Troy Parrott F AZ Alkmaar b.2002

[Kingdom]

Troy missed another penalty! 2nd miss in two games, and it was an absolute gash penalty too. It'll be interesting to see if he's on one next game :-)
It didn't affect them as they won 0-1 at Sparta to consolidate third and really keep them in the early title race (behind PSV & Feyenoord): they've beaten Ajax in the Dam, drawn with Feyenoord in Alkmaar and now they face Philips Sports Club in Alkmaar on Sunday.

Penalty aside, the chances he had were self-made, one great snap shot on the spin which the keeper made a fine, if expected, save; second an improvised back-heel effort from a rebound which the keeper rightly saved.
He didn't have a specific role in the goal - no assist to be clear - but his run was really really smart: started deliberately offside and then running back into traffic on the arc (something I've coached previously) to drag the covering centreback far away from his partner to create a big gap in the centre which the scorer ultimately exploits.

Two things to watch in this game:
- Their captain (didn't think he was their captain usually) Mijnans is a really smart player who is able to manipulate a football wonderfully - wouldn't be surprised to see him elsewhere after Christmas.
- The referee's involvement in a penalty area set-piece scuffle. Something that I haven't seen before and something that will surely be punished by the authorities

[Kingdom]

Genuinely delighted for and proud of Troy Parrott.
I've followed his career for a long time since seeing him play for Belvo (spits) a long time ago, and, without going truly down that road, I feel like last night is vindication to some degree or another - which is kind of ridiculous.

[SkStu]

I'll always give you credit for your take on Troy going back years. You "called it", as they say in the business.

[Eirambler]

Feels like he's been around forever, his initial breakthrough at Tottenham seems so long ago now in that pre-season tournament that Ryan Johansson played for Bayern in. It has taken him until now to really come of age at this level. Yet he's still only 23.

[Fixer82]

Seems like an age ago when Mourinho gave him the ball and then ignored him for the rest of his Tottenham career

[Insidetherock]

Feels like he's been around forever, his initial breakthrough at Tottenham seems so long ago now in that pre-season tournament that Ryan Johansson played for Bayern in. It has taken him until now to really come of age at this level. Yet he's still only 23.

Yep.. been listening to people writing Parrot off for years, because he couldn't get into Spurs team at 17/18...

Maybe we "over hype" players who get a run out early in the Premier League.. (Ferguson, Obafemi, Connolly), but getting games that young is the exception.. not the rule

Ferguson is another half the country has written off at 20 ffs

Parrott is benefitting from regular game and goals.. and long may it continue.. he's probably still 3/4 years from his prime

[Fixer82]

Ferguson is another half the country has written off at 20 ffs

I just hope Ferguson can get on top of his injury issues. That's his focus now I hope

[Eirambler]

Yep, with Ferguson it's all about injuries. If he gets over those I'd absolutely still back him to have a good career. But if he doesn't he'll come in way below expectations unfortunately.

[tetsujin1979]

Time to rig an election, vote Parrott for player of the round
https://www.uefa.com/european-qualif...-of-the-round/

[Neish]

Delighted for Troy, the last few days have been a whirlwind(in a good way).

After much hype about him in his teens he seemed to fade away probably not being properly utilized at Spurs and the other UK clubs he was loaned out to, but the move to the Dutch league have seen him come on massively think its something like 30 goals in 65 or 66 games since moving there (initialing on loan to Excelsior than permanent to AZ).

He seems fairly down to earth and grounded lad too

[pineapple stu]

I think it's too easy to blame the clubs - we seem to do that a lot.

He was 17 making his Premier League debut for Spurs, and just gone 21 when finishing his Preston loan spell. Even for Ireland he wasn't prolific at the same time (he's just doubled his Ireland tally this week for example).

Far more likely he was just learning the ropes at senior level. I've said before that in an ideal world, we wouldn't have capped him until the goals started coming at Excelsior. The international setup isn't for developing young players and hoping they come good.

Now he is coming good though, he's a huge hope for the future. We mightn't even embarrass ourselves at our own Euros!

[tetsujin1979]

[brine3]

Also first ever Irish hat trick away from home.

[elatedscum]

Troy and Evan both probably on pace to become Ireland’s second top scorer.

Troy’s currently on 10 goals. At his age, Robbie had 20. Behind him, Shane Long and Don Givens had 5, Adam Idah had 4, Niall Quinn and Frank Stapleton had 3, Tony Cas and Aldo had yet to score.

Evan is 1 ahead of Robbie at the same age (8 v 7). Robbie’s pace picked up at age 21 with the 4 extra games and 3 extra goals the World Cup provided, totally 6 in the year. Any chance Evan will also have a World Cup age 21 to look forward to?