Underage squads: Best Prospects

Maccatacca wrote: Not the best of moves.  What makes Bazunu stand out from the rest of young goalkeepers is the fact that he’s playing first team football.  He’ll do well to shine ahead of the other 8-10 underage keepers throughout city’s teams.  Granted he was never likely to gain first team football at an English / Scottish club, but a move to the SPL might have meant regular first team football within the next 2-3 years.  Also expect Nigeria to start upping the pressure on him to represent them now. Although he’s always indicated that he wants to play for Ireland.

Can someone remind me how many 1st team games this kid has played?

Played 6 games, kept 4 clean sheets and saved a late penalty against Cork away to win a point for Rovers. Rovers brought in Alan Mannus from St. Johnstone who has caps for the North and he didn't displace Bazunu until he picked up a knock after the away game to AIK in the Europa League. Mannus is starting at present which is fair as he is a much more experienced keeper.

The O'Shea wrote: Surely they'd be best holding onto him for another 2 years. He'd get to finish his leaving cert, and Rovers would have an 18 year old keeper with 2.5 years of first team experience under his belt. They'd easily get 2-3 times what is being offered now for him, maybe more.

Edited by J89 - 09 Aug 2018 at 5:46pm

5/6 senior appearances would soon be forgotten if he spends the next 6/7 years playing youth/reserve football. He's only 16, he doesn't need to rush his big move.

Whilst we have a real dearth up front in the senior team, we have some serious prospects in that position coming through:

kevincronin2000 wrote: Maccatacca wrote: Glenn McAuley and Corey Whelan start for Liverpool under-23s tonight.  Conor Masterson is on the bench.  Grabara starts in goals and Kelleher is not in the squad, I’d say there’s a chance Kelleher will be third choice for Liverpool’s opener.  Great chance for McAuley. EDIT: I didn’t realize that Whelan is only twenty and is the captain.  Kelleher trained with the first team and looks set to be third choice keeper for now. Its all very good being third choice keeper, but he still needs to be playing ball. I thought the U23 spot was his for the season.

15 year old Sinclair Armstrong made his senior debut for Shamrock Rovers last night, a fine young player with a name to match .

shams are really churning out the youngsters these days. Good to see from a LOI club developing their own.