Jack Grealish

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I don't know how anything that happened at the FAI awards changes circumstances.

Do they honestly expect the boy to say "thanks for the award and oh yeah i am playing for England if they want me".

His body language, what he said.... it wasn't a firm committal. It was politeness. We are still in the hunt. No need to go running to the hills.

They were singing along to The Dubliners were they? That's what everyone does when they go to Ireland. The amount of American celebrities I seen singing along and enjoying themselves at trad sessions when i was a barman in a well known tourist town.

[Charlie Darwin]

Well he could have asked to be withdrawn from the running for the award, like Stephen Ireland did.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

And what Dunphy is saying is, frankly, moronic.

The boy was called up to at least two senior squads and declined.

What are O'Neill & Keane supposed to do? Don't put this on them. He is a grown man and can make his own decision.

Frankly, I would probably start him against Scotland but who is to say he would accept a call up?

Early next season is the earliest he
Will make a decision, isn't it?

And another thing. Grealish "confirmed that he would be taking a year out with King". Nobody must have had the courtesy to tell O'Neill & Keane so judging by all of their media comments.

[Stuttgart88]

The parents of Jack's Irish grandparents (the ones from Kerry and Galway?) are English?

That's what he said. Great grandfather played for Villa.

[TrapAPony]

That's what he said. Great grandfather played for Villa.

Jack's great-great grandfather played for Villa and he is related on his mother's side obviously through his mother's mother.

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-1905-fa-cup-9067929

[SkStu]

reminds me of Damien Duff in this one... ;)

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03273/jack-grealish_3273791b.jpg

[DeLorean]

JACK GREALISH.. THE STORY THAT CAN'T BE IGNORED
(https://stadium.aviva.ie/aviva-stadium-experiences/fan-blog/jack-grealish-the-story-that-cant-be-ignored/)
Daniel McDonnell - Aviva Soccer Writer

It is the story that cannot be ignored.

Last September, this writer argued that Jack Grealish needed time and space to consider his international future. Putting pressure on him risked a fatigue that can be counterproductive.

When the teenager drew attention to the Irish situation himself with a couple of vague shamrock-laden tweets and later hinted via social media that he was none too impressed with Paul Lambert’s selection policy, it bred the suspicion that the eminently marketable poster boy enjoyed a bit of publicity. This polarised opinions with a number of current and ex pros giving the impression they were a bit unsure about the Aston Villa teenager.

The comments of Martin O’Neill over the past year would suggest he was in that category, most recently last Thursday when he argued that the player wouldn’t be ready for the rigours of June’s Euro 2016 qualifier with Scotland if he made himself available. Remember, as it stands, Grealish is on a self imposed international break until September.

Then, Sunday happened, a composed performance at Wembley with a role in the two goals that booked Aston Villa’s place in the FA Cup final at the expense of Liverpool. Instantly, it has altered a perception.

Tim Sherwood’s arrival in Birmingham has given Grealish the platform he desired – he responded with a cheeky ‘About time’ when he was told his full debut was imminent – and crucially the player has demonstrated that the hype existed for a reason.

One game does not make a career, but the attributes he showcased backed up the belief that he could be a special talent.

Inevitably, it brought his international intentions back to the top of the agenda, with the English media now intrigued by an individual that has generated massive column inches in these parts because so few talented cubs are knocking on the door.

The Daily Mail wrote that the FA needed to get on the case as it had ‘emerged’ that Grealish had met with Martin O’Neill; this news had emerged in Ireland last August so it was not a new development. What we do know is that England have made advances to Grealish and his father and are desperately trying to get him to switch his allegiance.

The crucial word here is switch. As it stands, Grealish is an Irish player. He’s worn the green jersey through the underage ranks and said last month that he was hoping to come back in September after three generations of the family were present at the FAI awards in Donnybrook.

The winger with a playmaking streak has made friends in the Irish set-up and it is too simplistic to assume that a call from England would make him drop everything and defect; that’s actually quite insulting and underestimates the fact that he’s rejected approaches before now.

He did pass up an opportunity to train with the Irish senior group last year, a decision that illustrated that he was mulling over his options and caused panic and indeed outrage in certain quarters.

The melodrama is unfair as it appears that Grealish is genuinely confused about his next move; his colleague Shay Given said as much on Newstalk on Monday night. Given painted a picture of a young man who is in two minds about a big decision that will have a major impact on the rest of his career.

One school of thought is that O’Neill should force the issue by calling the 19-year-old into his squad for the summer but the fact that the first game of the June double header is against England complicates that scenario; the Derryman would have to name his squad in the middle of May during the run-up to the FA Cup final and Aston Villa wouldn’t be best pleased about the circus that would create. That’s understandable.

Behind the scenes, Ireland have work to do but this would be an inappropriate juncture for an over the top public gesture. It’s hard to preach calm after such an exciting display, but the FAI still have reason to be confident they will get their man even if they have to wait a while. And what is abundantly clear is that Grealish is worth waiting for.

[Olé Olé]

Jack's great-great grandfather played for Villa and he is related on his mother's side obviously through his mother's mother.

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-1905-fa-cup-9067929

So, yeah- 3 Irish grandparents out of 4. And to complicate matters further, the one strand of English blood he has (his maternal grandmother, Sylvia) directly descends from a former England international!

Miguel Delaney spoke well on the Second Captains podcast from Monday. He spoke about the complexity of the dual-national's identity that DI often refers to, stating that Grealish may be struggling to figure out whether he feels more English or Irish and he may even feel equally English and Irish.

Just on an aside, on the basis of the performance against Liverpool, I'd love to see him in the squad to face Scotland. It would add an extra spark. The reception he'd get off us in the Aviva would be immense also. Some may argue it's unfair to parachute him in and MON did state that he wouldn't be ready. But MON stated that before Grealish was instrumental in his club winning an FA Cup semi-final and before it was likely that Grealish would be starting an FA Cup final in a, possibly, full house in Wembley.

[Charlie Darwin]

So, yeah- 3 Irish grandparents out of 4.
Are we sure it's just the four grandparents he has? I mean we've been here before...

[Olé Olé]

Are we sure it's just the four grandparents he has? I mean we've been here before...

