Potentially eligible players thread

[Diggs246]

We had better players then delap at the time or at least arguably better player anyway

It was people like Wes been looked over, that was criminal

[ColourfulPeanut]

rJdzHJttZi0

Ryan Johansson interview here. He says it's still all up in the air and he's unsure if he's eligible for Ireland and most importantly no final papers filed or anything.

Under the new rule, he's now eligible of Ireland is that correct? Anyway to get this to someone in the FAI to get them to get the ball rolling again to see where we are?

Discussion starts at 8:25, but whole interview is great. Seems like a good lad. Interestingly too, he doesn't speak fluent Swedish.

[Olé Olé]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=rJdzHJttZi0

Ryan Johansson interview here. He says it's still all up in the air and he's unsure if he's eligible for Ireland and most importantly no final papers filed or anything.

Under the new rule, he's now eligible of Ireland is that correct? Anyway to get this to someone in the FAI to get them to get the ball rolling again to see where we are?

Discussion starts at 8:25, but whole interview is great. Seems like a good lad. Interestingly too, he doesn't speak fluent Swedish.

That's really interesting. We know he was close to committing to us but couldn't due to spanner that was thrown into the works. He's very clear in saying he's not finalized a switch to any nation and would happily represent all three if he could. You would really hope that if his eligibility issues were resolved for us then we would be the most likely. That said, Luxembourg are really starting to improve. They have a squad comprising of players in the Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga and top divisions in Belgium, Portugal and Ukraine.

All in all, I'm just relieved that he hasn't completed the switch to Sweden and we are still in the race.

[Eirambler]

He is eligible now. He wasn't eligible the last time he tried to pursue the paperwork. I haven't heard much about him in the last year of so, possibly because he has been considered to be Swedish now, so no focus on him from Irish Abroad, Kenny's Kids etc. which is understandable. I take it he isn't anywhere near the Sevilla first team? Reasonable to suggest that Luxembourg might be a more realistic option in terms of senior caps as they would be considered the weakest of the three sides he has been linked to? He's also eligible for England I think.

[Olé Olé]

He is eligible now. He wasn't eligible the last time he tried to pursue the paperwork. I haven't heard much about him in the last year of so, possibly because he has been considered to be Swedish now, so no focus on him from Irish Abroad, Kenny's Kids etc. which is understandable. I take it he isn't anywhere near the Sevilla first team? Reasonable to suggest that Luxembourg might be a more realistic option in terms of senior caps as they would be considered the weakest of the three sides he has been linked to? He's also eligible for England I think.

Are you absolutely sure he is eligible now because the lad himself isn't even sure?

[Eirambler]

Well I can only go off the FIFA document that was published a few months ago, but it confirmed that a player no longer needs to have already held the nationality they're looking to change to (Ireland) at the time they represented their previous nation (Luxembourg) at underage level. So the bit of fine print that snookered him before has been removed.

That means that as long as he hasn't formally switched to Sweden he should be fine to switch to us. But only if he actually wants to obviously. He seemed unsure in that interview.

There might be an argument in Ryan's case that he should just skip underage football altogether and commit to one country when he's older. The next move he makes is important because there's no going back after that. I'd hate to see him commit to us or Sweden only for it to turn out he's not good enough for that level but would have been good enough for Luxembourg. He seems like a nice lad and you'd kind of just want him to do well either way. The fact that Ireland, Sweden and Luxembourg have all ended up in the same qualifying group again for the Under 21s won't be making this any easier for him.

[Diggs246]

"That means that as long as he hasn't formally switched to Sweden"

I thought he had switched???

[Eirambler]

He says in the video a few posts up that he hasn't.

[tetsujin1979]

"That means that as long as he hasn't formally switched to Sweden"

I thought he had switched???

He certainly said he was going to play for Sweden, but he might not have completed the paperwork yet. The doubts about his eligibility arose around August 2019 - https://www.the42.ie/ryan-johansson-mick-mccarthy-ireland-4769836-Aug2019/ - but Sweden's U21s have only played six times since then due to the pandemic, and he hasn't be included in any of the squads that I can find.

[Diggs246]

so the question now is, why doesn't he jump on board? get filing those docs etc

[Olé Olé]

The optimist in me is screaming that he must be assessing the rule change and its impact on his eligibility for Ireland and that if he can resolve this and establish his eligibility that he will re-commence the process of getting on board with us.

That is all optimistic. But I am drawing from the fact that it was more or less announced that he would be commencing the process of throwing his lot in with Sweden but he has seemingly rowed back from that per the video. That is interesting.

