Mipo Odubeko F Shelbourne b.2002

[Diggs246]

Why would you box yourself into a corner for no reason?

Agents are full of ****, always. Mipo has played for Ireland before and it seems obvious he was upset at not being picked for his country. Give him a bit of space, let Stephen contact him after a while and show him a bit of love, and things will be fine.

But isnt that the point, he wasnt picked so he thinks he has some moral right to exclude himself from future squad. That's not football, it's not how it works

[Exgrad]

But isnt that the point, he wasnt picked so he thinks he has some moral right to exclude himself from future squad. That's not football, it's not how it works

Actually it is how it works if you're good enough.

[tetsujin1979]

still hasn't made a decision about his international future: https://www.the42.ie/mipo-odubeko-republic-of-ireland-5503155-Jul2021/

[seanfhear]

still hasn't made a decision about his international future: https://www.the42.ie/mipo-odubeko-republic-of-ireland-5503155-Jul2021/
Forget-about-him. Another one waiting for England to call.

[Eminence Grise]

Time to take a hard line and stop this kind of thing happening. Odubeko today, somebody else tomorow. I don't care what kind of wonderkids we lose, pandering to inflated egos isn't worth it. 'I need time to consider my future' should default to 'goodbye' in response. Conflicted identity at 18? Give me a break: this is a young man who had the bottle to walk out on Man Utd to improve his career prospects. Everything is a calculation with him. I wish him a long and successful career but if his international journey continues this way, I really don't care who it's with because it won't be us. (Though I'd take Nigeria over England all day long, and I'm from England!)

The eligibility pendulum has swung too far in favour of players. It's basically become caps for cash at this stage. FIFA need to take a long hard look at this again. Of course, they won't. Why would they? Myself, I favour a cooling-off period of at least a couple of seasons if you want to change allegiance and have been called-up, and a line between underage and senior - if you've played at any underage level for one country (I'd except the Olympics because it's an IOC not FIFA event, but not u23 itself), you're only eligible for senior with your new choice.

FWIW, I have a feeling - more a hope really - that if more of our young players born or raised here get moves to continental leagues (the Brexit dispensation) it will cut down on both our reliance on 2 and 3G players in the UK, and the numbers playing us while holding out for an England call-up.

[CSAD]

Time to take a hard line and stop this kind of thing happening. Odubeko today, somebody else tomorow. I don't care what kind of wonderkids we lose, pandering to inflated egos isn't worth it. 'I need time to consider my future' should default to 'goodbye' in response. Conflicted identity at 18? Give me a break: this is a young man who had the bottle to walk out on Man Utd to improve his career prospects. Everything is a calculation with him. I wish him a long and successful career but if his international journey continues this way, I really don't care who it's with because it won't be us. (Though I'd take Nigeria over England all day long, and I'm from England!)

The eligibility pendulum has swung too far in favour of players. It's basically become caps for cash at this stage. FIFA need to take a long hard look at this again. Of course, they won't. Why would they? Myself, I favour a cooling-off period of at least a couple of seasons if you want to change allegiance and have been called-up, and a line between underage and senior - if you've played at any underage level for one country (I'd except the Olympics because it's an IOC not FIFA event, but not u23 itself), you're only eligible for senior with your new choice.

FWIW, I have a feeling - more a hope really - that if more of our young players born or raised here get moves to continental leagues (the Brexit dispensation) it will cut down on both our reliance on 2 and 3G players in the UK, and the numbers playing us while holding out for an England call-up.

I’m pretty straight on this, call him up for the u21 qualifiers, if he declines never contact him again until he decides to contact us.

[Diggs246]

Time to take a hard line and stop this kind of thing happening. Odubeko today, somebody else tomorow. I don't care what kind of wonderkids we lose, pandering to inflated egos isn't worth it. 'I need time to consider my future' should default to 'goodbye' in response. Conflicted identity at 18? Give me a break: this is a young man who had the bottle to walk out on Man Utd to improve his career prospects. Everything is a calculation with him. I wish him a long and successful career but if his international journey continues this way, I really don't care who it's with because it won't be us. (Though I'd take Nigeria over England all day long, and I'm from England!)

