Alex O'Hanlon

[Bungle]

Lads, is there anybody here who knows anything about these two lads, who are apparently going to Liverpool. Both play with St Kevin's and the Ireland u15s. Seemingly, Real Madrid and every big club in England were scouting O'Hanlon and Byrne was very much sought after as well.

[tetsujin1979]

saw this today on the football365 forum:

Liverpool Football Club today completed the signing of Irish starlet Alex O'Hanlon. The signature of the 15-year-old left-sided player probably won't excite many fans but it should.

Reds boss Kenny Dalglish has been tracking O'Hanlon ever since he was at the Academy and within days of his appointment as Liverpool's permanent manager, he has overseen a huge coup.

Numerous clubs were desperate to land the youngster, including Spanish giants Real Madrid. They, along with Chelsea, Arsenal and even Everton (as recent as 3 weeks ago), laid on the full works for O'Hanlon and his family but he has turned them all down in favour of Kenny Dalglish's new regime at Anfield.

A source told: "He's a Manchester United fan but he wanted to play for Liverpool. All the major clubs in England wanted him, plus he enjoyed a couple of weeks with Real Madrid, but he chose Liverpool because he wanted to work under Dalglish and because 'the club felt more right than any of the others'.

"He spent time with Chelsea but on the plane on the way home he said he'd never go there.

"Liverpool showed him and his family the most respect. He's come here because he believes Liverpool are a massive club on the verge of great things."

We understand that Liverpool have invested a tidy sum in the player who was at Melwood this afternoon with his father and representatives to complete the signing of his 3-year contract.

The source added: "He's got a long way to go. He's still a young lad but Kenny is absolutely delighted to have secured this transfer. They have spent a lot of money to make it happen."

Arsenal tried to hijack the deal as recently as last week but failed.

[SkStu]

its hard to know with players so young and these sorts of reports but it sounds promising.

[tricky_colour]

And here is Liverpool's latest big prospect!!
Rumour has it Maxi Rodríguez's days are numbered!!

http://chztotsandgiggles.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/funny-kids-pictures-fightin-irish-baby.jpg

[SkStu]

And here is Liverpool's latest big prospect!!
Rumour has it Maxi Rodríguez's days are numbered!!

http://chztotsandgiggles.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/funny-kids-pictures-fightin-irish-baby.jpg

the lovechild of Andy Reid and Lee Carsley!

[paul_oshea]

aren't all babies fat

[BonnieShels]

its hard to know with players so young and these sorts of reports but it sounds promising.

Great, they'll be over there in England for the next few years and the FA will swoop in and try to steal them on us as always. Typical.

I hope the IFA will back us in our fight against perfidious Albion.


On a serious note though, as you say you're right it's hard to know how these lads will turn out however it's quite the sign if that's the amount of teams that were after them.
Savage.

[tetsujin1979]

aren't all babies fathe's just stocky

[BonnieShels]

he's just stocky

I wanna think that that is subtle genius and coming from you Tets that is quite conceivable... however I will give you the benefit of the doubt in this case.

[Fixer82]

Well proportioned I'd say

[elroy]

A part of me would like to see these lads stay in Ireland for another year or two either continuing at the club they are with or training with a LOI team. Going over at 15 years of age is very young and difficult.

[Bungle]

At least they're going to a club whose model under their owners is very much about bringing young players into the team. It's also good that Liverpool is so similar to Dublin and so near, so homesickness will be reduced. Word is that another highly rated lad from Lourdes Celtic (another u15 player) is going over as well to Liverpool. That's good having a few Irish lads in the one club.

[Bungle]

The word is that Man City have signed Jack Byrne and they paid a big fee for him.

[Junior]

Big Fees are mentioned here on both fronts. What sort of sums are we talking and who is getting the cash, St. Kevins? Were the players 'contracted' to St. Kevins? Just out of interest, I'm ignorant of the how this would work with them being so young and I am presuming without existing professional contracts.

Good luck to them both anyway - every young boys dream.