[ColourfulPeanut]

He certainly said he was going to play for Sweden, but he might not have completed the paperwork yet. The doubts about his eligibility arose around August 2019 - https://www.the42.ie/ryan-johansson-mick-mccarthy-ireland-4769836-Aug2019/ - but Sweden's U21s have only played six times since then due to the pandemic, and he hasn't be included in any of the squads that I can find.
He said in the video today that he hasn't done any paperwork for switching and was undecided. The only country he can play for now without paperwork is Luxembourg and even if he does play with them, he can have his one switch at a later date.

[Diggs246]

Is he playing at all do we know? And if so how is he doing

[Eirambler]

I had a look yesterday - he was a regular for Sevilla B before Christmas. They play in the Spanish third tier, which has about a hundred teams in it and is divided up regionally. He got injured in December and has been out since.

[DCWA]

Liam Hughes on bench for Liverpool ex Celtic u21 for the north, gettable surely

[Colbert Report]

I'm not sure why he'd want to make the switch. We have Kelleher (22) and Bazunu (19) just coming into the first team picture.

[DCWA]

It was a little bit tongue in cheek to be honest just because he was named on their bench I know nothing about him really and was going basically on a name as you say we have a couole if potentially very fine keepers of a similar age profile who on the face of it are streets ahead if him anyway.

[ColourfulPeanut]

Rumblings Nathan Redmond is one of many English players declaring for Jamaica.

https://twitter.com/chrisbowerbank/status/1367086193939271683?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5 Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1367086193939271683%7Ctwgr% 5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fversus.uk.com%2F2021%2F03%2F mason-holgate-demarai-gray-ivan-toney-soon-join-jamaicas-national-team%2F

I suppose he doesn't really care about who he plays with as long as there's a chance at a World Cup, which Jamaica definitely do. More so than us anyway.

All of them would be a great coup for Jamaica. Although I can't see them travelling half way around to world to play in games outside the WC window.

[Diggs246]

What a whore. I'm so happy he didnt play for us

[Bielsa´s irish]

What a whore. I'm so happy he didnt play for us

doesnt seem plausible, so lets chill out, man

[elatedscum]

I’d be fairly sceptical

[Olé Olé]

I don't buy that. Jamaica have had very little success in attracting English born players over the years. And isn't Redmond the surname of Nathan's mother of Irish parents? I would have thought he'd be plumping for Ireland, if anyone other than England.

[CraftyToePoke]

I’d be fairly sceptical

I'd be similar, particularly Ivan Toney, very likely to have England telling him he's on their radar. They might be all getting passports, but that's not the same as declaring outright even if they are giving themselves an option down the line. Of course if they all declared then WC qualification becomes very likely and good luck to Jamaica if they swing that.

[tetsujin1979]

Stephen Ireland's son Joshua is on the bench for Stoke U18s today: https://www.premierleague.com/match/61760/u18-premier-league/2020-21/man-city-v-stoke

[seanfhear]

Stephen Ireland's son Joshua is on the bench for Stoke U18s today: https://www.premierleague.com/match/61760/u18-premier-league/2020-21/man-city-v-stoke
Does he have any interest in playing for the Republic of Ireland ?

[tetsujin1979]

Not that I'm aware of, and he's already been in the England U15 squad - https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stephen-ireland-son-josh-stoke-2546266

[Razors left peg]

Not that I'm aware of, and he's already been in the England U15 squad - https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stephen-ireland-son-josh-stoke-2546266

Im sure theres a Granny Rule joke to be made there.... but Im far too high brow to go there!

[elatedscum]

Does he have any interest in playing for the Republic of Ireland ?

Not that it would necessarily mean anything but as far as I’m aware, was born in ireland, both biological parents are irish too

[Olé Olé]

Not that it would necessarily mean anything but as far as I’m aware, was born in ireland, both biological parents are irish too

Funnily enough the same factset applied for his aul lad and he had no interest playing for us either!

[elatedscum]

Funnily enough the same factset applied for his aul lad and he had no interest playing for us either!

I was more thinking different to another current English underage player who is also the son of another ex-Stoke ireland international

[Razors left peg]

Callum O'Hare is not eligible for us according to Kenny. His Irishness is through Great Grandfather.

[Eirambler]

That's a shame, but good to clear it up all the same.

[Olé Olé]

Callum O'Hare is not eligible for us according to Kenny. His Irishness is through Great Grandfather.

That's mad. With a father called Sean O'Hare, a champion Irish dancing sister and a history of playing gaelic football you'd have assumed he was a certainty to be eligible.

[Diggs246]

doesnt seem plausible, so lets chill out, man

According to the other Serbia match thread from the Q&A today with kenny.. nathan Redmond doesn't even qualify for Ireland!!!. I'd like to take back everything I said about him over the last 2 years, as the man is clearly mentally ill

[seanfhear]

That's mad. With a father called Sean O'Hare, a champion Irish dancing sister and a history of playing gaelic football you'd have assumed he was a certainty to be eligible.
FIFA need to have another look at the qualification criteria (wink)

[Demesne Lad]

Not sure in which thread to pose this question, but here goes: Who was the last player to qualify and play for the Republic of Ireland on the basis of naturalisation rather than eligible by descent?

