Callum O'Dowda M Cardiff b.1995

[DeLorean]

The Times was waxing lyrical about Callum O'Dowda's performance for Oxford on Saturday.


Being linked with a move to Derby in the Mail.... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3384225/Oxford-United-want-1million-Derby-20-year-old-winger-Callum-O-Dowda.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Can see some truth in this as he has been a standout for our U21s and for Oxford this season.


Been on the bench recently from what I've seen, but did manage a goal at the weekend.


A bit more here- (http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/14183388.Callum_O_Dowda_urges_Oxford_United_suppor ters_to_focus_on_football__not_his_transfer_specul ation/)

Got a bit excited about this fella having seen the last twenty minutes of Oxford's win over Swansea. He only came on as I started watching but was very involved and looks a seriously confident player. He had a really good effort with his right foot touched over after cutting in from the left. He held the ball up very well and looked almost cocky in doing so.

[OwlsFan]

Interesting that his Wikipedia page states that "his main strengths are his pace, skill and crossing". Must have been written by his mother as that doesn't leave much else :)

I saw the game and yes he looked good but why was he originally on the bench unless some of the 1st teamers were being rested? I don't know whether he is a regular although I have a friend who is an Oxford supporter (lived there for a while) and I'll ask him.

[tetsujin1979]

Was a regular starter earlier in the season, but only started half of Oxford's recent games: http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/ClubDetails?clubID=5426&seasonID=145

[DeLorean]

Yeah Charlie pointed that out above. I do find it a bit strange, 20 isn't that young and it is League 2 we're talking about. He wouldn't have much hope of game time at Derby if he can't nail down a starting position there you'd imagine.

[Razors left peg]

Yeah Charlie pointed that out above. I do find it a bit strange, 20 isn't that young and it is League 2 we're talking about. He wouldn't have much hope of game time at Derby if he can't nail down a starting position there you'd imagine.

I wouldn't necessarily agree with that, different managers want a different style of play.... look how long it took Wes to find a manager who didn't wanna just stick him on the wing out of the way

[DeLorean]

Agreed, I'm just speculating. It would generally be more difficult to start for a team who are in 2nd place in the Championship than a team in League 2. Derby have built are particularly strong squad as well. Plus, they sold Simon Dawkins recently who is a winger and wasn't getting much game time, so it's possible it could be to cover that gap. That's not to say O'Dowda couldn't impress and work his way in. Who stuck Wes on the wing? I suppose being stuck on the wing out of the way was better than being stuck on the bench out of the way, like in his later days under Hughton.

[DeLorean]

Seriously like the look of him though!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE10mXdDMJI

[Irish_Praha]

Seriously like the look of him though!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE10mXdDMJI

Has the potential to be the next McGeady :p

Seriously though only going from that clip he looks to have great delivery from set pieces and some nice wing trickery but his end product from play leaves a bit to be desired. However he is still very young so that is something he will probably improve on. Hopefully he gets enough game time to develop his game further this season.

[DeLorean]

Has the potential to be the next McGeady :p

Seriously though only going from that clip he looks to have great delivery from set pieces and some nice wing trickery but his end product from play leaves a bit to be desired. However he is still very young so that is something he will probably improve on. Hopefully he gets enough game time to develop his game further this season.

I see very little evidence of that from those clips to be honest. His playing style reminds me more of Gareth Bale than Aiden McGeady, without going overboard. His strength for a young guy impressed me as much as anything else in the video, and he seems to like a tackle for a skilful fella. He even uses his right foot to good effect on a number of occasions, something fairly uncommon in lefties. That touch on five minutes is something else.

I suppose another Grealish situation is a possibility with him though? I'm a bit scared of getting too hopeful. :(

[Crosby87]

I have no Dowda that he is going to be fabulous.

[paul_oshea]

Crosby said,in an Italian accent

[SkStu]

Callum up Trap!

[Closed Account]

2 goals today

[Wangball]

Looks like he has all of the big guns scouting him.....Call him up Trap!!!!!

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/503019/Man-Utd-Liverpool-Tottenham-transfer-news-Callum-O-Dowda-Oxford

[Irish_Praha]

Don't want to start any negative debates or anything but Any chance of this guy doing a Grealish?

[Closed Account]

Who had 15 posts in? Anyone?

[Charlie Darwin]

He wanted £10k a week??

[DeLorean]

Don't want to start any negative debates or anything but Any chance of this guy doing a Grealish?

Always a possibility. I don't think there are any major quotes out there that would suggest one way or the other at this point. One could overthink his wording at the end of this interview (http://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/ireland-u21s-callum-odowda-speaks-to-fai-tv) though maybe.


Interviewer: And the national team manager was here watchin' yous, were the players aware of that?

Callum O'Dowda: Oh yeah, the boys were aware of that before the game, but I think (they/you) gotta just block that out and not let it get the better of you and just focus on your own game.

