Mark Sykes M Bristol City b.1997

[Eirambler]

Might as well give him his own thread -some comments from him today on his international transfer.

“The last few weeks have given me time to think about things and I have to do what my heart says.

"The Republic of Ireland are the team I have always dreamed of playing for and I have to try my best to achieve that."


Apparently Sykes is a fluent Irish speaker as well, there can't have been too many of those in the NI Senior squad down the years.

[Olé Olé]

Where are the quotes from? They make for fantastic reading.

[Olé Olé]

The Sykes quotes are from Oxford United's website: https://www.oufc.co.uk/news/2020/august/cooper-call-up/

Kenny made the point here: Fluent Irish speaker Mark Sykes following his heart in switching allegiance from Northern Ireland, says Kenny https://the42.ie/5184442

[CraftyToePoke]

Apparently Sykes is a fluent Irish speaker as well, there can't have been too many of those in the NI Senior squad down the years.

Think Norman Whiteside had the cupla focal ..

[seanfhear]

Think Norman Whiteside had the cupla focal ..
Faigh A Beallach / Fág An Beallach !

[Fixer82]

Think Norman Whiteside had the cupla focal ..

Really? Where did you read that? I’d be surprised. He’s from Shankill Road

[tricky_colour]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwHsj6hc7aA

[Olé Olé]

Someone on YBIG stated that Mark's father was shot in the loyalist attack on the Sean Graham bookies in 1992. I have done a check and there are quotes from a Mark Sykes here who is 50/51: https://www.thesun.ie/news/3756586/man-survived-uff-betting-shop-attack-felt-lied-to-psni-documents-blunder/

[Eirambler]

Not football related but I see his dad was arrested at a remembrance event related to the massacre he survived in 1992. The involvement of the police was supposedly on the premise of Covid regulation enforcement, but intimadatory incidents like this probably go a long way to explaining why Mark and others from a nationalist background continue to prefer to associate with the Irish football team rather than the Northern one.

https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2021/0205/1195387-belfast-man-arrested/

[Olé Olé]

https://www.irishnews.com/sport/footballsoccer/2021/04/07/news/-i-m-an-irish-person---i-want-to-play-for-the-republic-of-ireland-it-s-that-simple---mark-sykes-2279427/

This warms the cockles of the heart. Based on these comments alone, I hope this lad develops to be a good enough player to get capped for us.

The writer also manages to get in there twice that Mark is from the Ormeau Road.

[seanfhear]

https://www.irishnews.com/sport/footballsoccer/2021/04/07/news/-i-m-an-irish-person---i-want-to-play-for-the-republic-of-ireland-it-s-that-simple---mark-sykes-2279427/

This warms the cockles of the heart. Based on these comments alone, I hope this lad develops to be a good enough player to get capped for us.

The writer also manages to get in there twice that Mark is from the Ormeau Road.
Great.

[Eirambler]

Hadn't realised that his contract is up at the end of the season and no sign of it being renewed as of yet. Seems to get mixed reports at Oxford, their support aren't exactly desperate to see him stay on. There is also currently a squad size limit in the lower leagues of 20 players over 21 in the first team squad, which might count against him - I didn't actually know that this rule existed at that level.

In terms of the (many) other Irish players at Oxford Anthony Forde is in a similar situation to Sykes, his contract is up and he's very much a squad player, he's 27 now. Liam Kelly doesn't seem to be rated and will be heading back to the Feyenoord reserves. Nico Jones looks to have fallen away completely, the under 21 rules should suit someone like him but he doesn't seem to be progressing.

Shodipo has done well there but will presumably go back to QPR and try again to get into their first team.

[Trequartista20]

Oxford have taken up the option to renew Sykes' contract for another 12 months. He seems to have done well since reclaiming his starting berth. Let's hope he can kick on from here. Oxford are currently in the League One play-off places, residing in 5th - but it's extremely tight, with Oxford, 6th-place Lincoln and 7th-place Portsmouth all on 68 points, and Charlton, in 8th, only 2 points worse off. Indeed there is only 6 points difference between 5th place and 12th.

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/19261534.oxford-united-contract-extensions-mark-sykes-alex-gorrin/

[Eirambler]

Has been strongly linked to a transfer to Ipswich in the media today.

[Bielsa´s irish]

is near a call up according to some journals

[Fixer82]

Which journals would that be??? When is squad announced?

