Kelly now being linked to Feyenoord and Udinese. Either would be good going for a player who can't get a game for Reading. The Feyenoord link is because of Jaap Stam but I don't know where the Udinese interest would come from, might be just his agent spouting nonsense.
Despite his unpopularity after the call up incident I still wouldn't be surprised if he ended up being an Irish international down the line.
Kelly signs two year deal at Feyenoord and is given the number 8 jersey. Regardless of his international aspirations (or lack of) it will be interesting to see how he goes.
Liverpool are drastically short of a keeper and have called in Andy Lonergan to join the tour and cover for Mignolet. A pity for Kelleher as he would have seen games if fit, surely.
His competitor for the third choice keeper spot, Kamil Grabara, has joined Huddersfield on loan and signed a new deal at Liverpool. Looks like Kelleher will be kept around this year.
Lonergan is eligible for Ireland but I think a little past his sell-by date.
Frankly, they should just keep a hold of Shamal George. He’s 21 and he’s a wonderful shotstopper. They’re letting him go for free to Swindon but with a sell-on clause and a buy-back clause. Was really great for the u23s after returning from loan last year...
Simon Power appears to have got off to a good start with Ross County. Substitute appearance and a start in wins vs montrose and brechin in league cup, respectively. Fans forum not only impressed by his pace, but his skill as well. Next stop Bayern Munich...
Scottish League Challenge Cup and Football League Trophy, respectively
A few of thoughts as the season starts in earnest:
- It is disappointing to see Lee O’Connor not secure a loan move yet. He has served his time in the limited Under 23 league, now it’s time to get first team football. The chances of him making it decrease if he spends another season dwindling in the under 23s. It is clear that this under 23 league is no substitute for first team football, and I think one year max of regular under 23 football is all a player should stay at this level.
- No mention of Aaron Connolly loan. Thought someone like stoke city would have moved for him given their clear deficiencies up front last weekend. He’s likely too rated at Brighton to go out on loan, so may see some first team football soon, despite the prognosis of his preseason.
- Conor Coventry is under 23 captain for west ham this year. I think it’s reasonable for him to stay at this level, with some league cup action now that josh cullen has left. Although I’d obviously prefer loan option.
- A championship or continent loan move would be excellent for Parrott. With Dybala signing his first team opportunities will be even more limited. Although I’m easy either way considering his tender age and excellent development he’s getting at spurs, a loan is certainly not without risks.
- I’m excited by Kilkenny. Hopefully Harry Wilson’s arrival won’t affect his first team appearances too much. He should press for 6 month loan deal if it does.
- Travers is in a predicament. He made mistakes preseason and will do well to secure a bench spot ahead of Ramsdale for upcoming season. Boruc will start as number 1. Begovic is still at club but Travers is probably just about ahead of him. If he isn’t at least back up to Boruc, he should attempt to secure a quick loan move, although not many champ/L1/L2 clubs appear to be on the look out for a first choice keeper on loan. Burton was actually a great move by O’Hara. All Kelleher can really do for the season is bide his time with under 23s, no league team would take a chance with a loan for him. He was unlucky with his wrist injury preseason, now he’s in no mans land for this season. Adrian is number 2, he’s hardly a top keeper so you never know Caomhin may see some league cup action. I read an interview with him that he wasn’t concerned about finding a loan move, and that it’s different for goalkeepers with the focus on technique and staying as back up goalkeeper should be fine for him at current time. I see his point but don’t buy it entirely, goalkeepers still need first team football to fine tune their development early in their career, and he risks falling by the wayside if he doesn’t start playing some soon.
it is clear that finding suitable loan deals is getting harder and harder for the top clubs. The under 23 league is useful for short term development but if you stay longer than is needed at that level you can easily stagnate as evidenced by a number of young players in the past. An obvious solution would be putting reserve (B) teams in lower leagues such as league 2 and conference, however, that would be met with fierce resistance by established lower tier clubs. This works well in Spain and Germany.
Last edited by tommy_c12000; 07/08/2019 at 6:13 PM.
Conor Coventry is looking likely for a League One move. Bolton, Ipswich and (of course) Coventry are in for him.
https://www.hammers.news/transfer-ne...-west-ham/amp/
Troy Parrot not included in Spurs U23 squad for today's game against Liverpool. Spurs first team are playing Villa this evening.
I guess we'll know in about three hours when the team is announced!
After wondering all summer it's a bit disappointing how few Irish lads made the first team squads this weekend
Mixed bag overall. Four starters at Sheffield United is good. Looks like Parrott will bench, Obafemi has made the bench.
Travers probably the big disappointment. Didn't take his chance in pre season - was a huge opportunity for him.
The other disappointment is that Connolly appears to have made no progress at all. Needs a decent loan move now.
Parrott not on bench...
So the first weekend of the EPL (and second of The Championship) turned out to be a bit of a disappointment in terms of our hopes for young players emerging in the immediate term. Really the only developments that Mick could realistically make use of for uncapped/almost uncapped players would be the fact that Josh Cullen is back in The Championship and that Michael Obafemi is still getting decent gametime at Southampton - these would be the two I think he should play against Bulgaria, with Obafemi an option as an impact sub against Switzerland. For all the other youngsters we have talked about in pre-season, it looks like it will be the New Year, at least, before they would be in contention.
In U23 action, not a whole lot to report - but there was an interesting mirroring of Irish players in two games on Friday - Adam Idah and Conor Coventry did both line out for Norwich and West Ham respectively, William Hondermarck (Norwich) and Anthony Scully (West Ham) came on as second-half subs while two seventeen-year-olds were unused subs - Euro U17s star Andrew Omobamidele for Norwich and a goalkeeper named Daniel Jinadu for the Hammers... both played today for their clubs' U18s
https://www.premierleague.com/match/...wich-v-swansea
https://www.premierleague.com/match/...t-ham-v-fulham
Are you saying Daniel Jinadu is Irish? Google is bringing me nothing in that regard.
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