Nobody cares about players who aren't in the England squadQuote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
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Nobody cares about players who aren't in the England squadQuote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
Maybe he'll play at PL level some day. Do you not rate him?Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
Interesting read...
http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/sport/irishfootball/7170527/Callum-ODowda-aimed-for-Ireland-squad-despite-playing-in-League-Two-and-has-delivered-on-his-promise.html
Quote:
WHEN Callum O’Dowda was asked his ambitions at the start of the season, he thought big and was met with laughter.
Despite having had to cancel a dream holiday with his girlfriend, O’Dowda is the one smiling now.
Already, he has helped Oxford United to promotion, scored a goal at Wembley — albeit in a defeat — and, in theory at least, is in with a chance of gatecrashing Ireland’s Euro 2016 squad.
Not bad for a 21-year-old who has never played higher than League Two.
O’Dowda said: “It’s a bit weird because I spoke to one of the Press officers at Oxford and they said ‘What are your aims and ambitions this year, not only with Oxford, but with Ireland?’
“I did say I wanted to see if I could try to push into the senior team in Ireland and he laughed at me and said, ‘Are you serious?’
“And I said, ‘Yeah, I’m deadly serious’. I didn’t make a bet with him, I should have.
“That was my aim, I wanted ten goals as well and, spookily, I have got ten goals. I could say 12 because I’ve scored two for the Under-21s.”
It was his performance against Italy for Noel King’s side which caught the eye of Martin O’Neill, who had already seen him score in the Johnstone’s Paints Trophy final defeat to Barnsley.
O’Dowda revealed: “He said that I had a really good game and that he would be keeping tabs on me. I was waiting for the squad to be released and it was a big moment for me.
“I had a holiday booked in Aruba with my girlfriend Isabelle. That got cancelled straight away.
“I don’t know if she liked that and I didn’t have insurance so I lost out on all of it. But I’d take this any day.
“I’m glad to be here and hopefully I can catch the manager’s eye. I want to show people what I can do.
“And if I can get on the plane, then fantastic. If not, I will be working hard next season.”
Grandson of the late tenor Brendan O’Dowda who settled in England, Callum claims not to have inherited any of his musical ability and had not decided what song he would perform for his squad initiation.
He said: “He passed away years ago but I’ll always remember him, going to the house in Fareham.
He had a strong Irish accent. Hopefully I’m doing him proud.”
Younger sister Jade is a talented pentathlete while father Brendan now helps to look after his affairs following his retirement from the police force.
O’Dowdy was linked with a move to Derby County in January but said: “There’s been speculation all-year round with me.
“If there’s stuff on social media I try not to look at it. But it’s in your face sometimes and you do read it.
“I’ve still got a couple of years left on my contract so we’ll see what happens.”
He is honest enough to admit that, while being an ardent Oxford fan growing up, Ireland attracted less of his attention.
But he added: “As soon as the opportunity came I grabbed it with both hands. I would like to thank Noel King for bringing me into the Under-21s in March 2015.
“He has been good for my development. I am delighted to be here and I want to put my mark down.”
Callum O'Dowda 2015/2016 season highlights promotional video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ4efYywJ4s
There's something a bit special about him eh? I know it's Lg2 and it's a highlights package but he has a great maturity and composure about him with a range of tricks, passing, shooting and defensive work. Reminds me of a faster Duffer tbh.
He has a great surname too. 'O'Dowda'.
It's a highlughts package that shows him doing monkey work as well. Very nice.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
It takes a lot to knock him down and he's always looking for the inside pass or a switch to someone. Is nice.
Have to say I enjoyed the little bit we got to see of him and Eunan tonight.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
No Dowda bout it.
Shame he is not on the plane, I'd take him, him and Padraig Amond, indeed I'd fly them there myself.
He'd probably be as good as Murphy currently is - 22 caps and no goals. I am sure Padraig could easily match that statistic.Quote:
Originally Posted by tricky_colour
He was bright last night. I think he'll play PL some day. Especially when you compare his to other debuts and wingers. He looks to have the lot. Every time he got the ball he looked really positive and if something he was going to create something.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
He was born in April 1995, making him the first player born after USA '94 to play for the senior team
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Callum agrees :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
I agree too, I though he looked rather Bale-esque he is certainly not a McGeady clone.
