Stephen Kenny

**nigel-harps1954** · 09/04/2023, 6:04 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Fair point. As an aside, I wonder would Ferguson have stayed around if he hadn't been able to go to England? Or would he have gone to continental Europe? Staying at home for a couple of years and getting first team experience might help some players, but someone at his level needed to leave Ireland at 16 to fulfill his potential to be honest.

Ferguson would have been off to Germany or Italy for sure. Plenty of clubs from continent starting to look at LOI players more and more.

Jack Byrne is probably the only realistic LOI callup for the foreseeable, as he is definitely starting to find form again. He's still the kind of player we really lack in an Ireland jersey too. A bit of creativity in unlocking defences is sorely lacking.

Chris Forrester might have been an option a couple of years ago, and probably should have got a cap when he was doing well at Peterborough, but Hoolahan was still an option then in a similar role, so it's understandable why he didn't. His time is probably passed now though as he turned 30 in December past. A pity though, as he's very much in the camp of 'what could have been'.

Originally Posted by Eirambler

I'd call up Mandroiu or Azaz before Byrne at this point to be honest. Smallbone well ahead of all of them at the moment though and Moran will be an interesting one to watch in that position.

Whatever about Azaz, as I don't know an awful lot about him if I'm being honest, but Mandriou couldn't lace Byrnes boots when they're both on form. I don't see Mandriou going beyond a lower level Championship player.

**ontheotherhand** · 09/04/2023, 6:07 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

I'd call up Mandroiu or Azaz before Byrne at this point to be honest. Smallbone well ahead of all of them at the moment though and Moran will be an interesting one to watch in that position.

Danny and Jack are different players. Haven't seen much of Azaz but he looks promising. Really hoping Smallbone can deliver and yeah Moran getting into the Brighton squad is really encouraging. Zefi seems to be on the right track. Someone needs to be able to feed Ferguson. If we can get him service we are off to the races.

**third policeman** · 10/04/2023, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

Danny and Jack are different players. Haven't seen much of Azaz but he looks promising. Really hoping Smallbone can deliver and yeah Moran getting into the Brighton squad is really encouraging. Zefi seems to be on the right track. Someone needs to be able to feed Ferguson. If we can get him service we are off to the races.

Connell is another player with the potential to raise the quality of our midfield options.

**Kingdom** · 11/04/2023, 1:22 PM

Originally Posted by John83

I dunno. It sounds like the budget for a new manager is about two bushels of wheat and an ice-cream every other month. We might need the next manager to be independently wealthy.

Honorary Post of the Month Award for legitimate use of 'bushels' in a post.

**Kingdom** · 11/04/2023, 1:31 PM

Originally Posted by elatedscum

The outlier is perhaps a really really talented kid. Like if Ferguson hadn’t had a British passport, he’d have been in LOI until after his 18th birthday. So he feasibly could be playing LOI now before signing for Brighton in July (or having signed in January).

Obviously Ferguson may not have developed as quickly in LoI and it’d be a lot harder to justify calling him up.

But theoretically if a 17 year old Evan scored 30 goals for Bohs or Rovers last season - I could imagine people wanting a call up.

Right now, Ferizaj and Curtis followed by maybe McManus are the high profile examples of lads who have stayed around like that. But there’s a gulf in class between them and Evan.

If we're talking about Bohs McManus, then not a hope after what I saw on Friday when he came on. Looked like a lost puppy (not that it was easy to come into a side that was being bullied all over the pitch) but his lack of movement off the ball when Bohs needed something extra was a worry. A blip of course possibly.

Ferizaj didn't seem to do much, albeit he was only on a short while. Watts, Byrne & Burke's movement and touch was a joy to watch (that was hard to write).

And in reply to Nigel, without getting into it, I don't think a call-up for Forrester now would be in anyone's interests, not even the lad himself.

**SkStu** · 11/04/2023, 5:15 PM

Interesting look at the creativity in the LOI context. Jack Byrne at the elite level, going on this dataset.

**Eirambler** · 11/04/2023, 6:34 PM

It's a shame Byrne never built out his all round game beyond the creative side of it. Probably easier said than done but he could have been some player if he had.

**ontheotherhand** · 11/04/2023, 6:43 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

It's a shame Byrne never built out his all round game beyond the creative side of it. Probably easier said than done but he could have been some player if he had.

He works really hard for the team as well these days. Puts in a serious shift in terms of pressing and regularly fills in to track men back. Even throws in a tackle when needed. I don't think he gets enough credit for his off the ball work out of possession to be honest. Obviously his primary job is to be in space to receive the ball and move us forward so that's what he spends most of his time doing but he's not out there just swanning around either. Never going to have the physicality to do much more defensively though.

**Jd2793** · 12/04/2023, 8:06 AM

Originally Posted by SkStu

Interesting look at the creativity in the LOI context. Jack Byrne at the elite level, going on this dataset.

no doubt hes elite in loi terms but im pretty sure that data also counts corners so it'll be skewed a bit as he takes all rovers set pieces. he'd probably come out as the best without them counted anyway

**Fixer82** · 12/04/2023, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by Jd2793

no doubt hes elite in loi terms but im pretty sure that data also counts corners so it'll be skewed a bit as he takes all rovers set pieces. he'd probably come out as the best without them counted anyway

I’m sure some of those other players take all set pieces and corners for their teams too

**Fixer82** · 12/04/2023, 12:48 PM

I honestly think certain players just don’t like being away from home. Keith Fahey comes to mind. Keith Treacy probably another who didn’t enjoy being away from Dublin

**tetsujin1979** · 12/04/2023, 12:58 PM

Both left home really young too

**TonyD** · 12/04/2023, 7:32 PM

Originally Posted by Fixer82

I honestly think certain players just don’t like being away from home. Keith Fahey comes to mind. Keith Treacy probably another who didn’t enjoy being away from Dublin

Certainly think it was an issue for Chris Forrestor too. It wasn’t lack of talent prevented him doing more in the UK. On a selfish level, I’m delighted to have him back at Pats. It took him a while to find his feet again when he returned.

**Yard of Pace** · 12/04/2023, 7:45 PM

Originally Posted by TonyD

Certainly think it was an issue for Chris Forrestor too. It wasn’t lack of talent prevented him doing more in the UK. On a selfish level, I’m delighted to have him back at Pats. It took him a while to find his feet again when he returned.

From what I was told by an ex Pats stalwart, basic malnutrition and the result of having a body that struggled with the rigours of even a training session is most likely what stopped Chrissy kicking on.

He said he had so much talent but was dead at the end of a basic training session because he'd barely eaten a square meal in his life. Kinda sad, really. The guy loved him but implied this would always stand in his way.