Rocco Vata M Watford b.2005

**backstothewall** · 20/12/2024, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by elatedscum

23 man squads are stupid. there's a needless crunch. in the last camp, we ended up not calling up Matt Doherty at all, then calling him up as a late replacement and starting him against Finland. I think we ended up having to call-up four players late to make up numbers: Doherty, Manning, O'Brien and Coventry.

The squad we called up last time initially had 2 full-backs and 5 centre-halves. In what world does that make any sense? HH decides he doesn't want to leave out any of Ferguson, Szmodics, Idah, Cannon or Parrott, which is fair enough - so he's got to find other squad players to leave out and we end up short at full-back and in centre-midfield.

I've heard managers talk about it in the past, if one player has a knock and can't train, you can no longer do 11v11 in training etc. etc. And you end up ****ing people off, who you're gonna depend on. And I think when we're in the shape we're in, larger squads give an opportunity for players to adapt and for managers to really see those players in person etc.

People mocked Martin O'Neill for calling up 30 or so in his squads and trimming it closer to the game. I thought it was a great approach. What's the point of having 4 guys on standby if it's common enough for 6 or 7 to drop out?

**pineapple stu** · 20/12/2024, 12:20 PM

There's probably a middle ground there somewhere in fairness!

**samhaydenjr** · 26/12/2024, 4:36 PM

Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

March is too soon and too important - only players who are ready to go should be in the squad. Possibly for summer friendlies to see if he's an option for WCQ

Way to make me look like like a pompous fool, Rocco! Comes on in the second half and scores an injury-time winner against Portsmouth, his second in four games: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/c1lnql8lngnt

If he keeps this up over the next 6-8 games, then... maybe. A place on the bench, perhaps?

**Eirambler** · 27/12/2024, 9:27 AM

When you compare him to the group of players he came through with in Ireland underage teams - Zefi, Curtis, Ferizaj etc.,.he has moved well ahead of any of those at this point in time. He's easily our standout teenager in senior football at the moment. Of course you cap him if he's happy to fully commit.

**Eirambler** · 29/12/2024, 2:40 PM

At it again with another assist today.

**liamoo11** · 29/12/2024, 9:32 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

When you compare him to the group of players he came through with in Ireland underage teams - Zefi, Curtis, Ferizaj etc.,.he has moved well ahead of any of those at this point in time. He's easily our standout teenager in senior football at the moment. Of course you cap him if he's happy to fully commit.

I'd absolutely agree. He has been excellent for us has been involved since he was 14 has never messed us about played at all levels up along . I would 100% bring him.in to the march squad

**Ol� Ol�** · 29/12/2024, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by liamoo11

I'd absolutely agree. He has been excellent for us has been involved since he was 14 has never messed us about played at all levels up along . I would 100% bring him.in to the march squad

Yep. It's a no brainer. There have been lads that have got a cap for less. Sinclair Armstrong springs to mind. Festy Ebosele and Tom Cannon had a bit more senior football. Andy Moran is another obvious comparison to go along with Armstrong. And even if Armstrong and Moran were called up because of their underage careers, that is more of a reason to call Vata up after 5 excellent years at most levels.

Cap tying shouldn't be the primary motivation here. Rewarding a young lad for excellent club performances at a decent level would be first, followed by rewarding a young lad for excellent underage international performances.

**samhaydenjr** · 01/01/2025, 4:58 AM

The question we need to ask for the March games should not be simply: Is he good enough to be called up? That's starting to look like a straightforward yes.

It needs to beat more detailed: Is he ready to earn his first caps in a pair of quite important competitive internationals, at the expense of one of our other wide players: Ogbene, Ebosele, Johnston, McAteer, O'Dowda? That might be a bit more complicated.

**irishfan86** · 01/01/2025, 6:07 AM

Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

The question we need to ask for the March games should not be simply: Is he good enough to be called up? That's starting to look like a straightforward yes.

It needs to beat more detailed: Is he ready to earn his first caps in a pair of quite important competitive internationals, at the expense of one of our other wide players: Ogbene, Ebosele, Johnston, McAteer, O'Dowda? That might be a bit more complicated.

If we�re picking four from the six you�ve just mentioned, I�m picking Vata. Ogbene won�t be match fit/fully healthy by then. Johnston and McAteer probably ahead on merit, but O�Dowda is theoretically in his prime and is a borderline squad guy for us during a weak generation. In that context you look to the future with a guy like Vata every time.

**Jolly Red Giant** · 02/01/2025, 10:25 AM

Vata should at the least be in the squad and one of the first subs on the pitch - he has an ability to turn a game.

**SkStu** · 09/01/2025, 6:38 PM

Starts against Fulham tonight. It�s the game I�ll be watching tonight. Will be nice to see how he fares.

**tetsujin1979** · 09/01/2025, 6:42 PM

Just on that game, Ashley Young is on the bench for Everton and his son Tyler is on the bench for Peterborough!

**seanfhear** · 09/01/2025, 6:46 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Just on that game, Ashley Young is on the bench for Everton and his son Tyler is on the bench for Peterborough!

I reckon if Everton manage to get a good lead then there is high% chance that both of them will be brought on.

**third policeman** · 09/01/2025, 7:22 PM

Just scored a wonder goal. Cap him!

**SkStu** · 09/01/2025, 7:25 PM

Sensational

**SkStu** · 09/01/2025, 7:26 PM

And he�s been very tidy overall with limited possession.

**tetsujin1979** · 09/01/2025, 7:27 PM

**Eirambler** · 09/01/2025, 7:32 PM

Given that we don't have midfielders that create a whole lot of chances we could kind of do with someone further forward who has that in their locker. Decision time fast approaching for Rocco I think.

**seanfhear** · 09/01/2025, 7:35 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

He certainly identified very quickly that there was open space in front of him !

Very nice.

**rebelmusic** · 09/01/2025, 8:08 PM

I think we'd be absolutely bonkers not to call him up in March, holding his own in the game tonight and brings solid dead ball delivery with him as well. It's time to learn from the mistakes of the past.