Caleb Folan

[teckno]

Saw in one of the tabloids today about the possibility of Wigans Caleb Folan declaring for Ireland through his grandfather or grandmother. Looks a decent player so far, is a striker too

[lopez]

Connemara man, definitely.

[tetsujin1979]

http://foot.ie/showpost.php?p=636937&postcount=518

[billybunter]

I thought he might have been one of the "Tubbercurry's" Folan's, but could be wrong.

[paul_oshea]

Connemara man, definitely.

folan is the english for "ocualainn" which is a carraroe name, though there are some around clare. I would go for connemara myself.
what age is he?

[Paddy Garcia]

folan is the english for "ocualainn" which is a carraroe name, though there are some around clare. I would go for connemara myself.
what age is he?

He is 24

[livehead1]

He does look a reasonable player and i'd like to see him given a chance. That said i'd like to see a lot of players given the chance. With Ward claiming the Championship player of the month award it is yet another example of the seamless transition that irish players seem to be making from the EL to the English leagues. If this is the case then it is surely about time a couple of these players were selected for the national side. Not just for one game as a half hearted measure, but instead for a concerted period of time.

[pete]

Folan has only played a few games with Wigan after moving from lower leagues. Does he drink Guinness?

[zenokelly]

Connolly before Folan any day - not proven, not even half decent in what I ssaw of him. This would be Stan's biggest mistake of all time in fairnes.

[cavan_fan]

Connolly before Folan any day - not proven, not even half decent in what I ssaw of him. This would be Stan's biggest mistake of all time in fairnes.

David Connolly 5'9"
Caleb Folan 6'2"

[Qwerty]

Alan Lee 6' 2"

13 goals.

Lee hasn't really had a decent opportunity at international level, proven at Championship level.

[cavan_fan]

Alan Lee 6' 2"

13 goals.

Lee hasn't really had a decent opportunity at international level, proven at Championship level.

I agree, I'd try him (or Cillian Sheridan!) but comparing Connolly and Folan is irrelevant

[macdermesser]

Folan has only played a few games with Wigan after moving from lower leagues. Does he drink Guinness?

English, Irish, Scots: They’re All One, Genes Suggest

Article Tools Sponsored By
By NICHOLAS WADE
Published: March 5, 2007

Britain and Ireland are so thoroughly divided in their histories that there is no single word to refer to the inhabitants of both islands. Historians teach that they are mostly descended from different peoples: the Irish from the Celts, and the English from the Anglo-Saxons who invaded from northern Europe and drove the Celts to the country’s western and northern fringes.

But geneticists who have tested DNA throughout the British Isles are edging toward a different conclusion. Many are struck by the overall genetic similarities, leading some to claim that both Britain and Ireland have been inhabited for thousands of years by a single people that have remained in the majority, with only minor additions from later invaders like Celts, Romans, Angles , Saxons, Vikings and Normans.

Full NY Times article here (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/05/science/05cnd-brits.html?ei=5089&en=b936997654ba52c6&ex=1330750800&adxnnl=1&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1173335281-HzPA0vTMAP1wjrzcNDSZgA)

[carloz]

Why couldnt he be a central midfielder or a left back. For probably the first time ever Ireland is very strong in the forward department and very weak in central midfield

[Shelsman]

For probably the first time ever Ireland is very strong in the forward department

Good one! :p

[Superhoops]

For probably the first time ever Ireland is very strong in the forward department ....
As we demonstrated to great effect in our last game against that footballing superpower, San Marino! :eek: :eek: FFS

[Torn-Ado]

As we demonstrated to great effect in our last game against that footballing superpower, San Marino! :eek: :eek: FFS

That was down to the lack of creativity in midfield.

However I do agree that the forwards are still not up to scratch.

[Paddy Garcia]

For probably the first time ever Ireland is very strong in the forward

:confused: hopeless.

[carloz]

Robbie keane
Kevin Doyle
Shane Long
David Connolly
Anthony Stokes
Darryl Murphy
Stephen Elliot
Andy Keogh
Stephen Ward
Clinton Morrison
Alan Lee
Billy Clarke

and now possibly Caleb Folan

Say what you will about San Marino, no Irish manager has never had a choice like that in forwards. Hell MCCarthy had to rely on Doherty at times

[Paddy Garcia]

I agree more choice, not more quality though. Our recent scoring record is very poor, even the hime win against San Marino isnothing to shout about. Also it's all potential, with the exception of Keane, Morrison & Connolly. The latter two possibly past their best.

Quinn & Keane could present a formidable attacking presence. Recently we have been barely a threat.

[Raheny Red]

When I first read the thread title 'Caleb Folan', I thought it was a petition for a Celeb Forum on here :D

[kingdom hoop]

first i heard of folan being 'irish' was when i saw his name in the squad. a quick bit of research reveals he scored 15 goals in 105 games for chesterfield, enticing wigan to pay half a million for him in january. thats hardly a goalscoring record to entitle him to a call up given better scoring rates of connolly, morrison, lee.

the reasons for selection would appear to be stan's insatiable hankering for having a look at 'new' players. but more pointedly folan is apparently a bruising 6'2 sort of striker who may well have a niche in our squad. at 24 and having scored a few premiership goals he may well have potential. not having a clue about the player i'll say no more...

