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Sure, but he was playing in a poor and poorly set up team, where he continually found himself in a midfield that was overstretched and outnumbered.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
I do think he's looked burnt out in recent months. He played 50 times for Burnley last season, as well as pretty much every available game for us - including meaningless friendlies, which made little sense to me.
On Connor Ronan, I think it's fair to surmise that in the Rapid's setup he's more of a deep-lying playmaker than in an enforcer. But as has been pointed out, his numbers are good, he's a technically proficient player and he could possibly be an option for us.
As to the standard he and Gallagher are playing at, it's not absolutely ideal, but is it greatly worse than the LoI (Talbot, Byrne, Mandriou, Afolabi), Scottish Premiership (Scales, Johnston, McGrath), Eredivisie (Parrott), League One (Horgan, Knight, Hourihane, Curtis, Taylor etc) and the Belgian Pro league (Cullen)?
And I notice other mid-ranking European teams don't seem to be averse to selecting US-based players.
Nope, just seen his name appear a lot last season, so I know he's been playing wellQuote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Taylor's issue is that when he's on it he's brilliant, but he has a lot of games where he's completely anonymous as well. So he has an amazing highlights reel, but that only tells half the story. Obviously if he nails down a starting place at Ipswich and can show that he has added the consistency to his game, he becomes a live option very quickly.
I doubt we'll see any of the MLS lads, Ronan or Gallagher, involved. If you're not already an established Irish international when you go to the US, you're basically choosing to forego your international career for as long as you're there. Ronan isn't good enough anyway, and a decent season with one of the worst MLS teams doesn't move the needle for him. Gallagher didn't stand out at all in the SPL not too long ago, so I'd be surprised if we're missing out on much there either.
Another 90 minutes for him today in a good comeback win over Sunderland. Only caught about 10 minutes of it (beginning of second half) and he was well involved in that short timeQuote:
Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke
Yeah, had an eye on it myself, their first win in six in the league today, from behind to a side also eying promotion so a good one to have started and finished. In the winless run he was subbed on in three, subbed off late in one and wasn't involved when Leeds gave them a 4-0 coating.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
So can he be this guy every week and stay in this time ? Place your bets Stu ;) his history is against him but the coming weeks are a huge career chance.
This was an important win for Ipswich ~ ~ There was a mini-crisis ( maybe even bigger than that ) of draws going on !
I’ll put a fiver each way Crafty.Quote:
Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke
Ipswich are away at Leicester next, Monday night Sky game & he should start after today. Big moments :) no pressure Jack, in your own time there buck a career form pattern & give us a midfield option.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
Compared with the other teams around them, Ipswich are on a shoestring - McKenna has done a remarkable job, even if they don't get promoted.Quote:
Originally Posted by seanfhear
Does anyone know if it’s possible to just buy tickets for one match?
According to FAI email I have to buy a two match ticket pack which I just can’t afford at the moment
OK, with the squad about to be announced, I thought I'd actually answer my own question. So here are the five players I think should get serious time (notwithstanding injuries and commitment to us):
1. Jake O'Brien - playing in a defense with Tagliafico, Matic, Lovren and Caleta-Car and looking awesome!
2. Sammie Szmodics - 21 league goals... 'nuff said
3. Mikey Johnston - eight caps in, he's already vital to us... plus six goals in nine appearances for West Brom - he is on fire!
4. Finn Azaz - almost went with Moran for this spot, but Azaz is a bit more advanced and is in really good form, with nine goals and six assists this season
5. Festy Ebosele - closing in on Paddy Sloan for the title of Irishman with second most Serie A appearances. His defensive play is often lacking and he can be anonymous but when he gets a chance to run at a full-back, he just flies past. Reasonably decent crosses and has a long throw in him, as a bonus
And for a couple of runouts:
1. Andrew Omobamidele - starting to get regular time in the Premier League now. Has seven caps under his belt but five were in 2021 - a couple of runouts would be helpful
2. Andrew Moran - When I started this thread, was going to pick him as one of the five to get more time, as he had started so well for Blackburn. Hasn't been as effective recently, so I put in Azaz. But he's a creative midfielder who's only 20 so I would still give him a couple of appearances off the bench as he might have a real breakthrough later in 2024
3. Will Smallbone - seems to be solid enough, even if he hasn't set the world on fire, so probably good to have him as a backup in midfield
4. Will Keane - 12 Championship goals last season, 12 already this season, doesn't seem to be playing the full 90 all the time so his minutes per goal (152) is only 5 higher than Szmodics's. He's only played 97 minutes for us
5. Aaron Connolly - just edges it over sounding out Cannon. Mixed form so far this season, but at least he has eight goals under his belt - nine caps, but only one since 2021 - no harm in giving him a couple of half-hour runouts
What do you guys think - who would you put in instead? Scales? Armstrong? Hodge? McAteer? And why?
unless it sells out, they'll sell the second match separately once the first match is played...Quote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
Too busy to reply but mostly right I'd say. A front 3 of Johnston-Ferguson-Ogbene could be exciting.Quote:
Originally Posted by samhaydenjr
Would love to see Jake O'Brien called up. Szmodics a no-brainer. I'm not sold on Ebosele at all. And Finn Azaz unfortunately has been dropped to the bench for the last couple of Boro games. I think he's having a hard adjustment there. I'd like to see Moran get some game time and wouldnt be opposed to Alex Murphy getting a squad call up and maybe some minutes.Quote:
Originally Posted by samhaydenjr
Ogbene has been playing as a wing back, not good enough to play in a front 3Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Do we have any better options ? !Quote:
Originally Posted by liamoo11
SzmodicsQuote:
Originally Posted by seanfhear
Build the team from the front. Szmodics has to start with Ogbene and Mikey Johnson either side of him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
And just like that you'd discard Ferguson?Quote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
People are fcuking hilarious
I admit I haven’t really seen a lot of Szmodics. Is he the kind of player who can lead the line by himself?Quote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
Front four of:
Ogbene Szmodics Johnston
..............Ferguson
Pity our options in midfield are meh.
Ferguson is ice cold atm. I’d have him involved but would be easy on the game time with one eye on future competitive games. No need to be over doing it in friendlies, especially against good opposition – likely to be a slough for the player in the 9 position. Midfield options aren’t great but Smallbone is getting plenty of game time with a good Championship side, Knight is finding momentum at Bristol, and I think Cullen would be much better if the team structure is more organised and compact. Not a great midfield, but workable.
I wouldn't describe him as someone who could lead the line like a target man. He is more of a Jamie Vardy type of player (not as fast) but pacy and quick to see an opportunity. Gives defenders fits at times.Quote:
Originally Posted by irishfan86
Not trying to be "hilarious" or funny even. And haven't forgotten Ferguson. But he is not the E100 m striker he is made out to be. He is third in the pecking order (for my money) behind Joao Pedro and Wellbeck. I have said he may even be playing Championship football next season. That may be overdoing it a bit, I don't know, but he is clearly not doing the job he is paid to do right now (and in fairness to him Brighton are not creating that many chances of late, but he still is third choice striker at the club).Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Your not trying to be funny but think he could be in Championship next season.... rightQuote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
Would love to see him tear it up with 7 - 8 goals before the end of the season and kick on to become a world class striker. But right now, he has a long way to go.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
You're out of your mind if you think Ferguson isn't a top class player. He's on a bit of a rough patch, like Hoijlund at United before Xmas, but he's far too good for it to last.
For Ireland he's 1st name on team sheet and we build around him for the next 15 years.
I hope you're right and I am wrong. I honestly do.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg