Jack Grealish

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

It does smack of insecurity on the Irish football supporting public that after one good, high-profile performance we feel the need for Jack to come out and state the above yet again.

I guess it's like a girl accepting your proposal and, wow, now she's your fiancé and maybe you should wait a year for the wedding but she could do a runner before you get that ring on her finger. Crap.... who's that handsome b*stard flirting with your fiancé at the bar?

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Jeez, maybe OWC posters are correct. Maybe we are insecure, paranoid and irrational rats who can't quite handle our women! ;)

Had missed this piece by John Fallon the other week: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-31156636.html

He's fairly critical of O'Neill's comments and handling of the situation.

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Originally Posted by John Fallon

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Officially, Grealish is off the market – be it to Ireland or England – until September but lest it not be forgotten that he’s represented the country of his grandparents since the age of 14 and rebuffed England’s overtures twice already.

Yet, were he to contact O’Neill this week and break his sabbatical for the pivotal qualifier, he would be wasting his time based upon the manager’s latest sentiments.

As well as discounting Grealish's ability for the big occasion, O’Neill made some other interesting remarks on the hot topic of the teen prodigy during his briefing with reporters from Sunday newspapers.

"I've been involved close to 18 months now, if he was available to us he would have quite surely. . . regardless of not getting starts at Aston Villa, we'd have had enough friendly games that he would have had an opportunity to make an impact at senior level, if he'd been with us from the start," he said.

Really? The date of 15 November 2013 was significant not alone for being O’Neill’s first game in charge against Latvia but so too for Grealish, as he netted his first goal for Ireland’s U-21s against Faroe Islands a few hours earlier in Sligo.

The following week, Grealish made light work of the monsoon-like conditions in Podgorica and cynical fouling by the Montenegrins during a scoreless draw to claim the man-of-the-match accolade. Afterwards, Ireland manager Noel King likened the individual display to one of Aiden McGeady’s better performances.

Five months later, in March 2014, Grealish was again on international duty but much closer to home at Tallaght Stadium on a Spring afternoon.

Montenegro were also the opposition in a make-or-break qualifier for the U-21s. Although the seniors were playing a friendly against Serbia that night, neither O’Neill nor his assistant Roy Keane came to watch any part of a game in which Grealish shone.

The playmaker was at the time playing his club football on loan with Notts County in the lower reaches of League One.

Two weeks later, O’Neill sent his goalkeeping coach Seamus McDonagh to watch Grealish play 90 minutes in the 4-1 win over Carlisle. On April 5, O’Neill himself fancied a gander and turned up at Brentford where the loanee was dropped as County went on the defensive against the division’s pacesetters. Grealish was introduced at half-time.

Throughout all this time, Grealish was very much “available” to O’Neill.

An inherent trait of any successful manager is their ability to spot potential.

For all his shortcomings, Stephen Staunton displayed enough conviction to call a 16-year-old, Terry Dixon, into his squad for a training camp and friendlies in May 2006 while, eight years prior, Mick McCarthy threw a 17-year-old Robbie Keane into the senior international set-up whilst the fresh-faced Dubliner was operating in the second tier of English football.

With four friendlies, including two in America, arranged for May/June 2014, latitude for experimentation was there for O’Neill to utilise in the lead-up to the Euro 2016 qualifiers commencing in September. Grealish wasn’t deemed worthy of being part of that process, even as a fringe player.

Rookie goalkeepers Aaron McCarey and Ian Lawlor were brought stateside in the past two summers respectively for “experience”, so why didn’t the same apply for a player clearly head and shoulders above his peers at U-21 level?

Another curious O’Neill observation was introduced to the rationale behind his current take on the situation.

He said: "This time last year, when I was having conversations with him and his father, I bet you he probably thought he was going to start between 15 and 22 games for Villa. And you know what? He hasn't.”

The first meeting between O’Neill, Grealish and his father, Kevin, took place on August 20 last. Also in attendance at the hotel in the Grealish’s neighbourhood of Solihull was Roy Keane, then double-jobbing at Villa.

This was exactly a week after Villa chief initiated contract talks with a player they risked losing for nothing in the summer amid interest from Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. Genuine interest.

O’Neill later revealed that his suggestion of promoting Grealish to “train” with the senior squad had been politely declined, a stance he fully understood given the challenges he was dealing with at the time for club and country.

