Declan Rice

[tetsujin1979]

will he be in the 21s squad for our next games? Best chance We have had to qualify for As long as I can remember.one Last hurrah for old times sake?
I thought I saw a tweet from Dan McDonnell on this after the press conference on Monday saying that he would not be in the U21 squad, but I can't find it now.

[Fixer82]

Ah my head is fried with all this Rice talk.

[Diggs246]

[QUOTE=tetsujin1979;1973499]I thought I saw a tweet from Dan McDonnell on this after the press conference on Monday saying that he would not be in the U21 squad, but I can't find it now.[/QUOT

If he turns up for the U21s then we are dealing with the biggest sociopath in the history of the state. He might as well run for Fianna Fail in the next election and then open an Irish school in the gaeltacht, whilst representing England in football of course

[tetsujin1979]

Hyperbole is literally the worst thing to ever happen to humanity

[Diggs246]

Hyperbole is literally the worst thing to ever happen to humanity

What about reality tv

[tetsujin1979]

I stand by my pithy observation

[Fixer82]

Hyperbole is literally the worst thing to ever happen to humanity
Nice work

[tricky_colour]

Southgate call for a Rice take-away.

[ForzaForth]

I think we've been mullered.

[Real ale Madrid]

I think we've been mullered.

It's a Semolina-l moment for the country.

[seanfhear]

We have to Rice above it !

[SkStu]

Usually Rice has no problem being found in a field of paddies.

[seanfhear]

It doesn’t look like he is going to be a Staple for us .

[Closed Account]

It doesn’t look like he is going to be a Staple for us .

Are you saying it's unlikely he'll line out on the paddy field of Lansdowne Road again?

edit: I see it's been done.

[SkStu]

Ris otto know by now who he wants to play for.

(Apologies for the typos)

[Closed Account 2]

For all the people saying we should follow the Wales model and cap our most promising dual nationality players, do you think it would it be worth it to do this, and sacrifice any success at underage level?

Yes... I'm not even sure why there is a debate about this. We get a guarantee that the player won't switch and suddenly stop playing for us* (or even play against us). We can start thinking about building the squad accordingly. We know Rice can play anywhere across the back and midfield but he probably stronger centrally. We could look at pairing him up with other young players in the U21s we could look at getting Roy Keane to try and mould him into a defensive shielding midfielder.

Rice and Grealish are the types of players we could build a next generation defence / midfield around and if we knew we had them for the next 15 years we could start doing that now.

All we have to do is play them in injury time during a competitive full international. We talking seconds to lock them down, not an entire match. I think they could conceivably play in U21 matches during the same international fixture break anyway. I don't see how it hampers the U21 squad.

You could argue keeping players (who may opt out of the senior squad) in the U21s stagnates Irish football. Grealish and Rice's places in the underage squads might have served Irish football better had they gone to players who wouldn't wander off the scene. We could have found out their sentiment earlier had we tried to cap tie them.


*I appreciate they could retire prematurely but I think that is unlikely and is a general risk with any player

[ForzaForth]

Sus hi still doesn't know who he wants to play for yet.

[zero]

Of course it's all still speculation, so maybe i'll get rapped on the knuckles somewhat, but is there a sense in the last few days that he's more likely to side with us after all?

Maybe not featuring for West Ham (bar league cup) has swung things back in our favour, or maybe he just really did need to take a little time to think about it. Comments like these from O'Neill are the basis for my thoughts:

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/martin-oneill-says-james-mcclean-is-strongly-in-favour-of-declan-rice-playing-for-ireland-despite-critical-tweet-37277970.html

[jbyrne]

Of course it's all still speculation, so maybe i'll get rapped on the knuckles somewhat, but is there a sense in the last few days that he's more likely to side with us after all?

Maybe not featuring for West Ham (bar league cup) has swung things back in our favour

i doubt he would be so fickle as to have his decision made on the back of being left out of a few WHU games in the same way I doubt he would be so fickle to be affected by anything james mcclean or kevin kilbane tweet.

