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:
Last edited by tetsujin1979; 19/07/2021 at 10:36 AM. Reason: Embedded video
He's not taking the corner, but thanks for the highlights, looks like it has the makings of a really shíte move for Zach.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
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.
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.
You can't spell failure without FAI
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 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.
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.
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.
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