Potentially eligible players thread

I'm not actually convinced Johnston is good enough anyway, I could be wrong but I reckon he'll be at somewhere like Motherwell or St Mirren in three years time. We have far better young players coming through.

It's mostly grandparent qualifications here now alright, we'll soon be getting to the stage where it's like Liverpool where a lot of people from an Irish background would be one generation too far back to qualify. My own kid, for example, would only qualify through me (I'm Irish), would be a generation too far back on my wife's side.

The connection is still incredibly strong though and a lot of people around here would be Ireland first and Scotland second when it comes to football despite being born here and having lived all their lives in Scotland. I remember watching two young lads in kilts kicking a football around at a wedding a few years ago so I asked them if they wanted to play for Scotland when they were older. The reply was no, we're going to play for Ireland!

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Originally Posted by Eirambler

I'm not actually convinced Johnston is good enough anyway, I could be wrong but I reckon he'll be at somewhere like Motherwell or St Mirren in three years time. We have far better young players coming through.

It's mostly grandparent qualifications here now alright, we'll soon be getting to the stage where it's like Liverpool where a lot of people from an Irish background would be one generation too far back to qualify. My own kid, for example, would only qualify through me (I'm Irish), would be a generation too far back on my wife's side.



The connection is still incredibly strong though and a lot of people around here would be Ireland first and Scotland second when it comes to football despite being born here and having lived all their lives in Scotland. I remember watching two young lads in kilts kicking a football around at a wedding a few years ago so I asked them if they wanted to play for Scotland when they were older. The reply was no, we're going to play for Ireland!

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How bizarre is that though? I assuming the SFA are such bigots that they have scared off the nationalist side of the community?

I think, in general, there just isn't that strong a link between Celtic FC and Scotland, and Celtic have a huge hold over Catholics in Glasgow. From my experience most of the Tartan Army would be supporters of non old firm teams. Celtic fans will often have less interest in international football and a lot of them (though not all) would feel more of a connection to the Ireland team than the Scotland one. I think Scotland not qualifying for anything for two decades has an impact as well.

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Originally Posted by Eirambler

The connection is still incredibly strong though and a lot of people around here would be Ireland first and Scotland second when it comes to football despite being born here and having lived all their lives in Scotland. I remember watching two young lads in kilts kicking a football around at a wedding a few years ago so I asked them if they wanted to play for Scotland when they were older. The reply was no, we're going to play for Ireland!

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In that context, I wonder what would a young Andy Robertson have wanted? Could use a player of his ability playing for us.

I had heard of his connection to Mayo before - but hadn't realised he's been involved in any of our underage sides.
http://www.mayonews.ie/sports/33803-...is-set-to-come

He hasn't really featured for our 19s, has he? I think he was in a few 18s squads. He's keen. Mayo have a habit of blowing up their own so I'd be interested to see how he actually is progressing.

Asked the question there in their Development Etc thread

- https://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forum/1-...er-city-forum/

We'll see if I get any sensible replies, that place is usually just noise.

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Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

Asked the question there in their Development Etc thread

- https://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forum/1-...er-city-forum/

We'll see if I get any sensible replies, that place is usually just noise.

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Cheers Craft.

It's funny- I have the luxury of being apprehensive on his progression because of the embarrassment of riches we have at that level. I only referenced our abundance of midfielders the other day at that age and Tee didn't come into my mind such was the number of options (Connell, Bolger, Knight, Molumby- though overage for 19s- etc.).

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Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

Asked the question there in their Development Etc thread

- https://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forum/1-...er-city-forum/

We'll see if I get any sensible replies, that place is usually just noise.

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Two responses saying he's well short of the first team and, TBF, that seems about right, considering he only played seven times this season for their U23s (https://int.soccerway.com/players/conor-tee/453844/). I think the Mayo News got a bit over-excited that a teenager with links to Mayo had moved up to U23 level for a recent EPL winner. That said he's still making good progress, having gone from playing 24 games in 16/17 without scoring to banging in 9 in 21 appearances in 17/18. So let's see if he can cement himself and impress in the U23s next season and take it from there in 2020/21

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

Cheers Craft.

