Yeah he must feel a certain degree of embarrassment around how he behaved particularly the dragging it on for 6 months or so before he made his big reveal that to me was the real low point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Printable View
Yeah he must feel a certain degree of embarrassment around how he behaved particularly the dragging it on for 6 months or so before he made his big reveal that to me was the real low point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
I doubt he does, guy is a bit of an idiot from any interview I've seen.Quote:
Originally Posted by liamoo11
Sour Rice can stick in the throat . Yeah, he played us in a nasty way .Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
He doesn't give a rat's ass about us. He actually changed history at said he was only an Irish youth international in an interview when he was called up to EnglandQuote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
When did he say that?
In an interview when he was in camp with EnglandQuote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
https://extra.ie/2019/03/20/sport/so...rice-interview
He might be kept on
https://www.google.com/amp/s/pundita...a-connell/amp/
He's making all the right noises anyway to set us up for Connell getting a cap.
We're only asking for trouble if we don't cap him against Gibraltar.Quote:
Originally Posted by Diggs246
We'd be mad not to cap him against Gibraltar. All in the past now, but I argued at the time that we should have clearly called up Rice against Moldova and we should have called Grealish up when he was at Notts County. He's playing at the same level as Hourihane, Whelan, Browne, Judge and at a higher level than the likes of Cullen, Curtis and Byrne, so you can’t say it’s he’s not there in some part on merit.
We did the right thing with Obafemi and James McCarthy and long before that the likes of McGeady. Even from the players' perspective, the removal of doubt and speculation is a great thing. I guarantee if he was playing for Wales or N. Ireland, he would be capped against Gibraltar.
Examples from Wales: Rabbi Matondo (made debut at 18, born Liverpool), Terry Taylor (in current squad at 17, born in Aberdeen), Dylan Levitt (United u18, in current squad, 18, born in Wales but eligible for England), Matthew Smith (Man City youth, born in England, capped at 18), David Brooks (born in England, capped at 20), Harry Wilson (eligible for England, capped at 16), Ben Woodburn (born in England, capped at 17), Ethan Ampadu (capped at 17, born in England, eligible for Ireland and Ghana), Tyler Roberts (capped at 19, born in England). Bale and Ramsey were also eligible for England and were capped at 16 and 17.
In terms of players with similar elite potential, born outside of Ireland, who are yet to be capped, you have the likes of Conor Coventry and Joe Hodge and maybe Conor Ronan. Equally if Okoflex was up for it, I’d have him on a similar path as Connell. He was prepared to leave Arsenal to get game time for Celtic and he has spoken that emotionally he’s far more invested in Ireland. So I’m sure for a guy with his potential, we could make something work…
https://foot.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=2794&stc=1Squad are back so it looks like he's on his way out of Dublin...
Picked up a thigh injury apparently, will miss both games.
Here we go again indeed...Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Would you guess a real injury? Its terrible that's our mind set ( mine anyway) is not of trust... JesusQuote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Whether it's real, or not, the end result is the same - he 's going to miss the two games, and we're facing at least four months of every little thing he does, or doesn't do, feeding articles and posts on whether or not he will declare for England
Yep its a killer, Its just so coincidental that he pulled out or got injured now, I wish we had something stated from the Irish medical staff in relation to said injuryQuote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Not this business of he hugged everyone
For me, I think the solution is to not bother speculating. I think that's a great post above listing players who became tied to Wales or whoever, but knowing what we now know about Rice, I am happy he's not involved with us, so I disagree that we should have played him just to tie him to us.
If Connell deserves a call up next time, I trust Mick to know his commitment level and play him if he is worth playing. Rice seems a bit dim and I can't see another player playing friendly senior internationals and then jumping ship. I'd like to think Robbie and Mick have a "gut test" of their own and will be able to get a handle on the situation.
With Grealish several of his underage team-mates have mentioned that he never seemed to be interested in playing senior for us. For me, the management of those underage teams should have picked up on that and had a chat with him or left him out of the squads.
I like the way Mick has handled Bamford so far. And as Leeds are staying in the second division for next year, Bamford might be feeling a tad silly now. But, really, who cares unless he really wants to represent us? Not me, anyhow.
Possibly time to call up Crowley as a replacement?
It is indeed a perfect time to call him up.Quote:
Originally Posted by third policeman
The squad needed to be trimmed anyway so can't see there being any call ups, barring further injuries?