Well, we did find out he isn't related to Tony Grealish. Tony Cascarino on the other hand...

[jbyrne]

I did read MO'N comments about him not being ready for the Scotland game but I'd argue that bossing a semi final at Wembley is a bigger occasion than a qualifier vs Scotland. If he can cope with Wembley he can cope with anything.


I doubt MON even believes that himself. instead MON probably knows that the player wont make himself available in June and is instead protecting Grealish from the inevitable media / fans backlash if he was picked in the squad only to pull out. there is no way the MON doesn't at least see some benefit of having him in the June squad even if he wouldn't plan to start him

[gastric]

Now that Jack seems to be returning to us in September, let's concentrate on getting Crowley, Callum Wilson and Bamford on board. Martin has mentioned leaving a legacy of young players when he departs, these are worth pursuing now.

[DeLorean]

I think the Ireland Scotland game will be a far more intense occasion than the FA Cup semi final anyway. I'm not saying he's not ready or anything, just that I don't think being able to handle one necessarily means you're ready for the other. In a sense there was little or no pressure on Villa on Sunday. They were massive underdogs and the FA Cup was seen as very much their secondary concern anyway. They're full of confidence under Sherwood and they knew they had freedom to go and express themselves, to borrow an overused cliché. Added to that, they were playing against a team that seemed to have the weight of the world on their shoulders. I couldn't believe how bad Liverpool were, it was like they thought there was a second leg at Anfield to come, such was their lack of desire and urgency.

The Scotland game in Glasgow was a much more tense affair and Dublin should be even worse, given the importance. The McGeady/McCarthy element has added a bit of bitterness and resentment. Most importantly though, this is a must win game for Ireland. It's nothing like Villa's situation. Any mistake could be almost fatal, just ask Robbie Brady! Maybe it would be just what we need to have a cocky kid with a bit of flair and no fear, but I don't think we're comparing like for like when it's been said that he can do it anywhere if he can do it at Wembley. It's not going to happen anyway so we might as well be patient until September when hopefully he'll get and accept a call up for the Gibraltar/Georgia games. England playing San Marino in September, incidentally, so they might see that as an ideal start for him also!

[DeLorean]

Now it's an issue :D....


Abolish the crazy rules that allow Jack Grealish to play for the Republic of Ireland
(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-3049357/Abolish-crazy-rules-allow-Jack-Grealish-play-Republic-Ireland.html)


Birmingham-born Jack Grealish qualifies for Ireland through grandparents
Grealish was called up by England at 15 but illness prevented him playing
Ireland, who have a scout to find qualified players, came in for him at 17
UEFA should have a panel to consider the status of players who are not representing the country of their birth


By Martin Samuel - Sport for the Daily Mail


Not many people had seen Jack Grealish play before Sunday, so even fewer had heard him speak. When he did, he sounded like Ozzy Osbourne. Not as broad maybe but he was, unmistakably, from Birmingham. So is his father, Kevin.

As a boy, Jack would play football in the car park of the New Aston Social Club, where Kevin and other family members drank after Villa games. Kevin was present when the club won the European Cup.

Grealish was called up by England at 15 but was sent home after falling ill. He was later named in an Under 17 squad but by then it was too late. He was already playing for Ireland.

That was partly through his grandparents on his father's side and also because the Irish employ a scout called Mark O'Toole, whose job it is to sweep up the best young players qualified to play for Ireland. That's not the same as sweeping up the best young Irish players.

Ireland were into Grealish early, at 14, and since then he has represented them at Under 17, Under 18 and Under 21 levels. Recently there have been mixed messages. Receiving the award for Ireland's Under 21 player of the year — despite making only two appearances — he said 'hopefully' he would be back in the green jersey next year.

He had taken close to a season out of international football to concentrate on breaking into the Aston Villa team. The England Under 21 manager, Gareth Southgate, was encouraged by this hiatus.

Roy Hodgson's attitude is that players should want to play for England and he may be in no mood for romantic overtures, despite Grealish's obvious talent. Rightly so.

The Football Association's pursuit of Adnan Januzaj was unedifying, misguided and ended in rejection anyway. Better to have allowed the player to decide rather than make a sales pitch.

Grealish has until now preferred to be with the group of teenagers who have accompanied him through his formative years in international football, and if that makes him feel more Irish than English culturally, that is his choice.

This is not about the player, then, but the process. Grealish can be Irish if he wants, the rules say so — but are the rules still relevant? Is it right that O'Toole should be able to act as a club scout in the international game, exploiting outdated regulations around nationality to sign up teenage schoolchildren for Ireland?

The rules were intended to help those without a choice — unable to play for their country of birth, but good enough to represent that of their ancestors. Andy Townsend, born in Maidstone, wasn't regarded highly by those in charge of England but was considered good enough to play for Ireland 70 times, through his Irish grandmother. Good luck to him — England's loss was Ireland's gain.

But Grealish's situation isn't like that. The rules as applied in his case do not combat the absence of choice, they offer more choice, where none is necessary.
Grealish would have long been around the England age group teams by now. He would certainly be in next season's Under 21 team, if he wasn't already heading to the European Under 21 Championship in the summer or to the Toulon Under 20 tournament.

So while Ireland haven't broken any rules, they are certainly making the most of them. Their last Under 21 squad — which did not include Grealish — was made up of 21 players, 11 of whom were not born in Ireland. That cannot be right. It is not fair on those within Ireland's club youth system. It is time for change.

We live in an era of globalisation, of migration, foreign travel and employment abroad. As borders break down or blur, more young athletes will qualify for multiple nations.

Januzaj is the perfect example. His father was from Kosovo meaning he could play for Serbia, his mother Albanian, he has Turkish grandparents, was born in Belgium and has lived in England since the age of 16.

As the planet shrinks more players will have these options.

So is it right that a national association operates as clubs do, recruiting the best young players in what is increasingly a free market. How long before there are secret inducements, promises, before agents are involved?

What if a sharp figure with good connections said he could 'get' Grealish for England, that he had the ear of the player and his family, but would want his expenses covered and maybe a bit extra? Far-fetched? Today's era of the super-agents would also have seemed that way had it been described to those who fought for the abolition of the maximum wage in the 1960s.

