Potentially eligible players thread

**SkStu** · 14/05/2016, 3:28 PM

Wow- that was fast. I somehow completely missed that! Thanks Joe!

**paul_oshea** · 14/05/2016, 3:30 PM

Sure how could he have an Irish father with that surname. you can search posts skstu!

**Closed Account** · 14/05/2016, 3:33 PM

Not many google results for that name either. I'm not sure he'd pass a gut test with pictures like this:

Looks determined.

**SkStu** · 14/05/2016, 3:41 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Sure how could he have an Irish father with that surname. you can search posts skstu!

I thought he might be related to the Schmiedebachs out of Horseleap.

(the search function here is awful)

**paul_oshea** · 14/05/2016, 4:51 PM

Thats true it is

**samhaydenjr** · 15/05/2016, 9:32 PM

Jonjoe Kenny made his debut for Everton today and also played a part in Oxford's promotion while on loan there - anyone know firstly if he qualifies for us (yes, yes, I know the caveat about Merseysiders with Irish-sounding names) and secondly if there's any chance of him switching, having played for England up to U-19 level

**Stuttgart88** · 15/05/2016, 9:49 PM

Well, having played for Oxford automatically makes him an undeserving chancer. No way is it humanly possible a good young payer at Oxford can go on to greater things in a short time period. Finn Harps or Preston maybe, but not Oxford.

**SkStu** · 15/05/2016, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

Jonjoe Kenny made his debut for Everton today and also played a part in Oxford's promotion while on loan there - anyone know firstly if he qualifies for us (yes, yes, I know the caveat about Merseysiders with Irish-sounding names) and secondly if there's any chance of him switching, having played for England up to U-19 level

Hi Sam-I looked into this with some Everton fans a couple months back and no intel back from them at all so I just left him a tweet. Will let you know if he replies. Not sure that he'd be for turning at this stage - England u19 cap, promoted with Oxford and made his epl debut for Everton.

**BonnieShels** · 15/05/2016, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by joe_denilson

Not many google results for that name either. I'm not sure he'd pass a gut test with pictures like this:

Looks determined.

Neither him or Alan are passing the "get the ball" test anyway. Maybe he's no loss.

**Wangball** · 16/05/2016, 10:58 AM

Bored at my desk I was looking at the Everton Reserve & Youth Teams and noticed a lot of Irish names in there. One that stuck out though - Conor McAleny - not sure if he's been discussed before but whilst doing my research (an in depth twitter dissection) I noted that amongst his likes were a couple of tweets about the centenary of the 1916 rising!

Call him up Trap!!!!

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 16/05/2016, 2:10 PM

Any mention of Crowley at press conference? Not convinced there was a recent meeting with O'Neill. There was last year. Since played for Eng

https://twitter.com/RobBrennan82/sta...30802313592832

Thought as much.

**Dunners** · 16/05/2016, 2:19 PM

Conor McAleny

found this on Toffee talk from a while back
'Louis', on 11 Dec 2011 - 02:07, said:

You may have noticed that he has an Irish surname, he's said he'd like to play for Ireland but it's not possible as he doesn't meet FIFA's requirements, (it is his great grandparents who are Irish, had it been his grandparents then he'd be eligible for Ireland).

Also another post in response to the above

'Louis', on 11 Dec 2011 - 02:07, said:

You may have noticed that he has an Irish surname, he's said he'd like to play for Ireland but it's not possible as he doesn't meet FIFA's requirements, (it is his great grandparents who are Irish, had it been his grandparents then he'd be eligible for Ireland).

The majority of people born in Liverpool have 'Irish blood' and should be allowed to play for them. Liverpool should be an independent state or even a part of Wales. England is just on the post-code, the proofs in our grandparents surnames the majority of scousers will have 2 grandparents with Irish surnames, one with a Welsh surname then a toss up between English or Scottish.

**tetsujin1979** · 16/05/2016, 2:26 PM

Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

Any mention of Crowley at press conference? Not convinced there was a recent meeting with O'Neill. There was last year. Since played for Eng

https://twitter.com/RobBrennan82/sta...30802313592832

Thought as much.

we already knew that. There were reports of a meeting last year in late September, and he played in two of England's three U19 games in October.

