Potentially eligible players thread

[geysir]

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 soon as a new manager takes office, there is a temporary madness let loose on the land, where every English league player in their right mind would want to become Irish and players with names like Benni McCarthy, John Joe ..... (fill in the blank) become prime suspects for selection.
It's taken for granted that all Flanagans on the planet must be eligible. Who's gonna bust us for fielding a Flanagan?

[Yard of Pace]

What did you think of Jake Carroll?

He settled in amazingly quickly, joining the likes of Vaughan and Scannell in a bit of a clique. He was decent in the few games he played and he got good reviews on the message board though most everybody said he's still too raw at this stage. So he was dropped as we have Dixon and Woods. It's to his enormous credit that he was deemed good enough to throw straight in, mind.
My contact in Pats reckons he'll be a solid Championship player and that is perfect for us and from what I have seen, I agree. Seems a great lad too, and kudos for him getting his education before he embarked on football full time. Clever lad.

[DannyInvincible]

Saw this guy, Ben Halloran, mentioned by a poster on YBIG and I'm assuming he has Irish roots: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Halloran

I wonder if they're recent. Born in Australia, he's represented them at under-20 level and currently plays his club football for Fortuna Düsseldorf in Germany.

Chelsea's George Brady, born in France, is another player allegedly eligible to play for us: http://www.chelseafc.com/academy-article/article/3326277

He's the nephew of West Ham's vice-chairwoman, Karren Brady, whose father is Irish businessman, Terry Brady: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2170459/George-Brady-signs-Chelsea.html

Given he and Karren Brady share the same surname, wouldn't that make Terry Brady his grandfather?

Meanwhile, Hull's Curtis Davies seems intent on making it into England's World Cup squad this summer: http://www.football365.com/hull-city/9049804/Hull-City-defender-Curtis-Davies-says-he-his-good-enough-to-make-England-World-Cup-squad


The 28-year-old Hull City centre-back has been in outstanding form for the newly-promoted Tigers this season.

And having previously been called up by Fabio Capello for the friendly international against Germany in 2008, the uncapped former Luton trainee believes he is good enough to make Roy Hodgson's 23-man squad.

"There are very good players playing there for England but nothing, I think, head and shoulders above me," Davies told The Independent.

"It's not like the Rio Ferdinands, John Terrys and Sol Campbells of olds. If, God forbid, there are injuries, he hasn't really looked at anyone else and maybe won't know what they have to offer.

"I've no illusion that I should be picked but I'd like to think that, if my form was allowing me to come close, then I'd like to get a sniff.

"If Tom (Huddlestone) was in a Tottenham shirt, playing like he is now, he'd certainly be in the squad."

[Charlie Darwin]

That sorts that out so. He's 28 and still looking to play for England. Nothing to see here, folks.

[CraftyToePoke]

That sorts that out so. He's 28 and still looking to play for England. Nothing to see here, folks.

Indeed, could only be worse if he were 28 and suddenly looking to play for Ireland. Unless that paperwork the F.A.I. reputedly sent him is in the maybe pile and he is just having a little rattle at England before deciding, of course.

[Charlie Darwin]

Indeed, could only be worse if he were 28 and suddenly looking to play for Ireland. Unless that paperwork the F.A.I. reputedly sent him is in the maybe pile and he is just having a little rattle at England before deciding, of course.
I think I'm on the record in this thread saying that if somebody is getting towards the end of their career and they decide 'oh, I'll just play international football for whoever before I retire,' I'd rather they didn't declare for us. Somebody who's reaching that age and still holding out for an England appearance is a step below in my eyes. It trivialises the honour of playing for Ireland and I feel it holds back the development of Irish football. I appreciate international managers need to get results so they'll think differently.

[IsMiseSean]

I don't want Curtis Davies playing for Ireland. I don't mind us using the 'granny-rule' but something about this lad annoys me.

[geysir]

I don't see what there is to get annoyed about, as regards the player.
First and foremost you can get annoyed about our management searching out such players.
Why forgive the management or ignore their role, but take it out on the player? The management are representing us in this matter. The player at this moment in time, is happily being English, waiting for the call that he feels he deserves to the English team.

[tetsujin1979]

I didn't see it myself, but Davies was on the Fantasy Football Club last week, and said his grandmother was Irish, but he has no heart to play for the team.
I might be wrong on this, but I think he said one of her parents was in the army, and was stationed here when she was born, can anyone confirm?

