Potentially eligible players thread

[Stuttgart88]

Wow, I didn't know that kid Grealish was eligible :)

[ArdeeBhoy]

Less about, er, Grealish.
:rolleyes:

[liamoo11]

Apologies if this link was already posted, or feel free to switch to Eligibility thread?
(Maybe the two threads should be merged?)

http://www.irishpost.co.uk/sport/premier-leagues-young-stars-ireland-miss

Is the girl who wrote that graham burkes agent? How random is that idea that england would take him

[Charlie Darwin]

Had a good chuckle at that one. She clearly couldn't conceive of the idea she is allowed make a list of only four.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Kilbane's view (http://m.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2014/0909/642524-kilbane-uneasy-about-noble-call-up/)

[tetsujin1979]

terrible article - Grealish is the only one who is currently Irish and is any danger of changing allegiance. Crowley, Naughton and Bamford are currently English, and there's no chance of Burke getting a call up by Hodgson, or his successor when Burke would become eligible.

[olegunnar]

I haven't read all the posts on this thread, but am interested in the debate.
I cannot believe that even if everyone here wanted it to happen, that Mark Noble will make himself available for an Ireland call-up! The only reason I say this, is due to hearing him speak on Goals on Sunday, about his disappointment about not making the England senior squad, his pride at captaining the U21s.
Other debate has been given to O'Neill contacting Nathan Redmond, Harry Kane and Patrick Bamford, all currently playing with England U21. So I expect that an Ireland call-up will fall on deaf ears from them during Martins' time.
Contrast that with papers discussing Grealish and a switch to England; well my argument stands solid here too. Grealish was this week in Germany, representing Ireland U21s.

Yes, Noble has had an extended Premier league career, but I do not believe he improves our prospects, and take away his penalties, his goal-scoring exploits are fairly limited. And I am a West Ham fan!!

[paul_oshea]

This moderation thing has really changed you tets. I miss the old Adam of a kinder gentler time. The Adam that threw himself on top of a lime thrown by Faroe Islands fans at us because you thought it was a hand grenade. The Adam who talked POSH off of that rooftop after the Henry hand of God. The Adam who gently told a tearful Charlie Darwin that Michael Jackson had died. The Adam who picked Stutts up off his feet and twirled him high in the air to the delight of all the guests at the 2010 Foot.ie Charity Christmas ball. The Adam that................

That's deadly. And no thanks or admiration. Well I thanked you Crosby. Stand up Sir!

[paul_oshea]

terrible article - Grealish is the only one who is currently Irish and is any danger of changing allegiance. Crowley, Naughton and Bamford are currently English, and there's no chance of Burke getting a call up by Hodgson, or his successor when Burke would become eligible.

Crowley is English? When did that change, I mean didn't we all think on here he was Irish.

I hold less fear for Crowley than I do for Grealish. I'd put more money on Crowley playing for us than Grealish playing for us.

[DannyInvincible]

I assume tets means it in the sense that Crowley's presently registered with the English FA.

[back of the net]

Good Old Clinton

http://www.rte.ie/sport/player/813/642534/

[DannyInvincible]

terrible article - Grealish is the only one who is currently Irish and is any danger of changing allegiance. Crowley, Naughton and Bamford are currently English, and there's no chance of Burke getting a call up by Hodgson, or his successor when Burke would become eligible.

I didn't read that piece fully, but went back to have a look after seeing your post again. Burke's inclusion is bizarre. Burke can never become eligible to play for England. He has already been capped quite a few times by Ireland at under-age level. I would assume at least one of those appearances was in a competitive fixture. For him to become eligible to play for England, he would need to have possessed British citizenship at the time he was first capped competitively by us. Furthermore, the four British associations have an internal agreement in place (as permitted by FIFA's regulations) that any player qualifying to play for a British association on residence must have completed five years of education on the territory of the association concerned before the age of 18. Burke obviously fulfills neither of those criteria. Anyhow, as you say, it's highly unlikely England would ever be interested in him even if he was English.

[tricky_colour]

Good Old Clinton

http://www.rte.ie/sport/player/813/642534/

Interesting interview in the context of this thread and one other thread!!!

[gastric]

O'Neill will not chase Noble which is fair enough! It's over to him now.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/oneill-i-wont-be-chasing-mark-noble-30608282.html

[Deckydee]

http://www.thetottenhamway.com/2014/09/30/harry-kane-set-talks-international-future-roi-keen/

http://www.givemesport.com/508714-harry-kane-pondering-international-future?autoplay=on

[Olé Olé]

http://www.thetottenhamway.com/2014/09/30/harry-kane-set-talks-international-future-roi-keen/

http://www.givemesport.com/508714-harry-kane-pondering-international-future?autoplay=on

Interesting. I'm still laughing at the first article:

Kane, 21, qualifies for Ireland through his father, appropriately named Pat.

