Michael Obafemi F Plymouth Argyle (loan from Burnley) b.2000

[liamoo11]

nice to see obafemi on bench for Southampton today long must be inhjured

[liamoo11]

congrats to obafemi getting 10 mins here again Spurs. He is pacy!

[liamoo11]

congrats to obafemi getting 10 mins here again Spurs. He is pacy!

bad miss unfortunately should have been the winner

[tetsujin1979]

nice to see obafemi on bench for Southampton today long must be inhjured
He's ill, according to March of the Day 2

Obafemi's birthday is 6th July 2000, making him the first Irish player to be born after 2000 to play in the Premier League (Christ I feel old). Also, at 17 years and 6 months, Obafemi is the fourth youngest Irish player ever to appear in the Premier League behind Alan Maybury, Andy Turner and Richard Dunne

[samhaydenjr]

This is terrific news - I had noted in the U17 thread that there was a possibility, in spite of what certain members of the punditocracy were saying about a lack of talent coming through, that a number of young strikers could start breaking through at a rate that would make their heads spin, but even I didn't anticipate a league breakthrough in the middle of the season.

Hopefully he can hold onto his place and maybe start scoring - if so, MON will have to start considering him for international duty this summer (assuming the English or Nigerian FA doesn't take a sudden interest). Would be great if he makes a permanent breakthrough over the next few months to add to our improving options up front - remember eight months ago when we were monitoring Cillian Sheridan's move from Cyprus to Poland closely, thinking he could be an important member of a post-Walters/Murphy/ Doyle strikeforce?

[gastric]

Hopefully Rice and Obafemi are called into the next senior squad as encouragement at least and a sign to other young players that they are in line for call ups. Not saying they should play, but we need to start acknowledging the quality of those coming through.

[samhaydenjr]

Hopefully Rice and Obafemi are called into the next senior squad as encouragement at least and a sign to other young players that they are in line for call ups. Not saying they should play, but we need to start acknowledging the quality of those coming through.

Rice for sure, but I'm not sure about Obafemi just yet - after all he's only made a cameo ten minute appearance so far. Plus we need to get Hogan, O'Brien, Maguire (if he's fit by then) and maybe even Will Keane bedded in. Plus we have important qualifiers at U19 and U21 level coming up in March that Obafemi could play an important role in. That said, if he does hold his place in the Southampton squad, MON should definitely be dispatched to watch him play and have a chat about potentially being included in post-season friendly squads and, beyond that, Nations League squads in the Autumn.

[IsMiseSean]

Will the Nations League games tie a player to us?

[geysir]

The Nations League is a binder.

[liamoo11]

Hopefully Rice and Obafemi are called into the next senior squad as encouragement at least and a sign to other young players that they are in line for call ups. Not saying they should play, but we need to start acknowledging the quality of those coming through.

It would be some Progression Considering last May he couldn't make our under 17 squad for the euros even when mccauley pulled out

[backstothewall]

I don't think he can be called up on the basis of 8 minutes of senior football. If anyone is making a move in the forwards it's Hogan.

If he gets more playing time though I'd be happy for him to get the shout. If he's good enough he's old enough.

[Olé Olé]

As opposed to us having to employ "if he's old enough, he's good enough"...

[Fixer82]

What's his connection with Ireland? I see he was born in Dublin but did he live here for long? Did he play underage here? If so, for whom?
He clearly qualifies anyway through birth but I'm just interested. He's broken through at a young age which means he's got something about him. Best of luck to the kid

[Charlie Darwin]

I imagine his parents moved here for work but moved on to the UK due to better opportunities/other family there.

[geysir]

If his great grandad was here at the time, I'm sure he would have fought alongside James Connolly in the GPO.

[Charlie Darwin]

Constant Markiewicz would have given up his life to save Granddad Obafemi.

[geysir]

Constant Markiewicz would have given up his life to save Granddad Obafemi.
His life?
Are you attempting to Stalinise out of existence the leading light in the fight for freedom, women's chapter.

[Charlie Darwin]

You wash your mouth out, Constant was one of the finest men this country ever produced.