[Charlie Darwin]

I didn't see it myself, but Davies was on the Fantasy Football Club last week, and said his grandmother was Irish, but he has no heart to play for the team.
I might be wrong on this, but I think he said one of her parents was in the army, and was stationed here when she was born, can anyone confirm?
Good to hear him being honest about his intentions. Hopefully it works out for him and he gets his England caps.

[geysir]

O'Neill virtually pleads with Davies to declare for Ireland, then virtually with cap in hand he begs Davies to reconsider. At all times Davies says thanks, but no thanks, i'm English. If this is the situation, then the criticism should be about the process, it should be focussed 100% on the management who are dangling carrots in front of English players who had no interest in playing for Ireland.
I don't recall any Irish manager being under pressure to actively recruit average players. If there's any such pressure, it comes from the manager himself. it amounts to laying some type of honey trap to lure a player into declaring for us. Why would that be acceptable or understandable, but a player so lured be regarded a careerist mercenary?

[Bungle]

O'Neill virtually pleads with Davies to declare for Ireland, then virtually with cap in hand he begs Davies to reconsider. At all times Davies says thanks, but no thanks, i'm English. If this is the situation, then the criticism should be about the process, it should be focussed 100% on the management who are dangling carrots in front of English players who had no interest in playing for Ireland.
I don't recall any Irish manager being under pressure to actively recruit average players. If there's any such pressure, it comes from the manager himself. it amounts to laying some type of honey trap to lure a player into declaring for us. Why would that be acceptable or understandable, but a player so lured be regarded a careerist mercenary?

Agree with pretty much all of that. Good luck to Curtis on trying to play for England. He's a good player and would have been a good recruit but if he doesn't have any desire to play for us, then why demeen the shirt by chasing him. While I'm happy with us going after every available player that can better us, we can't lose dignity in doing so.

[Charlie Darwin]

O'Neill virtually pleads with Davies to declare for Ireland, then virtually with cap in hand he begs Davies to reconsider. At all times Davies says thanks, but no thanks, i'm English. If this is the situation, then the criticism should be about the process, it should be focussed 100% on the management who are dangling carrots in front of English players who had no interest in playing for Ireland.
I don't recall any Irish manager being under pressure to actively recruit average players. If there's any such pressure, it comes from the manager himself. it amounts to laying some type of honey trap to lure a player into declaring for us. Why would that be acceptable or understandable, but a player so lured be regarded a careerist mercenary?
I think you're slaying a paper dragon here geysir. Aside from one comment about how something about Davies annoys somebody, nobody's called him a mercenary or anything like it here.

[IsMiseSean]

'Annoys me' was probably the wrong term.
Davies is 28 and wants to play for England in the WC, move on! Why chase him??

I'd rather see us bringing in Duffy, Mark O'Brien & Hoban (when fit) etc and working on improving them.

[geysir]

I think you're slaying a paper dragon here geysir. Aside from one comment about how something about Davies annoys somebody, nobody's called him a mercenary or anything like it here.
Was there not also a comment understanding the pressure on our manager to pursue these type of players?:)
Just because some fire was withheld doesn't mean it wasn't going to spout or sputter :)
In general we focus our ire on the so called "mercenary" who is supposedly thinking to declare for us, my point is that's deflecting from the culpability of the management who are 100% responsible for pursuing these type of players. But somehow the "mercenary" becomes the scapegoat. If we have a quota for invites, it's been used up.
Possibly it's a load of newspaper bull, but if O'Neill was supposedly at West Ham to contact Noble (again) and contacting Davies (again) and stating in general that he's looking for extras, then there is something defective with this strategy from the management.

[CraftyToePoke]

A sixteen year old winger by the name of Connor Mahoney has joined Blackburn Rovers from Accrington Stanley, having already played league football for them, but will initially play in his new clubs development side.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25366496

Does anyone here know anymore about him ?

[SkStu]

A sixteen year old winger by the name of Connor Mahoney has joined Blackburn Rovers from Accrington Stanley, having already played league football for them, but will initially play in his new clubs development side.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25366496

Does anyone here know anymore about him ?

His parents met at a police training camp in the 80's.

http://www.replikultes.net/medias/uploads/films/police_academy/police_academy_08_cuisses.jpg

[ArdeeBhoy]

At this stage we're pretty mediocre.

Take whoever's eligible...