[Pablo]

yet another joke of a decision. He's not Irish. is it any wonder the national team is a laughing stock supported by idiots dressed as leprachauns and shaking inflatable shamrocks.

An embarisment.

[tetsujin1979]

Kerr was barracked for not bringing in new players to the squad, Staunton is getting the same abuse because he's bringing players into the squad.
And i'll take any bets that Folan gets more caps than Macken, even though Staunton has a far superior selection up front than Kerr or McCarthy

[paul_oshea]

i wonder what they are thinking on inis mor today? would they be happpy to see a black lad from the island included in the squad? :D

[paul_oshea]

inis mor, is more irish than "pablo"

[billybunter]

Whether right or wrong, any "irish" striker plugging away in england must be really demoralized when they see folan get a call up. Connolly banging them in , Morrison back to a a bit of form - it must be a serious slap in the face in all fairness.....

[DeNiro]

Would agree with that. It's smacks of panic as well. What more does Connolly need to do? In all fairness Morrisson must be wondering about it as well. It becomes a problem if he blocks the development of Andy Keogh and Stephen Ward, but if he bangs them in for us we won't complain.

[livehead1]

yet another joke of a decision. He's not Irish. is it any wonder the national team is a laughing stock supported by idiots dressed as leprachauns and shaking inflatable shamrocks.

An embarisment.
you dont make sense. The team is a 'laughing stock' because they are atrocious. So anything or anyone that may alter this is more than welcome.

[dr_peepee]

What's been seen from Folan to say he's gonna alter things. I'm all for taking a look at new players, butr it has to be productive, and the inclusion ogf Folan at the expense of players on the back of some good form is counter productive. Folans scored a couple of premiership goals? So what? See Jon Macken, Micky Evans, Sean McCarthy.

[tricky_colour]

Grandfather from Innis Mor and grandmother from Galway so he is at least 50% irish, and more Irish than any other nationality I would imagine.
2 goals in 5 games in the Premiership that's a 40% strike rate which is very creditable albeit on a small sample data. His 15 in 102 games (15%) doesn't
look quite so impressive (47 were as a sub). Anyway he got 8 league goals in 19 starts (+ 4 as sub ) this season +3 in 3(1 sub) in the Carling Cup.
I make that a total of 13 in 27(4) starts which is 48% strike rate overall this season. Which is fairly impressive overall considering where Chesterfield are (propping up league 1).
I had a look at the Chesterfield boards and they seemed very positive towards him, he seemed to be well liked <quote> "I certainly wasn't one of those booing him that all of a sudden were chanting his name". He seems to have potential anyway and one would imagine Paul Jewel saw something in him.
He seems a good buy at £500,000 when he currently has a better strike rate than his existing strikers!! It will be interesting to see how he gets on at Wigan and Ireland.

[danonion]

Grandfather from Innis Mor and grandmother from Galway so he is at least 50% irish, and more Irish than any other nationality I would imagine.
2 goals in 5 games in the Premiership that's a 40% strike rate which is very creditable albeit on a small sample data. His 15 in 102 games (15%) doesn't
look quite so impressive (47 were as a sub). Anyway he got 8 league goals in 19 starts (+ 4 as sub ) this season +3 in 3(1 sub) in the Carling Cup.
I make that a total of 13 in 27(4) starts which is 48% strike rate overall this season. Which is fairly impressive overall considering where Chesterfield are (propping up league 1).
I had a look at the Chesterfield boards and they seemed very positive towards him, he seemed to be well liked <quote> "I certainly wasn't one of those booing him that all of a sudden were chanting his name". He seems to have potential anyway and one would imagine Paul Jewel saw something in him.
He seems a good buy at £500,000 when he currently has a better strike rate than his existing strikers!! It will be interesting to see how he gets on at Wigan and Ireland.

I don't follow your logic on him being 50% Irish. I have a father from monaghan and a mother from limerick, yet I have an American accent, am I 100 % Irish or half american?. Irish is what you consider yourself and are considered by others. I have been to Irelnad 21 times in my 18 years, so I do in fact consider myself that, but has this fella been to Ireland? If you asked him his nationality when he was at Chesterfield I dont think Irish'd have cross his lips. His calling up is an insult to the Irish coming through the youth system and those plugging away in the championship. He's only an inch taller than Morrison for ****'s sake

[citizenerased]

Folan can give us that height aggression and physical presence we desperately lack up front, i think it was a good call up. Another thing of note, is that he works his socks off and gives 100%, and seems unfazed by big occasions...that cant hurt either

[Nailer77]

I don't follow your logic on him being 50% Irish. I have a father from monaghan and a mother from limerick, yet I have an American accent, am I 100 % Irish or half american?. Irish is what you consider yourself and are considered by others. I have been to Irelnad 21 times in my 18 years, so I do in fact consider myself that, but has this fella been to Ireland? If you asked him his nationality when he was at Chesterfield I dont think Irish'd have cross his lips. His calling up is an insult to the Irish coming through the youth system and those plugging away in the championship. He's only an inch taller than Morrison for ****'s sake

* He qualifies for Ireland

* He wants to play for us

* He's a Premiership striker

* He's got qualities our other strikers don't

* It doesn't matter if he didn't call himself Irish before, as long as he puts in 100% on the pitch thats all that matters.

