UK/European Clubs preseason 2023/24

[tetsujin1979]

A few clubs are already in preseason, so should probably start this thread to keep track of things.

[tetsujin1979]

Jamie Bowden was released by Spurs, currently on trial with AFC Wimbledon

[tetsujin1979]

Rocco Vara and Bosun Lawal named as subs in Celtic's preseason game in Japan
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[Razors left peg]

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Alex Murphy played against Rangers for Newcastle

[pineapple stu]

Rocco Vara and Bosun Lawal named as subs in Celtic's preseason game in Japan

Liam Scales too. New manager at Celtic - will he get a look in this year?

[Crosby87]

It seems like the off season is less and less every year!

[elatedscum]

kelleher started for liverpool. halftime now. distribution has been good. made one very good save from a deflected shot which looped over him and he had to dive backwards and tip over the bar. conceded a worldie from a corner. lars stindl managed to power a volley from the corner at the penalty spot.

[pineapple stu]

Jaros (ex Pat's) on for the second half and concedes early.

It's been a quiet pre-season for our guys - some ok moves (Ogbene, Knight, Manning, Duffy) but still a lot of players we're waiting on news of with time starting to run down. Kelleher the obvious one. Parrott. Connolly (if we haven't given up on him). Even Cannon (if he hasn't given up on us). Omobamidele was linked with moves but no news in a while

[Razors left peg]

Omobamideles mother was on Facebook a month ago celebrating the move to AC Milan, must have gone pear shaped since.

[JR89]

Jaros (ex Pat's) on for the second half and concedes early.

It's been a quiet pre-season for our guys - some ok moves (Ogbene, Knight, Manning, Duffy) but still a lot of players we're waiting on news of with time starting to run down. Kelleher the obvious one. Parrott. Connolly (if we haven't given up on him). Even Cannon (if he hasn't given up on us). Omobamidele was linked with moves but no news in a while

Might not get his move till the season has already started given he's been left at home from Spurs pre season tour because of a groin injury.

Wonder what's up with Connolly. Might Brighton be haggling with Hull (assuming they want him back) about the financial details for a loan or trying to get a few quid this summer but insisting they buy him.

After selling Ellis Simms then Cannon would now be seen as third choice CF at Everton. Might not move this summer unless they bring another CF in.

[Razors left peg]

Might not get his move till the season has already started given he's been left at home from Spurs pre season tour because of a groin injury.

Wonder what's up with Connolly. Might Brighton be haggling with Hull (assuming they want him back) about the financial details for a loan or trying to get a few quid this summer but insisting they buy him.

After selling Ellis Simms then Cannon would now be seen as third choice CF at Everton. Might not move this summer unless they bring another CF in.

Aaron Connolly shared an instagram story of himself training in gym today wearing a Hull top... for what it's worth

[CraftyToePoke]

John Joe Patrick Finn got a pre season second half run out earlier for Getafe, the coach, José "Pepe" Bordalás Jiménez who had been favouring him before leaving for Valencia is now back at the club since April.

[Demesne Lad]

Glimpses of Brown, Keane, Cunningham (PNE) and Taylor (Ipswich) in the recent pre-season friendly.
Preston North End 1-2 Ipswich Town - Highlights - Ipswich Town News | TWTD.co.uk (https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/45252/preston-north-end-1-2-ipswich-town-highlights)

[samhaydenjr]

OK, thought I'd better start doing some round-ups here

Aidomo Emakhu scored for Millwall against Gillingham:https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2023/july/15/report---gillingham-v-millwall/

Sinclair Armstrong scored what I believe is his first goal for the QPR senior team against a team that appears to be rivals to Harry Potter's school - Vorwarts Steyr: https://www.qpr.co.uk/fixtures/first-team/2023/vorwarts-steyr-v-qpr/?tab=report

Jake O'Brien has been busy - he recently got ten minutes for Crystal Palace against Watford: https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/match-reports/live-blog-report-highlights-crystal-palace-watford-july-2023/ He also played the full ninety against Crawley: https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/match-reports/live-blog-match-report-crawley-town-crystal-palace-pre-season-2023/; twenty minutes against Brondby:https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/match-reports/live-blog-match-report-crawley-town-crystal-palace-pre-season-2023/; and the first half against Barnet - Sean Grehan came on for the second half in that one: https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/match-reports/live-blog-palace-kick-off-pre-season-at-barnet/

Dara Costelloe scored in a training ground friendly for Burnley against Sheffield Wednesday: https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/clarets-seal-fourth-pre-season-victory


(https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/clarets-seal-fourth-pre-season-victory)

[Eirambler]

Interesting that Jake O'Brien seems to be closer to the Palace first team this pre-season than Adaramola or Phillips. Typical for us of course that a centre back is progressing ahead of a left back and centre midfielder.

