Potentially eligible players thread

**JR89** · 28/01/2023, 1:49 PM

Irish born Leslie Adekoya scores his first goal for Accrington Stanley today 38secs after coming on. Born to Nigerian parents in Ireland who moved to England at a young age. Hasn't been involved with anyone at international level so far. Could be one the FAI try get in for the upcoming U19s games in March.

**nigel-harps1954** · 28/02/2023, 12:07 PM

Interesting to see Darren Fletchers twin sons divided in their international allegiance. Jack and Tyler, both Irish eligible as well as Scotland/England, as was Darren himself due to his Irish mother, played against each other for England and Scotland in an under-16 match last week.

Funnily enough, despite Darren himself working for Man United, both players are in Man City academy.

https://news.stv.tv/sport/darren-fle...scotland-clash

**tetsujin1979** · 28/02/2023, 12:10 PM

a few former United players have had children in City's academy

**SkStu** · 28/02/2023, 8:08 PM

I think i read Tyrhys Dolan on these parts a few years ago as a potential recruit but i see nothing online. Anyone got an inside track?

**Razors left peg** · 01/03/2023, 9:30 PM

Just heard that Mikey Johnson has declared for us. On loan in Portugal from Celtic at moment

https://twitter.com/McDonnellDan/sta...jcLijDoGA&s=19

**Jd2793** · 01/03/2023, 9:50 PM

absolutely no idea who he is but we have no wingers at all so nothing is lost if he doesnt do much from here on out. another one to pin our desperate hopes on

**Diggs246** · 01/03/2023, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by Jd2793

absolutely no idea who he is but we have no wingers at all so nothing is lost if he doesnt do much from here on out. another one to pin our desperate hopes on

Beilsa/ Javier loved this guy....why nobody knows

He isn't getting his game in Portugal. So thats his first hurdle. Then he can get his passport

**paul_oshea** · 02/03/2023, 8:12 AM

Originally Posted by Jd2793

absolutely no idea who he is but we have no wingers at all so nothing is lost if he doesnt do much from here on out. another one to pin our desperate hopes on

Our desparate hoops on.

**SkStu** · 03/03/2023, 12:47 AM

Been reading up on him as this came out of the blue and it’s been so long - 20 games, 3 goals, 3 assists for him this season. Not bad for a first season, 22 year old in Primera Liga, sitting in 5th… I didn’t think he’d be contributing much to us when I heard the news yesterday but definitely think he deserves at least a look. Young enough to still improve too.

**Eirambler** · 03/03/2023, 6:29 AM

He's 24 next month. Kenny is clearly intending to cap him but there's little to suggest at this point that he offers much that we don't already have. If he particularly wants a right footer who can play on the left wing then why not give Festy a go? I'd say he has a far higher ceiling than Johnston.

**BOOMSHAKALAKA** · 03/03/2023, 6:45 AM

Johnston looked like a player when he broke through first. He has fallen off a good bit but no harm in having extra options.

**liamoo11** · 03/03/2023, 6:46 AM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

He's 24 next month. Kenny is clearly intending to cap him but there's little to suggest at this point that he offers much that we don't already have. If he particularly wants a right footer who can play on the left wing then why not give Festy a go? I'd say he has a far higher ceiling than Johnston.

Johnson is far more skillful than festy but festy has fantastic physical abilities. Neither of them have much of an end product

**tetsujin1979** · 03/03/2023, 7:05 AM

The opening goal here is his last goal in the league, from October
Good finish
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5LJ5VD3xxw
(can't embed the video, just click the link)

**SkStu** · 03/03/2023, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

He's 24 next month. Kenny is clearly intending to cap him but there's little to suggest at this point that he offers much that we don't already have. If he particularly wants a right footer who can play on the left wing then why not give Festy a go? I'd say he has a far higher ceiling than Johnston.

Sorry, yeah a typo - should have said 23. The point still stands on its merits - he's doing fairly well in a decent league. Definitely a bit worrying that he's fallen a bit out of favour since January but still another new, decent prospect to monitor with plenty of upside it seems. Could be a Cullen type trajectory?

It is a good shout re Festy as he has played that side in some of the Derby games i seen, although it did highlight his weaknesses a little more (touch and positioning) and it was more as a LWB from what i can recall. I do hope he can kick on at Udinese and get more than just a few minutes every other game over the coming months.

**paul_oshea** · 03/03/2023, 1:19 PM

24 is COD, you're a cod stu : P

**JR89** · 03/03/2023, 1:37 PM

Originally Posted by liamoo11

Johnson is far more skillful than festy but festy has fantastic physical abilities. Neither of them have much of an end product

Yeah Festy is more Ogbene in style. Play him RW where he can use his pace and physicality to beat players on the outside.

**Trequartista20** · 03/03/2023, 3:20 PM

Good work on Kenny's behalf to bring Johnston aboard. He is potentially an exciting, if unfulfilled, talent.

With good news stories thin on the ground under his tenure I sense Kenny's talking this up a little more more than he ought to, similar to Hamilton, who was probably never really worthy of a call-up.

But he does like his wingers.

**third policeman** · 03/03/2023, 6:18 PM

Originally Posted by Trequartista20

Good work on Kenny's behalf to bring Johnston aboard. He is potentially an exciting, if unfulfilled, talent.

With good news stories thin on the ground under his tenure I sense Kenny's talking this up a little more more than he ought to, similar to Hamilton, who was probably never really worthy of a call-up.

But he does like his wingers.

If we're playing with three at the back, where does this leave us with a winger like Johnston? I sincerely hope we are not reverting to the 4-3-3 which was clearly not working. I was beginning to think that with decent options in the CB department, Coleman seemingly back in form, Cullen and Molumby anchoring the midfield and Ferguson & Obafemi a potentially complementary partnership, we were getting close to having a solid set-up. If Johnstone is a plan B option then he's worth looking at, but I remember when we used to recruit Scots born players who were too good for Scotland, not ones not good enough to make it in the SPL.

**Poor Student** · 03/03/2023, 7:11 PM

Johnston is one of the most brainless footballers I've ever seen. Has some good natural ability but just has such poor game intelligence and constantly makes bad decisions on the pitch. He's had woeful luck with injuries too.

**irishfan86** · 03/03/2023, 8:13 PM

There's no harm in bringing Johnston aboard. Not bringing him in because we play 3-5-2/5-3-2 would be absurd. The more options we have, in terms of personnel and formations, the better.

I think where Johnston could be particularly valuable is in matches where we are the more dominant team/expected to win. He's trickier on the ball than many of our other options and will be able to open up space and create opportunities against teams parking the bus against us.

On the high end he becomes a starter for us and potentially a key player if he improves from where he's at now. At the low end I could see him being a useful squad option. This seems like a no risk, no brainer, with upside potential.