

Moving down to League One, Hourihane, Cashin, James Collins and Knight all featured for Derby in their defeat to Stevenage: https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2022/07/match-report-stevenage-vs-derby-county-july-2022

James McCarthy and Bosun Lawal were second-half subs for Celtic against Legia Warsaw: https://www.celticfc.com/news/2022/july/20/honours-even-in-warsaw-as-celts-help-pay-tribute-to-artur-boruc/

[Olé Olé]

:doh:
So I did - in my defense, it's VERY hot here in Toronto

Anyway, Nathan Collins made his debut for Wolves, coming on at the hour mark against Alaves. Joe Hodge also got some minutes, while Connor Ronan was an unused sub: https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20220720-report-wolves-4-0-alaves/

Alan Browne was on the scoresheet for Preston against Hearts - Brady and Cunningham also played: https://www.pnefc.net/news/2022/july/match-report-preston-north-end-hearts/

Loads of Irish interest in QPR's 8-2 victory over Wealdstone. Olamide Shodipo and potential switcher Jake Clarke-Salter played in the first-half - Shodipo had a shot saved that led to one goal and won a penalty for another one. Jimmy Dunne, Conor Masterson and, most encouragingly, Sinclair Armstrong came on for the second half and received plaudits for his performance: setting up a goal with his first chance on the ball, nearly scoring with an audacious chip from thirty yards and putting in a challenge that brought "oohs" from the fans - definitely one to watch: https://www.qpr.co.uk/fixtures/first-team/2022/wealdstone-v-qpr/?tab=report

Armstrong is a very interesting prospect and has an interesting season ahead of him. The natural thing would be a League Two loan, maybe a League One loan. He did well on both his loans (Aldershot and Torquay), even though he had an injury sandwiched between both loans. He got a couple of goals at each and the managers both spoke well of him. Torquay were keen to take him back but QPR wanted him around their squad at the turn of the year. Then after his injury, he went out to Aldershot and I read a while back that he was training with them and not Aldershot.

As I said, the natural thing is a League One or Two loan but you never know. He's a big lad - some set of shoulders on him - and he's got a few senior goals under the belt. Let's see.

[Eirambler]

QPR supporters have been talking about him as a genuine prospect for first team minutes this coming season. But I think they have a strong chance of getting Parrott in on loan (as that means he stays in London with his family) and then Armstrong might be loaned out.

[liamoo11]

:doh:
So I did - in my defense, it's VERY hot here in Toronto

Anyway, Nathan Collins made his debut for Wolves, coming on at the hour mark against Alaves. Joe Hodge also got some minutes, while Connor Ronan was an unused sub: https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20220720-report-wolves-4-0-alaves/

Alan Browne was on the scoresheet for Preston against Hearts - Brady and Cunningham also played: https://www.pnefc.net/news/2022/july/match-report-preston-north-end-hearts/

Loads of Irish interest in QPR's 8-2 victory over Wealdstone. Olamide Shodipo and potential switcher Jake Clarke-Salter played in the first-half - Shodipo had a shot saved that led to one goal and won a penalty for another one. Jimmy Dunne, Conor Masterson and, most encouragingly, Sinclair Armstrong came on for the second half and received plaudits for his performance: setting up a goal with his first chance on the ball, nearly scoring with an audacious chip from thirty yards and putting in a challenge that brought "oohs" from the fans - definitely one to watch: https://www.qpr.co.uk/fixtures/first-team/2022/wealdstone-v-qpr/?tab=report

I've been a big masterson fan for years and having Beale as manager who will know him well from his Liverpool youth days will hopefully give him the best chance of achieving his best career

[Yard of Pace]

Danny Grant playing and scoring Huddersfield's 4th goal today. Great to see. He's had such a rough time with injury the fact he's come back at all and the character that has shown....he has a lot of fans excited about what he can (hopefully) do.

[samhaydenjr]

Last weekend before The Championship starts and second -last before The premier League so a big round-up today:

We'll start in Italy - I got to watch Festy Ebosele play 30 minutes for Udinese against Bayer Leverkusen - for twenty minutes he was anonymous, to the point of looking lost, then his team-mates gave him a chance to run at Leverkusen and he tormented their left-back, winning a penalty and almost setting up an equaliser

Back in the UK, Evan Ferguson and Shane got thirty minutes in a recent friendly for Brighton against Estoril: https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/2680331/albion-shine-in-fine-friendly-victory-over-estoril/

Dunne, Shodipo and Armstrong were all second-half subs in QPR's 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace: https://www.qpr.co.uk/fixtures/first-team/2022/qpr-v-crystal-palace/?tab=report

Clean sheet for Gavin Bazunu in Southampton's draw with Watford: https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2022-07-23/report-watford-southampton-pre-season-friendly-saturday-23-july-2022