The eligibility pendulum has swung too far in favour of players. It's basically become caps for cash at this stage. FIFA need to take a long hard look at this again. Of course, they won't. Why would they? Myself, I favour a cooling-off period of at least a couple of seasons if you want to change allegiance and have been called-up, and a line between underage and senior - if you've played at any underage level for one country (I'd except the Olympics because it's an IOC not FIFA event, but not u23 itself), you're only eligible for senior with your new choice.

FWIW, I have a feeling - more a hope really - that if more of our young players born or raised here get moves to continental leagues (the Brexit dispensation) it will cut down on both our reliance on 2 and 3G players in the UK, and the numbers playing us while holding out for an England call-up.

Ive been saying this for years, it has to be a zero tolerance policy. In or out
Its particularly offensive when the lad was raised and learnt all his football here that he will treat us with such contempt
Nigeria or Ireland was and is his choice, pick one and shut up. Personally I don't want him and I know how desperate we are for a goal scorer.

[Diggs246]

Looks at this he is a total tw*t

"Mipo Odubeko was born in Dublin and played with St Joseph’s Boys, with his links to current Ireland U21 manager Jim Crawford going back to those schoolboy days when Crawford used to give the youngster lifts to training along with his own son and Odubeko’s older brother"

[paul_oshea]

Who knows that kind of advice they are giving out at West ham

[Olé Olé]

That is mad re Crawford alright. But between the agent and West Ham, I would be very concerned about those in his ear. Kenny fairly pointedly referenced the agent a couple of times.

[seanfhear]

Who knows that kind of advice they are giving out at West ham
Have English Roast Beef with your Rice = = I reckon !

[CraftyToePoke]

Who knows that kind of advice they are giving out at West ham

Whatever course achieves maximum value for them, protecting him meanwhile from any value damaging injuries playing internationally for anyone ( unless England call on him )

Something along those lines I'd say

[samhaydenjr]

Alright, calm down everybody - realistically Odubeko isn't going to be called into a senior Irish until next summer, won't be called up for competitive action until the Nations League next autumn and won't be required for a major qualifier until March of 2023 - so Kenny has made his presentation, Odubeko's agent hasn't said no, just that he's focusing on his club career so let him get set up and if he breaks through, revisit the issue at the end of the season. And while it does look like he could be the cream of the crop of this generation of Irish strikers, even without him it's still looking like a very good crop.

[Razors left peg]

I go over and back on this guy. Not everyone thinks the same way about nationality. Obviously we are all passionate Ireland fans or we wouldnt be posting on here so its hard for a lot of us to understand why someone would turn down a call up. But a kid who grew up with Nigerian parents in Ireland but moved to England as a young age is different to a guy who have lived in same town in Ireland all his life within 10 miles of where he was born.

He is a professional footballer who wants to make the most amount of money he possibly can in a short career. If he doesnt particularly feel very patriot about anywhere then he will make the decision that is best for his career. Its better he holds off to make that decision rather than doing what Rice did and play 3 full senior games, or Grealish who turns up to collect a player of the year award and then switch right after.

Ive lived in the States for a while now, my wife is Portuguese. If we had a son good enough to play international football god knows who he would play for. Shes as passionate about Portuguese football as I am about Irish, but yet he would grow up the US system. His sense of patriotism wouldnt be the same as a lad growing up in Galway.

Rory McIlroy has spoken about this in the past. He doesnt really feel a sense of patriotism for anywhere. He grew up in a divided NI. I think at one point he said he does feel British and he got hammered for it, yet he probably singlehandly kept the Irish Open alive for years and now he is playing for Ireland in the Olympics, like he played for Ireland as an amateur. But yet if you look at the comment section on an social media about Rory its full of idiots bitching about his nationality. The guy travels the world and lives in Florida, so what if he doesnt feel the same as James McClean.

My point goes back to Mipo. At times I've said we need to move on from him since he didnt turn up to the 21s, but if he genuinely is conflicted then lets see what happens. England doing so well in the Euros and seeing how the whole country went nuts probably wont help our case. Particularly seeing how Rice is treated as a hero in the club.

Even after all of that he still has only scored goals in the U23s. Parrott, Connolly and Idah have all done that and we are still waiting for them to kick on...... Mipo could end up being sh1te!

[Fixer82]

Rory McIlroy said he's going to Tokyo to work on his golf game and representing Ireland don't really mean anything to him.
Hence, Rory means nothing to me.

