To be fair, we go to considerable lengths ourselves to snap up dual nationals, so it's not as if we can cry "foul" or hold it against them. Fallon hasn't explicitly stated it's a problem, but I just got a sense of mild disapproval.Originally Posted by John Fallon
Is this is a new interpretation in hindsight? It's rather harsh. Which chance did O'Neill blow? Is Fallon referring to the US friendly tour, in which none of the games would actually have tied Grealish, who was, it should also be pointed out, playing at League One level for Notts County at the time? "Gift-wrapped" for senior level? I'm not so sure. Any time O'Neill offered a competitive call-up, it seems Grealish got cold feet. That's not O'Neill's blunder. Nor was O'Neill to know that Grealish was to eventually switch; Jack and his father appeared to have given O'Neill the impression that the chances of him sticking with Ireland were high, so there appeared to be no urgent need to push the matter. Not that O'Neill could have forced the issue anyway considering it was entirely up to Grealish. It is also worth remembering that Grealish was unwilling to continue playing for King too.England tried and failed twice to entice Grealish onboard in his teens and it was only after Martin O’Neill blew his chance of capping a talent gift-wrapped to him by U-21 manager Noel King that the blunder was seized upon to Ireland's detriment.
Bookmarks