Tom Cannon F Sheffield Utd b.2002

[Razors left peg]

Don't believe in calling up dual-eligible players to "test their loyalty". Manager should just reach out privately to the player, say player's form merits consideration for a call-up, and ask if the player is ready to make that final commitment. If the player wants time to be sure, give him space to make the decision.
In general I agree with you to be fair, but I think in this case there's also an argument for call up on merit, so I think it's worth having that conversation now.

I wouldn't be overly upset if he said no, I'd rather that than another drawn out saga of will he won't he.

[CraftyToePoke]

If the player wants time to be sure, give him space to make the decision.

All the space his heart desires if that's the case, plenty space outside our squads to be enjoyed. We might be surprised how taking a perceived soft option off the table focuses the mind & meanwhile we have plenty lads who need the squad space & who we need.

There isn't anything definite about this guy but it seems to keep cropping up about him online in various discussions, his longer term intentions. We'll soon see I guess, he's looking at both Parrott and Delap at the moment & thinking he offers more than either.

[Eirambler]

Is there any particular reason why so many people think this lad is not committed? Has he said something to suggest that or is it just because he hasn't played much for us (which is down to him not being picked for the most part - him being born in late December was unhelpful in terms of Ireland underage callups)?

For what it's worth, given that he'd likely comfortably make the England Under 21 squad on form I'm not sure the hard option (take a senior cap to tie him or **** off) is the way to go here. He has played competitively for us so if he goes, he's gone for good under the rules.

Having said all that we don't really want to end up in an Elliot Anderson situation either (he's publicly on the fence in terms of Scotland and England), but maybe just keeping him with the Under 21s for this campaign is the best approach and see where we are in a year or two.

[elatedscum]

If he wasn’t committed, I doubt he would have made the trip to Whitehall for the u20s a year ago - it was beyond grim.

[Eirambler]

Hopefully it didn't put him off the whole setup!

[tetsujin1979]

If he wasn’t committed, I doubt he would have made the trip to Whitehall for the u20s a year ago - it was beyond grim.

On that note, Tom Hill, who was in that U20 squad, has been called into the Welsh U21s for a friendly against Scotland
https://www.faw.cymru/en/news/matty-jones-announces-cymru-u21-squad-scotland-friendly/

[elatedscum]

On that note, Tom Hill, who was in that U20 squad, has been called into the Welsh U21s for a friendly against Scotland
https://www.faw.cymru/en/news/matty-jones-announces-cymru-u21-squad-scotland-friendly/

Interesting one. He missed that u20s squad through injury. He’s also missed the last few months with Liverpool due to injury - didn’t realise he was back, hasn’t made a reserves squad despite them having space on their bench.

Good creative player but horrible injury issues. Most likely someone who never makes an impact due to the injury issues and drops way down the leagues but there’s very high upside if his body settles down.

Shame if he ends up with Wales rather than us

[Eirambler]

To be honest I'd be surprised if Hill's long term destination is anywhere other than non league or, more likely, retirement due to injury. He plays hardly any games at any level. He'll probably end up pulling out of that Wales squad injured.

[Kingdom]

I'd pick Cannon right now as a legitimate option, which happens to neatly dovetail into the cap him and tie him (not quite) argument.

There is possibly a situation vs France where we are a couple down late in the game and we need to try something. Would he merit an introduction if such a situation presented itself right now? Probably. It would put most of the arguments to bed pretty quickly, without being a premature move, or seen as cynically as it could be in other circumstances.

[Kingdom]

Just been named in the 21s squad in cork next week.

[Razors left peg]

https://twitter.com/markmccadden/status/1636276768335093760?t=HFwDvz9yuUNL3ufxMsZY0A&s=35

Jim Crawford says Cannon is all in with us

[seanfhear]

https://twitter.com/markmccadden/status/1636276768335093760?t=HFwDvz9yuUNL3ufxMsZY0A&s=35

Jim Crawford says Cannon is all in with usIs this now the, Canon, on this ?

[third policeman]

Is this now the, Canon, on this ?

And on that bombshell.......

[gastric]

https://twitter.com/markmccadden/status/1636276768335093760?t=HFwDvz9yuUNL3ufxMsZY0A&s=35

Jim Crawford says Cannon is all in with us

With so many forwards available, he is just cannon fodder.

