Aaron Connolly

I suspect if he doesnt score, he'll be subjected to the same type of criticism that Idah was last night. God forbid he misses a chance or he'll be another on the scrapheap.

Prediction - "He needs a loan to League One"

I seriously don't understand why suggesting a player should be looking to play games is so controversial. Idah missed much of last season in the championship due to injury, he's fully fit now and may end up missing most.of this season on the bench. Finding 10 minutes here and there in the premier league won't really develop his game.

Connolly is in a similar position, needs a run of games, bar an injury crisis at Brighton he's unlikely to get that at the moment.

When you look at parrott, he's struggled at Millwall, did better at Ipswich towards the end and has improved much more now at MKDons.

The longer a players sits on the bench, the better they become - said nobody ever.

John you cant have it both ways. If as you suggest it is up to the players to show the manager why they should be in the team then Idah did little last night to convince Farke. You dismissed criticism of his performance as snipping and negativity yet Idah had a chance last night to say to the manager- don't leave me out. Same if Connolly starts tonight. This is PL level, you either stand out or you will sit on the bench as a back up or have to look at a loan to get some development.

Their making match day squads but doing very little else - if you think sitting on the bench is more beneficial for their development as opposed to playing games every single week then your simply wrong. 

Hourihane was making the Villa squads but is simply not good enough for the EPL. He's not a developing player either.

There comes a time you have to play, play somewhere because if you don't, you're not developed to pro level  ( however good you were underage  ) & of no interest to anyone at a level Ireland will select from. 

Thats my worry with these lads, they seem very nearly good enough but not quite and need to prove if they have it. 

In my view, that's a different scenario, these are not young lads playing in the U23s, these are lads consistently making match day squads, basically on the fringes of the first team. I have already said that if this stops being the case, then they may need to sit down with their managers and work out what is best for them. Obviously in the here and now, we as Irish fans want these lads playing regular minutes, because our needs are urgent, but as I said, they are at well run clubs with top class managers who probably know a bit more about what's best for their long term development than we do. Klopp in particular has been pretty straight with young players who he feels aren't good enough - he is unequivocal about Kelleher and indeed made the point quite forcibly last night in his post match interview. Potter has been extremely supportive of Connolly despite his well publicised indiscretions.