[Dublink5]

Both these young lads played for my dad's team in St. Kevins. Jack joined when he was 7 and is signing for Man City today as he was 16 last tuesday. My dad is gone over to watch it. They will also get to go the city/united game. He is one talented young lad and is one to be watch the older he gets

[liamoo11]

Liverpool under 17s are playing in some cup on eurosport against inter cleary is playin centre half and o hanlon left mid. U know eurosport it wil be repeated all weekend!

[Crosby87]

He looks earnest.
http://assets1.lfcimages.com/uploads/alexohanlon.jpg

[Bungle]

How did the two lads get on?

[tetsujin1979]

Liverpool lost 1-0: http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/young-reds-edged-out-by-inter

[liamoo11]

How did the two lads get on?

Cleary played well thought was the best of the liverpool defenders I thought tidy on ball as well. O hanlon looked to be very slight and frail and didnt show much pace/acceleration. Lovely left foot though and seemed to be lovely passer. Hard to see him long term as a left winger without that pace or "tricks" maybe more centrl player? When you think liverpool at under 17 have Ibe who is a few months younger and ojo who is nearly a year younger as wide players who are physically far superior and seem to have far more pace then wide positions will be tough for him. In saying that he looked like a lovely footballer reminded me bit of stephen bradley

[Bungle]

Cleary played well thought was the best of the liverpool defenders I thought tidy on ball as well. O hanlon looked to be very slight and frail and didnt show much pace/acceleration. Lovely left foot though and seemed to be lovely passer. Hard to see him long term as a left winger without that pace or "tricks" maybe more centrl player? When you think liverpool at under 17 have Ibe who is a few months younger and ojo who is nearly a year younger as wide players who are physically far superior and seem to have far more pace then wide positions will be tough for him. In saying that he looked like a lovely footballer reminded me bit of stephen bradley

Thanks for that liamoo11!! Really good to hear about Cleary. He seems to be a very solid defender. From what I've heard of, he's well thought of. Bit worried about O'Hanlon. I hate all those comparisons like "new Bale" or "new Roy Keane", but given he was being very much compared to Bale, I would've thought he'd have a fair bit of pace. Good to hear that technically he's very good and would seem to read the game well. In youth football, pace and physique are almost the most sought after attributes in the British and Irish game, but hopefully O'Hanlon's technical attributes will see him make the grade.

The standard of players in the Liverpool academy is supposed to be amazing, which means some competition to break in for any young player. On the upside, I think Rodgers will be very much trying to bring through alot of younger players from the academy.

[tetsujin1979]

O'Hanlon supposed to be training with the Liverpool senior team tomorrow

[liamoo11]

O'Hanlon supposed to be training with the Liverpool senior team tomorrow

Thats great. He is not in 17s qualifier squad which seems strange nor is crowley unfortubately who seems to have chosen england for now a shame the fai jumped the gun a bit http://www.fai.ie/international/youth-teams/under-17/103114-mohan-names-squad-for-uefa-u17-championships-elite-qualifying-round.html

[Bungle]

The Liverpool u18s beat Hull in the FA Youth Cup yesterday. Cleary appears to have been playing in the centre of defence and they won by a few goals.

Would it be a thing that lads who didn't make the FA Youth Cup team get a call up to train with the seniors as a kind of gee up, or is it that Alex has been doing exceptionally well with the youth team and Rodgers wants to have a closer look at him. It's hard to see him getting into a 1st team squad this season, especially with Liverpool having a faint hope of Champions League football.