For who will benefit, long term, if not the wealthiest associations? Ireland may win over Grealish but imagine the howls if the positions were reversed: if the FA stepped in to entice a young Irish footballer, with a Brummie grandfather, to switch sides?

It only requires an unscrupulous regime seeking victory at all costs. This is what happens if we take the nationalism out of national sport, if we make it too easy to pick up or abandon allegiance. It should be resolved at confederation level.

UEFA should have a panel that sits to consider the status of any player who is not representing the country of his birth. Some cases would go on the tick, taking seconds. Nobody thought Singapore had much claim to Terry Butcher, for instance, just because his father was a signalman in the Royal Navy and he spent the first two years of his life there.

And there would be little objection to a player such as Townsend, who was 25 when he got his first Ireland call-up, at a time when it was obvious he was unwanted by England.

It is different for players like Grealish, who turned his back on England before he was old enough to sit a GCSE. This wasn't opportunity; it was opportunism. Unnecessary and wrong and all too predictably destined to end in this unsightly tug of war.

[Olé Olé]

I doubt MON even believes that himself. instead MON probably knows that the player wont make himself available in June and is instead protecting Grealish from the inevitable media / fans backlash if he was picked in the squad only to pull out. there is no way the MON doesn't at least see some benefit of having him in the June squad even if he wouldn't plan to start him

All I'd say is, if he wants to play for us in September against Georgia and Gibraltar, then wouldn't he relish Scotland at home in June? It would be after the end of the season, the season in which he has come a qualified way in achieving what the sabbatical was intended to contribute to i.e. establishing himself in the Villa side.

I just hope that MON makes the approach. We could do with the extra spark and excitement that having Grealish in the squad would bring.

[Olé Olé]

That Daily Mail article is funny. It ignores any Irish identity that Grealish has inherited from his 3 grandparents e.g. his keen interest in Gaelic Football. Instead, it makes it seem as though Grealish was snapped up against his own will and our coercion means he can't play for England now, even though he's English as the Queen.

[gastric]

Now it's an issue :D....


Abolish the crazy rules that allow Jack Grealish to play for the Republic of Ireland
(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-3049357/Abolish-crazy-rules-allow-Jack-Grealish-play-Republic-Ireland.html)


Birmingham-born Jack Grealish qualifies for Ireland through grandparents
Grealish was called up by England at 15 but illness prevented him playing
Ireland, who have a scout to find qualified players, came in for him at 17
UEFA should have a panel to consider the status of players who are not representing the country of their birth


By Martin Samuel - Sport for the Daily Mail


Not many people had seen Jack Grealish play before Sunday, so even fewer had heard him speak. When he did, he sounded like Ozzy Osbourne. Not as broad maybe but he was, unmistakably, from Birmingham. So is his father, Kevin.

As a boy, Jack would play football in the car park of the New Aston Social Club, where Kevin and other family members drank after Villa games. Kevin was present when the club won the European Cup.

Grealish was called up by England at 15 but was sent home after falling ill. He was later named in an Under 17 squad but by then it was too late. He was already playing for Ireland.

That was partly through his grandparents on his father's side and also because the Irish employ a scout called Mark O'Toole, whose job it is to sweep up the best young players qualified to play for Ireland. That's not the same as sweeping up the best young Irish players.

Ireland were into Grealish early, at 14, and since then he has represented them at Under 17, Under 18 and Under 21 levels. Recently there have been mixed messages. Receiving the award for Ireland's Under 21 player of the year — despite making only two appearances — he said 'hopefully' he would be back in the green jersey next year.

He had taken close to a season out of international football to concentrate on breaking into the Aston Villa team. The England Under 21 manager, Gareth Southgate, was encouraged by this hiatus.

Roy Hodgson's attitude is that players should want to play for England and he may be in no mood for romantic overtures, despite Grealish's obvious talent. Rightly so.

The Football Association's pursuit of Adnan Januzaj was unedifying, misguided and ended in rejection anyway. Better to have allowed the player to decide rather than make a sales pitch.

Grealish has until now preferred to be with the group of teenagers who have accompanied him through his formative years in international football, and if that makes him feel more Irish than English culturally, that is his choice.

This is not about the player, then, but the process. Grealish can be Irish if he wants, the rules say so — but are the rules still relevant? Is it right that O'Toole should be able to act as a club scout in the international game, exploiting outdated regulations around nationality to sign up teenage schoolchildren for Ireland?

The rules were intended to help those without a choice — unable to play for their country of birth, but good enough to represent that of their ancestors. Andy Townsend, born in Maidstone, wasn't regarded highly by those in charge of England but was considered good enough to play for Ireland 70 times, through his Irish grandmother. Good luck to him — England's loss was Ireland's gain.

But Grealish's situation isn't like that. The rules as applied in his case do not combat the absence of choice, they offer more choice, where none is necessary.
Grealish would have long been around the England age group teams by now. He would certainly be in next season's Under 21 team, if he wasn't already heading to the European Under 21 Championship in the summer or to the Toulon Under 20 tournament.

So while Ireland haven't broken any rules, they are certainly making the most of them. Their last Under 21 squad — which did not include Grealish — was made up of 21 players, 11 of whom were not born in Ireland. That cannot be right. It is not fair on those within Ireland's club youth system. It is time for change.

We live in an era of globalisation, of migration, foreign travel and employment abroad. As borders break down or blur, more young athletes will qualify for multiple nations.

Januzaj is the perfect example. His father was from Kosovo meaning he could play for Serbia, his mother Albanian, he has Turkish grandparents, was born in Belgium and has lived in England since the age of 16.

As the planet shrinks more players will have these options.

So is it right that a national association operates as clubs do, recruiting the best young players in what is increasingly a free market. How long before there are secret inducements, promises, before agents are involved?

What if a sharp figure with good connections said he could 'get' Grealish for England, that he had the ear of the player and his family, but would want his expenses covered and maybe a bit extra? Far-fetched? Today's era of the super-agents would also have seemed that way had it been described to those who fought for the abolition of the maximum wage in the 1960s.

For who will benefit, long term, if not the wealthiest associations? Ireland may win over Grealish but imagine the howls if the positions were reversed: if the FA stepped in to entice a young Irish footballer, with a Brummie grandfather, to switch sides?

It only requires an unscrupulous regime seeking victory at all costs. This is what happens if we take the nationalism out of national sport, if we make it too easy to pick up or abandon allegiance. It should be resolved at confederation level.

UEFA should have a panel that sits to consider the status of any player who is not representing the country of his birth. Some cases would go on the tick, taking seconds. Nobody thought Singapore had much claim to Terry Butcher, for instance, just because his father was a signalman in the Royal Navy and he spent the first two years of his life there.

And there would be little objection to a player such as Townsend, who was 25 when he got his first Ireland call-up, at a time when it was obvious he was unwanted by England.

It is different for players like Grealish, who turned his back on England before he was old enough to sit a GCSE. This wasn't opportunity; it was opportunism. Unnecessary and wrong and all too predictably destined to end in this unsightly tug of war.

So personal choice should be removed and the FAI are the baddies. God bless Martin!

[jbyrne]

the English are gas. they plunder other countries rugby players and cricket players all the time. their rugby team takes advantage of a rule in rugby which strongly favours the bigger nations with their professional leagues over those countries who don't (so do we btw and its wrong)

[DeLorean]

So personal choice should be removed and the FAI are the baddies. God bless Martin!

I think he's suggesting we do the honourable thing and wait until Grealish is 25 before we make another approach. If England haven't used him by then we can have him. Can't get any fairer than that.

[Stuttgart88]

His dad says he'll play for our U21s in September but leaves issue of senior team choice up in the air.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2015/0422/695872-grealish-will-play-for-irish-under-21s-says-dad/

[the doc]

Firstly I thought the Jacky played well in Sunday.

Now let's get onto the international issue, are we all missing something here?

Wrap it up anyway you want but if your hearts with Ireland and you've always wanted to play for Ireland, then there should be no question about who you will opt to play for.

We are talking about a lad with some potential, there have been other games recently where he's looked average, but that's what you get with young players.

I hope he does well, but just don't care for the way he's going about the international issue.

[DannyInvincible]

Wrap it up anyway you want but if your hearts with Ireland and you've always wanted to play for Ireland, then there should be no question about who you will opt to play for.

Not even if you're a dual national with split loyalties? Do you seriously expect a lad who was born in Birmingham to two England-born parents to feel 100 per cent Irish/committed to Ireland?


I hope he does well, but just don't care for the way he's going about the international issue.

I thought you'd understand all about dual eligiblity after you were urging (via fear mongering) the FAI to select St. Ledger a few years ago before he potentially opted for NI and was lost for good.

[gastric]

Firstly I thought the Jacky played well in Sunday.

Now let's get onto the international issue, are we all missing something here?

Wrap it up anyway you want but if your hearts with Ireland and you've always wanted to play for Ireland, then there should be no question about who you will opt to play for.

We are talking about a lad with some potential, there have been other games recently where he's looked average, but that's what you get with young players.

I hope he does well, but just don't care for the way he's going about the international issue.

Reading between the lines, I believe Jack's heart is with Ireland. But the dilemma he is facing is possibly an agent telling him he could be the next Rooney and make millions more if he played for a high profile country like England and be able to play in more World Cups. The dilemma he faces is one of head over heart if anything.

[DannyInvincible]

Dunphy's comments are reliably ill-informed: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/eamon-dunphy-irish-management-have-disrespected-jack-grealish-and-england-could-swoop-31161016.html


RTE pundit Eamon Dunphy says Ireland need to move quick to secure the services of the player and questioned statements made by the Ireland management team.

"Roy Keane made a cutting remark about Grealish's father a couple of months ago, which is really dumb, and Martin O’Neill talked about the Scotland game being too big for him and didn’t seem too keen on him there on Thursday or Friday [last week]," he said on 2FM's Game On show last night.

"We need to be respectful of him and his family. They [the Ireland management] haven’t been and it’s ugly to watch.”

“We’re really making a really stupid mistake. He’s going to be a really top class player; he is now.

“He’s a very a very good young player and we need him.

“The fans deserve people responsible for decisions to be making good decisions. He should be in the Ireland squad for the Scotland game and he’s a contender to play. He played really well the other day."

Dunphy added that the failure to respect the Villa teenager could push Grealish towards declaring for England

“It seems to me that’s [respect] lacking," he said. "And that’s going to edge him towards maybe deciding to play for England.

"We could have played him against Gibraltar when the result was assured. And he was our player then. We didn’t do any of those things. So, whoever is responsible for that is not behaving very intelligently."

Martin has been very respectful of Grealish. Both Martin and Roy have met with Jack and his father personally and are respecting the lad's wishes to remain unavailable for selection. They can't force him into the senior squad if he's not available.

[DeLorean]

Dunphy talking out of his arse, of course, but I agree with him regarding Keane's comment regarding Grealish Snr. I have to say I found that a bit dumb at the time myself, even if he was right.

[DannyInvincible]

Dunphy talking out of his arse, of course, but I agree with him regarding Keane's comment regarding Grealish Snr. I have to say I found that a bit dumb at the time myself, even if he was right.

If it was meant in seriousness, it would have been a silly comment, but can we assume that it was? Roy has a sense of humour too. Grealish doesn't seem to have any issues with Roy and Roy has always been complimentary otherwise.

[DeLorean]

Half joking, half serious I would have thought but, ultimately, unnecessary and unhelpful. Maybe I'm wronging Keane, he obviously knows the situation and understands his relationship with the Grealish's better than I do, but it seemed a risky tactic. Maybe it was just good bants between chums :)

[Bungle]

Grealish, Crowley and Bamford....three wonderfully talented young players who could be terrific for us.

It's great that our ex-pat community is churning out the talent, but that is nothing new. I heard Phil Thompson talking a while back about the subject (maybe on Newstalk) and how the FAI can pretty much assume that any talented young scouse kid could play for us so it's worth the chase - not sure if Thommo was looking for a job as an FAI scout on the side!! To a far lesser extent, the same could be said in Birmingham, London and Manchester.

