Josh Cullen M Burnley b.1996

[Deckydee]

Interview in the times today but me no access :(

Link (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/only-declan-rice-can-decide-if-he-wants-to-play-for-ireland-8b9twngtc)

[Paddy Garcia]

Interview in the times today but me no access :(

Link (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/only-declan-rice-can-decide-if-he-wants-to-play-for-ireland-8b9twngtc)

othing to see here”, says Josh Cullen, when it comes to hard-core tales from the front line, but his pleasant, even smile tells a different story. It was around this time last year in an FA Cup game between West Ham and Shrewsbury that Cullen was accidentally kicked in the mouth by an opponent, and one of his two front teeth was captured by the television cameras sailing through the air. After all the blood was mopped up, Cullen played until the end of the game 15 minutes later and only then did he head off to the nearby dental hospital.

“They put it in milk straight away,” says Cullen of his dislodged dental. “The calcium in the milk keeps the tooth alive. They say that you have 90 minutes from when the tooth came out to save it. It was back in about 75 minutes after it came out. The doctor said I should come off the pitch and go straight to the hospital, but the adrenalin was going and we were drawing away to Shrewsbury in the Cup. You just have the mentality to get on with it and worry later.”
Not quite on a par with another West Ham player, Stuart Pearce, trying to run off a broken leg, but Cullen’s dedication to his craft, his club and his country is wholly impressive. Cullen is currently on a season-long loan at League One side Charlton. Removing his boots before he entered reception, the Charlton manager Lee Bowyer was quick to recommend Cullen for international recognition and he is not one to dispense platitudes.

“My aim always has been and still is to play for the West Ham first team, at the highest level,” Cullen says. “But it’s better for me to be out playing and proving myself in a competitive environment rather than me, maybe, being in and around the squad, on the bench, maybe getting a little bit of game time, but nothing really where I can get a bit of momentum going and really work on my game.

“The manager here made it clear that he wanted me to come and be a big part of what he was trying to do. The position the manager played in and the career he had, I can learn off him. Little things about making the right runs into the box and your position when you are receiving the ball to give yourself some space.”

It was incidental that of late, Cullen dwelled in the shadow of Declan Rice at West Ham and with Ireland, but it wasn’t always that way. A couple of years older than Rice, Cullen remembers trying to calm the nerves of a jittery fellow teenager, who was afraid of getting left behind by West Ham, just as he had been a couple of years earlier by Chelsea.

“I dropped Dec home at his digs after training. His age group had just been offered scholarships and when you are offered a scholarship at 16 it is always sort of ‘are you going to get a pro contract offered as well at the same time’? Dec had just been offered a scholarship and he asked me ‘what do you think’? I said ‘don’t worry about it now. Just get your head down, work hard and that will come’. That is what he has done to be fair to him. Now he is playing in the Premier League and doing brilliant.”

On the million-dollar question about Rice’s international allegiances, Cullen’s advice has not been sought and nor is he particularly inclined to offer it. What he does caution against are any sweeping generalisations, having watched bright prospects in Irish football turn their backs on the senior team. At Republic of Ireland under-21 level in 2015, Cullen moved into a midfield vacated by Jack Grealish. As a 19-year-old from Essex who had just made his Premier League debut as a late substitute at Liverpool, it was inevitable that his Ireland allegiances would be also questioned.

He dismissed the idea and 17 appearances at under-21 level speaks even louder about his loyalty and commitment. Rice’s decision to pull back last year from committing to Ireland caught Cullen by surprise — “He had started playing for the senior team and the decision to say he was thinking about it came a bit late” — but he doesn’t want English-born players in the Ireland set up to be pigeon-holed just because of what Rice or Grealish did or did not do.
“Everybody is different. You have people like Callum O’Dowda in the first team who is an example of the other side. He wanted to play for Ireland and is a big member of the squad,” says Cullen, who insists that nobody at West Ham is trying to sway Rice one way or another. “Obviously, he has a bit of pressure in his own mind because he can’t make his own mind up, otherwise he would have chosen. It wouldn’t be fair for anybody to sit there and say ‘you should do this or that’. Only he can make that decision.”

Cullen himself played at under-16 level for England before he was put on standby for a couple of squads and decided to take up an offer to play for Ireland, his grandparents on his father’s side having hailed from Co Leitrim. “I went over and played in a trial game and never looked back, I was very proud to be captain of the under-21s and as soon as I made that decision to go over I did everything I could to make every trip.”

Mick McCarthy only has to walk out his front door of his home in southeast London to monitor Cullen’s progress. This is Cullen’s third loan move — the first at Bradford was successful, the second at Bolton Wanderers less so — and McCarthy will already be attuned to the fine season Cullen is now having. Rice, who has gone straight from the academy into the first team and was rewarded with a substantially larger new contract in December, is the exception. The rule applies to players like Cullen who have to be more patient.

