Potentially eligible players thread

**tetsujin1979** · 17/05/2019, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by IsMiseSean

I wonder does Zaha regret that decision now? He'd be a regular squad member for England this season.

He quite possibly does, but only in hindsight. At the time (November 2016) switching his allegiance was probably the right decision. He'd been playing regularly in the Premier League since the last of his two caps - one in 2012 and one in 2013 - and it looked like he wasn't going to get a call up in the future. Looking at England's 2018 World Cup Squad he possibly would have started ahead of Lingard, but it's tough to argue that he would be a regular starter. In their current squad, it's hard to argue against him starting ahead of Sterling or Sancho, so he'd probably still be a substitute. Would he rather have that, or his nine caps and two goals for the Ivory Coast?

**tetsujin1979** · 19/05/2019, 12:53 PM

Armstrong Okoflex named on the bench for Celtic today

**CraftyToePoke** · 19/05/2019, 1:04 PM

England flag next to his name on flashscore.

**tetsujin1979** · 23/05/2019, 11:10 AM

Sydney FC midfielder Brandon O'Neill has been called into the Australian squad for the first time - Three uncapped Hyundai A-League players in Caltex Socceroos squad to face Korea Republic

According to some reports on twitter, both his parents are Irish. He's just turned 25, his wikipedia page states he has two caps for Australia U23s.

**CraftyToePoke** · 23/05/2019, 11:14 AM

We've never called up an Aussie Irish have we ?
There was a bit of noise about a Rooney (?) lad from Hyde Rd originally playing there a while back too

**tetsujin1979** · 23/05/2019, 11:19 AM

not at senior level, but Perth born Shane Lowry has underage caps. He changed his allegiance to Australia in 2009, but has never earned a senior cap for them.

**Kingdom** · 23/05/2019, 11:31 AM

The Australia thing could be a real issue in the next decade or so.

**Paddy Garcia** · 27/05/2019, 7:39 PM

Originally Posted by elatedscum

Redmond included in the England squad today. Guess that reduces the chance from 5% down to 0.5%. Always looked unlikely but theoretically, if he isn't capped, the door is still open... Southgate probably just trying to cap him to be safe: Sterling, Sancho, Rashford, Alli and Lingaard all in that squad. Can't see him ever player ahead of those guys - add Hudson-Odoi too. Rhian Brewster in another year. England are absolutely stacked with young wide-attacking talent...

Dropped already ...

**Diggs246** · 27/05/2019, 8:01 PM

I've zero interest in Redmond playing for us. But I'm wondering is Southgate an incredible cynical operator calling up a guy he has no intention of playing

**elatedscum** · 27/05/2019, 8:27 PM

That would be an accurate assessment of the situation.

The way England behaved regarding Rice and Grealish and McGuane was very disappointing and disingenuous. The way they made plays for Obafemi and Connell were also disappointing. Not to mention Okoflex...

The way they behave with their U15s now is equally misleading. Capping literally hundreds of players at that age group to try tie as many down to them in the future.

There was a time when England were willing to pick who they thought were the best and stick to their guns. Nowadays, they engage in very obvious attempts to hoard as many players as possible, using Nike, agents and clubs as tools to exert pressure on very young players

**Charlie Darwin** · 28/05/2019, 12:27 AM

Originally Posted by elatedscum

That would be an accurate assessment of the situation.

The way England behaved regarding Rice and Grealish and McGuane was very disappointing and disingenuous. The way they made plays for Obafemi and Connell were also disappointing. Not to mention Okoflex...

The way they behave with their U15s now is equally misleading. Capping literally hundreds of players at that age group to try tie as many down to them in the future.

There was a time when England were willing to pick who they thought were the best and stick to their guns. Nowadays, they engage in very obvious attempts to hoard as many players as possible, using Nike, agents and clubs as tools to exert pressure on very young players

Obafemi said there was never any contact from England, and I doubt Southgate is calling him up to ward of Ireland since Redmond has never had any intention of playing for us anyway.

