Potentially eligible players thread

[DeLorean]

David Thompson - Twitter (https://twitter.com/77thomo/status/589854159983288320)

Hope you're right Dave!

[SwanVsDalton]

David Thompson - Twitter (https://twitter.com/77thomo/status/589854159983288320)

Hope you're right Dave!

Hard to trust a non-yank who writes 'Mom'.

[DeLorean]

Garner also won goal of the year


https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=16&v=hKkMethUf4M

[SwanVsDalton]

Grealish's dad and Shay Given are on 5 live at some point between 7pm and 8.30pm. The old 'who's he gonna play for?!' is bound to come up.

[RiffRaff]

Grealish's dad and Shay Given are on 5 live at some point between 7pm and 8.30pm. The old 'who's he gonna play for?!' is bound to come up.

Grealish's dad is making quite a name for himself for someone who never kicked a ball at any level

[TrapAPony]

Supposedly dodged the question on 5 live re Jack and his allegiance. Is this true?

[DannyInvincible]

Missed it myself. Anything of note said?

[DannyInvincible]

Not much substance to it, but Sam Wallace of the Independent is saying the FA "will push its Irish counterparts all the way for the services of the dual-nationality Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish who will be eligible for the England Under-21s following this summer’s European championships": http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/jack-grealish-english-fa-to-push-ireland-for-services-of-the-dualnationality-aston-villa-player-10190827.html

[Deckydee]

Roll on one:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/aston-villas-jack-grealish-chasing-4196817

"Although he is already an Irish U21 international, Grealish is unsure about accepting an offer to play for the Republic’s full side while there is still a possibility of wearing the Three Lions instead"

"MirrorSport understands he politely declined a chance to train with Martin O’Neill’s full Irish squad during this international break"

"Keane - who is also No2 to O'Neill with the Republic - has described him as a “really, really good player” and is keen for him to join the boys in green. But Grealish is prepared to disappoint him by committing to England if they come calling"

[nigel-harps1954]

From 10th September 2014..

[paul_oshea]

on newstalk earlier as well mentioning that he dodged it. but don't worry he is still ours to lose.

[nigel-harps1954]

Fully expect him to be in the squad for the England game.

[paul_oshea]

based on what Nigel?and if he isn't what say you then?

http://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/shay-given-jack-grealish-is-confused-over-his-international-future-he-could-be-a-future-england-regular-31157862.html

[SwanVsDalton]

Fully expect him to be in the squad for the England game.

Possibly - Hodgson might see a trip to Dublin as a good chance for Jack to impress.

[nigel-harps1954]

Possibly - Hodgson might see a trip to Dublin as a good chance for Jack to impress.

Glad someone got it!

[elroy]

Apparently sherwood expects grealish to go with England. Kinda sense that myself. Fine if that's what he wants but feel it's a little cheap that he played with us all the way through to u21 level and then fecks off. Of course this could all blow over in a few weeks if he has a quiet end to the season.

[Charlie Darwin]

I am afraid he'll become another Kevin Gallen in terms of being impelled to choose England because it will increase his value to everybody else. Good luck to him whatever he chooses but no point losing sleep over it.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

We have to be Grealishtic here.

[DannyInvincible]

Apparently sherwood expects grealish to go with England. Kinda sense that myself. Fine if that's what he wants but feel it's a littlIf theap that he played with us all the way through to u21 level and then fecks off. Of course this could all blow over in a few weeks if he has a quiet end to the season.

Don't think Sherwood was really in the know if you're referring to his comments the other week.

It's not as if this situation has ever been beyond our control though. We've been happy selecting Grealish in full knowledge of his dual eligibility. If we didn't want the circus we have now, we could have given him an ultimatum long ago and taken the option out of the equation. If we're happy enough selecting him under present circumstances however and without any sort of assurance/commitment from him, we can't really complain if he takes advantage of the situation/his rights, of which we're very well aware, and then declares for England.

That's not necessarily to say I think he will; it'd be quite a u-turn after saying he hoped to be back in the green by September just a month ago. I'm not necessarily saying giving him an ultimatum would have been the right way to deal with a young lad either - it'd be pretty hardline - but we shouldn't make out like we're going to be poor hapless victims in this if he does switch when we're happy prolonging the matter ourselves in hope.

