Irish Abroad 2014/2015

[Charlie Darwin]

Signs on at Notts County till '16

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28545791
I love how you left out his name to keep us guessing. All links should be prefaced this way from now on.

[TrapAPony]

Eoghan Stokes scored tonight for Leeds in their pre-season match against Glenavon & Simon Cox scored for Forest

[liamoo11]

Is Stokes in line to b involved this season with Leeds? Have never seen him much with Irish youth sides. Is he an under 19 this season?

[gastric]

I love how you left out his name to keep us guessing. All links should be prefaced this way from now on.

If you read the 'anything on your mind' thread, you would see that such behaviour is one of Tets' great hates , and I for one, would never cross the great man. Unless we all agree to annoy him... there's an idea.

[Stuttgart88]

Now that Tets is a canonised moderator of the international section I expect standards to be markedly different to the old laissez faire era. Paul and TOWK be warned :)

[tetsujin1979]

If you read the 'anything on your mind' thread, you would see that such behaviour is one of Tets' great hates , and I for one, would never cross the great man. Unless we all agree to annoy him... there's an idea.it is, if there's anything I hate, it's omitting some form of narrative with a link


Now that Tets is a canonised moderator of the international section I expect standards to be markedly different to the old laissez faire era. Paul and TOWK be warmed :)nope, not yet. at least, not that I'm aware of.
In any case, I'm pretty busy at the moment so I'd have to defer any such promotion

[DannyInvincible]

Spare a thought for poor Liam McAlinden, Alex Bruce, Alex Pearce, Adam Barton, Johnny Gorman, Callum Morris, Carl Magnay and Alan Kernaghan. They don't know whether they are Irish, Northern Irish, Scottish or English. Though their existential crisis about dual-identity invariably comes in handy when they don't get a call up for their first and/or second choice countries.

Haha, very austere... You really do reserve an enormous amount of judgment, antipathy and disdain for people you don't even remotely know. Why the need to frame a legitimate dual or multiple identity - something you've consistently demonstrated, throughout the Jack Grealish thread and elsewhere on here, that you're unable to even begin comprehending - as an "existential crisis"? Not that I have any particular affinity (or gripe) with any of those decidedly soft targets you've casually lumped together to be the beneficiaries of some sarcastic concern, but maybe some of them genuinely do identify with multiple identities? Is it really your place to judge? To use Callum Morris as an example, he was born in England, his Liverpool mother's family are from Waterford and his father is from Belfast; if he wants to identify with multiples identities, really, who are you to tell him he's having an "existential crisis"?...

Either way, none of those players have ever compelled any manager or association to select them. In fact, it was Jack Charlton who went after Belfast-raised international careerist Kernaghan (http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/kernaghan-still-pushing-back-the-boundaries-1-677913).


I had no problems pulling on the Republic shirt. I was simply furthering my career. There was always a lingering tension on the periphery. Some Republic of Ireland fans and journalists didn't like it. I dealt with it as I deal with it now - it didn't matter to me.

Kernaghan had first become aware of Charlton's interest through his Middlesbrough team-mate at the time, Curtis Fleming.

I think your problem is with how the general system works and possibly with how we operate within the existing legislative framework. If so, your dissatisfaction might be better directed towards FAI selectors and FIFA legislators rather than towards dual or multiple national footballers trying to make a living and represent the country of their ancestors. I'm not going to delude myself into thinking pretenders and mercenaries don't and won't exist, but it's clearly the system that legitimises the potential conduct of such candidates that is your fundamental problem.

On a slightly related note, would you ridicule, say, James McClean or Shane Duffy in such a derisive manner for having played for more than one association? Or Niall McGinn for having chosen to play for NI, primarily to aid the progression of his career, despite supporting us?

Edit: Just to add, I'm not necessarily saying that having an admitted careerist or mercenary like Kernaghan coming in is ideal as I'd like to think our players are primarily playing for the shirt due to some held affinity with the nation, but it's up to the management to weed out or dismiss potential chancers or players who they feel will lack the requisite level of commitment. (Perhaps, the ignoring of Jermaine Pennant is a good example of the management at the time deciding that entertaining a particular eligible player wouldn't really sit right.) Not that Kernaghan necessarily ever let us down when called upon either. And, in claiming his Irish passport, he was, or at least became, undeniably Irish, after all, whether or not adherents to a strictly-ethnic and romantic form of Irish nationalism can swallow the idea that an Ulster Protestant from a unionist background might possibly be or become an Irish citizen too, and despite where his original allegiance may have lay.

