Sammie Szmodics F Derby (loan from Blackburn Rovers) b.1995

I’d be uncomfortable with an Irish player deliberately handling the ball into the goal in an Ireland match. I don’t like diving either but there are degrees to which I don’t like it, from outright deceit to playing for a careless lunge or going down to make sure the ref knows you’ve been fouled or impeded.

But what really rankles with the Smodics thing is doubling down on the incident and vigorously protesting innocence to the ref who actually called it 100% right and imho Smodics should have accepted it.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

But what really rankles with the Smodics thing is doubling down on the incident and vigorously protesting innocence to the ref who actually called it 100% right and imho Smodics should have accepted it.

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Absolutely. It was clear as day, and h's just being a *****. Would it still be the "right thing to do" [sic] if he was given a two-match retrospective ban and a fine?

Of course there will always be cheats in footballs - I don't think anybody denies that - a lot of people are ********s in general so it's to be accepted. We still legislate against murder, drink driving, fraud and any number of other things too despite the fact that they will always happen.

Obviously all of these things are more significant than what happens on a football pitch but surely, even on it's smaller scale, football should take steps to minimise cheating? Szmodics is far from alone in this but this culture of being caught red-handed and persisting in your lie SHOULD be stamped down upon hard. I can't understand any objection to a retrospective ban tbh.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Absolutely. It was clear as day, and h's just being a *****. Would it still be the "right thing to do" [sic] if he was given a two-match retrospective ban and a fine?

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Probably not, because there would then be a negative impact to the team as they would lose an important player. But you know as well as Sammie did at the time that's just not going to happen. He had nothing to lose by trying it - I agree that it should be legislated against more strongly, as should other things in football (the way players are allowed to speak aggressively to the ref without much fear of getting any more than a yellow card is something I don't like personally).

But, in the absence of any genuine will to bring in stronger sanctions for these issues, players are correct to push the boundaries where they can get away with it. If they're not doing that then arguably they're not doing their jobs correctly.

Ah ~ ~ I'll say it ~ ~ A little bit of me likes the down-right competitiveness of it.

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Originally Posted by Demesne Lad

Hear, hear! I'm not interested in supporting any team or individual whose ethos is just 'don't get caught'.

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Red Rover, Red Rover, I call Demesne Lad over!

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Originally Posted by SkStu

Red Rover, Red Rover, I call Demesne Lad over!

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Just getting me boots! :-)

Being a football fan is not about being rational. I want my players to cheat, fight, waste time and basically anything to win. If the opposition do it I hate them forever.

Fan is short for Fanatic, we are not supposed to be reasonable.

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Being a football fan is not about being rational. I want my players to cheat, fight, waste time and basically anything to win. If the opposition do it I hate them forever.

Fan is short for Fanatic, we are not supposed to be reasonable.

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And in such situations, hypocrisy is deemed rational and acceptable!

Szmodics starts in what's a big game for Blackburn who need a result to have any chance of making the playoffs.

Thumps the crossbar with a cracking volley from just outside the box in the 92’ - great technique.

Just finished now and they’re still in the running.

Blackburn need West Brom and Sunderland now to drop points on the final day and beat Millwall themselves to overtake Millwall for that final play off spot.

They really needed the win tonight to avoid having to rely on West Brom and Sunderland to drop points as their goal difference is a lot worse on -3.

Looks a very long shot for Blackburn now. I'm not sure how much game time Szmodics would have gotten if they'd been promoted anyway.

Looking at the other possible teams who could get promoted through the playoffs it looks a weak enough bunch this year. Any of them would need major investment to have much chance of staying up if promoted.

From an Irish point of view it's:

Luton - no regular Irish starters, Louie Watson is a squad player
Middlesbrough - Darragh Lenihan
Coventry - Luke McNally, but he's only there on loan
Millwall - Dan McNamara
Sunderland - no Irish players (Cirkin Irish born)
West Brom - O'Shea (injured) and Molumby

Lenihan at Boro or the West Brom lads would probably have the best hopes of playing regularly in the Premier League if promoted. Not beyond possibility that O'Shea might get a move up in any case as West Brom need to sell players if they don't go up.

Could see McNally going back to Coventry if they get promoted. Though think he'll probably be back at Coventry even if they're not promoted. As for Szmodics I think he'd play enough games because financially Blackburn haven't got the money to spend.

They'd need serious investment just to have the slightest chance of competing to stay up. Strike me as the Norwich type to be like yup we've got the TV money now and will get the parachute payments on relegation. Let's strengthen a bit now but with the view of gaining promotion again once relegated.

A mixed day so far for Sammie - missed a penalty in first half, scores two in the second.

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Originally Posted by Demesne Lad

A mixed day so far for Sammie - missed a penalty in first half, scores two in the second.

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Is that not a good day at the office! ?

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Originally Posted by Diggs246

Is that not a good day at the office! ?

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I forgot to mention that - after the penalty miss - Sammie, from a LWB position, passed the ball inside, straight to an opponent who scored. Szmodics also got booked in the first half and admitted after the game that he was not very happy at the interval. Fair play to him for pulling himself together and making amends.

Has two goals to his name so far today.

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Originally Posted by JR89

Has two goals to his name so far today.

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Yet clearly not good enough to force his way into an Ireland squad boasting a superfluity of world class midfield talent.

It defies all understanding how Kenny can continually overlook Szmodics' claims to a place in the squad. You'd have thought he was exactly the kind of midfield player the team is crying out for.

