Potentially eligible players thread

[Wolfman]

Exactly. He counts his nationality as British FFS!

[liamoo11]

Exactly. He counts his nationality as British FFS!

yeah can't imagine stockdale been devastated by our Danish defeat. I can't stomach rugby for that reason

[Olé Olé]

Found it interesting to note Wales latest squad of 23 players has 11 born in England. Of the 30 we have named for the Turkey match, 9 are English-born.

[third policeman]

Well done on yer win lads. I saw the last 15 mins while waiting for the Irish League scores.

Don't worry about the typos, they were no harder to follow than yer other posts on this issue ;)

In summary, "Northern Irish identity" is either compatible with a broader sense of Irishness as evidenced for example by the by the cross-community / cross boarder support for the Ireland rugby Team, or it's not in which case "Northern Irish" is a distinct and opposing identity which excludes a very large proportion of its own resident population.

I'm sure this can be explained by means of syllogisms, propositional calculus, Venn diagrams or fuzzy felts if that helps

[Gather round]

In summary, "Northern Irish identity" is either compatible with a broader sense of Irishness as evidenced for example by the by the cross-community / cross boarder support for the Ireland rugby Team, or it's not in which case "Northern Irish" is a distinct and opposing identity which excludes a very large proportion of its own resident population.

I'm sure this can be explained by means of syllogisms, propositional calculus, Venn diagrams or fuzzy felts if that helps

In summary, TP passed Maths A Level (in 1960?) but struggles with basic logic. I'm not excluding anyone from my identity, which is different from yours but doesn't oppose it. Do better.

[Wolfman]

How do you know though?

[tetsujin1979]

Ok, moving away from the discussion in northern identity, and back to players who had be eligible for the Republic of Ireland national side

[Wolfman]

Which are related.
Doh!

[third policeman]

In summary, TP passed Maths A Level (in 1960?) but struggles with basic logic. I'm not excluding anyone from my identity, which is different from yours but doesn't oppose it. Do better.

Bit ironic as I struggled with maths but do have MA in Philosophy, which involved quite a bit of logic. Different does exclude in the logical sense. The law of identity is one of the basic laws of thought and one of the foundations of logic. The link below may help you to grasp the essential principles.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_thought

[Gather round]

Different does exclude in the logical sense

Have you been on the bottle, Aristotle?

[third policeman]

Have you been on the bottle, Aristotle?

No, but you could very easily drive me to it.

[Gather round]

No, but you could very easily drive me to it

No-one is forcing you to show off your pretensions on the Internet, to give straight answers to questions or to support NI. As I said, live and let live baby :victory:

[Wolfman]

:rolleyes:

[DannyInvincible]

A number of DUP MPs tabled a motion in the British parliament yesterday in order to raise concerns over the FAI's facilitation of northern-born Irish nationals: https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/concerns-over-poaching-of-northern-ireland-footballers-by-the-fai-raised-by-the-dup-36732570.html


Mr Shannon's early day motion (EDM) states: "That this House expresses concern over the pursuit of Northern Ireland (NI) born football players by the Football Association Ireland; and calls for the chief executive of the FAI, John Delaney, to send out a clear message that there will be no poaching of NI players, that the boundary lines will be respected and honoured, and that the game will be played fairly and within the rules."

Jeffrey Donaldson (Lagan Valley), Paul Girvan (South Antrim), Gavin Robinson (Belfast East) and David Simpson (Upper Bann) have also signed the motion.

An EDM is a formal motion submitted for debate in the House of Commons, although very few are actually debated.

They're clearly playing to the gallery (as the FAI are hardly bound by words spoken in the UK parliament or by DUP demands) and are obviously completely clueless as far as the rules are concerned too, considering nationality (rather than territory) is the foundation of national teams and the FAI already operate within the rules when they facilitate player choice. The FAI don't "poach" anyone. Embarrassing stuff from the DUP, as usual. It's crazy really; do they think this sort of thing - coercion rather than persuasion - will encourage nationalists to play for the IFA? They do the FAI's recruitment for them with this sort of talk.

[Olé Olé]

My favourite piece is "the boundary lines"... Bigots!

[Olé Olé]

There was some discussion on Liam Kelly on Keith Andrews' football show on Thursday. Andrews appears very passionate on the concept of an English-born player being uncertain on an Ireland future and stated that "If we're plan B, do one".

He then went on to say that there would often be chat in and around the Ireland squad in his time there about such and such qualifying for Ireland. The co-host brought up Mark Noble and that (primarily media-driven saga) and Andrews quickly replied "If Mark Noble had come into the squad I'd have snapped him in half". I enjoyed that. We don't often consider the impact these guys have on the more committed players. Imagibe an Ireland side with Jack Grealish starting ahead of James McClean? If things had gone differently that would have been conceivable.