[pineapple stu]

As in, because they were living here long enough?

Not sure I can think of anyone really. That tends to benefit nations with strong domestic leagues.

[ColourfulPeanut]

Not sure in which thread to pose this question, but here goes: Who was the last player to qualify and play for the Republic of Ireland on the basis of naturalisation rather than eligible by descent?
Chiedozie Ogbene would be an instance of this should he be capped, he was born in Nigeria and moved to Ireland when he was 8. No others come to mind. Most are either born here or have parents/grandparents.

[tetsujin1979]

Hondermarck would be the same - born in France, raised in Dublin

[John83]

We've only really become a nation of immigrants rather than emigrants in recent decades. (Whoever decided how many m's should be in those words deserves a paddling.) I'd guess it may never have happened until recently. You see a few kids of African immigrants playing for us now; probably there are Poles and the like in contention too, though I guess children of immigrants are a good bit more common than immigrant children.

As PS said above, adults moving here and then naturalising is rather unlikely. They'd have to play LoI and later on make it at a higher level. If the LoI were stronger (and richer, if that's not all but the same thing in football), that would become much more likely.

The rubgy crowd have attracted a few that way. The difference is that they have relatively wealthy league teams who can attract and retain players of the required standard.

[elatedscum]

.
The rubgy crowd have attracted a few that way. The difference is that they have relatively wealthy league teams who can attract and retain players of the required standard.

Also, you are (or were) able to cap someone in rugby before they got their passport. You just needed 3 years of residency. Rather than the 5 you’d need to normally be naturalised.

[tetsujin1979]

Also, you are (or were) able to cap someone in rugby before they got their passport. You just needed 3 years of residency. Rather than the 5 you’d need to normally be naturalised.

The rule was extended to five years in 2017, and was supposed to come into effect on New Year's Day this year, but has been delayed until the end of the year: https://www.ultimaterugby.com/news/residency-rule-change-controversially-delayed/629005

[RiffRaff]

Not sure in which thread to pose this question, but here goes: Who was the last player to qualify and play for the Republic of Ireland on the basis of naturalisation rather than eligible by descent?

Peter Thomas is the only example i can think of. There was talk of Dundalk goalie Richie Blackmore getting Irish citizenship in the late 70's when we had only 3 or 4 goalie's on the books of full time clubs but it never happened

[Fizzer]

Conor Wickham is on the bench today for Palace, still only 27, a talented forward but made of glass....so he’d fit right in.

[tetsujin1979]

Conor Gallagher named in England's U21 squad for the European Championships: https://www.thefa.com/news/2021/mar/15/england-mens-under-21-squad-named-for-euro-group-stage-20210315

[Eirambler]

Conor Gallagher named in England's U21 squad for the European Championships: https://www.thefa.com/news/2021/mar/15/england-mens-under-21-squad-named-for-euro-group-stage-20210315

He is 21 now, so I'm fairly sure that means that if he makes an appearance at the tournament he will then be eligible for England only.

I'd say there are a few dual nationals in that squad that will be tied to England after the tournament that will probably never go on to have much of a senior international career as a result (unless the rules are changed yet again).

Incidentally is there a single player in that under 21 squad that wouldn't currently make our senior squad if eligible and interested?

[Olé Olé]

He is 21 now, so I'm fairly sure that means that if he makes an appearance at the tournament he will then be eligible for England only.

Incidentally is there a single player in that under 21 squad that wouldn't currently make our senior squad if eligible and interested?
Josh Griffiths on loan at Cheltenham Town maybe? That's about it though!

Ben Wilmot is in there and is also eligible for Ireland and was close to declaring until he got an England call a few years back.

[ColourfulPeanut]

He is 21 now, so I'm fairly sure that means that if he makes an appearance at the tournament he will then be eligible for England only.

I'd say there are a few dual nationals in that squad that will be tied to England after the tournament that will probably never go on to have much of a senior international career as a result (unless the rules are changed yet again).

Is that rule any international appearance over the age of 21 or just senior appearance? I could have sworn the 21 year old thing was related to senior internationals?

[Bielsa´s irish]

senior apparences I believe it was Munir case

[Eirambler]

Is that rule any international appearance over the age of 21 or just senior appearance? I could have sworn the 21 year old thing was related to senior internationals?

I believe it covers competitive games at underage level as well. Because most underage competitions are for players younger than 21 it only really comes in to play for Under 21 qualifiers and finals games. There was a clarification that it wouldn't be backdated before last September but for games from now on it applies.