Liam Kerrigan F Novara (loan from Como 1907) b 2000

[pineapple stu]

Scored his first goal for Como in a 10-0 friendly win against a local side, although he hasn't officially signed yet pending international clearance. Touch wood it's a formality and this doesn't end up like the Liam Scales to Bristol Rovers saga....

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There's a bit of money behind them this year apparently (hence the Fabregas link) and they might be dark horses for promotion to Serie A. They've also got a reasonable draw in the Coppa Italia (Serie A strugglers Spezia away, with the winners home to Pisa or Brescia, both Serie B) and a spot in the last 16 isn't out of the question.

Article on the42 about him here (https://www.the42.ie/liam-kerrigan-como-5804082-Jul2022/).

[Trequartista20]

Confirmed. 3-year contract.

https://comofootball.com/en/liam-kerrigan-al-como-a-titolo-definitivo/

[pineapple stu]

Fabregas to Como confirmed too.

Kerrigan scored four in a 15-0 win over a local side - so five in pre-season all told.

Saturday away to Spezia will be interesting. Fabregas' signing has to be a statement of intent at promotion. Or bankruptcy

[Eirambler]

Or both inside the next three years. It's the Italian way.

[pineapple stu]

On the bench for the season opener away to Serie A Spezia in the Coppa Italia.

Fabregas not in the squad at all, so I guess he isn't match fit yet

[pineapple stu]

On for the last 15 minutes, but they're 4-1 down. Bit of a wake-up call given they presumably have promotion ambitions

[pineapple stu]

And Paolo Maldini's son makes it 5-1 in injury time

[pineapple stu]

Opens his account ten minutes into his league debut, away to Pisa

[tommy_c12000]

Nicely done

[JR89]

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[samhaydenjr]

First Irish player to score in Serie B, by my reckoning. Now we've had three players playing in Italian football already this season - we've never had more than one at a time - and there's a decent possibility of Abankwah joining Ebosele, Connolly and Kerrigan on the pitch there soon

[tetsujin1979]

did Conor McCormack and Michael O'Connor play senior football together when they were at Triestina?

[JR89]

Both only played in the primavera with Triestina. Mikey Collins and Nathan Collins are cousins actually.

[John83]

Is Serie B a level high enough to draw Kenny's attention here? If Connolly isn't making the grade (so far; it's far too early to call anyone's season) then surely Kerrigan must be worth bringing into the squad at some point for a look.

[Exgrad]

I don't think it is tbh. Its a very strange move for Connolly. If Kerrigan rips it up he'll get attention all right though.

[tetsujin1979]

Probably not, when you think that Elbouzedi finishing second in the Swedish league and Graham Carey playing, and scoring, in the Europa League, and everyone appearing in MLS wasn't enough either

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, would agree with that. Connolly hasn't been in the Ireland squad for almost a year now I think. So if Kerrigan has passed Connolly out (and one goal doesn't mean he has of course), then he's just passed out someone who isn't in the squad anyway.

Serie B is a strange league I think - in my mind it's a bit of a wasteland of disinterested clubs (like the First Division here) and small provincial sides who are only there because there's so many bankrupt bigger clubs in the divisions below. The one Serie B game I had about 3,000 people in a 20,000-capacity ground - that kind of stuff.

This chart (https://twitter.com/AndyForrester1/status/1446008765396959239/photo/1) (seen here before) reckons it's between the Danish and Russian leagues though, in which case it wouldn't be outrageous to consider calling someone up from it if they were doing well.

[JR89]

Think it should be enough for him to get some notice. Look at all the League One players that have been brought into squads and guys playing for St Mirren. If Kerrigan is performing over the next few months then could get a call up to train with the squad in November.

[John83]

The chart Pinapple linked is interesting. It says Serie B is significantly better than League 1 or Scotland, lending credance to JR89's argument.

[pineapple stu]

It does say there's a big spread in the teams, but Como have started well, with draws against Cagliari (18th in Serie A last year) and Pisa (3rd in Serie B). With money behind them (eg Fabregas), they could be there or thereabout for promotion. So if Kerrigan is keeping his nose in, then yeah, a call-up mayn't be out of the question. I think both need to happen though.

[Eirambler]

No issue with the guy getting a look in if he's tearing it up in Serie B, but so far he's come off the bench and scored one goal, so we're a good bit away from that yet. Realistically he'd want to be one of the standout players in the division to warrant a call up and the same applies to Connolly. Similar to League 1 in England, anyone getting a call up from there at this point should be a standout at that level (e.g. Jason Knight).

Elbouzedi was mentioned as a comparison but he's just not good enough and seems to have lost his place in Sweden, and that's a weak league anyway. St Johnstone seems to be Graham Carey's level and he was probably playing at a similar level in Bulgaria or wherever and I don't think there's anyone in the MLS that we haven't called up that it feels like we've missed out on. It's a poor enough quality league that is glossed over by some decent attendances and a small handful of designated players that earn high wages.

[Real ale Madrid]

Lets hope for plenty Magic Moments from him.

