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All this speculation kinda runs what should be a pretty exciting call up. When is the last time we had an 18 year old striker with some Premiership experience. Hopefully we can get the commitment issue out of the way and this kid can kick on and be a massive player for us.
Agree completely. Fair play to Martin for including him in the squad. But he should have done exactly what Finn Harps says above.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Here's my optimistic conspiracy theory. Obafemi and/or his agent are playing up the fact he's eligible for multiple countries so he gets fast tracked into the senior Irish team (which he really does want to play for). O'Neill hasn't always been quick to experiment with the squad -- but this situation could see him get minutes sooner rather than later.
Fantasy stuff on my end perhaps but thought I'd throw it out there!
Surely what should happen is O'Neill contacts Obafemi (or any other young player with multiple options) and says "I see you're making great progress and I'm ready to call you up, but I know you have a final decision to make - are you ready to commit or do you want time to think it over first?" If they're not ready, give them space to make their decision but continue with the business at hand of building a team with known resources. I don't like what appears to be happening, where we seem to be trying to manipulate players into staying on with friendly caps or promotions to the U21s and then we're left with egg on our faces if they pull out last minute.
I hope that O'Neill or someone had a word with Obafemi a while back and that he is actually ready to commit (and who knows? Maybe that has happened) but I fear he may have been called up in haste in an effort to ward off England (and maybe Nigeria) but I can't see that making a difference - they will make their approaches and Obafemi will make his decision one way or the other regardless of whether he gets a few minutes against The North. If he decides to switch at that point, then we will have wasted an opportunity to call up Aaron Connolly, who has scored even more this season than Obafemi and is possibly only weeks away from his EPL breakthrough.
With all that said, won't it be great if Obafemi plays against Denmark and continues his progress at Southampton and Connolly makes his first-team breakthrough soon? Combined with the arrival of Callum Robinson, that could mean our striker crisis could be over before the qualifiers begin... with Idah, McAuley, Cassidy, Parrott, Drinan, Afolabi, Hale and Roache still in the pipeline
That list of names is promising. In the short term, you'd hope that Connolly and Hale can kick on, given how prolific Connolly is at under 23 and Hale having senior experience. Any of the rest could lift their head above the parapet but might take a couple of years?
Has Obafemi come out and said anything about playing for Ireland,
I haven’t seen anything yet.
If he wants to play for us, great.
But it’s hard to know these days what the kids think.
I think re Decla Rice, if it wasn’t for his club and his agent, he’d have already properly declared for us.
I hope he signs a massive contract or WH based on playing for England and then declares for us.
I’d say Rice was coming under pressure at West Ham . He would be worth an awful lot more as an England International ; Sadly thats just the way it is .Quote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
Agent / business point of view ; his earning potential if he is a successful England international and particularly if that was in a successful England team ( ? ) would dwarf anything he could earn with Ireland . His wages just for being an England International would also be higher . Why ; but its true .
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soc...-37527288.htmlQuote:
Originally Posted by Diggs246
What's this call for Troy Parrott about by Fallon? Undoubtedly mercurically talented, but he's got a lot of physical development to do before he can consider senior football.
The last line in the piece is very unfair to Obafemi. It's more nonsense from John Fallon.
There was been no indication whatsoever from Obafemi that he'll refuse to play against Denmark. It's all speculation.Quote:
Obafemi is using the system to pick and choose his country and the manager is facilitating it.
Let's whole back on the criticism of the lad until/if it happens.
EDIT: Ignore my post - I just seen MON's latest remarks.
Dan McDonnell says that Obafemi won't be travelling to Denmark as he wants more time to make a decision. Absolutely embarrassing for Ireland once again.
I can't understand how O'Neill is letting this happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by TrapAPony
He criticised Crowley & Jack Byrne lately for being 'too confident' but will happily put up with Obafemi's nonsense.
O'Neill, the gimp, spent the week planting seeds of doubt in Obafemi's head with the rubbish he was coming out with. The only other lad we had with 'eligibility issues' he dropped him from the squad - Jimmy Dunne. No other nations are having the problem we are with dual nationals. The more I look at it, Martin O'Neill is highly likely to be directly at fault for the losses of Jack Grealish, Declan Rice, Liam Kelly and now Obafemi. All 4 are under his tenure, it's too coincidental at this stage and wouldn't have happened under any other previous Irish manager. Martin O'Neill is doing absolutely nothing for the future of Irish football.Quote:
Originally Posted by IsMiseSean
Lads please can we have a zero tolerance policy going forward.Quote:
Originally Posted by Diggs246
Serious basic competency failings definitely. Too arrogant to do the job properly.Quote:
Originally Posted by TrapAPony
We don’t know what the background is. O’Neill May have convinced him to train with us to try and lure him in.
If we missed out on him without O’Neill having made any overtures people would be giving out saying O’Neill missed out on a great lad who would’ve chosen us had anyone been in touch.
The rules need to change.
I believe you should be born in the country or have at least one parent or two grandparents born in the country.
That would still qualify Obafemi and Rice but it might cut this crap out a bit.
I think maybe the idea of nationhood is not as strong among young people as it was when we grew up (80s and 90s).
There’s far less loyalty and affinity in the game. No surprise really when there is no real loyalty at club level. I thought international football was less mercenary but looks like I was wrong
Another player that suddenly wants to consider his international future as soon as he has been called up and seen first hand the state of the coaching staff and “football” practiced...surely not much of a coincidence.
This is sadly true.
The ins and outs of Obafemi's decision are one thing, but I certainly don't think we should be capping someone - even in a friendly - who hasn't decided if he wants to play for us.
But we do know the background, he is here with our squad and isn't committed that's a fact. MON has also made a balls of this one, but the player is a total disgrace. I really really don't want him backQuote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
What should have happened:
MON: Michael I want to call you up for the NI an Denmark double header. but before I announce it, I want to make sure you are committed to be a rep of Ireland player.
MOB: No thanks, Im waiting for England as I was raised there and that's where my loyalties are.
MON: No Problem, goodbye