[samhaydenjr]

Interesting that Jake O'Brien seems to be closer to the Palace first team this pre-season than Adaramola or Phillips. Typical for us of course that a centre back is progressing ahead of a left back and centre midfielder.

Just to add to that, Adam Alimi-Adetoro has been getting significant minutes in most of Sheffield Wednesday's matches - so of course he's a centre-back

Here's an interesting one - former "Irish Messi", Zak Gilsenan scored for Blackburn against Barnsley - admittedly it was a youthful Blackburn side but he recently signed a two-year contract with a 12-month option: https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2023/july/22/report--rovers-4-3-barnsley/

Jason Knight has started well at Bristol City - he scored his second of preseason against Oxford on Saturday: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/report-bristol-city-4-1-oxford-united/

Callum Robinson has scored three times in Cardiff's pre-season including against Bristol Rovers recently - Mark McGuinness has hit the net twice: https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/pre-season-report-cardiff-city-vs-bristol-rovers

Aidan Keena scored the only goal as Cheltenham beat West Brom: https://www.ctfc.com/news/2023/july/report-robins-1-0-west-bromwich-albion/
Jason Knight has started well at Bristol City - he scored his second of preseason against Oxford on Saturday: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/report-bristol-city-4-1-oxford-united/

[tetsujin1979]

Hodge starts, Fraser and Doherty on the bench for Wolves against Benfica tonight
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[Diggs246]

Hodge starts, Fraser and Doherty on the bench for Wolves against Benfica tonight
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It's Porto I think
But I cant recommend going to a home Benfica game enough. We went to a game last March and my god the atmosphere was off the charts
Real fans, all generations, no trouble.. 50 euro a ticket and the hairs stood on my neck with the build up pre kick off

[tetsujin1979]

It was Burnley who were playing Benfica, sorry about that.
Dara O'Shea started for them, Dara Costelloe was an unused sub
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Elsewhere, David McGoldrick scored this for Notts County
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[Razors left peg]

Alex Murphy seems to be making a bit of an impact in Newcastles preseason. Might get him a decent loan for the season ahead.

[zero]

Alex Murphy seems to be making a bit of an impact in Newcastles preseason. Might get him a decent loan for the season ahead.

played nearly an hour against chelsea - seems to be in and around the first team squad so you'd think that means they must rate him. still only 19 but if he continues progressing he could be a solution to the problem left back position. is Abankwah also left sided?

[tetsujin1979]

Murphy interviewed after the game against Chelsea
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[JR89]

played nearly an hour against chelsea - seems to be in and around the first team squad so you'd think that means they must rate him. still only 19 but if he continues progressing he could be a solution to the problem left back position. is Abankwah also left sided?

Abankwah plays on the right. Did Murphy play LB in the game against Chelsea? Newcastle have been playing him CB for the U21s but at senior level might be easier to ease him in at LB before moving to CB.

Yeah similar to Roughan he's another lad who we should view as a LB even if at club level they play CB long term. Bosun Lawal another that we should play as a DM even if Celtic are trying to convert him into a CB.

[zero]

Abankwah plays on the right. Did Murphy play LB in the game against Chelsea? Newcastle have been playing him CB for the U21s but at senior level might be easier to ease him in at LB before moving to CB.

Yeah similar to Roughan he's another lad who we should view as a LB even if at club level they play CB long term. Bosun Lawal another that we should play as a DM even if Celtic are trying to convert him into a CB.

Yep LB - Schar picked up a knock so Dan Burn moved into the middle with Murphy at left back.

[Razors left peg]

played nearly an hour against chelsea - seems to be in and around the first team squad so you'd think that means they must rate him. still only 19 but if he continues progressing he could be a solution to the problem left back position. is Abankwah also left sided?

Murphy has gone under the radar a little to this point, but he has played a lot of 1st team football for a lad his age. He was in the Galway United team at 16, and even though its only 1st Division its still mens football so hes well able for the physicality. Plenty of lads have had decent preseasons and then are not heard from again until the next preseason so it'll be interesting to watch how this one goes.

The Newcastle fans on twitter seem excited about his preseason performances and seem to think he could be part of their squad for season ahead, but that might be a stretch considering their budget nowadays. Would be cool if he was though, a bonus that we werent really considering for the International team

[tetsujin1979]

he was nicknamed "Robocop" on the nufc forum after some of his performances for their PL2 side last season!

[tetsujin1979]

60 minutes for Kelleher today for Liverpool against Leicester

[elatedscum]

60 minutes for Kelleher today for Liverpool against Leicester

Made a good good save at 0-0 with a one on one against Ndidi

[elatedscum]

Trent Kone Doherty won player of the tournament in the milk cup in Ballymena playing for Liverpool u18s.

