Potentially eligible players thread

[ArdeeBhoy]

What ever became of Jamie O'Hara anyway?...

On massive wages, so they can't get rid. Despised by Wolves fans...

[The Fly]

None of them passes the Stuttgart gut test. I'd much prefer to nurture and take a chance on the guys like Duffy if we're looking for long term options.

The only ones I'd be happy with would be Bamford and Will Keane.

Agreed. Hopefully Will can persuade his twin to return as well. There's something just not quite right about a Keane playing for England.

Will is the more highly rated of the pair and from what I understand plays in a style similar to Teddy Sheringham.

[CraftyToePoke]

There was a thread on McGugan here where the opening poster claimed his father was Irish: http://foot.ie/threads/74152-Lewis-McGugan

Yeah, Livehead, was a Nottingham lad and played at semi pro level himself in these parts. He was right about Leon Best IIRC, who like McGugan is also from Nottingham. He hasn't been on here in ages though.

[paul_oshea]

Ya livehead went off and (probably)became a lawyer and forgot all about us. For those of you who dont remember, which is probably all of you, he mentioned it on here once.

He played Gaelic as well up there too and mentioned another young buck a couple of years behind him too who could play, I don't remember if that was McGugan though.

[DannyInvincible]

Agreed. Hopefully Will can persuade his twin to return as well.

Is Michael definitely still eligible for us? He's represented England competitively. Were the games in which he played for us competitive fixtures too?

[Stuttgart88]

As far as I know only Will is still eligible

[tetsujin1979]

Is Michael definitely still eligible for us? He's represented England competitively. Were the games in which he played for us competitive fixtures too?
Definitely played competitively for the U17's: http://www.fai.ie/international/youth-teams/under-17/100766-knight-shines-for-ireland-u17.html
Played in a friendly for the U19's in August 2011: http://www.fai.ie/international/under-19/101967-under-19s-lose-season-opener.html
and then rejected a call up for the subsequent qualifiers in September 2011: http://greenscene.me/2011/09/michael-keane-rejects-call-up-to-ireland-u19-squad/

[DannyInvincible]

In that case, Michael has already effected the one switch available to him and is no longer eligible to play for us.

[DannyInvincible]

'Connor Wickham not interested in playing for the Republic of Ireland': http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/connor_wickham_not_interested_in_playing_for_the_r epublic_of_ireland_1_2993583


Former Ipswich Town striker Connor Wickham has no interest in switching his international allegiances to the Republic of Ireland, the EADT and Ipswich Star understands.

New Ireland boss Martin O’Neill yesterday said that he would consider asking Wickham to play for him on the international stage. O’Neill was Wickham’s manager at Sunderland, while his assistant Roy Keane was his manager at Ipswich.

Wickham is eligible to play for the Emerald Isle due to the fact that his well-travelled army officer father, Stefan, was born in Ulster, Northern Ireland.

The 20-year-old has scored six goals in 17 appearances for the England Under-21s, was born in Hereford, grew up in Reading and then joined Ipswich Town’s academy when his father was based at Colchester.

And a source close to the striker says his ambition very much remains becoming a full Three Lions international.

That goal seems a long way off at present following his failure to really establish himself at Sunderland. He has made just nine league starts for the Wearside club since an £8.1m switch from Ipswich in 2011 and is currently on loan at Championship club Sheffield Wednesday.

“I worked with Connor at Sunderland,” said O’Neill. “Steve Bruce bought him but I thought the price tag concerned him and for a little while I thought being a professional footballer was enough for Connor and at that stage that he liked the lifestyle which was all very new to him.

“But you have to knuckle down and actually have to go and do something. In my latter days at Sunderland it looked as if he was going to come round and wanted to become a professional player.

“He is out on loan at this minute at Sheffield Wednesday and Connor would be the first to say that to go and play in the Premier League week in, week out is still a big task.

“But those little spells on loan, particularly this one where he is doing all right and scored a few goals, will help him.

“I don’t think I am in a position at this minute to turn down anything and if someone tells me someone is available, particularly someone I have worked with and might have a chance, I would give it some consideration.”

[ArdeeBhoy]

Another one you wonder would be any better than what we have, though Wickham is a Wexford name apparently?
And since when was Ulster in the North? Surely the other way round...

[DannyInvincible]

Sounds like its origins are to be found in an Anglo-Saxon place-name to me. The Old English suffix '-ham' refers to a homestead.

[CraftyToePoke]

Jonjo Shelvey can go green to according to his wiki.

