Potentially eligible players thread

[Charlie Darwin]

I'd be fairly confident his oul lad is behind the wiki entry too.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I'd be fairly confident his oul lad is behind the wiki entry too.

Sure his dad has a Wikipedia entry. There's no ifs or buts about it.

If I started a Wikipedia entry for myself it would be taken down in hours.

IDK how that nonsense is allowed.

[OwlsFan]

If I started a Wikipedia entry for myself it would be taken down in hours.

No surprise there ;)

[liamoo11]

Surprisingly, he has a wiki (maybe set up by a relative) page and on there it says he has eligibility for Ireland, Nigeria & England

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armstrong_Echezolachukwu_Inya_Oko-Flex

There's also a youtube channel with some uploads describing him as an Irish Soccer Prodigy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43PfyxvYoC4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lYIMccXolQ

See we get referenced in his wiki page! Did we ever figure out who the armstrong lad was?

[DannyInvincible]

Surprisingly, he has a wiki (maybe set up by a relative) page and on there it says he has eligibility for Ireland, Nigeria & England

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armstrong_Echezolachukwu_Inya_Oko-Flex

There's also a youtube channel with some uploads describing him as an Irish Soccer Prodigy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43PfyxvYoC4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lYIMccXolQ

I enjoyed the use of exclamation marks on the Wiki entry. The obscure personal details and lack of subtlety are a dead give-away. The eagerness is palpable. Definitely the player's father.

In saying that, Wiki have clear notability criteria, but also don't have the resources or human manpower to police every single entry on the site equally or effectively. Media references help, but if someone feels a page fails to meet the site's standards or criteria (which are there for all to see (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Football/Notability_of_footballers)), they can flag the page for improvement or deletion if it really annoys them so much. There's no conspiracy.

[Charlie Darwin]

Sure his dad has a Wikipedia entry. There's no ifs or buts about it.

If I started a Wikipedia entry for myself it would be taken down in hours.

IDK how that nonsense is allowed.
Tets would delete it for failing to provide a valid source.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Callum O'Hare is on the bench for Aston Villa this evening.

He's a striker and he's eligible for Ireland.

[CraftyToePoke]

Callum O'Hare is on the bench for Aston Villa this evening.

He's a striker and he's eligible for Ireland.

Interesting, do you know how or that it's certain ?

[DannyInvincible]

Interesting, do you know how or that it's certain ?

I'm aware Callum O'Hare played for Birmingham-based John Mitchels GAA club: http://www.theharpnews.com/former-member-of-john-mitchels-gaa-is-tipped-for-a-high-flying-football-career/

His surname is obviously of Irish origin, but having played GAA, it's highly likely that he has an immediate family connection to Ireland; probably a parent and you'd have to assume at least a grandparent or two.

A poster on YBIG stated he is eligible here, although didn't provide anything further to substantiate the claim: https://forum.ybig.ie/players-eligible-for-ireland_topic44757_post1905880.html#1905880

For what it's worth, I think John Mitchels were the club for whom Jack Grealish also played.

[Stuttgart88]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/a-young-bayern-munich-star-is-irish-eligible-and-the-fai-are-hopeful-that-he-will-soon-wear-a-green-jersey-35513568.html

Ryan Johanssen, 16 year-old at Bayern. Irish mother.

[tetsujin1979]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/a-young-bayern-munich-star-is-irish-eligible-and-the-fai-are-hopeful-that-he-will-soon-wear-a-green-jersey-35513568.html

Ryan Johanssen, 16 year-old at Bayern. Irish mother.
Not even on a different page! http://foot.ie/threads/119079-Potentially-eligible-players-thread?p=1909958&viewfull=1#post1909958

[paul_oshea]

What about Tim Cairney at Fulham?

Its a bit of a *******isation but its definitely Irish sounding.

[CraftyToePoke]

What about Tim Cairney at Fulham?

Its a bit of a *******isation but its definitely Irish sounding.

