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.