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

[gastric]

And with the supposed interest from Nigeria and the Saxons,which is possibly just conjecture, we might need to become very proactive with these young multi qualified players or they will be Maude Gonne.

[Fixer82]

I Ceannt even!

[Fizzer]

Has to be in the squad now, who would've Plunkett?

[DannyInvincible]

Some Pearse-ing wit on show here, but I do think we need a serious proclamation of commitment now from Obafemi.

[DannyInvincible]

And with the supposed interest from Nigeria and the Saxons,which is possibly just conjecture, we might need to become very proactive with these young multi qualified players or they will be Maude Gonne.

If Nigeria came calling, they might be difficult to turn down. They are looking forward to a World Cup this summer, after all.

[Olé Olé]

Tricky one on this lad. The closest comparison I can think of is Olamide Shodipo who was born to Nigerian parents in Ireland and moved to England. I think Shodipo verified his commitment to us stating that he still has family and close ties to Ireland. I'm not sure if the same ties exist for Obafemi.

[Olé Olé]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/england-join-race-to-win-over-irish-teen-sensation-michael-obafemi-36519623.html

This article is fairly thin. An article for the sake of it.

[Closed Account]

http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=26281

Would be a shame to lose him but hope he makes a career for himself whether it be with Nigeria or ourselves.

[IsMiseSean]

http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=26281

Would be a shame to lose him but hope he makes a career for himself whether it be with Nigeria or ourselves.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that article is as credible as an email from a long lost Nigerian uncle who wants to share his lottery winnings with you.

[Diggs246]

If Nigeria came calling, they might be difficult to turn down. They are looking forward to a World Cup this summer, after all.

I would be surprised if he makes their squad, they seem to have 6 or 7 strikers already who at the moment ae ahead of him.

[geysir]

You wash your mouth out, Constant was one of the finest men this country ever produced.
I stand corrected. One day the true story of Constant the eradication enabler, will be told.

[Fixer82]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that article is as credible as an email from a long lost Nigerian uncle who wants to share his lottery winnings with you.

Man I’d love to have a long lost uncle or some prince who trusted me to look after their financial affairs and handsomely rewarded me for my services. But typical of my luck, I don’t...

[tetsujin1979]

http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=26281

Would be a shame to lose him but hope he makes a career for himself whether it be with Nigeria or ourselves.

there's a lot of mentions of him on the Team Nigeria UK twitter page over the last few days: https://twitter.com/Team_NigeriaUK
Seems the game mentioned in the allnigeriasoccer page was when he was 14, and he's played for Ireland since then: 955160002918014976

FWIW there's no mention of him on the FAI's social media, and he changed his twitter profile pic from his Irish jersey to him in his Southampton jersey since he made his debut

[tetsujin1979]

http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=26281

Would be a shame to lose him but hope he makes a career for himself whether it be with Nigeria or ourselves.

FWIW there's no mention of him on the FAI's social media, and he changed his twitter profile pic from his Irish jersey to him in his Southampton jersey since he made his debut

there's a lot of mentions of him on the Team Nigeria UK twitter page over the last few days: https://twitter.com/Team_NigeriaUK
Seems the game mentioned in the allnigeriasoccer page was when he was 14, and he's played for Ireland since then 955160002918014976

[irishfan86]

Obviously you'd hope he would stay with us without any need for us to do anything. But would be nice if FAI or even better the management team reaching out to say we are monitoring your progress closely. I think a short phone call with Keane or O'Neill would do wonders for his confidence -- would just make me rest easier should the Nigerians come in with an approach.

[liamoo11]

http://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/english-players-dual-nationality-thread.2019295/page-45 The brits have their eyes on obafemi and rice(poor Cullen must be sickened they don't want him!) . That bigsoccer is a great forum

[backstothewall]

Despite the Brugha there isn't much we can do here. We Mellows well face it. He'll have a Stack of offers. We Kent do a thing to stop that. The Sands of time will slip away and things could well go South for us

[Fixer82]

I've Breen thinking the same. But we do have to Collins some replacements for what we have. We're in a Constance state of flux - hyperBoland aside

[backstothewall]

I've Breen thinking the same. But we do have to Collins some replacements for what we have. We're in a Constance state of flux - hyperBoland aside

I went out for a pint earlier. I was sitting there over McGuinness thinking the same. Not sure if a change in Tone could save things with Obafemi, Orr if it's too late. We'll be Kickham ourselves if we miss out.