I've no issue with Mipo playing for Nigeria. He is ethnically Nigerian, his parents were both born there. I'd expect him to be proud of his Nigerian background. If he needs a little bit of time to figure out between Ireland and Nigeria, I'm ok with that.

But if he plays for England, then he is morally bankrupt and I wouldn't want anything to do with him.

I can understand Grealish and Rice playing for England more than this guy who was born here and lived here til he was 14.

[Razors left peg]

But if he plays for England, then he is morally bankrupt and I wouldn't want anything to do with him.



Im gonna play devils advocate here. If someone came to you and said you would make millions of Euros more in your job but you have to get an English passport would you do it? I would and Im proud to be Irish. Your career is a different thing. If you really dont care one way or another what flag you have behind you then you make the decision of whats best financially for you and your family.

[SkStu]

Im gonna play devils advocate here. If someone came to you and said you would make millions of Euros more in your job but you have to get an English passport would you do it? I would and Im proud to be Irish. Your career is a different thing. If you really dont care one way or another what flag you have behind you then you make the decision of whats best financially for you and your family.

Plot Twist: you get racially abused by thousands of your fans for missing a penalty.

[Razors left peg]

Plot Twist: you get racially abused by thousands of your fans for missing a penalty.

Valid point!

[tommy_c12000]

I like RLP’s post on this. Nationality, like everything else, is getting more and more fluid these days.

He is not impressing in senior football thus far and will need a loan this season to see where he lands. He/his agent has likely overplayed his hand. England will unlikely be an option. Let’s see what happens in the coming months, he will eventually commit to Nigeria or Ireland and so be it. I wouldn’t get too worked up about it.

[CSAD]

I like RLP’s post on this. Nationality, like everything else, is getting more and more fluid these days.

He is not impressing in senior football thus far and will need a loan this season to see where he lands. He/his agent has likely overplayed his hand. England will unlikely be an option. Let’s see what happens in the coming months, he will eventually commit to Nigeria or Ireland and so be it. I wouldn’t get too worked up about it.

One thing people don’t seem to realize is it isn’t that high a bar to get selected for an England squad (it’s competitive yes but not nearly as competitive as some think it is), let’s not forget when Grealish and Rice were debating which country to play for the narrative was “oh, he’ll get 60+ caps playing for Ireland or 2-3 caps playing for England” and yet look where they are now, hell if even Bamford is being talked about being selected for England, the fact he was ever even in the conversation shows you that you should never say never on a player. Quite afew England CF’s were in less glamorous positions at the same age so it’s best not to decide a 19 year olds future so young.

[CSAD]

Im gonna play devils advocate here. If someone came to you and said you would make millions of Euros more in your job but you have to get an English passport would you do it? I would and Im proud to be Irish. Your career is a different thing. If you really dont care one way or another what flag you have behind you then you make the decision of whats best financially for you and your family.

Imagine how ****ed Wales would be if they had to go through the **** we have to go through when it comes to eligibility of players.

I always remember David Brooks still sticking with Wales even after being named the best player of the Toulon Tournament while playing for England…wish we had English born players that committed to Ireland, now we are at a new low where even players born and raised in Ireland are a flight risk to England.

[Diggs246]

I go over and back on this guy. Not everyone thinks the same way about nationality. Obviously we are all passionate Ireland fans or we wouldnt be posting on here so its hard for a lot of us to understand why someone would turn down a call up. But a kid who grew up with Nigerian parents in Ireland but moved to England as a young age is different to a guy who have lived in same town in Ireland all his life within 10 miles of where he was born.

He is a professional footballer who wants to make the most amount of money he possibly can in a short career. If he doesnt particularly feel very patriot about anywhere then he will make the decision that is best for his career. Its better he holds off to make that decision rather than doing what Rice did and play 3 full senior games, or Grealish who turns up to collect a player of the year award and then switch right after.

Ive lived in the States for a while now, my wife is Portuguese. If we had a son good enough to play international football god knows who he would play for. Shes as passionate about Portuguese football as I am about Irish, but yet he would grow up the US system. His sense of patriotism wouldnt be the same as a lad growing up in Galway.

Rory McIlroy has spoken about this in the past. He doesnt really feel a sense of patriotism for anywhere. He grew up in a divided NI. I think at one point he said he does feel British and he got hammered for it, yet he probably singlehandly kept the Irish Open alive for years and now he is playing for Ireland in the Olympics, like he played for Ireland as an amateur. But yet if you look at the comment section on an social media about Rory its full of idiots bitching about his nationality. The guy travels the world and lives in Florida, so what if he doesnt feel the same as James McClean.