[third policeman]

Lets hope for plenty Magic Moments from him.

Or maybe tune in to one of their upcoming games and catch a falling star (Fabregas)

[pineapple stu]

First start today, but they lost 2-0 to Frosinone. Fabregas has only played once so far - as a sub alongside Kerrigan last week - and they've two points from the first four games. They've had a tough run of fixtures, but maybe a little bit of pressure on given the money behind the club. Thierry Henry was recently announced as a stakeholder, so they're definitely trying to create something.

[Trequartista20]

Starts again against Sudtirol.

Venezia play tomorrow and, going by reports, Connolly did well and was their most effective forward in their previous match with Benevento.

I notice Venezia signed the highly-rated Finland striker Joel Pohjanpalo from Bayer Leverkusen before the transfer window closed, so more competition for Aaron, though it seems Connolly is going to be used on the left of a front three (his best position, I think) with Pohjanpalo used as the central striker.

[nigel-harps1954]

Torn ACL for Kerrigan apparently.

[pineapple stu]

Jesus - and Whelan with the same injury

[pineapple stu]

Coming up on a year since Kerrigan's injury. Didn't start against Gillingham in their recent friendly. Can't find any other info on Como's lineups as yet - not sure if others can?

Would have hoped he'd be close to a return by now, but not sure where he's at in his recovery.

Fabregas has retired, though is staying on as a coach. At least he got to play one game alongside him

[CraftyToePoke]

Coming up on a year since Kerrigan's injury. Didn't start against Gillingham in their recent friendly. Can't find any other info on Como's lineups as yet - not sure if others can?

According Flashscore they are two friendlies in, one V Gillingham, one today V Torres without him featuring in either.

[Exgrad]

He had hoped in April to be close to making a playing come back:

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/other-soccer/i-have-shown-im-good-enough-liam-kerrigans-journey-from-minor-gaa-in-sligo-to-playing-alongside-fabregas-in-italy/a787699189.html

Hopefully he didnt have another set back, all though that wouldnt be usual with an ACL.

[pineapple stu]

Played the second half of yesterday's 2-1 friendly defeat against Cagliari. Great to see.

Both sides put out close on different XIs for each half

[Trequartista20]

On the bench for Como in their Coppa Italia tie with Lecce.

[tetsujin1979]

Came on for the last few minutes, but they lost 1-0
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[Exgrad]

Bit of an update here on him recently:

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/liam-kerrigan-on-the-comeback-trail-in-italy-with-serie-b-side-como/a1181385269.html

He got on for last 30 mins of league game at weekend, Como were 3-0 down at that stage.

[Trequartista20]

I believe it's his first start in league this season, today, against Modena.

Como currently third, behind Parma and Venezia.

[pineapple stu]

First start for Como today since his injury 15 months ago - and he comes off after half an hour. Presumably another injury; hopefully not as serious as the last one obviously.

Como - with Fabregas now as manager - are up to third in Serie B after winning today

[Trequartista20]

I believe it's his first start in league this season, today, against Modena.

Como currently third, behind Parma and Venezia.

Funny our both posting about this at the same time!

Worth noting, it was Kerrigan's 8th appearance of the season today, and none have lasted much more than about half an hour.

Of course we hope that his coming off was precautionary, and nothing too serious.

[pineapple stu]

Yep - got confused looking at the thread for a sec!

Great to see him get a start - not just after injury, but after being used as a sporadic sub this season too, and under a new manager. News from Serie B looks thin on the ground; here's hoping it's just precautionary and he's at least in the squad next week. That might be the first indication of what happened

[pineapple stu]

Not named in the squad today unfortunately

So on to hoping he won't be too long on the sidelines

[pineapple stu]

Has joined Novara in Serie C on loan, presumably for the rest of the season. Made his debut last week. Disappointing, though at least the injury wasn't long term.

[Olé Olé]

Novara is Bruno Fernandes' first professional club, randomly.

[pineapple stu]

Novara unbeaten in eight games since he joined - five goals scored and two conceded in that time - but he's picked up another injury and may be out for the season (https://www.tuttoc.com/girone-a/novara-brutta-tegola-rischio-di-stagione-finita-per-liam-kerrigan-373935).

He's having no luck at all since his move.


He is one of Novara's most quality players who, however, risks no longer having him available for the final rush of the season and with the fight for salvation still very open. As reported by La Stampa, Liam Kerrigan may have ended his season early due to injury after arriving on loan in January from Como. Coach Giacomo Gattuso also spoke about it after the last game: "I think he finished the season with us. It must have stretched or torn."

[tetsujin1979]

Como promoted to Serie A after finishing second in Serie B, behind Parma. Hopefully Kerrigan can recover to play next season, and Razi progresses to the first team

[JR89]

Wouldn't be surprised to see him back in the LOI once fit again. Has a year left on his contract and doubt they'd fancy keeping him around. Even if they didn't get promoted he's unfortunately had a terrible time with injuries and would see them moving him on.

[pineapple stu]

It does sound unlikely he'd go from Serie C loan this season to Serie A spot next season alright