Gavin Bazunu G Standard Liege (loan from Southampton) b.2002

**Jolly Red Giant** · 12/02/2025, 8:35 AM

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

BBM is under severe br� these days at Leicester with RVN.
That much alone is sure.

Don't agree - Leicester were always going to be in severe danger of getting relegated - the gap between the Championship and the PL is growing rapidly and it is getting increasingly difficult for promoted teams to stay up. Last season all three promoted teams went straight back down - and it could happen again this year. Southampton are gone and it is two from Ipswich, Leicester and Wolves. If Ipswich and Leicester go down McKenna and RVN will be in big demand.

**Snapshot** · 12/02/2025, 8:51 AM

Originally Posted by Jolly Red Giant

brief highlights from Bazunu's first game in Belgium.
]

Even allowing for his injury and time out, there�s no joy there. He was rated second lowest SL player in the only assessment I could find. Long hard road back for Baz. The big question is back to where?

https://1xbet.whoscored.com/matches/...standard-liege

**Kingdom** · 12/02/2025, 9:10 AM

Those highlights aren't pretty. I'm less inclined to blame Baz, as I really don't like Liege :-)

the old joke about 'Newcastle West and the road out of it' has parallels with Liege - the worst thing you can do is travel to Liege by train, as the main station is totally out of sync with the town itself https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Stations/Liege-Guillemins (massive generalisation alert).

**nigel-harps1954** · 12/02/2025, 9:21 AM

Originally Posted by Jolly Red Giant

brief highlights from Bazunu's first game in Belgium

Some of the defending there is horrific. Bazunu doesn't exactly cover himself in glory, but the defending is just abysmal.

**Kingdom** · 12/02/2025, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Some of the defending there is horrific. Bazunu doesn't exactly cover himself in glory, but the defending is just abysmal.

100%. Was very pleased to see him come for a cross early in the clip - the type of cross a keeper should be taking (in my opinion) - only for his own defender to obstruct him. I'd assume that was a language issue - wonder did it shake him a bit. the goal to put standard 3-1 up was awful awful awful.

**Stuttgart88** · 12/02/2025, 11:59 AM

I actually didn't think the second goal was that bad. Made a good reflex save onto the post a bit later.

I loved how the Liege forward rounded the keeper for the opening goal. Lovely soft touch with his right foot. Reminded me of Henrik Larsson.

**pixiehead** · 12/02/2025, 1:23 PM

Originally Posted by Jolly Red Giant

Relevant point

Of course he was 'interested' in the role - he had signed a two year contract extension a couple of months earlier with Rochdale despite they being rooted to the bottom of League One - and at the time of this interview he had resigned as Rochdale manager (and they didn't want him to leave) - he wouldn't have done that unless all that was left was to sort out his contract with Man City.

He had also applied for the Man City job in 2020 and got to the final two losing out to Enzo Maresca, so he was on the Man City radar before Gavin Bazunu
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/272...man-city-u23s/

**Jolly Red Giant** · 12/02/2025, 2:53 PM

Originally Posted by pixiehead

He had also applied for the Man City job in 2020 and got to the final two losing out to Enzo Maresca, so he was on the Man City radar before Gavin Bazunu
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/272...man-city-u23s/

And they went straight back to him when they saw how he worked with Bazunu and Amankwaah after Maresca left for Parma.

**Jolly Red Giant** · 12/02/2025, 2:57 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

100%. Was very pleased to see him come for a cross early in the clip - the type of cross a keeper should be taking (in my opinion) - only for his own defender to obstruct him. I'd assume that was a language issue - wonder did it shake him a bit. the goal to put standard 3-1 up was awful awful awful.

I think he tried to catch it when he should have been punching it - but he was more commanding than previously when he was wary of taking out his own player. When you come for a cross you have to go through whoever is in your way.

I think he could have done better for the second goal - he got a hand to it to make the save but needed to push it out wider away from the attacker.