[tetsujin1979]

Michael Timlin out for three months with a dislocated elbow received in a behind closed doors game against Spurs: http://www.southendunited.co.uk/news/article/170714-phil-brown-spurs-1763611.aspx

Gary Deegan and Patrick Cregg played for Southend on trial against QPR earlier this week: http://www.southendunited.co.uk/news/article/300714-qpr-match-report-1794018.aspx

[TrapAPony]

Finnish U21 Daniel O'Shaughnessy who's eligible for us has signed a 2 year deal at Brentford

[DannyInvincible]

Finnish U21 Daniel O'Shaughnessy who's eligible for us has signed a 2 year deal at Brentford

His brother Patrick, also a Finnish youth international now playing with PK-35 Vantaa in the Finnish second tier, has already stated he'd rather play for Ireland than Finland: http://theemeraldexiles.com/2013/11/14/irish-eyes-on-finland-under-21s-oshaughnessy-brothers/


Last year, Patrick who has Europa League experience with his club MyPa, told The Irish Sun that he wanted to represent Ireland ahead of Finland.

“I feel more Irish than Finnish. I think maybe it has to do with my personality and it would make my father very proud if I played for Ireland.

“I have never had any contact from the FAI but I would prefer to play for Ireland if possible.”

“I did actually play for Finland against Ireland at Under-17 level, which was weird because I knew both national anthems when they were played before the game,” he continued.

Republic of Ireland Under 21 manager Noel King has been alerted to the O’Shaughnessy’s availability and has contacted the family to say they are being monitored. That was in September 2012 however, and as of November 2013, the two remain key members of Finland’s set-up.

I wonder does Daniel feel the same way.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Daniel wants to represent Ireland according to that website's Twitter account, however I cannot find any direct quotes from the player himself.

[DannyInvincible]

Daniel wants to represent Ireland according to that website's Twitter account, however I cannot find any direct quotes from the player himself.

This the tweet to which you're referring?: https://twitter.com/EmeraldExiles/status/495177056918200320


The central defender, brother of PK-35 Vantaa's Patrick, has declared he does want to represent the Republic of Ireland.

And what would you make of bringing this dual national Finnish international into the Irish set-up, TOWK?

[tetsujin1979]

according to various articles on the same site, both brothers want to play for the Republic

There's quotes here from Patrick: http://theemeraldexiles.com/2013/11/14/irish-eyes-on-finland-under-21s-oshaughnessy-brothers/

Last year, Patrick who has Europa League experience with his club MyPa, told The Irish Sun that he wanted to represent Ireland ahead of Finland.
“I feel more Irish than Finnish. I think maybe it has to do with my personality and it would make my father very proud if I played for Ireland.
“I have never had any contact from the FAI but I would prefer to play for Ireland if possible.”

doesn't appear to be any direct quotes from Daniel, but there's references in a few articles that they both are in Noel King's thoughts
e.g. http://theemeraldexiles.com/2014/04/28/ykkonen-debut-for-patrick-oshaughnessy/

Born and bred in Finland, O’Shaughnessy and his brother qualify for Ireland through their father Robert, who was born in Galway. Despite representing Finland at various underage levels, both have indicated their preference to play for the Republic of Ireland with Under 21 boss Noel King known to have been in touch with the family.
http://theemeraldexiles.com/2013/12/30/ones-to-watch-in-2014-patrick-and-daniel-oshaughnessy/

Under 21 boss Noel King is aware of their intention, and is reported to have made contact with the brothers, ensuring them they are being monitored.
What is it about these players trying to get international call ups every time a microphone is put in front of them?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

This the tweet to which you're referring?: https://twitter.com/EmeraldExiles/status/495177056918200320



And what would you make of bringing this dual national Finnish international into the Irish set-up, TOWK?

He's wants to play for Ireland even though he is good enough to play for his own country, same as James McCarthy or Aiden McGeady. There are a large number of players declaring for Ireland - not all - because they simply aren't good enough to play for their own country and because they want to increase their profile/earning power. I think the Grandparent rule is ridiculous to be quite frank and taken advantage of. I have no problems with the parentage rule. If we lost players like McCarthy or McGeady because of that so be it. In the long-run, I think we have enough talented Irish players available for selection without bringing in English mercenaries. I actually would have less of a problem with the Grandparentage rule if it was restricted to players who came up with Ireland youth teams.