Cue the usuals who will throw up the quotes from August when he spoke about breaking into the England side.

He has an Irish father. He's quite entitled to ponder his international future. Is it so blasphemous that he consider earning a greater tally of caps for the country of his father than stick with the more risky option of the country of his birth?

He could turn out to earn 50+ or -10 caps for either.

[Charlie Darwin]

Harry Kane's agent is doing great work if he gets him an England call-up out of that. We have only ourselves to blame for becoming pawns in these players' England hopes.

[Deckydee]

Its is his grandfather that is from Galway from what me knows

[tetsujin1979]

Kane name in the England U21 squad for the play off against Croatia - http://www.thefa.com/news/england/under-21/2014/oct/squad-named-for-croatia-play-off-021014

[ArdeeBhoy]

Aye, but he can still switch once until he gets a full competitive cap for them? Which will be amazed if he does...

[ArdeeBhoy]

Oh and JD speaks...
http://www.irishpost.co.uk/sport/john-delaney-ireland-fallback-option

[tricky_colour]

So it would be Irish Citizen Kane.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Interesting. I'm still laughing at the first article:


Cue the usuals who will throw up the quotes from August when he spoke about breaking into the England side.

He has an Irish father. He's quite entitled to ponder his international future. Is it so blasphemous that he consider earning a greater tally of caps for the country of his father than stick with the more risky option of the country of his birth?

He could turn out to earn 50+ or -10 caps for either.

He isn't pondering anything. He is quite adamant that he wants to play for England and he hasn't broached the Ireland situation once. I respect his forthrightness to be honest.

[Olé Olé]

He isn't pondering anything. He is quite adamant that he wants to play for England and he hasn't broached the Ireland situation once. I respect his forthrightness to be honest.

I stated he was "entitled ponder" in response to an article that stated he was pondering. I didn't state the opposite to "he isn't pondering anything" which would be "he is pondering something". So please don't quote any of my posts in the future if you're going to add little but groundless contradiction.

Quote the articles instead. I'd rather not be implicated.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I stated he was "entitled ponder" in response to an article that stated he was pondering. I didn't state the opposite to "he isn't pondering anything" which would be "he is pondering something". So please don't quote any of my posts in the future if you're going to add little but groundless contradiction.

Quote the articles instead. I'd rather not be implicated.

My apologies. I just read the article.

As someone else said, I don't think there is anything to ponder unless he drastically falls off England's radar - and even then he has plenty of time to play for England. Lambert and Davies were over a decade older by the time they won their first caps.

[tricky_colour]

In the wrong thread I suppose but Kane just scored for Spurs,
however Harry is a very English name, have were had any Harries
playing for Ireland? i can't think of one hence I think the chances of
him switching are rather slim, was a quality goal though, l well struck
low shot across the goal to the far corner, rather Gareth Balesesque.

[tetsujin1979]

Harry Arter at Bournemouth has underage caps, Harry Crawford - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Crawford_(footballer) - has U19 caps
according to soccerscene.ie, Harry Cannon, Harry Duggan and Harry Chatton have senior caps for Ireland

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Harry Charsley.

[DannyInvincible]

however Harry is a very English name, have were had any Harries
playing for Ireland? i can't think of one hence I think the chances of
him switching are rather slim

The chances of him switching are slim because he's dead set on playing for England; not because his name might be Harry... His agent is obviously peddling these media stories in the hope that Hodgson might become alarmed enough at the prospect of losing Kane to the FAI for good so as to call him up to the England senior squad to tie him. Kane may well be happy to wait years for an England call-up so I wouldn't get too bothered about him.

[Stuttgart88]

I agree, but how would you feel if he declared for Ireland shortly?

Personally I'd feel that as a kid of an Irish father who, despite saying he wanted to play for England as first choice, decided early in his career to play for Ireland then it passes the smell test.

Hypothetical of course, and very fanciful, but still an interesting question I think.

[DannyInvincible]

I agree, but how would you feel if he declared for Ireland shortly?

Personally I'd feel that as a kid of an Irish father who, despite saying he wanted to play for England as first choice, decided early in his career to play for Ireland then it passes the smell test.

Hypothetical of course, and very fanciful, but still an interesting question I think.