[Olé Olé]

Paul Smyth scored on his debut for NI against South Korea and celebrated with an acrobatic flip. Any whispers of a switch well quelled, although he remains eligible as it was a friendly.

Someone in the comments section of the 42.ie pegged the match as a non-country beating half a country. Very good.

[seanfhear]

Well Flip him anyway .

[CraftyToePoke]

Probably already mentioned on here but striker Jon Gallagher scored two in his clubs first fixture yesterday. MLS second division level.

Report - https://www.atlutd.com/post/2018/03/24/recap-atl-utd-2-wins-inaugural-match-3-1
Himself - https://www.atlutd.com/players/72/jon-gallagher

Dundalk born, 22 years of age, had contact with Noel King previously and the US national side also showing interest. Trials already with European clubs Juventus, Olympique Marseille, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United. I suppose he would only have to move up one level to be on our radar too. Worth half an eye on in the coming months if he keeps up his start.

[irishfan86]

Would be great for Gallagher if he can make the breakthrough with Atlanta’s first team. Averaged crowds of 48,000 last season, more than 72,000 at season opener a couple of weeks back. A really special thing happening there.

[DannyInvincible]

Did Gallagher grow up in the US?

Judging by his Twitter profile (https://twitter.com/JonGallagher96) bio, it looks like his allegiance is to Ireland anyway:

https://image.ibb.co/f36jaS/capture.png

[Olé Olé]

You'd have to be shocked if he paid attention to US overtures, if there were any. His entire family is Irish and I think are living in Dundalk. Also, we aren't that much better than the US that we would ignore any progress he makes and he has to resort to them for an international career. Non-issue.

[tetsujin1979]

He went to college there, so that's four years at least

[DannyInvincible]

Just looking at his Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Gallagher

It says he's moved around a lot and even played for England schoolboys between 2013 and 2014.


Born in Dundalk in Ireland, growing up Gallagher also spent time in the United States, Jamaica, Singapore and England. While moving around, Gallagher played with Beachside SC in Connecticut, Home United in Singapore and England Schoolboys in England. He also spent time on trial with the likes of Juventus, Marseille, Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers.

[Olé Olé]

I think this was clarified previously re the England schoolboys. He was sent to boarding school in England just to progress his football and so accepting the call on the basis of where he went to school is hardly an issue: https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/sport/soccer/blackrock-striker-set-for-big-breakthrough-in-mls-36452304.html

All of his family are in Dundalk, as per the article.

[CraftyToePoke]

Jon Gallagher has scored again, in his sides 1-1 draw this week, he didn't play last week, I think (could be wrong) he actually travelled with their first team squad but didn't feature. That's three in two games.

Here - https://www.atlutd.com/post/2018/04/08/recap-atl-utd-2-stay-unbeaten-after-1-1-draw


The goal marked Gallagher’s third goal of the season and his second in just two appearances with ATL UTD 2. The former Notre Dame forward was previously named to USL’s Team of the Week when he scored a brace in Atlanta’s inaugural match March 24 against New York Red Bulls II.

[Olé Olé]

Why are we discussing him in the thread for players that are potentially eligible?

[liamoo11]

is tonight ogbenes first league appearance for brentford?

[osarusan]

is tonight ogbenes first league appearance for brentford?

Yes, been on the bench a few times but this was the first time he played for the first team.

[samhaydenjr]

After some terrible injury woes, Will Keane came on as a sub for Hull tonight and scored his first goal since December 2015. Well done to him and all the best in getting some stability in his career: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/43624042

[Closed Account]

Nothing potentially eligible about him but as good a thread as any:
https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2018/04/17/oneill-eyeing-european-move-ireland-call-beckons
Brandon O'Neill (Sydney FC) on the radar apparently.
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/brandon-oneill/profil/spieler/218371

[Charlie Darwin]

Sounds like an agent flying a kite.

[tetsujin1979]

Sounds like an agent flying a kite.

I agree, given that fellow A-League players Andy Keogh and Roy O'Donovan haven't been linked with a call up, even with the dearth of options up front, and that we're reasonably well stocked with central midfielders at the moment, why would he merit a call up?

[bwagner]

18 year old Midfielder by the name of Ryan Cooney playing for Bury tonight. London born.

[samhaydenjr]

Sounds like an agent flying a kite.


I agree, given that fellow A-League players Andy Keogh and Roy O'Donovan haven't been linked with a call up, even with the dearth of options up front, and that we're reasonably well stocked with central midfielders at the moment, why would he merit a call up?


Nothing potentially eligible about him but as good a thread as any:
https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2018/04/17/oneill-eyeing-european-move-ireland-call-beckons
Brandon O'Neill (Sydney FC) on the radar apparently.
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/brandon-oneill/profil/spieler/218371

A successful move to a mid-table Eredivisie like PEC Zwolle would certainly put him within sight of the squad, although probably not into the first team.

