Jack Grealish

[DeLorean]

If the reason for wanting the 'year out' is to focus on his club career without any distractions and controversy, I totally get that. It makes an awful lot of sense seeing as his focus has to be on a first team place at Villa right now.

If the reason is that he needs time to mull over which country he'd prefer to represent, I think that's a bit much. I'm not a dual national but I'd be shocked if he didn't know who he'd prefer to play for, whether that's pleasing his family or pleasing himself, or even pleasing himself by pleasing his family. As he says himself, he's not a kid anymore, and grown ups have to make decisions. If he feels being tied to Ireland could be something he'll regret for the rest of his life, then he has his answer right there!

The article seems to say that the time out is more to do with the former, whereas the comments from O'Neill seemed to suggest the latter. Maybe it's a bit of both but I'd only be sympathetic towards the first reason above to be honest.

[paul_oshea]

Stutts almost boston is as close to Cape Cod as phorensically is to forensically. ; )

DI & Stutts its all well and good saying that, but there is ambiguity in his words. If he had come out and said I want to focus on my club career and I don't want to be called up for any Senior International, but he has been more clever than that. He leaves it open that he doesn't want to commit, but no mention whether he would if England came calling, he could have clearly come out and said I want to focus on my career and not playing for Ireland but I'm committed to Ireland.

Look, I'm tired all this arguing, its exteremely clear and I'm sure Martin and Roy are aware of that, one thing that re-enforced a belief I had with regards to diplomacy and Roy and Martin was after that breakfast thing. What they are saying publically is usually quite different privately.

It turned out indirectly of quite signficance in my career, however I didn't know that at the time when I went. How can he know if it will or not, how it can effect him in anyway, if he is good enough and is playing for Ireland he can play for anyone. I think its funny we are stil debating this really.

[Charlie Darwin]

What's the 'breakfast thing'?

[DannyInvincible]

Jack Grealish ‏@JackGrealish1
The way things can get blown out of proportion in newspapers is a joke..

It seems he's referring to the Chelsea interest story there. Or so think most of those who've replied to him on there anyway.

We know he doesn't want to commit. We think he probably supports the English national team. We know many people support two countries. We know England go into tournaments with big fanfare whereas we don't. We know he plays for us now and that he does clearly identify with his Irish roots. We know he is happier with Ireland U21s than England U19s. We don't know if he would have chosen England U21s over our U21s if offered both at the same time. We know he is being asked questions by the media so he is answering them.

We don't know what factors are motivating his decisions. We're guessing.

This is a very fair and reasonable summary of the situation.

My own guess is that he'll declare for England at the start of the next U21 campaign, but equally I'm not convinced he's not just letting things calm down and he might well opt for Ireland.

There's a lot of risk attached to making the jump. Even if he did wish to commit to England, I feel that fact might tip the balance in Ireland's favour.

DI & Stutts its all well and good saying that, but there is ambiguity in his words.

But you've been saying all along that there's no ambiguity in the situation.

If he had come out and said I want to focus on my club career and I don't want to be called up for any Senior International, but he has been more clever than that. He leaves it open that he doesn't want to commit, but no mention whether he would if England came calling, he could have clearly come out and said I want to focus on my career and not playing for Ireland but I'm committed to Ireland.

Fallon stated that "defection to England in the interim is a non-runner", so maybe Grealish did tell him he has no plans to switch.

[paul_oshea]

Ambiguity in his last interview DI. I meant he is being purposely ambiguious.

Stutts can you stop Flicking on those Russia Brides sites from foot.ie they keep coming up now at work.

[DannyInvincible]

Stutts can you stop Flicking on those Russia Brides sites from foot.ie they keep coming up now at work.

I think those ads are tailored towards your own browsing history...

[paul_oshea]

I think those ads are tailored towards your own browsing history...

It's not that simple and straighforward( :P ). I've clicked on many things but not Russian Brides, plus it keeps saying for older men - it must be stutts.

[MeathDrog]

If he says "First thing's first I'm the Grealish" before announcing that he is going to play for Ireland then all is forgiven.

[Stuttgart88]

there is ambiguity in his words.

Look, I'm tired all this arguing, its extremely clear

I've done you the favour of correcting the spelling mistake, but what exactly is clear in the ambiguity?

[Stuttgart88]

What's the 'breakfast thing'?