I'm delighted if those three declare for us. However, my major gripe with all of this is that we continue to depend on others to build our talent, in the same way that if a homegrown kid becomes top class, like say Jack Byrne or Conor Masterson might, it does a great job in papering the cracks for the FAI.

[Olé Olé]

Grealish, Crowley and Bamford....three wonderfully talented young players who could be terrific for us.

It's great that our ex-pat community is churning out the talent, but that is nothing new. I heard Phil Thompson talking a while back about the subject (maybe on Newstalk) and how the FAI can pretty much assume that any talented young scouse kid could play for us so it's worth the chase - not sure if Thommo was looking for a job as an FAI scout on the side!! To a far lesser extent, the same could be said in Birmingham, London and Manchester.

I'm delighted if those three declare for us. However, my major gripe with all of this is that we continue to depend on others to build our talent, in the same way that if a homegrown kid becomes top class, like say Jack Byrne or Conor Masterson might, it does a great job in papering the cracks for the FAI.

Bearing in mind that it appears more realistic that Grealish and, to a lesser extent, Crowley could play senior for us, I'm not quite sure when we had such a dearth of exciting, cultured midfield players with such potential to have expectations/hopes for- Alex O'Hanlon, Jack Byrne, Jack Grealish and Daniel Crowley. Mouth-watering when you consider one of them starred in an FA Cup semi-final on Sunday and the rest are considered huge prospects at their top 4 clubs.

[Charlie Darwin]

Don Givens will find a way to ruin them all.

[DannyInvincible]

Half joking, half serious I would have though but, ultimately, unnecessary and unhelpful. Maybe I'm wronging Keane, he obviously knows the situation and understands his relationship with the Grealish's better than I do, but it seemed a risky tactic. Maybe it was just good bants between chums :)

Roy can have a caustic wit, but I always got the impression he and the Grealishs were on good terms, especially as Roy was at Villa. I don't get the sense the comment has alienated them at all. I'm sure they're well used to Roy being forthright.

This was Martin's opinion on it: https://soundcloud.com/breakingnews-ie/martin-oneill-on-jack-grealish

Roy said he had a lot of time for Jack here at the end of last month: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/football/video-1170460/Roy-Keane-I-hope-Jack-Grealish-makes-right-decision.html

Roy's comment about Grealish senior was in November, but Jack had plenty of positive sentiment for Roy and his banter last September: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/aston-villa-teenage-star-jack-4201309

Having checked out exactly what was said again, maybe it was something that could have needlessly stirred tension or caused a bit of unnecessary awkwardness, but I'd guess there was also a degree of banter to it. Roy appreciates the situation in which Jack finds himself and respects Jack's right to choose; I recall him having cordially said to Kevin Grealish something the lines of it not being the worst problem in the world to have a choice like that.

[DeLorean]

Yeah I agree it hasn't seemed to have done any damage, I just remember thinking it had a harmful potential at the time. If it was MON that said it I would have definitely assumed that he knew the situation and Kevin Grealish well enough that he could get away with it, but with Keane you just don't know.

[the doc]

Not even if you're a dual national with split loyalties? Do you seriously expect a lad who was born in Birmingham to two England-born parents to feel 100 per cent Irish/committed to Ireland?



I thought you'd understand all about dual eligiblity after you were urging (via fear mongering) the FAI to select St. Ledger a few years ago before he potentially opted for NI and was lost for good.

Your missing the point Danno, as soon as SSL got a call up he took it, as everyone who knew him knew that was all he ever wanted to do.

As for Jacky, he's holding out for a senior England call up, lets see if he takes it, if offered.

If he wanted to play for Ireland then why didn't he accept it when he was offered a call up?

Don't give me any if this, focusing on his club career as Lambo was never going to play him.

He should of used an Ireland call up to prove to Villa he could handle playing at a higher level.


Jacky hasn't done anything in the game yet, anyone who has played will tell you the sign of a good player is one who can get through his second full season of playing regular games and still compete.

By then most teams and defendes will have worked you out, that's when the real test starts, as you have to improve and add consistency.

I think Jacky will become another Lee Hendrie a few good games and the odd decent season before fading away as a result of believing the hype and bad advice by his relatives and hangers on.

Bottom line, if you genuinely want to play for your country you accept it, you don't keep making excuses.

But hey Danno dont let the truth get in the way of your opinion.

[Charlie Darwin]

If he wanted to play for Ireland then why didn't he accept it when he was offered a call up?
Well the rather obvious third option is that he has strong feelings for both and genuinely doesn't know which he wants to declare for.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Doc

That is the most insightful comment you have ever made. And I agree with most of it.

St Ledger only ever wanted to play for Ireland though.

Not sure if I believe that TBCH.

I was talking about the Grealish situation with my brother. I brought up Kilbane's comments re: always knowing he wanted to play for Ireland. My brother responded that Kilbane never had a realistic chance of playing for England.

I suppose you have got to be pragmatic about it. Kilbane or St Ledger can say or think what they want but Grealish is potentially good enough to play for two teams - unlike them.

Grealish has a bit longer to wait and see how things develop now with this U-21 insurance policy.

You could say the senior call ups were a cynical attempt to tie him down but I don't believe they were even competitive games. If he was ruling with his heart and not his head this would be irrelevant but I get the impression Jack (and Kevin) are being very career oriented with this decision.

I would just love to know why Grealish never got in touch with Keane and O'Neill to tell them what he allegedly discussed with Noel King. It would have saved a lot of needless hassle.

I am just going to assume that I was imagining the U-21 call up with Noel King that he turned down after this conversation in September.

[the doc]

Well the rather obvious third option is that he has strong feelings for both and genuinely doesn't know which he wants to declare for.

Your starting to sound like some sad bloke who is in denial about his wife banging his best mate from work.

Oh she isn't doing such a thing!

Yer fella we believe you!

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Your starting to sound like some sad bloke who is in denial about his wife banging his best mate from work.

Oh she isn't doing such a thing!

Yer fella we believe you!

This is going to go over worse than Roy Keane asking Carlos Queiroz if he always makes love to his wife in the same position.

[the doc]

I take your point but both SSL and Killer turned down advances from England's underage teams.

It's was only ever going to be green for them.

