Jack Byrne

[Ted Hughes]

Nice little piece by Stuart Brennan, if anyone is interested.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ty-6262718

Jack's the lad for Blues as youngster shines at City
1 Nov 2013 10:44

Patrick Vieira says future Manchester City star Jack Byrne is living up to comparisons with Paul Scholes as the youngster continues to impress.



Rising City star Jack Byrne has a neat sense of timing – in more ways than one.

The 17-year-old Irish starlet’s manager Patrick Vieira questioned comparisons between his midfield general and United legend Paul Scholes because Byrne does not pop up in the box and score goals.

Three days later, Byrne popped up in the box and scored the second goal in a 2-0 win over Arsenal!

The Dubliner is just as precise in the manner of his play and has been the Blues' outstanding player – alongside Marcos Lopes – in a UEFA Youth League campaign which continues against CSKA Moscow at Hyde next Tuesday (3pm).

It was former City star Niall Quinn who compared Byrne to Scholes, after watching him mastermind the Blues’ win at Viktoria Plzen in the first-ever match in the new tournament, which shadows the senior sides’ Champions League games.

That was great news for Byrne, who admits he models his game on ex-England man Scholes, and counts Quinn as a hero from his time with the Republic of Ireland.

The immaculate passing, ability to find space and time in the hurly-burly of midfield and quickness of thought – as well as small stature – are all reminiscent of Scholes, but Vieira feels the teenager will develop into his own player.

Byrne looked excellent on a hard, bumpy pitch in Moscow, and Vieira said: “It was another very good performance from Jack. In all three games in the UEFA Youth League, he has been fantastic.

“What I like about Jack is his personality. He doesn’t get scared at all, he just plays his football and some of his passing in Moscow was excellent.

“He can be different to Scholes, who was more about getting in the box – he scores more goals than Jack, so I think Jack will be a different type of player. But they are both great on the ball.

“Jack is really young and not afraid – he really wants to play. He has taken the responsibility, and is a strong boy.

“Physically he is not impressive at all, but his technique and first touch are excellent and he always likes to play forwards.

“Now he needs to keep playing, keep working hard and like all the lads at this club he needs to take the opportunity that presents itself. If he keeps working hard, the chance will come for him to challenge himself at a different level.”

Byrne’s old coach at St Kevin’s in Ireland, Alan Caffrey, felt that Byrne’s style would have suited Barcelona, but the Ireland Under-19 player chose City after he was pursued by several English clubs.

The youngster has already trained with the first team, and admitted that his deft, quick-thinking style is down to his slight stature.

“I try to stay one step ahead, in your head, know where the next pass is going,” he said.

“The worst thing you can do is take a first touch when your head is down, when you don’t know what to do and are flapping around with the ball – you are going to get clattered.

“I’m not the biggest so I have to be clever. I can’t take two or three touches and get into a physical battle. For me it’s one-touch, two-touch, keep the ball moving.”

If City beat CSKA, they will need a point from their last two games, against Plzen and Bayern Munich – both soundly beaten in the first encounters – to reach the knockout stages.


We have mentioned this lad on here & imo, he is a proper footballer. A bit small for a deepish mid as mentioned but the 'intelligence' & comparison mentioned in that article is not exaggerated imo; very reminiscent of Scholes in his latter years. Always happy to recieve the ball & always has an idea what to do with it. Would link up perfectly with people such as Silva. Nasri, Fernandinho etc.

The question re City would be how we fit him into the team plan; if he is a non scoring 'Scholes' then he's got to play deep & can he be strong enough to oust any of the competition ? Will he be powerful enough defensively ? Of course if he adds goals to his game then he's cracked it imo.

Dunno, but I'm sure he'll be a footballer somewhere if he keeps progressing & could possibly be fast tracked into the Ireland team in the next few years.

Seems a great lad too.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

I've seen this kid play at Kevins a few times, he was in my nephew's class in school too. I would've said he's more a Xavi than a Scholes but one thing is for sure he's an extremely gifted footballer, fingers crossed he realises his potential at City.

