Finn Azaz M Middlesborough b.2000

[pineapple stu]

Called up for the 21s today. Don't think I've ever heard the name or seen him mentioned on here, though could be wrong.

Deserves his own thread though if he's in the 21s. 100 senior appearances in England so far, though League 2 before this season.

English-born, but I think Irish mother and Israeli father, so lots of options.

[SkStu]

Yeah, he was definitely off the radar of any of the ITKs. Was on the League 2 Team of the Year and won YPOTY too. Seems like a real coup.

[JR89]

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His goals so far this season and looks a big lad too.

[Razors left peg]

Amazing how under the radar it went that he was going to be named. Usually these sort of things leak months in advance that they may be a switch.

Never heard of him before today. Looks like a super get for us

[Eirambler]

Have seen his name mentioned on a few of the tracker sites previously, but nothing recently to suggest he was about to be called up.

It's a shame he is only coming in now as, at 22, he won't get long with our underage setup (2 games if we lose the playoff). Would have a good bit to go to make a senior squad but you never know down the line if he kicks on.

[Insidetherock]

He looks like a big unit all right

[elatedscum]

last guys i can remember who were that under the radar till their first call up were Jack Taylor and then Danny McNamara in 2019. i think that's probably a decent shout for the level of talent we're talking about with Azaz (saying that without having seen him play)

[pineapple stu]

Szmodmics, no?

[tetsujin1979]

Harness as well?

[SkStu]

Szmodics for sure - and CJ Hamilton, i think.

[elatedscum]

Sorry about that 😛

Definitely Szmodzics. Harness made public himself the summer before his first call up and someone mentioned CJ was irish when he was playing for Mansfield ages ago (I think on here)

[MancIrishWolf]

Another two goals today away to MK Dons. 80% of the vote for MOTM on the local forum. Looks to be becoming the creative spark we?ve been crying out for. Better to blood him and Hodge early, rather than any more wasted time with Hourihane and the dross of the lost generation.

[ontheotherhand]

He was the best player on the pitch when he came on for the 21s against Israel. That's all I've seen of him but he certainly looked physically capable of stepping up.

[tommy_c12000]

Can wait until he is playing at a higher level for me, unless it?s a matter of azaz or hourihane then it?s azaz all day long

[elatedscum]

Can wait until he is playing at a higher level for me, unless it?s a matter of azaz or hourihane then it?s azaz all day long

We're a midfielder short, ideally one who can play as part of a pair. Long list of options include:

Conor Coventry
Conor Hourihane
James McCarthy
Jamie McGrath
Mark Sykes
Connor Ronan
Will Smallbone
Jack Taylor
Jack Byrne
Danny Mandriou
Gavin Kilkenny
Luca Connell
Daniel Crowley
Liam Kelly
Gary O'Neill
Liam Kinsella
Harry Arter
Conor Noss
Finn Azaz
Aaron McEneff
Joe Hodge

It's a pretty barren list. Either guys who

a) are finished (Arter, Hourihane, McCarthy)
b) aren't good enough yet (Connell, Hodge, Noss)
c) aren't playing at all (Coventry, Kilkenny etc)
d) are playing at too low a level (Byrne, Kinsella, Kelly, Forrester, O'Neill)
e) are probably too attacking and are competing with Knight and Browne (McGrath, Taylor, Smallbone, Sykes etc.)

Anyway, hopefully one player emerges from that ridiculously unlikely list...

[third policeman]

We're more that one midfielder short. The fact that you are factoring in Browne as a given is enough to establish that we need more that a single replacement to step up. It's an area that needs major reconstructive surgery if we are to ever be competitive playing the Kenny brand of football. Smallbone and Hodge are already suggesting more promise than Hourihane, Browne and Hendrick. Azaz is also looking like someone who could become a decent option. Knight, Molumby, Cullen are fixtures for the next campaign. One of Hendrick or Brady if they are playing regularly might be worth keeping in the mix if you want an experienced player in there, but the search for 2 or 3 additions needs to start now or we are simply not progressing.

[Demesne Lad]

Azaz scores again, away to Bristol Rovers.

[JR89]

1583825863379849216

[SkStu]

Just came to post that. Some goal.

[tommy_c12000]

Nice goal. Playing well in league one. Let?s see how his career progresses. A long was to go

[SkStu]

Finn Azaz came off injured just before half time. Twitter reports that he was limping badly but was walking...

[JR89]

Still ended the game with the most key passes in the game, thanks to Tets for doing a great job with the player stats each week.

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[elatedscum]

Missed the home game against Israel with calf issues in both legs - wonder if it’s a recurrence of the same issue? Shame.. Thought he was another midfield option for the friendlies coming up, along with the likes of Smallbone, Mandriou, Hodge, Szmodzics etc

[Demesne Lad]

Plymouth Live, 26 October: Manager Steven Schumacher said "It looked like it was a kick and maybe a roll of his ankle. I don't know, I haven't spoken to the physio ... yet, I haven't had time. Fingers crossed it's not too serious".

[JR89]

Looking at these months on the sidelines.

1587523619806142465

[Trequartista20]

Back in training after his long injury layoff.