[Deckydee]

Apparently Declan Rice coming back now (https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/declan-rice-considering-republic-ireland-13195070)...Maybe Harry Arter said something to him? LOL :)

[DeLorean]

They were reporting it as if it's real news on Newstalk earlier as well, also sighting 'reports'. A bit underwhelming that The Star seems to be the source but hopefully it comes good.

[marinobohs]

Hyperbole is literally the worst thing to ever happen to humanity

agree 1,000,000 %

[Diggs246]

Im very curious if we will get a statement today from Rice or if it was the media up to thier old tricks

[tetsujin1979]

No tricks, it all stems from this post on Twitter
1037358386264846336

[Olé Olé]

No tricks, it all stems from this post on Twitter
1037358386264846336

https://twitter.com/Jayoconnor8/status/1039851609491234816?s=19

Jason is still waiting patiently too.

[DeLorean]

We were hoping you might be able to tell us, Jay.

[Diggs246]

No tricks, it all stems from this post on Twitter
1037358386264846336

He is now saying on his twitter account "He never said it {for} sure, which doesn't fill me full of confidence, but lets wait and see to be fair

[Fixer82]

*tumbleweed bounces by...*

[tetsujin1979]

Anyone else get a mild panic attack when this thread is bumped?

[Olé Olé]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/martin-oneill-and-fai-in-the-dark-over-declan-rice-plans-37311050.html

Still in the dark.

Not that he was as sought after as O'Brien but nice word from Aiden O'Brien on his choice at the bottom, demonstrating his genuine pride at debut goal.

[Fixer82]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/martin-oneill-and-fai-in-the-dark-over-declan-rice-plans-37311050.html

Still in the dark.

Not that he was as sought after as O'Brien but nice word from Aiden O'Brien on his choice at the bottom, demonstrating his genuine pride at debut goal.

Love that from O’Brien.
Love his attitude.
We could do with more like him.

Thought he held the ball up really well the other night too.
I’d have him ahead of Robinson in the pecking order for sure. And possibly Hogan.

[Charlie Darwin]

Love that from O’Brien.
Love his attitude.
We could do with more like him.

Thought he held the ball up really well the other night too.
I’d have him ahead of Robinson in the pecking order for sure. And possibly Hogan.
I wouldn't say O'Brien and Robinson are in direct competition. O'Brien is competing with Long and Walters for the strong target man role. Robinson, Hogan, Maguire and Burke are probably all competing for a role off one of them.

[Diggs246]

I wonder if Cairney turns southgate down, would it put a little pressure on Rice to stay with Ireland and vice verus

https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/first-declan-rice-now-tom-15176545

[IsMiseSean]

I wonder if Cairney turns southgate down, would it put a little pressure on Rice to stay with Ireland and vice verus

https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/first-declan-rice-now-tom-15176545

There is nothing in that article to suggest Cairney is thinking about switching or England are looking to call him up.
Cairney was genuinely injured for Scotland's September games - that's the reason he didn't play.

It's clickbait rubbish.

[Fixer82]

Stephen Kelly on radio today saying with Rice's good performances it's increasingly likely he will opt for the Brits

[Diggs246]

It makes me sick, everytime he plays well he is on his way to England, everytime he is dropped he might stay with Ireland

When did we lose such confidence in ourselves. We are a brilliant country, small but great. I really hate this selling ourselves short business

[IsMiseSean]

If true, I really hope they fcuk him over. (https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/declan-rice-offered-fasttrack-route-into-the-england-team-as-decision-looms-large-37352548.html)

[Diggs246]

I'm not a big fan of ultimatums, but I do think in this case he should decide before the next squad is announced
Its grossly unfair on the management team and the fans to continue to "deliberate"

[mark12345]

It makes me sick, everytime he plays well he is on his way to England, everytime he is dropped he might stay with Ireland

When did we lose such confidence in ourselves. We are a brilliant country, small but great. I really hate this selling ourselves short business

When? Could it have been during the home game against Austria last campaign?
Or maybe it was after those imposters in green shirts took the field in Georgia the following September?
Or maybe as recently as our last game in Cardiff? Who knows?
But what I do know is when you continue to play like muck, eventually muck sticks to the wall.

