Mason Melia F St Pats b.2007

I have my own doubts about his top level, but I'd never rule someone out because of past experiences if they're playing well and showing positive signs. We have a grand history of players coming through late career after struggles to be fair. I think it's probably good to assume others capable of learning and growth. I haven't a clue what kind of player he was back then if it suited the SPL or that Hearts team, and if this version is any better. He did make 42 apps in 1 and a half seasons, so he wasn't exactly unused either.

Footballer's careers aren't static things. You'd hope at 28 he is around his prime and is in fact better, fit and playing with confidence. He's in Ireland because his family was homesick and didn't like living in the US from what I gather, so he's not in the LOI as of some sort of punishment for being a failure.

He's been wildly inconsistent for Pat's, but the version of him we've seen the past 2 months is probably the best and most consistent he has been in his 2 years at home, his set pieces are a weapon, if that domestic based squad ever got off the ground, I'd love to see how players like him fared.

Mason called up to the u21 squad for the first time.

He'll be exposed for the overgrown, mutant, lump that he is. ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SkStu

He'll be exposed for the overgrown, mutant, lump that he is. ;)

---

Hes a cod Bill

Scouting report on Melia
https://bethlimb.substack.com/p/maso...ut-report-2024

It's an interesting read, but I'm a little cautious of a scouting report on a kid that is so limited in terms of analysing areas of weakness.

Can't tell you how true it is, but there has been talk about a move to a PL team with a loan back for another season from anywhere between 1-3m including bonus'. No point being too specific about the rumors because they're all over the shop, but given the family apparently turned down Man City before, Is now a year away from being able to move and has been playing well recently, I'm sure there's something to it.

Apparently the subject of a €2m bid from Bologna.

Linked with Spurs, again, this morning too

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Apparently the subject of a €2m bid from Bologna.

---

Thought it was 500K no?

Signs for Spurs for 1.9m, rising to 3.5m... joins in January 2026. The next Gary Doherty. ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SkStu

Signs for Spurs for 1.9m, rising to 3.5m... joins in January 2026. The next Gary Doherty. ;)

---

Do we know what makes up the add ons? Are they achievable say like when he makes 20 appearances foe spurs, when he gets senior cap or are they things like if he is premier league top s prer or if spurs win the league?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SkStu

Signs for Spurs for 1.9m, rising to 3.5m... joins in January 2026. The next Gary Doherty. ;)

---

I see now reports that they have a 20% sell on clause as well. All in all seems like a very fair deal ?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by liamoo11

I see now reports that they have a 20% sell on clause as well. All in all seems like a very fair deal ?

---

on the face of it, it is an incredible deal. The 20% i saw too - but not sure on the other bits and bobs - - probably something under all the things you have mentioned!

Great to see real money coming in for young player from the league. I still have my personal doubts about him making it as a Premiership level striker but it's a fantastic transfer for the league as a whole.

That's a lot of money for him in truth, he's completely unproven and going over at 18 he's likely to be behind other Spurs youth players in his development and could have a lot of catching up to do - just need to look at Sam Curtis' struggles for an example of how difficult the transition could be at that age. Then there's potential issues around loans if they want him to be kept as a homegrown player. Will be very interesting to see how this works out, hopefully he cracks it.

Didn't a poster here once have "Will remove when a League of Ireland player is transferred for more than €1million" in their signature
Was one of about four or five other conditions IIRC

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eirambler

That's a lot of money for him in truth, he's completely unproven and going over at 18 he's likely to be behind other Spurs youth players in his development and could have a lot of catching up to do - just need to look at Sam Curtis' struggles for an example of how difficult the transition could be at that age. Then there's potential issues around loans if they want him to be kept as a homegrown player. Will be very interesting to see how this works out, hopefully he cracks it.

---

Curtis is a perfect example of why it's still hard to know how players from the LOI will do. This is still small money for Spurs so it's worth a punt to them. I do think that going from being a 1st team footballer to becoming a youth team player again is a pretty difficult mental adjustment for any player moving out of league so hopefully Melia can move through the ranks quickly over there

Physically Curtis is on the small side so would have to be technically very good to make up for it. Haven't seen Melia play bar the underage games and he's a big lad. Not sure how he fairs technical wise.

Lee O'Connor went over at 16 and we've seen him struggle. Curtis strikes me as a similar type to Lee O'Connor. Both on the smaller side physically and both likely ended up playing RB because of their size.

Big move for a big fee but staying here for another year is a best of both worlds move for him imo, going to be a lot of attention on him and Pats this year but still space to develop and grow before he's in to whatever flavour of chaos Spurs happen to be at the time.