My point goes back to Mipo. At times I've said we need to move on from him since he didnt turn up to the 21s, but if he genuinely is conflicted then lets see what happens. England doing so well in the Euros and seeing how the whole country went nuts probably wont help our case. Particularly seeing how Rice is treated as a hero in the club.

Even after all of that he still has only scored goals in the U23s. Parrott, Connolly and Idah have all done that and we are still waiting for them to kick on...... Mipo could end up being sh1te!
I think your being too sound
Mipo was born and raised here, he didnt go over to England as a kid like obafemi

Rory McIlroy should be nowhere near the irish Olympic team. He is British and should use team GB to get fit or whatever self serving thing he said

Best of luck in your gaff in September when we play Portugal !@

[irishfan86]

Very harsh to describe McIlroy as British. If he felt that way he would compete for Great Britain, end of story.

As fans of the Irish football team, many of us have a patriotic streak, but the reality is for people who grow up in Northern Ireland, the idea of patriotism or nationalism can be interpreted as quite toxic or negative. I’ve always got the sense that Rory wanted to represent the whole island and that choosing one group over another was never comfortable for him.

I’ll still be rooting for Rory, and I hope Mipo lines out for us too someday, in spite of his agent’s clear meddling.

[Yard of Pace]

IMHO, I think we should have learned our lesson from Rice and Grealish (with a heavy emphasis on Rice) and I would lock this thread until Odubeko joins up with a squad and plays. Or, preferably, until he earns a full cap that ties him to us. I get all the stuff about some young lads not having strong feelings on nationality but, in my opinion, these is are just guys acting like d**kheads, for want of a stronger word and wasting people's time in a very disrespectful way. I'd nip it in the bud right away but never close the door, obviously. If he wants to play I'm sure he can get in touch.

[Fixer82]

Im gonna play devils advocate here. If someone came to you and said you would make millions of Euros more in your job but you have to get an English passport would you do it? I would and Im proud to be Irish. Your career is a different thing. If you really dont care one way or another what flag you have behind you then you make the decision of whats best financially for you and your family.


Not for one second

[Diggs246]

Very harsh to describe McIlroy as British. If he felt that way he would compete for Great Britain, end of story.

As fans of the Irish football team, many of us have a patriotic streak, but the reality is for people who grow up in Northern Ireland, the idea of patriotism or nationalism can be interpreted as quite toxic or negative. I’ve always got the sense that Rory wanted to represent the whole island and that choosing one group over another was never comfortable for him.

I’ll still be rooting for Rory, and I hope Mipo lines out for us too someday, in spite of his agent’s clear meddling.
He said he was british?

[Fixer82]

He said he was british?

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.the42.ie/rory-mcilroy-ive-always-felt-more-british-than-irish-590659-Sep2012/%3famp=1

[kennedmc]

I can understand him playing for Ireland because he is Irish and grew up here.

I can understand him potentially wanting to play for Nigeria because it culturally a huge part of his heritage....maybe its in his parents, grandparents dreams etc.

Declaring for England is just a mercenary move and I don't care if he's only 18 etc. 'Picking' a country is not like picking your f**king dream club!


Anyway I'd love if we closed this thread now and focus on the lads who want to play for their country. Who wouldn't want to player for THEIR country?

[tetsujin1979]

I'll move the thread if and when he makes a decision about his international allegiance, same as I did for Rice and Grealish

[Fixer82]

I can understand him playing for Ireland because he is Irish and grew up here.

I can understand him potentially wanting to play for Nigeria because it culturally a huge part of his heritage....maybe its in his parents, grandparents dreams etc.

Declaring for England is just a mercenary move and I don't care if he's only 18 etc. 'Picking' a country is not like picking your f**king dream club!


Anyway I'd love if we closed this thread now and focus on the lads who want to play for their country. Who wouldn't want to player for THEIR country?


Well said!!!

[CraftyToePoke]

Mipo Odubeko, new contract at West Ham to 2023 & season long loan to Huddersfield.

https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/august/30-august/mipo-odubeko-signs-new-west-ham-united-contract-and-joins

[John83]

If he can get game time there and doesn't look out of place, he'll be straight into the senior squad.