Definitely, I'd be happy to have him and certainly wouldn't hold the major English side of his identity or his youthful wavering against him. He's a pretty good player; the goal this eve was a great, forceful finish with his weaker foot from outside the box (https://vine.co/v/OmjtnuP5eDz). That always helps. ;) And he is perfectly entitled to possess split loyalties or dominant England ambitions, as Olé says. He's young, as you point out, and hasn't had three quarters worth of a career to mull over and dismiss the idea of a switch either, which presently differentiates his case from the less palatable notion of seeing potential johnny-come-lately Noble don the green. I just don't really think Kane wants to play for us at all. He keeps stating he wants to play for England, yet we keep reading these same-thing-over-again stories with no real update and apparently coming out of the blue. I don't think there is a single quote from the player himself stating he's entertaining any notion of playing for us. He's always been very clear that he's solely focused on making it with England at senior level (which is fine). It just smells like his agent is doing a lot of media work behind the scenes. It would really surprise me if he did declare for us shortly.

[zero]

am i alone in thinking it's getting borderline embarrassing now that we've chased all these players and got none of them? we're in danger of 1am in the nightclub and pulling a vinnie jones.

[Charlie Darwin]

When you go out and start begging, you can't very well complain when people start to treat you like a beggar.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Who says we're 'begging'? Was that the attitude towards all our 'non-Irish born' players?
:rolleyes:

[Charlie Darwin]

Me, obviously. It's no reflection on the non-Irish born players, it's a reflection on the organisation and the management.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Hmm, don't reckon they'd agree.

And more importantly, generally they know far better.

[Charlie Darwin]

Do you think I give a **** whether John Delaney agrees with me?

[ArdeeBhoy]

Yeah, except I mean the people picking the teams...

JD is a figurehead who knows relatively little...

[gastric]

Do you think I give a **** whether John Delaney agrees with me?


Bad bloody attitude Charlie. How could you disagree with Delaney's view of the world? Sure isn't he always right!:mad:

[samhaydenjr]

While I think it would be a great coup if we could get Kane as it appears more and more like he would be the post-Keane striker we really need, I reckon it's highly unlikely that will happen (as Kane himself has indicated). But we could maybe use his ascent as leverage to get Patrick Bamford to reconsider his international options - perhaps if he goes to a club with Irish players, they should sing Kane's praises in his presence and constantly note that between Sturridge, Welbeck, Kane, Berahino, Rodriguez and Rooney, England should be sorted for strikers for the next decade with No. Other. Forwards. Required.

[Olé Olé]

While I think it would be a great coup if we could get Kane as it appears more and more like he would be the post-Keane striker we really need, I reckon it's highly unlikely that will happen (as Kane himself has indicated). But we could maybe use his ascent as leverage to get Patrick Bamford to reconsider his international options - perhaps if he goes to a club with Irish players, they should sing Kane's praises in his presence and constantly note that between Sturridge, Welbeck, Kane, Berahino, Rodriguez and Rooney, England should be sorted for strikers for the next decade with No. Other. Forwards. Required.

Ooh, that appears to be a stretch. From the outside looking in, there's Lambert, Rooney and Welbeck in the current English squad. Anyone scoring and playing regularly must fancy their chances of taking Lambert's spot in the long-term, if not the short-term.

Bamford ain't exactly shooting the lights out in Championship these days. He has 9 goals in 27 games. Joe Mason, for example, has 9 in 14 for Bolton in roughly the same time period (beginning of 2014).

By the above logic, Will Keane can forget about representing England at senior level. He'd fall into the same category as Kane; English-born, Irish father, top PL club, England-committed. Again, as with his almost namesake, I could forgive him for turning to Ireland... I think.

[The Fly]

Ooh, that appears to be a stretch. From the outside looking in, there's Lambert, Rooney and Welbeck in the current English squad. Anyone scoring and playing regularly must fancy their chances of taking Lambert's spot in the long-term, if not the short-term.


Don't forget Sturridge.

[gastric]

Ooh, that appears to be a stretch. From the outside looking in, there's Lambert, Rooney and Welbeck in the current English squad. Anyone scoring and playing regularly must fancy their chances of taking Lambert's spot in the long-term, if not the short-term.

Bamford ain't exactly shooting the lights out in Championship these days. He has 9 goals in 27 games. Joe Mason, for example, has 9 in 14 for Bolton in roughly the same time period (beginning of 2014).

By the above logic, Will Keane can forget about representing England at senior level. He'd fall into the same category as Kane; English-born, Irish father, top PL club, England-committed. Again, as with his almost namesake, I could forgive him for turning to Ireland... I think.

Course you can forgive him Ole, if he commits and performs! ;) Not aimed at you, but do any supporters ever watch an Irish game and dwell on a player's background and motive for committing to us?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

@ Ole

Bamford has 2 in 3 starts this season. Last season he finished on a mini-drought of half a dozen games but even then he only started half of them. He has scored very consistently over the last year and has spoken several times of an ambition to break into the Chelsea team.

There is no indication whatsoever he will play for Ireland. Once he got that move to Chelsea and England started showing interest, he was off like several other young lads around the same time.

