After three appearances on loan for Elgin City, he made his debut for Inverness Caledonian Thistle yesterday against Crusaders as a second half substitute for Jake Mulraney.
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After three appearances on loan for Elgin City, he made his debut for Inverness Caledonian Thistle yesterday against Crusaders as a second half substitute for Jake Mulraney.
on the bench for Lincoln today, after his move from Waterford was completed on New Year's Day
Time to resurrect this thread. A few of us were saying that we were surprised he hasn’t had much of a look in yet at Lincoln City who are flying high in league 1 after his recent Irish u21 showings. Zach was MOTM (goal and 2 assists) tonight, granted only FA league trophy vs Shrewsbury. But I think we will see a lot more of him with Lincoln City this season, on the back of this performance
Linked with a loan move down to League 2, possibly Bolton, for the rest of the season. Would be good to see him get a run of first team football as he hasn't had that since joining Lincoln.
Based on everything I've seen of him at under 21 level for Ireland, the reports of cup outings for Lincoln and his skillset, I reckon he would rip it up at League Two level. Bolton are a big club and he would have a serious marksman at that level in Eoin Doyle to be supplying. I definitely think you're right and that a proper run will do him a lot of good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
Confirmed now to Bolton for the rest of the season.
Is that a general statement that you rate him, or is there some specific characteristic he has that prompted that?Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Starts for Bolton today.
Bit of both. He seems to thrive out wide with his pace and trickery. I would have thought that League Two with potentially slower full backs and a good striker in Doyle would also be a help.Quote:
Originally Posted by John83
Was subbed off at half time today and seems to be getting an awful lot of stick from Bolton fans online for his display. Surely it's too soon to judge him though, he's only been there a week.
Delighted for this guy and his move to AIK. It didn’t happen for him at Lincoln or Bolton last season, but he really impressed me towards the end of his Irish under 21 career. He clearly impressed the former Swedish U21 assistant manager who saw Elbouzedi play against his side twice a couple of years ago as he’s now taking Zach to AIK. They are already into their season, AIK lie 5th. Wishing him all the best, hopefully he’ll get some game time!
Interesting move. Football wise the standard is comparable to what he has been playing (L1/ L2) but the infrastructure is a step-up (AIK's stadium is the national stadium). Swedish club football is slower, less physical and more deliberate - so should suit him depending on how he adapts off-the-field.
A three and a half year deal is pretty good going for him
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/...-40337891.html
Very nice move for him. Lower divisions of English football obviously didnt suit him
Yep. He's joining a squad that had a couple of players at the Euros, its some jump up from L2. Shows what underage international football, or rather excelling at that level, can do for your profile.
I wouldn't be getting too excited about a player going to the Swedish league, having seen it first hand, bar decent crowds it's nothing to write home about.
I think it's probably a sideways step but an interesting step given where he was and given that four players from that league were in the Swedish squad for the Euros, albeit they were all there based on their careers as a whole I would imagine.
It's also a different style of football and one that may suit him and maybe will provide a platform for an international call up or a move to a better league. Or maybe a move back to the LOI.. Who knows.
It's a relatively poor standard, though better than the LoI, and I wish him the very best.
With 11 senior internationals in the AIK squad alone, I'd say it's quite a bit higher than LoI - probably comparable with SPFL, with a few big clubs, padded out by lower standard teams - luckily Zach is going to one of the big ones. Or perhaps it will be like Josh Cullen at AnderlechtQuote:
Originally Posted by Trequartista20
Made his debut coming on as an 85 minute sub, 14k (restricted attendance) at the Friends arena, looks like a great atmosphere...
Highlights here, think he's hitting the corner around the 2min mark in the clip:
He's not taking the corner, but thanks for the highlights, looks like it has the makings of a really shíte move for Zach.
That's the spirit!
In fairness he struggled in League 2 last season so if he can break in to the AIK first team it will have been a good move for him, given his difficulties at club level to date.
First goal for AIK last night, at 6:06 below
Another 90mins last night as his team (AIK) move into first place in the table. Seems the general consensus is he is improving with each game but needs to start contributing with assists/ goals.
Have you seen him playing with his hair twice while on the ball?!
Took a deflection, I think, but still a good strike.
What a long shot. Cap this fellow. Could play right mid a zone we need extra competition
Assist for Elbouzedi in the AIK's second last game of the season.a 4-2 win over Elfsborg
This means AIK are guaranteed European football next season, and have an outside chance of winning the championship in the final weekend of the season. It's unlikely though, they need to beat Sirius, and Malmo have to lose to fourth from bottom Halmstad
Also involved in the third goal, with a cracking drive forcing a parry from the keeper that the AIK forward gobbled up
I think it has to be called a successful move so far. Full season with them next year could be very good. Especially with European football.Quote:
Originally Posted by samhaydenjr
I saw something on twitter yesterday that PSV are looking to sign a pair of 16 year olds from Rovers and Bohs.
Maybe Irish football transfers will start to resemble the now famous post-Brexit ferry map highlighting how UK ports are now being bypassed.
Highlights here
Definitely - even if it's not quite the level where you could say "call him up!" unreservedly, he does seem to be thriving, which is better than bouncing around League One and Two, especially with some European football to look forward to, as you said. In terms of what level he is actually playing at, if we have a look at average salaries in the Allsvenskan, they seem to be about 140-150000 euros (https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comm...f_a_player_in/), which is roughly comparable with League One, and about two-thirds the average salary of a player in the Belgian league, where Josh Cullen plies his trade. AIK's average league attendance in the last full pre-COVID season was close to 19,000, so Championship/Big League One club fan base.Quote:
Originally Posted by dynamo kerry
I think if he builds on his success so far and really becomes integral to AIK's success, then the Josh Cullen comparison is most appropriate and there is definitely a case to be made for inclusion in future squads; however, if he becomes more of a fringe player or goes to a smaller team than AIK, then it becomes more of a Jack Byrne/Dan Crowley in the Eredivisie situation.
AIK won 4-2 in their final game of the season to finish second behind champions Malmo, who drew 0-0, on goal difference.
AIK go into the second qualifying round for the Europa Conference next season.
Sligo, St Pat's, and Derry City are in the first qualifying round
Looking at Swedens national squad, theres loads of Swedish league players making their international team, and they're probably half a step higher than ourselves atm.. so if Elbazoudi is able to play and excel there, theres no reason he shouldn't at least get a look in here.
Longer term, I do think more and more Irish players will be coming through via European teams rather than English/Scottish.. and no harm to see it to be honest
Apparently has been turning down approaches from Javier Clemente to play for Libya, as he aims to play for Ireland. https://www.the42.ie/zack-elbouzedi-...32541-Dec2021/
Don't believe he should be called up to tie him to us, but I think his recent form certainly merits a shot
2 assists and 1 goal this season as a winger in a pretty weak league. The goal he got was a great strike which made people sit up and take notice, but let's not get carried away because he's playing in an unusual league for an Irish player.
A year ago he couldn't get a game for Lincoln. I hope he continues to progress but he's still got a lot to do to merit a call up to seniors
Apparently and by a few accounts, he was playing well but just wasn't getting the assists or his crosses weren't being put away. And I don't think it's fair to say people are getting carried away. And it isn't that weak a league compared to where we are drawing from.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg