John Joe Patrick Finn M Reims b.2003

[Olé Olé]

Seems to be moving to Reims
https://as.com/futbol/primera/john-patrick-rumbo-al-stade-de-reims-n/
(translated from Spanish)

Is a consequence of the geographical diversification of Irish players and their clubs that I can now raise a concern about one Irish lad stunting the development and potential games of another one at Stade Reims?

[tetsujin1979]

There's that side to the transfer, should it go through. On the other hand, Orazi is still only 17, and arguably way ahead of where you would expect any other 17 year old to be.

[tetsujin1979]

Deal confirmed
https://www.stade-de-reims.com/john-patrick-est-remois/
1879533642957074854

[Eirambler]

Interesting to see him with the Ireland flag at his unveiling. The Ballyhaunis Bomber (I don't even know if he's fast or not but I'm going with it). Hopefully he can get some decent minutes. One of those players where it's hard to know whether there's a real talent there that could develop a bit later than first hoped, or whether he'll go the way of Ryan Johansson. I'm fearing the latter but hopefully might be pleasantly surprised.

[Exgrad]

Feels like the right move for him, 21 so plenty of time to push on. Anyone any idea what postion he's been playing when coming on for Getafe?

[tetsujin1979]

Seems to have been left side of central midfield, and sort of inside left as well

[tetsujin1979]

In the squad for today's game against le Havre
1880903021259092055
Orazi miss out after playing, and scoring, for the second team last night(report in french)
https://www.stade-de-reims.com/uspdc-sdr-2-4-les-remois-brillent-face-lus-pays-de-cassel/

If both players do appear in ligue 1 this season, or Jauny makes his debut for Brest, I think it'll be the first time two Irish players appeared in the competition in the same season

[Eirambler]

A bit frustrating that Orazi is likely missing out in the short term as a direct result of Finn signing - longer term I'd say Orazi is the bigger prospect.

[tetsujin1979]

Finn and Ike Orazi are in Reims' squad to face PSG tonight
1883085363935392231

[zero]

One "John Finn" is starting, at left back per livescore. Hope he has a good outing.

[tetsujin1979]

1883233768745615711
Ike Orazi also named as a sub for Reims

[Eirambler]

One "John Finn" is starting, at left back per livescore. Hope he has a good outing.

Somewhat randomly, given this lad's Mayo background, there was also a John Finn that played left (half) back for Mayo back in the 80s, possibly into the 90s. No idea if they're related or not though.

[Buckett]

John Finn is from Claremorris, John Patrick's dad is from Ballyhaunis

[Eirambler]

Those two towns aren't that far apart all the same! It's probably a coincidence alright though.

[Trequartista20]

Is this lad definitely committed to us?

[Eirambler]

No he's eligible for Spain, France, Cameroon and Ireland. Likely only us or Cameroon would be realistic though, and it's generally easier for European based dual players to play for European nations unless they have a particularly strong tie to the African country they're eligible for.

Probably whether he's good enough is the bigger question at this stage, we still haven't seen much of him.

[Olé Olé]

He has only ever played for Ireland.

[tetsujin1979]

Pictured with the tricolour in his signing photos, and described as Irish, on Reims' social media as well. Doesn't necessarily mean anything, but he didn't wear the colours of any other country he's qualified for

[Olé Olé]

Pictured with the tricolour in his signing photos, and described as Irish, on Reims' social media as well. Doesn't necessarily mean anything, but he didn't wear the colours of any other country he's qualified for

Of course it means something.

[tetsujin1979]

Of course it means something.
It does right now, but there's photos of players with tricolours who went on to play for other countries.
Done get me wrong, I'm glad to see it.

[Olé Olé]

It does right now, but there's photos of players with tricolours who went on to play for other countries.
Done get me wrong, I'm glad to see it.
This is all a little pointless.

Is he definitely committed to us? Well, he has only played for us so that demonstrates commitment.
Is he tied down to us? No, he remains eligible for more countries than a lot of people have been to.