It's funny- I have the luxury of being apprehensive on his progression because of the embarrassment of riches we have at that level. I only referenced our abundance of midfielders the other day at that age and Tee didn't come into my mind such was the number of options (Connell, Bolger, Knight, Molumby- though overage for 19s- etc.).

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He has been offered a new deal according to this

- https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/s...r-city-2956893

& 10 players, including a lot of this years u23s have been released.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/footb...ap-derby-rory/

Reports that Liam Delap, son of Rory, is off for Man City.

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/footb...ap-derby-rory/

Reports that Liam Delap, son of Rory, is off for Man City.

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forget about Delap - no way he switches back - and Southgate will cap him if he signs for Man C.

Wouldn’t be too sure about that:

And with his parents — John from Letterkenny and Maura from Kells — he had a special Christmas, marvelling at John’s capacity to persuade his boys — aged 10, six and four — to declare their allegiance to Ireland.

“They’ll listen to him quicker than they will me,” laughed Delap. “But you hope the importance of being Irish resonates with them. It meant everything to me growing up. We’ve gone back to the same places I went to when I was a child in Donegal and Meath. They loved it.

"Their granddad has drilled it into them that if they’re any good at anything, it’s Ireland they have to represent. When he said it, they took it all in. So that’s one issue done and dusted then.”

https://www.irishpost.com/sport/rory...w-weapon-19520

Cheers for that. 5 years ago too- the lad was surely running laps around everyone at 11. He's faced with a major scenario though in that he's been given the platform for a move to City through his England exposure.

It's a pity his old fella only earned 11 caps. I hadn't realised it was so low. A pity we had so many options when Delap was about. Plenty in midfield. And even when he moved to right back for a bit, he's within a year or two of age of all of Finnan, Kelly and Carr.

One point Id like to make in relation to our selection of youth and duel nationality players …. for all the "what would Wales do" people out there

Wales are 2nd last in their group as we speak

Apparently McCarthy asked about Karlan Grant of Huddersfield. Not on his radar was the response.

Embarrassment of riches I guess up front ................

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Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia

Apparently McCarthy asked about Karlan Grant of Huddersfield. Not on his radar was the response.

Embarrassment of riches I guess up front ................

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Grant doesn't qualify.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/pundita...lan-grant/amp/

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Originally Posted by Diggs246

Grant doesn't qualify.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/pundita...lan-grant/amp/

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Thanks

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/footb...ap-derby-rory/

Reports that Liam Delap, son of Rory, is off for Man City.

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Originally Posted by Jolly Red Giant

forget about Delap - no way he switches back - and Southgate will cap him if he signs for Man C.

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I love how we have about a dozen promising young strikers, four or five of whom look like they could be real stars, and yet we still worry that a player like Delap could be "the one that got away". It's like we have this fatalistic view that all the forwards coming through will either flop, have careers blighted by injury, or will defect to England. Of course, Delap will probably now score fifty for England. Well at least it would make playing for England a more challenging prospect for Oko-Flex, should we need him.

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Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

I love how we have about a dozen promising young strikers, four or five of whom look like they could be real stars, and yet we still worry that a player like Delap could be "the one that got away". It's like we have this fatalistic view that all the forwards coming through will either flop, have careers blighted by injury, or will defect to England. Of course, Delap will probably now score fifty for England. Well at least it would make playing for England a more challenging prospect for Oko-Flex, should we need him.

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It's just that we are a greedy bunch of b. stards who want anyone with any affinity to play in green! No problem with that. ��

Could be one to keep an eye on:

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.d...-McCarron.html

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soc...-38222401.html

Strong words from Robbie. And very strong words on Luca Connell- "I'm telling you tight now, he'll play for us" and "I guarantee you 100% he is desperate to play for Ireland."

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soc...-38222401.html

Strong words from Robbie. And very strong words on Luca Connell- "I'm telling you tight now, he'll play for us" and "I guarantee you 100% he is desperate to play for Ireland."

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He is right about the chasing it's not the way to do business.

're luca. Once someone says "100%" in any debate. I start to lose confidence in their views

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Originally Posted by Diggs246

He is right about the chasing it's not the way to do business.

're luca. Once someone says "100%" in any debate. I start to lose confidence in their views

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That's why I always say 110%

https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status...059047425?s=19
FAI leaving it all on the line for Kavanagh and his boy. Love it.