[CraftyToePoke]

Which journals would that be??? When is squad announced?

Old Moores Almanac

[JR89]

Which journals would that be??? When is squad announced?

Probably Thursday.

[tetsujin1979]

Which journals would that be??? When is squad announced?
Thursday according to the independent: https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/stephen-kenny-awaits-word-on-jason-knight-injury-as-derby-man-fights-fitness-battle-41003592.html

Kenny, who names his squad on Thursday for the World Cup double-header against Portugal and Luxembourg, is in a position to recall Alan Browne and Jayson Molumby to his midfield after the duo missed the qualifier away to Azerbaijan due to suspension.

[third policeman]

If Knight and McGrath are missing, I’d like to see Ronan called up. He’s an enigma, but seems to have lovely technique. I think he is the new Wes. Perhaps both suffered from being perceived as too small, but are actually equipped to thrive better at a higher level of football. We’ll never know if he’s an international player until he gets a chance to show us what he can do.

[elatedscum]

Thursday according to the independent: https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/stephen-kenny-awaits-word-on-jason-knight-injury-as-derby-man-fights-fitness-battle-41003592.html

Sean Maguire is mentioned in that article. Thought he was excellent against Liverpool. Missed a sitter but was probably Preston's best player. Created 2 or 3 lovely chances for his No.9. Good to see him playing well, even if he looks low on confidence in front of goal...

[third policeman]

Agree with that. Like Hogan, he’s clever and can get himself into scoring positions. Until Connolly and Idah start actually playing football, we should stop gambling on potential. Farke made a telling point about his squad lacking quality in both boxes, and yet Idah only gets minutes here and there.

[Bielsa´s irish]

If Knight and McGrath are missing, I’d like to see Ronan called up. He’s an enigma, but seems to have lovely technique. I think he is the new Wes. Perhaps both suffered from being perceived as too small, but are actually equipped to thrive better at a higher level of football. We’ll never know if he’s an international player until he gets a chance to show us what he can do.

Ronan is 1.75 cms

[Bielsa´s irish]

He has a hunchback, nevertheless

[Bielsa´s irish]

If Knight and McGrath are missing, I’d like to see Ronan called up. He’s an enigma, but seems to have lovely technique. I think he is the new Wes. Perhaps both suffered from being perceived as too small, but are actually equipped to thrive better at a higher level of football. We’ll never know if he’s an international player until he gets a chance to show us what he can do.
I have no problem for being small in some areas if they are good
Coleman. 1,77
McCarthy and S Long 1,78
knight. 1,73
Brady 1,76
McGrath 1,75
Hourihane 1,78
OShea. 1,77

[ColourfulPeanut]

Almost all of those heights are wrong and you've undersold O'Shea by about 10cm. What are you even on about?

[Bielsa´s irish]

Almost all of those heights are wrong and you've undersold O'Shea by about 10cm. What are you even on about?

Yeah. I got oshea was smaller because he is ver y mobile

[seanfhear]

He has a hunchback, nevertheless
Notre Dame !

[tetsujin1979]

He has a hunchback, nevertheless no he doesn't

[John83]

I have no problem for being small in some areas if they are good
Coleman. 1,77
McCarthy and S Long 1,78
knight. 1,73
Brady 1,76
McGrath 1,75
Hourihane 1,78
OShea. 1,77
Do you have a source for any of those numbers? Asking for a mod.

[Bielsa´s irish]

I thought some of them looked on google on oshea I guessed. In football is better to be smaller than taller. only the gk and some center backs or a 9. Un my opinión the best height to play football At the fullest is between 1,68 to 1,77 . Toó tall toó clumsy...in my opinión. Even though you need 2 or 3 tall guys in your eleven

[Snapshot]

I thought some of them looked on google on oshea I guessed. In football is better to be smaller than taller. only the gk and some center backs or a 9. Un my opinión the best height to play football At the fullest is between 1,68 to 1,77 . Toó tall toó clumsy...in my opinión. Even though you need 2 or 3 tall guys in your eleven
Is that a yes or a no?

[sadloserkid]

is near a call up according to some journals

Probably a list at the end of this article, somewhere in the sports section of The Daily Lie.

