Potentially eligible players thread

[tetsujin1979]

I wonder does Zaha regret that decision now? He'd be a regular squad member for England this season.
He quite possibly does, but only in hindsight. At the time (November 2016) switching his allegiance was probably the right decision. He'd been playing regularly in the Premier League since the last of his two caps - one in 2012 and one in 2013 - and it looked like he wasn't going to get a call up in the future. Looking at England's 2018 World Cup Squad (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_squads#England) he possibly would have started ahead of Lingard, but it's tough to argue that he would be a regular starter. In their current squad, it's hard to argue against him starting ahead of Sterling or Sancho, so he'd probably still be a substitute. Would he rather have that, or his nine caps and two goals for the Ivory Coast?

[tetsujin1979]

Armstrong Okoflex named on the bench for Celtic today

[CraftyToePoke]

England flag next to his name on flashscore.

[tetsujin1979]

Sydney FC midfielder Brandon O'Neill has been called into the Australian squad for the first time - Three uncapped Hyundai A-League players in Caltex Socceroos squad to face Korea Republic (https://www.myfootball.com.au/news/three-uncapped-hyundai-a-league-players-caltex-socceroos-squad-face-korea-republic)

According to some reports on twitter, both his parents are Irish. He's just turned 25, his wikipedia page states he has two caps for Australia U23s.

[CraftyToePoke]

We've never called up an Aussie Irish have we ?
There was a bit of noise about a Rooney (?) lad from Hyde Rd originally playing there a while back too

[tetsujin1979]

not at senior level, but Perth born Shane Lowry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_Lowry_(footballer)) has underage caps. He changed his allegiance to Australia in 2009, but has never earned a senior cap for them.

[Kingdom]

The Australia thing could be a real issue in the next decade or so.

[Paddy Garcia]

Redmond included in the England squad today. Guess that reduces the chance from 5% down to 0.5%. Always looked unlikely but theoretically, if he isn't capped, the door is still open... Southgate probably just trying to cap him to be safe: Sterling, Sancho, Rashford, Alli and Lingaard all in that squad. Can't see him ever player ahead of those guys - add Hudson-Odoi too. Rhian Brewster in another year. England are absolutely stacked with young wide-attacking talent...

Dropped already ...

[Diggs246]

I've zero interest in Redmond playing for us. But I'm wondering is Southgate an incredible cynical operator calling up a guy he has no intention of playing

[elatedscum]

That would be an accurate assessment of the situation.

The way England behaved regarding Rice and Grealish and McGuane was very disappointing and disingenuous. The way they made plays for Obafemi and Connell were also disappointing. Not to mention Okoflex...

The way they behave with their U15s now is equally misleading. Capping literally hundreds of players at that age group to try tie as many down to them in the future.

There was a time when England were willing to pick who they thought were the best and stick to their guns. Nowadays, they engage in very obvious attempts to hoard as many players as possible, using Nike, agents and clubs as tools to exert pressure on very young players

[Charlie Darwin]

That would be an accurate assessment of the situation.

The way England behaved regarding Rice and Grealish and McGuane was very disappointing and disingenuous. The way they made plays for Obafemi and Connell were also disappointing. Not to mention Okoflex...

The way they behave with their U15s now is equally misleading. Capping literally hundreds of players at that age group to try tie as many down to them in the future.

There was a time when England were willing to pick who they thought were the best and stick to their guns. Nowadays, they engage in very obvious attempts to hoard as many players as possible, using Nike, agents and clubs as tools to exert pressure on very young players
Obafemi said there was never any contact from England, and I doubt Southgate is calling him up to ward of Ireland since Redmond has never had any intention of playing for us anyway.

[The Fly]

That would be an accurate assessment of the situation.

The way England behaved regarding Rice and Grealish and McGuane was very disappointing and disingenuous. The way they made plays for Obafemi and Connell were also disappointing. Not to mention Okoflex...

The way they behave with their U15s now is equally misleading. Capping literally hundreds of players at that age group to try tie as many down to them in the future.

There was a time when England were willing to pick who they thought were the best and stick to their guns. Nowadays, they engage in very obvious attempts to hoard as many players as possible, using Nike, agents and clubs as tools to exert pressure on very young players

The Premier League has essentially become an international league based in England, so it's hardly surprising that the set up behind the England national team is pursuing their own interests with a renewed fervour. They're just doing what they should be doing.

Re: Redmond, No thanks!

