I don't think he's an out and out number 9, no, even allowing for this week - I think he's so much more than that.
He contributes across the front line and from deep as we saw across these match days and as we've seen for Alkmaar. And as you know, I'm basing this on what I've seen of him since he's 14, playing up a year - not just what a lot of people are claiming to see him do for Ireland at senior level.
I know this is going to sound ridiculous (even typing it in my head I know it's ridiculous) but I don't think we've any comparison for him - genuinely. Of our previous front line players he's probably most like Robbie Keane, but in a lot of aspects I think he's better than Robbie. I think the fact that he was sort of forced to be the totem (for the want of a better word) in a system in England stymied him in his pathway. He's never been, nor should he have expected to be, that.
I know, I know, I know.
If I question Liam Scales ability to play intl football, refer me to this signature & his peformance at home at lb vs Port on Nov 13 2025.
Signed
Kingdom.
I was thinking the exact same. I think he has more to his game than Robbie did and look, time well tell on the goal count
David Connolly wrote this on Twitter, obviously in real time, and it’s bang on. A small tweak can make a big difference
‘Putting a left footer, in Scales, at near post space with corners from the Hungary left means any clearance is unnatural. A right footer clears the danger down field with their leading leg. Unfortunate miscue for the first goal.’
We had a rule defending corners:
- Front Post defending the corner from the right-back's side of the pitch has to be defended by the left-full/left-footer, because the right-footer covering the front post correctly will not be able to clear the perfect corner properly;
- Front Post defending the corner from the left-back's side of the pitch has to be defended by the right-full/right-footer, because the left-footer covering the front post correctly will not be able to clear the perfect corner properly;
If I question Liam Scales ability to play intl football, refer me to this signature & his peformance at home at lb vs Port on Nov 13 2025.
Signed
Kingdom.
That's what players need, Kingdom.... simple instructions!![]()
Just reading through this thread. The number of people who wanted both Azaz and Scales off. Sometimes the manager does know best.
Haven't had such a buzz since O'Shea equalised in Germany. The German fans were doing waves at the time. Similarly the Hungarian supporters were celebrating when they were 2-1 up. It's never over until the fat lady does her party piece. I thought those days were over but isn't it great for the younger generation who haven't had anything close to this before.
A day never to be forgotten.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Thanks for the reminder of that O'Shea goal. I was living in China at the time and woke up the whole building screaming and roaring at 4am 😂
I don't like getting into the whole "this wouldn't happen in GAA/rugby/whatever" argument, but I will say this - there's very few sporting moments that have stayed in the public discourse as long as the result in Hungary
The Rugby team enjoying a record breaking win against Australia has practically been ignored. Mack Hansen got a hat trick but he's less likely to be on the Late Late tomorrow than Troy Parrot's mother.
As for Troy himself. The Toy Show is on a Friday 5th December, and AZ don't play until Sunday 7th.
Last edited by backstothewall; 20/11/2025 at 9:47 PM.
I’m a GAA man, grew up hurling and playing football. Only played soccer in school.
Nothing gets the Irish public going like the soccer team doing well.
The rugby is grand but there’s about 10 decent rugby nations. Also, Mack Hansen scored a hat-trick in what is essentially a friendly.
Even when Ireland have done well in the rugby World Cup, we’re kind of expected to do well.
It’s far harder for a small country like us to do well in soccer.
The achievement of the last week is phenomenal considering we were down and out. We are the Mighty Ducks of international football
Folding my way into the big money!!!
The national soccer team has a nationwide appeal that isn't there for the other sports - GAA is grand but lacks the international element so has a ceiling as a result. Rugby is popular in some areas, but there are others where it has no traction at all.
Having said that, one of my absolute least favourite things in Irish sport is the sniping that goes on between sports, unfortunately a section of the football fan base is very bad for it. Personally I like both codes of football, as well as rugby and golf. Hurling and horse racing wouldn't be for me, but at the same time I don't feel the need to tell hurling and horse racing people how **** I think their sports are either. Live and let live and all that.
Totally agree. I love our 4 big sports.
I remember a DJ who was a big soccer head in a bar I used to frequent. He knew I was a GAA man and used to make a point of coming up to me, giving me two middle fingers into my face and saying ‘F**k the GAA!!!’
It was vitriolic to say the least. Every single week he did it to me.
I used to ask him ‘why do you only like one sport?’
But he had a chip on his shoulder about it and I’ve only ever seen it from soccer people. Mostly towards the GAA. Weird!
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