“Dec has worked hard, he has done everything that was asked of him to get that contract. You don’t want to be chucking silly money at youngsters who haven’t really done anything and then they think ‘oh this is nice. I am at a Premier League club. I have got loads of money. Why do I need to go out on loan and prove myself’?”

[Philly]

Apparently did great yesterday helping Charlton to promotion, bossing midfield v. Sunderland and getting the assist for the winning goal: https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2019/may/26-may/loan-star-josh-cullen-inspires-charlton-promotion

It will be interesting to see his next move, assuming West Ham do not give him a first team chance.

[Diggs246]

Apparently did great yesterday helping Charlton to promotion, bossing midfield v. Sunderland and getting the assist for the winning goal: https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2019/may/26-may/loan-star-josh-cullen-inspires-charlton-promotion

It will be interesting to see his next move, assuming West Ham do not give him a first team chance.

Is his loan now at an end? I assume so. Then I guess he extends his loan or back to the hammers. I would say he will stay with Charlton

[Olé Olé]

Signs on loan for the season at Charlton. West Ham have an option to recall in January which shows they value him. Hopefully he can keep progressing under Bowyer.

I see Steve Gallen quoted in Charlton's press release as he is head of recruitment there. He's Kevin Gallen's brother i.e. one of the brothers that played for us.

[Razors left peg]

Signs on loan for the season at Charlton. West Ham have an option to recall in January which shows they value him. Hopefully he can keep progressing under Bowyer.

I see Steve Gallen quoted in Charlton's press release as he is head of recruitment there. He's Kevin Gallen's brother i.e. one of the brothers that played for us.

Troy Parrot linked with Charlton too on loan, would make them interesting to watch this season

[elatedscum]

Cullen taken off in a stretcher with an ankle injury. Awful shame. Has developed a huge amount over the past year. Hopefully this doesn't hold him back too much.

Ireland eligible Conor Gallagher showing why he's such a sought after player...

[tommy_c12000]

Bowyer saying today that he’s ruled out of tomorrow’s game and getting a scan on ankle today. For him to even say that sounds promising. I am cautiously optimistic that it won’t be as long a lay off as we initially feared when he was stretchered off on Saturday. Fingers crossed

[Stuttgart88]

I saw it live. It looked like a twisted knee and he was holding his head in anguish. But when they showed him in the dugout in a protective ankle boot 15 mins later it was a massive relief. Even a month out with an ankle injury is nothing compared to a season lost to an ACL tear.

[liamoo11]

I saw it live. It looked like a twisted knee and he was holding his head in anguish. But when they showed him in the dugout in a protective ankle boot 15 mins later it was a massive relief. Even a month out with an ankle injury is nothing compared to a season lost to an ACL tear.


Cullen taken off in a stretcher with an ankle injury. Awful shame. Has developed a huge amount over the past year. Hopefully this doesn't hold him back too much.

Ireland eligible Conor Gallagher showing why he's such a sought after player...

You would imagine if Gallagher had any sense of irishness(and he is obviously entitled to not in any way feel irish) then he would have played at some level for us already given how good our scouting network is and obviously if he or his family contacted the fai as a 15 or 16 year old he would have been involved

[tommy_c12000]

Out until after Christmas at least, the expected 6-8 weeks for ankle ligament damage I’d assume. Had feared a lot worse on Saturday so pretty relieved with that outcome https://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/sport/18062184.charltons-cullen-new-year-ligament-injury/

[Diggs246]

Back in training already!
https://www.londonnewsonline.co.uk/lee-bowyer-on-josh-cullen-returning-to-train-with-charlton-and-lyle-taylors-injury/

[tetsujin1979]

Cullen returns for Charlton tonight1220054590491709440

[Demesne Lad]

West Ham have extended Cullen's contract by 12 months (London News Online, 23/01/20).

[Eirambler]

Might not be the worst thing in the world if West Ham got relegated for a season, would be the best hope of Cullen finally breaking through there. At this rate he'll be with them into his late 20s without ever really breaking into the first eleven.

[Eirambler]

Cullen was apparently the standout player for Charlton against QPR at the weekend. Interesting to see how highly rated he is by the Charlton support still, he seems to have made the jump from League 1 to Championship with ease. Makes you wonder how much further he could go if he got the chance.

He's 24 now without ever really getting a fair crack at the Premier League or international football. Starting to look like one of those players who becomes a regular for us at 26 or 27 and we wonder why he was left out for years and has so few caps. Personally he is the player I would look to start in the autumn in front of the back four if McCarthy is unavailable again.