**The Fly** · 28/05/2019, 12:58 AM

Originally Posted by elatedscum

That would be an accurate assessment of the situation.

The way England behaved regarding Rice and Grealish and McGuane was very disappointing and disingenuous. The way they made plays for Obafemi and Connell were also disappointing. Not to mention Okoflex...

The way they behave with their U15s now is equally misleading. Capping literally hundreds of players at that age group to try tie as many down to them in the future.

There was a time when England were willing to pick who they thought were the best and stick to their guns. Nowadays, they engage in very obvious attempts to hoard as many players as possible, using Nike, agents and clubs as tools to exert pressure on very young players

The Premier League has essentially become an international league based in England, so it's hardly surprising that the set up behind the England national team is pursuing their own interests with a renewed fervour. They're just doing what they should be doing.

Re: Redmond, No thanks!

**TrapAPony** · 28/05/2019, 1:13 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Obafemi said there was never any contact from England, and I doubt Southgate is calling him up to ward of Ireland since Redmond has never had any intention of playing for us anyway.

Ya. I think that these 'Redmond to Ireland' stories were always something that his agent came up with every now and again to remind the English camp about his client...exactly as Mark Noble used to do.

**Ol� Ol�** · 28/05/2019, 6:29 AM

Redmond would take one England cap over 40 for Ireland, I think that's very clear now. Whatever his mammy must think.

Also, Southgate has been a bit more proactive than anyone expected him to be. You'd wonder if Rice could have got the Moldova cap and never contemplated what could have been for England. Those are the noises re Connell atm.

**DeLorean** · 28/05/2019, 6:51 AM

Originally Posted by The Fly

The Premier League has essentially become an international league based in England, so it's hardly surprising that the set up behind the England national team is pursuing their own interests with a renewed fervour. They're just doing what they should be doing.

Exactly.

**Ol� Ol�** · 04/06/2019, 5:30 AM

Andy Robertson attended the same primary school as Aiden McGeady did before him. The similarities don't end there as Robertson has a grandparent from the Northwest of Ireland, Leitrim specifically: https://www.oceanfm.ie/2019/06/02/li...y-connections/

**Eirambler** · 04/06/2019, 8:33 AM

St Ninians (Robertson and McGeady's school) is actually our local school just down the road from us. Very strong Irish connection throughout the school, I wonder if we could be doing more to get lads from there and the other Catholic denominational schools in the west of Scotland involved in our setup, or is it just too controversial to be doing that outside of Ireland?

**Ol� Ol�** · 04/06/2019, 8:45 AM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

St Ninians (Robertson and McGeady's school) is actually our local school just down the road from us. Very strong Irish connection throughout the school, I wonder if we could be doing more to get lads from there and the other Catholic denominational schools in the west of Scotland involved in our setup, or is it just too controversial to be doing that outside of Ireland?

You will know more than me but are we at the point where it's just third generation that we can attract? And at that, third generation will be more difficult to attract. It would be slightly more incendiary but our resources for such an exercise would be better spent up the North, perhaps?

Things have gone quiet on Mikey Johnston although someone brings it up on YBIG every so often.

**Ol� Ol�** · 04/06/2019, 8:49 AM

https://twitter.com/mikeyjohnston10/...858420227?s=19

Although Johnston looks very well wrapped up in a tri-colour.

I know the connection between Celtic and Ireland is strong but it's amazing to think that the tri-colour is still such an important symbol for the club. This lad is a Scottish under 21 international and he's strolling around with an Irish flag on his back and very few eyelids were probably batted in the stadium.

**Diggs246** · 04/06/2019, 8:50 AM

Originally Posted by Ol� Ol�

You will know more than me but are we at the point where it's just third generation that we can attract? And at that, third generation will be more difficult to attract. It would be slightly more incendiary but our resources for such an exercise would be better spent up the North, perhaps?

Things have gone quiet on Mikey Johnston although someone brings it up on YBIG every so often.

Johnston wasn't named in the Scottish squad and he has a tricolour on him for his Twitter handle pic. But I would guess he will stay with Scotland