Jack Grealish

[The Fly]

O'Neill used the Gibraltar game to get the players prepared for the Germany game so I think he was always going to go with the established players. He could have given Brian Lenihan a run-out at 5-0 to prepare for an emergency in the Germany game, but he decided to give Meyler the time there, so I think it would have been unlikely Grealish would have played as he wouldn't have been an option for Germany. O'Neill has played this one very well I think - he's backed off and given the boy room to sort out his future and his faith has been repaid. To be fair, Trap took a similar approach with James McCarthy and he, too, proved he never had any intention of turning his back on Ireland.

I meant it's a pity the Gibraltar game isn't coming up next.

I agree with you on O'Neill's approach, but then I wouldn't have expected anything less from him.

Indo now reporting this too, but it does look like a rehash of The Times article. If we beat Scotland, we will probably see Noble, Kane and Crowley want to come on board. Success breeds success and with a good feel about Irish football, others will probably come out of the woodwork like Christie. TOWK will be happy, like I am!

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-30670984.html

Crowley has been touted as a major talent for some time now, and there have been a few hints here and there that he may be tempted to return to the Irish fold. Fingers crossed on that one! Grealish's committal could only help given their familiarity with each other at Villa.

Harry Kane assisted the England U21s to victory over Croatia a couple of days ago to secure qualification to the European Championships. I can't see him declaring for Ireland. I think an enquiry into Will Keane's availability may prove more successful at this point.

As for Noble. No thanks!

[BonnieShels]

RTÉ are reporting it as well. But referring to the Indo for safety.

Fingers crossed. Amazing what a bit of confidence will do about the camp.

[tetsujin1979]

Hmmm, he posted this earlier on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackGrealish1/st...19042400239616

Some stuff in the papers today about me that I didn't even no myself 🙈

[Duggie]

Hmmm, he posted this earlier on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackGrealish1/st...19042400239616

really, so its all bull then?? great.......

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

John Fallon should be embarrassed.

[BonnieShels]

Well, technically he doesn't know if he's gonna be called up or not.

[DeLorean]

I've been thinking this over, how about if Grealish does play for Ireland, your signature is fixed to "I was wrong about Jack Grealish playing for Ireland, so you shouldn't take this post too seriously" for a year? Any other takers on this?

Yeah, that signature and change his username to Richie Keogh.

[back of the net]

Hmmm, he posted this earlier on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackGrealish1/st...19042400239616

Could just be saying it until he is officially called into squad!


Or maybe there was an article in todays paper about him getting a haircut !!

[paul_oshea]

O'Neill used the Gibraltar game to get the players prepared for the Germany game so I think he was always going to go with the established players. He could have given Brian Lenihan a run-out at 5-0 to prepare for an emergency in the Germany game, but he decided to give Meyler the time there, so I think it would have been unlikely Grealish would have played as he wouldn't have been an option for Germany. O'Neill has played this one very well I think - he's backed off and given the boy room to sort out his future and his faith has been repaid. To be fair, Trap took a similar approach with James McCarthy and he, too, proved he never had any intention of turning his back on Ireland.

Bit early for all that.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/inter...2952-grealish/

I've been thinking this over, how about if Grealish does play for Ireland, your signature is fixed to "I was wrong about Jack Grealish playing for Ireland, so you shouldn't take this post too seriously" for a year? Any other takers on this?

And a bit early for this too.

But perhaps no smoke without fire.

Be interesting if you guys are as quick to suggest to add the signature if he declares for England. Or like all the other times ye were wrong about trap and ward etc etc.

[tricky_colour]

Seems to be a bit of gutter journalism, Jack said he would commit once his future with Aston Villa was sorted, however
he didn't say he could commit to Ireland, just commit which I take as meaning he will make a decision as whether to
commit to England or Ireland.
I went straight to his twitter account first because I would not believe it until I heard it from him.
Looks like he tweeted just after it was broad cast on the radio on 5 live.

[livehead1]

Why exactly do we care? He's a decent footballer with potential. If he wants to play for England let him go and do it - this conjecture about an unproven player who may not even want to play for us is ridiculous - we can't be that desperate, surely!

[DannyInvincible]

John Fallon should be embarrassed.

It is a bit embarrassing alright. What a circus.

But perhaps no smoke without fire.

Well, Grealish has denied all knowledge of what Fallon was talking about and has distanced himself from the claims. Unless he is playing ignorant as he doesn't wish for any decision to be made public yet...

Be interesting if you guys are as quick to suggest to add the signature if he declares for England. Or like all the other times ye were wrong about trap and ward etc etc.