[DannyInvincible]

Martin O'Neill is looking into Nathan Redmond's eligibility, according to Ken Early on Twitter (https://twitter.com/kenearlys/status/413657336570736640).


MON also said he was exploring irish connections of norwich's nathan redmond, who has played in 43 england youth/U21 internationals

[paul_oshea]

its on the independent from earlier.

[rebelmusic]

Anyone know what the connection is?

[CraftyToePoke]

Anyone know what the connection is?


Grandmother / grandparents I think.

[Yard of Pace]

Does anyone remember the deal with Adam Hammill? )

Fans' pick of the season thus far
http://downatthemac.proboards.com/thread/88179/half-time-player-year

[Kingdom]

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/shane-oneill-us-call-up-1248693-Jan2014/

Shane O'Neill called up to the Yanks training camp. Centre to midfield, back to centre, back to midfield, now to centre.

[irishfan86]

Mike Magee is also in that U.S. training camp. He won the MLS MVP award and was joint top goalscorer last year. He has Irish grandparents (Robbie played with him at the Galaxy before Magee was traded to Chicago, and suggested we call him up).

In my view neither of them are likely to be on the plane to Brazil for the U.S.

Both O'Neill and Magee would be useful squad players for us but probably not starters -- given O'Neill is only 20 and has trained with Fulham I would strongly suggest the FAI make some phone calls immediately, especially given he was born in Cork and his father is an All-Ireland champion.

[Olé Olé]

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/shane-oneill-us-call-up-1248693-Jan2014/

Shane O'Neill called up to the Yanks training camp. Centre to midfield, back to centre, back to midfield, now to centre.

I hope this forces O'Neill into making a definitive decision (in our favour). He has stated his desire to play in the Premiership so If Fulham show interest in/sign him, I think O'Neill would be more likely to claim for Ireland because he wouldn't be playing in the MLS and subjected to the pressure from that environment and the prospect of spending more time in Ireland (where all of his extended family are) during the international breaks will likely appeal.

[Strongbow10]

Patrick Bamford is really motoring for MK Dons, recently secured a move to Derby for the rest of the season now (on loan from Chelsea). Really good striker who has represented us in the past if im not mistaken.

A lad who would offer something straight away to the senior set up in my opinion

[BonnieShels]

Patrick Bamford is really motoring for MK Dons, recently secured a move to Derby for the rest of the season now (on loan from Chelsea). Really good striker who has represented us in the past if im not mistaken.

A lad who would offer something straight away to the senior set up in my opinion

Yup. Has his own thread.

http://foot.ie/threads/178387-Patrick-Bamford

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Patrick Bamford is really motoring for MK Dons, recently secured a move to Derby for the rest of the season now (on loan from Chelsea). Really good striker who has represented us in the past if im not mistaken.

A lad who would offer something straight away to the senior set up in my opinion

Paddy Madden's recent career trajectory is bonafide proof that Bamford and Grealish should not be fast tracked into the senior set up. They are too young, have only two dozen senior league appearances between them and haven't done it at a good level.

In any event, Bamford has declared for England and at his age, still has at least half-a-dozen years to think about declaring for his second choice in the event that that call-up doesn't arise.

Look at the amount of time and resources invested in getting Pilkington to declare and he was pushing 25.

[tetsujin1979]

Madden had a massive fall out with the manager and is being excluded from the team, his talent is nothing to do with it

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Madden had a massive fall out with the manager and is being excluded from the team, his talent is nothing to do with it

http://www.scunthorpe.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=343968

The manager doesn't think he's Championship standard and he's been linked with a drop down the divisions to Scunthorpe. Frankly, I think he hasn't really been given a fair crack of the whip.

[nigel-harps1954]

Madden has 10 appearances without a goal this season. Was completely jumping the gun to call up a League one player. Madden didn't stand out in the League of Ireland, never mind in England. Big difference between League one and Championship in my opinion.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Madden has 10 appearances without a goal this season. Was completely jumping the gun to call up a League one player. Madden didn't stand out in the League of Ireland, never mind in England. Big difference between League one and Championship in my opinion.

In fairness, he made a decent impression against Wales.

[Charlie Darwin]

http://www.scunthorpe.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=343968

The manager doesn't think he's Championship standard and he's been linked with a drop down the divisions to Scunthorpe. Frankly, I think he hasn't really been given a fair crack of the whip.
The manager said that he's not up to it mentally.