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

Strong words from Robbie. And very strong words on Luca Connell- "I'm telling you tight now, he'll play for us" and "I guarantee you 100% he is desperate to play for Ireland."

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I haven't heard such bullishness since, well...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqViL74QCPc

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Originally Posted by rebelmusic

Based on current form Curtis Davies would be a nice addition.
Naughton is a right back and not in the league of Coleman but maybe could do a job at left full?
Wickham i don't rate and we've loads of decent but not great strikers
Noble - better than Gibson/McCarhty? Not really
Harry Kane - don't know enough about him but stats are underwhelming
Bamford looks like a rising star so he would be one to chase, especially since he represented us before
Redmond - he's under Chris Hughton so very possible he could make a move
The Keanes - i really think they're set on England. There was plenty of furore before so i don't see either of them coming to us
Callum McManaman: Same story as Kane for me

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That Harry Kane's stats are awful

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Originally Posted by elatedscum

That Harry Kane's stats are awful

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And of the Keanes that were set on England, we ended up with Will.

https://ulsterherald.com/2019/06/22/...l-bound-conor/

Could be the next border dispute😀

Louie Barry offered a three year contract by West Brom on his sixteenth birthday, amid rumours of a move to Barcelona: https://www.skysports.com/football/n...elona-interest

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Originally Posted by Bungle

https://ulsterherald.com/2019/06/22/...l-bound-conor/

Could be the next border dispute😀

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I saw this lad at the victory shield game in Kerry this year. An excellent box to box midfielder. Interestingly he was one of 3 lads in that starting team that night who had their heads bowed and looked very uneasy during God savd the queen. The big centre half also mentioned in that article was another

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Louie Barry offered a three year contract by West Brom on his sixteenth birthday, amid rumours of a move to Barcelona: https://www.skysports.com/football/n...elona-interest

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It doesn't seem a great deal if they are trying to kerl him surely a 4 year deal to take him up to 21 wouldn't break the bank if u are trying to fend off foreign sides

There used to be quite specific regulations regarding contracts for young players at different ages. Both minimum and maximum.

A few years ago, you could only offer a maximum of 3 years at 16. Equally there are certain moments where clubs had to offer a minimum of 2 years (I think possibly after the player has graduated u18).

Not sure the regulations right now but I imagine it’s not too far off that

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Originally Posted by liamoo11

I saw this lad at the victory shield game in Kerry this year. An excellent box to box midfielder. Interestingly he was one of 3 lads in that starting team that night who had their heads bowed and looked very uneasy during God savd the queen. The big centre half also mentioned in that article was another

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Good to hear. He would seem to be a top talent so hopefully we court him.

Another one off to the graveyard of Irish footballing talent that is Liverpool FC though. Unless he's unbelievably good he hasn't a hope, and even if he is the odds will be against him there.

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Originally Posted by Eirambler

Another one off to the graveyard of Irish footballing talent that is Liverpool FC though. Unless he's unbelievably good he hasn't a hope, and even if he is the odds will be against him there.

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The footballing education he would get there is second to none and should make him a better player. Masterson has been linked with some good clubs so there is a way back for players. Players should be realistic of this fact when signing for clubs like city or liverpool.

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Originally Posted by Eirambler

Another one off to the graveyard of Irish footballing talent that is Liverpool FC though. Unless he's unbelievably good he hasn't a hope, and even if he is the odds will be against him there.

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I think if you're going to a Top 6 club, you know you've got about a 1/25 to 1/50 chance of making the breakthrough at that club. They all tend to promote a not-already-established young player to the first team about once every a year or once every two years - but it certainly doesn’t stop the player from developing into a top footballer.


Over the 7 or 8 years, Liverpool have brought through the likes of Spearing (55 app), Sterling (129), Ibe (58), Kelly (62), Wisdom (22), Suso (21), Flanagan (51), Gomez (66) and Alexander-Arnold (85).


United have had the likes of Rashford, Lingaard, McTominey, Perreira, Fosuh-Mensah is borderline.