Move on to today and let's be honest, England don't have much in terms of quality these days, so it's more an even keel between the UK and Ireland national teams.

Difference is we don't have Sky Sports hyping up our players like they do with England's mediocre squad.

[Charlie Darwin]

Your starting to sound like some sad bloke who is in denial about his wife banging his best mate from work.

Oh she isn't doing such a thing!

Yer fella we believe you!
Speaking from experience, Sean?


I take your point but both SSL and Killer turned down advances from England's underage teams.

Well Kilbane did. You seem to be the only one who's heard of SSL doing the same.

[DannyInvincible]

If he wanted to play for Ireland then why didn't he accept it when he was offered a call up?

Because he's a dual national and wants to have a think about things before jumping into a career-changing decision at such a young age?


I take your point but both SSL and Killer turned down advances from England's underage teams.

When did St. Ledger turn down England? Whose advance did he reject?


It's was only ever going to be green for them.

So why were you ominously talking about St. Ledger being eligible for NI years ago before we capped him? Why even bring it up if not to heighten concern over the prospect of losing out on him?


Move on to today and let's be honest, England don't have much in terms of quality these days, so it's more an even keel between the UK and Ireland national teams.

Difference is we don't have Sky Sports hyping up our players like they do with England's mediocre squad.

They regularly top qualification groups and make it to the knock-out stages of finals tournaments. We're more likely to finish third, or second if we've had a really good campaign.

[Charlie Darwin]

So why were you ominously talking about St. Ledger being eligible for NI years ago before we capped him? Why even bring it up if not to heighten concern over the prospect of losing out on him?
Woah! Enemy fire!

[DannyInvincible]

Ha, I don't think the doc ever offered a proper explanation though, did he?


Can't understand why there is no place for Preston's Sean St Ledger who is in outstanding form right now.
Strange indeed, spoke to a coach in the game who told me, that Kerr had been keen to get him into the set up when he was in charge and that many in the game rate him as a better player than McShane and Bruce.
Could be a big loss if Ireland don't play him soon as he is also eligible to play for the Northies too

If it was only ever going to be our green for Sean, why was he/the doc threatening us with a "big loss" to the benefit of the IFA?

[CraftyToePoke]

He won't answer you, he will acknowledge other posters only if their views overlap with his, hence flattering his own self image and imagined strengthening of his opinion holding sway, or to mock or goad opinions he does not concur with. These are the two positions, its basic, I know, but there we are.

Danno.

[DeLorean]

Daily Mail Jack Grealish rant an insult to all second generation Irish (http://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/comment-daily-mail-jack-grealish-rant-an-insult-to-all-second-generation-irish-31163187.html)

Jack Grealish is entitled to have a choice on who he represents

Ger Keville - Irish Independent

I only knew him as Sean. For the life of me, the name of his sidekick and buddy escapes me but what I do remember fondly was their love for football, a few beers and Ireland.

It was in my early days of following the Irish soccer team all over Europe and it was Amsterdam in 2000 when I first clinked glasses with the pair before Ireland’s 2-2 draw with the Dutch.

At the time, as a rookie Ireland fan, their striking English accents had me somewhat bemused. Two born and bred Englishmen and Coventry City season tickets holders were regaling their stories about following Ireland all over the world to me, a born and bred Dub.

As I would find out pretty quickly, Sean and his mate were not a unique duo. It started in Amsterdam and was confirmed in the stadiums and bars of Moscow, Basle, the glorious port of Budva in Montenegro and Slovakia just to name a few. They were everywhere and waved their tricolours and sang with pride.

Second generation Ireland fans form a huge core of the diehard Irish support.

According to one scribe in The Daily Mail, the granny rule should be ripped up and Jack Grealish should play for England, the land of his birth.

Maybe Sean and his mate will have to rip up their Irish passports and erase any memory of Ireland from their minds.

That’s right, Martin Samuel wants to take the choice away from players and force them into playing for a country they may not want to play for, never mind force them to abandon all their heritage and family history. If you are born in England, you play for England even if you feel you are not English, Samuel argues - unless you are an average player like Andy Townsend. Bizarre.

Somebody better tell Raheem Sterling not to read Samuel’s gibberish. Did the same writer have anything to say when John Barnes or Owen Hargreaves playing for the Three Lions? We better hope he doesn’t have an opinion on the English rugby or cricket teams.

If Jack Grealish wants to play for England, then he will play for England. If Jack Grealish wants to play for Ireland, then he will play for Ireland.

Surely having the choice to do something is a basic human right and if the teenager feels Irish, well then it is his choice to play for Ireland.

Not only is Samuel’s rant insulting to all second generation Irish, it is littered with inaccuracies and there is also has a pop at Irish scout Mark O’Toole.

“His job it is to sweep up the best young players qualified to play for Ireland. That's not the same as sweeping up the best young Irish players,” writes Samuel.

O’Toole is employed as a link between players who qualify to play for Ireland, their parents and the FAI. More often than not, parents will approach the scout and he will get the ball rolling, a liaison between the player and the FAI. He is far from some sort of predator Samuel makes him out to be and it’s quite obvious that he is doing a damn fine job.

Thanks to the likes of O’Toole, the Irish diaspora in England have a stepping stone to fulfilling their dream of playing for Ireland.

Samuel also writes that “the rules were intended to help those without a choice — unable to play for their country of birth, but good enough to represent that of their ancestors.”

Really?

Maybe Samuel is privy to information the rest of us are not, but I would be under the assumption that the rule is there for, eh, second generation players who have strong connections to their father/mother/granddad/granny’s country?

Samuel reckons that “not many people had seen Jack Grealish play before Sunday, so even fewer had heard him speak.”

Again, really?

Mark O’Toole has certainly seen him play as have representatives of the Football Association of Ireland and regular fans of the Irish underage teams and in this particular instance, Ireland’s underage scouting system has trumped England’s.

Funny how the toys come out of the pram once Grealish produces the magic on the big stage and credit to O’Toole and the FAI for recognising this talent five years before our British counterparts.

The bottom line here is this: Jack Grealish can still play for Ireland and England and he will choose the country he feels most aligned to. If that is England, then the best of luck to him.