[liamoo11]

The manager said that he's not up to it mentally.

geez thats pretty rough from the manager considering what madden did for them last year. a bit of humanity on the managers part would be nice

[Yard of Pace]

Madden stood out in League 1, whatever about the LOI. There's worse strikers than him getting their game for Championship clubs every week.

He's obviously had a row with Johnson. I'm sure someone would be willing to take a punt on him.

[Charlie Darwin]

geez thats pretty rough from the manager considering what madden did for them last year. a bit of humanity on the managers part would be nice
Based on what Johnston has said over the past couple of months, he doesn't think his attitude is right for the Championship. No idea if true or not, but hopefully he gets out on loan and turns it around.

[Metrostars]

I hope this forces O'Neill into making a definitive decision (in our favour). He has stated his desire to play in the Premiership so If Fulham show interest in/sign him, I think O'Neill would be more likely to claim for Ireland because he wouldn't be playing in the MLS and subjected to the pressure from that environment and the prospect of spending more time in Ireland (where all of his extended family are) during the international breaks will likely appeal.


O'Neill talks:
“I was pretty shocked,” the 20-year-old center back told MLSsoccer.com by phone on Friday after the 26-man USMNT roster was announced earlier in the morning. “I’m going to go there with an open mind. I’m just excited with the text from Jurgen saying I was going to get called in.”...
“Obviously, just to get the opportunity to play at this level is fantastic wherever they want to play me,” said O’Neill, who earlier in the offseason expressed a desire to play in the midfield in 2014 after deploying almost exclusively at center back last season....
“Position-wise, it doesn’t really matter,” he said of his national team opportunity. “I’d play anywhere.”

He trained at midfield during his stint with Fulham last month. However, he expects to play primarily as a defender with the national team.

“I’m not going to rule out any possibilities for sure,” O’Neill said of his international future. “It’s just a training camp, and hopefully it’ll just be used as a good way to improve my game for the next couple of weeks.”
http://www.mlssoccer.com/worldcup/2014/news/article/2014/01/03/world-cup-colorado-rapids-shane-oneill-shocked-usmnt-call-not-closing-door-i

[gastric]

Possible target, Will Buckley wanted by Sunderland and Crystal Palace.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/crystal-palace-transfers-buckley-move-3054825

[Yard of Pace]

Just mentioned that Flanagan is eligible....

[rebelmusic]

Flanagan is also eligible for the Republic of Ireland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Ireland_national_football_team) through his grandparents, and new Ireland manager Martin O'Neill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_O%27Neill) wants him to declare.[20] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Flanagan#cite_note-20)

According to Wikipedia o.O

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Flanagan is also eligible for the Republic of Ireland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Ireland_national_football_team) through his grandparents, and new Ireland manager Martin O'Neill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_O%27Neill) wants him to declare.[20] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Flanagan#cite_note-20)

According to Wikipedia o.O

AFAIK, he isn't eligible. That link is incorrect.

[DannyInvincible]

Just mentioned that Flanagan is eligible....

Mentioned by whom? thirdpoliceman said he spoke with Flanagan's uncle two years ago who confirmed the player isn't eligible (http://foot.ie/threads/149952-John-Flanagan?p=1564325&viewfull=1#post1564325).

[Yard of Pace]

Mentioned by whom? thirdpoliceman said he spoke with Flanagan's uncle two years ago who confirmed the player isn't eligible (http://foot.ie/threads/149952-John-Flanagan?p=1564325&viewfull=1#post1564325).
http://foot.ie/clear.gif Quote (http://foot.ie/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=1733419)


Commentator on the Pool Bournemouth game yesterday. Said it was through grandparents and that Roy in the studio might be watching with interest, or words to that effect.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Even if eligible, calling up the likes of Jon Flanagan, Will Buckley or Richard Stearman begs the question of whose place in the team/squad they would be taking and would they be satisfied not being a guaranteed starter; as the likes of Mark Noble and Jamie O'Hara patently weren't.

Leaving aside Jon Flanagan, of whom no-one including himself, has a definitive answer as to whether he is eligible or not and Richard Stearman who is just rubbish; who would Will Buckley be keeping out? McGeady? Pilkington? McClean? Brady? Is he better than any of those players? I don't know.