[tetsujin1979]

Thats great. He is not in 17s qualifier squad which seems strange nor is crowley unfortubately who seems to have chosen england for now a shame the fai jumped the gun a bit http://www.fai.ie/international/youth-teams/under-17/103114-mohan-names-squad-for-uefa-u17-championships-elite-qualifying-round.html
O'Hanlon didn't play in the first round either. Noe Baba missing from the squad as well after being promoted to the U19s. he captained the U17s in the first round

[liamoo11]

O'Hanlon supposed to be training with the Liverpool senior team tomorrow

Did he train with the first team? This is his last year under 17 is there a reason he is not in that squad ?considering he has been put forward as star of that age group with maybe jack byrne seems strange

[tetsujin1979]

Did he train with the first team? This is his last year under 17 is there a reason he is not in that squad ?considering he has been put forward as star of that age group with maybe jack byrne seems strange
I don't know, asked a few of my Liverpool-supporting friends if they'ds seen anything on any forums about it, but they hadn't. Apparently it's not unheard of for youth players to train with the first team under Rodgers, the ladies team trained with them as well last week.

[Charlie Darwin]

All I've been able to find on the Liverpool forums is that he's still struggling physically with the U18 league.

[Bungle]

I have a feeling that he hasn't reached the expectations of liverpool, hence he didn't play in the youth cup game during the week and the less heralded cleary did. However, liverpool obviously rate him very highly and maybe him training with the first team was a kind of gee up to give him a bit of a boost if he's going through a tough time.

To be fair, I went on a liverpool forum and a few fellas noted he's very technically gifted, so maybe he's doing very well.

[Bungle]

Liverpool u18s beat west ham 1-0 today. O'hanlon set up the goal and cleary was also playing.

[liamoo11]

Galvin the winger is injured called up a defender in his place seems oddo hanlon not called up especially as he has got a bit of ball for pool in last few weeks. qualifiers next week best of luck to the lads http://www.fai.ie/international/youth-teams/under-17/103138-mohan-forced-into-squad-change-for-uefa-u17-championships-qualifiers.html

[tetsujin1979]

posted this in the U19 thread by mistake
Live text commentary of the U17 qualifier at 6 against Austria: http://www.uefa.com/under17/season=2013/matches/round=2000314/match=2011182/index.html

[swinfordfc]

O'Hanlon didn't play in the first round either. Noe Baba missing from the squad as well after being promoted to the U19s. he captained the U17s in the first round

Noe Baba was injured

[liamoo11]

O hanlon has played the last few games for pool 18s.during week drew with spurs and today its live on liverpool tv they are playing stokes he is sort of playing behind front man playing well

[liamoo11]

cleary playing for liverpool in youth cup semi against chelsea tonight on itv4 and liverpool tv. o hanlon on bench he has been getting lots of games in the last month for the 18s and scored 2 last weekend. the pool are 2 down so he should see game time as the most attacking player on bench

[tetsujin1979]

Byrne signed his first professional contract with Man City during the week

[tetsujin1979]

Byrne training with the first team at Man City today: https://twitter.com/Jackb_8/statuses/364407844625317888

Training with the first team tonight at 6 can't wait should be quality ⚽ #MCFC (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23MCFC&src=hash)

[liamoo11]

O hanlon signed his pro contract this summer and has seemingly been in great form for the under 18s in preseason and in the milk cup playin as a no 10 creator in chief

[liamoo11]

O Hanlon Scored a beauty to put liverpool under 18s 2.1 up against utd then set up third in injury time with sweet pass. Played very well great passer though did give up chance for utd. Reminds me of McPhail never gives ball away. Cleary played well centre half good on the ball but maybe lacks pace? That pool under 18 side is crazy strong in midfield and up top even with 3 missing from the youth cup side wilson the new welsh SENIOR cap could only make the bench today!

[tetsujin1979]

this guy seems to upload the goals from Liverpool U18 games on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgw2YNvT9Si7gxM33FpN6WA
maybe keep an eye on it for the goals?

[Bungle]

O Hanlon Scored a beauty to put liverpool under 18s 2.1 up against utd then set up third in injury time with sweet pass. Played very well great passer though did give up chance for utd. Reminds me of McPhail never gives ball away. Cleary played well centre half good on the ball but maybe lacks pace? That pool under 18 side is crazy strong in midfield and up top even with 3 missing from the youth cup side wilson the new welsh SENIOR cap could only make the bench today!

