Is it getting a bit worrying that Preston have only scored one goal in 6 league games? Incredibly, they’ve won 1 and drawn 5 as they haven’t conceded a goal either!
Printable View
Is it getting a bit worrying that Preston have only scored one goal in 6 league games? Incredibly, they’ve won 1 and drawn 5 as they haven’t conceded a goal either!
He’s been playing v well, scored in league cup game. His finishing has been poor though, he seems to be certainly getting the chances. He knows himself his finishing needs to improve and I’m sure he’s working hard on it.
Today it seems he was isolated up front in a lone role, didn’t do much, so this game seems to be the exception to the good games he’s been having. In time, things should happen. But there is a Deja vu feeling about it again which is a bit uneasy
It's a positional thing now with Troy. Pretty soon if he continues not to score, he will be seen as as a goal provider or attacking midfielder rather than a goal scorer. Which, if it happens, will begin yet another quest to find the next Robbie Keane.
And your last point there is the problem because there will never be another Robbie Keane, and young Irish strikers are probably getting unneeded pressure put upon them with "can he be our next Robbie Keane". Think it's been clear for awhile that Parrott is more of a 10 and not a 9. Even Kenny when talking about the lad on his first call up to replace McGoldrick said he's the most similar to McGoldrick and that's why he specifically called him up.
Crikey - define "that good" - Only 3 CONMEBOL and six UEFA players have scored more international goals than him. He scored more international goals than Cavani, Batistuta, Rooney, Henry, van Persie, Brazilian Ronaldo, Romario, Koller, Villa, Zlatan, Batistuta, to name a few... and he played for Ireland! He was a revolutionary striker for us, creating his own chances, regularly scoring worldies, as opposed to just getting on the end of crosses.*
*I've just realized you may have been joking, in which case disregard that last rant
Keane was great for Ireland, but as I stated previously he wasn’t world class for me. He failed at the very top level with inter milan, failed at Liverpool - sold back to Spurs at a cut price. That was the highest level he succeeded at club wise. Different standards for different folks when it comes to world class I guess. He was a very good player and was brilliant for a limited irish side. A world class striker would have played and succeeded at a top club side. Robbie did not
It's definitely not impossible that we could produce another striker who has as strong a club career as Keane had. I don't think we'll be producing another one that scores 68 international goals in any of our lifetimes though.
The thing Keane had was consistency especially at Int. level but also club football. By top strikers standards he was a few rankings down but consistency wise he was incredible. I think that explains his goal scoring stats. He was around forever as well, Ireland are bad but not that bad and Keane was always around. He did it against everyone but you(if you're as good as Keane) can easily rack up goals against the lower seed teams. Keane played for Ireland when there was an abundance of matches and the gap between the good/average teams and the lower European one's was extremely wide. As stated, it should be possible to produce another player of his ability, so far we haven't come anywhere close. Look at Sweden and Isak. He might not be as good as Ibra but he looks like he'll be a legit Keane level player at least. Before that they had Henrick Larsson so that's a top level striker pretty much every generation. Ireland can't even get a decent 10 goal a season top tier goalscorer.
Difference being the rest of Europe moved with the times and the FAI still thought it was 1997 for about the next twenty years till that generation were over the hill and/or retired.
Be that as it may it still doesn't mean that expecting a striker to develop that can actually score goals. Players like Parrott who can't score are a dime a dozen and it's okay for people to wonder who the next great player will be. Robbie Keane wasn't that good. Nobody really expects the next Roy Keane because he was like a once in a century player for a team like Ireland. Robbie Keane is a once in a generation player. It's a hard one because his record was so good but he was like a Craig Bellamy level player.
parrott will never be prolific hes got great attributes to play behind a striker in a 2. preston struggling big time to create good chances though bar the game before last. rwb a big issue for them according to fans. hopefully lowe puts riis in the team, himself and parrott should work well together
I’m not quite 100 but I can think of several midfield players who were at least on a par with Roy Keane. Brady, Giles, Whelan (R) come to mind. I think the Bellamy comparison with Robbie is a little bit unflattering to be honest. His international record is way better. When he played alongside Berbatov at Spurs they were probably perceived as being similar level players. Benitez never really wanted him at Liverpool and I don’t think he got a fair chance, but during his two spells at Spurs I’d be surprised if his goals record wasn’t better than anything Bellllamy managed.
