For sure you don't want to be overoptimistic when talking about players who are untested but right now there are about a dozen young strikers with potential on the horizon for us so there is genuine reason to hope that a few of them will make the grade. But as you said earlier, our main issue is timing, with three strikers going to be in their mid-30s at the start of the next campaign which is why having McGoldrick ready to cover a potential transitional period is important. I think we can identify two potential waves of young strikers: over the next season we should hopefully get to see more of the likes of Maguire, McDonagh, Grego-Cox, Duffus and Quigley in first-team action, and possibly Sam Byrne (he's still at a Premier League club so don't write him off just yet - 18 months ago Sean Maguire could have been included in your list of unfulfilled hopes). And given the immediate impact of Daryl Horgan at Preston, there's a reasonable chance that Maguire could be a viable option when the Euro 2020 qualifiers kick off. The second wave would be made up of Hale, Connolly, McAuley, Afolabi, Obafemi and Idah. Hale, Connolly and Afolabi all have been promoted to their respective U-23 squads this season (Hale just got another goal for Birmingham's U-23s) and should be playing at that level for next season and McAuley will surely get a taste of that level next season. I don't expect any of them to be options for the Euro 2020 qualifiers but give them another couple of seasons and we could have a really good strike force by the time our next World Cup kicks off.
It's all about
Armstrong Echezolachukwu Inya Oko-Flex
in my eyes.
McGoldrick off the mark for the season, with a brace against Luton: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40785846. Really hope he can regain his form from three or four years ago and become a viable back-up option, at least, for the next year and be in the position to be a serious first-choice option for the next qualifiers. James Collins played up front for Luton - he was one of only two Irish scorers on the forst day of the EFL on Saturday with a hat-trick - the other scorer was Collins' team-mate Alan McCormack
Highlights of Ipswich's win here. McGoldrick's goals at the start and end - both pretty decent striker's goals
With all the talk about Sean Maguire's call-up and Scott Hogan's apparent declaration for us, it should be noted that McGoldrick is starting to put a bit of a run together, notching his third goal in two games to equalise for Ipswich against Barnsley. With the Georgia and Serbia games less than three weeks away, he's surely got to be a back-up striker in the squad over Maguire and Hogan, based on recent form at Championship level and the fact that he has at least got a few caps under his belt and is more familiar with the squad, having spent more time with them. And unless Maguire or Hogan produce something very special in the next six weeks, McGoldrick should probably be picked over them for the Moldova and Wales games
https://youtu.be/mKZ6ZqZzcic?t=72
I don't think O'Neill sees McGoldrick as a striker, though, more of a link man. Whereas Maguire is, and as far as I can see so is Hogan.
McGoaldrought is certainly having anything but at the moment. Mick McCarthy was full of praise too, calling him a top Championship player when he's fit.
After a little gap, McGoldrick notched his fourth of the season as Ipswich beat Bolton 2-0 - So in the "Championship strikers who play for or have shown an interest in playing for Ireland" goal stakes for this year, this is where we stand:
Daryl Murphy: 4 (all league goals)
David McGoldrick: 4 (2 league, 2 EFL Cup)
Scott Hogan: 3 (all EFL Cup)
Sean Maguire: 2 (Both in the league)
Aiden O'Brien: 2 (Both in the league)
Joe Mason: 1 (a league goal)
Will Keane: Injured
Lovely goal it was by McGoldrick too.
Yeah, just saw it - the BBC report I read just said he poked it home, which made it seem like he got on the end of a cross close in, but in reality it was pretty much all his own making, battling with one Bolton defender for possession outside the box, turning inside another before sliding to guide the ball past the keeper from fifteen yards:
https://youtu.be/1XpvysBV0mY?t=97
With only a few weeks left before the Moldova game, and with McGoldrick in pretty decent form, I don't think it should be a matter of great controversy if he is chosen as our fourth striker - Maguire and Hogan might have to wait a little longer to pull on the green shirt
Got Ipswich's first in their 3-2 defeat to Leeds: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41289615
So Championship strikers' goal stakes now looks like this:
Daryl Murphy: 5 (all league goals)
David McGoldrick: 5 (3 league, 2 EFL Cup)
Scott Hogan: 3 (all EFL Cup)
Sean Maguire: 2 (Both in the league)
Aiden O'Brien: 2 (Both in the league)
Joe Mason: 1 (a league goal)
Will Keane: Injured
Last edited by samhaydenjr; 23/09/2017 at 7:39 PM.
Got another tonight and seems to be in another goal race with Daryl Murphy - updated scoring stakes:
Daryl Murphy: 6 (all league goals)
David McGoldrick: 6 (4 league, 2 EFL Cup)
Scott Hogan: 3 (all EFL Cup)
Sean Maguire: 2 (Both in the league)
Aiden O'Brien: 2 (Both in the league)
Joe Mason: 1 (a league goal)
Will Keane: Injured
Another for McGoaldrick today - if it hadn't been for eligibility paperwork delays, injury and a difficult delivery for his wife, he'd probably have close to fifteen caps and maybe a goal or two for us - let's cross our fingers that he can carry his form into the next two games and maybe, just maybe, break his international duck (Alan McLoughlin, anyone?). Championship goalscorer list:
David McGoldrick: 7 (5 league, 2 EFL Cup)
Daryl Murphy: 6 (all league goals)
Sean Maguire: 4 (All in the league)
Scott Hogan: 3 (all EFL Cup)
Aiden O'Brien: 2 (Both in the league)
Joe Mason: 1 (a league goal)
Will Keane: Injured
One more for McGoldrick today in Ipswich's 2-2 draw with Hull: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41951281. Was there a particular reason he wasn't included in the squad for the play-offs? I know it wouldn't have made a difference to the result but on form he deserved to be there - should definitely get more caps in the New Year. This leaves the Championship goalscorer list looking like this:
David McGoldrick: 8 (6 league, 2 EFL Cup)
Daryl Murphy: 6 (all league goals)
Sean Maguire: 4 (All in the league)
Scott Hogan: 3 (all EFL Cup)
Aiden O'Brien: 2 (Both in the league)
Joe Mason: 1 (a league goal)
Will Keane: Injured
He had been struggling with a groin injury but did play & score in Ipswich's last game before the international break. I'm not sure if the injury was in O'Neill's thinking though - http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/sport/d...quad-1-5273036
Signed for Sheffield United this afternoon, and starting against inter milan this evening!
Ryan Nolan on the bench for inter
The game will be live streamed on inter's Facebook page
Scores the winner from the spot as Sheffield United beat QPR 2-1: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45066578
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