played nearly an hour against chelsea - seems to be in and around the first team squad so you'd think that means they must rate him. still only 19 but if he continues progressing he could be a solution to the problem left back position. is Abankwah also left sided?
Abankwah plays on the right. Did Murphy play LB in the game against Chelsea? Newcastle have been playing him CB for the U21s but at senior level might be easier to ease him in at LB before moving to CB.
Yeah similar to Roughan he's another lad who we should view as a LB even if at club level they play CB long term. Bosun Lawal another that we should play as a DM even if Celtic are trying to convert him into a CB.
Murphy has gone under the radar a little to this point, but he has played a lot of 1st team football for a lad his age. He was in the Galway United team at 16, and even though its only 1st Division its still mens football so hes well able for the physicality. Plenty of lads have had decent preseasons and then are not heard from again until the next preseason so it'll be interesting to watch how this one goes.
The Newcastle fans on twitter seem excited about his preseason performances and seem to think he could be part of their squad for season ahead, but that might be a stretch considering their budget nowadays. Would be cool if he was though, a bonus that we werent really considering for the International team
Its really not that complicated!!!
Trent Kone Doherty won player of the tournament in the milk cup in Ballymena playing for Liverpool u18s.
Liverpool had another Irish eligible player Kieran Morrison (he's 16, Manchester born, playing for NI u19s).
Lot of Irish on showlast night for Wolves - Luton
Doherty started for Wolves, Hodge and Fraser came on in the second half, Ogbene was a second half substitute for Luton
https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-f...ves-0-0-luton/
https://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/202...iendly-report/
Highlights on YouTube
Fraser's introduction is confusingly referred to as his "first senior start" in the Wolves report
Also "gilt" (as in "gilt-edged chance") is misspelled. Maybe it's AI generated?
Seems like Festy is the the only uncapped player to have a really positive preseason to give us hope he may be in with a shout of starting regularly in serie A? Anyone else giving us credible hope? Need to add to left back, midfield and up top to support Ferguson
I know I am getting old but the league seems to be starting earlier and earlier and the Guards are getting younger and younger ! !
Highly unlikely Hodge will start games regularly this season, wasted 5 months on the bench when he needed a loan in January. John Patrick started a few friendly games, but bench again today when the start of season beckons, worth monitoring to see if he truly has made progress.
Think one or two other Wolves midfielders have been struggling for fitness lately which has seen him start most games.
Alex Murphy got 90mins today against Fiorentina.
Looking so impressive in pre-season and starting Newcastle's final warm-up match before their season opener against Villa suggests that he's going to be close to the Newcastle first team this season.
Gets a good write up in the Evening Chronicle:
'Alex Murphy 8
Slotted in like he's been playing at St James' Park for years.'
And wins praise from his teammate:
'Sven Botman hails 'unflappable' Alex Murphy after what Newcastle teenager did against Fiorentina'
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/spor...urphy-27465821
That's a bit of a mad rise to prominence even if he doesn't start on the opening day!
This guy wasn't even on the radar until what - a month ago?
Thought the same but Newcastle have another friendly tomorrow against Villarreal. Still though it's huge for the lad to get this much involvement for pre season. Even last year a month after joining and playing two games for the U21s they brought him into the senior teams pre season.
Not sure if he played senior games but was still big for a teen playing LOI who joined their U21s team to get to train with the seniors a month after joining.
Wonder if he can get himself a loan come January maybe. Possibly back to the LOI for half a season to play CB or drop a couple of leagues in England to play LB. Wouldn't be surprised if he gets minutes in one of the cups at LB.
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