Tom Cannon F Sheffield Utd b.2002

[pineapple stu]

Dara O Shea would be one to switch to right full.
We still have numerous options at CB
LB is going to be an issue. I thought scales was horrendous v Portugal

The wing back thing doesn't work for us. We need 4 at the back and 5 in midfield.
I think most players were horrendous against Portugal, and Scales has the excuse of being up against Ronaldo most of the evening, but I know the point you're making. I think there's still a bit of concern about his passing ability - or he might delay a pass and get into trouble as a result - and it'd be interesting to see how next season goes.

I'm not sure he's a left-back though. Yeah, he played there for UCD and Rovers, but arguably he could get away with it because of his natural ability at a low level. He really struggled there for Celtic and only when he went back into the centre did he stay to improve.

I'd be wary of calling O'Shea an answer to our problems at fullback/wingback for the same reason. I don't know how long we can expect to call up Brady/Stevens/Coleman/Doherty there. But who are the alternatives? Manning - not a world beater but i think he has to be a main option. Browne/O'Dowda? Square peg in round holes. Festy? Needs to improve a lot based on his cameos. Adaramola didn't massively impress in Belgium. MacNulty I guess. Roughan seems solidly L1 level.

It's a huge issue - we've no midfield and are 12 months from having no fullbacks. There's only so much Kelleher and Ferguson can do on their own for us! :(

[Jolly Red Giant]

I think most players were horrendous against Portugal, and Scales has the excuse of being up against Ronaldo most of the evening, but I know the point you're making. I think there's still a bit of concern about his passing ability - or he might delay a pass and get into trouble as a result - and it'd be interesting to see how next season goes.

I'm not sure he's a left-back though. Yeah, he played there for UCD and Rovers, but arguably he could get away with it because of his natural ability at a low level. He really struggled there for Celtic and only when he went back into the centre did he stay to improve.

I'd be wary of calling O'Shea an answer to our problems at fullback/wingback for the same reason. I don't know how long we can expect to call up Brady/Stevens/Coleman/Doherty there. But who are the alternatives? Manning - not a world beater but i think he has to be a main option. Browne/O'Dowda? Square peg in round holes. Festy? Needs to improve a lot based on his cameos. Adaramola didn't massively impress in Belgium. MacNulty I guess. Roughan seems solidly L1 level.

It's a huge issue - we've no midfield and are 12 months from having no fullbacks. There's only so much Kelleher and Ferguson can do on their own for us! :(
At a push O'Shea could play left-back and Omobamidele could play at right-back - but they would have to be full-backs rather than wing-backs. If you want wing-backs you have Ogbene for the right - but we are badly stuck on the left beyond Ryan Manning.

[Eirambler]

I think it's inevitable that we will start playing at least one centre back in a full back role against stronger opposition before long. It's an obvious tactic against better teams, get an extra natural defender on the pitch and sacrifice an element of attacking from the back in the process, which is probably fine as we won't see much of the ball in those games anyway.

Unless John O'Shea gets the job of course, in which case he'll just play Coleman and Brady until they're 45.

[Demesne Lad]

According to Football League World, Leicester are willing to let Cannon go, but only if they get the new signings they want. Stoke are waiting to take Cannon, whose season at Leicester was blighted by injury.

Stoke City: Tom Cannon and Sam Gallagher could thrive (footballleagueworld.co.uk) (https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/stoke-city-tom-cannon-and-sam-gallagher-could-thrive/)

[JR89]

Safe to assume Cannon has no future at Leicester under Cooper.

1825593526022709422

[CraftyToePoke]

Yeah, saw that & I think even if its how he sees it, its poor from Copper to play it that way publicly and I'd wish him ill for it. The guy is a seven million signing. Clotheslining him like this because the window hasn't gone well ( players not wanting to play for Steve Cooper is a factor in that BTW ) but refusing to let him leave in case he needs him says more about Cooper than Cannon to me.

[Razors left peg]

Thats an outrageous comment by Cooper. Cannon has proven himself to be a very decent Championship striker who they paid good money for. To dismiss a young player like that is disgraceful

[Eirambler]

Was an unused sub tonight. Clearly not fancied there at the moment so I'd say he'll move to the Championship in the next few days now.

Hasn't been a great few days for Leicester PR wise in terms of Irish players with the Shane Flynn stuff as well. Weird that they've never had an established Irish international player in the Premier League in all the years they've been there.

[Demesne Lad]

More from Cooper, no doubt aware that Stoke City are keen to take Cannon:
"For sure Tom’s a good young player who has a future in front of him. It’s our jobs as managers to put the best team out to win games, but it’s also to make sure we put the right programmes on for the younger players. We will do that with Tom. What that looks like at the moment I don’t know, but he’s very much part of today’s work. Until things change, that’s how it will be. But I’m probably better to answer that one closer to the end of the window.”