[mark12345]

We are a brilliant country. Absolutely true. But we continue to accept mediocrity and pretend that its greatness.
We know what it takes to become great. Just ask our rugby players. They didn't become feared across the world by sitting there and complaining and pointing fingers at one another.
They worked their tails off, unlike the FAI and LOI who have spent all of my lifetime failing to get out of their own way.

A completely different sport, but I am a big fan of the New England Patriots. I have watched that team come up from their bootstraps twenty years ago.
They never accepted mediocrity and fixed problems any time they arose. They are the greatest team I have ever seen in any sport and it was a joy to see how hard work and correct decision making can reach
the highest of all highs and beyond. To be a supporter of Ireland and the New England Patriots at the same time is a classic example
of how to do things and how not to do them (ie to tear one's hair out on a regular basis).

[jbyrne]

We know what it takes to become great. Just ask our rugby players. They didn't become feared across the world by sitting there and complaining and pointing fingers at one another.


ah yes... the good old rugby team (or insert whatever irish team is doing well at the time as a stick to hit the football team with) comparison. how many countries actually take rugby seriously?
and remind me again how many knock out matches our rugby team have won in a WC in 8 attempts??

[tetsujin1979]

If true, I really hope they fcuk him over. (https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/declan-rice-offered-fasttrack-route-into-the-england-team-as-decision-looms-large-37352548.html)

from that article

O'Neill later confirmed that London-born Rice had spoken to Gareth Southgate and his England set-up about switching his international allegiances away from Ireland and a source has now told Independent.ie that the 19-year-old could be named in the England under-21 squad as early as next month before receiving a first senior England call-up in November.
he can't play in the England U21s next month. He's played for Ireland U21s in the 2019 UEFA U21 Championship qualifiers, and cannot represent another side in the same tournament - same as when Grealish took a year out so he could play for England U19s after playing for the Ireland U19s

[Diggs246]

from that article
he can't play in the England U21s next month. He's played for Ireland U21s in the 2019 UEFA U21 Championship qualifiers, and cannot represent another side in the same tournament - same as when Grealish took a year out so he could play for England U19s after playing for the Ireland U19s

That's correct, So I would be of the opinion that we can dismiss the indo article anyway

[Fizzer]

Jesus,this is torture.

[Diggs246]

Does anyone think he might stay with us?

[Fixer82]

Does anyone think he might stay with us?

Not really

[Olé Olé]

That's correct, So I would be of the opinion that we can dismiss the indo article anyway

Ludicrously poor reporting.

[Dunners]

Yes , he’s using this England talk as a bargaining chip to get a better deal at West Ham , once the contract is signed he will declare his wish to remain with Ireland , he’s Irish after all why wouldn’t he

Sometimes its better to stay optimistic or am just in denial

[Olé Olé]

That Kevin Palmer should have a chat with himself. I have to assume he's using the Daily Mail as his English reports: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6203291/West-Ham-risk-losing-Declan-Rice-starlet-turns-12k-week-offer.html


Incidentally, I must laugh at the most Daily Mail paragraph possible in that article:
"Rice, who speaks with a London accent, qualifies for the Republic through his grandparents, but was born in the English capital to English parents."

[Diggs246]

That Kevin Palmer should have a chat with himself. I have to assume he's using the Daily Mail as his English reports: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6203291/West-Ham-risk-losing-Declan-Rice-starlet-turns-12k-week-offer.html


Incidentally, I must laugh at the most Daily Mail paragraph possible in that article:
"Rice, who speaks with a London accent, qualifies for the Republic through his grandparents, but was born in the English capital to English parents."

I know its a bit mental, but i emailed Palmer about the u21 regulations. He should know the rules before writing an article