Scottish father, English mother, played underage for the Scots.

What about Dan Burn ? Now Wigan.

[BonnieShels]

Scottish father, English mother, played underage for the Scots.


Can't see Morrissey writing a song about him.

[paul_oshea]

Scottish father, English mother, played underage for the Scots.

What about Dan Burn ? Now Wigan.

Ya scottish father though whose parents could be Irish ;) I imagine though he has thrown his lot in with them but you never know, and he seems to be performing well. I think the serb will have them pushing for promotion next year.

[Stuttgart88]

Not even on a different page! http://foot.ie/threads/119079-Potentially-eligible-players-thread?p=1909958&viewfull=1#post1909958
It was on a very different part of the page :)

[DannyInvincible]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/a-young-bayern-munich-star-is-irish-eligible-and-the-fai-are-hopeful-that-he-will-soon-wear-a-green-jersey-35513568.html

Ryan Johanssen, 16 year-old at Bayern. Irish mother.

As well as looking at Johansson's eligibility, Aidan Fitzmaurice mentions numerous other potential eligibles in that piece too:


In previous generations it was easy: an Irish-born couple working in England met, married, had kids, and their sons went on to become decent footballers who would play for Ireland. Players like Kevin Kilbane, Rory Delap and Gary Breen all came from households where both parents were Irish-born, no chase needed and no doubts.

Back then, players eligible for Ireland came from places like London, Manchester, Birmingham, Luton. Preston alone provided us with Kilbane and Alan Kelly.

But in 2017, Irish people look further afield than the UK for work, and that’s why a batch of young prospects are currently involved with Ireland but were not born or raised here.

Ryan Nolan (18) was born in Clare, moved to Spain as a small child when his family relocated for work reasons, played his club football in Spain and from there earned a move to Italy and two weeks ago made his latest appearance for Inter Milan’s U19 side.

Recently, foreign-based boys like Marcus Rowley, (who plays for Spanish side Malaga) and Niklas Baylor (on the books with Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg) were capped at U16 level. Lukas Browning, born in Drogheda but raised in Sweden, is making his way through the ranks at Stockholm side Brommapojkarna, where Olof Mellberg is the overall boss.

Over in Belgium, Anderlecht have two players on the books who have been capped by Ireland: current Ireland U21 keeper Liam Bossin (mother from Waterford) and defender Robin Walsh, though Walsh is out with a long-term knee injury while Bossin, frustrated at being fourth-choice keeper at Anderlecht, will go on trial at Nottingham Forest next month.

Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem still have high hopes for Caoimhín Fowler (also called Quivi), a lad who was born in Dublin, raised in Australia and now based in Holland. Courted by Australia, his last Ireland cap was for the U17s in 2015.

[gastric]

Had a look for any update on Zak Gilsenan or Joe Patrick Finn and could find nothing except that two years ago, Gilsenan joined Liverpool from Barca which I hadn't picked up on. The FAI nearly need a dedicated part time scout to follow all of these potential European based players.

[samhaydenjr]

Jutkiewicz scored again yesterday, bringing his tally to 12 for the season, just 2 behind Scott Hogan (albeit over four extra appearances)

[Murph 1]

Just Wondering was there any mention of Jutkiewicz at the squad announcement press conference, He seems to be doing very well in what is a poor Birmingham side, He has poblicly stated that he would 'Embrace' a call up although he seemed to be a little unsure as to whether he qualified or not.

[OwlsFan]

Just Wondering was there any mention of Jutkiewicz at the squad announcement press conference, He seems to be doing very well in what is a poor Birmingham side, He has poblicly stated that he would 'Embrace' a call up although he seemed to be a little unsure as to whether he qualified or not.

Yes, he is quoted as saying "My paternal grandmother was Irish. Whether she was actually born in Ireland or moved to Ireland at an early age I am not entirely sure.” Hmmm, if the latter he might not be qualified if she never held an Irish passport.