[Moonchesteri]

The question re City would be how we fit him into the team plan; if he is a non scoring 'Scholes' then he's got to play deep & can he be strong enough to oust any of the competition ? Will he be powerful enough defensively ? Of course if he adds goals to his game then he's cracked it imo.

Sounds like Fernandinho to be honest so I'm sure he'll do fine if he keeps on developing!

[Ted Hughes]

I've seen this kid play at Kevins a few times, he was in my nephew's class in school too. I would've said he's more a Xavi than a Scholes but one thing is for sure he's an extremely gifted footballer, fingers crossed he realises his potential at City.

That's fair comment but Scholes was more of a Xavi later in his career imo.

Certainly the kind of player who would fit a Spanish system easily.

[Ted Hughes]

The question re City would be how we fit him into the team plan; if he is a non scoring 'Scholes' then he's got to play deep & can he be strong enough to oust any of the competition ? Will he be powerful enough defensively ? Of course if he adds goals to his game then he's cracked it imo.

Sounds like Fernandinho to be honest so I'm sure he'll do fine if he keeps on developing!

Fernandinho is stronger in the air & faster, more of a runner, where as this lad is more 'Xavish' as stated by FIBD.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

The question re City would be how we fit him into the team plan; if he is a non scoring 'Scholes' then he's got to play deep & can he be strong enough to oust any of the competition ? Will he be powerful enough defensively ? Of course if he adds goals to his game then he's cracked it imo.

Sounds like Fernandinho to be honest so I'm sure he'll do fine if he keeps on developing!

Fernandinho is stronger in the air & faster, more of a runner, where as this lad is more 'Xavish' as stated by FIBD.

He does have real potential.He has played deep when I have seen him but he is more of a creative player in that role rather than a destroyer

[twosips]

The thought of developing our own Xavi or Pirlo type excites me fucking loads. He looks great from what i've seen anyway and he claerly knows what he needs to and who he needs to be too on the football pitch. He seems like someone who is willing and able to be the brain of a side and dictate play and he's the kind of player we should be mixing in and around the first team squad asap really.

[Dronny]

The question re City would be how we fit him into the team plan; if he is a non scoring 'Scholes' then he's got to play deep & can he be strong enough to oust any of the competition ? Will he be powerful enough defensively ? Of course if he adds goals to his game then he's cracked it imo.

Sounds like Fernandinho to be honest so I'm sure he'll do fine if he keeps on developing!

Fernandinho is stronger in the air & faster, more of a runner, where as this lad is more 'Xavish' as stated by FIBD.

He does have real potential.He has played deep when I have seen him but he is more of a creative player in that role rather than a destroyer

I watched the 6-0 hammering of Bayern and was mightily impressed by Byrne, as has been mentioned he was always showing and wanting the ball and was instrumental in pulling BM apart with his passing and workrate. Apart from Lopes (who does look very accomplished) I was also impressed by Fofana who strikes me as having a certain Vieraesque ability about him.

All in all great to watch

[Dronny]

The question re City would be how we fit him into the team plan; if he is a non scoring 'Scholes' then he's got to play deep & can he be strong enough to oust any of the competition ? Will he be powerful enough defensively ? Of course if he adds goals to his game then he's cracked it imo.

Sounds like Fernandinho to be honest so I'm sure he'll do fine if he keeps on developing!

Fernandinho is stronger in the air & faster, more of a runner, where as this lad is more 'Xavish' as stated by FIBD.

He does have real potential.He has played deep when I have seen him but he is more of a creative player in that role rather than a destroyer

I watched the 6-0 hammering of Bayern and was mightily impressed by Byrne, as has been mentioned he was always showing and wanting the ball and was instrumental in pulling BM apart with his passing and workrate. Apart from Lopes (who does look very accomplished) I was also impressed by Fofana who strikes me as having a certain Vieraesque ability about him.

