Michael Noonan F Shamrock Rovers b.2008

**liamoo11** · 07/10/2025, 6:30 PM

Originally Posted by elatedscum

Realistically he's due to miss the game away to AEK Athens and the FAI Cup Final. If we reach the final then he'll miss the home game v Shakhtar. Not insignificant for Rovers but you've got to release players for a world cup.

I think Rovers would recognise that in terms of increasing his market value, Noonan having a great tournament could be a game changer and it's also possible that part of the reason Arsenal wrapped up Victor's signing so early was because he was due to head to the u17 world cup and if he had a really excellent tournament then heads could be turned across Europe

I'm not sure how much of a game changer underage world cups are. The under 20 world Cup is on now I've watched a few games very enjoyable but I haven't seen a whole pile of coverage of it in the general media. Even the under 20 world Cup when we finished 3rd didn't do nothing for players careers we actually got very little out of it at senior level outside of duffer obviously. Play I'm a Cup final.in aviva 35 thousand crowd loads of English scouts definitely at it and light it up against men definitely has impact on your value

**ontheotherhand** · 07/10/2025, 7:45 PM

TBF scouts aren't using general media. Arsenal bought Victor Ozhianvuna off the back off his performances against them and others in the Hale End Cup. Obviously they continued scouting him but that's where he caught the eye.

Players doing well at an underage cup doesn't mean they are going to have good careers, it just means they are able to stand out against their peers and might be worth investing in.

Agree that lighting it up against men in a senior cup final would probably carry some weight too.

As I said above, I reckon it will all come down to what Michael wants to do. I could see the draw of the u17 WC but.....very hard to miss out on the chance to win a cup final with the club you support in your national stadium in front of a big crowd. That's the stuff of dreams to a lot of people. Tough decision for the kid. Hopefully he can do both, or make the best choice with the guidance of good people around him and have no regrets either way.

**liamoo11** · 07/10/2025, 8:00 PM

Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

TBF scouts aren't using general media. Arsenal bought Victor Ozhianvuna off the back off his performances against them and others in the Hale End Cup. Obviously they continued scouting him but that's where he caught the eye.

Players doing well at an underage cup doesn't mean they are going to have good careers, it just means they are able to stand out against their peers and might be worth investing in.

Agree that lighting it up against men in a senior cup final would probably carry some weight too.

As I said above, I reckon it will all come down to what Michael wants to do. I could see the draw of the u17 WC but.....very hard to miss out on the chance to win a cup final with the club you support in your national stadium in front of a big crowd. That's the stuff of dreams to a lot of people. Tough decision for the kid. Hopefully he can do both, or make the best choice with the guidance of good people around him and have no regrets either way.

It would be absolutely nuts for him.to play those first 2 workd Cup games against minnows instead of a cup final and a European game. No one regardless of your scouting credentials is putting any stock in how you perform against Panama and Uzbekistan in front of no spectators. If we can't sort them.out with the rest of the squad we don't deserve to be at the world cup.

**ontheotherhand** · 07/10/2025, 8:10 PM

Originally Posted by liamoo11

It would be absolutely nuts for him.to play those first 2 workd Cup games against minnows instead of a cup final and a European game. No one regardless of your scouting credentials is putting any stock in how you perform against Panama and Uzbekistan in front of no spectators. If we can't sort them.out with the rest of the squad we don't deserve to be at the world cup.

Ah look im trying to be diplomatic on this side of the forum. The cup final is clearly the more important of the two. Nobody will remember anything about the u17 WC when it's over but he has the chance to make history in the Aviva. Michael might feel otherwise though. He's a proud Irishman as well as a proud hoop.

**John83** · 08/10/2025, 2:43 AM

I'm not sure I want to weigh in on the relative merits of the competitions, but good for the kid that he has those choices.

**ontheotherhand** · 22/10/2025, 1:35 PM

Well Michael is in the squad and Rovers haven't asked to keep him. As a hoop I'd still hope he could miss one game and play the final but I'd imagine he will stick with the squad. Long auld flight. Shame the dates worked out that way. From what I hear he really wanted to play in the final. Suppose it's all good as we need to sell him before he turns 18 and if he was to finish the group as top scorer that'd help.

**Kingdom** · 22/10/2025, 1:38 PM

Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

Suppose it's all good as we need to sell him before he turns 18 and if he was to finish the group as top scorer that'd help.

Am I correct to read that tongue-in-cheek?

**ontheotherhand** · 22/10/2025, 2:03 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

Am I correct to read that tongue-in-cheek?

You'll never know....

But no, not really. Michael's contract is up in Nov of 2026. For us to command a fee a deal will need to be done before then or it will be just compensation. Sort of expected one to be done already tbh, similar to Victors. City were interested in him while he was with Pats but I haven't heard much this season.

**TonyD** · 28/10/2025, 2:43 AM

Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

You'll never know....

But no, not really. Michael's contract is up in Nov of 2026. For us to command a fee a deal will need to be done before then or it will be just compensation. Sort of expected one to be done already tbh, similar to Victors. City were interested in him while he was with Pats but I haven't heard much this season.

Yeah, to be honest I'd have expected a deal done by now too. When does he turn 18 ? To me he looks probably at least as impressive as Melia, and I say that as a Pats fan. Its good for Rovers that they have him under contract for another year, and if he keeps going as he is it looks odds on that someone will sign him in the interim. Ideal for Rovers is if they can do a similar deal that Pats did for Mason, and keep him for the full season.

**ontheotherhand** · 29/10/2025, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by TonyD

Yeah, to be honest I'd have expected a deal done by now too. When does he turn 18 ? To me he looks probably at least as impressive as Melia, and I say that as a Pats fan. Its good for Rovers that they have him under contract for another year, and if he keeps going as he is it looks odds on that someone will sign him in the interim. Ideal for Rovers is if they can do a similar deal that Pats did for Mason, and keep him for the full season.

July 31.

Id have agreed that he was as good as Melia earlier in the season but he faded off a bit. But that's to be expected at his age. Melia got better and better but is a year ahead. Smashing player. Hoping to see Michael hit his early and mid season form all year next season. At that age they can jump up quickly. Johnny Kenny was brutal for us in his first campaign and almost unplayable in his second. A little older mind you.

Michael has still been far more effective than Victor this year so I'm hoping for a large fee. It's great to see clubs getting paid closer to what players are worth now. But Victor had his performance in the Hale End Cup v Arsenal and others which put him on the map.

Kovaleskis also looks very talented. Played on Wednesday and was really dangerous. Hope the 3 of them, and the others have a good tournament. We are missing those 3 at the moment. They'd have all played v Sligo tomorrow.

**Kingdom** · 30/10/2025, 12:10 AM

What are the chances Noonan is tapped up by an UK club already?

**tetsujin1979** · 30/10/2025, 1:09 AM

There were some reports that Man City offered him a contract, and he would have gone on loan to one of their sister clubs until his 18th birthday, but he turned it down

**ontheotherhand** · 30/10/2025, 3:06 AM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

What are the chances Noonan is tapped up by an UK club already?

Fairly high. As tets says he was heavily linked with man city. Not sure if he had an offer (I'm not that in the know) but he came to Rovers anyway. We'll be due compensation at least if he goes on a free. Can't remember how much. Hopefully he has a good season and clubs want to ensure they get him. He's a joy to watch when he's on it. Such a little terrier.