[OMTY]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/paul-smyth-leans-towards-northern-ireland-r3qsdx6n9

Paul Smyth leans towards Northern Ireland

Playing time vital for QPR winger yet to feature in competitive game for either Ireland

Martin O’Neill is an occasional visitor to the Queens Park Rangers training ground near Heathrow airport, usually to watch an under-23 match from the vantage point of the players’ canteen, but if he is going to introduce himself to Paul Smyth, then he would need to do so pretty quickly.
The 20-year-old QPR winger, name-checked frequently in the row over eligibility between the Republic of Ireland manager and his Northern Ireland counterpart, Michael O’Neill, seems sold on the idea of playing his international football in Belfast rather than Dublin. When he made his senior debut for Northern Ireland in March against South Korea in a friendly game and celebrated scoring his first international goal with a joyous somersault, it was taken as a fait accompli that Smyth was a Northern Ireland player. It is, however, not quite as simple as that.
The questions will only be answered definitively when Smyth plays in a competitive game or states clearly what his decision is. Instead, some people are trying to put words in his mouth and thoughts in his mind. A half hour spent in his company at the training ground on Thursday indicated that while Smyth was leaning heavily towards Northern Ireland he wasn’t quite there yet. For instance, what would he should the Republic of Ireland manager call and invite him into the squad?
“I don’t know,” Smyth replied. “I don’t really think about it to be fair.”
At the moment Smyth is too busy enjoying the novelty of breaking into the QPR first team having only moved from Belfast to London last summer. Becoming a pawn in the turf war between Northern Ireland and the Republic is not something he is interested in.
“It is kind of unfair to be brought in like that,” Smyth said. “I don’t like talking about it. Nowadays, if you say something wrong you are in a lot of trouble. I just like to keep myself to myself and get on with it playing football.”
Even before Smyth scored that excellent goal against South Korea, Michael O’Neill said that “I don’t have a huge fear of Paul going anywhere” and if the Northern Ireland manager is only slightly worried, then he has probably got it about right.
In Dublin, there was an assumption in some quarters that because Smyth attended Republic matches as a boy and played gaelic football for an Antrim club, Lamh Dhearg, he would come running with a click of the fingers. Not so. Ever since moving out of west Belfast as a seven-year-old into the countryside with his parents, Smyth has followed his own path. His local football club in Crumlin near Lough Neagh folded when he was about 15, so he joined Linfield, where he broke into the first team when David Healy became manager.
“As long as you play for that shirt and give 100% the fans loved you. Whether I play for Cliftonville or Crusaders or Linfield, that is what I do,” Smyth says.
Smyth made Healy enjoy coming to work to take training and the Northern Ireland legend was quickly on to his old friend in charge of the national team. At the same time, Smyth started progressing nicely through the Northern Ireland under-age teams.
“I have been playing with Northern Ireland since the under 16s and I have loved it ever since. I didn’t hear anything from the Republic. Growing up in Northern Ireland as well kind of edged me forward towards them. At the minute I am thinking of playing for Northern Ireland because of how much I have enjoyed it and how well they have looked after me. I went to the Euros with Michael O’Neill and the first team and learned a lot from the pros playing there. That has been massive for me.”
QPR have also been good for Smyth since he arrived last summer for a fee of £200,000. As the club increasingly turns towards young players after reining in spending, the manager Ian Holloway has given Smyth his chance. Whereas Healy tried to stop it, Holloway even allows Smyth to do his spectacular celebratory somersault.
“I did it on the trampoline as a kid and then I decided to try it on the pavement. I landed on my head a few times but it came off.”
Freedom has come in other ways too. He enjoys being one of the crowd when he travels to home games and elsewhere on the train. “I like staying in the shadows, because back home it was just constant. People I had never heard of would come up to me on the street and have a chat. It was great, but here I have anonymity.”
Some people are taking notice, of course, as Smyth also scored the winner on his club debut, in a 2-1 win against Cardiff on New Year’s Day. Martin O’Neill, who has been closely watching another promising young QPR player, Ryan Manning from Galway, spotted Smyth’s talent in the winger’s sixth game against Derby County back in February. However, the Republic’s manager was already well behind, as he acknowledged when he remarked that “Michael has done a lot of work with him”.
Moreover, the Republic’s manager sympathises when the younger O’Neill complains of player poaching and has pointed out on several occasions that none of the players born in Northern Ireland who now play for the Republic defected during his time as manager. For it to happen now would therefore be remarkable. Martin O’Neill said he would speak to Smyth if the player approached him, but he wasn’t expecting that to happen. Nor would he be one to ring making promises that he couldn’t keep.
“It’s wherever I am going to get playing really,” says Smyth of his international plans. “I don’t even think I am going to get into that Northern Ireland team because it is so strong. But I will keep working hard, keep my head down and whenever my chance comes I will try to take it.” Northern Ireland’s summer tour of central America will provide that. Should he continue to do well, Smyth would probably then win a competitive cap in September, after which nobody will be able to second guess any more.