It's sad really how we have become cynical about such utterances from dual qualified nationals.
https://www.independent.ie/au/sport/...-38162823.html
The upside to this I think we will get to see josh Cullen play some part in these 2 games
It's a pity re Connell but that will make it even more emphatic an occasion and statement if he comes back in Sept/Oct to play a role and get his cap.
We really need someone to buck the trend as soon as possible. I imagine Grealish will be gunning to play himself on to the England squad within 12 months now. Rice is being heavily linked with United.
Just on the head turning, I know the Irish community is strong in Birmingham but I also know Grealish's father has a strong taste for money and attention. The Irish community in Liverpool is probably less identifiable due to the timelines of emigration. Connell's grandparents are outliers in that they didn't move to Liverpool in the late 1800s or early 1900's but you'd wonder if he would ever heavily identify as English. As he says, Liverpool is almost a part of Ireland. It isn't as attractive to him. I hope.
Christ. The facts of the Rice case are really impacting my green tinted cognitive biases. All I could picture after that post was that iconic pic of Rice and his utterly chuffed father after his debut.
the Georgia away qualifier in October is realistically the only game left that he could play in. It's a lot to ask an 18 year old to play against Switzerland, or Denmark.
It's worrying to say the least. Mick says to him I'm possibly going to give you the infamous 3 mins on the pitch. He say sounds great..... and then pulls out.... He might be genuinely injured but I can't be confident.Quote:
Originally Posted by gastric
Liverpool is basically an Irish city. I was there working in 88' and the place errupted when we won. They don't feel English at all. Great people the Liverpudlians.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
I think they still suffer from Middle England's stereotypes of the Irish and it impacts on their Englishness. Birmingham has a massive Irish population but you wouldn't call it an Irish city. I would be suprised if Luca declared for England but until he plays competitively anything can happen.
I saw him play for Bolton and imo he has the talent to be an incredible player. Jason Knight is even more talented though which is great from our point of view.
A lot of articles out there linking Luca to Celtic now. I wouldn't normally be a fan of seeing our higher rated young players moving to Scotland, but in this case it might help us secure his future as an Irish player.
Hopefully, if this goes through, he will be able to get into the first team pretty quickly, the development league in Scotland is a complete joke standard wise and is not where you would want any young Irish player to be playing.
his social media posts around the denmark game were positive as well. obviously can't take anything for granted but... he's making all the right noises
Celtic reportedly have opened official transfer talks now. Agree should increase chances of remaining with Ireland, not a fan of Scottish league given standard. But should be easier for him to start games at his young age so will help his development. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.the...sfer-news/amp/
If Rodgers was still in charge of Celtic, I'd think it was a good move for him.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommy_c12000
Signs for Celtic on a four year deal. Hopefully can push on into the first team right away. If he's as good as he's made out to be he'll have a chance to play, Celtic have an early start in Europe and their midfield is decent but not outstanding.
Hopefully a good move in terms of ensuring he stays with us.
Great move for him best of luck
Now he has to play for Ireland 🇮🇪
Good move. England won't pick a young a young guy 'only' playing in Scotland. We will.
He will play in a winning team with plenty of the ball. Good for his development.
If he shines he will get chances at Celtic and move on to another level in time to come.
Not sure about the England wont pick a lad in Scotland bit. Dembele has lived there since he was 2 or 3 and they pick him and they were still picking okoflex when he moved. Connell is under 19 for the coming season Brits would happily pick him in their qualifying squad for the 19s which is probably in October. Obviously that would be him gone thenQuote:
Originally Posted by Bottle of Tonic
Oh right yeah. I was actually only thinking in terms of the senior team. England barely picked the likes of Alan Thompson and Chris Sutton despite years of success at Celtic. Forgot underage selection can tie you down too. To be honest I'm not that well up on the rules.
Still, if we offer him caps at senior level and England only look to get him in at u19 does that not put us in a stronger position?
And I'm sure playing in front of scores of tricolours hanging from the stands each week won't hurt his feelings towards us either!
Interviewed on Celtic's website: http://www.celticfc.net/news/16438
Might make his first appearance tomorrow against Rennes at Celtic Park
Connell hasn't made the Celtic travelling squad for their Champions League qualifier in Romania this week. Started for their colts team in the Challenge Cup last night but was subbed off at half time.
What do all the "play him against Gibraltar" mob think now