Fast-forward to April 2015 and Grealish seems to be further away from a senior Ireland cap than he was then. Whilst the Irish hierarchy continue to doubt him, similar showings by Grealish to Sunday in Villa's final six games of the campaign may convince England otherwise.

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That seems kind of flimsy to me. The whole article is centered around O'Neill saying this:

"I've been involved close to 18 months now, if he was available to us he would have quite surely. . . regardless of not getting starts at Aston Villa, we'd have had enough friendly games that he would have had an opportunity to make an impact at senior level, if he'd been with us from the start"

O'Neill may have meant that he would have probably got an opportunity in one of the friendlies during the period Grealish has been on his break from international duty. The fact that he says "regardless of not getting starts at Aston Villa" kind of proves this is the period he was talking about, not when he was on loan in League One or playing for our U21's. So basically the next six paragraphs are pointless, as O'Neill probably wasn't referring to that period. I know techincially Grealish was with us at the start, but he hasn't been with us from the start, which implies he's been there all the way through.

It does seem unfortunate that O'Neill and/or Keane don't attend the U21 games but I suppose they'd be extremely busy with the senior team more often than not on those dates?

He talks about Staunton calling up Terry Dixon as if Dixon has vindicated the decision by coming a world class player or something. Robbie Keane was a totally different scenario too, firstly it was an area we were short and secondly Keane was playing at a higher level than Grealish, and generally causing more of a stir than Grealish during his time in League One.

How does he know that the interest from Chelsea and Tottenham was "genuine interest", and so what anyway? Big clubs sign kids that turn out to do nothing all the time.

I think you're right. Grealish became officially unavailable as soon there was talk of him being promoted to the senior team. I took it to mean that he would always have been unavailable for a senior call-up; obviously, it only became apparent to us once the prospect arose. The fact his declaration of unavailability also coincided with contract negotiations and an effort to break into the Villa first team beclouded things, or provided him with a "get-out", but I certainly don't think it is fair to portray it as a case of him having been available for a senior call-up at one point in time but being then unwanted or ignored by the senior management. Or is it? If Martin had called him up for, say, the competitive Georgia game last September, would he have accepted the invitation?

Well I suppose it's an important distinction (and one I kind of forgot myself) that he wasn't really taking the time out to concentrate on his club career ahead of playing international football, but ahead of decided who he would prefer to play international football with. So, no, I don't think he would have accepted any call up from us, and certainly not one that was forever binding. O'Neill has been speaking to the guy, I find it a bit ridiculous that these journalists just fill in the gaps and come to their own conclusions about what he should and shouldn't be doing. Just like their English counterparts, none of them were too bothered before Grealish made the headlines at Wembley.

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Originally Posted by Jack Grealish

My father and I didn’t want to go into the meeting and Martin being like, ‘come on and play for Ireland’. He sat me down, treated me like a man and talked through everything.

It wasn’t just about football but growing up as a footballer and where my grandparents are from in Ireland. That’s what I wanted to hear from Martin because it is a big decision to make and one I want to take my time over.

Things have just happened very quickly for me this season and I need to put on my club future first before thinking about the international situation.

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Martin Samuel responds to some of the comments that were left under his article in the Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...h-English.html

Not had any response from him to what I wrote myself, although I was assured it would be passed on to him.

Ouch.

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Originally Posted by back of the net

He says "hopefully next year ill be back playing for "(then Tony o Donoghue interruptes him before he says for who, although you would assume ireland u21s) .....
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish...reland-set-up/




But in the below in the post awards interview - he says its an honour to have the choice of been able to choose between 2 countries, but he also says hopefully next year he "will be back in the green jersey" and "hopefully in september time I will be back playing for Ireland"
http://balls.ie/football/32423-video...reland-jersey/

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"Hopefully" is not a firm declaration of anything.

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Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

"Hopefully" is not a firm declaration of anything.

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Didnt think i implied it was

But agree - most certainly far from a definite

but please god he will be..........hopefully....

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Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

Ouch.

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Don't worry. I'm not losing any sleep, nor did I particularly expect him to respond to me personally anyway, just in case that's how you interpreted what I'd written. I was simply clarifying that I was informed by the Daily Mail's corrections department that they would pass what I wrote on to him. I had no further expectations beyond that.