[TrapAPony]

Obafemi said there was never any contact from England, and I doubt Southgate is calling him up to ward of Ireland since Redmond has never had any intention of playing for us anyway.

Ya. I think that these 'Redmond to Ireland' stories were always something that his agent came up with every now and again to remind the English camp about his client...exactly as Mark Noble used to do.

[Olé Olé]

Redmond would take one England cap over 40 for Ireland, I think that's very clear now. Whatever his mammy must think.

Also, Southgate has been a bit more proactive than anyone expected him to be. You'd wonder if Rice could have got the Moldova cap and never contemplated what could have been for England. Those are the noises re Connell atm.

[DeLorean]

The Premier League has essentially become an international league based in England, so it's hardly surprising that the set up behind the England national team is pursuing their own interests with a renewed fervour. They're just doing what they should be doing.

Exactly.

[Olé Olé]

Andy Robertson attended the same primary school as Aiden McGeady did before him. The similarities don't end there as Robertson has a grandparent from the Northwest of Ireland, Leitrim specifically: https://www.oceanfm.ie/2019/06/02/liverpools-champions-league-winner-has-glenfarne-family-connections/

[Eirambler]

St Ninians (Robertson and McGeady's school) is actually our local school just down the road from us. Very strong Irish connection throughout the school, I wonder if we could be doing more to get lads from there and the other Catholic denominational schools in the west of Scotland involved in our setup, or is it just too controversial to be doing that outside of Ireland?

[Olé Olé]

St Ninians (Robertson and McGeady's school) is actually our local school just down the road from us. Very strong Irish connection throughout the school, I wonder if we could be doing more to get lads from there and the other Catholic denominational schools in the west of Scotland involved in our setup, or is it just too controversial to be doing that outside of Ireland?
You will know more than me but are we at the point where it's just third generation that we can attract? And at that, third generation will be more difficult to attract. It would be slightly more incendiary but our resources for such an exercise would be better spent up the North, perhaps?

Things have gone quiet on Mikey Johnston although someone brings it up on YBIG every so often.

[Olé Olé]

https://twitter.com/mikeyjohnston10/status/1130863870858420227?s=19

Although Johnston looks very well wrapped up in a tri-colour.

I know the connection between Celtic and Ireland is strong but it's amazing to think that the tri-colour is still such an important symbol for the club. This lad is a Scottish under 21 international and he's strolling around with an Irish flag on his back and very few eyelids were probably batted in the stadium.

[Diggs246]

You will know more than me but are we at the point where it's just third generation that we can attract? And at that, third generation will be more difficult to attract. It would be slightly more incendiary but our resources for such an exercise would be better spent up the North, perhaps?

Things have gone quiet on Mikey Johnston although someone brings it up on YBIG every so often.

Johnston wasn't named in the Scottish squad and he has a tricolour on him for his Twitter handle pic. But I would guess he will stay with Scotland

[Eirambler]

I'm not actually convinced Johnston is good enough anyway, I could be wrong but I reckon he'll be at somewhere like Motherwell or St Mirren in three years time. We have far better young players coming through.

It's mostly grandparent qualifications here now alright, we'll soon be getting to the stage where it's like Liverpool where a lot of people from an Irish background would be one generation too far back to qualify. My own kid, for example, would only qualify through me (I'm Irish), would be a generation too far back on my wife's side.

The connection is still incredibly strong though and a lot of people around here would be Ireland first and Scotland second when it comes to football despite being born here and having lived all their lives in Scotland. I remember watching two young lads in kilts kicking a football around at a wedding a few years ago so I asked them if they wanted to play for Scotland when they were older. The reply was no, we're going to play for Ireland!

[Diggs246]

I'm not actually convinced Johnston is good enough anyway, I could be wrong but I reckon he'll be at somewhere like Motherwell or St Mirren in three years time. We have far better young players coming through.

It's mostly grandparent qualifications here now alright, we'll soon be getting to the stage where it's like Liverpool where a lot of people from an Irish background would be one generation too far back to qualify. My own kid, for example, would only qualify through me (I'm Irish), would be a generation too far back on my wife's side.



The connection is still incredibly strong though and a lot of people around here would be Ireland first and Scotland second when it comes to football despite being born here and having lived all their lives in Scotland. I remember watching two young lads in kilts kicking a football around at a wedding a few years ago so I asked them if they wanted to play for Scotland when they were older. The reply was no, we're going to play for Ireland!

How bizarre is that though? I assuming the SFA are such bigots that they have scared off the nationalist side of the community?