Conor Coventry came off the bench In West Ham's 1-1 draw with Luton. Randolph and Okoflex stayed on that bench: https://www.whufc.com/news/soucek-scores-pre-season-draw-luton

This is odd - if the line-ups on this report of Wolves' recent defeat to Levante are accurate, Connor Ronan started, came off at half-time, then came back on ninetenn minutes into the second half and set up their goal from a corner. Joe Hodge came on for the second half: https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20220721-report-wolves-1-2-levante/ - both of them were late subs in today's victory over Besiktas: https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20220723-report-wolves-3-0-besiktas/

Omobamidele played the full game in Norwich's 2-0 defeat to Celtic. Idah came on late, as did McCarthy for The Bhoys: https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/match-report-celtic-v-city

Robbie Brady and Alan Browne both played the full 90 for Preston against Leicester: https://www.pnefc.net/news/2022/july/match-report-pne-leicester-city/

Georgie Kelly scored yet again for Rotherham (his fifth of pre-season) https://www.themillers.co.uk/news/2022/july/report--crewe-v-rotherham/

Enda Stevens scored last night for Sheffield United against Burton Albion. Leo Gaxha was an unused sub: https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2022/july/22/burton-0-3-blades-report/

Gavin Kilkenny started for Stoke against Hearts and was replaced on 60 minutes by Will Smallbone: https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2022/july/23/city-end-pre-season-with-hearts-defeat/

Ryan Manning Came on as a sub for Swansea against Charlton and scored. Obafemi played 81 minutes: https://www.swanseacity.com/news/report-charlton-athletic-1-swansea-city-2-0

Jayson Molumby almost scored for West Brom against Hertha Berlin: https://www.wba.co.uk/news/albion-2-1-hertha-berlin

James McClean seems to be in good form, scoring his second of pre-season for Wigan against Sheffield Wednesday and providing the assist on two others: https://wiganathletic.com/news/2022/july/23/match-report-latics-4-sheffield-wednesday-1/

In League One, Luca Connell played the full 90 for Barnsley against Sheffield United: https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/news/2022/july/blades-report/

Just after arriving in Fleetwood, Promise Omochere played the last quarter against Dundee United, while Cian Hayes set up their winning goals: https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2022/july/report-dundee-united-h/

Well, this League One must be a much lower standard than LOI - seven minutes after coming on as a sub for his debut, Dawson Devoy scored: https://www.mkdons.com/matches/fixtures/first-team/202223/july/-vs-milton-keynes-dons-on-23-jul-22/

[SkStu]

Cristiano Fitzgerald is on trial with Dundee United apparently.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/cristiano-fitzgerald-handed-dundee-united-27538798

(No idea why the link won’t post properly - are links from this site prohibited?)

[tetsujin1979]

Cristiano Fitzgerald is on trial with Dundee United apparently.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/cristiano-fitzgerald-handed-dundee-united-27538798

(No idea why the link won’t post properly - are links from this site prohibited?)
No idea either. Fixed that for you

[elatedscum]

Caomhin Kelleher with another unluckily timed injury. Alison has been injured for most of pre-season and had CK been fit would have been an excellent opportunity to start the season until Alisson was fully fit

[Yard of Pace]

Danny Grant playing and scoring Huddersfield's 4th goal today. Great to see. He's had such a rough time with injury the fact he's come back at all and the character that has shown....he has a lot of fans excited about what he can (hopefully) do.

Just to add to this, from the Town forum:

Grant - most threatening player all game, good finish for the goal

[tetsujin1979]

Chelsea's preseaon friendly against Udinese will be available for free on their website later tonight at eight
https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/watch-chelsea-vs-udinese-live-and-for-free-on-chelseafc-com

[nigel-harps1954]

Chelsea's preseaon friendly against Udinese will be available for free on their website later tonight at eight
https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/watch-chelsea-vs-udinese-live-and-for-free-on-chelseafc-com

Ebosele an 87th minute sub. Abankwah unused sub.

[samhaydenjr]

I'm starting to get a little concerned about Ebosele's defensive abilities - he completely lost his man in the build-up to Chelsea's third - he did get back but his attempt at a block was weak. Going forward he continues to show promise, making one run past two Chelsea defenders to the byline before pulling back, although not to a team-mate. And if things go according to plan, he could have the third-most Serie A appearances by an Irish player, surpassing Keane, but a long way back of Brady and Paddy Sloan

[tommy_c12000]

Defensively he’s suspect for sure, hopefully Italy will improve him in that regard. If he starts getting game time, then I’d have no problem blooding him in with ireland, as long as he has some protection with someone like Nathan Collins on the right side of a back 3

[Eirambler]

His defensive frailties are the reason he is seen as a wide forward in the Ireland squad at this point in time. A far as playing as a right sided defender goes I'd have him behind Doherty, Coleman, Christie, Browne and McNamara at least.