Haha, look Paul; there is no Foot.ie orthodoxy and, I swear, we're really not all out to get you. You need to stop this positioning of yourself against such a fabrication as if you're cutting it down to size and setting it on the right path. It's not all about you. There are many different, varied, knowledgeable, imaginative and unconventional opinions expressed here; it's what makes it such a great forum. You're not the only one who thinks differently or who possesses the knowledge.

Why should "we guys" act on your above suggestion anyway? Most people here have consistently acknowledged the ambiguity and complexity of the situation whilst staying clear of suspicion, paranoia and veiled or outright hostility towards the lad.

[paul_oshea]

DI that was in direct response to a quote about changing the signature of posters who said grealish is looking more likely to declare for England. Why change the position now when questioned in the other direction for those saying the opposite because based on what has been said they believe he is still ours to lose? You seem to have gone off on one.

Do you live in a bunker with tricky and Alan Turing, tell him to come out now its ok, homosexuality is no longer a crime. :P

[tetsujin1979]

Dan McDonnell has been defending Fallon on twitter. Fallon has covered the underage sides over the last few years and was the first to publish the story about O'Neill meeting Grealish, before it was confirmed.

It's more a continuation of the status quo - i.e. nobody really knows what's going to happen - than anything else

[Dunners]

Should I stay or should I go now

The situation has not changed , his COYBIG tweet should not be taken out of context - he plays for the U21’s and obviously has some loyalty / ties to God’s country
However , he nearly switched to England in the past , his brother has advised that he completed the forms to switch associations only for young Jack to do a complete turn-a- round and join up with our U21’s
Jack himself has stated he was happy playing at a higher level with us (U21’s) than a lower age group with England, at that current time.
So far his decisions have been based on what’s best for his personal development , his profile and now that he has secured his contract at Villa - his bank balance.
Now we will see where his true loyalties lie , with his heart- us (that’s giving him the benefit of the doubt) or with his future profile , an England Intl would attract more sponsorship and more lucrative contract.
I for one hope he stays but I’m sure we will find out one way or the other in the not to distant future

[paul_oshea]

Strange though he must have got it from somewhere surely. Maybe there is a mole somewhere that Grealish is unaware of! Or maybe barter. Only jack really knows!

[DannyInvincible]

DI that was in direct response to a quote about changing the signature of posters who said grealish is looking more likely to declare for England. Why change the position now when questioned in the other direction for those saying the opposite because based on what has been said they believe he is still ours to lose? You seem to have gone off on one.

I know what you were rising to. There is no change in position here. He remains ours to lose; he is not already lost. He is registered with the FAI, after all. Whilst ambiguity remains with regard to his future intentions, there is no reason to distrustfully assume he is presently hoodwinking us because he has long harboured a secret desire to ditch us and represent his one true love, England. That would be to read unfairly into matters and it would be to, in the absence of evidence, fill the voids with suspicious and cynical presumptions of your own. It's good to be critical, but he simply hasn't made what will be a major career-changing decision yet. He may stick with us or he may go the way of the FA. It's only natural he would share loyalties to both, but he can only choose one path. There is lots of grey and not as much black and white. In effect, yourself and TOWK think he's a liar?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I don't think here is anything really ambiguous or complex about the situation at all - and I don't think anybody has been hostile towards Jack; quite reserved in fact. I don't think what anyone - myself included - has said is up there with the opprobrium NI fans reserve for "their" players declaring for us.

John Fallon should bury his head in shame. He has a responsibility as a journalist not to spread baseless conjecture as fact.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I know what you were rising to. There is no change in position here. He remains ours to lose; he is not already lost. He is registered with the FAI, after all. Whilst ambiguity remains with regard to his future intentions, there is no reason to distrustfully assume he is presently hoodwinking us because he has long harboured a secret desire to ditch us and represent his one true love, England. That would be to read unfairly into matters and it would be to, in the absence of evidence, fill the voids with suspicious and cynical presumptions of your own. It's good to be critical, but he simply hasn't made what will be a major career-changing decision yet. He may stick with us or he may go the way of the FA. It's only natural he would share loyalties to both, but he can only choose one path. There is lots of grey and not as much black and white. In effect, yourself and TOWK think he's a liar?

Nobody is calling him a liar. Just pointing out that suggesting he was looking forward to an International call up and then turning down said International call up is a little bit deceptive. But he's only young like.

[Duggie]

seen this on YBIG forum, can't access it at work so is this plausable???.......

Just seen a comment from someone
'It looks like the story is true. His dad, Kevin Grealish, has just shared the above Irish Times story on his Facebook page with the heading "Ireland V USA. Jack v Brad Guzan" - https://www.facebook.com/kevin.grealish.7