You brought up Mason too. If we have a goal drain then surely he would be one of the first players we'd select - rather than Cox or Sammon, so perhaps he too is uninterested in playing for Ireland at the moment?

Really it's a chore to get anyone that has any fraction of talent whatsoever to make a committal to Ireland yet some people think they are the solution to everything.

There is more chance of me getting with one of the French Erasmus students than there is of Harry Kane declaring for Ireland.

Make more of an effort with the younger players we already have and broaden our scope to include uncapped players - Doherty, O'Kane etc...

[gastric]

@ Ole

Bamford has 2 in 3 starts this season. Last season he finished on a mini-drought of half a dozen games but even then he only started half of them. He has scored very consistently over the last year and has spoken several times of an ambition to break into the Chelsea team.

There is no indication whatsoever he will play for Ireland. Once he got that move to Chelsea and England started showing interest, he was off like several other young lads around the same time.

You brought up Mason too. If we have a goal drain then surely he would be one of the first players we'd select - rather than Cox or Sammon, so perhaps he too is uninterested in playing for Ireland at the moment?

Really it's a chore to get anyone that has any fraction of talent whatsoever to make a committal to Ireland yet some people think they are the solution to everything.

There is more chance of me getting with one of the French Erasmus students than there is of Harry Kane declaring for Ireland.

Make more of an effort with the younger players we already have and broaden our scope to include uncapped players - Doherty, O'Kane etc...

The reality is we need new forward now, not so much midfielders or defenders as you mentioned. Hence, the emphasis on forwards like Bamford and Kane.

[DannyInvincible]

Do you think I give a **** whether John Delaney agrees with me?

I think AB meant the non-Ireland-born players wouldn't agree that it's no poor reflection on them. I don't see why criticising the management/organisation for begging eligible players who don't want to play for us should reflect badly on non-Ireland-born players who do want to play for us though. If they want to come play, the management won't (need to) be doing any begging, so it's not really a matter that concerns those players. Is it to suggest that non-Ireland-born players would appreciate it if the FAI came begging for their services as that is the only thing stopping them from declaring? We all know that's not the reason why many of these eligible players aren't interested. If a player would only consider switching after we've satisfied his need to be begged to, is he really someone who will have any sense of pride in his Irish heritage anyway?

Whilst we may make initial inquiries, I don't think we have been quite begging, to be fair. A lot of these will-he-or-won't-he-switch stories are vague and quoteless, most likely initiated by players' agents hoping to stir England into action. O'Neill commented on the Noble matter, for example, but he said that he wouldn't be chasing after Noble begging. It's up to Noble to declare his interest. Delaney also commented more generally recently (AB provided a link to the piece in a few threads) and stated we only entertained players who wanted to play for us.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Amen to that chief.

[samhaydenjr]

Ooh, that appears to be a stretch. From the outside looking in, there's Lambert, Rooney and Welbeck in the current English squad. Anyone scoring and playing regularly must fancy their chances of taking Lambert's spot in the long-term, if not the short-term.

Bamford ain't exactly shooting the lights out in Championship these days. He has 9 goals in 27 games. Joe Mason, for example, has 9 in 14 for Bolton in roughly the same time period (beginning of 2014).

By the above logic, Will Keane can forget about representing England at senior level. He'd fall into the same category as Kane; English-born, Irish father, top PL club, England-committed. Again, as with his almost namesake, I could forgive him for turning to Ireland... I think.

I think all six players I mentioned would definitely be considered above Bamford in the pecking order based on current status and form - that could change over the coming years, hence my cunning plan to get potential Irish team-mates to imply that he'll never break into the England squad, taking advantage of the very fact that he hasn't competely hit the ground running at championship level.:wink: Although he hasn't exactly been a flop either and is still only 21.

Joe Mason isn't directly relevant to this debate as this thread is more about, essentially, persuading English-born players to come and play for Ireland over England. As Mason has played for our underage teams he's ours to lose (a bit like Grealish), although of course you're right when you talk about watching his current form with a view to promoting him to the senior side.

As regards Will Keane, I did actually think about mentioning him but, as he has only played a few senior games and hasn't scored a senior goal yet I was unsure whether he could be put forward as someone who could leapfrog Bamford in the England pecking order or, as you imply, could be poached in a similar manner to Bamford. Although, given that he is actually eight months older than Bamford, perhaps you're right and should start applying this plan to him - "you'll never make it to the England squad, Will - even Bamford is ahead of you" ;)

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

We struggle to get 26 year olds and 27 year olds to declare for us and we are getting our hopes up about 19 year olds and 20 year olds. Despite nothing from the past 15 years indicating a player of Bamford or Kane's stature would declare at this juncture.

Optimistic.

[Deckydee]

Should not get his own private thread until he declares :D

https://twitter.com/SkySportsPeteO/status/519961080010129408