Potentially eligible players thread

[rebelmusic]

True, but he looked very lively. One for the future for either country

[backstothewall]

True, but he looked very lively. One for the future for either country

I'd say one for the next squad for us if he was willing. He's a raw talent and got himself sent off in a ridiculous manner. But I'm sure he'll learn from that mistake, and we have nothing better in terms of a left footed attacker.

[Eirambler]

There's no suggestion that this player has any interest in playing for us, is there? He seems fairly established in the England underage setup. Usually the only time we would be likely to bring in a player in that position is when he is overage for the England age groups and not getting a senior call up.

[tetsujin1979]

Some of the usual suspects on twitter/X are trying to convince their followers that because his brother(boxer Paddy Lacey) fights with a tricolour on his shorts that he'll accept a call up. Personally, I think that a player who's represented England at every level from U15 to U20 and has already trained with the senior team has zero interest in playing for Ireland

[The Fly]

Agreed, though an enquiry should still be made. But I imagine this has already happened behind the scenes.

The one we should really be trying to convince is JJ Gabriel.

[elatedscum]

Some of the usual suspects on twitter/X are trying to convince their followers that because his brother(boxer Paddy Lacey) fights with a tricolour on his shorts that he'll accept a call up. Personally, I think that a player who's represented England at every level from U15 to U20 and has already trained with the senior team has zero interest in playing for Ireland

he's also the only brother who doesn't support Liverpool. or at least that's the family's official line - definitely weird for a scouser to grow up supporting United

[CraftyToePoke]

Some of the usual suspects on twitter/X are trying to convince their followers that because his brother(boxer Paddy Lacey) fights with a tricolour on his shorts that he'll accept a call up. Personally, I think that a player who's represented England at every level from U15 to U20 and has already trained with the senior team has zero interest in playing for Ireland

You'd assume with Moorhouse and Devaney, both also at Man U, having accepted call ups from us in the last year or two that Lacey was approached too and that what you said is the case, at the moment anyway.

[The Fly]

2020864127304913119

[tetsujin1979]

Tweets like that miss the detail that it's entirely possible that those players have been approached by the FAI and have no interest in declaring for Ireland, but that hasn't been made public

[The Fly]

They do, but it’s still worth mentioning nonetheless.

[tetsujin1979]

Oh, it's definitely interesting. If it was just "these players have a connection with Ireland, keep watching them" I'd have no issue with it.
Putting pressure on the FAI for something that they've no idea if it's being done or not is annoying, and it's always the same old ding dong with these accounts

[Fixer82]

What are their connections to Ireland?

[tetsujin1979]

What are their connections to Ireland?

Ben Lyne has Clare roots. Was born in England but lived here for a bit.
David Eze was born in Dublin but moved to England when he was six.

[OwlsFan]

Tommi O'Reilly scored for Crewe at the weekend. On loan from Aston Villa.

[Eirambler]

I think it was previously established that he isn't eligible?

[The Fly]

Oh, it's definitely interesting. If it was just "these players have a connection with Ireland, keep watching them" I'd have no issue with it.Putting pressure on the FAI for something that they've no idea if it's being done or not is annoying, and it's always the same old ding dong with these accountsI get what you mean, and like everything else in life it’s a trade-off. But I’d say the potential positives outweigh the negatives you mention in relation to these youth players.

[Razors left peg]

Jack Moorhouse on the bench for Man Utd tonight against Everton. A bit surprising given that his loan to Leighton Orient was canceled after it didnt go well earlier this season

[liamoo11]

Reptracker on twitter saying Atherton from Chelsea has switched to us. Is a 2008 so same group as the recent world cup under 17 squad. Lots of talk a few years ago that he was in with development squads for us at 13 or 14 but we let him.slip through to the north. As usual people trying to beat the fai unnecessarily and clearly relationships have been maintained and the long goal of having him come on board has been achieved. We'll done to fai development staff on this

[Eirambler]

Officially confirmed on the FIFA Change of Association platform also. It's the first time I've seen an Irish player feature on that. Great work to get him in.

A shame - for himself as much as anything - that he missed out on the World Cup. Much as it's easier to get caps with the north at all grades, the likelihood of playing at the big underage tournament finals is greatly reduced for the players that choose to go down that route.

[tetsujin1979]

FIFA might want to check the date of decision on the platform
https://knowledge.fifa.com/change-of-association-platform

[tetsujin1979]

Looks like Atherton will be eligible for the u17s, he wasn't in the northern Ireland squad that played in the first round of qualifiers in October
https://www.irishfa.com/news/2025/october/u17s-squad-for-euro-qualifiers-named

[liamoo11]

Looks like Atherton will be eligible for the u17s, he wasn't in the northern Ireland squad that played in the first round of qualifiers in October
https://www.irishfa.com/news/2025/october/u17s-squad-for-euro-qualifiers-named

You'd hope it might have a domino effect and lads like Joel kerr, and madden will follow.

[liamoo11]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cx2l0wgk71po

I hadn't realised this , it's a nice added touch

[Eirambler]

It seems fitting that their ambassador at the announcement of a tournament that they're not now going to host has turned out to be a player who is not now going to play for them.

[Eirambler]

You'd hope it might have a domino effect and lads like Joel kerr, and madden will follow.

Perhaps, if they take the time to look at some of the abuse the Atherton family has received in the last day or so, it might make them think a bit harder about just who exactly it is that they're representing when they line out for the north.

A tweet from his dad...

https://x.com/i/status/2027034139858231577

[tetsujin1979]

The replies in that thread
2027034139858231577

[rebelmusic]

The 'he should play for his country' really shows how much ignorance people still have for the laws set out in the Good Friday agreement. Fair dues to his father for having his back

[Joxerbrowne]

The 'he should play for his country' really shows how much ignorance people still have for the laws set out in the Good Friday agreement. Fair dues to his father for having his back


Funny thing is 2 games ago they had 9 English/Scottish born players on the pitch over the 90 mins.

[Plib]

Any chelsea fans know how he's viewed in that set up? That's a tough academy for anyone to come through from. I'd assume, like everyone else there his next move is a series of loan moves, but my question is is he a year away from this process, or could he likely be in that mixer this summer coming?

[Crosby87]

Mixer this summer

[The Fly]

The 'he should play for his country' really shows how much ignorance people still have for the laws set out in the Good Friday agreement. Fair dues to his father for having his backThe Good Friday Agreement didn’t set out any new laws re: Irish citizenship or identity, as such. It just acknowledged or affirmed what already existed.

[CraftyToePoke]

Somewhere in a long darkened room, DannyInvincible wakes up. Ready.

[The Fly]

Somewhere in a long darkened room, DannyInvincible wakes up. Ready.To drop bombs, but he keeps on forgettin’…What he wrote down, the whole crowd goes so loud

[liamoo11]

Any chelsea fans know how he's viewed in that set up? That's a tough academy for anyone to come through from. I'd assume, like everyone else there his next move is a series of loan moves, but my question is is he a year away from this process, or could he likely be in that mixer this summer coming?

He doesn't seem to have played much at under 18 level yet. Reptracker on twitter seemed to be saying tgere was a change of coaches at Chelsea and they have gone in another direction and maybe he woukd be on the move in the summer. Harry mcglinchey who is a year older has left Chelsea to sign for Sheffield utd and wade who is an under 19 for us has also left and I think.might be at Derby. Both were signed from.other clubs by chelsea

[tetsujin1979]

Michael O'Neill on Chris Atherton's change of international allegiance
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c5yv1q0x0jlo