[TrapAPony]

Jonjo Shelvey can go green to according to his wiki.

He can't now as Roy Hodgson gave him 1 cap against San Marino in the qualifiers.

[shakermaker1982]

He can't now as Roy Hodgson gave him 1 cap against San Marino in the qualifiers.

Brilliant news!

[DannyInvincible]

Paddy O'Shaughnessy takes it out against the old enemy and gets sent off for his troubles:

http://cf.broadsheet.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/patrick.jpg

For the Finland under-21s, that is.

[GypsyBlackCat]

Jack Colback is meant to have Irish links. Just look at the head of him!!!

[Dunners]

A colleague at work told me that during the coverage of the Eng v Finland U21 game they mentioned that the O'Shaughnessy brothers would not play for the full national side if called up as they are still holding out for an Irish call up

[Serb]

A colleague at work told me that during the coverage of the Eng v Finland U21 game they mentioned that the O'Shaughnessy brothers would not play for the full national side if called up as they are still holding out for an Irish call up

An Irish call up to one of our underage teams presumably? Patrick is currently playing for MYPA (Finnish Premier League) and his brother Daniel is at FC Metz, a second division French side. From what I can tell, Daniel isn't involved with the first team at all. Most of our U21 defenders are involved at a higher level than both these lads, though at least Patrick is seeing first team action.

[Charlie Darwin]

Patrick O'Shaughnessy has a thread on him here with some more information: http://foot.ie/threads/164472-Patrick-O-Shaughnessy

[Deckydee]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2502692/Ireland-manager-Martin-ONeill-target-English-youth-stars-Republic-Ireland-team.html

[zero]

bamford called up to the england u21 squad. looks like he might get away from us... though an u21 cap doesnt mean he cannot switch, it tells him he is 'on the radar' for the senior squad.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12016/9029523/mk-dons-striker-patrick-bamford-called-into-england-u21-squad

[Yard of Pace]

We're not missing out on much with Wickham anyway. Watching him here on Sky Sports lumber about the place up top for Wednesday. Hasn't had a kick.

[DannyInvincible]

Mike Magee of Chicago Fire, one of the nominees for this season's MVP, is eligible to play for us, according to Robbie: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/keane-on-29774871.html


Mike Magee (his rival for MLS MVP) is a lad who was with LA Galaxy the last few years, he's from Chicago, his family are there, so he wanted to go back. I keep reminding the manager it was stupid to get rid of him because he's after banging in 20 goals or something, so that wasn't clever. His whole family is Irish. His grandfather or father. He's not an international. I'd say he would (take call). He definitely would like to, but he's probably waiting for that American call-up. How he hasn't got it, I don't know.

[Olé Olé]

Fingers crossed Roy Keane gives Shane O'Neill a bell too. I'm sure his father would be very receptive to a fellow Cork man. I can also confirm that O'Neill has spent almost every single summer in Ireland with his family. This is partly owing to the fact that their bar is situated in a university town in Colorado and so the summers tend to be quiet there.

[tetsujin1979]

I've been to Boulder, right at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Beautiful part of the country. Very high up, took me a few days to get used to it!

[SwanVsDalton]

Mike Magee of Chicago Fire, one of the nominees for this season's MVP, is eligible to play for us, according to Robbie: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/keane-on-29774871.html

Interesting. Always thought Magee was a US international, very consistent player at MLS level.

[DannyInvincible]

Interesting. Always thought Magee was a US international, very consistent player at MLS level.

Seems he's only played for them at under-age level.

[IsMiseSean]

Wasn't another MLS striker mentioned a few weeks ago, Jack McInerney? Might have been more of an U21 prospect though...

[Olé Olé]

Wasn't another MLS striker mentioned a few weeks ago, Jack McInerney? Might have been more of an U21 prospect though...

Wiki carries his second name as being 'Seamus'. 'Nuf said.

[DannyInvincible]

Wiki carries his second name as being 'Seamus'. 'Nuf said.

But what about his nickname, Union Jack? :p

[DannyInvincible]

Saw this lad, Mateusz Hewelt, mentioned over on YBIG: http://www.evertonfc.com/player-profile/mateusz-hewelt

He's a young goalkeeper with Everton from Gdynia in Poland. Once of Stella Maris and Shels, he's also eligible to play for us.


Mateusz Hewelt became a first-year scholar at Everton on Friday 28 June 2013.

The Polish goalkeeper signed scholarship forms alongside 13 other young Blues as part of the summer intake.