[Eirambler]

I think, in general, there just isn't that strong a link between Celtic FC and Scotland, and Celtic have a huge hold over Catholics in Glasgow. From my experience most of the Tartan Army would be supporters of non old firm teams. Celtic fans will often have less interest in international football and a lot of them (though not all) would feel more of a connection to the Ireland team than the Scotland one. I think Scotland not qualifying for anything for two decades has an impact as well.

[elatedscum]

The connection is still incredibly strong though and a lot of people around here would be Ireland first and Scotland second when it comes to football despite being born here and having lived all their lives in Scotland. I remember watching two young lads in kilts kicking a football around at a wedding a few years ago so I asked them if they wanted to play for Scotland when they were older. The reply was no, we're going to play for Ireland!

In that context, I wonder what would a young Andy Robertson have wanted? Could use a player of his ability playing for us.

[IsMiseSean]

I had heard of his connection to Mayo before - but hadn't realised he's been involved in any of our underage sides.
http://www.mayonews.ie/sports/33803-conor-tee-s-time-is-set-to-come

[Olé Olé]

He hasn't really featured for our 19s, has he? I think he was in a few 18s squads. He's keen. Mayo have a habit of blowing up their own so I'd be interested to see how he actually is progressing.

[CraftyToePoke]

Asked the question there in their Development Etc thread

- https://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forum/1-leicester-city-forum/

We'll see if I get any sensible replies, that place is usually just noise.

[Olé Olé]

Asked the question there in their Development Etc thread

- https://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forum/1-leicester-city-forum/

We'll see if I get any sensible replies, that place is usually just noise.
Cheers Craft.

It's funny- I have the luxury of being apprehensive on his progression because of the embarrassment of riches we have at that level. I only referenced our abundance of midfielders the other day at that age and Tee didn't come into my mind such was the number of options (Connell, Bolger, Knight, Molumby- though overage for 19s- etc.).

[samhaydenjr]

Asked the question there in their Development Etc thread

- https://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forum/1-leicester-city-forum/

We'll see if I get any sensible replies, that place is usually just noise.

Two responses saying he's well short of the first team and, TBF, that seems about right, considering he only played seven times this season for their U23s (https://int.soccerway.com/players/conor-tee/453844/). I think the Mayo News got a bit over-excited that a teenager with links to Mayo had moved up to U23 level for a recent EPL winner. That said he's still making good progress, having gone from playing 24 games in 16/17 without scoring to banging in 9 in 21 appearances in 17/18. So let's see if he can cement himself and impress in the U23s next season and take it from there in 2020/21

[CraftyToePoke]

Cheers Craft.

It's funny- I have the luxury of being apprehensive on his progression because of the embarrassment of riches we have at that level. I only referenced our abundance of midfielders the other day at that age and Tee didn't come into my mind such was the number of options (Connell, Bolger, Knight, Molumby- though overage for 19s- etc.).


He has been offered a new deal according to this

- https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/meet-10-players-leicester-city-2956893

& 10 players, including a lot of this years u23s have been released.

[Olé Olé]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9267852/man-city-liam-delap-derby-rory/

Reports that Liam Delap, son of Rory, is off for Man City.

[Jolly Red Giant]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9267852/man-city-liam-delap-derby-rory/

Reports that Liam Delap, son of Rory, is off for Man City.
forget about Delap - no way he switches back - and Southgate will cap him if he signs for Man C.

[MancIrishWolf]

Wouldn’t be too sure about that:

And with his parents — John from Letterkenny and Maura from Kells — he had a special Christmas, marvelling at John’s capacity to persuade his boys — aged 10, six and four — to declare their allegiance to Ireland.

“They’ll listen to him quicker than they will me,” laughed Delap. “But you hope the importance of being Irish resonates with them. It meant everything to me growing up. We’ve gone back to the same places I went to when I was a child in Donegal and Meath. They loved it.

"Their granddad has drilled it into them that if they’re any good at anything, it’s Ireland they have to represent. When he said it, they took it all in. So that’s one issue done and dusted then.”

https://www.irishpost.com/sport/rory-delap-carlisle-long-throw-weapon-19520

[Olé Olé]

Cheers for that. 5 years ago too- the lad was surely running laps around everyone at 11. He's faced with a major scenario though in that he's been given the platform for a move to City through his England exposure.

It's a pity his old fella only earned 11 caps. I hadn't realised it was so low. A pity we had so many options when Delap was about. Plenty in midfield. And even when he moved to right back for a bit, he's within a year or two of age of all of Finnan, Kelly and Carr.