City have had Foden, Zinchenko, Iheanacho, Boyata (a bit borderline)…


Chelsea with Loftus-Cheek, Christiansen, Hudson-Odoi (on his way), Ampadu (on his way), Ake


Arsenal with Bellerin, Iwobi, Maitland-Niles, Gnabry,


Spurs: Kane, Winks, Alli, Winks, Walker Peters (on his way), Bentlaleb, Carroll.


Plenty of our best young players have joined top 6 sides and probably no one has broken through since maybe Darron Gibson - at Liverpool it was probably Darren Potter, but he was scouse born so that’s a little different.


Liverpool probably had quantity over quality. Of the previous batch, Cleary could probably still end up at a high high level. Trying to think who they had: Cleary, O’Hanlon, Mikey Collins, Jimmy Ryan, Joe Rafferty - no real standouts. If I think of the real standout underage players joining big six clubs, I’d look at Robbie Brady at United, Conor Clifford at Chelsea, Jack Byrne at City, Arsenal probably haven’t had a ‘can’t miss’ talent since Anto Stokes (unless Dan Crowley counts?) and Troy Parrott is probably the only Spurs player. Genuinely don’t think Liverpool have had a player of their ability who ‘should’ have really made it to an elite level since Joxer. They’ve perhaps had more youth players within the system but less of the top ones.


I suppose you could argue that player X (let’s say Alex O’Hanlon) was the best U15 when he went across and Liverpool failed to truly develop that talent so he wasn’t standout by 17 or 18 - but I’m not sure that argument holds up.

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Originally Posted by elatedscum

I think if you're going to a Top 6 club, you know you've got about a 1/25 to 1/50 chance of making the breakthrough at that club. They all tend to promote a not-already-established young player to the first team about once every a year or once every two years - but it certainly doesn’t stop the player from developing into a top footballer.


Over the 7 or 8 years, Liverpool have brought through the likes of Spearing (55 app), Sterling (129), Ibe (58), Kelly (62), Wisdom (22), Suso (21), Flanagan (51), Gomez (66) and Alexander-Arnold (85).


United have had the likes of Rashford, Lingaard, McTominey, Perreira, Fosuh-Mensah is borderline.


City have had Foden, Zinchenko, Iheanacho, Boyata (a bit borderline)…


Chelsea with Loftus-Cheek, Christiansen, Hudson-Odoi (on his way), Ampadu (on his way), Ake


Arsenal with Bellerin, Iwobi, Maitland-Niles, Gnabry,


Spurs: Kane, Winks, Alli, Winks, Walker Peters (on his way), Bentlaleb, Carroll.


Plenty of our best young players have joined top 6 sides and probably no one has broken through since maybe Darron Gibson - at Liverpool it was probably Darren Potter, but he was scouse born so that’s a little different.


Liverpool probably had quantity over quality. Of the previous batch, Cleary could probably still end up at a high high level. Trying to think who they had: Cleary, O’Hanlon, Mikey Collins, Jimmy Ryan, Joe Rafferty - no real standouts. If I think of the real standout underage players joining big six clubs, I’d look at Robbie Brady at United, Conor Clifford at Chelsea, Jack Byrne at City, Arsenal probably haven’t had a ‘can’t miss’ talent since Anto Stokes (unless Dan Crowley counts?) and Troy Parrott is probably the only Spurs player. Genuinely don’t think Liverpool have had a player of their ability who ‘should’ have really made it to an elite level since Joxer. They’ve perhaps had more youth players within the system but less of the top ones.


I suppose you could argue that player X (let’s say Alex O’Hanlon) was the best U15 when he went across and Liverpool failed to truly develop that talent so he wasn’t standout by 17 or 18 - but I’m not sure that argument holds up.

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If my kid can play he is going to a championship club that can guarantee he can complete his leaving cert in England along with playing football.

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Originally Posted by Diggs246

If my kid can play he is going to a championship club that can guarantee he can complete his leaving cert in England along with playing football.

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He can complete his leaving cert in Ireland?

I know if either of my boys end up good enough, I'd prefer them to stay home and gain their football education here while completing their schooling at home.

It's fast becoming a much better option for young players.

Not to mind leaving cert- I'm liking a trend of lads finishing University before moving on. Robbie Benson tried it and it didn't necessarily work for him. Farrugia and Scales might manage it though. Hope this catches on.