Niko Kirwan (Calcio Padova | Italy)

Padova lose their first game of the season, 3-2 in a close one away at Lecco. 
They remain top of the table but have 2 matches in hand vs 2nd and one vs third. 
No Kirwan obviously as he's on AW duty 

Absolutely agree with Hay here. I think people have no idea how tough it is to make it as a professional in Italy. Even in the 6th and 7th tier you get players that would look all right in many leagues worldwide, and some do indeed make it all the way to serie A and international glory. 
He's definitely proven that he has the attitude and skills to be a professional in a decent league. How high he will go will depend a lot on luck and his ability to improve day on day out. 

He also gets a mention on the Padova website
 https://www.padovacalcio.it/kirwan-bahrain-newzealand-0-1/ https://www.padovacalcio.it/kirwan-bahrain-newzealand-0-1/

And they also posted highlights of the Bahrain game there too 

I was happy for him, but I still see him as 5th choice currently behind Ingham, Elliott, Fenton and Payne.

Works hard, but I didn't think he looked like he offered much in an attacking sense. The header he got, I would expect any player to nod it in. Was a simple finish.

Elliott and Ingham offer the best attacking options. Payne and Fenton they best defensively IMO. 

MetalLegNZ

I was happy for him, but I still see him as 5th choice currently behind Ingham, Elliott, Fenton and Payne.

Works hard, but I didn't think he looked like he offered much in an attacking sense. The header he got, I would expect any player to nod it in. Was a simple finish.

Elliott and Ingham offer the best attacking options. Payne and Fenton they best defensively IMO. 

Kirwan's 100% my pick, can't judge his ability off a debut in 35 degree weather on a terrible pitch. Ingham would come nowhere close to the reserves of a Serie B team, let alone playing 27 senior league games in a season. Payne would come close to Serie B standard like Kirwan, and probably is my second pick for a starting berth - Fenton and Elliot likely wouldn't as of right now, but I really rate Elliot and time's on his side.

He played around 90 minutes in total during which his side was largely in the ascendency the whole time.

Can you recall him beating a player? Making a decent cross? I can't and that's not me trying to nit pick. He has a good work rate, but I don't see Fenton or Payne missing the header he did. 

He was also pulled apart by his opposite number on more than one occassion, so defensively struggled at times as well.

I hope he continues to build on his good start to the season, but he only made the squad because of Covid... and if everyone is available come March, he won't get the call up.

MetalLegNZ

He played around 90 minutes in total during which his side was largely in the ascendency the whole time.

Can you recall him beating a player? Making a decent cross? I can't and that's not me trying to nit pick. He has a good work rate, but I don't see Fenton or Payne missing the header he did. 

He was also pulled apart by his opposite number on more than one occassion, so defensively struggled at times as well.

I hope he continues to build on his good start to the season, but he only made the squad because of Covid... and if everyone is available come March, he won't get the call up.

Kind of agree with this, but Hay does have his favourites. Terrible missed header aside, across both games, I feel he definitely wasn't a fill in type player by any stretch. 

He will probably get the call up again for any November games, and depending on opposition and how he goes I'll be more inclined to give more of a judgement on him then. 

Honestly though, it's just good to see us having and attempting to build that bit of depth across the park.

MetalLegNZ

He played around 90 minutes in total during which his side was largely in the ascendency the whole time.

Can you recall him beating a player? Making a decent cross? I can't and that's not me trying to nit pick. He has a good work rate, but I don't see Fenton or Payne missing the header he did. 

He was also pulled apart by his opposite number on more than one occassion, so defensively struggled at times as well.

I hope he continues to build on his good start to the season, but he only made the squad because of Covid... and if everyone is available come March, he won't get the call up.

Again, this is judging his ability off one game in 35 degree heat on a bumpy pitch on debut, and not his performances in Italy over the past few seasons which, for me, have absolutely warranted a permanent place in the squad.

I think 5th choice is really harsh. Especially since Elliot hasn't played a game in what over a year and Ingham is going good in spurts and not a good defender. 
I certainly agree that he has some technical limitations at present and isn't someone who goes around beating players. But how many modern full backs do that? It's all about speed and stamina, make those long bursting runs and get a good cross in... 

Kirwan has to be second choice at this point behind maybe Payne if we play a back 4, if we play wingbacks he'd be my first pick given the current RB options we have, if we play 3 CB's then logically he's on the bench.