Thats enough for me, lets at least take a look at the lad. If he's not good enough so be it.

[Soper]

Ah grand, sure he plays in the Premiership, everything will be fine.

[gustavo]

As Paddy says , its all much of a muchness although a lot of them there have the capacity to improve.

[Jerry The Saint]

Something strange about the report on fai.ie...



The English-born forward qualifies for Ireland through his grand-parents, both of whom are from the West of Ireland.

So, wait... if he only has two grandparents...I know they do things differently in the West but :eek:

[cavan_fan]

Whether right or wrong, any "irish" striker plugging away in england must be really demoralized when they see folan get a call up. Connolly banging them in , Morrison back to a a bit of form - it must be a serious slap in the face in all fairness.....

I love the irony that Morrison should be disappointed!

[zinedineontour]

I think the biggest joke of this call up was that Staunton has said that he has not seen the lad himself playing for Wigan and he hasnt even spoken to the fella.. Then he says he wont pick players in the championship yet picks stokes who has barely played for sunderland ahead of connolly . So he must think Gibson is playing in a better standard of league in Belgium than the Championship ? Staunton is getting more of a joke by the day..

[Den Perry]

Something strange about the report on fai.ie...



So, wait... if he only has two grandparents...I know they do things differently in the West but :eek:


Brilliant, only the Fai...

[Lionel Ritchie]

yet another joke of a decision. He's not Irish. is it any wonder the national team is a laughing stock supported by idiots dressed as leprachauns and shaking inflatable shamrocks.

An embarisment.

Nonsense. FFS do we have to do this every time? Can we not just take it as a given that the guy is eligible and then discuss the merit of his inclusion on football terms?

As pointed out the team is a laughing stock because it's underperforming badly -largely due to being run into the ground by an association who only have eyes for the receipts and who appointed an idiot who cannot manage but agreed to keep his research budgets down to a sky sports subscription and a copy of irelands brightest daily.

[Paddy Garcia]

Well for all those complaining, he has just been stretchered off.

[zenokelly]

Looked like a pretty bad one for FOlan. I'd say he won't make it for Croker. Hope to see Ward of Wolves called up he set up another goal today

[Terry]

ankle injury they are saying on sky sports, could be out for 4-6 weeks

[Superhoops]

Looked like a pretty bad one for FOlan. I'd say he won't make it for Croker. Hope to see Ward of Wolves called up he set up another goal today

Andy Keogh called up to replace Folan

[carloz]

This is a perfect example of where you have to question Stauntons selection and ability to actually manage any team. What exactly was Staunton's thought process behind calling up Folan. Was it because he was big and a target man.....if so the obvious replacement would be Alan Lee. Was it because he was a Premiership player.....if so surely the next choie would be a player who was playing in the premiership or as close as can be, in this case it would be David Connolly, playing with a team that tonight are in the automatic promotion places in the Championship. Or was it because Folan was the most in form striker.....if so Morrison would be the obvious replacement. Instead we get Andy Keogh. I have absolutly nothing agaisnt Andy Keogh but surely calling him up again shows glarringly the stupid ideology of Stans tenure. As i have already stated i have nothing against Keogh but how can Staunton justify his call up. Other than his 90th minute goal today i think he has only got one other goal for Wolves. Yet again Staunton's words have come back to bite him in the arse and shown the man's true stupidity

[tetsujin1979]

Keogh was called up to replace a target man with a target man, I've a feeling Connolly would only be called up if Keane was injured, they're similar players. Likewise Doyle and Morrison

[carloz]

Alan Lee is much more of a target man than Andy Keogh

[cavan_fan]

I would take it as read that the following will only be picked again in an emergency:
Alan Lee
David Connoly
Clinton Morisson

To be honest if he sticks to this I wont complain. He has decided to go for 'young' players instead of people who he feels have had their chance and not delivered (no JOS comments!)

At least there is some logic in this.

[tetsujin1979]

Folan is the newest player to have an online diary on icons.com: http://www.icons.com/folan/
Some comments from his first diary entry: http://www.icons.com/folan/diary.html?19.03.07

I've always been linked with Ireland ever since my youth team days with Leeds United
So it's not a recent thing

I shall now be following the Republic of Ireland's matches with extra interest. I have always followed them anyway because my grandma is a huge fan and has always wanted me to play for Ireland.
Sounds a little like the standard "It's a dream come true to play for Liverpool/Newcastle/Northampton Reserves" press conference quote, but it's nice to see it all the same

The call-up has been the culmination of a crazy few months that has seen my career reignited. When Leeds let me go I was determined to prove them wrong, so to bounce back up to the Premiership, although it's taken a few years, is really satisfying
Anyone else find it ironic that players like Folan, Keogh and Morris all left Leeds for first team football and are now overtaking their former club?