Can this Samuel gem be beaten when referring to Adnan Januzaj?

“Better to have allowed the player to decide rather than make a sales pitch.”

Finally, he gets it. It’s the player’s decision.

[paul_oshea]

ah he got the great one in there though. Could have applied to most about jg. maybe we should call him gg. its like the scene out of ace ventura denial is a horrible thing. nothing has changed whatsoever apart from a couple of good performances since this topic was closed and I was told "I know nothing more than anyone else so don't be talking like I am" because I gave a differing opinion based on what we all read. But for some reason now everyone thinks we are more likely resigned to losing him and I don't understand when little to nothing has changed. and the whole crux of that side of the argument was that "nothing new, nothing to suggest he isn't ours to lose"

[DannyInvincible]

Was in work earlier when I first read Martin Samuel's codswallop, so only getting the opportunity to properly dissect it now. I don't think he has any idea what he's talking about; it's staggering he's a chief sports writer and that Sky Sports often wheel him on to their Sunday morning football discussion show. It's full of so much careless, poorly-considered, disingenuous, unfounded, contradictory, ignorant and speculative rubbish (with a few drops of xenophobia and cultural pompousness for good measure), but I suppose it perfectly encapsulates the absolutely awful misinforming rag from the gutter that is the Daily Mail.


Birmingham-born Jack Grealish qualifies for Ireland through grandparents

Yes, three out of four.


Ireland, who have a scout to find qualified players, came in for him at 17

14. (As is later stated in the article, oddly.)


UEFA should have a panel to consider the status of players who are not representing the country of their birth

That'd be the Players' Status Committee (http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/footballgovernance/disputeresolutionsystem/playerstatuscommittee/) who immediately oversee eligibility matters and ensure the Regulations Governing the Statutes are being complied with and applied correctly. If the regulations are found to be overbearing or overly restrictive in their application, they may even grant exemptions. England have two members on the committee at present.


That was partly through his grandparents on his father's side and also because the Irish employ a scout called Mark O'Toole, whose job it is to sweep up the best young players qualified to play for Ireland. That's not the same as sweeping up the best young Irish players.

He has an Irish grandparent on his mother's side as well.

And as if the FA don't have scouts/contacts acting in their interests too...

The Daily Mail would have been more than keen on FA scouts "sweeping up", say, Lewis Holtby from Germany: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2222369/Lewis-Holtby--Schalke-star-coming-Arsenal.html and http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1317998/Lewis-Holtby-How-did-England-miss-boy-Midas-touch.html


"We would know all about him if the FA and Fabio Capello hadn't let him slip through the net."


"How did England miss a boy with the Midas touch?"


Ireland were into Grealish early, at 14, and since then he has represented them at Under 17, Under 18 and Under 21 levels. Recently there have been mixed messages. Receiving the award for Ireland's Under 21 player of the year — despite making only two appearances — he said 'hopefully' he would be back in the green jersey next year.

All the lad's own choice and he's been happy to represent us. If he'd wanted to act upon the FA's interest, he had plenty of opportunities to do so. In fact, he's turned down all their advances to date.


The Football Association's pursuit of Adnan Januzaj was unedifying, misguided and ended in rejection anyway. Better to have allowed the player to decide rather than make a sales pitch.

Januzaj could never have become eligible to play for England due to the British associations having replaced littera (d) of article 6 with their own requirement for 5 years of education in the relevant association's territory before the age of 18.


Grealish has until now preferred to be with the group of teenagers who have accompanied him through his formative years in international football, and if that makes him feel more Irish than English culturally, that is his choice.

I get the impression Samuel isn't too gone on respecting that choice if Jack makes the "wrong" one.


This is not about the player, then, but the process. Grealish can be Irish if he wants, the rules say so — but are the rules still relevant? Is it right that O'Toole should be able to act as a club scout in the international game, exploiting outdated regulations around nationality to sign up teenage schoolchildren for Ireland?

It's very much about the player. Grealish can be Irish because Irish nationality law entitles him to Irish citizenship. And the rules are still relevant. How can they not be? Or are we to base eligibility on Samuel's biased whim? The regulations certainly aren't out-dated and the FAI (and Grealish) have simply been using them as FIFA have intended. FIFA's intention is to enhance player choice. The rules are in recognition of the multicultural, globalised world in which we live. FIFA update/re-publish the statutes annually and have an Emergency Committee to introduce provisional/emergency legislation to swiftly deal with a pressing unintended issue if necessary before the Congress has had a chance to properly evaluate it.

Jack's father has been protecting Jack and looking out for his best interests his whole life, so to make out like the FAI are ruthlessly exploiting or preying upon impressionable and vulnerable kids is just nonsense.


The rules were intended to help those without a choice — unable to play for their country of birth, but good enough to represent that of their ancestors. Andy Townsend, born in Maidstone, wasn't regarded highly by those in charge of England but was considered good enough to play for Ireland 70 times, through his Irish grandmother. Good luck to him — England's loss was Ireland's gain.

But Grealish's situation isn't like that. The rules as applied in his case do not combat the absence of choice, they offer more choice, where none is necessary.

Grealish would have long been around the England age group teams by now. He would certainly be in next season's Under 21 team, if he wasn't already heading to the European Under 21 Championship in the summer or to the Toulon Under 20 tournament.

Erm, Grealish has rejected numerous FA advances. He'd have been in those England teams if he really wanted to have been.

The rules are there to protect players and to ensure they have a choice based on their national identity; the concept upon which international football is founded. FIFA fully acknowledge that players can have multiple national identities at once. Nothing wrong there. Who is Samuel to declare what is and isn't "necessary"? The choice is unnecessary just because the English media have an interest in Grealish all of a sudden?

I suppose he was just as agitated by Owen Hargreaves playing for England, or by Raheem Sterling or Saido Barahino at present.


So while Ireland haven't broken any rules, they are certainly making the most of them.

As is our legal right.

[DannyInvincible]

Their last Under 21 squad — which did not include Grealish — was made up of 21 players, 11 of whom were not born in Ireland. That cannot be right. It is not fair on those within Ireland's club youth system. It is time for change.

