Happy to be proven wrong in this instance. The headline was very misleading. I don’t know why the A-Leagues would want to make him look bad. Absolutely shameless in the pursuit of clicks.
Well well…
Pick him, give him 2 off the bench and send him off to Europe
1 Like
I dont think he is talking about the youth squads, otherwise he would have potentially been pushing for a spot for the Olyroos. In fairness it was ridiculously silly not to bring him into the squad. If it was that big of a deal for him to represent Australia, he would have had a go at least about those qualifiers. I’d take this stuff with a grain of salt.
Latest in line of ‘next Kewell’ - though of the recent A-League hype produces, Tillio, Arzani & Kuol, my personal opinion is that he is better than they were, at least based on potential and A-League performances. Still more likely than not the BM move will result in loan moves, much like Singhs did.
Totally, put him on with 2 to go when we are hopefully a few goals up. Tie him to Australia but we only have to ever pick him again if he really develops. Arnie should play hardball
3 Likes
Garang Kuol went far too early but the money he was offered was irresistible. Then he got stuffed around by poor loan deals. Hardly played for 2 seasons.
Irankunda is at risk of similar.
1 Like
I’d expect Bayern to have a bit more sense and keep Irankunda in their own system for a year at least. They can more closely monitor his progress.
I know Bayern probably hope to get an FFP benefit out of him, but it was clear that the FFP benefit was the only reason Newcastle went for Kuol. They didn’t care how they developed him. Sending him straight out on loan to Hearts, instead of giving him at least some PL2 minutes first, was absolutely absurd and was always going to be detrimental to Kuol himself.
At least Bayern do shit properly and will try to improve him. Sarpreet Singh may not have made it at Bayern, but he’s still playing in 2. Bundesliga which is a perfectly acceptable level to play for New Zealand (or Australia).
2 Likes
This takes 4 or more competitive appearances by my understanding?
I’m pretty sure all it takes is a single appearance in a non-friendly international match. So a qualifier or a major tournament usually suffices. Until then, he can play for as many nations as he’s eligible for.
I wouldn’t be upset if Arnold brought Irankunda for two minutes off the bench against Bangladesh, then he doesn’t get picked at all for the next few years. Irankunda needs to mature and become more consistent. Arnie pretty much said that previously.
Appearances in World Cup finals matches or continental finals such as the European Championships would prohibit a change of eligibility.
However, appearing in a tournament qualifier would not.
99 percent of the time it’s the agent planting these stories to their journo mates who claim to be “in the know”. Arnie doesn’t care about this stuff.
Wow. I haven’t seen that rule change until now. That is wild.
It’s a good rule for the younger players. Means that if they stop getting chosen they can at least have a second option for a different country. Makes the choice slightly less stressful
420 minutes in a season with only 3 games missed through injury, for a team that was nowhere near staying up in 2. Bundesliga.
For a 25-year-old who went to Bayern as a teenager, that’s honestly as bombed a career as any failed “next Kewell”.
2 Likes
Came on here to say this. G. Kuol did better with over 700 in all comps.
It might be worth pointing out to these kids that Kewell was starting for Leeds at 17 and was a star in a loaded leads team by 19.
Viduka was a two time golden boot, twice minor premier and a premier by the time he went to Zagreb at 20. And then won another 6 trophies there by the time he left at 23 …
6 Likes
Emerton also did the ‘smart’ thing by building himself a few seasons at SO (waiting for the Sydney Olympics) before heading off O/S - worked out pretty bloody well for him too.
2 Likes
Id rather scratch my eyes out with rusty nails than watch the shame play a non-sydney game, but what has Arzani done of note this year?