[CraftyToePoke]

If he can get game time there and doesn't look out of place, he'll be straight into the senior squad.

If he'll honour us with is presence that is. Still, he's out in the world now, same as Parrott & Idah so lets see if he walks as well as he ( & his agent ) talks.

[Exgrad]

Hasnt made Huddersfield match day squad for last few weeks, after making a few appearances at start of his loan. Like Parrott last year think this loan may be a wake up call.

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/odubeko-huddersfield-prospect-west-ham-21871597

[ColourfulPeanut]

Not in the squad again today and playing for their B team. Doesn't bode well for him at all.

[Diggs246]

He is a lemon 🍋. His attitude towards Ireland is amazingly obnoxious

[liamoo11]

Not in the squad again today and playing for their B team. Doesn't bode well for him at all.

Louie barry similar age more highly rated and touted can't get a look in at Ipswich a division down. Give the lad a chance an injury or suspension will get him a chance hopefully. He has handled his career very independently by leaving utd when he could have stayed but felt he had better options of playing at West ham and then getting out on loan when he could have stayed comfortable in West hams 23s scoring goals and getting the odd bench appearance for the first team.

[Yard of Pace]

Louie barry similar age more highly rated and touted can't get a look in at Ipswich a division down. Give the lad a chance an injury or suspension will get him a chance hopefully. He has handled his career very independently by leaving utd when he could have stayed but felt he had better options of playing at West ham and then getting out on loan when he could have stayed comfortable in West hams 23s scoring goals and getting the odd bench appearance for the first team.


Nah, this loan isn't working out. Trust me, I watch Town every week. We're weaker than Ireland up front and Odubeko is nowhere near the team. Carlos has spoken about him but only in all the ways he needs to improve to get a game of any kind. Last year we had a lad from Ajax who played plenty of games, the year before we had Emile Smith Rowe. Mipo is a real disappointment.

[Philly]

Loan spell cancelled and returns to West Ham:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=newssearch&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjY8duwsJj1AhXSRvEDHXoqDckQxfQBKAB6BAgPE AI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.the42.ie%2Fmipo-odubeko-west-ham-huddersfield-town-5645442-Jan2022%2F&usg=AOvVaw2AblPni4IzsOG-dIl2Evvy

[tommy_c12000]

Tail between his legs. Another illustration of the gulf between youth/PL2 and league football. Hopefully he can secure a league 2/conference move for the remainder of the season. PL2 is no good for him at this stage. A lesson in humility is no harm for him

[Diggs246]

I dont want him near our team. Beyond disrespectful to our country. You play for us or declare for Nigeria. What u dont do is what he is doing. Guys like this make me ill.

[liamoo11]

I dont want him near our team. Beyond disrespectful to our country. You play for us or declare for Nigeria. What u dont do is what he is doing. Guys like this make me ill.

I'd love to see him bounce back from this and come into the set up at 21s for us

[Razors left peg]

I'd love to see him bounce back from this and come into the set up at 21s for us

Agreed, we were all stupid young fellas at some point... some never grew out of it.... but hopefully he learns from mistakes and improves from here, in attitude and on the pitch.

[Diggs246]

I'm not sure if you guys are too nice or maybe I'm just an old fashioned ******.

[tetsujin1979]

Good news about Odubeko
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-40779024.html

[SkStu]

https://twitter.com/kennyskids/status/1478776487318896642?s=21

Suitably humbled…

[Trequartista20]

It's good this matter seems finally to have been settled.

[liamoo11]

It's good this matter seems finally to have been settled.

Happy days great to see this well done to all involved. Lovely to see oko flex and odubeko back on board in recent times, would like to see sotona involved as well once he is back playing. We can't ever had a better under 16 side with more forward options than the side that had parrott, odubeko, oko flex, sotona and ebosele . Matt everitt was in that year as well he seems to have really droped off the radar at Brighton anyone have any insights?

[tommy_c12000]

Let’s see what Mipo can do between now and then to merit a call up. Huddersfield u23s this year and some PL2 with west ham isn’t overly compelling. But we will have a look at him 😉

[samhaydenjr]

Good to hear and sooner than I would have expected - I would have been happy to wait a year or so if he really just wanted time to build his club career, even if it meant him going straight into the senior squad, so having him available for the U21s is a bit of a bonus. I think we should be willing to give young lads with multiple national identities a bit of space to make a final decision.