[DannyInvincible]

Fair enough if that's how you feel about it. I appreciate you taking the time to clarify.


There are a large number of players declaring for Ireland - not all - because they simply aren't good enough to play for their own country and because they want to increase their profile/earning power.

Name them.

[gastric]

TOWK, what evidence do you have that players are declaring for us on the basis that they can't get a game for their supposed country? This seems to imply there is a particular age where you must declare, or if not, you can be declared a mercenary. For many, nationality is a journey, particularly those of a mixed background. One of my daughters is proud and very aware of her Irish heritage, the other couldn't care less. This doesn't mean she will not come to appreciate her background in time which I really believe will happen.

[tetsujin1979]

Ben Glasgow has signed for Isthmian League Division One side Harlow Town: http://www.harlowtownfootballclub.co.uk/news/hawks-sign-two-defenders-1262350.html

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I don't see how dual-identity is intrinsic with what national team you declare for. There are loads of very successful England players, past and present, who don't need to declare eligibility for a country to discover or prove their Irishness.

There is a lengthy list of players that have bounced between Ireland, NI, Scotland and England after being snubbed from one team or other. Jim O'Brien, Alex Pearce, Johnny Gorman, Carl Magnay, Alex Bruce, Callum Morris off the top of my head. Then there are the highly touted dual-identity players testing the water at underage level - Keane's, Crowley's, Bamford's... You would forgive me for thinking that their decisions are driven more by career than sentiment.

Then there are Harry Kane, Kyle Naughton and Mark Noble - all reasonably talented players - that don't seem to be in any rush to declare for Ireland but generate plenty of column inches.

Now I am not having a go at dual-identity men and women. As I have said, there are plenty of England Internationals who have Ireland heritage. Declaring for Ireland is often not a barometer of a person's Irishness.

And Wilson, McClean and Gibson really shouldn't come into the equation. That's a humanitarian issue and should be kept separate from discussions of lads like Cox, Green and Pilkington.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www1.skysports.com/transfer/news/11676/9404042/sky-bet-championship-anthony-oconnor-ready-to-step-up-at-blackburn

Anthony O'Connor ready to step up at Blackburn.

http://www.crawleynews.co.uk/O-CONNOR-FLIES-REDS/story-22016805-detail/story.html

Emmett O'Connor speaks.

http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Swansea-City-striker-Rory-Donnelly-months/story-22018376-detail/story.html

Rory Donnelly out for 3 months.

[DannyInvincible]

There is a lengthy list of players that have bounced between Ireland, NI, Scotland and England after being snubbed from one team or other. Jim O'Brien, Alex Pearce, Johnny Gorman, Carl Magnay, Alex Bruce, Callum Morris off the top of my head. Then there are the highly touted dual-identity players testing the water at underage level - Keane's, Crowley's, Bamford's... You would forgive me for thinking that their decisions are driven more by career than sentiment.

Maybe such decisions are driven by a bit of both at times. No point denying it. We don't live in your ideal world where footballers haven't got a livelihood to think about either. Who are you to say what their motivations are really? I'm not at all saying we should be chasing after every Tom, Dick and Harry with an Irish grandmother, but if someone is Irish, has all the necessary documentation to prove it, their heart seems to be in it, the management are happy that they're in it for the right reasons and they can offer something to our squad, why the need to be so extreme, inflexible and purist about it? Why not take them at face value and accept their word in good faith?


Then there are Harry Kane, Kyle Naughton and Mark Noble - all reasonably talented players - that don't seem to be in any rush to declare for Ireland but generate plenty of column inches.

It's not their fault if people in the media want to devote time and columns to idle speculation.


And Wilson, McClean and Gibson really shouldn't come into the equation. That's a humanitarian issue and should be kept separate from discussions of lads like Cox, Green and Pilkington.

Hehe, a humanitarian issue? I've never heard the player eligibility issue being referred to as such before, but it did raise a chuckle! How do you feel about the likes of Niall McGinn and those who've been lost to the dark side forever then? You reckon they're the victims of a humanitarian crisis? :p

Ideally, you'd rather Cox, Green and Pilkington weren't playing for us then, simply because you suspect them to be mercenaries, in spite of their expressed pride in their Irish heritage? Have I got that right?