All in all great to watch

[Burt]

Why are we putting up with the bollox rhetoric of comparing this kid to that dirty, can't tackle, devilworshipping cunt?

Compare him to a former City player butfor fucks sake stop comparing one of ours to a red cunt!

[twosips]

Scholes was a great footballer. Cunt? Yes. Still a great footballer? Yes.

Just fucking deal with it. Being 28 and not around to witness the glory days of yesteryear i really can't think of any City players who i'd compare someone like this to....Claudio fucking Reyna? Paul Bosvelt?...no.

[Hutch's Shoulder]

I hope he doesn't tackle like Scholes or he will spend a long time suspended.

[Ted Hughes]

Why are we putting up with the bollox rhetoric of comparing this kid to that dirty, can't tackle, devilworshipping cunt?

Compare him to a former City player butfor fucks sake stop comparing one of ours to a red cunt!

Hate to tell you this Burt, but Scholes was his favourite player.

[Cocacolajojo1]

You who've seen him, can you explain this quote from the article:

“Jack is really young and not afraid – he really wants to play. He has taken the responsibility, and is a strong boy.

“Physically he is not impressive at all, but his technique and first touch are excellent and he always likes to play forwards.

So he's tiny but strong? Tiny and weak? Strong in that he's tiny but doesn't get kicked of the ball? Strong for his age? Strong for a football player?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

You who've seen him, can you explain this quote from the article:

“Jack is really young and not afraid – he really wants to play. He has taken the responsibility, and is a strong boy.

“Physically he is not impressive at all, but his technique and first touch are excellent and he always likes to play forwards.

So he's tiny but strong? Tiny and weak? Strong in that he's tiny but doesn't get kicked of the ball? Strong for his age? Strong for a football player?

I wouldn't have said tiny.My guess is the same height as Silva.Not afraid isn't about the physical but simply that he wants to be on the ball and pass it around.Doesn't just play sideways passes but will do if it's the best way to keep possession and move forward.Always makes himself available and the real test as he moves into "higher" teams is whether he can make real impressions in the area that matters,the final third.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

You who've seen him, can you explain this quote from the article:

“Jack is really young and not afraid – he really wants to play. He has taken the responsibility, and is a strong boy.

“Physically he is not impressive at all, but his technique and first touch are excellent and he always likes to play forwards.

So he's tiny but strong? Tiny and weak? Strong in that he's tiny but doesn't get kicked of the ball? Strong for his age? Strong for a football player?

I'd go with this one.

[Hutch's Shoulder]

Or strong as in character?

[Wonderwall]

Byrne was a excellent against bayen. Only lopes outshone him but he certainly caught the eye.

[Dameerto]

You who've seen him, can you explain this quote from the article:

“Jack is really young and not afraid – he really wants to play. He has taken the responsibility, and is a strong boy.

“Physically he is not impressive at all, but his technique and first touch are excellent and he always likes to play forwards.

So he's tiny but strong? Tiny and weak? Strong in that he's tiny but doesn't get kicked of the ball? Strong for his age? Strong for a football player?

i took it to mean he is strong mentally considering his age. That fits with the first line of quotation too.

[Ted Hughes]

You who've seen him, can you explain this quote from the article:

“Jack is really young and not afraid – he really wants to play. He has taken the responsibility, and is a strong boy.

“Physically he is not impressive at all, but his technique and first touch are excellent and he always likes to play forwards.

So he's tiny but strong? Tiny and weak? Strong in that he's tiny but doesn't get kicked of the ball? Strong for his age? Strong for a football player?

i took it to mean he is strong mentally considering his age. That fits with the first line of quotation too.

I don't know for sure what Vieira meant but I would say he seems to be mentally strong but also is not easily knocked off the ball in spite of being small in stature, so both could apply.

As Doug says he always wants the ball & always looks for a forward move. Which unfortunately is another similarity with Scholes. If he plays a sideways pass, he immediately moves to give the recipient a return ball & create an angle for the team to move forward (exactly as Rodwell & Garcia completely failed to do v Newcastle).