Hence it is a real pity he is not going, just a question of who to leave out, Murphy springs to mind.
He has done nothing in an Irish shirt.
He does even look a bit like Bale.
Mind you he could still go if there is an injury, I am thinking maybe Keane might break Murphy's jaw in training.
Funny that, I really do get the feeling someone will drop out before the Sweden game and a call up will be required.
And is a call-up permitted then, yeah? I don't know the rules on that one but a few are suggesting it is.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
44.03Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Should a listed player become seriously injured or ill before his team’s first match
in the final tournament, he may only be substituted if a doctor from the UEFA
Medical Committee and the team doctor concerned both confirm that the injury
or illness is sufficiently serious to prevent the player from taking part in the final
tournament. Subject to the final approval of the UEFA administration, this injured
or ill player may be replaced on the list of 23 players registered for participation in
the final tournament.
Yes if Murphy was to fall from Keane's hotel window and break both his legs we could call up a replacement.
Alternative we could play Murphy up front as usual, I doubt it would make much difference to his strike rate of 0%.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tricky_colour
Here's Murphy preparing to go onto the pitch v Sweden after Tricky's push from Keane's Hotel window.;)
Never seen him so mobile before! ;)
A lot of speculation linking him with a move to Derby again. Bristol City also mentioned.
Derby made the play-offs, hence he is considered the same level as many of our squad. We should of brought him to France.
I'm very, very close to deleting every post I see with "should of", "had of", etc in it.
Seconded.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Even if trickys post wasn't based in myth and nonsense, that wound have undone it anyway.
Hindsite is a wonderful thing. :)
<MOD EDIT>
Deleted post removed. And it's "hindsight"
Tet's Offensive kicks off the War on Error!!!
Where can I enlist?
I think Tets is just thinking of new ways to ban the doc.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
I know what I'm getting Tets for Christmas. Number 16
Speculation intensifies over Bristol City interest in Callum O'Dowda
Ominous sounding words from the Oxford manager.
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I’ve got no idea what’s going on to be honest.
I’m fully focused on the players who are over here.
Claims from this guy on twitter that O'Dowda has passed his medical at Bristol City: https://twitter.com/APepper8/status/753537545921765376
Insert all usual "friend of a friend"/twitter disclaimers here.
Has officially signed.
The old friend of a friend of a sister comes up with the goods again.
Ballsy enough move by him in fairness. It would have been very easy to stay in his comfort zone at his hometown team who are making steady progress themselves, but he obviously wants to progress his career a bit more rapidly. Maybe his international prospects have been a factor in his decision. Going by his Twitter account he has really embraced his Irish side since the call up, not saying he didn't before as I don't know anything about him, but it's certainly become more evident.
Any word on Alex O' Hanlon who was linked with Bristol? I can't find any updates on interest from other clubs.
there was a post on boards.ie that he signed for Sacramento Republic in the states, but I can't find any record of him on their websiteQuote:
Originally Posted by gastric
Would it have been a mix-up with this guy?
must have been, can't find any links for O'Hanlon, or Cleary, other than that.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Assisted both goals tonight in a 2-1 win at Fulham in the League Cup. He was left out of their squad at the weekend which seemed a bit strange seeing as he had been starting a lot of games, even a few fans on their forum were questioning where he was but I couldn't find any quotes on it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBC Football - Fulham 1-2 Bristol City
I was reading the latest Secret Footballer book recently where The Secret Footballer (who some people think is Dave Kitson) had become a part time football agent and signed up a load of youth players from his last playing club (which would have been Oxford) to his agency. One player in particular stands out and TSF is convinced that the player can reach any level in the game that he wants to and play for some of the best clubs in the world. Later in the book the player ditches TSF and declares for the Republic of Ireland against TSF's wishes. It's not too much of a stretch to think that the player in question is Callum O'Dowda. If so, The Secret Footballer seems to think that this guy can be an absolute star.
Fantastic detective work. It's widely agreed that it's Kitson, isn't it? Not sure how many other players have declared for us of late that you could speak so highly of, even if he sounds very optimistic.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler