Johnny Kenny F Celtic b.2003

[sbgawa]

Kenny works so much harder than Idah. You could say that doesnt matter but when you have a forward in a bad patch but is working hard fans will live with him but if you arent scoring and arent working the fans turn. Thats what happened at Celtic for Idah i reckon

[CraftyToePoke]

Is Kenny the most under rated young player we have that is playing 1st team football at decent level? I dont rate him at all tbh, but does anyone here think of him as a potential regular international in future?

Most under the radar maybe, in terms of the club he's at. The rest of it depends on what he does between now and the January sales. This is his chance, everything has fallen his way suddenly. What I did like was the two goal bounce back after missing two chances in the previous game, where you'd expect him to notch one of them, surely. They weren't easy openigs but you'd see fellas putting them in as well.

[Razors left peg]

Under the radar is more how I meant it alright!

[Bottle of Tonic]

He's not at all close to being an international level striker yet but he has the cut of a fella that can improve if things go his way. Idah by contrast looks like he is where he is. Ferguson needs a shrewd next move and maybe he will end up just fading away sadly.

JK benefited last night v Falkirk in playing in a more traditional system where the object of the game seemed to be to get the ball in the final third and try and create chances around the box and score goals. So he was involved as a centre forward. In Rodgers (and many other modern, in vogue) systems he would have barely got a touch while Mcgregor and Scales notched up 300 touches a piece.

So he has a bit of a chance now for a few games under MON where he should see the type of ball that most modern centre forwards don't get.

Good luck to the lad I hope he makes something of it.

[elatedscum]

Think I may have mentioned it on the Idah thread at one stage. But I did talk to someone a while back who knew both well and has coached them. He said he'd take Kenny any day and his ceiling is far higher than Idah. I was surprised at that, but maybe it's an indication that Kenny really is underrated and if he does get a proper chance at Celtic he could go to a higher level.

obviously i've never coached either but that feels so wrong. Idah scored goals all the way up. He scored 23 underage goals for us compared to Kenny's 5 goals. Idah's done it a higher levels. Idah has always been faster, stronger, technically better and a better finisher than Kenny. I think Kenny works harder and is more versatile and capable of playing across the frontline better than Adam. I'd do actually think Jonny could have a 20 goal season for Celtic now if he gets enough playing time. Both himself and Adam make great runs and under O'Neill they'd be more likely to be fed and both often find themselves in the right areas. Thinking about the last Ireland match against Armenia, you could look at Adam's three misses or whatever it was but actually he got into areas where those chances could be created and in that respect he was a breath of fresh air.

[texidub]

Just going on gut feeling, I think Kenny really has been underrated by people. He was great for Rovers, is now doing fairly well at Celtic. He seems more agile and mentally sharper than Idah. If Kenny keeps that trajectory up, I don't see why he can't go up another level. I'd still have Idah over him for now... just for sheer physicality, but there's not much in it and the positions might reverse in a year or two.

[ontheotherhand]

His movement v Falkirk was superb. Was in great positions whenever Celtic attacked and could've been set up for more goals. He's a confidence player so hopefully he goes on a run because I think he is well able for Celtics level and possibly another above. Just needs to play. Depends on the style of play though, as said above.

[Kingdom]

Is Kenny the most under rated young player we have that is playing 1st team football at decent level? I dont rate him at all tbh, but does anyone here think of him as a potential regular international in future?

I think that we are at a stage whereby we can't really discount anyone or anything under a particular age.

[Kingdom]

obviously i've never coached either but that feels so wrong. Idah scored goals all the way up. He scored 23 underage goals for us compared to Kenny's 5 goals. Idah's done it a higher levels. Idah has always been faster, stronger, technically better and a better finisher than Kenny. I think Kenny works harder and is more versatile and capable of playing across the frontline better than Adam. I'd do actually think Jonny could have a 20 goal season for Celtic now if he gets enough playing time. Both himself and Adam make great runs and under O'Neill they'd be more likely to be fed and both often find themselves in the right areas. Thinking about the last Ireland match against Armenia, you could look at Adam's three misses or whatever it was but actually he got into areas where those chances could be created and in that respect he was a breath of fresh air.