Of course he is going to be referred to as Irish and if they're giving him a flag at his unveiling then of course it's going to be an Irish one. That all means something. You said it "doesn't necessarily mean anything."

Simple fact of the matter is that that like any player that qualifies for more than one country, they are not tied to us until they are.

If he kicks on here, he'll get a call up. Who knows what he thinks about the other countries - maybe he feels Spanish for growing up in Spain and if they reckon he's good enough for a cap before we do then that's a threat but that didn't occur at underage level so the chances are low.

I'm typing longer responses than the questions, I know.

[Eirambler]

Would imagine the most likely outcome here is still that he doesn't end up being good enough for international football at all. But a combination of the previous interest we've shown in him and our issues in midfield probably makes us strong favourites if he ends up nailing down a starting spot in Ligue 1. Which is becoming a league of real interest to us all of a sudden.

[elatedscum]

Still - it’s kinda mental that Jim didn’t call him up once in the last campaign, whereas guys like Conan Noonan, Kian Leavy, Matt Healy, , Dylan Duffy, Jack Henry Francis, Darragh Burns were - no criticism to any of those boys but none of them are anywhere near starting in Ligue 1.

[nigel-harps1954]

Still - it’s kinda mental that Jim didn’t call him up once in the last campaign, whereas guys like Conan Noonan, Kian Leavy, Matt Healy, , Dylan Duffy, Jack Henry Francis, Darragh Burns were - no criticism to any of those boys but none of them are anywhere near starting in Ligue 1.

Neither was John Joe, during the last campaign.

[Eirambler]

No, but I think he was worth a look at some stage. Crawford is way too focused on who is playing first team football when he picks his squads. He should be scouting beyond that and looking at who are the biggest prospects, not who just happens to be playing senior football at a particular point in time.

[tetsujin1979]

Highlights package of his debut on Saturday
1883570844578021666

[Olé Olé]

Highlights package of his debut on Saturday
1883570844578021666

Looks to have been playing deep and central. You'd expect that v PSG but he seems to be tackling and blocking like a midfielder, if that makes sense..

If he could become an option in there it would be useful.

[seanfhear]

Highlights package of his debut on Saturday
1883570844578021666
The Irish Valderama !

[mark12345]

The Irish Valderama !

He certainly looks like Valderama (what a player he was) but his tackling reminds me of a certain Corkman that won everything there was to win with United.

[seanfhear]

He certainly looks like Valderama (what a player he was) but his tackling reminds me of a certain Corkman that won everything there was to win with United.Denis Irwin (wink ) ? !

[mark12345]

Denis Irwin (wink ) ? !

No it was the other lad from Mayfield. Can't think of his name for the life of me.

[BonnieShels]

Feels like this lad has been on the "potentially Irish" scene for a couple of years now and I still have no idea either whether he's any good or whether he actually genuinely wants to play for Ireland.

I was thinking just this when the PSG compilation was sent to me tonight!

[BonnieShels]

He certainly looks like Valderama (what a player he was) but his tackling reminds me of a certain Corkman that won everything there was to win with United.

First thing I thought of watching that was a certain Corkman alright.

[tetsujin1979]

Better quality than the compilation above
1884271132339233284

[BonnieShels]

Tricolour is a nice touch Reims!

[Eirambler]

This lad got another start tonight in Ligue 1. Watched a little bit of it on the French DAZN coverage which was jumping between three games that were on at the same time (including Andy O's game for Bordeaux), so it was hard to follow exactly how he was getting on, but he didn't seem to do anything to write home about while I was watching and was taken off after an hour.

The most notable thing across the three games is how cumbersome the pace of play is compared to the Premier League. I can see why French TV companies weren't exactly tripping over themselves to secure the rights to the league last summer. It definitely looks an obvious level below the other top European leagues.

[pineapple stu]

Now a Ligue 2 player after Reims lost 3-1 after extra time last night. Finn came on after 77 minutes

[Exgrad]

Now a Ligue 2 player after Reims lost 3-1 after extra time last night. Finn came on after 77 minutes

They were 1-0 up when he came on.