Would Cullen/Molumby/Smallbone in midfield be too big a jump in too small a period of time? Possibly in the case of Smallbone but it's not as though the likes of Hendrick and Hourihane are standouts for us, they're there mainly because we have had few other options up to now.

[Diggs246]

I would have Cullen and McCarthy ahead of everyone else in the middle.
including AC Milans Jeff Hendricks!!

[Olé Olé]

Cullen was apparently the standout player for Charlton against QPR at the weekend. Interesting to see how highly rated he is by the Charlton support still, he seems to have made the jump from League 1 to Championship with ease. Makes you wonder how much further he could go if he got the chance.

He's 24 now without ever really getting a fair crack at the Premier League or international football. Starting to look like one of those players who becomes a regular for us at 26 or 27 and we wonder why he was left out for years and has so few caps. Personally he is the player I would look to start in the autumn in front of the back four if McCarthy is unavailable again.

Would Cullen/Molumby/Smallbone in midfield be too big a jump in too small a period of time? Possibly in the case of Smallbone but it's not as though the likes of Hendrick and Hourihane are standouts for us, they're there mainly because we have had few other options up to now.

And I'm sure he will get the opportunity in our side. He has got as fair a crack of the whip as he has deserved. This is his first season proper of Championship football. He didn't succeed at Bolton when he had a Championship loan there. I really don't think Cullen has earned the right yet to martyr status. He is now perfectly positioned to get game time in our senior side and in a better Championship or PL side at club level.

[elatedscum]

The way I look at it, you’ve got the senior players:

McCarthy, Hendrick, Hourihane and Arter

Then you’ve got the 3 lads who have graduated from 21s:

Cullen, Browne, Byrne

Then you’ve got the underage lads:

Molumby, Knight, Ronan, Smallbone

—

Interesting to see what Kenny will do.

I thought Cullen was excellent in the Friendly he played. I think he’s definitely gotten significantly better over the past 18 months. I’ve seen 3-4 Charlton games.

For the 21s, he was good but he was very much in Declan Rice’s shadow... Manning also had a few standout games.

But I think as soon as he made he debut, it was clear he was a viable starter...

[Diggs246]

My team v Slovakia is below, the only positions Im not 100% on is Connolly on the left and Ofafemi at 9
--------------------Randy
Coleman ---- Egan --- duffy ---- Stevens
Matt Doh ---- Culllen --- McCarthy---- Connelly
-----------------McGoldrick
-----------------Ofafemi

[Olé Olé]

I like the look of that side. There's the potential to have a 4-3-3 with that line up also if you have Connolly left and Obafemi right of McGoldrick. I think Doherty could end up being viable on the right side of a midfield 3 of of a midfield diamond.

Brady, Long, Robinson, Hendrick and Molumby would be in the mix for me too. And Clark if he is back fit. Throw in recent Mick options like McClean, Browne and Hourihane and we have a competitive pool of 20 plus for Kenny to pick from.

[liamoo11]

My team v Slovakia is below, the only positions Im not 100% on is Connolly on the left and Ofafemi at 9
--------------------Randy
Coleman ---- Egan --- duffy ---- Stevens
Matt Doh ---- Culllen --- McCarthy---- Connelly
-----------------McGoldrick
-----------------Ofafemi

I heard Doherty interview ed on newstalk a few weeks ago. They were licking him big time and saying he should be in the side in whatever position left back, right midfield or right back. He said he thought he should only be considered for right back as that was his position and others were better than him in the other positions. He said it was a contest between him and Coleman who is his best mate in the Ireland setup . He is lost right midfield he does not have the ability to take the ball with his back to goal in tight spaces. His game is all about seeing the space in front of him and linking with players to burst into that space using pace and power.

[Diggs246]

I heard Doherty interview ed on newstalk a few weeks ago. They were licking him big time and saying he should be in the side in whatever position left back, right midfield or right back. He said he thought he should only be considered for right back as that was his position and others were better than him in the other positions. He said it was a contest between him and Coleman who is his best mate in the Ireland setup . He is lost right midfield he does not have the ability to take the ball with his back to goal in tight spaces. His game is all about seeing the space in front of him and linking with players to burst into that space using pace and power.

But he doesn't play right back for wolves and we just dont have the players to leave him and Coleman out imo

[OMTY]

Starts in midfield for West Ham v Wycombe today in pre season friendly. Probably 5 regular starters in West Ham team along with some reserves and youths.

EDIT: Seems like they've split the squad. Another team of half and half is playing Ipswich. Randolph and Coventry playing in that game.

[Diggs246]

That's good randy is getting game time anyway

[Olé Olé]

He has started midfield tonight in the EFL cup against his old side Charlton.