[liamoo11]

Seems like a very grounded fella. Nothing up north is straight forward. I wish him all the best if he plays for the north.

[Olé Olé]

It's a funny one that. If it were an English-born player that was speaking about a decision between Ireland and England then I'm sure many would be up in arms. Circumstances different here. It also sounds as though showing this lad some attention at underage would have leaned him in our direction.

[Gather round]

Seems like a very grounded fella. Nothing up north is straight forward

After four years of relative success, the makeup of NI squads is easier to predict than it was- basically because the senior players are more likely to turn up. On the other hand a few older guys may retire when the English and Scottish league seasons end. So Smyth could replace Ward or Lafferty on the tour.


showing this lad some attention at underage would have leaned him in our direction

It might have dissuaded someone else. However well your scouting and recruitment work, there are only 11 guys in a football team.

[liamoo11]

After four years of relative success, the makeup of NI squads is easier to predict than it was- basically because the senior players are more likely to turn up. On the other hand a few older guys may retire when the English and Scottish league seasons end. So Smyth could replace Ward or Lafferty on the tour.



It might have dissuaded someone else. However well your scouting and recruitment work, there are only 11 guys in a football team.
thank you. I actually meant straight forward from an identity point of view but take your point on the team selection piece

[Closed Account]

FC Dordrecht 0-[1] SC Cambuur — Daniel Crowley nutmeg + goal 20'

https://streamable.com/ugnx8

[tetsujin1979]

According to this article in fourfourtwo - https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/revealed-your-premier-league-clubs-next-first-team-youth-prospect - Everton defender Antonee Robinson is eligible for Ireland, but has already been called up by the US national side

Everton have successfully blooded Jonjoe Kenny at right-back this season and, with the evergreen Leighton Baines starting to slow a little, they could be set to do the same on the other side of the pitch next season with Robinson.
A Premier League 2 champion with Everton in 2016/17, the athletic full-back has gone on to gain senior experience on loan at Bolton this season, where he has shown promise with a series of hard-working performances up and down the left flank in trying circumstances.
Robinson is eligible to represent England or the Republic of Ireland, but received his first international call-up by the United States last month. He recently revealed his plans to return to Goodison Park this summer to challenge for a place in the first-team squad

[liamoo11]

https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/duffy-wows-roy-as-rovers-loss-heaps-pressure-on-bradley-36970446.html.


Always thought it was strange Duffy played for the north it appears from this the process of coming on board must be underway

[Olé Olé]

Had quick Google and it turns out Duffy clearly stated it's us he wants to play with 2 weeks ago: https://www.thesun.ie/sport/football/2583843/michael-duffy-hopes-to-follow-graham-burke-into-republic-of-ireland-squad-despite-being-called-up-by-northern-ireland-in-past/

[liamoo11]

Had quick Google and it turns out Duffy clearly stated it's us he wants to play with 2 weeks ago: https://www.thesun.ie/sport/football/2583843/michael-duffy-hopes-to-follow-graham-burke-into-republic-of-ireland-squad-despite-being-called-up-by-northern-ireland-in-past/

thank you

[Diggs246]

Were the recent Patrick Bamford rumours just total bull or might we see him in green?

[DeLorean]

Were the recent Patrick Bamford rumours just total bull or might we see him in green?

Going by O'Neill's comments at the time, Bamford should make his intentions known if he wants to be considered - https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/inform-patrick-bamford-ready-to-answer-ireland-call-36703005.html


Bamford is one of the Boro players in form and I watched him recently. I haven't had contact with him but if someone is showing an inclination - and their career with another country is well down the list - then it is certainly something I would consider.

It does seem like the general tone of the rumours were exaggerated/fabricated.

[seanfhear]

At the moment it's Wham Bam no Thank you Mam .

[tetsujin1979]

saw this on twitter earlier

1016783753757249537
Orebro finished 11th out of 16 teams in the Allsvenskan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Allsvenskan#League_table) last season and conceded 54 goals in 30 games. Just as a compare/contrast, AIK finished second and conceded 22 goals in 30.

[Olé Olé]

saw this on twitter earlier

1016783753757249537
Orebro finished 11th out of 16 teams in the Allsvenskan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Allsvenskan#League_table) last season and conceded 54 goals in 30 games. Just as a compare/contrast, AIK finished second and conceded 22 goals in 30.

We are hardly shy of defenders. Seems to me like an agent is putting this one out. The use of the word "federation" implies that to me anyway.