Liverpool had another Irish eligible player Kieran Morrison (he's 16, Manchester born, playing for NI u19s).

[tetsujin1979]

Lot of Irish on showlast night for Wolves - Luton
Doherty started for Wolves, Hodge and Fraser came on in the second half, Ogbene was a second half substitute for Luton
https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20230802-pre-season-report-wolves-0-0-luton/
https://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/2023/august/wolves-friendly-report/
Highlights on YouTube
moGGJ_yKemo

Fraser's introduction is confusingly referred to as his "first senior start" in the Wolves report
Also "gilt" (as in "gilt-edged chance") is misspelled. Maybe it's AI generated?

[tetsujin1979]

Blackburn have confirmed their squad numbers for the 2023/24 season
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[tommy_c12000]

Seems like Festy is the the only uncapped player to have a really positive preseason to give us hope he may be in with a shout of starting regularly in serie A? Anyone else giving us credible hope? Need to add to left back, midfield and up top to support Ferguson

[seanfhear]

I know I am getting old but the league seems to be starting earlier and earlier and the Guards are getting younger and younger ! !

[liamoo11]

Seems like Festy is the the only uncapped player to have a really positive preseason to give us hope he may be in with a shout of starting regularly in serie A? Anyone else giving us credible hope? Need to add to left back, midfield and up top to support Ferguson

Joe hodge played a lot in preseason.

Manning slightly different but straight into the Southampton side

[tommy_c12000]

Highly unlikely Hodge will start games regularly this season, wasted 5 months on the bench when he needed a loan in January. John Patrick started a few friendly games, but bench again today when the start of season beckons, worth monitoring to see if he truly has made progress.

[JR89]

Think one or two other Wolves midfielders have been struggling for fitness lately which has seen him start most games.

Alex Murphy got 90mins today against Fiorentina.

[Trequartista20]

Think one or two other Wolves midfielders have been struggling for fitness lately which has seen him start most games.

Alex Murphy got 90mins today against Fiorentina.

Looking so impressive in pre-season and starting Newcastle's final warm-up match before their season opener against Villa suggests that he's going to be close to the Newcastle first team this season.

Gets a good write up in the Evening Chronicle:

'Alex Murphy 8

Slotted in like he's been playing at St James' Park for years.'

And wins praise from his teammate:

'Sven Botman hails 'unflappable' Alex Murphy after what Newcastle teenager did against Fiorentina'

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-botman-alex-murphy-27465821

[Olé Olé]

Looking so impressive in pre-season and starting Newcastle's final warm-up match before their season opener against Villa suggests that he's going to be close to the Newcastle first team this season.

Gets a good write up in the Evening Chronicle:

'Alex Murphy 8

Slotted in like he's been playing at St James' Park for years.'

And wins praise from his teammate:

'Sven Botman hails 'unflappable' Alex Murphy after what Newcastle teenager did against Fiorentina'

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-botman-alex-murphy-27465821
He can't. He can't... Can he?

[pineapple stu]

That's a bit of a mad rise to prominence even if he doesn't start on the opening day!

This guy wasn't even on the radar until what - a month ago?

[JR89]

Looking so impressive in pre-season and starting Newcastle's final warm-up match before their season opener against Villa suggests that he's going to be close to the Newcastle first team this season.

Gets a good write up in the Evening Chronicle:

'Alex Murphy 8

Slotted in like he's been playing at St James' Park for years.'

And wins praise from his teammate:

'Sven Botman hails 'unflappable' Alex Murphy after what Newcastle teenager did against Fiorentina'

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-botman-alex-murphy-27465821

Thought the same but Newcastle have another friendly tomorrow against Villarreal. Still though it's huge for the lad to get this much involvement for pre season. Even last year a month after joining and playing two games for the U21s they brought him into the senior teams pre season.

Not sure if he played senior games but was still big for a teen playing LOI who joined their U21s team to get to train with the seniors a month after joining.

Wonder if he can get himself a loan come January maybe. Possibly back to the LOI for half a season to play CB or drop a couple of leagues in England to play LB. Wouldn't be surprised if he gets minutes in one of the cups at LB.

[Razors left peg]

Thought the same but Newcastle have another friendly tomorrow against Villarreal. Still though it's huge for the lad to get this much involvement for pre season. Even last year a month after joining and playing two games for the U21s they brought him into the senior teams pre season.

Not sure if he played senior games but was still big for a teen playing LOI who joined their U21s team to get to train with the seniors a month after joining.

Wonder if he can get himself a loan come January maybe. Possibly back to the LOI for half a season to play CB or drop a couple of leagues in England to play LB. Wouldn't be surprised if he gets minutes in one of the cups at LB.