[tetsujin1979]

Sean Kavanagh was a second half substitute for Fulham in their 1-0 win over Çaykur Rizespor yesterday: http://www.fulhamfc.com/first-team/2014_2015/friendly/caykur-rizespor
Hard to tell if this was a first team game or not

[tetsujin1979]

Reading squad numbers were announced a few weeks ago, including Liam Kelly, Shane Griffin, Sean Long and Niall Keown (was his allegiance ever confirmed?): http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/squad-numbers-confirmed-140714-1756693.aspx
Griffin and Long were around the first team setup last season, this is a promotion for Kelly.
He played against Yeovil - http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/yeovil-1-1-reading-1769532.aspx - and Boreham Wood - http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/boreham-wood-0-0-reading-xi-1787010.aspx - in recent pre season games

[tetsujin1979]

according to this - http://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/potters-retained-list-1570985.aspx - there were contracts offered to Ryan O'Reilly and Mason Watkins-Clark at the end of last season, but I can't find any confirmation the deals were signed
also, no mentions of either player on Stoke's website in the last two months. Curiouser and curiouser

[tetsujin1979]

First blog of the new season: Irish goalscorers for July 2014: http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/Blog?id=4366369101970644301

[gastric]

Aidy White has a fractured foot, Noel Hunt makes his comeback!

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/leeds-united-white-out-for-up-to-eight-weeks-with-fractured-foot-1-6765483

Lawrence and James Collins tipped to star at Shrewsbury this season.

http://the72.co.uk/12582/4-shrewsbury-players-that-should-impress-in-1415/

[gastric]

Ian Holloway on Aiden O'Brien, certainly challenging him to step up.

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/millwall/11384620._/

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Maybe such decisions are driven by a bit of both at times. No point denying it. We don't live in your ideal world where footballers haven't got a livelihood to think about either. Who are you to say what their motivations are really? I'm not at all saying we should be chasing after every Tom, Dick and Harry with an Irish grandmother, but if someone is Irish, has all the necessary documentation to prove it, their heart seems to be in it, the management are happy that they're in it for the right reasons and they can offer something to our squad, why the need to be so extreme, inflexible and purist about it? Why not take them at face value and accept their word in good faith?



It's not their fault if people in the media want to devote time and columns to idle speculation.



Hehe, a humanitarian issue? I've never heard the player eligibility issue being referred to as such before, but it did raise a chuckle! How do you feel about the likes of Niall McGinn and those who've been lost to the dark side forever then? You reckon they're the victims of a humanitarian crisis? :p

Ideally, you'd rather Cox, Green and Pilkington weren't playing for us then, simply because you suspect them to be mercenaries, in spite of their expressed pride in their Irish heritage? Have I got that right?

Well let's just put it this way. Wilson, McClean and Gibson were all born on this island, hold Irish passports, self-identify as Irish and are entitled to play for Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland due to the Good Friday Agreement. That's a bit different to the likes of Cox, Green and Pilkington being born in England, holding English passports, self-identifying as English, only getting Irish passports after they decide they want to play International football and playing for Ireland, frankly, because they aren't good enough to play for their own country. That's what I meant when I said "humanitarian" i.e. Good Friday Agreement. I feel Niall McGinn is perfectly entitled to represent the country he was born and bred in. He would have been equally entitled to represent the Republic too.

Ideally, it would be changed to parentage rather than grandparentage; or alternatively players should come up through youth teams. If we became a worse team for it, I could accept that - I doubt we would.

I don't make the rules. Pilkington would/would have been in any squad on merit though. I think it's ridiculous that players like Cox and Green get called up though. They are not good enough. I would prefer the message it would send out if every U-19 and every U-21 player believed they had a genuine chance of making a senior breakthrough and their path to the senior team would not be restricted by people in their mid to late twenties who have given up on playing for England.

[tetsujin1979]

What underage players do you think were stopped from playing senior international football by Cox, Green, Pilkington, etc?

[tetsujin1979]

Anthony O'Connor on loan to Plymouth Argyle until January: http://www.pafc.co.uk/news/article/anthony-is-a-pilgrim-1801904.aspx
he was sent off on the last day of last season, so he's suspended for the season opener on Saturday

[Charlie Darwin]

Well let's just put it this way. Wilson, McClean and Gibson were all born on this island, hold Irish passports, self-identify as Irish and are entitled to play for Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland due to the Good Friday Agreement.
I think I just heard Danny's heart snap in two. Or was that the vein in his forehead popping?

