In fairness, Connolly's career was going down the toilet most of the past two years, Szmodics has declined call-ups the last couple of windows, and Azaz hadn't played higher than L1 before this season (and that only for last season). I don't think you can say it wasn't correct that they've only one cap between them in the past two years (that for Connolly when he started turning things around at club level)
Given some of the others that have been called up Azaz seems a fairly glaring omission to me. Especially when Moran was pulled out of the Under 21s for no good reason. I think more of an effort could have been made with Szmodics, but we clearly don't know the full story there. Connolly can have the least complaints of the three, but it just struck me today that the three top scorers are all players that have been sidelined in favour of others like Callum Robinson, Troy Parrott and Jamie McGrath, who have done little of late to justify those decisions.
It's probably asking a lot of a guy just promoted to the Championship for the first time to make an impact against France and Holland (twice) in fairness. It's a fair point that Moran was called up (as were Afolabi and Armstrong), but Azaz has five of his seven goals since November, so arguably before that there was no guarantee he'd take to the new level quite so quickly. I don't think any can be said to have been "sidelined" to be fair. But it'd be great if we could replace the likes of Robinson, McGrath, Hogan, Keane, Obafemi and even Parrott/Idah. (Maybe a bit harsh on Parrott actually given he seems to have found a bit of form)
The likes of Ferguson, a revitalised Connolly, Azaz, Ogbene, Johnston and Szmodics would certainly give us better forward option than we've had in a number of years.
Last edited by pineapple stu; 01/01/2024 at 5:55 PM.
Very classy. The only disappointing thing really about Azaz is that he doesn’t seem to be in Villa’s plans.Originally Posted by JR89
Until such time as we have cap-tied him (so this coming autumn at the earliest) that may be no bad thing.
Surprised that Villa have let his contract run down like that. Not sure if he turned down a new deal there or they just don't rate him too highly. Thought he could have maybe broken through there in time, or gone to a higher ranked club than Boro. But not a bad move from an Irish perspective all the same. If he gets a run of games there he's a cert for the next Ireland squad I would think. Would have made far more sense to cap him in November than Moran but hopefully that error will be rectified soon.
"Middlesbrough are closing in on a £2.5 million transfer of Finn Azaz from Aston Villa, which would end his loan spell at Plymouth Argyle.....Bristol City, Southampton and French club Toulouse have also reportedly been interested in Azaz, but Boro have agreed a transfer fee and now personal terms have to be finalised."
On-loan Plymouth Argyle midfielder Finn Azaz poised for Middlesbrough transfer - Plymouth Live (plymouthherald.co.uk)
I'm a bit underwhelmed by that. I was going to say earlier that I think Celtic should look at him this window. I know it's an unpopular destination here for young Irish players but Azaz has now got a foothold into his career and has the potential to be a Matt O'Riley type signing - lower league, quick impact, instant transfer uplift. I'd have thought £2-2.5 million is quite cheap. That's only a notch up from LOI type of transfer fees.
That would have been a very Celtic type of signing alright. I'm glad they haven't gone for him though. Middlesbrough is a decent step up for him for now. A bit like Knight at Bristol City, if he does well enough there he'll get a shot at a higher level in time.
Somewhat sure he's only been signing one year deals with Villa lately before being sent on loan.
I mean at least this confirms his Irishness by taking the safe sideways move instead of a move like Southampton where he would get a chance to challenge himself…
Maybe he is getting better money from Middlesbrough
Maybe he likes more of an Irish style of weather.
I’d disagree slightly that Boro are a sideways move from Plymouth,obviously they don’t have the financial muscle of Southampton but are 6 points outside the playoffs with 20 games left and will hopefully be in the mix ,they’re definitely a bigger club than Plymouth though…..
Irish by birth ,Harps by the grace of god.
He was linked to Southampton aswell dork
Such a pity that instead of firing back against a witty put down with more of the same you give us even more unnecessary proof that you're just not up to that level of expression.
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