Speaking exclusively with BoyleSports, former Premier League star Shane Long has given his thoughts about the EFL promotion drama, he reflects on his experiences with Roy Keane and whether he could return to management.
He e also speaks about the rise of Ireland International Finn Azaz and suggests he could be a Premier League player next season.
Birmingham vs. Wrexham: Hollywood-Fuelled Giants
Birmingham and Wrexham could get back-to-back promotions, but once you get into the Championship it’s so hard to call every season, everyone beats everyone. It’s impossible to call at times, you have two or sometimes three games a week and nine points can shoot you up the league and missing out can be the opposite.
The playoffs are impossible to call so clubs are desperate to finish first or second, but Birmingham and Wrexham are both big clubs with a lot of media attention on them.
Wrexham are big in America and trying to grow the game over there, Birmingham are the bigger club here but it’s getting closer, the Hollywood angle would make it huge for Wrexham to be in the Premier League.
“Witty” Roy Keane
I was surprised at how witty he was. You get him in a conversation, and he's got one-liners and he's quite funny when he's speaking. When it comes to a game he's very serious and doesn't take any nonsense but off the pitch and chatting around the lads I was surprised by how funny he was.
It was nice and was obviously an idol given what he's achieved in the game. They say never meet your idols but that’s not the case with Roy, he's a legend.
Roy Coaching Return?
I think I'd miss him if he wasn't on the telly. I suppose you'd have to ask him that question if he enjoyed it as much as he does the punditry or not.
He comes across really well on the TV. Like I said, he has his witty moments, and he knows the game. Everything he says makes sense as well. It's good for everyone, the public, to listen to because he's got some good points to make and he's been there, he's done it, he's proved it.
I couldn't see him going back down the coaching role but never say never.
Finn Azaz’s Star Turn
Finn Azaz is an attacking midfielder who chips in with a lot of goals and is ever-present.
He's there every game. He's got bags of energy and flies around the pitch. If Middlesbrough don't go up, I think one of the promoted teams will definitely be in for him.
I can see Burnley or Leeds going in and trying to take him into their squad. It'll be hard for Middlesbrough to keep hold of him because he's doing all the right things and he’s grown as a player.
He's proven himself on the pitch, so a lot of opportunities will come his way. As I said, I think Middlesbrough will do well to hold on to him this summer.
West Brom’s Heart And Soul
I loved my time there. I think I gelled well with the fans because they could see that I gave 100% every time I played for West Brom and I think if they put themselves in that situation, they would kind of see themselves in me, I suppose, on the pitch.
I loved my years there. I kind of finished a bit sour, but it was two and a half seasons up there. We finished; I think it was 10th in both seasons.
We were flying the league with great squads, and good managers, the first manager was Roy Hodgson, and it was a good time to be at the club. When fans remember good times at the club, they remember the players and they associate with me.
I’ve got nothing but good things to say about the fans of West Brom and watching the results every week, hopefully, they can get into the playoffs and really push for promotion.
Noel Hunt’s Remarkable Reading Rise
Noel Hunt is on fire, especially considering that he can’t really sign any players. He's got what he's got, and he is getting the best out of them. I think his main thing was to stay in the league this year and hopefully, someone will come in and buy the club, turn things around and get all the bad, negative things behind them.
But he's come in there and he's pushed them close to a playoff place, although they've got a few tough games coming up, but he's exceeded in what he's achieved so far.
Noel is a good friend of mine, and he was very nervous and stressed at the start because he knew it was a great opportunity for him to show what can do as a manager, but he has just settled into it really well.
He's got Nigel Gibbs, who used to be one of my coaches as well, who's really level-headed as a coach beside him. And that's exactly what Noel needs. I'm delighted for them, how well it's gone.”
Championship Relegation Rollercoaster Ride
Looking at the bottom of the table, there's one or two big clubs going to get relegated. It's coming towards the end of the season, and I think their last two games are Derby and Portsmouth which are going to be massive.
If they get six points, that's them safe. I think it will actually come down to the last game of the season, and it's going to be one of those roller-coaster rides on Sky Sports where when you're watching who's going up, who's going down and one goal changes everything.
I had a good time up there, even though I was only there for six months, but it's a well-run club and a nice stadium as well. They play some good football, but they’ve been punished at times. It's hard to call because you've got Derby, you've got Cardiff, you've got big clubs that are in the mix, and I think one of those three will go.
Southampton’s Struggles
Russell Martin brought them up and they had played some beautiful football last year and they tried to do that this year without having, not a plan B, but I think they overplayed at times and got punished.
They got into a run of losing games and the confidence in the whole squad was down. They lost a couple of players in Che Adams and Stuart Armstrong, who were a big part of that squad when they came into the Premier League. It all took its toll one after the other and the fans started turning against the manager and then the manager got sacked, it's a bit of a sad season for them.
Hopefully, they can get a few more wins before the end of the season so they don’t get that record of being the worst club ever in the Premier League. But it's a brilliant club. I spent eight years there. The training ground is amazing. The fans are brilliant. Hopefully, they'll get the right manager to turn things around in pre-season and come straight back up.
Danny Röhl: Southampton’s Ideal Manager
I can see Adam Lallana staying on at Southampton as a coach, it’s too early for the manager role, the one person I would like to see them go for is Danny Rohl at Sheffield Wednesday.
He was number two under Ralph Hasenhuttl and you could see then how he understands the game, his way of playing, how he likes to set up training to counterattack a defence.
He's just always thinking ahead, and he went to Bayern Munich as a coach for a reason. He's really respected in the game, and he's got that connection with Southampton.
Hopefully, they get him in there quite early in the summer. If they don't go for him, hopefully, they do make an appointment quite early in the summer so that they can get a good preseason under their belts and get that confidence back into the squad and try and get a good thing running.”
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