Niko Kirwan (Calcio Potenza | Italy)

Cool. Hopefully Reggiana retain Kirwan they are now promoted to Serie B.

Who knows he may also be called up for that Belgium B friendly in a few months, to cap a good year for him.

His Instagram story is absolutely immense. Wow.

Can you link the story please?

https://youtu.be/8YRcX3Kafh4

Highlights here. Niko can be seen celebrating off the bench the first goal (White headband) and then later on once he comes on (#26)

https://www.instagram.com/niko_kirwan/?hl=en

Pre-season camp for Niko and his team until 6 September. He is one of 13 players from last year to have made the cut so far.

7 players have been left home and will likely depart the team soon.

Interesting article here, and you can even see Niko in a couple of shots.

Not sure yet when Serie B kicks off but Reggiana have a friendly match with third tier team Vis Pesaro on 5 September.

A couple other interesting facts... Reggiana have now regained access to their original name so they can drop Reggio Audace and will now be knows as AC Reggiana 1919. 
Their captain, Alessandro Spano', 26 years of age, has done a Tim Brown and retired from professional football in order to pursue business qualifications, having won a prestigious scholarship that will see him study between London, China and San Francisco. 

This is pretty much unheard of in Italy, but good on him!

Reggiana have been busy on the transfer market and recently signed Giuseppe Zampano to play on the right - he has previously won Serie C with Venezia and even won promotion to Serie A with Crotone. He has over 80 Serie B caps and will provide plenty of competition for Niko, though it seems like he's more of a midfielder and can even be deployed up front.

He going for the Rona trifecta?

He'll probably wear a double face mask and be all right :)

Good news from Reggio Emilia. Niko was the only player to go the full 90 in a preseason match vs Chievo Verona Primavera (youth side). Article Here. 

Sounds like the coach wants to 'rely on him' this season which is honestly great news. 

Credited with an assist in the 5-0 win. Next up is a tougher test, playing Fiorentina in another preseason game. 

Plays the second half in a 1-0 loss to Imolese (Serie C) in a preseason game.

Started on the left and apparently moved to CB from the 19th minute of the second half.

Same score when he came on.

The game vs Fiorentina is now scheduled for 12 September.

Sadly Reggiana players have had rotten luck with injuries so far - there are already 4 players out of selection. Good news for Niko but if they want to do well in Serie B they'll need a full roster.

To back up NP's update, in this week's Flying Kiwis. Looks promising for Kirwan.

https://twitter.com/regginafans/status/13001635383...

Wow they have an English twitter account... Not bad!

that's awesome! Little bit worrying that there was speculation over his position in Serie B in the first place, but hopefully he consolidates his spot. Great level for a Kiwi

This guy's career is so interesting. I know fudge all about him and for the most part neither do most other people. Very quietly working up from domestic NZ football to Serie B is wild. Surely worth a proper All Whites call up if he plays well

Jose deserves a lot of credit for Niko's development. He basically went from a guy lucky to be in a Handy Prem squad to one of the best TeeDubs players in the space of one season. Having an Italian passport has obviously helped for his post-Handy Prem career.

Lady Luck also plays such a big part for Kiwi footballers trying to make it overseas. Especially if you are not an exceptional talent, trying to forge a path mostly on your own, without an EU passport. Bit different say for the Ole boys, with a large support network now up there.

Joel Stevens seemed to have very bad luck with his first stint in Sweden. At a 3rd tier club with a coach who didn't like him, player unrest the whole season, and ultimately finishing last & relegation. An unhappy time allround. Came back to NZ for a few years, then got opportunity to try Swedish 3rd tier again now with Varnamo, and it seems is going the complete opposite from his first time over there. Still only 25, he could end up having a nice football career in Scandy. Bad luck the first time, some karma 2nd time round.

Bill Tuiloma was ready to give up on his Euro dream, but Joey Barton who got to know of him at a QPR trial stint, somehow recommends him to OM (where Barton spent some time), and next minute Billy T is living in the South of France for a few years. Some story like that.

Not underselling what Kirwan is doing, but I guess a large dose of luck for him is that his famous dad went to Italy 30 odd years ago, and fell in love with a local bambina bella.

Many teams do gut their roster once they are promoted in an effort to get better players and stay up. Niko made 23 league appearances last year - not bad but he wasn't a regular starter either - sort of in between a starter and bench player. Certainly an asset to the team but possibly not the first name on the team sheet either.