Samuel must lose some serious sleep worrying about those Ireland-born players not selected by the FAI... :rolleyes:

Our youth situation isn't ideal in the sense we're unable to rely on our own set-up/domestic system to ensure a competitive senior international side, but that's a separate debate that shouldn't be reason to abolish protected nationality rights. And it's certainly not Samuel's place to get involved with his faux-concern, as if he actually gives a sh*t.


We live in an era of globalisation, of migration, foreign travel and employment abroad. As borders break down or blur, more young athletes will qualify for multiple nations.

FIFA are well aware of this. It is something to embrace for the more tolerant and acceptant.


As the planet shrinks more players will have these options.

People having options in their lives; how awful...


So is it right that a national association operates as clubs do, recruiting the best young players in what is increasingly a free market. How long before there are secret inducements, promises, before agents are involved?
What if a sharp figure with good connections said he could 'get' Grealish for England, that he had the ear of the player and his family, but would want his expenses covered and maybe a bit extra? Far-fetched? Today's era of the super-agents would also have seemed that way had it been described to those who fought for the abolition of the maximum wage in the 1960s.

Is it right that national associations select the best young players that are eligible and willing to play for them? I would think so.

The next bit doesn't really make sense to me - can someone explain exactly what he's getting at? - but it sounds a lot like scaremongering rhetoric to me, despite the fact there hasn't been any rule-change recently that would have the effect of causing changes in agent behaviour all of a sudden. Are we not in a world where agents try to influence their player's choices anyway so that they take the more "marketable" option?

Anyway, articles 6 and 7 feature protections to ensure nationalised citizens are not exploited and to ensure countries can't just naturalise players in order to line them out for their football teams. They ensure a genuine, close and credible connection between player and country/association.


For who will benefit, long term, if not the wealthiest associations? Ireland may win over Grealish but imagine the howls if the positions were reversed: if the FA stepped in to entice a young Irish footballer, with a Brummie grandfather, to switch sides?

Cork-born Shane O'Neill, a prospect with plenty of promise who could be very useful for us if he did decide to declare, is in the US system at present but there's been very little howling from Ireland fans. Shane Lowry, Alex Bruce, Eamon Zayed; all players we've had switch to other associations and without howls of outrage. It's about respecting player choice, regardless of a player's ability or whatever wishes/expectations supporters might selfishly have for him.

Anyway, isn't Grealish exactly a case of the FA stepping in to entice the young legally-Irish footballer with a Brummie grandfather to switch sides? But Samuel tells us he wants to look out for the poorer associations...


It only requires an unscrupulous regime seeking victory at all costs. This is what happens if we take the nationalism out of national sport, if we make it too easy to pick up or abandon allegiance. It should be resolved at confederation level.

So now using the rules as they're supposed to be used and seeking victory is potentially "unscrupulous"? Winning is already paramount for most, if not all, associations. All associations will use the rules as best they can, so pontificating on this is tiresome.

And God forbid international footballers aren't nationally pure!


UEFA should have a panel that sits to consider the status of any player who is not representing the country of his birth. Some cases would go on the tick, taking seconds. Nobody thought Singapore had much claim to Terry Butcher, for instance, just because his father was a signalman in the Royal Navy and he spent the first two years of his life there.

What does Samuel propose? What ought the panel's actual criteria be? It's important to have a standard and transparent set of universally-applying rules; there'd be chaos and uncertainty otherwise.

Did Butcher actually possess Singaporean citizenship? If he did, who is Samuel to dismiss his legally-held citizenship anyway? If Butcher had ever lined out for Singapore, it'd have been because that's what he'd wanted to do; not because the Singaporean association had taken advantage of him or coerced him into declaring for them.


And there would be little objection to a player such as Townsend, who was 25 when he got his first Ireland call-up, at a time when it was obvious he was unwanted by England.

So, the rules are fine, just so long as we wait until Grealish is 25 and the FA first declare themselves uninterested?


It is different for players like Grealish, who turned his back on England before he was old enough to sit a GCSE. This wasn't opportunity; it was opportunism. Unnecessary and wrong and all too predictably destined to end in this unsightly tug of war.

Well, England don't have to get involved if they're above it all and would rather avoid the "unsightly"...

[Olé Olé]

Re that Martin Samuel piece- you often dissect complex pieces of legislation from the perspective of player eligibility. I think out of all the works you've had to dissect, that must have been the easiest for you. It is a piece which sees some of the more xenophobic paranoia normally reserved for the Mail's front pages seep like urine down to the back pages.

Danno.

[DannyInvincible]

It really can't be emphasised enough just how awful the Daily Mail is: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3051371/Jack-Grealish-apparently-snapped-inhaling-hippy-crack-balloon-Aston-Villa-midfielder-caught-new-controversy-Raheem-Sterling-Saido-Berhaino.html


Jack Grealish apparently snapped inhaling 'hippy crack' from balloon as Aston Villa midfielder is caught in new controversy after Raheem Sterling and Saido Berhaino

Aston Villa Cup hero Jack Grealish has become the latest young Barclays Premier League star to be accused of getting high on 'hippy crack'.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who inspired Tim Sherwood's team to their FA Cup semi-final triumph over Liverpool on Sunday, has been photographed inhaling from a white balloon believed to be filled with nitrous oxide — more commonly known as laughing gas.

According to The Sun, the selfie — which shows Grealish and a friend — was taken in a hotel room about six months ago following a night out.

As someone said in the comments section, the "build him up; knock him down" has happened a lot quicker than expected.

And then there's this:


The allegations come after it emerged that Grealish is ready to commit his international future to England, provided Roy Hodgson assures him he figures in his long-term plans.

Grealish is at the centre of a tug-of-war between England and the Republic of Ireland. He was born in the Midlands to English parents but qualifies for the Republic through his grandparents. He will give himself until the summer, when the two countries face each other, before deciding.

But Sportsmail understands the teenager is leaning towards a future with England. He has received guarantees from Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill, who wants to pick the star in his squad to face England in June.

... which sounds like more baseless crap.

[Charlie Darwin]

That's in all the papers, to be fair. Sucking balloons on film seems to be the in thing for young footballers right now.

edit: why am I standing up for the Daily Mail?