[nigel-harps1954]

Nathan Redmond and Michael Keane named in England squad.

[DannyInvincible]

Daniel McDonnell quotes Noel King discussing 20-year-old Brentford left-back Tom Field (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Field) and 20-year-old Bournemouth forward Joe Quigley (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Quigley) (who was also born in England and is presently on loan at Gillingham): http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/king-denies-wrongdoing-as-row-over-recruitment-of-northern-players-rumbles-on-35535925.html


On the issue of eligibility, [Noel King] said that Brentford's Tom Field is opting to concentrate on club football for the remainder of this season.
The English-born left-back represented Ireland at U-16 level but has been out of the scene for a while and Wales now want to bring him on board.

"If he doesn't come to us, we'll wish him all the best where he goes, that would be the normal thing," said King.

Ireland have recruited 20-year-old attacker Joe Quigley who is on loan at Gillingham from Bournemouth.

"He's one for the future, I don't know if you'd call him prolific but he likes to be in the box," said King.

[gastric]

King's words could certainly be misconstrued! :-)

[SkStu]

I don't know if you'd call him prolific but he likes to be in the box


King's words could certainly be misconstrued! :-)

Sounds like me as a desperate teenager

[Stuttgart88]

Teenager?

[Murph 1]

This again raises the suitability of Noel King being involved in any kind of recruitement on behalf of F.A.I., Surely the time has come for a more recent high profile ex International to be involved in talking to young players who are unsure of their International future. Kevin Kilbane comes to mind as somebody who could do an excellent job in this respect.

[nigel-harps1954]

This again raises the suitability of Noel King being involved in any kind of recruitement on behalf of F.A.I., Surely the time has come for a more recent high profile ex International to be involved in talking to young players who are unsure of their International future. Kevin Kilbane comes to mind as somebody who could do an excellent job in this respect.

It's not Noel Kings job to decide what country a young player wants to represent.

[SkStu]

Teenager?

Good point...

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Young Sheffield Wednesday midfielder, James Murphy, hails from America, and features for them at Intl level, but posted #Notorious alongside an Ivory Coast flag after one of Conor McGregor's fights last year.

Might be eligible for us and/or Ivory Coast.

Ref: https://twitter.com/jvmurph_14/status/797688555292200960
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f1e8-1f1ee.png #TheNotorious

He retweeted this after Keane's goal against Oman.

https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/771065022575415296

And this.

https://twitter.com/UEFAEURO/status/768479776617168896

And this.

https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/745727962314571776

Etc.

His nationality is listed as Irish here.

http://plda.ussoccerda.com/sam/teams/index.php?team=1401346&player=27991113

Made his debut in an EFL cup game back in August, two months after signing, but hasn't featured since.

[Wangball]

https://www.socceramerica.com/article/69910/us-abroad-murphy-debuts-for-sheffield-wednesday.html

Says here his Irish citizenship enabled the move to Wednesday

[DannyInvincible]

Michael Keane is expected to make his senior debut for England against Germany tonight: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39275693


England manager Gareth Southgate is expected to experiment with a three-man defensive system and give Burnley's Michael Keane his debut in Wednesday's friendly with Germany in Dortmund.

Keane, 24, is set to start alongside captain Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling, with John Stones set to return for Sunday's home World Cup qualifier with Lithuania when Cahill is suspended.

[Dunners]

What happened if anything with Scott Hogan ?

[mark12345]

What happened if anything with Scott Hogan ?

He got injured playing for Villa. Was not named in Ireland squad because of that (prognosis was four to six weeks out at the time).
Then he came back to Villa team early (last Saturday) which was a bonus for them.

[TrapAPony]

He got injured playing for Villa. Was not named in Ireland squad because of that (prognosis was four to six weeks out at the time).
Then he came back to Villa team early (last Saturday) which was a bonus for them.

....and scored. There is still no indication from him that he wants to play for us though.