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Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

"Hopefully" is not a firm declaration of anything.

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It wasn't a declaration of binding commitment, but it was a declaration of intent. That would naturally exclude other possible options (assuming he wasn't engaging in deceit). His father has also clarified that his plans to be back playing with us in September remain unchanged.

Grealish's assist for Cleverley versus West Ham yesterday:

http://c1.thejournal.ie/media/2015/0...ealish-gif.gif

Grealish was quality throughout the game. A real talent not even remotely phased by playing at a high level.

Was MOTM as well, think that's his first in the Premier League

Yes, but is it good news?

That is the question.

Bit like Macbeth.

"To be, or not to be, that is the question—"

Can't believe you wrote that....




You're supposed to call it The Scottish Play, in preparation for June. Or is that just in the theatre?:D

Interesting that Jack Grealishs football agency is Stellar Group, co-owned by a Jonathan Barnett. The same Barnett who said
“Why should we take any notice of comments from people who don’t know what they are talking about – and from people who have failed in management,”
during the week about another of his charges, Gareth Bale.

I'm thinking if Jack really wants to play for us he will accept a call-up for the game against Scotland. Would someone who supposedly wants to play for Ireland not give their right arm to be involved in such a match???

http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/socc...ealish-5666008

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/socc...ment-1.2208382

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Originally Posted by Deckydee

http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/socc...ealish-5666008

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/socc...ment-1.2208382

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I really hope Keane is on the bench for the Scotland game, unless he is fully fit for more than two weeks and shows something in the England friendly. He has been carted around enough lately without being half-fit at the same time. It's a great move going to the MLS at his age but he's been travelling halfway around the world for Intl. games for 3 or 4 years now and it's only viable for so long. It's taking its toll now.

So Dunphy now wades in http://foot.ie/threads/200872-RTE-Du...-Jack-Grealish

I thought he would use just the Hoolahan situation to batter O'Neill but now he has found another stick in Grealish. As ever, the new manager is initially praised by both D & G and then slowly but surely the poison is spread.

There's no way O'Neill can win is there?

Respect Grealish's wishes and he is ignoring our best young talent to the detriment of our qualification hopes. Give Grealish a call up and he declines it.

It's a frustrating situation. If the lad committed, it would have a galvanising effect on the squad and would give us a much needed spark.

But it is very unlikely he would accept a call up for a variety of factors, not least the fact that England are our next friendly opposition.

What planet is Dunphy living on? Or anyone else that thinks Grealish is going to play against England & Scotland. Even in an alternate universe where Grealish did want to play for Ireland right now, O'Neill would be too cautious to play him anyways!

I suspect this talk of Grealish possibly being in the squad is pure media speculation based on nothing. He said he hopes to be back in September and his father confirmed that these plans hadn't changed last we heard from him. I think I read somewhere that Jack has a holiday booked for early June anyway.

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

So Dunphy now wades in http://foot.ie/threads/200872-RTE-Du...-Jack-Grealish

I thought he would use just the Hoolahan situation to batter O'Neill but now he has found another stick in Grealish. As ever, the new manager is initially praised by both D & G and then slowly but surely the poison is spread.

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Originally Posted by Eamon Dunphy

We could have had Harry Kane, you know: he was in Tottenham’s reserves this time last year, and if you’d have offered him a cap he’d have jumped at it. Jack Grealish, could easily have been capped in the game against Gibraltar.

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Was Dunphy calling for Grealish's inclusion against Gibraltar? No. Did Dunphy even know who Grealish was then? It's easy to talk in hindsight...

And there were talks with Kane going back a while now but he always reiterated that making it into the England senior team was his focus. As they say; you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink it. That applies to Grealish as well. Clueless stuff from Dunphy. Does he not know that Martin and Roy have met Grealish and his father and that Jack's break is self-imposed?

Telegraph reporting Grealish will be in the squad announced tomorrow: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...d-call-up.html
Not a lot in it to be honest. Mentions that playing against England would not tie him to us (which is true) but no mention that playing against Scotland would

Interesting development, if true.