Fenton deserves to be in the mix... yes he cuts back in way too much, but he has an engine just as good as Kirwin's and I'd argue more defensively sound.

Plus he gets the odd goal as well.

I don't watch the Serie C, so can't talk to Kirwins form there, but four clubs in five years does not paint a great picture, quality wise IMO.

Kirwan v Fenton the new Mossy/Paston!

MetalLegNZ

Fenton deserves to be in the mix... yes he cuts back in way too much, but he has an engine just as good as Kirwin's and I'd argue more defensively sound.

Plus he gets the odd goal as well.

I don't watch the Serie C, so can't talk to Kirwins form there, but four clubs in five years does not paint a great picture, quality wise IMO.

I wouldn't read too much into his comings and goings personally. In the first couple of years he was trying to find a team where he would play enough minutes. Also, his first team Mestre basically went bankrupt after the 2017 season so he had to find a team anyway. He was lucky to go to Reggina which is a team that played in Serie A fairly recently and has a massive following. Again, in a new club he managed to play quite a lot but was overlooked in the second season and that's when he went to Reggio Audace with whom he won promotion and then played an important part in Serie B. They were then relegated and he went to a team that has serious promotion aspirations (they lost in the final last year) and yet again he's well involved with the team. 
I'm not saying he's the best RB necessarily, but based on his career along so far he should be in the top 2 for AW selection in the RB position. 

Back to club duty, and Niko starts off the bench in a 2-1 win over Trento. 
Subbed on at 73 min with the scored being 2-0.
Padova are top of the table with 22 points, +4 on Sudtirol who have a game in hand

90 minutes and a yellow card in a 2-2 home draw vs Pro Sesto. 
Padova giving away two points late (91st minute) with the equaliser scored by a super sub who had come on for the last 15 or so.
Opposition keeper credited with a great save on Niko.. So I look forward to checking that out in the highlights. 
Padova are still first on 23 points but Sudtirol could overtake them as they're on 21 with a game in hand. 
Still early times but only top of the league goes straight to Serie B and Padova will want to avoid the playoffs 

Full game in a 1-0 loss against Feralpi Salò. The Padova GK Donnarumma (Older brother of the Italy number 1) had the ball kickedninto his back by a defender who was trying to clear a ball off the line in the 2nd minute.
Niko was involved in the equaliser but the goal was disallowed as his shot was deflected by a teammate who was in an offside position.
Padova drop to second on the table (today's opponents and Reno's former club Renate are equal second on 23 points) 

Long interview with the club website. Niko talks NZ, Haka, Sir John, AWs and much more. Worth a cheeky Google translate if you are interested:

https://www.padovacalcio.it/niko-kirwan-intervista/

newzealandpower

Long interview with the club website. Niko talks NZ, Haka, Sir John, AWs and much more. Worth a cheeky Google translate if you are interested:

https://www.padovacalcio.it/niko-kirwan-intervista/

The convocation? I was at home in Treviso with my mother and my sister, I read the email and I was very happy. I had already gone to the national team three and a half years before, but it didn't go very well, as I was injured. In the week before, I prepared myself in the best possible way, also thanks to the three matches with Padova in one week. 

I started the first game with Curacao, the second with Bahrain instead I started from the bench. When I joined we moved on to 3-5-2, we wanted to win, we have to do it to make football in New Zealand grow. When I entered the coach said to me "go and solve it yourself", and this gave me great energy. Then football is also about positioning and luck. That day went well and the ball went in. The post game was beautiful, Wood hugged me and played music, the All Whites had never won two games in a row away from home, this shows how it is developing there. 

Full game and a late yellow card in a 2-0 win vs Albinoleffe. Padova second, one point behind Sudtirol who have a game in hand 

Initially rested for the Serie C Cup tie vs Virtus Entella, then subbed on at the hour mark with the score being 0-0.
The match ended 1-1, and Padova prevailed during extra times, 2-1 to advance to the next round. 