[DeLorean]

Michael Keane is expected to make his senior debut for England against Germany tonight: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39275693

Nathan Redmond on now as well.

[Diggs246]

Quick question. I'm I right in saying that Michael keane and Jack grealish, while neither have a senior competitive cap for England they are both now ineligible for Ireland, as they have officially changed association, which I believe you are only allowed do once?

[TrapAPony]

Quick question. I'm I right in saying that Michael keane and Jack grealish, while neither have a senior competitive cap for England they are both now ineligible for Ireland, as they have officially changed association, which I believe you are only allowed do once?
Yes. They are both now ineligible and confined to the history books of the nearly never Irish men.

[Diggs246]

Thanks for the confirmation.

[Polster]

Michael Keane is expected to make his senior debut for England against Germany tonight: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39275693

Quote M Keane - "When I got a call saying they wanted me I did not think twice. I was thankful to Ireland to play but England was my country. There was never any doubt."


I'd say there must of been some doubt while he was playing for us at under age, and now talking like he has made it. Not convinced myself, maybe he'll be very good, but right now just looks another average English centre back to me. Be ironic if the twin brother, Will, after coming up through the English underage system ended up dclaring for Ireland, and obviously he'll have never had any doubts abotu it either :-)

[CraftyToePoke]

Callum Robinson, who's wiki page now says he is ROI eligible, hit two tonight for Preston taking him onto ten for the season. He also won the penalty McGeady scored from, he also has four assists. Jutkiewicz has eleven with one assist, Hogan has fifteen and two.

[Murph 1]

Given the by now alarmimg need for greater depth to our striker options, it is of the utmost importance that O Neill/ Keane make every effort to recruit Robinson and Jutkiewicz. The calls for Seanie Maguire are a little premature as of yet. Jon Walters and Daryl Murphy are not getting any younger while David McGoldrick is injury prone, Kevin Doyle is playing in a sub standard league and his best days are behind him. This leaves Cillian Sheridan, Adam Rooney and Joe Mason as the only alternative options up front. We need the likes of Robinson and Jutkiewicz to be brought on board ASAP.

[TrapAPony]

Given the by now alarmimg need for greater depth to our striker options, it is of the utmost importance that O Neill/ Keane make every effort to recruit Robinson and Jutkiewicz.

I agree that the FAI would really want to step up with the recruitment. Who have they recruited in MON's time anyway? Christie was the only one out of the blue and McGoldrick did all the work himself. That's a very poor return really. It seems to me that MON doesn't care though. He is a manager that lives in the now and doesn't care too much for the future. He will probably leave it up to the next manager to have to do all the recruitment.

[CraftyToePoke]

Maybe they, (MONROY) are having conversations with these lads ? Redmond, Bamford & Hogan have all been publicly mentioned by the manager, haven't they. Maybe after the one who has now lost his place to Hourihane at Villa, can't recall his name, and the very public defeat on that front the FAI suffered there is a preference to do this on the low low till there is something to actually say. Also, these lads like Noble and O'Hara while being credibly able to represent two countries just don't feel that way, I mean I have two close friends with an English parent each but Irish born and raised but they have no sense of being English at all, in no circumstances would they ever have represented England, and there is nothing you can do to change that if that's the mindset you encounter upon speaking to these players. Its fine to say we should be recruiting, but it is no longer the time of St Patrick where we can row over and round up one or two.

[nigel-harps1954]

Given the by now alarmimg need for greater depth to our striker options, it is of the utmost importance that O Neill/ Keane make every effort to recruit Robinson and Jutkiewicz. The calls for Seanie Maguire are a little premature as of yet. Jon Walters and Daryl Murphy are not getting any younger while David McGoldrick is injury prone, Kevin Doyle is playing in a sub standard league and his best days are behind him. This leaves Cillian Sheridan, Adam Rooney and Joe Mason as the only alternative options up front. We need the likes of Robinson and Jutkiewicz to be brought on board ASAP.

Out of interest, why do you think calls for Maguire are premature?