I didn't realise he was nominated for our U21 player of the year actually, which Alan Browne won.

[Olé Olé]

Strange wording alright but maybe he just doesn't consider himself as being on the radar.

He's a long way off where Grealish was anyway given that he's only played as high as League Two and is almost 21.

He spoke quite positively about his original call-up anyway: http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/oxford-united-callum-odowda-ireland-2326356.aspx

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

One was accused of "overthinking" statements like that in the past and look what happened.

So he's saying he has to block out the presence of the national team bosses to focus on his club game?

Could be innocent enough in fairness, but will certainly be getting the popcorn out if a big move comes to fruition.

[tetsujin1979]

I'd be more surprised if he actually does move to any of the clubs in the article than anything else.

[DeLorean]

So he's saying he has to block out the presence of the national team bosses to focus on his club game?

He said nothing about his club in that interview.

[DeLorean]

I'd be more surprised if he actually does move to any of the clubs in the article than anything else.

Me too, and I really doubt he was making big wage demands either.

[Olé Olé]

Agreed. Being 21 at League Two level you'd want to be absolutely ripping it up to be warranting that attention. Championship or Peterborough is normally what happens with players in his position, I'd have reckoned. For example (ignoring how it's worked out subsequently), Delle Alli was 18 and had a big goal record from centre midfield for Spurs to sign him. And I think one or two sides baulked at the asking price for him too.

[DeLorean]

I see O'Dowda scored our goal today. He's missed two games for Oxford in this international window, they've drawn both. Are the clubs obliged to release their players even if they have a game themselves? Next up for O'Dowda is a trip to Wembley on Sunday.

[Charlie Darwin]

Clubs are obliged to release players as long as they've been given adequate notice, etc. In Ireland, not sure about England, the standard is that if you're missing two players on international duty you are entitled to have the game postponed.

[Stuttgart88]

I'm hoping to see him play at Wembley next weekend.

[DeLorean]

Did you make Wembley Stutts?

[Stuttgart88]

No, stuff got in the way. I turned on the telly 5 mins after he scored.

[CraftyToePoke]

Talksport claimed he had debuted for NI in the week when they updated on the game. They are wrong I take it.

[DeLorean]

Scored to put Oxford 3-0 up and they have now secured promotion.

[DeLorean]

Sh!t - The BBC (http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36274890) are on to us :eek:


The English-born player has played five times for the Republic's Under-21s.

[DeLorean]

From the Official Oxford (http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/oxford-united-callum-odowda-3109955.aspx) site-


It has been an unbelievable season for the club and on a personal level this caps a fantastic year. I have enjoyed being part of the under 21 squad and it is a massive honour to be called into the provisional senior squad.

[tricky_colour]

Always a possibility. I don't think there are any major quotes out there that would suggest one way or the other at this point. One could overthink his wording at the end of this interview (http://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/ireland-u21s-callum-odowda-speaks-to-fai-tv) though maybe.


Callum O'Dowda: Oh yeah, the boys were aware of that before the game, but I think (they/you) gotta just block that out and not let it get the better of you and just focus on your own game.

.

I don't think it should be over thought, I think it was just unassuming modesty, ie when the interviewer said the "the manager was watching you"

He took the you to be the team rather then himself personally. A less modest guy might have replied in the first person, ie taking "you" as "I".

Anyhow I am over thinking this!! :)

Mind you as he has been called up it is all the matter.

[tricky_colour]

Scored to put Oxford 3-0 up and they have now secured promotion.

Highlight of the match


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbbRQiPRQms

Impressive stuff, very composed. He has obvious been work hard on the knee slide too, his goal at about 1.45.

Intact I am very impressed indeed, show pace, determination composure, great finsh.

Indeed I think many a player would have appealed for a penalty there.

It is hard to see though I guess the defender must have got the ball.

The match was over by then anyway.

[tricky_colour]

I though he was left footed and I checked and he is, why do we produce so many good left sided players?

So many from Liam Brady right through to Stephen Ward.

[Charlie Darwin]

Joey Lapira too.

[tricky_colour]

Ah yes, who could forget Joey Lapir, one of the greatest left foots to ever to pull on a green sock.
The last line in this article made me laugh:-

http://www.the42.ie/joe-lapira-ireland-one-cap-usa-945271-Jun2013/



In 2011 he made a return to Norway but has since left and, although he appeared for the Vancouver Whitecaps during a trial period in February (http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2013/02/wfc-defeat-arizona), at 26, his current whereabouts are unknown.

Will we ever witness anything of the kind again? Let’s hope not.

[DeLorean]

"I want to see if I can get on the plane to the Euros"!! (http://www.98fm.com/I-Want-To-See-If-I-Can-Get-On-Plane-To-Euros--Callum-ODowda)


(Obviously not worried about being tied anyway).

