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Wiki is saying Scales and Festy are both suspended for the first game.
Scales played really well the last two games (and I'm obviously biased towards him) but he's in a position where we have lots of cover. And Festy did not play really well in the last two games, so I don't think either suspension is a particular concern for us.
So it doesn't matter if a player gets a yellow in the semi-final. It won't carry through to the final.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
Scales got two yellows over both matches so he's out for the semi. We might even have Robbie Brady back by then though. Manning is always an option for us....and of course there's Kevin O'Toole :D
We'll no doubt have a few heads suddenly declaring for us as well and despite my aversion to fairweather declarers, I'd take a descendant of the black and tans at left back at this point
I'd say the late declarers will only come in if we qualify for the finals. They'll be all over us like a rash if that happens, including players we never even knew were eligible. As happened with the women's team a few years ago - Sinead Farrelly declaring for us in her 30s and literally only playing for Ireland in 2023, the year of the World Cup.
How is Billy Thatcher-Cromwell playing these days. Could be a good option for usQuote:
Originally Posted by rebelmusic
Scales really does deserve a mention in the Parrott thread for his 2 assists. His effort and headers gave the striker a good chance and were real assists rather than the often giving them to the last other person who touched the ball. Ive been buoyed by the last to games to such an extent that Im not grumbling by this Americanism in Soccer any more:confused:
Being a small nation can really make you properly appreciate international sport and times like last night. My very uninterested parents were talking about how emotional Parrott was in the post match interviews, showing authenticity to something they see as overhyped and superficial. Imagine being a big footballing nation that's expected to win all games, win WCs and European Championships and havent done it, its continuous ultimate under performance - Spain at one time, the Dutch and Belgain (golden generartion) maybe, England still, maybe its not the worst to have the bar relatively low and throw in the drama of grandstand finishes. At least thats how im rationalising the national euphoria at finishing 2nd in a group with 2 more games before it counts for much!
So glad for Troy. A few on here were writing him off. I wouldnt be writing Ferguson off either
She was forced to retire from football in 2024. She also only played her first professional game since her first retirement in 2016 a week before her Ireland call up. Most likely the FAI learned she was returning to football and approached her. She was a cracking player so a disappointment to see her career end the way it did given what she went through before her first retirement.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
Farrellyq was a really good player too, there was a dot in the team's performance when she went off
But I guess that's kind of the point. If we qualified from the playoffs in March and someone like, say, Jacob Murphy at Newcastle who would improve the men's team suddenly "discovered" their Irishness next April or May, aged 31, how would people feel about him being in a finals squad?
Have Leeds really signed him?
Can't remember which of the podcasts spoke about this but apparently his team have a plan that keeps him away from England for another 2-3 years. That could have just been theorizing but apparently they'd be looking at a Valencia level team in Europe next to keep up his development.
I really pray he stays on the continent as a relegation battle and the British media is the last thing he needs at the moment.
With all that said, if his stock keeps rising and he heads towards that 70/80 mill price tag, he may not have much choice in the matter
Off the Ball talked about that this morning. One of the lads on there was saying he should just stay at AZ and never move, that he wouldnt get into a good team in Spain. It annoyed me tbh.Quote:
Originally Posted by rebelmusic
Id love to see him go to Sporting Lisbon, but that my own bias. I would hope the next move is definitely on the Continent for sure, I would hate to see him somewhere like West Ham
Was it this article on the42?
https://www.the42.ie/troy-parrott-ir...74677-Nov2025/
Is the Portuguese league similar to the Eiridivise (or however it's spelled)?
A move to a top 5 that isn't England would be good. There's an ambassadorial aspect as well that might get the continental leagues scouting more in Ireland.
Mainly though he should stay where he is until the summer. A January move would be a major gamble. To circle back, Leeds are desperate for a goalscorer so the rumours are only going to get louder on that front but the way things are going for him I doubt they'd be able to meet AZs price
I think it was the lad from the 42 on one of the podcasts this morning yeah. Cheers for the link!Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Would far prefer to see him stay where he is, keep up his good run of form, take it into the play-offs in March and potentially the World Cup next summer.
