Rory Finneran, Paul Scholes and the wise words of Arsene Wenger

When playing and watching football, I heard coaches shouting “find a space” and I never really understood why.

Why should I find a space? I’d rather stand with my mates or chat to the opposition. I simply didn’t get it.

Fast forward 30 odd years and I’m watching my son play academy level footy against the top teams. Suddenly, 30 years too late it all made sense. You get away from your opponent by finding space. You see the space to run into. You buy time on the ball by being in space.

And now another few years later Newcastle United have Rory Finneran. An 18-year-old who sees the space, who glides effortlessly into space, with or without the ball.

What a player this lad is going to be. He sees the game a second before everyone else. He finds the space that other players don’t see.

When someone was describing Paul Scholes they said he was always looking, always turning his head to see everyone and everything.

Scholes knew what he was going to do with the ball before he got it. Rory Finneran is just like that.

The young rising Newcastle United star sees passes that other players would have to get the opposition to stand still and then have it explained to them.

Rory Finneran has the vision and movement of Sandro Tonali at his best, combined with the touch of Yohan Cabaye. And how old is he? Yes, only 18.

Rory Finneran has gone to League One Notts County on loan for the season and is already getting rave reviews after two matches.

Rory Finneran vs. Burton

League One Debut pic.twitter.com/qbdeirivcR

— 🇮🇪 (@EireVideos) August 30, 2026

This ability isn’t just about it being effective against lower league position, this is a gift. He is a lucky lad. Newcastle United are lucky to have him. Next time I’m in Nottingham I’ll go and watch him. He is that good.

I’ll leave the last words to Arsene Wenger:

“You need to educate players so that they do not only watch the ball. They need to have a look at the space available. This demands a special body position. If my body is turned to always face the ball, I do not see the space in behind that is available.”

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