[Diggs246]

I would venture that Scott Hogan situation will be put to bed before the next friendly ie he is not coming onboard, I feel they wont have successfully recruited Callum Robison by then, but Lukas Jut. will be brought in

[DannyInvincible]

I agree that the FAI would really want to step up with the recruitment.

I noticed today that the IFA are on a public recruitment-drive in Derry with a specific focus on 10-14 year olds (despite the fact that Michael O'Neill and his association are always moaning (http://foot.ie/threads/147164-Eligibility-Rules-Okay?p=1911076&viewfull=1#post1911076) about the FAI allegedly running something akin to an "aggressive policy targeting vulnerable youngsters"):

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc12/poguemahone85/17820340_10210401804056039_1855059761_o_zpsokts9dc y.jpg

I spotted the poster in JD Sports in the Richmond Centre and there were similar posters positioned on/over the security-tag censors/alarms at the entrance to the store.

Maybe it's something of which the FAI could take stock and consider doing in the north too or in areas of Britain (or beyond even) with significant Irish populations, Irish heritage centres, Irish sports clubs and the like?

I actually think someone like Clinton Morrison (if he was willing and the FAI were willing to get him involved) could do a great job selling the notion of playing for Ireland to third-generation Irish youngsters in Britain who maybe had/have an Irish grandparent or two, but whose upbringing may not otherwise have been steeped in all things considered traditionally or conventionally Irish either. He's spoken in the past of having been anxious about whether or not he would be accepted (http://www.the42.ie/clinton-morrison-interview-liverpool-exeter-2536537-Jan2016/) when he first made his decision to declare for us (probably because he didn't experience a particularly Irish upbringing in Tooting, would also have had strong Caribbean influences in his life and so may have felt he was kind of crossing into as-of-then unexplored territory culturally), but the fans embraced him. He clearly loved playing for Ireland, felt welcomed and now has a real emotional connection to the country, as well as to Irish football still. He's often back for games (including League of Ireland matches), appears on RTÉ's 'Soccer Republic' and so forth.

Clinton's reality, experience or example would probably resonate more with third-generation youngsters who may not have been in touch (or put in touch by their parents) with their Irish roots growing up than the experience of someone like, say, Kevin Kilbane who had two Irish parents and whose upbringing was very much Irish. I'm not sure whether Kilbane would ever really have feared whether or not he'd be accepted by the Irish fans and footballing fraternity when he was first lining out for us, but Clinton, by reference to his own positive experience, could reassure youngsters who may harbour such fears or anxieties that there'd be absolutely nothing to worry about (just so long as they pass Stutts' gut-test, of course!). :)

[KrisLetang]

I feel like that Lady is up to something with that ladder.

[Murph 1]

Nigel,I just Think that it would be a real shame if Seanie Maguire was immediately seen as the answer to all our prayers, A call up now would bring incredible media hype and his every move would be forensically examined. Think it best for Seanie to have an amazing season with Cork City in the LOI and Europe. He would then I feel be more ready for a Senior call up.On another note would the reintroduction of B internationals help players such as Maguire and many others make the transition from U 21 to Senior level.

[nigel-harps1954]

Nigel,I just Think that it would be a real shame if Seanie Maguire was immediately seen as the answer to all our prayers, A call up now would bring incredible media hype and his every move would be forensically examined. Think it best for Seanie to have an amazing season with Cork City in the LOI and Europe. He would then I feel be more ready for a Senior call up.On another note would the reintroduction of B internationals help players such as Maguire and many others make the transition from U 21 to Senior level.

Forgive me, but I don't get your point here at all.

Nobody has suggested in any way that Maguire is immediately the answer to all our prayers.

A call up would inevitably bring hype in terms of a League of Ireland player being called up, but absolutely nobody would be hyping him up to such an extent that he'll be expected to score a load of goals, or even start a game to a lesser extent.

Seanie is just off an amazing season with Cork City and in Europe.