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Any wonder!

England wouldn't bring a Championship player to an Intl tournament unless they were a third choice keeper.

[tetsujin1979]

Any wonder!

England wouldn't bring a Championship player to an Intl tournament unless they were a third choice keeper.Nobody cares about players who aren't in the England squad

[DeLorean]

Any wonder!

England wouldn't bring a Championship player to an Intl tournament unless they were a third choice keeper.

Maybe he'll play at PL level some day. Do you not rate him?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Interesting read...

http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/sport/irishfootball/7170527/Callum-ODowda-aimed-for-Ireland-squad-despite-playing-in-League-Two-and-has-delivered-on-his-promise.html (http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/sport/irishfootball/7170527/Callum-ODowda-aimed-for-Ireland-squad-despite-playing-in-League-Two-and-has-delivered-on-his-promise.html)


WHEN Callum O’Dowda was asked his ambitions at the start of the season, he thought big and was met with laughter.

Despite having had to cancel a dream holiday with his girlfriend, O’Dowda is the one smiling now.

Already, he has helped Oxford United to promotion, scored a goal at Wembley — albeit in a defeat — and, in theory at least, is in with a chance of gatecrashing Ireland’s Euro 2016 squad.

Not bad for a 21-year-old who has never played higher than League Two.

O’Dowda said: “It’s a bit weird because I spoke to one of the Press officers at Oxford and they said ‘What are your aims and ambitions this year, not only with Oxford, but with Ireland?’

“I did say I wanted to see if I could try to push into the senior team in Ireland and he laughed at me and said, ‘Are you serious?’

“And I said, ‘Yeah, I’m deadly serious’. I didn’t make a bet with him, I should have.

“That was my aim, I wanted ten goals as well and, spookily, I have got ten goals. I could say 12 because I’ve scored two for the Under-21s.”

It was his performance against Italy for Noel King’s side which caught the eye of Martin O’Neill, who had already seen him score in the Johnstone’s Paints Trophy final defeat to Barnsley.

O’Dowda revealed: “He said that I had a really good game and that he would be keeping tabs on me. I was waiting for the squad to be released and it was a big moment for me.

“I had a holiday booked in Aruba with my girlfriend Isabelle. That got cancelled straight away.

“I don’t know if she liked that and I didn’t have insurance so I lost out on all of it. But I’d take this any day.

“I’m glad to be here and hopefully I can catch the manager’s eye. I want to show people what I can do.

“And if I can get on the plane, then fantastic. If not, I will be working hard next season.”

Grandson of the late tenor Brendan O’Dowda who settled in England, Callum claims not to have inherited any of his musical ability and had not decided what song he would perform for his squad initiation.

He said: “He passed away years ago but I’ll always remember him, going to the house in Fareham.

He had a strong Irish accent. Hopefully I’m doing him proud.”

Younger sister Jade is a talented pentathlete while father Brendan now helps to look after his affairs following his retirement from the police force.

O’Dowdy was linked with a move to Derby County in January but said: “There’s been speculation all-year round with me.

“If there’s stuff on social media I try not to look at it. But it’s in your face sometimes and you do read it.

“I’ve still got a couple of years left on my contract so we’ll see what happens.”

He is honest enough to admit that, while being an ardent Oxford fan growing up, Ireland attracted less of his attention.

But he added: “As soon as the opportunity came I grabbed it with both hands. I would like to thank Noel King for bringing me into the Under-21s in March 2015.

“He has been good for my development. I am delighted to be here and I want to put my mark down.”

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Callum O'Dowda 2015/2016 season highlights promotional video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ4efYywJ4s

[SkStu]

There's something a bit special about him eh? I know it's Lg2 and it's a highlights package but he has a great maturity and composure about him with a range of tricks, passing, shooting and defensive work. Reminds me of a faster Duffer tbh.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

He has a great surname too. 'O'Dowda'.

[BonnieShels]

There's something a bit special about him eh? I know it's Lg2 and it's a highlights package but he has a great maturity and composure about him with a range of tricks, passing, shooting and defensive work. Reminds me of a faster Duffer tbh.

It's a highlughts package that shows him doing monkey work as well. Very nice.

It takes a lot to knock him down and he's always looking for the inside pass or a switch to someone. Is nice.

Have to say I enjoyed the little bit we got to see of him and Eunan tonight.

[tricky_colour]

He has a great surname too. 'O'Dowda'.


No Dowda bout it.

[tricky_colour]

Shame he is not on the plane, I'd take him, him and Padraig Amond, indeed I'd fly them there myself.

[TrapAPony]

Shame he is not on the plane, I'd take him, him and Padraig Amond, indeed I'd fly them there myself.

He'd probably be as good as Murphy currently is - 22 caps and no goals. I am sure Padraig could easily match that statistic.