Good jobs !

Perhaps we have had a good number 9 in our midst all this time, please note Mr McKenna and lets play him there!!!!

A superb effort by our Norwegian star. Two goals and an assist. Well-done lad.

Yes well done!...hopefully a confidence booster, but who knows the level between the English Championship and Norway's U-21's?

Great for confidence. Maybe give him a go at 9? Need Wes back first

He can really hit a football. He needs to be getting chances around the edge of the box without having to cut inside and create them first - as those always get blocked!

Well done Walle Egeli!

I can just repeat what I posted in the forum in reply to another post. The difference? Pressures off, far lower calibre of opponent than you'll get in the Championship and being played in a position that suits rather than one that doesn't. I think all 3 contribute.

Losing Hutchinson was a huge blow late in the window (imagine had he stayed for the season), so we had to replace him on the right, especially with Burns still months away from a return & McAteer's poor start. But Egeli is primarily a central player, whether as an out & out #9 or a creative #10, so it has surprised me that he hasn't been given more of a chance in one of those spots, which have both been a problem area at times, over the course of the season.
I know McKenna was concerned about Ogbene coming back from a knee injury, but his style of play would have been far more suited to our needs on the right than Egeli, so letting him into on loan, notwithstanding the signing of McAteer, was an odd one - Burns was brought in & played as soon as he was fit after just as serious a long standing injury, and the games Ogbene has missed for Sheffield United were due to a separate injury from a bad tackle; also, Ireland always play Ogbene ahead of McAteer.
The problem we have had with Egeli on the right, apart from confidence & lack of experience, is that he is left footed so nearly always wants to cut inside to where he is more comfortable; so we are missing width & cutbacks from that side, while we are crowding the middle, as Philogene & Clarke similarly look to cut in from the left.
For me, that made it really difficult for a player like Szmodics to do his best work, as he is not a particularly quick-footed, flicks, lay offs & rockets from a standing position sort of attacker (#10), but more a clever runner into space, off the shoulder of the defender type, with a great finish while moving at pace. He just didn't find himself in those situations too often in our formation, sandwiched as he was.
The future, and it's still a bright future, for Egeli is as a central #10 or as a striker, so I wonder if we should be persisting in playing him on the right side of the fixed 3 attackers, especially with McAteer making more of an impact lately? Arguably, it hasn't done him much good in terms of confidence, rapport with supporters, or even his development (perhaps), as he doesn't appear to be any more comfortable or effective in that position now, than he was in his early appearances for us.

He clearly is a huge talent but McKenna is not getting the best out of him. In fact it looks like he is making him worse. In a blue shirt he looks so low on confidence which is a great shame. Give him a go at number 9.

The way Walle Egeli powerfully stroked that free kick (as opposed to the power drive we are used to seeing from our other dead ball specialists) was crucial to the top corner just out of the goalie's reach end product. Wouldn't that be nice to see at Carrot Rud ?

Playing for Norway u21s is a far cry from playing championship football as Egeli is finding out. Playing him as a number 9 no matter who's in charge is not going to happen it's much more physical he's not big or strong enough to hold the ball up with his back to goal and hasn't got any ability when the ball is in the air. Playing him as a number 10 is a bit more realistic i can see that. I think a lot of these suggestions come from people who have never been involved in the game we even had one saying Kipre should be tried up front maybe in pub football.

People banging on about the gulf between the championship and under 21 national teams but if you have a knack for scoring you’ve got that knack and NO KEEPER in ANY league is stopping that free kick either. He’s still very young. Omari did absolutely nothing first half of his loan season and he was older this guy is talented but atm for me clearly a confidence player because during the two month period before Christmas he was on fire. No he’s not the finished article but that boy has a natural talent. Personally think he will become a 10 at some point but if he’s finishing like that I’d love to see him have a go up front

Linkboy, Kipre was a striker early in his career, I think you can by and large see why he's now a central defender. Someone shoved up top for a period in a game when some chaos is needed, sure. But permanently, I don't think so either.

There is a big gulf and it's VERY big between under 21 national teams and Championship teams, but the point made above about a knack of scoring is valid, especially on free kicks. If you can kick a dead ball excellently in one league, you can do the same in another. I'm certainly not judging SWE till next season anyway. The lad's got brownie points with me just for having the guts to move to another country for work at such a young age. Not too many do that, and hardly any have a rather large price tag on their heads. It's a lot to cope with. Look forward to watching him develop.

Goals still in the same place and the ball is round so maybe there is soemthing in this post to reveal our future star?

Yes I agree International u21 football is not comparable to the Championship but Egeli has an impressive record at international level which demonstrates his ability to score goals which is a much sought after skill set. I’d love to see McKenna play him centrally as he is uncomfortable as a winger and not as effective. I’d also love to see Akpom given a run of games as I still believe that he is a talented player. Sadly our recruitment is well below par and this has to be addressed. We have some excellent players but if we were to get promotion again this season we would need a complete overhaul.

Marinersnose, we haven't always agreed with each other, but your above post is 100% spot on with everything stated!

If he is in the team then it should be no.10 role as i don't think the wing suits him