[Fixer82]

is near a call up according to some journals

Didn’t happen in the end….
Ah it’s been a washout

[Bielsa´s irish]

No. He is near a call up. He donned the #10 shirt is scoring goals cracking season from this irishman

[tetsujin1979]

Have you any evidence of this?

[JR89]

Don't know why people put up with his nonsense really. They kicked him off YBIG and that place has some of the biggest head the balls for talking nonsense.

[third policeman]

Don't know why people put up with his nonsense really. They kicked him off YBIG and that place has some of the biggest head the balls for talking nonsense.

I think we should be a tad more tolerant. If you don’t appreciate his comments don’t read them. The world needs a few eccentrics, original thinkers, mavericks. I actually admire the way he puts up with the insults and abuse and carries on sharing his slightly lateral perspective with us in a good natured way. And actually sometimes I find myself agreeing with him.

[CraftyToePoke]

Don't know why people put up with his nonsense really. They kicked him off YBIG and that place has some of the biggest head the balls for talking nonsense.

Because there is a mod here who is, IMO, a bit quick to rule on day to day discussions but who is being made a fool of by this fella trailing him around for months now asking him stupid questions about his WUM content posts instead of just dealing with it. Is why. The one time it needs a bit of moding and here we are .....

[JR89]

I think we should be a tad more tolerant. If you don’t appreciate his comments don’t read them. The world needs a few eccentrics, original thinkers, mavericks. I actually admire the way he puts up with the insults and abuse and carries on sharing his slightly lateral perspective with us in a good natured way. And actually sometimes I find myself agreeing with him.

Hopefully he keeps the next racist rant to himself.

https://forum.ybig.ie/where-is-javier_topic56385.html

[third policeman]

Hopefully he keeps the next racist rant to himself.

https://forum.ybig.ie/where-is-javier_topic56385.html

Wasn’t aware of that.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Wasn’t aware of that.

Yes i made a mistake I had a rant on poor old Rondon he wants to play for Boca though, he said several times. Another guy almost broke Messi in half two months ago and he is carrying an injury at this very moment.

Sometimes they are reckless. I guess Sal felt guilty anyway.

Video: la criminal patada a Messi que pudo haberlo quebrado (ole.com.ar) (https://www.ole.com.ar/seleccion/messi-patada-martinez-venezuela-criminal_0_fF4dujiaV.html) this other fellow got sent off because of VAR,

As I have learnt the hard way in Southamerica some things are not an issue as they are in the rest of the world. For ourselves we are on the rich poor debate, or neoliberalist fan or left wing party fan not on other stuff .

I have learnt

[Bielsa´s irish]

On Sykes I have read it in other forum but I cant put it down here, if that gets done, it would be great, the fellow seems class

[Bielsa´s irish]

Don't know why people put up with his nonsense really. They kicked him off YBIG and that place has some of the biggest head the balls for talking nonsense.

I read that in a forum that we cant talk about, I dont see too much of a problem with that, im not especulating, and the guy is irish and declared you should be glad to hear he is under consideration. For me he is a super player, there must be a reason they gave him the number 10 shirt there

dont you think? I made a mistake on Sal, but we in Southamerica have a different approach as things are there, this isnt Disneyland

[tetsujin1979]

On Sykes I have read it in other forum but I cant put it down here, if that gets done, it would be great, the fellow seems class
Yes, you can link to it.

[samhaydenjr]

Well, since that last little digression in the thread, Sykes has gone on a bit of a scoring run, nabbing his fourth in five games against Cheltenham today" https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/59787666

[JR89]

1488639695357624327

Some lovely play in the build up to the goal and what could be goal of the season. A player Kenny rates and can see him in March's squad with the decent season he's having

[seanfhear]

1488639695357624327

Some lovely play in the build up to the goal and what could be goal of the season. A player Kenny rates and can see him in March's squad with the decent season he's having
Great Goal.

[Trequartista20]

Sykes seems made for the 3-4-2-1 system Kenny wants to use; he's creative, energetic, can pop up with a goal and is comfortable on the left, right or in the 10 position. He seems really passionate about wanting to play for his country, too.

Decent chance he'll named in the squad for the upcoming friendlies you would have to think.

[Olé Olé]

https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/from-the-ormeau-road-to-the-aviva-mark-is-well-aware-of-those-stories-and-the-impact-that-the-conflict-had-on-his-own-family-41488680.html

Did anyone read this in yesterday's Independent? Absolutely incredible.