A move anywhere else would see him need to start again, find his feet early, and settle in and hit form before the playoffs. Too much disruption really in such a big year.
Yeah I think he should stay put for now. If and when he does move it would be great to see him stay away from England and forge a bit of a new path.
It wasn't that long ago that we were wondering what his best role was. He's found it....turns out it was the one he'd been playing his whole life. Whodathunkit?
Sporting are a far bigger club than AZ. The Portuguese league over all would be stronger than the Dutch too, but I would agree that he should stay at AZ for rest of this season. In the summer I think he'll get a good move, especially if he keeps up this formQuote:
Originally Posted by rebelmusic
Something I thought interesting was buried away in the entertainment pages was that he's on his own over there. Family and partner still in Dublin flying in and out regularly.Quote:
Originally Posted by rebelmusic
Pretty sure he has spoken publicly about living in Amsterdam with his partner.
Was surprised to read that his mum still works in the Mater. I'd imagine once he signs his next contract that will be the end of her needing a day job.
While AZ are a big club in relative terms - they are a staple of the Eridivisie, a tier below the Big 3, probably on a par with Twente, Hereenveen, Utrecht and the like - As Razor said, they aren't in the same universe as Sporting in any way, shape or form.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
But does Sporting have a €1bn striker on their books? 😛
They've a €100m striker on their books. So, 'no', is the answer lol!Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
His Mutter works in the Matter? Deadly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
Im sure Ive said this on here before, but Troys predecessor at AZ was Pavlidis. He moved to Benfica for a 15 Million fee. Pavlidis scored a lot of goals at AZ so it is a pretty good comparison in terms of possible future moves. Id expect Troys fee to be a lot higher though based on him being a bit younger.
She dispenses parrotcetamol...Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
you're some dose..Quote:
Originally Posted by Eminence Grise
A second election needs rigging
https://www.uefa.com/european-qualif...-of-the-round/
Yeah, most people can take me once every eight hours but shoud seek medical care after five days!;)Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
You are all feckin pillarious...:rolleyes:
I was able to vote multiple times. It seems to be one vote per device.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Vote early. Vote often
A friend in needs a friend indeed, however, a friend who bleeds is better.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
Sorry that was a placebo.
I quite enjoyed this - Troy Parrott and the hero's journey
Seán Cuddy on why the Ireland striker is Neo
https://www.rte.ie/culture/2025/1120...heros-journey/
Joins Haaland with 2 POTR across 10 rounds (Troy played in 4, Erling in 8)
https://www.uefa.com/european-qualif...-of-the-round/
Interviewed by ESPN
Has he started to pick up a bit of a Dutch accent?Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
No, but I've noticed before that he speaks differently when he's being interviewed by the Dutch media. There's a kind of different rhythm to his responses, a little bit slower and in a style that Irish people wouldn't speak in. I think it's probably just so that they can understand him. I noticed when he was interviewed by Tony O'Donoghue the last night that he just spoke in a standard Dublin accent/style so it seems to be something that he is consciously doing over in the Netherlands. I wouldn't say he's gone full Shteve McChlaren though, it's nowhere near that level.
Nah, there’s two or three times there that he gave that Dutch lilt in his response. The sh and dt sounds. Subtle but definitely there. I’m addition to the more precise way of speaking that you mentioned Eirambler.
A bad result for AZ today, but a well taken goal by Parrott. For a lot of his goals in the Netherlands that I've seen, he has been given far too much free time and space to pick his spot, but this one was a quick turn in minimal space and a smart finish off the inside of the post - a very difficult goal to defend at any level. He continues to look like he's ready for the next step and there's sure to be interest in January, even though the plan was originally for him to see out the season in the Netherlands. I'd say from an Irish point of view he'd be better staying in the environment he's in until the summer but we might be getting to the point where money dictates that that's no longer possible.