[Razors left peg]

He has started midfield tonight in the EFL cup against his old side Charlton.
Have watched most of 2nd half. Hes very tidy, West Ham have been on top and hes been sitting in front of their defense with not a lot to do.

Coventry has just come on 83rd minute

[Trequartista20]

Doesn't even make the beach despite his very creditable performance in midweek and the unavailability of Noble.

He's got to be on his way.

[Razors left peg]

Doesn't even make the beach despite his very creditable performance in midweek and the unavailability of Noble.

He's got to be on his way.

He'd walk into most Championship teams, be very surprised if he doesn't get a move before end of window

[Trequartista20]

Cullen and Diop, despite initially being named in the West Ham starting line-up, have since been left out.

I can only assume that Cullen must be moving on.

Randolph starts with Coventry on the bench.

Edit: it now appears Diop, Cullen and Moyes may have Covid symptoms.

[Razors left peg]

Positive Covid test apparently

[Trequartista20]

And yet the match goes ahead?

[Olé Olé]

Moyes and Diop positive also. The entire squad received their results shortly before kick off so I'm assuming there's some control in place that has meant none of the three could have infected anyone else involved since the tests were taken... Big assumption.

[Trequartista20]

It's reassuring to know the footballing authorities are taking the issue so seriously!

[paul_oshea]

So moyes cant be near the team for 2 weeks right? If the result was only known an hour before didnt they all get on the same bus?

[Olé Olé]

This forum has stayed very silent on COVID-management in football. I, personally, would love to see it stay that way. Too many different views (not related to football) bleed into the discussion and we are encountering it enough in daily life. Conscious I engaged on the point myself so I'll withdraw from the discussion!

[seanfhear]

This forum has stayed very silent on COVID-management in football. I, personally, would love to see it stay that way. Too many different views (not related to football) bleed into the discussion and we are encountering it enough in daily life. Conscious I engaged on the point myself so I'll withdraw from the discussion!Quarantine ~ so to speak !

[Exgrad]

not great for Cullen, misses a rare start for West Ham and presumably out of picture for next couple of weeks.

[Razors left peg]

Transfer window closes Oct 5. If there was a club interested in him would he be able to do medical if he's supposed to be in isolation for 2 weeks?

[elatedscum]

Transfer window closes Oct 5. If there was a club interested in him would he be able to do medical if he's supposed to be in isolation for 2 weeks?

10 days apparently, so should be fine...

[Razors left peg]

Hopefully someone does come in for him

[paul_oshea]

Why are all these rumours about clubs coming out?

[Trequartista20]

Being linked with a move to Anderlecht.

https://sportslens.com/journalist-says-anderlecht-want-west-ham-united-midfielder-josh-cullen/316892/

[elatedscum]

Being linked with a move to Anderlecht.

https://sportslens.com/journalist-says-anderlecht-want-west-ham-united-midfielder-josh-cullen/316892/

And that article uses another irish midfielder who would walk the Belgian super league ;)

[tommy_c12000]

This would be a good move if it materializes, he’d do well on continent.

Covid should not preclude a medical if a club wants to push a deal through, even if 10 days of isolation haven’t elapsed from day of asymptomatic test. It shouldn’t be an issue, we have pretty effective personal protective equípment

[Trequartista20]

Close to a permanent move to Anderlecht according to certain Belgian media reports.

[Trequartista20]

Move to Anderlecht confirmed on a 3-year deal.

https://twitter.com/rscanderlecht/status/1313192236054704131

[Razors left peg]

Move to Anderlecht confirmed on a 3-year deal.

https://twitter.com/rscanderlecht/status/1313192236054704131

This is they type of move I'd love for Jack Byrne. Hopefully he leads the way for more Irish lads to try this type of move

[Trequartista20]

I'd like to think so, and then I think about David Connolly, Alan Mahon, Robbie Keane and Liam Kelly, and their struggles on the continent.

Gary Waddock and Dominic Foley seemed to do well in Belgium though.

And Frank Stapleton played for Anderlecht for a bit, too - though I'm not quite sure how he made out there.

[Razors left peg]

I'd like to think so, and then I think about David Connolly, Alan Mahon, Robbie Keane and Liam Kelly, and their struggles on the continent.

Gary Waddock and Dominic Foley seemed to do well in Belgium though.

And Frank Stapleton played for Anderlecht for a bit, too - though I'm not quite sure how he made out there.

Robbie was very young at a massive club. Connolly did well for a season or 2. Alan Mahon went to a very good Sporting Lisbon team, think it might be the last time they won the league and I think Liam Kelly hasn't really fulfilled potential at all.

Cullen to me looks more than good enough for that league so fingers crossed it works out for him