But I agree with nigel - the defending was woeful - Liege were repeatedly caught on the break. It was Bazunu's first game back after a year from a very serious injury - there is bound to be some rust - here is hoping he improves.

**~YTM~** · 13/02/2025, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

According to this, Brian Barry Murphy was interested in the role himself
From https://www.the42.ie/brian-barry-mur...82995-Jul2021/

The work he did with Bazunu, and other city players they took on loan, probably helped his case, but they also send players out on loan across Europe every year without hiring the relevant club manager

Also Rochdale was chosen because it's close to City and thought I read something at the time they chose this so he could still do some training with Man City's goalkeeping coaches while on loan.

You do get some players that go down the leagues on loan still doing some training or games with their partner clubs underage teams.

**tetsujin1979** · 15/02/2025, 1:26 PM

Another loss for Bazunu last night, 2-1 at home to Genk

**pineapple stu** · 15/02/2025, 6:35 PM

Strange end to it. Liege got an injury time penalty and the Genk keeper was sent off. All their subs were used, so an outfield player went in nets - and saved the penalty. But the ref called it back for a step off the line - technically correct, but you'd have to have a heart of stone to call it back...

Bazunu getting a bit of stick from Liege fans already - always the danger of going to a club with a good defensive record. (Though you'd wonder how watching those Westerlo highlights alright). Criticism of his command of the six-yard box in particular. And obviously some pointing out he's coming back from a long injury spell.

Didn't realise Fergal Harkin - ex Harps and Bohs - is sporting director at Liege. Was 13 years at Man City before that, so that may have been a factor in the move to Belgium.

**Buckett** · 15/02/2025, 9:11 PM

I think it was Dan McDonnell that had that story first about Bazunu moving to Liege because of the Harkin link

**Eirambler** · 15/02/2025, 10:12 PM

Wonder if he'll be left out of the March squads. Questionable whether it would be to his benefit to bring him to Dublin, out to Bulgaria and back to Dublin again for two games he's unlikely to play a minute in. Travers and O'Leary (or even Keeley if needed) can provide cover for Kelleher until Bazunu is properly back at it.

**Jolly Red Giant** · 17/02/2025, 11:41 AM

**CraftyToePoke** · 17/02/2025, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Jolly Red Giant

Don't agree - Leicester were always going to be in severe danger of getting relegated. If Leicester go down RVN will be in big demand.

Cool story dude, great imagination involved.
Leicester were four points outside the relegation zone when he took over. They have won twice & drawn once since he came in & lost nine, frequently conceding threes & fours. Protests outside the stadium made MOTD at the weekend because he's big part of a new low there. PSV haven't exactly struggled without him either.

Overall looks a poor move by BBM to involve himself in this.

McKenna will be in demand. The two do not compare

**Stuttgart88** · 17/02/2025, 1:53 PM

Poor for the first, but probably second best of the 3 keepers!

**~YTM~** · 17/02/2025, 2:30 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Wonder if he'll be left out of the March squads. Questionable whether it would be to his benefit to bring him to Dublin, out to Bulgaria and back to Dublin again for two games he's unlikely to play a minute in. Travers and O'Leary (or even Keeley if needed) can provide cover for Kelleher until Bazunu is properly back at it.

Hallgrinssom might want to assess him up close since Bazunu has been injured since he took over. But might be for the best to let him remain with his club.

Might also be a possibility he ends up dropped at club level. Manager could find himself under pressure to reinstate Matthieu Epolo of results don't pick up.

**Eirambler** · 17/02/2025, 7:32 PM

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

Cool story dude, great imagination involved.
Leicester were four points outside the relegation zone when he took over. They have won twice & drawn once since he came in & lost nine, frequently conceding threes & fours. Protests outside the stadium made MOTD at the weekend because he's big part of a new low there. PSV haven't exactly struggled without him either.

Overall looks a poor move by BBM to involve himself in this.

McKenna will be in demand. The two do not compare

BBM could well be part of the problem. His record in senior management/coaching isn't exactly stellar.