There are plenty of examples of players such as Kevin Nolan, Mark Noble, Jamie O'Hara, Kyle Naughton, Curtis Davies, Anthony Gerrard and several others, some of whom there are doubts over eligibility and some of who lack the motivation/have no desire of playing for Ireland. We are still talking about the eligibility of some of these players 5 or 6 years later? Are they really worth it?

In my opinion, Martin and Roy have better ways of spending their time than pursuing players, none of whom would walk into the Ireland team on merit.

We aren't that lacking in talent so much that we have to reduce ourselves to scouting Football League journeymen in their mid 20's. And Redmond and Davies are clearly reasonably talented players but is a wild goose chase worth it for players who probably won't be satisfied with travelling around the world for a country they don't identify with and all to sit on the bench?

[dr_peepee]

'Tis better to have them, and not need them... Than to need them and not have them!

[Stuttgart88]

who would Will Buckley be keeping out? Robbie Keane :)

Btw, "begs the question" doesn't mean what you and 99pc of the population think it means. It's a long story...

[CraftyToePoke]

Even if eligible, calling up the likes of Jon Flanagan, Will Buckley or Richard Stearman begs the question of whose place in the team/squad they would be taking and would they be satisfied not being a guaranteed starter; as the likes of Mark Noble and Jamie O'Hara patently weren't.

Is this the case with Noble & O'Hara though, I don't ever remember O'Hara saying anything like that, or any demands like that being reported, I could be wrong but I just remember a guy who is of dual heritage, and while proud of and aware of his Irish side, wanted to represent England in football, and was never anything other than honest and open about that, and remained so even as it became obvious he wasn't going to do so, which I respected the guy for.

In Nobles case, he met with Trap, I think, and Trap mentioned something about him wanting to start, but looking back at the Trap era now and the litany of unhelpful incidents his communication caused, can this exchange be believed as being accurately processed by Trap ? Much less properly relayed in any ensuing press conference. I'd have doubts.

I don't think we need either of these guys, I am not advocating they play for Ireland, I am just saying to say they made demands to start in order to declare is perhaps stretching it ?

[geysir]

Whatever Noble and O'Hara did say, you can't believe a word of what people say they said (especially derogatory) on the matter of declaring for Ireland.
O'Hara said he wait on England (http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/ohara-rules-out-irish-27991719.html), that he had a few truck loads of irish relatives urging him to declare, said he felt more Irish than English but ultimately didn't know how he would be received. You'd speculate if he came in contact with some hate monger diatribes telling him to buck off.

[gastric]

Even if eligible, calling up the likes of Jon Flanagan, Will Buckley or Richard Stearman begs the question of whose place in the team/squad they would be taking and would they be satisfied not being a guaranteed starter; as the likes of Mark Noble and Jamie O'Hara patently weren't.

Leaving aside Jon Flanagan, of whom no-one including himself, has a definitive answer as to whether he is eligible or not and Richard Stearman who is just rubbish; who would Will Buckley be keeping out? McGeady? Pilkington? McClean? Brady? Is he better than any of those players? I don't know.

There are plenty of examples of players such as Kevin Nolan, Mark Noble, Jamie O'Hara, Kyle Naughton, Curtis Davies, Anthony Gerrard and several others, some of whom there are doubts over eligibility and some of who lack the motivation/have no desire of playing for Ireland. We are still talking about the eligibility of some of these players 5 or 6 years later? Are they really worth it?

In my opinion, Martin and Roy have better ways of spending their time than pursuing players, none of whom would walk into the Ireland team on merit.

We aren't that lacking in talent so much that we have to reduce ourselves to scouting Football League journeymen in their mid 20's. And Redmond and Davies are clearly reasonably talented players but is a wild goose chase worth it for players who probably won't be satisfied with travelling around the world for a country they don't identify with and all to sit on the bench?


I do find your opinion annoying. We are a minnow football wise and one of our biggest problem is our lack of depth. Granted Buckley and Flanagan would not walk into the team now, but it isn't just about now, it is building for the future. Both are young players and could make a contribution in the near future. Having them declare costs us nothing, nor do we have to play them immediately.
Stephen Hunt and Keith Andrews have made a valuable contribution to Irish football and neither were overnight sensations. Keep in mind too, that with the nature of the Premiership, most of our future players are going to play in lower divisions and hopefully make it to the Premiership, as Buckley seems ready to do.

So I hope O'Neill and Roy continue to look for players who can make a valuable contribution now and in the future.