[Razors left peg]

Handy lad to have since we have a lot of forwards shooting blanks

[SkStu]

It’s like a Cannon and Ball skit in here lads

[Eirambler]

Even RTE are getting in on the puns now.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023/0316/1363651-kenny-happy-to-hold-fire-on-everton-prospect-cannon/

[tommy_c12000]

Really slick finish to put PNE 3-0 up. Will be hard to ignore if keeps scoring. Parrott also started, not doing great again, trying too hard and taking too much out of ball. Not looking good for Parrott, needs a few goals

[pineapple stu]

Seven more games this season for Parrott to earn a club for himself next season. Wonder where it'll be? Does he drop down to League One again?

Increasingly you'd say Cannon should be in the squad in June ahead of Parrott

[tommy_c12000]

Hard to continue to justify Parrott ahead of Cannon. Disappointing about Troy. Every time I watch him he impresses me less and less. He does seem to find it difficult to return to form after injuries. He’s taken off now for Liam Delap, so no goals for him again today

[Fixer82]

Would love to see Cannon get called up after an explosive start to the season

[JR89]

Really slick finish to put PNE 3-0 up. Will be hard to ignore if keeps scoring. Parrott also started, not doing great again, trying too hard and taking too much out of ball. Not looking good for Parrott, needs a few goals

Think it will be hard to ignore at this stage never mind if he keeps scoring. Himself and Parrott should really be swapping roles with the seniors and u21s at this stage.

1642145701739085825

[pineapple stu]

That's a really lovely finish. And is that Parrott who's offside trying to get on the rebound?

[JR89]

Yes that's Parrott.

[seanfhear]

Lovely finish. Lovely goal.

[samhaydenjr]

Yeah, if there's one player to make his debut in June, then it should be Cannon, assuming he's ready to make the final commitment

[Eirambler]

That's a really lovely finish. And is that Parrott who's offside trying to get on the rebound?

Noticed that as well. Would have summed up his season if that had come back off the post, Troy had tapped it in and it was ruled offside.

[MancIrishWolf]

Went to the game earlier and buzzing to see Cannon in the flesh. This lad is the real deal. Great movement, quick feet and clinical finishing. Literally streets ahead of Parrott (needs to move to an attacking midfielder if anything) and Delap (Didn’t realise what a big lump this lad is - his prominence looks a basic consequence of early maturity).

If our squad is based upon any sort of meritocratic basis, he simply needs to be selected. Looks the heir apparent to Calvert Lewin and a cut above anything we have up top bar Ferguson.

Andrews was there today. Hopefully he recognised the potential as would be a tragedy to lose him due to parochial procrastination.

As for the rest, Browne was his normal industrious, but ultimately limited self. Parrot hardly had a sniff, Lyons whipped in one good ball, but looks physically inferior and Hamilton was relatively anonymous.

However, Ferguson and Cannon up top for us is a golden horizon!

[Eirambler]

Thanks for the report. Even if the rest of the forwards (Parrott/Idah/Connolly/Armstrong etc.) didn't amount to much in the end, you've got to think we should be in a good place with Ferguson, Obafemi, Cannon and Ogbene for the next few years.

[JR89]

Andrews was there today. Hopefully he recognised the potential as would be a tragedy to lose him due to parochial procrastination.

Didn't see it but someone mentioned that Lowe was trying to talk Keith Andrews into calling him up in the post match analysis. Was a lovely finish, just cool as you like side foots it in from 20 yards out. With a bit of luck Everton are one of the teams relegated. Get him starting week in week out for a team that would be favourites to win the league.


Thanks for the report. Even if the rest of the forwards (Parrott/Idah/Connolly/Armstrong etc.) didn't amount to much in the end, you've got to think we should be in a good place with Ferguson, Obafemi, Cannon and Ogbene for the next few years.

We were due a bit of luck in the forwards department and hopefully we're starting to see it come to fruition.

Hopefully we can see something similar with lads who can link play between the forwards and midfield. Smallbone is starting to show his class lately with Stoke. Finn Azaz will hopefully get himself a good championship loan next season and continue some of the good form he's shown this season. Andy Moran will hopefully get himself a good loan move next season.

[liamoo11]

https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/english-players-dual-nationality-thread-2.2111677/page-125

First time I've seen the England forum mention him as a dual that they might like to get involved with their under 21s

[third policeman]

[QUOTE=JR89;2144091 Hopefully we can see something similar with lads who can link play between the forwards and midfield. Smallbone is starting to show his class lately with Stoke. Finn Azaz will hopefully get himself a good championship loan next season and continue some of the good form he's shown this season. Andy Moran will hopefully get himself a good loan move next season.[/QUOTE]

Don't forget Connell. Barnsely won 5 nil yesterday takes them to the cusp of the automatic promotion places. 59% of supporters recently voted him their most important player.

[JR89]

Don't forget Connell. Barnsely won 5 nil yesterday takes them to the cusp of the automatic promotion places. 59% of supporters recently voted him their most important player.