Ahead of the 2013/14 season, Mateusz sat down with evertonfc.com to reveal a bit more about himself.

Name: Mateusz Hewelt
Nickname: Matti
Date of birth: 23 September 1996
Place of birth: Gdynia, Poland
Previous clubs: Stella Maris, Shelbourne
Nationality: Polish
What countries are you eligible to represent?: Poland, Republic of Ireland
Have you made any international appearances?: Not yet

Has anyone heard of him before? Did he grow up in Ireland?

[Charlie Darwin]

There are no Polish clubs listed there so you'd assume he's been living here most of his life.

[dr_peepee]

Mark Noble was bantered about on Newstalk this morning. Apparently O'Neill speaking with him tonight.
I personally wouldn't be keen in having him involved.

[Stuttgart88]

Me neither. He doesn't pass my gut test, nor the David Meyler Shinpad Test.

[Yard of Pace]

Does anyone remember the deal with Adam Hammill? I'm a Huddersfield fan so I've seen him quite a few times and twice in the last week against Sheff Weds and Burnley on Saturday and I really like him. He's not the next Damien Duff or McGeady but he's definitely as good as McClean and certainly better on the right wing than Walters. He loves to take a man on, has good delivery, is quick and skillful and rarely does anything stupid with the ball, winning corners or throw-ins where a lesser player would just lose possession. I'm a fan and he's definitely eligible.

(And I'm not biased.....we also have Scannell and he's WAY too inconsistent for international level and seems to have gotten to a level of ability that I can't see him surpass at this stage.)

[DannyInvincible]

More on the Noble story: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2013/1203/490569-oneill-to-run-rule-over-hammer-noble/


Martin O'Neill will run the rule over West Ham midfielder Mark Noble tonight, according to press reports.

The Ireland manager is expected to attend West Ham’s away game at Crystal Palace tonight in the Barclay’s Premier League.

Noble has been capped by the England Under 21s but qualifies to play for Ireland under the ‘granny’ rule, as his grandparents are from Cork.

In 2009 football's world governing body FIFA removed the age limit for players who want to switch national allegiance, which
means a large number of Premier League players can still play for Ireland despite representing England at various underage levels.

Noble, aged 26, is a potential target for O’Neill and his assistant manager Roy Keane and it is believed Hull City defender Curtis Davies is also on the duo’s radar as the 28-year-old also qualifies through the ‘granny’ rule.

[DannyInvincible]

Balls.ie review a few other potential "granny-rulers": http://balls.ie/football/5-granny-rule-players-martin-oneill-take-look/


Mark Noble has found himself the top Irish sports story today due to rumours Martin O’Neill will be keeping an eye on him against Crystal Palace tonight.

O’Neill looks to be very serious in his attempts to recruit more players via the Granny Rule, and while there aren’t many big names boasting Irish ancestry, we’ve taken a look at a few possible candidates:

Jon Flanagan

According to the Daily Star, O’Neill is already making his move for the Liverpool right back whose grandparents are Irish. He has played at underage level for England but was apparently close to making the Irish switch in 2012.

He has plenty of potential but the Liverpool fan who refused to watch last month’s match against Arsenal after hearing Flanagan was starting doesn’t inspire much confidence.

Lukas Jutkiewicz

‘How could he not be Irish!?’ says you, with a good midlands name like ‘Jutkiewicz’. The Middlesbrough striker has endured a torrid time this season after falling out of favour at Teeside.

However he has been linked with a move to Blackburn in recent weeks and perhaps a fresh start could see him go on a decent run of form and become a serious candidate for an Ireland call-up, thanks to his grandmother.

Marc Tierney

When searching through the phonebook of grannies in English football you won’t find much in the way of Premier League experience but Marc Tierney is one man with proven pedigree.

He was first choice Norwich right back in their Paul Lambert led Premier League season but a serious injury in early 2011 ruled him out for the rest of the campaign and alas, he never recovered his place in the team. He joined Bolton over the summer but after an impressive start has again found himself sidelined with an injury.

Richard Stearman

Another defender with Premier League experience, Stearman was one of those aboard the good ship Wolverhampton Wanderers as it sank into obscurity over the last two seasons.

He spent most of last season on loan with Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich Town but is now back playing with Wolves in League One. Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt have already done the ground work for O’Neill, convincing Stearman to get an Irish passport and in October, FIFA gave him the green light to play for the Republic.