[Deckydee]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2015/0420/695495-eamon-dunphy-ireland-need-to-secure-jack-grealish/

[paul_oshea]

There is a sudden change here in the mindset without anything linked to jack himself which was always the barometer and stick used to beat down the naysayers.nothing at all has changed with regard to him being in exile from international duty which was decided upon ages ago. so why the sudden change of belief /opinion on here now?

its clear that he enjoyed playing for Ireland, it always has been, but it's also just as clear from the outset over a year of so ago that the lad is waiting because he doesn't see his future wholly with Ireland and could easily have his head turned by England.

The fact that we gave him the chance at senior and he hasn't taken it, if England offer the same at this stage then I can't see him turning it down.

The only hope I have at this stage is that England don't call him up for senior by September if/when he makes his decision.

[paul_oshea]

I am afraid he'll become another Kevin Gallen in terms of being impelled to choose England because it will increase his value to everybody else. Good luck to him whatever he chooses but no point losing sleep over it.

Ah stop.Kevin Gallen was never in the same league as grealish. If he continues on as he is now it doesn't matter a jot who he plays for internationally. stop covering yerself now.

[Olé Olé]

One good performance (coupled with, admittedly, bags of potential) and the English hype-machine has been cranked into motion, close to over-heating.

This hysteria has spilled over to Ireland and it's difficult to tell if that's justified. The lad did say a month ago he'd be back with us in September. I'm sure the English FA were aware of his potential prior to the Liverpool game, so is it really a case that they're only now employing a more aggressive approach to getting Grealish to switch? Newspapers are reporting they'll try to bring him into the under-20 squad. Well I think that anyone who followed English football could have told you for a while that Grealish was more than good enough to make this squad: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_national_under-20_football_team#Latest_squad

If all of this has turned Grealish's head then I'm very disappointed. For a lad of his ability and confidence then I'm sure he and his father always knew that a day like Sunday would come- even before he collected that award and stated he looked forward to rejoining the fold in September.

[OwlsFan]

Article in today's Daily Telegraph about the tug-of-war over Grealish http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/11550090/Aston-Villas-Jack-Grealish-could-spark-international-tug-of-war-between-Ireland-and-England.html

[DannyInvincible]

There is a sudden change here in the mindset without anything linked to jack himself which was always the barometer and stick used to beat down the naysayers.nothing at all has changed with regard to him being in exile from international duty which was decided upon ages ago. so why the sudden change of belief /opinion on here now?

I must have missed the board memo...

In seriousness, I don't think there's any consensus here on this matter. Posters have varying thoughts on it. I don't know why you think there is some Foot.ie orthodoxy that happens to be the exact opposite of what your own position on whatever the topic might be. Yourself and TOWK (and others who suspect a switch is a near certainty) are members of this forum too.

Regarding Grealish, I don't see anything as having changed. The media explosion contains very little substance. He's told us he hopes to be back wearing the green in September. That was a very clear expression of intent, so I'm willing to put my faith in him.


The only hope I have at this stage is that England don't call him up for senior by September if/when he makes his decision.

Before September, they'd have to call him into their senior squad. He isn't re-eligible for their under-21s until then as he's already played competitively for our under-21s this campaign.

[Deckydee]

Excellent Article: http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/loyal-grealish-staying-in-the-green-zone-325159.html

[tetsujin1979]

Excellent Article: http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/loyal-grealish-staying-in-the-green-zone-325159.html
from that article:

So effective was Grealish’s performance in helping Aston Villa secure an FA Cup final place on May 30 that some commentators in the English media were likening the potential “loss” of the winger to another nation in the same realm as the case of Ryan Giggs snubbing them for Wales 24 years ago.Giggs never snubbed England for Wales, he never qualified for them in the first place.

[DeLorean]

And even if he did qualify, this notion that they could have got him if only they tried is ridiculously arrogant. Born in Wales to Welsh parents, absolutely nothing to suggest he would even have considered playing for England.

[DannyInvincible]

Excellent Article: http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/loyal-grealish-staying-in-the-green-zone-325159.html

It talks about England possibly hoping to bring him into their under-20 squad. As far as I know, that isn't a competitive FIFA/UEFA-recognised age-level, at least not in Europe anyway, so he'd neither have to request a switch nor would he be tied by playing at that level for England. I'm pretty sure he'd be able to play for us again after.