[DannyInvincible]

I think I just heard Danny's heart snap in two. Or was that the vein in his forehead popping?

Our Grealish and Robbie tête-à-têtes to date will have been nothing compared to the hellfire and brimstone that shall rain down upon TOWK this instant! :p


Well let's just put it this way. Wilson, McClean and Gibson were all born on this island, hold Irish passports, self-identify as Irish and are entitled to play for Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland due to the Good Friday Agreement. That's a bit different to the likes of Cox, Green and Pilkington being born in England, holding English passports, self-identifying as English, only getting Irish passports after they decide they want to play International football and playing for Ireland, frankly, because they aren't good enough to play for their own country. That's what I meant when I said "humanitarian" i.e. Good Friday Agreement.

The Good Friday Agreement has nout to do with it. Here's a short bit I once wrote (http://playereligibilityinireland.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/fifa-player-eligibility-in-context-of.html) on the (non-)relationship of the Good Friday Agreement to the player eligibility issue:


Contrary to popular misconception, the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 has nothing to do with the application of FIFA’s statutes on Irish nationality. The Good Friday Agreement was a constitutional document agreed between the British and Irish governments after backing from the majority of the electorate in Northern Ireland that, amongst numerous other things, acknowledged and bilaterally endorsed, as an undisputed right of law, the will of members of Northern Ireland’s nationalist community to identify as Irish. It is frustrating to see it continually bandied about in discussions surrounding player eligibility, however, especially when the eligibility of Northern Ireland-born Irish nationals to play for the Republic of Ireland is being attributed to its terms. It is mentioned here in order to discount this misguided belief.

Players born in Northern Ireland have been lining out for FAI teams under FIFA rules identical in effect to those in place today before the Good Friday Agreement. Ger Crossley, Gerard Doherty, Mark McKeever and Tony Shields, for example, were all born in Northern Ireland and, qualifying via their birthright to Irish nationality, played for FAI teams between 1995 and 1998. Crossley was even selected in a senior squad by then-manager Mick McCarthy for a friendly game against Mexico in 1998, although he did not actually play. It would have been difficult for the FAI to turn such players away given they were Irish nationals, after all. Countless others have played for Irish teams between the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and the saga involving Darron Gibson that seemed to implant the issue of player eligibility in the minds of Northern Ireland football supporters.

By virtue of articles 2 and 3 of Bunreacht na hÉireann and sections 6 and 7 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, Irish nationality has been available from birth to those born in Northern Ireland who have wished to have it recognised long before 1998; what the Good Friday Agreement did was provide a confirmation of the now-undisputed nature of this with bilateral endorsement, and whilst this might have changed mindsets and cleared up any misgivings in what might have previously been an area of diplomatic dispute, it had no effect on the application of FIFA regulations governing Irish nationality. The fact that Northern Ireland-born players represented FAI teams in the mid-1990s, years before the Good Friday Agreement’s signing, should demonstrate this.

Arguably, had the Good Friday Agreement not been signed and a perception of Ireland’s extra-territorial nationality law as irredentist remained within the psyche of the unionist community in Northern Ireland, it might have posed a greater dilemma for a FIFA unwilling to involve itself in an argument of such an overt political nature over conflicting constitutional arrangements between two states, although they certainly gave no indication of this at the FIFA Players’ Status Committee held in Zurich in 1994 when they affirmed that they “cannot interfere with the decisions taken by any country in the question of granting passports”. If anything, what the Good Friday Agreement did was expunge any possible ambiguity as to the effect of Irish nationality law in Northern Ireland along with the validity of any potential complaint about it from the IFA, but that is all it might have done in relation to this matter.

Anyway, that's besides the main point. Who are you to tell someone of Irish heritage that they have no right to discover, acknowledge and realise the Irish aspect of their identity, even if they have primarily identified as English or whatever for much of their early life? As gastric said, there's no age limit by which one must decide their identity. Identity can be a very fluid and organic matter in an increasingly international/globalised world. Representing Ireland in football certainly can be a way for elsewhere-born players of Irish heritage to express and further explore their roots, just like it can be a way for the northern Irish nationals you mention to express the solitary national identity they've proudly held their whole lives. The former is how it was for the likes of Andy Townsend and John Aldridge. Ireland became their country too. It's only fitting that the national team features representation from the diaspora given our national history of emigration.