Andy Lonergan

The Bolton goalkeeper and former Leeds United captain, has found himself in the starting line-up in recent weeks due to an Adam Bogdan injury and while we have a few choices for the goalkeeper role, the 30-year-old is worth keeping an eye on.

When it comes to international football he’s had a complicated past, playing for Ireland at U16s but then switching to England. However he has recently said he is open to an Ireland call-up.

[paul_oshea]

Flanagan and that polish lad maybe
We have enough very average goalies at the minute.

I would like to see noble and Davies included and just given 2 mins in two competitive games and tied it us. After that they can worry about finding their irishness cos by that point they will be tied and at least they can't be called up to England and we lose out.if they never play again so be it.

[Paddy Garcia]

What is refreshing is O'Neil's willingness to get off his arse.

Far from pleased to see Lonergan's name - the manner of his departure was not to his credit

[Charlie Darwin]

I have no problem with using the granny rule but something really sticks in my craw when we're going after players who are only interested because they're getting to a certain age.

[SkStu]

Flanagan and that polish lad maybe
We have enough very average goalies at the minute.

I would like to see noble and Davies included and just given 2 mins in two competitive games and tied it us. After that they can worry about finding their irishness cos by that point they will be tied and at least they can't be called up to England and we lose out.if they never play again so be it.

Depressing list all the same...its not just because hes a Liverpool player but Flanagan has not impressed me any time ive watched them play.

Would agree about getting Davies and Noble on board. Noble is a good player - haven't seen enough of Davies or at least haven't noticed him when ive watched Hull (which is probably a good thing for a defender).

[Paddy Garcia]

Can't be easy for Keane to sell the benefits of playing for Ireland.

[Charlie Darwin]

Flanagan didn't seem to do an awful lot wrong in an unfamiliar position on Sunday (although I think the first goal came from his part of the pitch) but I haven't seen enough of him to judge. You'd think if Andre Wisdom hadn't been on loan, he'd have been playing in his place.

[Charlie Darwin]

Does anyone remember the deal with Adam Hammill? I'm a Huddersfield fan so I've seen him quite a few times and twice in the last week against Sheff Weds and Burnley on Saturday and I really like him. He's not the next Damien Duff or McGeady but he's definitely as good as McClean and certainly better on the right wing than Walters. He loves to take a man on, has good delivery, is quick and skillful and rarely does anything stupid with the ball, winning corners or throw-ins where a lesser player would just lose possession. I'm a fan and he's definitely eligible.

(And I'm not biased.....we also have Scannell and he's WAY too inconsistent for international level and seems to have gotten to a level of ability that I can't see him surpass at this stage.)
What did you think of Jake Carroll?

[DannyInvincible]

Far from pleased to see Lonergan's name - the manner of his departure was not to his credit

What happened there exactly?

Fairly uninspiring quote from him here back in 2010 when he an enquiry was made by the FAI as to his availability: http://www.footballfancast.com/football-blogs/lonergan-would-welcome-ireland-call-up/


They made an enquiry a few months ago but I refused. I might change my mind. My grandparents are Irish and my dad's family are Irish but I couldn’t imagine singing another country's national anthem. Obviously it would be financially rewarding.

I was just checking out Barry Maguire as I hadn't heard anything about him in a while. It seems he re-signed for Den Bosch back in September: http://www.vi.nl/nieuws/maguire-via-fc-utrecht-en-vvv-venlo-terug-op-oude-nest.htm

[dr_peepee]

Balls.ie review a few other potential "granny-rulers": http://balls.ie/football/5-granny-rule-players-martin-oneill-take-look/]

Marc Tierney is a left full isn't he??

[DannyInvincible]

Marc Tierney is a left full isn't he??

He is actually.

[gastric]

Didn't someone on here, who lives in Liverpool, ask one of Flanagan's relations if he was eligible for us and the answer was no? I am sure I even thanked the poster! Can anyone enlighten me on this please?

[as_i_say]

Newtalk sports goon reported this morning on how "Conor Wickham, who is Irish" scored for Sheffield Wednesday last night. Although in fairness he does spell his name the Oirish way with one n so naturally we should be flinging a passport at him despite all those underage caps and goals for England

Edit-a quick googling of his Irishness uncovers Wickham, who qualifies for the Republic through his Northern Irish father Stefan, an Army warrant officer

:laugh:

[eitoof]

He is actually.

His brother Paul played under 21 for Ireland. Thought he would be a great player when I saw him in United's youth team way back then but he faded off the scene.