Martin, Roy, Paul and I had brekky in Crackbird recently.

[paul_oshea]

Stutts you missed mine as usual - worry about your own first before mine!!

[tetsujin1979]

Martin, Roy, Paul and I had brekky in Crackbird recently.

But they don't serve breakfast in Crackbird? The ambiguity is clear!

[Stuttgart88]

Stutts you missed mine as usual - worry about your own first before mine!!

No, I saw it which is why I thanked your post. The rest of your post didn't merit a thanks

[Bungle]

My sense of Jack is that he is either genuinely torn about which country to play for, or else he is hedging his bets to see if he is good enough to break in to the English team over the coming year, before giving up on Ireland.

Personally, I feel that it is the first one rather than the second. Clearly, he is one of the most talented, if not the most talented player of his age in England. He is more than good enough to play for the English u21s or at least their u19/u20 teams and if he begins to impress for Villa this season, he will have a great chance of getting a cap off Woy - England are not as bad as some make out, but they don't have the talent they used to. To put it in perspective, against the German u21s he looked more than able for them, whereas Jack Byrne who is a massive talent and one of the best players of his age in England looked totally out of his depth.

It seems to me that he is from a massively Irish background. I reckon it's 50-50, but I'd be more hopeful of young Crowley to be honest.

[paul_oshea]

No, I saw it which is why I thanked your post. The rest of your post didn't merit a thanks

Ya there should be half thanks on this, or thank part of the post. Always felt that with your posts and reluctantly i had to thank the whole post.

[paul_oshea]

Personally, I feel that it is the first one rather than the second. Clearly, he is one of the most talented, if not the most talented player of his age in England. He is more than good enough to play for the English u21s or at least their u19/u20 teams and if he begins to impress for Villa this season, he will have a great chance of getting a cap off Woy - England are not as bad as some make out, but they don't have the talent they used to. To put it in perspective, against the German u21s he looked more than able for them, whereas Jack Byrne who is a massive talent and one of the best players of his age in England looked totally out of his depth.
.

Was he tweeting about Irish senior games(what about georgia?) and Ireland during the Euros with the same frequency as he does for England. He could well be torn but that's his family as opposed to how he really feels, he could be under pressure he feels from his grandparents but in his own heart he wants England and doesn't want to upset anyone. I'd still go with whatever it is that he wants England first.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I think it's a misconception among people that he played for Ireland ahead of England at any underage level. He was sent away from England trials at a young age ostensibly because he was sick and they didn't want him contaminating anyone. He was close to switching another time but changed his mind at the last moment. I remember an interview where he said he was playing for Ireland because he was playing with older kids at a more competitive level. Perhaps he is playing for Ireland underage because would not get selected/start for the same England age groups? Of course that would probably change now.

I've heard that the father would push him towards Ireland but I don't get any great sense of that really. He didn't seem that inclined for Jack to play for us in the Sunday Times piece.

I think they are all very invested in his career. The brother was his biggest cheerleader on VillaTalk and his father is his agent and goes to every match. I think people are getting their hopes up if they think he's going to play for Ireland for sentimental reasons. I think he's going to do what's best for his career.

But just look on the face of it. He said he supports the England national team. He said he supported the Ireland underage teams to appease us. He tweets about the England national team with more frequency. We are not his native country and we cannot offer him guaranteed qualification and the profile he would get with England. We are operating at a strict disadvantage here.

Best case scenario is he turns out to be not good enough for England but good enough for us. But England are not that good to begin with so.......

[Closed Account]

He said he supports the England national team.
He said he supported the Ireland underage teams to appease us.

Not that I disagree with your broader point or genuinely care that much but where did you make this distinction from?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

It just seems like a consolation prize; like something someone would say out of appeasement. It's like he remembered that he is playing Intl. football for us so he better meet us halfway. That's what I get out of it.

I have never heard anything like that before. Someone supporting one senior national team and a different underage team..

[Closed Account]

It just seems like a consolation prize; like something someone would say out of appeasement. It's like he remembered that he is playing Intl. football for us so he better meet us halfway. That's what I get out of it.

I have never heard anything like that before. Someone supporting one senior national team and a different underage team..

Oh okay, so he didn't say he supported Ireland underage teams to appease us. It's just what you get out of it. Cleared up. Cheers