I'm not sure why you're picking on Cox and Pilkington in particular either. I've never really looked into Green's back-story, but Cox is very proud of his Galway roots and has always been delighted to advertise that fact (http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/plastic-paddy-jibe-hurt-us-cox-28007679.html). Being dubbed a "plastic Paddy" hurts him. Pilkington played for us at under-age level and had his under-21 international jersey framed and stuck on a wall in his house. (There was a photo floating around somewhere.) He accepted our call as soon as he was fit to do so (http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2013/0903/471862-pilkington-i-was-always-committed/). Who are you to dispute all this and tell another individual how they "really" feel?


I feel Niall McGinn is perfectly entitled to represent the country he was born and bred in. He would have been equally entitled to represent the Republic too.

He supports Ireland and has been pretty clear that he's playing for NI mainly because he has a career to think about. I thought you had no time for such mercenaries... :p


Ideally, it would be changed to parentage rather than grandparentage; or alternatively players should come up through youth teams. If we became a worse team for it, I could accept that - I doubt we would.

Without wanting to sound like De Valera, for most people who consider themselves lucky enough, familial bond and influence in our society remains generally strong between grandparent and grandchild; I don't see any reason to curtail the existing eligibility principle by a generation if the reality is that many people still generally cherish a familial connection that goes one level beyond their parents. Your proposal would rule the likes of McGeady and McCarthy out. And, our future goalie, Stutts' wee lad!

Ideally, more of our players would be home-grown and we'd have a steady stream of them, but that's another issue entirely.


I don't make the rules.

Thank God! :p


I think it's ridiculous that players like Cox and Green get called up though. They are not good enough.

That's a different argument relating to their ability. It has no relevance to their nationality, whether you think it's real, perceived, imagined, manufactured or whatever.


I would prefer the message it would send out if every U-19 and every U-21 player believed they had a genuine chance of making a senior breakthrough and their path to the senior team would not be restricted by people in their mid to late twenties who have given up on playing for England.

That's a selection/management issue. Such elsewhere-born players you mention though often make up squad numbers; they very rarely just waltz in and boot Ireland-born lads out of the squad for them never to be seen again. It's not as if "granny-rulers" are as numerous nowadays as they were during Jack's era either. The cream rises to the top and players are selected on merit if good enough. Promising Ireland-born players get their chance to shine too. Greater competition should be extra incentive to try harder; not an excuse to complain about never getting a chance.

[gastric]

A contentious ranking of Ireland's top defenders ever. Finnan, Carr, Kelly anyone? This could generate a bit of debate!

http://www.punditarena.com/football/cfarrell/top-irish-defenders-of-all-time-richard-dunne-rank/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=top-irish-defenders-of-all-time-richard-dunne-rank

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.eveningecho.ie/2014/08/05/brianlinehan/

Firm bid turned down by Cork for Lenihan. Rumours that it's Hull.

[Charlie Darwin]

It was Hull, supposedly a derisory bid in five figures. He's agreed personal terms with them so just remains for clubs to work out a fee, but I have a bad feeling it won't be very high.

[Stuttgart88]

I think I just heard Danny's heart snap in two. Or was that the vein in his forehead popping?

http://youtu.be/YI3NoBeNwfk

[tetsujin1979]

Cian Bolger to Southend on a two year contract: http://www.southendunited.co.uk/news/article/050814-cian-bolger-joins-southend-1806241.aspx

[Charlie Darwin]

I was always a bit surprised by the way Bolton picked him up after he left Leicester, but to fair it seems they made a bit of money off it.

Cracking quote from Phil Brown here: “For the chairman to spend an undisclosed fee on a player who first appeared on the market two weeks ago for loan is a real statement of intent."

Can only assume he said the actual amount and the club edited it out, but still.

[Charlie Darwin]

Bradley Garmston scored for WBA today in a 3-2 loss to Port Vale.