[Diggs246]

One point Id like to make in relation to our selection of youth and duel nationality players …. for all the "what would Wales do" people out there

Wales are 2nd last in their group as we speak

[Paddy Garcia]

Apparently McCarthy asked about Karlan Grant of Huddersfield. Not on his radar was the response.

Embarrassment of riches I guess up front ................

[Diggs246]

Apparently McCarthy asked about Karlan Grant of Huddersfield. Not on his radar was the response.

Embarrassment of riches I guess up front ................

Grant doesn't qualify.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/punditarena.com/football/oisinmcqueirns2758/exclusive-no-irish-roots-confirms-talented-frontman-karlan-grant/amp/

[Paddy Garcia]

Grant doesn't qualify.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/punditarena.com/football/oisinmcqueirns2758/exclusive-no-irish-roots-confirms-talented-frontman-karlan-grant/amp/

Thanks

[samhaydenjr]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9267852/man-city-liam-delap-derby-rory/

Reports that Liam Delap, son of Rory, is off for Man City.


forget about Delap - no way he switches back - and Southgate will cap him if he signs for Man C.

I love how we have about a dozen promising young strikers, four or five of whom look like they could be real stars, and yet we still worry that a player like Delap could be "the one that got away". It's like we have this fatalistic view that all the forwards coming through will either flop, have careers blighted by injury, or will defect to England. Of course, Delap will probably now score fifty for England. Well at least it would make playing for England a more challenging prospect for Oko-Flex, should we need him.

[gastric]

I love how we have about a dozen promising young strikers, four or five of whom look like they could be real stars, and yet we still worry that a player like Delap could be "the one that got away". It's like we have this fatalistic view that all the forwards coming through will either flop, have careers blighted by injury, or will defect to England. Of course, Delap will probably now score fifty for England. Well at least it would make playing for England a more challenging prospect for Oko-Flex, should we need him.

It's just that we are a greedy bunch of b. stards who want anyone with any affinity to play in green! No problem with that. ��

[MancIrishWolf]

Could be one to keep an eye on:

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7144851/amp/Leeds-United-ready-make-250K-offer-Carlisle-starlet-Liam-McCarron.html

[Olé Olé]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/keane-only-interested-in-those-committed-to-ireland-38222401.html

Strong words from Robbie. And very strong words on Luca Connell- "I'm telling you tight now, he'll play for us" and "I guarantee you 100% he is desperate to play for Ireland."

[Diggs246]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/keane-only-interested-in-those-committed-to-ireland-38222401.html

Strong words from Robbie. And very strong words on Luca Connell- "I'm telling you tight now, he'll play for us" and "I guarantee you 100% he is desperate to play for Ireland."

He is right about the chasing it's not the way to do business.

're luca. Once someone says "100%" in any debate. I start to lose confidence in their views

[mark12345]

He is right about the chasing it's not the way to do business.

're luca. Once someone says "100%" in any debate. I start to lose confidence in their views

That's why I always say 110%

[Olé Olé]

https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/1140212685059047425?s=19
FAI leaving it all on the line for Kavanagh and his boy. Love it.

[DeLorean]

Strong words from Robbie. And very strong words on Luca Connell- "I'm telling you tight now, he'll play for us" and "I guarantee you 100% he is desperate to play for Ireland."

I haven't heard such bullishness since, well...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqViL74QCPc

[elatedscum]

Based on current form Curtis Davies would be a nice addition.
Naughton is a right back and not in the league of Coleman but maybe could do a job at left full?
Wickham i don't rate and we've loads of decent but not great strikers
Noble - better than Gibson/McCarhty? Not really
Harry Kane - don't know enough about him but stats are underwhelming
Bamford looks like a rising star so he would be one to chase, especially since he represented us before
Redmond - he's under Chris Hughton so very possible he could make a move
The Keanes - i really think they're set on England. There was plenty of furore before so i don't see either of them coming to us
Callum McManaman: Same story as Kane for me

That Harry Kane's stats are awful

[Olé Olé]

That Harry Kane's stats are awful
And of the Keanes that were set on England, we ended up with Will.

[Bungle]

https://ulsterherald.com/2019/06/22/sweet-16-is-dream-birthday-for-liverpool-bound-conor/

Could be the next border dispute😀

[tetsujin1979]

Louie Barry offered a three year contract by West Brom on his sixteenth birthday, amid rumours of a move to Barcelona: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11698/11746791/west-brom-offer-louie-barry-deal-amid-barcelona-interest