**Irwin3** · 16/05/2016, 4:23 PM

Originally Posted by Wangball

Bored at my desk I was looking at the Everton Reserve & Youth Teams and noticed a lot of Irish names in there. One that stuck out though - Conor McAleny - not sure if he's been discussed before but whilst doing my research (an in depth twitter dissection) I noted that amongst his likes were a couple of tweets about the centenary of the 1916 rising!

Call him up Trap!!!!

I'm not sure if they have been mentioned, but Kieran O'Neill Dowell (18) made his full debut for Everton yesterday and Jonjoe Kenny (19) came on to make his debut as well. Both have played for England throughout the age groups. As has been mentioned regarding other players from the area, I wouldn't be surprised if their connection was too far back, but who knows.

**Metrostars** · 17/05/2016, 2:47 PM

Tommy McNamera from NYCFC is eligible.

“I have an Irish passport. I’ve had it for almost 10 years now,” McNamara told MLSsoccer.com after training Thursday. “Someone from the FAI reached out and wanted to confirm whether I did have a passport or not.”

That inquiry, McNamara said, has been within the last year. The 25-year-old has dual citizenship because his grandfather on his father’s side was born in Ireland.

McNamara said he hasn’t heard from anyone at US Soccer and would be open to playing for either team.

“I think it’s an honor to represent the national team,” McNamara said. “Obviously I qualify for both and it would be an honor to represent either.”

McNamara said he hasn’t given that decision much thought because he’s busy with his day-to-day responsibilities in his second season with NYCFC. He has gotten off to a great start with two goals and one assist in four starts, meaning he is well on his way towards matching and surpassing his five-goal, three-assist breakout effort in 2015.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/0...wn-interest-me

I've seen him play a few times, hard worker but not a lot of skill.

**Stuttgart88** · 17/05/2016, 3:34 PM

Originally Posted by Metrostars

I've seen him play a few times, hard worker but not a lot of skill.

He'd fit right in then.

**Olé Olé** · 17/05/2016, 4:12 PM

There are a few things that are a bit perplexing about our links to American-born players. The three that we've been linked with have been Neagle, Meara and McNamara. Firstly, we gave the US a right good drubbing last time we met. I'd conclude that we are better. So, it's not like the England situation whereby players often throw their lot in with us because they don't fancy they'll get selected for England, because England are better. The funny thing is that the American-born players named above aren't really near the US squad. How do they reckon we'll pick them? And the sense of Irish identity is very strong among Irish-Americans so why haven't a better standard of player claimed for us?

I guess there are a lot of complications involved in this one, in terms of geography (further away) and the fact that eligibility is trickier to ascertain and might not always exist.

In conclusion, how has Shane O'Neill done at Cambridge United?

**Metrostars** · 18/05/2016, 12:48 AM

Originally Posted by Olé Olé

There are a few things that are a bit perplexing about our links to American-born players. The three that we've been linked with have been Neagle, Meara and McNamara. Firstly, we gave the US a right good drubbing last time we met. I'd conclude that we are better. So, it's not like the England situation whereby players often throw their lot in with us because they don't fancy they'll get selected for England, because England are better. The funny thing is that the American-born players named above aren't really near the US squad. How do they reckon we'll pick them? And the sense of Irish identity is very strong among Irish-Americans so why haven't a better standard of player claimed for us?

I guess there are a lot of complications involved in this one, in terms of geography (further away) and the fact that eligibility is trickier to ascertain and might not always exist.

In conclusion, how has Shane O'Neill done at Cambridge United?

I don't put much stock in friendlies so saying Ireland beat the US in a friendly doesn't automatically make Ireland better. I'm a close observer of both teams and would say they are fairly even. Very similar in that neither have any superstars and both rely on more grit and organization than skill to overcome better opponents. The one thing the US has going for them is MLS that is providing more depth for the national team.

As for US players for Ireland, the ones mentioned like Meara and McNamara are Irish passport holders and are not capped by the US so that makes them eligible. Plus it was the FAI who were sounding them out, not the other way round. In any case, they are not top tier players even in MLS. There are tons of other US players better than them who've been capped by the US.

Also, why should geography be an issue? It hasn't stopped US/Mexican/South American players trekking back and forth to Europe for internationals since forever. I think that is a more UK/Ireland problem i.e. looking outside their borders for players and going abroad to play.