Be great to see him break into the senior set up next season but would class him more as a back up to Cullen but definitely someone that can link play between the midfield and forwards with his range of passing. His set pieces too are very good which is something we badly lack and at international level a good set piece is a weapon to use.

[Olé Olé]

https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/english-players-dual-nationality-thread-2.2111677/page-125

First time I've seen the England forum mention him as a dual that they might like to get involved with their under 21s

I had a look at that thread and a post that 65% of the last Welsh under 21 squad were born in England and 35% in Scotland. Brooks, McGrath, Hodge, Hayes, O'Neill and Cannon - 6 from 18 for us.

[JR89]

Not surprised if England fancied Cannon for the U21s as their options for that campaign aren't up to much. He's already keeping the second choice striker for them in Delap on the bench and Dane Scarlett hasn't done much in League One though he's born March 2004.

He could easily go in as their first choice U21s striker but breaking into the senior set up at England is gonna a huge ask compared to the fact he could get a senior call soon for us.

[pineapple stu]

All the more reason to call him up in June I guess.

Obviously has a long way to go in his development yet, but he looks promising and at this stage he's surely ahead of everyone bar Ferguson and Obafemi on merit anyway. Which is faint praise, but still.

[Eirambler]

I know not everyone will agree, but the sensible thing to do here would be to cap him against Gibraltar if he's happy to commit to us.

[JR89]

I know not everyone will agree, but the sensible thing to do here would be to cap him against Gibraltar if he's happy to commit to us.

Ferguson, Obafemi, Ogbene, Idah, Robinson, and Johnson I think will be the six forwards he'll call up in June if everyone is fit.

While Cannon is showing better form than Idah I feel Idah for his style will get called up and along with Ferguson and Obafemi will be seen as the three out and out CFs with Ogbene, Robinson, and Johnson the other forwards.

Hopefully though this run of form continues and gives Kenny something to really consider. We really shouldn't really dilly dally if we've a young player on form in the championship. Especially someone in an attacking position.

Yeah while the caps wouldn't tie him to us I don't think he'd take the senior caps if he's not fully committed and if he turns them down it gives someone else a chance to get games at U21 level too before the campaign starts.

[Eirambler]

A competitive cap against Gibraltar would tie him to us for three years.

[Olé Olé]

I know not everyone will agree, but the sensible thing to do here would be to cap him against Gibraltar if he's happy to commit to us.

I agree. Get it done. He could score as many as Obafemi by end of season so it isnt just a cynical move. Remove any uncertainty and do it.

[pineapple stu]

We had seven forwards in the March squad (probably because Idah was injured for the first match) so there's room for seven in June, especially if there's a week-long training camp and it means we can tie a promising player down.

[Eminence Grise]

It was Ambrose Bierce (https://dd.pangyre.org/c/cannon.html) who wrote that a cannon is an instrument used in the rectification of national boundaries … and I wouldn’t mind seeing a solid boundary between TC and the English u21s, if he continues to progress. Right now, he’s worth considering.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

No brainer. Cap him in June. Bring Hodge and Vata on for the Gibraltar game as well.

[Razors left peg]

Hodge likely won't have played any football between now and the summer so it unlikely he'll be called up. Throwing out caps in the hopes to tie down a player is not gonna happen, they have to be there on merit. Cannon is ready on merit and very likely to get call up if he continues like this. Vata was a sub for the u19s first 2 qualifiers and started the 3rd last week. He's has a way to go before he gets a senior cap.

[samhaydenjr]

No brainer. Cap him in June. Bring Hodge and Vata on for the Gibraltar game as well.

Seven of our outfield players from the France squad have fewer than ten caps (Omobamidele, Sykes, McGrath, Smallbone, Obafemi, Ferguson and Johnston) - giving them as much time as possible is probably more of a priority

[Fixer82]

Mikey Johnston was considered a forward in the squad even though he's clearly not. Don't understand it

[JR89]

Wingers are often thrown in with forwards. I think before with some of Kenny's U21 announcements there was an attacking midfielder section along with strikers and midfielders.

[cláirseach]

Cannon has been superb for North End of late. There has been word around a month or so ago that he was due to play for England but it doesn't seem to have transpired of yet.

[pineapple stu]

Starts alongside Parrott again. Ched Evans, their main forward this season, may never play again as he's facing "life-changing consequences" from an operation relating to multiple contact. Very strange one, but sounds quite serious obviously; puts the game in perspective

[pineapple stu]

Just scored twice in three minutes.

Should end any lingering doubts about a June call-up. Six goals in his last eight games

Brady with the assist for the first