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/tom-cannon-transfer-update-stoke-9497524 (21 August)

[Eirambler]

Being reported this morning that, in Cannon's case, Leicester's "right programme for the young player" is to cut their losses and sell him to the highest bidder.

[JR89]

Peter O'Rourke reporting a £5M Hull bid, Alan Nixon reporting a £6M Luton bid, and John Percy reporting a £5M Sunderland bid but Leicester want £10M for Cannon.

[ColourfulPeanut]

Pays £7.5mil, player plays 13 games and does nothing of note other than be injured a lot.

"We want £10mil please!"

[John83]

I didn't hear them say please.

[Trequartista20]

Joins Stoke on a season-long loan.

https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2024/august/30/cannon-explodes-onto-city-scene/

[Stuttgart88]

I see Jon Walters has sacked Stoke's manager (https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41476642.html#:~:text=John%20Fallon-,Former%20Ireland%20forward%20Jon%20Walters%20has% 20made%20a%20major%20call,United%20prompted%20Wate rs%20to%20act.) after a poor start to the season. Norwich coach has been approached.

Might have consequences for Cannon and the other Irish there (Lawal, Moran, Strevens, Bonham...)

[Eirambler]

Apparently the reason Cannon chose Stoke over about 10 other teams was so he could work again with Peter Cavanagh, one of Schumacher's backroom staff who coached him at Everton. However he's gone now along with the manager.

[tetsujin1979]

I see Jon Walters has sacked Stoke's manager (https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41476642.html#:~:text=John%20Fallon-,Former%20Ireland%20forward%20Jon%20Walters%20has% 20made%20a%20major%20call,United%20prompted%20Wate rs%20to%20act.) after a poor start to the season. Norwich coach has been approached.

Might have consequences for Cannon and the other Irish there (Lawal, Moran, Strevens, Bonham...)
Has now been appointed
https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2024/september/18/narcis-pelach-appointed-by-potters/

[Razors left peg]

Has now been appointed
https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2024/september/18/narcis-pelach-appointed-by-potters/

Andy Moran must be thinking Deja Vu after similar happening at Blackburn last season. Lets hope the replacement manager likes him more than the replacement at Blackburn did.

[elatedscum]

Wasn't a great penalty shootout for the irish boys last night as all of Tom Cannon, Mipo Odubeko and Ryan Grayden missed penalties with Cannon saved, Odubeko over the bar and Grayden hitting the post. Ex LOI lad Phoenix Patterson also missed his penalty. Overall a pretty woeful 3 scored from 9 penalties.

Tommy Lonergan and Darius Lipsiuc didn't take penalties. Enda Stevens and Andy Moran had been subbed, and both Irish keepers were on the bench, Harrington rested and Jack Bonham not selected - along with Ronan Coughlan who was also rested

[Eirambler]

It's something I've noticed in general - Irish players seem to miss an inordinate amount of penalties in shootouts for their clubs. Hardly any of our senior squad are regular penalty takers for their clubs (are any of them?). And of course the last time we were in a shootout ourselves it was a mess. We haven't been remotely competitive enough to even worry about such things in the last few years, but at some point we'll be in one again and I'd have my fears about how it might go.

[elatedscum]

Evan has missed his last two. Szmodics missed his last penalty.

Idah has taken some pretty important ones for Celtic and has scored every one I can remember for Ireland. I’d also trust Robbie Brady and Troy. That’s pretty much it across a big squad

[Razors left peg]

Evan has missed his last two. Szmodics missed his last penalty.

Idah has taken some pretty important ones for Celtic and has scored every one I can remember for Ireland. I’d also trust Robbie Brady and Troy. That’s pretty much it across a big squad

I think I remember Cullen taking a penalty at some point?

[pineapple stu]

And Kelleher has taken them too of course!

[zero]

cannon on a hattrick heading into the second half at home to Portsmouth.

[Razors left peg]

4 goals now, Goal and assist for Moran. Mark O'Mahony got the only goal so far for Pompy

[MeathDrog]

Any stattos able to tell us who was the last Irish player to score 4 in championship? If any? I can't recall any in Premier League anyway.

[tetsujin1979]

1841582286673723871

[tetsujin1979]

Any stattos able to tell us who was the last Irish player to score 4 in championship? If any? I can't recall any in Premier League anyway.
Robbie Keane scored four for Spurs against Burnley in 2009
https://www.premierleague.com/match/6769

Can't find any in the Championship since 2006, but Troy Parrott did it only recently for AZ against Heerenveen

[Demesne Lad]

First Stoke player to score four in a game since Peter Thorne in 2000.

[Eirambler]

My controversial Irish football opinion/hill that I'm willing to die on is that I honestly think Tom Cannon has a higher ceiling than either Troy Parrott or Adam Idah. Might not be quite as controversial an opinion after that tonight.