This being said, he's had 3 full professional seasons in Serie C and from what I've read he's thought of as a workhorse who is very dependable.

It's great to see he features in his team's plans for Serie B - the level will be a few steps above where he's come from but I think he has it in him to do well there.

If he gets some good minutes and puts in decent performances, the sky's the limit really. Serie A clubs regularly buy players from the second tier, as do clubs from all over the world so this could be huge for him!!

Now it's time to see him in an AW shirt I reckon!

Lets wait til he plays a few games first at that level, besides...

As a RB, he has a few names to push out (Payne, Fenton, Roux, Elliott and Ingham)

and as a LB (Carcace, Wilkins, McGarry and Ingham + Smith at a push)

Kirwan's not a fullback.

Is this a fullback/wingback differentiation? Because in his time in Italy he's generally played at right wingback or right back, with a bit of action on the left in those positions thrown in for good measure.

I think his problem has been that he hasn't been super effective on attack, so he's been deployed in a RB or (defensive) WB role more often than not.

His stamina and drive have allowed him to get good game time, but I have a feel he'll need to improve his dribbling and crossing skills to continue developing.

Fun stuff with Kirwan's previous Serie C club being Reggina, the one the account is for, and his new club being Reggiana. Both teams got promoted to Serie B last season.

I note that Massimo Taibi is Sporting Director of Reggina, which might explain how he let Kirwan through his fingers.

Plays the second half in a 5-1 loss va Fiorentina.. Credited with a great pass which sent a team mate into the box and resulted in a penalty which Reggiana sadly missed.
Score was 4-0 when he came on. Ribery with a brace

Plays the second half in a 2-1 loss vs Padova in the last preseason game. Score was 1-1 when he came on. Also, Ronaldo scored for Padova... Obviously a namesake!
?Serie B kicks off next weekend.

So cool having a Kiwi to follow in Serie B which is a decent enough level.

Makes life interesting for you newzealandpower with your Italian ancestry.

"Forza Reggiana !!!"

Chooses to wear the same shirt number as last year, #26.

The season kicks off on Sunday (Monday NZT) vs Pisa, formerly of Serie A.

Will make his Serie B debut, as Reggiana host Pisa. 

Pisa finished 9th last Serie B season, just outside the promotion playoffs.

Looks like Kirwan is starting as a LWB.

Finishes 2-2.

Full game for Kirwan.

Niko is firmly putting himself into the AWs frame if he keeps playing regularly at this level.

I was just reading some reports, apparently he made a goal saving tackle in the last few minutes of the game by closing down an opposition player in the 6 yard box!

Couple more points - it was Reggiana's first Serie B game in 21 years. Makes me feel old. I still remember them in Serie A with Brazil's Claudio Taffarel playing in goal for them.

Also Niko received a mark of 6.5/10 (not bad given Italian standards where you hardly ever get anything above a 7.5).

Kirwan 6,5 – Buon dinamismo, Provvidenziale la sua diagonale su Marconi nel finale.

"Great mobility, made a crucial diagonal run [to stop] Marconi in the dying stages.

always thought he was more a right wing back? Or was I wrong?

From what I have seen, he's been deployed both at as a RB and as a RWB. Playing as a RWB he'd have to perform defensive duties so that's not too surprising

if he remains a starter this season  that is flipin awesome - possibly only wood and Thomas playing at a higher level

just like his Dad then :-)

It's Serie B.

I think AP meant in Europe... And I'd have to agree with him

There's Sarpreet and Libby too. Bell and Niko Boxall? Though Norwegian league is notably stronger than the Finnish one.

Pijnaker hasn't actually played yet so can be left out of that discussion for now.

True, Sapreet is a step above and Libby too, I'm not sure about the others to be honest..

sorry forgot Sarpreet 

Not in the match day squad for a second Round Coppa Italia match vs  Serie C Monopoli.
Interesting game. Monopoli takes the lead in the 65th minute with Reggiana equalising with 5 to go through a penalty. During extra times each time receives a penalty (to make it 3 in the whole game) so it's 2-2.
Reggiana advance after winning, you guessed it, on penalties and are through to the third Round.
According to reports, Niko was one of four players left out for this game to give them a rest.

*each team