I've said it to friends from here, Adam is like a wish version of Pippo Inzaghi. The amount of chances that come his way (especially in the context of teams who wouldn't create that much) are indicative of a good footballing mind. The amount of chances it takes to actually score one is reminiscent of auld 'Pippo.

[John83]

He's not offside nearly enough to draw Inzaghi comparisons!

[joey B]

Great first half hour for him in the Old Firm,goal and looking very lively….

[Fixer82]

Yeah he really needs to be called up

[Predator]

Took his goal nicely. Hopefully he keeps going now. Confidence is such a huge factor for strikers in particular and he should bang in a few more if he can ride this wave.

[pineapple stu]

Taken off at half-time with Celtic 3-0 down away to Midtjylland in the Europa League; seems to have been fairly ineffectual, although the same could be said for most of the team. May well still get called up if Ferguson doesn't make it (and he's not in Roma's squad tonight), but I think the SPL seems particularly bad this season, so I don't know how much an option he is for us even if he is getting a couple of starts for Celtic.

[Eirambler]

The SPL is absolutely terrible these days, the closing of the gap between the two Glasgow teams and the rest isn't because the rest have gotten any better. You only have to look at the Irish players that are performing in the division - Scales, Kenny, O'Hora, McGrath, Ferry, Phillips, McEntee, Molloy etc. Most of them would be down in League 1 and League 2 if they were playing in England - Scales would be the only one that would potentially hold down a starting place with a Championship team.

[elatedscum]

The SPL is absolutely terrible these days, the closing of the gap between the two Glasgow teams and the rest isn't because the rest have gotten any better. You only have to look at the Irish players that are performing in the division - Scales, Kenny, O'Hora, McGrath, Ferry, Phillips, McEntee, Molloy etc. Most of them would be down in League 1 and League 2 if they were playing in England - Scales would be the only one that would potentially hold down a starting place with a Championship team.

I know Jamie McGrath didn't do it at Wigan but I honestly think he's easily good enough to do it in the championship

[Eirambler]

My recollection is that he wasn't even getting his game with them when they were in League 1.

[pineapple stu]

Yep. No idea what happened there, but started one league game early on, then got one minute over the rest of the season, and was mostly not even in the squad. There's "not doing it" and there's that.

[Trequartista20]

Given the injury situation, I probably would have had McGrath in the squad. A hard worker with a degree of guile and good set-piece ability.

Kenny should be in, but we rarely select players based on form.

[pineapple stu]

Scores again today, against Kilmarnock.

With Ferguson not in the Roma squad, you'd imagine Kenny will be added in the next day or two

[Fixer82]

Given the injury situation, I probably would have had McGrath in the squad. A hard worker with a degree of guile and good set-piece ability.

Kenny should be in, but we rarely select players based on form.

The fact that McGrath has never disgraced himself in a green jersey tells me he’s more than good enough for League 1 or Championship.
The manager probably just didn’t fancy him or had another player in his position he preferred.

Or it wasn’t the manager’s decision to bring him on.

[Kingdom]

Yep. No idea what happened there, but started one league game early on, then got one minute over the rest of the season, and was mostly not even in the squad. There's "not doing it" and there's that.

There's an article about it somewhere, which absolves McGrath of the Wigan debacle

[ontheotherhand]

It's getting lost in the pure ecstasy but Kenny did well in his debut I thought. He was a muscle fiber away from scoring and his movement was excellent. Houghton commented that he shouldn't have been moving so much but I'm guessing that was what he was instructed to do. Fresh legs to do the running so Parrot didn't have to do it all. He kept them busy and played his part. Defensively too, he was back clearing the ball at one point.

[texidub]

Thought the same. He was unlucky not to score with that effort, I thought. Toss of a coin whether it rolls on into the net after goalie's intervention.

[Stuttgart88]

Good job he didn't. The last 10 mins including added time would have been torture!

[Trequartista20]

Could Kenny perform the crucial 'Ogbene role' as a starter if the latter were unavailable for these upcoming games? Seems essential to the way we play with the current system.

He's plenty quick, a hard worker, and seems to know where the back of the net is.

[Kingdom]

Could Kenny perform the crucial 'Ogbene role' as a starter if the latter were unavailable for these upcoming games? Seems essential to the way we play with the current system.

He's plenty quick, a hard worker, and seems to know where the back of the net is.

Absolutely he can - he's shown that he's a live option.


It's getting lost in the pure ecstasy but Kenny did well in his debut I thought. He was a muscle fiber away from scoring and his movement was excellent. Houghton commented that he shouldn't have been moving so much but I'm guessing that was what he was instructed to do. Fresh legs to do the running so Parrot didn't have to do it all. He kept them busy and played his part. Defensively too, he was back clearing the ball at one point.

I couldn't believe it when I heard that - thought it was a stupid, lazy comment from Ray. In context - why did Troy Parrott get so much space for the equaliser? 1. Idah goes deep and retreats which put Szalai (the big knuckle-dragger looking cb) into confusion mode; and 2, because of our movement up to that point, they don't have that certainty across their back 5 (at that stage). The movement in the last 30 minutes is what gets us the chances - we completely befuddled them.

[ontheotherhand]

Absolutely he can - he's shown that he's a live option.



I couldn't believe it when I heard that - thought it was a stupid, lazy comment from Ray. In context - why did Troy Parrott get so much space for the equaliser? 1. Idah goes deep and retreats which put Szalai (the big knuckle-dragger looking cb) into confusion mode; and 2, because of our movement up to that point, they don't have that certainty across their back 5 (at that stage). The movement in the last 30 minutes is what gets us the chances - we completely befuddled them.

Yeah I agree. We had them run ragged and they lost their shape because of it.

Also think Kenny is an option to replace Ogbene. They are very different but Kenny can run with the ball. He's obviously not as physical but he can turn a defender with his back to goal and run channels. He showed that for Rovers many times. Delighted for him. Goes to show what a manager who believes in you (even if it's due to a lack of options) at club level can do. Was getting worried about him under Rogers. Fair play to HH for throwing him in as well. I thought he'd only bring on Idah.

[Fixer82]

Has he fallen out of favour under O’Neill? Unused against Hibs

[passinginterest]

Got taken off at half time a few games ago and hasn't featured since. Not sure if it's a knock or something more to it as he has been on the bench.

[pineapple stu]

Not been coming off the bench either it seems - only one appearance (taken off at half-time) since his run of four goals in four games and his Ireland debut. Football can be rough like that I guess. And hard to argue with Celtic winning five in a row in that time.

[Eirambler]

Got about an hour off the bench today in the Scottish League Cup final after Iheanacho went off injured. He was hopeless to be honest. Much as you could probably say that of most of the Celtic team, there was nothing at all in Kenny's game to suggest O'Neill made a mistake by dropping him.

[pineapple stu]

It seems Nancy's stint as Celtic manager could well be a car-crash. Not going to help Kenny (though I wouldn't rate him hugely anyway) or Scales. Could well see Hearts winning the league this year, which would reflect more on Rangers/Celtic than on Hearts

[Eirambler]

Watching Nancy's interview after the game, he just doesn't get Scottish football at all. It's all good and well coming from a less serious league like the MLS and having a footballing philosophy but, if you can't adapt it to the players you have and the competition they're playing in, then you're wasting your time (obviously we've had a similar problem with a manager in the recent past).

What he's trying to do might work if he'd had a summer to bring in players that suit his style and a full pre-season to work on his ideas with them. But coming in mid-season and trying to play this way with a team that were going well under a Martin O'Neill style of play is a recipe for disaster. He clearly has no interest in changing his approach either.

[osarusan]

Missed one very good chance and one absolute sitter last night.

I get that Nancy's under fire, but Celtic should have been 3 or 4 up at the break yesterday, rather than one.