[seanfhear]

My controversial Irish football opinion/hill that I'm willing to die on is that I honestly think Tom Cannon has a higher ceiling than either Troy Parrott or Adam Idah. Might not be quite as controversial an opinion after that tonight.
Possibly a better trajectory !

[Fixer82]

I’m sure David Connolly scored 4 for Wolves on a couple of occasions

[Razors left peg]

My controversial Irish football opinion/hill that I'm willing to die on is that I honestly think Tom Cannon has a higher ceiling than either Troy Parrott or Adam Idah. Might not be quite as controversial an opinion after that tonight.


My personal opinion is that Parrott is the best of the 3. I just think hes an all round better footballer and now is adding goals to his game on a regular basis to. Good problems to have picking between them.

[Olé Olé]

I think he is right footed, in which case the second and fourth goals are off his weaker foot. And the second would be an excellent finish if it were off his stronger foot, not to mind his weaker.

https://x.com/reptracker/status/1841603400540291545

[tetsujin1979]

I’m sure David Connolly scored 4 for Wolves on a couple of occasions
Just once for Wolves, in November 1998 v Bristol City, his first goals for Wolves
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And once for Wimbledon against Bradford in November 2002
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/2387847.stm

That triggered a memory for me of hearing that Aldridge had scored four for Tranmere on BBC Final Score. Did some digging, it was against Barnsley in November 1994.
Can't find a match report, but it is listed on the Tranmere season summary on Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994%E2%80%9395_Tranmere_Rovers_F.C._season#Result s

[Demesne Lad]

Leicester may seek to cash in on Cannon in the January window and he is keen to go to Sheffield Utd or WBA.
www.foxesofleicester.com 16 October

[Eirambler]

His reason for signing for Stoke has been moved on, so makes sense that he would want to go too. Could make for a tricky relationship with the Stoke fans for the next few months all the same.

[Eirambler]

Incidentally Stoke fans seem to think he got injured in his last league game, so that might explain why he wasn't added to the Ireland squad when a space opened up.

[samhaydenjr]

Got Stoke's equaliser in their League Cup defeat to Southampton: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cy9j4208dpet - so what currently looks like our five best forward options all scored in the last four days - let's hope they can keep it up and carry this form into the international break

[Jolly Red Giant]

Scored today (penalty) in a 2-1 win.

[Eirambler]

Good to see him back in the senior squad and hopefully he will get his competitive cap this month.

[pineapple stu]

Third goal in three games yesterday - another penalty, but still. Third highest scorer in the Championship at the moment (half from the spot), one ahead of Robinson.

[tetsujin1979]

Nominated for October's Championship Player of the Month
https://www.efl.com/news/2024/november/07/sky-bet-championship-manager---player-of-the-month--october-nominees/

[Eirambler]

No big fuss about it tonight, but at one point Cannon was in "considering his options" territory, so good to see him cap-tied this evening.

[Eirambler]

Another goal for him yesterday. Suspect he might be moving on from Stoke on January, and maybe from Leicester also. Though that might change with Steve "we have no strikers" Cooper getting the boot today.

[Demesne Lad]

Scores again, away to Luton. The assist came from Million Manhoef. I first noticed this lad when (aged 19) he caused some problems for Dundalk in their home game v Vitesse Arnhem, August 2021. The only player I know of named 'Million'. I think Stoke got a bargain.

[Eirambler]

That's 8 goals in 16 games for him in the Championship this season. The last time he got a run of starts was the season before last at Preston and he was 8 in 20 in that spell. At Leicester last season he only started three games but scored twice in them. He's just very consistent at Championship level for his age, in a way that none of our other emerging strikers have been able to demonstrate in that league.

[Demesne Lad]

That's 8 goals in 16 games for him in the Championship this season. The last time he got a run of starts was the season before last at Preston and he was 8 in 20 in that spell. At Leicester last season he only started three games but scored twice in them. He's just very consistent at Championship level for his age, in a way that none of our other emerging strikers have been able to demonstrate in that league.

Absolutely right. Cannon, Szmodics and indeed Azaz are/were consistent starters in the Championship and are up to that standard, and perhaps higher. Unfortunately Idah and Parrott have not been; we can only hope that they may be late bloomers. Ferguson? Too early to say.

[Eirambler]

Cleared one off the line at the other end as well. And still ended up on the losing team. What's been even more impressive in his Championship career is that he has managed to score regularly in relatively poorly performing teams. Neither Preston two seasons ago or Stoke this season are any more than mid table mediocrity, and would likely be even worse without his goals. It would be good to see him get a proper run as a regular starter in a promotion chasing team to see what he could do in that environment.

[samhaydenjr]

Scores again, away to Luton. The assist came from Million Manhoef. I first noticed this lad when (aged 19) he caused some problems for Dundalk in their home game v Vitesse Arnhem, August 2021. The only player I know of named 'Million'. I think Stoke got a bargain.

He should go and protest against some injustice. It would be the Million Manhoef March