If nothing else, the Ireland manager should, as a minimum requirement, pick the best players available to him.

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Originally Posted by Trequartista20

It defies all understanding how Kenny can continually overlook Szmodics' claims to a place in the squad. You'd have thought he was exactly the kind of midfield player the team is crying out for.

If nothing else, the Ireland manager should, as a minimum requirement, pick the best players available to him.

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How dare you suggest that Szmodics is more deserving of a place in the squad before Jimmy Jeff Hendrick.

Maybe Kenny feels Szmodics is too much of a risk at international level. He's looking for someone who's been there and done that.

He needs the Jeffy Hendrick experience.

Let’s not be disingenuous - Szmodzics is competing with Smallbone, Knight and maybe McGrath for a place.

Horses for courses, I think he’s probably more competing with the likes of McGrath and to some degree Smallbone. I’d absolutely have him ahead of McGrath (who doesn’t let us down but doesn’t do much either - a Kenny favourite without doubt) and don’t think Hendrick has much of a future left in an Irish shirt.

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Originally Posted by elatedscum

Let’s not be disingenuous - Szmodzics is competing with Smallbone, Knight and maybe McGrath for a place.

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Sorry - had left my post sitting unposted and didn’t see this when I went back to it. Agree completely.

He completed many passes today.

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Originally Posted by elatedscum

Let’s not be disingenuous - Szmodzics is competing with Smallbone, Knight and maybe McGrath for a place.

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McGrath, should not be in contention. Szmodics tearing it up & offering something different

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Originally Posted by SkStu

Horses for courses, I think he’s probably more competing with the likes of McGrath and to some degree Smallbone. I’d absolutely have him ahead of McGrath (who doesn’t let us down but doesn’t do much either - a Kenny favourite without doubt) and don’t think Hendrick has much of a future left in an Irish shirt.

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I thought McGrath let us down against Netherlands. Portugal and Serbia where he could tuck in and then had a little space on the counter were times he has done okay. When the Dutch sat in and we were chasing the game, he was very exposed. There was one stage where he was played through and he didn't have the speed of feet or mind to take the ball with him to create the scoring chance.

In fairness, that is a high bar i.e. chasing a goal against the Dutch and one could say that the expectation is unrealistic but I thought there were another few times where he miscontrolled the ball or couldn't find a pass and he was just exposed in a way that Knight and Browne and other players were not in similar situations on the night.

Szmodzics was impressive yesterday - zero reason for him not to be picked.

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

I thought McGrath let us down against Netherlands. Portugal and Serbia where he could tuck in and then had a little space on the counter were times he has done okay. When the Dutch sat in and we were chasing the game, he was very exposed. There was one stage where he was played through and he didn't have the speed of feet or mind to take the ball with him to create the scoring chance.

In fairness, that is a high bar i.e. chasing a goal against the Dutch and one could say that the expectation is unrealistic but I thought there were another few times where he miscontrolled the ball or couldn't find a pass and he was just exposed in a way that Knight and Browne and other players were not in similar situations on the night.

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No, I agree with you and more or less would see it the same in terms of what he contributes or doesn’t. Just a difference, maybe, in what it means to let the team down. He’s functional but not what is needed in that position. In his defence I think he does usually tend to his defensive duties pretty well and I thought he actually had one of his better games against Portugal.

Szmodics would appear to add a lot more dynamism to the position and a more credible goal threat. He’s playing at a way higher level too so his omission from squads is pretty boggling. Must be something else to it? The biggest thing against Szmodics is that we just don’t know if he truly is the answer but that is only because Kenny hasn’t taken a look. It’s weird.

Weirder still as Kenny has actually called him up before. So he clearly wanted to have a look before the shoulder and passport issues.

Very strange given his form and our lack of creativity in midfield, particularly with Johnston out.

I’ll hold my hand up and say I’ve never watched him play apart from highlights. Never excited me for some reason. Perhaps if he keeps going like this over the season I’ll watch a couple of his games… don’t think he will make or break Irelands international future despite the Twitter maniacs

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Originally Posted by tommy_c12000

I’ll hold my hand up and say I’ve never watched him play apart from highlights. Never excited me for some reason. Perhaps if he keeps going like this over the season I’ll watch a couple of his games… don’t think he will make or break Irelands international future despite the Twitter maniacs

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Ah it's always good to have one player who the manager should pick but doesn't. Sammie would have dominated the French.

Scores again.

Gets the equalizer for Blackburn away to Ipswich. 5th league goal of the season I reckon.

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Originally Posted by SkStu

Gets the equalizer for Blackburn away to Ipswich. 5th league goal of the season I reckon.

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Excellent goal it was too.

My concern is that Kenny is so committed to defending his performance and selections, he is not open to admitting mistakes and therefore open to learning and improvement. Its not even a mistake, rather a decision at that point in time. All manangers make mistakes.

On that basis, I fear Kenny will be more focused on developing his narrative for not selecting Sammie , as opposed to making a change and it not being an issue. Having said that many of us were surprised at his ommission for the last squad.

Is he actually eligible to play for us? He was called-up for the Andorra/ Hungary games in May 2021 with an apparent injury ruling him out. It has since transpired his paperwork wasn't in order with the Lancashire Telegraph reporting in March 2023 that he is finally eligible to play but with no direct quotes from the player or the FAI (https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.u...l-eligibility/)

Another goal today against Leicester. Currently 2 - 1 down but Moran again looking class.

Playing as a striker it seems.