[gastric]

A report here on Walsall versus Villa. The MOTM mentioned here is Liam Kinsella, son of Mark. Has he played for us and is he any good?

http://www.bescotbanter.net/2014/08/match-report-walsall-0-aston-villa-1.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bescotbanterfeed+%28Bescot+Ba nter+-+An+independent+look+at+Walsall+Football+Club.%29

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't think he's actually played for us as he isn't at one of the big clubs, but he's only 18 so he has a lot of developing to do. He signed pro terms with Walsall a few months back.

http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/other-football/walsall-fc/2014/03/21/liam-kinsella-follows-in-fathers-footsteps-with-professional-contract-at-walsall-fc/

As ever, TOWK was on top of it from the start: http://foot.ie/threads/188420-Liam-Kinsella

[ConorRSOeuskadi]

Cillian Sheridan scored for APOEL tonight as they beat HJK Helsinki to go through. Sheridan is the only Irish player left in this season's champions league after Anthony Stokes' Celtic were knocked out tonight.

[gastric]

Two Irish players on this 'five to watch' in League One.

http://shoot.co.uk/league-1-five-to-watch/

[Stuttgart88]

And in the Independent they identify Randolph and McGoldrick as Brimingham and Ipswich's key players for the Champipnship season about to begin. They say McGoldrick has genuine class.

I hope their judgment is right in both cases.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/a-teambyteam-guide-to-the-championship-season-201415-9655420.html

[tetsujin1979]

Graham Carey signs a one year contract at Ross County: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28712615

Neither Patrick Cregg nor Gary Deegan are going to be offered a contract at Southend: http://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/blues/11385245.Southend_United_manager_Phil_Brown_close_ to_completing_three_new_signings/?ref=rss

Ex Hull City striker Craig Fagan is also still training with the club but trialists Ben Richards-Everton, Patrick Cregg, Gary Deegan, Ross Jenkins and Jordan Chiezodie will not be offered deals.

[DannyInvincible]

Neither Patrick Cregg nor Gary Deegan are not going to be offered a contract at Southend: http://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/blues/11385245.Southend_United_manager_Phil_Brown_close_ to_completing_three_new_signings/?ref=rss

I cannot say that I do not disagree with you.

[tetsujin1979]

I cannot say that I do not disagree with you.
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not after you

[liamoo11]

This weekend is always fun with the championship and League 1 and 2 starting might throw up few exciting future internationals. Here r a few I hope make an impression from today

Strikers- wilkinson at bolton and o brien at millwall hopefully will be involved from the start of the season.we r light on up and coming strikers

Gleeson and Oreilly at birmiongham can they be realistic future international midfielders?

Will Corry nail down a spot at sheff wed to show off his ball playing talents?

Will mcfadden get chance at norwich

Massive season for keepers like henderson at charlton, murphy huddersfield and westwood. If they all are first choice they can really push squad place with randolp and forde at same level

Can O Brien get a chance at Derby at last

Can McLaughlin b a starter for forest and will doherty nail a wolves spot

In league 1 some exciting midfielders. Can Henderson at cawley, damio at sheff utd, browne preston, hourihane barnsley, carruthers develop to the next level?

Will mcevoy do a grealish at peterborough?

Can williams and cunningham at bristol city show signs ofbeen future internationals?

League 2 can Clifford nail down a spot and develop at that level like hourihane did?

3 years ago brady went from been a player who played a bit for utds reserves and was not setting the world on fire and took the leap to derby. It worked out great for him. id love to see the likes of o hanlon or byrne at city take a chance to go on lone instead of hanging around to play in that under 19 champions league thing.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Paul Corry out in the cold again today. Not even in the matchday squad.

[liamoo11]

Paul Corry out in the cold again today. Not even in the matchday squad.

Pity. Murphy mayfind himself moving up to no 1 at huddersfield after few mistakes by their keeper today.

[gastric]

And in the Independent they identify Randolph and McGoldrick as Brimingham and Ipswich's key players for the Champipnship season about to begin. They say McGoldrick has genuine class.

I hope their judgment is right in both cases.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/a-teambyteam-guide-to-the-championship-season-201415-9655420.html


McGoldrick scores for Ipswich and Mick's happy with his performance. I think he could be a real asset for us. Murphy scored the opener in a 2-1 win over Fulham.

http://www.football365.com/fulham/9414906/-

Stephen McLaughlin came off the bench for Forest against Blackpool while Reid hit the post. Charles Dunne was on the bench for Blackpool who could only name four players for the bench! Not good.

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/match-report/313775/nottingham-forest-v-blackpool


In other news, Liam Kinsella was on the bench for Walsall and Conor Henderson's corner lead to Crawley's goal.