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/finn-azaz-gives-plymouth-argyle-8000153

[Demesne Lad]

Travels with the Plymouth team to Ipswich this weekend, 12 weeks after breaking his ankle. Manager Schumacher said the "quality" player was doing well in training and that he had a decision to make on how Azaz would feature this weekend. (ITV, 13 Jan).

[Demesne Lad]

Came on in the 79th minute at Ipswich.

[Olé Olé]

Came on in the 79th minute at Ipswich.
And assisted a late equaliser.

Wright came on 59mins.

[Demesne Lad]

Started for Plymouth today; one assist so far.

[Demesne Lad]

And a second assist v his former club, Cheltenham. Tyreik Wright played the first 73 mins. Sean Long started for Cheltenham.

[JR89]

According to the Athletic he's out of contract in the summer but that would mean he only signed a one year deal when he joined in 2021 because he signed a contract extension before joining Plymouth.

If he is out of contract will be interesting if he signs a new deal or looks to go somewhere he can settle down at for a few seasons. He'll be 23 come September and if he does commit to Villa they'll likely send him out to a championship team for another loan.

In great form this season but the only player off the top of my head that's went from league one to PL was Dele Ali but he was 18 when Spurs signed him.

[Exgrad]

Theres been a few league 1 to premier league moves, more than you would think really, James Maddison, Fabien Delph, Calvert Lewin, Jonjo Shelvey, Harry Maguire some higher profile ones, all younger players at time than Azaz. Anthony Pilkington the last Irish player to make the jump i think! Kevin Doyle going on loan to Crystal Palace maybe as well.

[Eirambler]

Bazunu as well of course.

[dr_peepee]

Theres been a few league 1 to premier league moves, more than you would think really, James Maddison, Fabien Delph, Calvert Lewin, Jonjo Shelvey, Harry Maguire some higher profile ones, all younger players at time than Azaz. Anthony Pilkington the last Irish player to make the jump i think! Kevin Doyle going on loan to Crystal Palace maybe as well.

Keith Andrews. Bit of a cheat because he had followed Ince from MK Dons to Blackburn

[seanfhear]

Keith Andrews. Bit of a cheat because he had followed Ince from MK Dons to Blackburn
Did Ince know ?

[MancIrishWolf]

Scored his 7th goal in 19 games (15 starts) three minutes after coming off the bench against Portsmouth. Looks an exciting prospect as a creative match winner which we’ve had a dearth of for years. Featuring prominently in Plymouth’s most important player for the rest of the season poll… https://pasoti.co.uk/threads/who-is-our-key-player-for-the-remainder-of-the-season.121789/

[CraftyToePoke]

Won a penalty & assisted the other tonight in a vital 2.1 win at home to Derby as all top four sides in L1 won midweek.

[Demesne Lad]

Came off the bench to score for Plymouth Argyle today. That's 7 goals and 9 assists in L1, in the equivalent of 22.6 full games. I wonder if Villa would like to leave him there for Championship football in 2023/4, or move him closer to Villa Park.

[SkStu]

He’s out of contract this summer as far as I know. I look out for him each week but he seems to have been in and out of the starting 11 for the last month or two. He’s had a great season overall. I think the championship beckons next, whether with Plymouth or elsewhere.

[Demesne Lad]

Pilgrims' manager Schumacher would like to have the 22 year-old Azaz back for the Championship campaign. Despite missing 3 months of his season in EFL 1, Azaz scored 8 goals, and local pundits believe Argyle's 4 signings this summer (including goalkeeper Hazard from Celtic) still leave midfield understrength.
(Plymouth Live, 13 July)

[JR89]

Signs a contract extension and returns to Plymouth on loan.

[Demesne Lad]

Only one minute on the pitch last week to make his Championship debut, but on in the 70th minute away to Watford today.

[SkStu]

First goal in the Championship for Finn Azaz.


Out of nowhere.

Possibly an own goal.

Finn Isaac Azaz's long range shot looks like it was deflected off a Blackburn players heel and into the corner of the goal.

They all count.

[SkStu]

Watching Plymouth v Norwich.

Azaz just scored the fourth. Absolute peach of a goal. A break and comes to Azaz, a few step overs then a cutback to his left foot and slides it into the other side of the goal from just inside the box. Absolute quality.

Duffy having a nightmare. Idah anonymous.

[SkStu]

5-0 now. Assist for Azaz, ball from the left of the box, laid on a plate for the onrushing Whittaker for his hat trick.

Norwich are not good.

[Demesne Lad]

Some very positive comments about Azaz from Plymouth manager Schumacher, including: ""He's the most intelligent footballer away from football I've ever met, his game knowledge is outstanding, and his passing and his quality today that he showed was exceptional, and I'm made up that he's got his goal because he deserved it."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66910415

[Razors left peg]

I watched a lot of the 2nd half on Saturday and he was excellent. He should definitely be pushing for a senior squad place next month

[SkStu]

Another goal for Azaz today. Sounds like a beauty and fans saying he’s running the show against Boro. He got an assist for the first one too. Third goal of the season I think.

[Demesne Lad]

'Star Man' and 8/10 in the Plymouth Herald report.