Feels like two points lost for Padova who drew 1-1 vs lowly Mantova who were languishing near the bottom of the table and are now 17th thanks to this draw. 
Full game Niko. 
Padova still equal second on 27 points, - 3 from leaders Sudtirol who have a game in hand. Only top of the table gets direct access to Serie B, the rest will have to compete in the play offs 

Padova won 3-1  vs Piacenza overnight and retained 3rd spot on the ladder. Niko subbed on at 75' with the score being 3-0

Subbed off at 57' in a 1-0 Serie C Coppa Italia win vs Viterbese. 
Padova avance to the semis. 
Cup winner automatically advances to the Serie C play offs.

An important win for Padova this morning, 1-0 vs once upon a time giants Pro Vercelli (7 Italian league titles between 1908 and 1922). Padova are second on the table, - 7 points off Sudtirol but Niko's team has a game in hand (in my earlier posts I had it the wrong way around). Only the top team gets automatic promotion to Serie B and that's where Padova aspire to be. Still fairly early in the piece, but they will want to win that extra game they have as well as beat Sudtirol when they play them 

Subbed off at HT in a 2-0 win vs Juventus U23. The score was 1-0 when he came off. He was booked in the 14th minute and set up the assist for the opener. Not sure why he was dragged at HT, hopefully not an injury. 
This was Padova's game in hand, not an easy one so great stuff getting the 3 points. They are now -4 from leaders Sudtirol after 16 games. Padova's score so far, 11 W, 3 D, 2 L. 

Highlights from the game here
https://www.padovacalcio.it/padova-juventus-u23-2-0-highlights/ 

Niko wearing #26 in white and sporting a nice fresh hair cut. The man bun is gone, the buzz cut in is! 

Padova drop 2 points overnight with a 1-1 draw vs bottom of the table Giana Erminio. Niko was serving a 1 match ban for accumulated yellow cards si didn't feature in this one. 

Padova (2nd) played Sudtirol (1st) overnight for a chance to reduce the game from -6 to -3.
Unfortunately the game ended 0-0 so this 6 point gap is preserved. 
Niko subbed on at 52 minutes and almost pricing to be a supersub. His cross with about 15 min to go found one of the strikers whose header hit the post. 

Scores a goal in the first leg of the Serie C Cup in a 1-1 draw vs Catanzaro! 
Will post highlights as soon as they are available... Oh, and he had a full game. 

Highlights here 
https://www.padovacalcio.it/coppaitalia-padova-catanzaro-1-1-hl/
Niko wins his corner around the 55 seconds mark and then scores off the ensuing corner kick. Padova definitely the better team even though they played with 10 men for about an hour 

Third league draw in a row for Padova, again 0-0. Full game Kirwan.
Leaders Sudtirol with a game in hand and a chance to go +8

An important win for Padova this morning vs Reno's old club Renate (2nd vs 2nd). 2-0 to Niko's club who are now 3 points above Renate and 2 points off top spot though leaders Sudtirol now have two games in hand so could technically return to +8.
Niko subbed off at 65 min with the score already at 2-0

newzealandpower

Scores a goal in the first leg of the Serie C Cup in a 1-1 draw vs Catanzaro! 
Will post highlights as soon as they are available... Oh, and he had a full game. 

Not clearest view but his goal from weekend, courtesy Flying Kiwis.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1471197800452874242

coochiee

newzealandpower

Scores a goal in the first leg of the Serie C Cup in a 1-1 draw vs Catanzaro! 
Will post highlights as soon as they are available... Oh, and he had a full game. 

Not clearest view but his goal from weekend, courtesy Flying Kiwis.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1471197800452874242

 
https://www.padovacalcio.it/coppaitalia-padova-catanzaro-1-1-hl/

The whole Jan 9th Serie C round has now been postponed due to Covid 

Named as the best foreign right-back in Serie C by Eleven Sports (Serie C’s broadcaster in Italy).

Serie C returns to action after a lengthy Christmas/Covid delay. 
Padova beat Catanzaro 1-0 overnight in the Serie C Cup semifinal return leg to earn a spot in the final! The winner of the Cup gets an automatic spot in the play offs (which Padova should easily make since they are 2nd in the league). 
Full game Kirwan. 

Big win for Padova overnight. 2-0 vs 5th placed Triestina. Niko subbed on at 62 min with the score being 1-0.
They stay 2nd, 2 points off Sudtirol who also have 2 games in hand. 

Interestingly I just read somewhere that Padova have a new Sporting Director, which is a role that wields significant power in Italian football. Hopefully the new person doesn't have his sights on a new fullback and things tick along for Niko