[Charlie Darwin]

Ah stop.Kevin Gallen was never in the same league as grealish. If he continues on as he is now it doesn't matter a jot who he plays for internationally. stop covering yerself now.
It's not like you to jump in without reading a comment first. I said "in terms of being impelled to choose England because it will increase his value to everybody else." I never compared their quality.

Please do try to read Paul.

[back of the net]

Jack's Dad on Newstalk this morning...basically said the following......its completely up to Jack, big decision for him to make, maybe in the upcoming friendly he can play 45 mins for Ireland and 45 mins for England (that part said in Jest of course)

Tim Sherwood interviewed on radio earlier.....Big decision for Jack, said he hadnt spoken with him over it but if asked he would tell Jack to go with his heart ( which is the correct thing to do)

[paul_oshea]

I read your comment and I know you didn't. you obviously didn't read mine though. His value to everybody else what does that matter.

If he is good enough like he has shown and continues on in that vein it doesn't matter so that won't sway his thoughts

not like you to sidestep an issue...:/

[Charlie Darwin]

I didn't sidestep anything. If he continues as he is now, he'll still be worth more money as an England international. There's no indication he's going to become a transcendent international superstar, and even so he'd probably still be worth more as an England player.

[paul_oshea]

of course you did you said I didn't read yours I did. my point was related to your original stance nothing to do with Kevin fallen compared with jg.

Clinton Morrison was on sky sports this morning and said playing for Ireland was the best decision he made in his career, had nice things to say about the Irish, said he was 100% Irish.

Nice to see him saying that on sky sports especially given his tenuous links but he didn't have much of a career and got to a world cup so easy to say his greatest career decision.

[DannyInvincible]

Article in the Irish Post on Kevin Gallen's missed international opportunity in light of the Grealish situation: http://www.irishpost.co.uk/sport/gallen-i-had-an-opportunity-to-play-for-ireland-and-it-never-happened

I never knew Trevor Sinclair was eligible to play for us as well.

[RiffRaff]

It doesn't really seem from that article that Gallen was heartbroken not to have played for Ireland as some people suggested

[DannyInvincible]

He obviously feels very Irish, given his background, but it seems QPR were the one true love in the household football-wise. International football was never a priority. He even suggests his father Jim from Donegal was more into QPR than Ireland.

[DeLorean]

I never knew Trevor Sinclair was eligible to play for us as well.

How could you not know?

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTcxWDQ1NQ==/z/N7oAAOxyhs9RCGaa/$T2eC16h,!%29UE9s3wEgQ9BRCG,,B-p!~~60_35.JPG

[punkrocket]

How could you not know?

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTcxWDQ1NQ==/z/N7oAAOxyhs9RCGaa/$T2eC16h,!%29UE9s3wEgQ9BRCG,,B-p!~~60_35.JPG

And your point is?

[DeLorean]

And your point is?

Well punkrocket, it was a fairly obvious, if lame, attempt at some light hearted banter, relating to the fact that Trevor Sinclair is not easily recognisable as being of Irish decent.

[CraftyToePoke]

This could escalate.

[tetsujin1979]

Mmmmm, yes. Let's leave it at that at move on

[DeLorean]

Fair enough, it was quite the feud.

[SkStu]

You won by the way.

[punkrocket]

Oh dear.

[SkStu]

Better luck next time Punk.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32428872

Marc Tierney forced to retire at the ripe age of 29.

[Deckydee]

Article in the Irish Post on Kevin Gallen's missed international opportunity in light of the Grealish situation: http://www.irishpost.co.uk/sport/gallen-i-had-an-opportunity-to-play-for-ireland-and-it-never-happened

I never knew Trevor Sinclair was eligible to play for us as well.

Sounds bitter in this article and I am, and have been, one of his biggest supporters on this issue

[Paddy Garcia]

Sounds bitter in this article and I am, and have been, one of his biggest supporters on this issue

Interesting, no allegiance to Ireland whatsoever. No loss.

[Deckydee]

Interesting, no allegiance to Ireland whatsoever. No loss.

Indeed