In all seriousness though. I know we're all Larkin about here but he could be an important players for us.

[osarusan]

Make them stop!

[nigel-harps1954]

I Markievicz it...or something

[tetsujin1979]

ok, puns are done.

[liamoo11]

I see Southampton have bought carillo from Monaco to play up top with obafemi

[samhaydenjr]

Some pictures from Southampton's first team training session on Tuesday: https://southamptonfc.com/news/2018-01-23/gallery-southampton-training-23-january-pre-fa-cup-fourth-round - Obafemi features in a few but picture 5 is also of interest - if I'm not terribly mistaken, that's Jonathan Afolabi - is he close to a first team call-up?

[Olé Olé]

Some pictures from Southampton's first team training session on Tuesday: https://southamptonfc.com/news/2018-01-23/gallery-southampton-training-23-january-pre-fa-cup-fourth-round - Obafemi features in a few but picture 5 is also of interest - if I'm not terribly mistaken, that's Jonathan Afolabi - is he close to a first team call-up?
Am I right in saying Afolabi was born and raised in Dublin?

One thing I must wonder about Obafemi is how did anyone become aware he was born in Dublin to call him up?

[DannyInvincible]

I think someone at the FAI heard the name and thought he was O'Bafemy.

[tetsujin1979]

Some pictures from Southampton's first team training session on Tuesday: https://southamptonfc.com/news/2018-01-23/gallery-southampton-training-23-january-pre-fa-cup-fourth-round - Obafemi features in a few but picture 5 is also of interest - if I'm not terribly mistaken, that's Jonathan Afolabi - is he close to a first team call-up?
it is him, but he's lining out for the Southampton U18's today, alongside Will Smallbone and Sean Brennan
957206558298877953

[liamoo11]

it is him, but he's lining out for the Southampton U18's today, alongside Will Smallbone and Sean Brennan
957206558298877953
Nice to see ledwidge involved aswell

[samhaydenjr]

Am I right in saying Afolabi was born and raised in Dublin?

One thing I must wonder about Obafemi is how did anyone become aware he was born in Dublin to call him up?

Dublin born and raised - Played schoolboy football for Shamrock Rovers and St Joseph's Boys before Southampton came calling: http://www.extratime.ie/player/11126435/jonathan_afolabi/ Entirely possible that Afolabi could have been the one to bring Obafemi into the fold - ie Obafemi to Afolabi: "you know, I was actually born in Dublin too"; Afolabi to Obafemi "Really? How interesting"


I think someone at the FAI heard the name and thought he was O'Bafemy.

"I'm Barack Obama of the Moneygall Obamas - I've come to get my apostrophe back." Yes, we'll be having variations on that joke more regularly now.


it is him, but he's lining out for the Southampton U18's today, alongside Will Smallbone and Sean Brennan
957206558298877953

Got two goals for them: https://www.premierleague.com/match/23288/u18-premier-league/2017-18/leicester-v-southampton

[Olé Olé]

Dublin born and raised - Played schoolboy football for Shamrock Rovers and St Joseph's Boys before Southampton came calling: http://www.extratime.ie/player/11126435/jonathan_afolabi/ Entirely possible that Afolabi could have been the one to bring Obafemi into the fold - ie Obafemi to Afolabi: "you know, I was actually born in Dublin too"; Afolabi to Obafemi "Really? How interesting"



"I'm Barack Obama of the Moneygall Obamas - I've come to get my apostrophe back." Yes, we'll be having variations on that joke more regularly now.



Got two goals for them: https://www.premierleague.com/match/23288/u18-premier-league/2017-18/leicester-v-southampton
Very true. Very likely.

[tetsujin1979]

Trained with the first team this week, and expected to feature against man City later today

[liamoo11]

Trained with the first team this week, and expected to feature against man City later today

Great call tets. Makes bench gabbidini maybe injured. Cap him and Coventry against Denmark?