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Telegraph reporting Grealish will be in the squad announced tomorrow: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...d-call-up.html
Not a lot in it to be honest. Mentions that playing against England would not tie him to us (which is true) but no mention that playing against Scotland would

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It mentions his Dublin born father but his Dad was born and raised in Birmingham

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Originally Posted by Fixer82

It mentions his Dublin born father but his Dad was born and raised in Birmingham

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This again? Really?

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

This again? Really?

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Is there a problem?

Jack Grealish has just tweeted "WOW. Just read stff in the papers about myself that I didnt even kno bout. Smile smiley face. Sunglasses smiley face. Cheesy grin smiley face. Head in palm smiley face. Beach ball smiley face. Batman smiley face. Tongue out smiley face. Monocle smiley face. Harvey two face smiley face. LULZ. Exclamation mark. Exclamation mark. Exclamation mark".

Is that you Roddy?

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Telegraph reporting Grealish will be in the squad announced tomorrow: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...d-call-up.html
Not a lot in it to be honest. Mentions that playing against England would not tie him to us (which is true) but no mention that playing against Scotland would

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Spot on - they don't even claim to have been told this by a source - they just use the passive voice - "Jack Grealish is expected to be called up". Interestingly, they also use the phrase "force Jack Grealish's hand", almost like they read that article from that Irish journalist a couple of weeks ago and are trying to build on it to stir up conflict between MON and the Grealishes. I think it would be ridiculous for MON to start playing "silly buggers" by naming Grealish in a squad without knowing whether he will accept a call-up - he should talk to the Grealishes and let them know that he's ready to bring him into the fold before saying anything publicly, regardless of what the Telegraph or Eamon Dunphy say. (On a side note, it's also ridiculous that there's far more sensible and circumspect opinions to be found on an internet forum than from RTE's highly paid panel of experts)

As regards whether Grealish should be called up for Scotland, I guess that's Martin O'Neill's call at the end of the day. And while I think the phrasing he used about it being "too big a game" might be debatable, considering Grealish has already impressed in the FA Cup semi and Villa's relegation battle, the fact that he only got his first Premier League start in April might make it a little too soon to shoehorn him into the team's system for such a vital game (although events may well prove me wrong)

So yes, it would be a bonus to see him trot onto the pitch for the last 15 minutes on June 13 and help us clinch victory against Scotland and we could start high-fiving each other at the prospect of reaching five or six of the next seven tournaments instead of three or four. But if that doesn't happen, there's still no cause for panic. The more realistic target would be for him to play against Gibraltar and Georgia in September with a view to preparing him for a role, possibly as an impact sub, against Germany and Poland.

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Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

(On a side note, it's also ridiculous that there's far more sensible and circumspect opinions to be found on an internet forum than from RTE's highly paid panel of experts)

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This is it, I come on here to find informed and considered comment far more than most mainstream Irish media sources.

Dunphy on this is being dangerously ignorant, rabble rousing nonsense at best, MON may not be able to make a move which wins this battle at present, but he doesn't have to go all in and lose it either.

If Grealish was not a dual national & just qualified for us, would you put him in against Scotland having never trained in our system, met the squad, up to that point ? Its still touch and go for me if I'd favour it even in those circumstances. Its the biggest game for Ireland in a while, that comes first. And we can well do without any 'Grealish shuns Ireland' for days on end in the papers before it.

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Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

(On a side note, it's also ridiculous that there's far more sensible and circumspect opinions to be found on an internet forum than from RTE's highly paid panel of experts)

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I've heard there is one forum in particular that has the most sensiblest and circumspectest opinions of all internet forums, and its members go to away matches and everything.

Any truth in this?what's the point if he will just refuse

http://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer...-31214385.html

If he is called up you would imagine that Jack would know beforehand. If he turns us down then we know exactly where we stand.

Examiner says he wont be called up: http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/s...ad-330040.html

Squad to be announced around 12pm allegedly.

If he is named in the squad I imagine he will withdraw saying he is 'not ready' or get a mysterious injury and withdraw. Don't see the point in trying to force his hand, the guy is going to play for whoever he wants end of. If he wants to get 5 caps for England then good luck to him, its his choice.

He's to be named in the squad according to the Independent.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-31214996.html

I can only assume he'll be called up if he has given his consent. Otherwise it'd be another unnecessary media sh1t show. Any competent national association would understand this. (Maybe I should change "assume" to "hope to Jaysus".)

Couldn't he not play the first half for Ireland and the second half for England?