Isn't his contract up at the end of the season? It'll be interesting to see what he does next. He would surely get a Championship gig. Or he might fancy something further afield. Hassenhuttl's respect for and public utterances about him and minutes and games he is affording him ahead of expensive signings like Armstrong speak to the fact that he's still making an impact there. Whatever about his contributions on the pitch, you'd have to think that he is demonstrating commitment to Hassenhuttl's style of play and desire for intensity. And that surely rubs off on those around him, young and old.
Wouldn't be surprised to see him retire and possibly go into coaching, or might get a 12 month contract extension. Manager has always talked about the positive influence and experience he brings to the squad.
Don't think we'll see him start to drop down the leagues playing into his late 30s like Whelan and Wes have done lately, and soon to be 40s for Wes.
Last edited by JR89; 26/04/2022 at 2:23 PM.
Linked with Reading and QPR after leaving Southampton upon expiry of his contract.
Back to Reading confirmed.
Scores v Watford in the FA Cup today.
won a penalty to start the comeback, won the initial header really well and then showed pace to get in behind cathcart and draw the foul. looked really good in the highlights. good link up play, winning headers and still has a lot of the old pace. in other words, still faster than idah, parrott and ferguson but less quick than obafemi and ogbene
i know he's gone from the conversation but there'd be worse lads to have round the squad than him
Shane Long ~ A Great Bunch Of Lad.
Always seemed like a sound skin.
Some insight into the mind of a premier league footballer....
Shane Long opens up on ‘embarrassing and degrading’ dressing-room moment under Stephen Kenny - Independent.ie
That's really poor form from Kenny in fairness. It may seem like only a shirt number but it's basically the manager telling Long that his days are numbered in a public fashion instead of talking to him one to one. Long said he was biting his tongue because it was Ireland. I honestly think a good few players are in the same boat. We'll probably see the truth of what was going on behind the scenes emerge after Kenny is gone.
Very poor from Stephen Kenny ~ ~ Little or no respect shown to a player that has 88 caps for Ireland and often played the substitute role when he himself could easily have expected to start many of those games. How difficult would it have been to show Shane Long the same respect as other long term Irish players ? ?
Coleman was handing over number 23 though; not his own jersey number. I guess professional footballers may well see a strong link between squad number and career success
But agree it does sound like mountain out of molehill stuff though. Especially if it's only coming out 2.5 years later
Also surprised that Long hadn't played in the two years before Kenny took over (even allowing that covid accounted for a big chunk of that)
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