If robbie had stuck with one premier league club. There would now be a stand now named after him. He moved around willy nilly Liverpool is only one chapter. Anyone who thinks we will have another robbie in the next 20 years isn't understanding history. Quinn, aldo, Stapleton etc circa 19 International goals. Robbie 68! Its not complicated
Can't even develop strikers that will get 125 PL appearences never mind 125 PL goals but people are hoping the next Robbie is just around the corner. If we develop a decent championship scoring striker we should be delighted never mind a top level PL scorer.
I think this is the best point of view - 125 PL goals in 350 games is excellent but attainable - 68 International goals in 146 appearances is phenomenal. I'm optimistic about the future of our current striking options but not because I think there is somebody comparable to Keane there who will score over 60 goals for us, but because I think there is scope for the youngsters to combine to match the scoring record of Keane and his main striking team-mates through his Ireland career (Quinn's last 4 years, Morrison, Doyle, Long and Walters) - a total of 127. For that, we need 4 forwards capable of scoring 30 goals, or 5 capable of 25, etc. And while that has never happened in Irish football before, I can see it happening now, with so many hugely talented youngsters breaking through at the same time.
I can definitely see Parrott, Obafemi and Idah being able to get 30, we'll see if Connolly can turn things around. The next year should us allow to start really evaluating whether Ferguson, Odubeko and OkoFlex could also be capable of scoring significantly more than Niall Quinn - I'm going to make a bold statement and say that I think Evan Ferguson might be the forward counterpart to Nathan Collins in terms of ability. And, given how awesome his cameos for QPR have been to date, Sinclair Armstrong might also bring something special to the national team. And, now that he appears to have found his scoring boots, even Chiedozie Ogbene could hit 20-30. So between those nine, I think 125 international goals is possible (they're already 5% of the way there!)
Sorry Sam, your optimism is admirable but fanciful. There's a lot of hope, hype and best wishes for these guys but I cannot see any of them reaching such heights. Idah has been unlucky with injuries but his performances for Norwich and Ireland simply do not earn that forecast. Parrott the same, lots of promise, a good Scotland goal, a Lithuania face saver and a few at L1 level - but 30 goals for Ireland? Unlikely. And Connolly? - it won't happen, fullstop. Best outside bet is Obafemi if he stays fit and interested - but, again, 30 goals is a big call. Throw in Ogbene and I still doubt their combined total will trouble Keane's record.
No, they won't all reach 30. I'd say maybe one might - Parrott might be the best bet as he's already on four. So to get to 30 he'd need to average two goals a year for 13 years which would take him up to 33 years of age. That doesn't seem an unreasonable target for him.
Unfortunately I'd be surprised if all three of Connolly, Obafemi and Idah are all still playing at a high level into their 30s. Injuries are bound to take out one or two of our emerging players as time goes on and both Obafemi and Idah have had their issues already. Connolly has the talent to come back and have a good career but he could as easily be out of the game in three years time if he doesn't turn things around fairly sharpish.
First defeat of the season for Preston - but after eight games, they've two wins (both 1-0), five draws (all 0-0) and one defeat (1-0)
So three goals in eight games. You wonder what the record for going on this sort of run is.
Ogbene scoring again tonight for Rotherham...gives Kenny food for thought over the next few weeks
In fairness a few players were desperate in those first two games. Molumby and Browne coming in made a big difference energy wise with Robinson, Hendrick, Coleman/Christie not in the XI. Obviously the two lads up top were the difference makers on the score sheet but we were so lackluster in the middle of the pitch for the first two games.
Armenia at home yeah I think Ogbene is gonna be nullified easily because they're gonna sit men behind the ball but away to Scotland and they will more than likely need to get a result against use so will have to attack us leaving space and their defence isn't good.
He's just not got enough if the attributes you need to be good up there. Scotland may leave space but we will also have spells of possession. We'll need some ball retention from goal kicks etc. Ogbene is poor with his back to goal. Kennys insistence on him being a forward is one of his most bizarre stances imo.
Parrott will likely be in the squad and probably in the team to face Scotland. He barely deserves the former and certainly not the latter. He's young, promising and all the rest, but if we're serious about the here-and-now then Hogan, Keane and Ogbene - limited as they are - are the candidates. The form players, those most likely to score at this point in time.
Hogan and Keane have looked miles off international level any time they have played for Ireland. Miles. Parrott has done well and has scored.
You are obviously ranking club form above all else. But I can't agree with that. Hogan and Keane haven't adapted to international football like they have lower Championship/upper League One football. They haven't adapted to their teammates, the environment, the playing style etc of the international team.
Parrott currently looks miles off a standard where these guys are scoring. Miles. Current club form must go beyond tokenism. That a clearly struggling player should get preference over those who aren't seems basically unfair. Having said that, I'm jumping the gun before a squad or team is selected.