Dude he was in the Galway United team at 16 and has 31 senior appearances. That was pretty much the Newcastle 1st team today and he looks like he might have forced his way into the plans there. There was talk a few weeks ago that they have shelved plans to buy a full back because of how well he's done. There is zero chance he goes on loan to LOI, he might be on bench in their opener next week

[CraftyToePoke]

Wonder if he can get himself a loan come January maybe. Possibly back to the LOI for half a season to play CB or drop a couple of leagues in England to play LB. Wouldn't be surprised if he gets minutes in one of the cups at LB.

With the money his club have and the progress he's currently showing despite that, he stays put surely & works hard. Also several top end PL club players are on Championship loans. Why you would want him on what pass for playing surfaces in LOI or in L2 fighting for his life, or think that's what should happen next is strange.

[liamoo11]

Highly unlikely Hodge will start games regularly this season, wasted 5 months on the bench when he needed a loan in January. John Patrick started a few friendly games, but bench again today when the start of season beckons, worth monitoring to see if he truly has made progress.

He didn't waste 5 months. He had missed at least 18 months with injury between 17 and 19 . Last season been in a first team environment with such a high level manager was great progress. He needs to back himself and stay at wolves and fight for his place.

[Eirambler]

Yes, absolutely no chance of Murphy going back to LOI this season. Championship or League One maybe, or might just stay around the fringes of the Newcastle squad, maybe even play a few games.

[tommy_c12000]

He didn't waste 5 months. He had missed at least 18 months with injury between 17 and 19 . Last season been in a first team environment with such a high level manager was great progress. He needs to back himself and stay at wolves and fight for his place.

5 months of reserve team underage football is a wasted 5 months in my book. Let’s see how the season unfolds for him, he hasn’t been premier league standard in his senior outings so far

[Yard of Pace]

Yes, absolutely no chance of Murphy going back to LOI this season. Championship or League One maybe, or might just stay around the fringes of the Newcastle squad, maybe even play a few games.

Newcastle fans BTL on the Guardian under an article about young players to watch this season are very impressed with Murphy:

Alex Murphy another good shout. Potential successor for Dan Burn in that narrow left back spot

He looked so calm and collected when the defence were under pressure in USA, I was most impressed with him, perhaps even more than Lewis Miley.


Sven Botman was full of praise for him too.

[SkStu]

I have seen nothing of him, absolutely nothing, so I ask this question purely out of curiosity - does he jump straight to the head of the line in terms of call ups for the Irish squad in September? Northern Ireland (Bradley, Marshall, Charles), Wales (Ampadu, Williams) and Scotland (Gilmour) have all done it with young players who are on the fringes of the first team squads or match day squads at bigger, more competitive clubs. Or does he need to prove himself a bit more first?

[pineapple stu]

I'd certainly wait and see what happens in the serious world on Saturday. If he's in the squad he may well be an option; it's a bad position for us.

If it was a false dawn and he goes back to the underage league with high praise and a comment that the manager will be watching him closely, then probably no.

[Eirambler]

I have seen nothing of him, absolutely nothing, so I ask this question purely out of curiosity - does he jump straight to the head of the line in terms of call ups for the Irish squad in September? Northern Ireland (Bradley, Marshall, Charles), Wales (Ampadu, Williams) and Scotland (Gilmour) have all done it with young players who are on the fringes of the first team squads or match day squads at bigger, more competitive clubs. Or does he need to prove himself a bit more first?

It's not something we tend to do, Scotland don't generally do it either. Wales and NI do it for two reasons - lack of player depth and to try to tie dual eligible players down. We have a lot more depth available to us, albeit not necessarily depth of quality at left back.

I think the best Murphy can hope for if he stays at Newcastle this season is being a Premier League bench player who maybe gets a late run out or two in the league and starts in early round EFL cup games. The likes of Joe Hodge not getting a call-up from that position suggests that Murphy wouldn't either.

After Christmas there are a lot more variables, he might have kicked on, or gone on loan, and there will almost certainly be a new Ireland manager by then, so anything could happen at that point.

[Yard of Pace]

It's not something we tend to do, Scotland don't generally do it either. Wales and NI do it for two reasons - lack of player depth and to try to tie dual eligible players down. We have a lot more depth available to us, albeit not necessarily depth of quality at left back.

I think the best Murphy can hope for if he stays at Newcastle this season is being a Premier League bench player who maybe gets a late run out or two in the league and starts in early round EFL cup games. The likes of Joe Hodge not getting a call-up from that position suggests that Murphy wouldn't either.

After Christmas there are a lot more variables, he might have kicked on, or gone on loan, and there will almost certainly be a new Ireland manager by then, so anything could happen at that point.

Remember Alan O'Brien had more caps for us than appearances for Newcastle? :-)