Was talking to a fella who knows both of these lads and he said that apart from the fact that they have unreal ability, both are very down to earth lads who won't let the fact that they play for massive clubs and are doing very well go to their heads. His words were that they live for their football.

[Bungle]

Alex scored for Liverpool u18s against Man City. Cleary also played for Liverpool and Jack Byrne for City.

[liamoo11]

Alex scored for Liverpool u18s against Man City. Cleary also played for Liverpool and Jack Byrne for City.

They play wednesday night in fa youth cup it is on liverpool fc tv. Would be surprised if O hanlon starts with rossitor, brannigan and ibe dropping down from the 21s taking 3 of the midfield slots which must b gutting as he has looked excellent in the 4 or 5 games Ive seen on the liverpool channel. Reminds me a bit of the brady situation where he was never rated on itd forums and he went on loan very early and proved himself. Would be great if O hanlon went on loan next summer rather than struggling to get into liverpool 21s

[tetsujin1979]

O Hanlon Scored a beauty to put liverpool under 18s 2.1 up against utd then set up third in injury time with sweet pass. Played very well great passer though did give up chance for utd. Reminds me of McPhail never gives ball away. Cleary played well centre half good on the ball but maybe lacks pace? That pool under 18 side is crazy strong in midfield and up top even with 3 missing from the youth cup side wilson the new welsh SENIOR cap could only make the bench today!
highlights from the game VS Man Utd U18 on youtube here
AXJKk_KP9X8
O'Hanlon's goal is at 7:25 and it's a cracking finish
His assist for the third is at 10:05

[Olé Olé]

highlights from the game VS Man Utd U18 on youtube here
AXJKk_KP9X8
O'Hanlon's goal is at 7:25 and it's a cracking finish
His assist for the third is at 10:05

Lest we forget the defender, a tidy little tackle from Cleary just after the 8:30 mark.

Also, earlier on, there was talk of disappointment at O'Hanlon not starting for this Liverpool side. Jerome Sinclair has senior experience and Seyi Ojo has commanded a big fee already in his career. Ryan Kent bagged two for the England under-18's recently. Sergi Canos has come in from the Barca academy. As Robbie Keane said recently, there's a tremendous amount of talent saturation occurring in these PL academies. Fingers crossed these two lads can continue to hold their own in the face of that. We've heard about O'Hanlon's cultured left peg before; that goal surely demonstrates why.

[Bungle]

My son is a big Liverpool fan and said that O'Hanlon would be in with a shout for youth player of the year. He said he's definitely one of the standout players of his age group and reckons he's a Rodger's type of player. Cleary seems to be a good player as well. According to my son, Liverpool released an England youth centre half during the summer because of Cleary and some other fella's performances in defence.

[liamoo11]

My son is a big Liverpool fan and said that O'Hanlon would be in with a shout for youth player of the year. He said he's definitely one of the standout players of his age group and reckons he's a Rodger's type of player. Cleary seems to be a good player as well. According to my son, Liverpool released an England youth centre half during the summer because of Cleary and some other fella's performances in defence.

Unfortunately neither of them are in the liverpool under 18 youth cup squad tonight both played at weekend dont think they are injured just not considered good enough for first 16 . Hopefully they can kick on maybe get moves away from the pool.

[Bungle]

They must have some collection of lads at Liverpool because any time I saw O'Hanlon he looked excellent. Did that Welsh lad Wilson make the team?

[liamoo11]

They must have some collection of lads at Liverpool because any time I saw O'Hanlon he looked excellent. Did that Welsh lad Wilson make the team?

Wilson who won his first competitive senior cap for wales last month was a sub!

[liamoo11]

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/ireland-remains-fertile-hunting-ground-for-english-big-guns-253145.html

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/teen-dream-comes-at-a-price-for-irish-players-in-england-253259.html

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/money-men-keep-close-eye-on-teen-market-253336.html

Examiner been running a series on clubs signing up youth talent. Really interesting info from alex O hanlons dad about Daglish telling him alex would b in first team by the age of 18. Great to see lads from families who have made Ireland home getting moves to clubs like arsenal.