William Smallbone

2023 - 3 - 22

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Independent.ie"

Stephen Kenny hails man-of-the-match Will Smallbone: 'He gives us ... (Independent.ie)

The Stoke player stood out on a night where Evan Ferguson scored a first Ireland goal and another newcomer, Mikey Johnston, made an impact off the bench.

Meanwhile, Kenny confirmed that skipper Seamus Coleman sat the game out with a ‘slight strain’ sustained with his club. We looked very good for periods but could have been better at times.” “That’s a snapshot of what Mikey can be,” he said. But he’s been very good for Stoke, he’s added other aspects to his game and has come on a lot. At 2-0 it looked like it would be a formality but in the second half, we weren’t all that cohesive. The two players we kept fresh - Josh Cullen does that job very well and Jason Knight as well.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Irish Mirror"

Stephen Kenny full of praise for Will Smallbone after Ireland debut (Irish Mirror)

The playmaker had a key role in Ireland's first two goals of a needlessly dramatic 3-2 friendly win over Latvia. Evan Ferguson grabbed the headlines by hitting ...

“It’s only Evan’s first start and he’s got a goal at 18. “We have to accept criticism for that. “But with the introduction of the subs, we played with a lot of speed in wide areas which caused Latvia a lot of problems.” Now he has added other aspects to his game.” “Our passing was quite good in the first-half and we had a lot of penetration in our play with Callum O’Dowda and link play with Will and Matt Doherty caused problems. Cruising at 2-0, the Boys in Green went in level at the break and Kenny said: “We have to accept criticism for that.”

Post cover
Image courtesy of "KCLR Fanzone"

Scoreline Morning Report: SETU Carlow, Loretto & Kilkenny College ... (KCLR Fanzone)

SETU Carlow has a chance of retribution tonight when they take on Ulster University in the Electric Ireland Freshers 2 Hurling Championship final.

So massive congratulations to everyone involved. pats Maghera yesterday in Louth. Throw in at Abbotstown is 4 o’clock.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "RTE.ie"

Smallbone sets sights on France after dream debut (RTE.ie)

Will Smallbone hopes he has given Stephen Kenny a selection headache for Monday's face-off with France after a superb debut for the Republic of Ireland.

"My mum and my girlfriend were over for the game. "It's a moment I’ve been wanting to happen for so long and for it to be here and to go the way it has was very special." I’d love to be involved in it, whatever way that is."

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Irish Examiner"

Stephen Kenny: 'We can't say with certainty that any player will go ... (Irish Examiner)

The home team struggled after a fast start against the Eastern Europeans but Smallbone was named man of the match on his senior debut, Ferguson scored after 17 ...

“We got caught with a pass inside and got punished with an unbelievable goal. I felt our passing was quite good in the first-half and we had penetration in all our play. “That was difficult to accept because we had chances to go three up and we didn’t take them. So we looked very good for periods and then we went in two-all at half-time. “Mikey, that was a snapshot of what Mikey can be. “Evan, it’s his first start and he got a goal.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Extra.ie"

Glimpse of a bright future - but present-day problems remain the ... (Extra.ie)

But as Stephen Kenny has discovered, international football is about the here and now. Whatever qualifying campaign is next. Soft words about building for ...

And perhaps, they did glimpse, at times, the promise of a brighter future. And Smallbone looks to the manor born in international football. Two more strikes from outside the box found their way into the Irish net in the first half, and had a deflating effect on the Irish team. However, at least with the likes of Ferguson and Smallbone, there is more belief that they will score. For 33 minutes last night, the future didn't just seem beautiful but there was a feeling that the present can be bright, too. Evan Ferguson was making his first start, and a first goal seemed inevitable against a team ranked 133rd in the world.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "HampshireLive"

Stephen Kenny makes Stoke City point after Southampton's Will ... (HampshireLive)

Southampton midfielder Will Smallbone impressed on his first senior start for Republic of Ireland, putting in a man-of-the-match display and providing an ...

Will is a Southampton boy and has been really working well here. He’s been very good for Stoke, he’s added other aspects to his game and has come on a lot.” [Southampton climb, Leeds and Nottingham Forest drop? He is growing but let’s see as I don’t lose one second to think about next season, but Will is a Southampton player and he deserves a chance." “I watched a good bit of Stoke recently and the last seven weeks I’ve been so impressed with how he has kicked on. [earned plenty of praise](https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/football-news/stoke-will-smallbone-transfer-southampton-8236816) from Stoke boss Alex Neil, who has described Smallbone as a "good signing" for the Potters this term with his workrate, ability on the ball and his all-round contributions.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Pundit Arena"

Stephen Kenny drops hint for France team selection (Pundit Arena)

Kenny's Ireland side defeated Latvia 3-2 on Wednesday at the Aviva Stadium, in a game that was made a lot harder than it should have been. After ...

With Evan Ferguson almost guaranteed to start, does he pack the midfield and leave the Brighton youngster up front on his own? Gavin Bazunu’s stock likely rose from doing nothing though, with some suggesting he would have saved the second effort. Speaking after the game, the Ireland manager did drop some hints with regards to who might be starting vs France.

Explore the last week