That will probably change as he develops but I couldn't see him playing for us at right wing back against any decent opposition in the short term.

[third policeman]

But as long as we play 3 at the back, 3 in midfield with a 9 and a 10 up front, there's no room for a wide forward player. It's the full backs / wing backs who will be providing width. Pace will be the most important attribute and that would put him ahead of Browne and Coleman. If he's playing regularly he should get a chance as Doherty can be effective on the left.

[Eirambler]

That depends really. You can also play it as a 3-5-2 out of possession that switches to a 3-4-3 on the ball, we've done that before and it can work as long as we have Knight to pull back into midfield when out of possession. In that setup there's potentially room for an Ogbene/Ebosele type in the forward line, supporting an Obafemi, Parrott or Idah playing at 9.

[JR89]

Ronan did an interview over the weekend with Birmingham Live talking about pre season and wanting to remain at Wolves this season. With Wolves lack of signings and squad size it's a possibility Lage is open to keeping him around as back up. Wouldn't be surprised to see it and then reassess his options in Jan. Still has two years left on his contract there.

1554357579572301825

[Eirambler]

I think it would be worth his while sticking around if they are willing to name him in their 25 this season. The thing with Ronan is, despite all the jumping around between loan clubs, he has played a good amount of football for his age. It's not like a Kelleher situation where he badly needs games or anything like that.

If possible he should give it a go at Wolves until January - who knows, he may break through and get some top level experience. Worst case scenario he doesn't play much between now and January but even then there will be plenty of clubs happy to take him on for the second half of the season if it doesn't happen for him at Wolves.

[third policeman]

I think it would be worth his while sticking around if they are willing to name him in their 25 this season. The thing with Ronan is, despite all the jumping around between loan clubs, he has played a good amount of football for his age. It's not like a Kelleher situation where he badly needs games or anything like that.

If possible he should give it a go at Wolves until January - who knows, he may break through and get some top level experience. Worst case scenario he doesn't play much between now and January but even then there will be plenty of clubs happy to take him on for the second half of the season if it doesn't happen for him at Wolves.

Agree. The odd thing with Ronan is he has always played well wherever he has played, even his few games with Wolves before the loans. I think he could be a better player than his career to date would suggest. Wouldn’t be at all surprised if he got a chance at Wolves and took it.

[JR89]

I think it would be worth his while sticking around if they are willing to name him in their 25 this season. The thing with Ronan is, despite all the jumping around between loan clubs, he has played a good amount of football for his age. It's not like a Kelleher situation where he badly needs games or anything like that.

If possible he should give it a go at Wolves until January - who knows, he may break through and get some top level experience. Worst case scenario he doesn't play much between now and January but even then there will be plenty of clubs happy to take him on for the second half of the season if it doesn't happen for him at Wolves.

Especially if Aberdeen are his only option. Be one thing if it was Hearts and they have group stage European football.

[liamoo11]

Especially if Aberdeen are his only option. Be one thing if it was Hearts and they have group stage European football.

Yeah definitely stay put wolves look light in midfield. He is well ahead of cundle as an attacking midfield option. Would think he would be a regular on the bench. I'd have hopes for hodge to surprise with some bench appearances as well they are very short in defensive midfielders as well

[samhaydenjr]

Just thought I'd give one last round-up before the EPL season starts, based around our sadly dwindling group of Premier League players:

In goalkeeping news, Mark Travers continues as first choice at Bournemouth for now, playing in their 2-1 defeat to Real Sociedad: https://www.afcb.co.uk/news/first-team/stanislas-strikes-in-sociedad-defeat/

Meanwhile, Gavin Bazunu was between the sticks for Southampton against Villareal: https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2022-07-30/match-report-southampton-vs-villarreal-pre-season-friendly-202223

Matt Doherty has done well to work his way back into the reckoning at Spurs, playing three quarters of their final glamour friendly against Roma: https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2022/july/match-report-spurs-roma-pre-season/

We could really do with some midfielders in the EPL - right now it looks like we may now have any next season. So it's encouraging that Conor Coventry played 15 minutes in West Ham's final pre-season game against Lens: https://www.whufc.com/news/hammers-end-pre-season-goalless-draw-lens

Now this is interesting - Connor Ronan and Joe Hodge both started Wolves' final game against Farense, with Ronan playing the full 90 and Hodge playing 83 minutes - Ronan was involved in the build-up to Wolves' penalty: https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20220731-report-farense-1-1-wolves/ - now this doesn't appear to have been their main team, as they played against Sporting the previous night - encouragingly, though both Ronan and Hodge were on the bench for that game: https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20220730-report-sporting-1-1-wolves/