John Flanagan - Is he eligible?

Borussia wrote: Drumcondra 69er wrote: Borussia wrote: Lads, he spoke to the Liverpool Echo last year and confirmed he doesn't have Irish Grandparents. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-jon-flanagan-not-3354654 That's not what it says on the article.  No quotes from the player.  I've not seen anything definitive either way on the issue.  The reason for his alleged ineligibilty isn't given, it just says the Echo 'understands' he's not eligible.  Ok, to clarify a bit more, the Echo reporter who wrote the article also tweeted at the time that he had talked with Flanagan to verify this - It was either David Prentice or James Pearce.

Actually, If I read the article properly then I would have seen it was Neil Jones.

If Ireland could bring this fellow to the national team would be a great chance..  He is not that good, but full backs are not so decisive in a team, unless you dont have them, and you play players out of positions to fill up the gaps,  left midfielders and right midfielders or central midfielder, or central backs, ussually play full backs positions right or left,

It is really hard to develop a reliable and concerned full back (right or left) with the notion, intelligence and expertise in that PARTICULAR position. 

For me Greg Cunningham is the best available to fill up the gap, he is a good player and the few time i saw him at international level he was class, lefty, fast, young,   I dont care where he is playing as long as he is good for Ireland.   In the mix you have Mark Wilson (better as center mid or center defender or libero) Stephen Ward, that is a left midfielder turned to left back, the untried trio of Mark Tierney , Enda Stevens, Aidan White.   Darren O'Dea could be a good option there but he has no great pace, too big, but he has a good left foot, there is a youngster  at Wolves Doherty that can switch from right to left to test him, Stephen Kelly that he is not confortable on the left he is a right back, Kevin Foley that is still at wolves and the youngster question from Ryan McLaughlin.  

stokes78 wrote: Cant agree there if you dont have full backs who are techically able it limits you hugely as an attacking force

Yeap, but if you play a left midfielder or right midfielder on the full backs slots, you may be good going forward, but the team will have no balance, they have this tendency to be out of position or the lack of being unreliable or undependable to mark a man or to close down the play, ususally they got distracted, , it is really hard to be a full back, a good one, that knows how to attack when to attack, and has an expertise in that position either right of left full back,  so the common knowledge in football from the brains worldwide, they say "we can play a center back or a side midfielder or central midfielder there, is not that relevant, you have tons of examples to choose from". 

What is good 'bout Flannagan is that the guy knows his limitations, and he is not going to do something luxury, he is steady, fast and can support his teammates, like Irwin use to do, or Terry Phelan, or Juan Sorín or José Chamot, Tasotti, Ferrer or the uruguayan full backs experts Maxi Pereyra and Jorge Fucile if you want.  

http://newstalk.ie/Martin-ONeill-wants-Liverpools-Flanagan-for-Ireland

it says that Martin O'Neill wants him over, anyway a Jon-Paddy Flannagan doesnt sound engish to me , tbh, by the way, great goal he scored today, just for being optimistic and going one more time, what a goal, he put it where the "spiders sleep"

He's not eligible, this has been confirmed on a number of occasions of various sites.

The O'Shea wrote: He's not eligible, this has been confirmed on a number of occasions of various sites.

 

very lightweight and needs to build himself up a bit.might take another year or two.

I assume he wants to declare for England

He has been excellent at LB for Liverpool during the last few games. Liverpool have not missed Enrique at all. If he's eligable for us we should definetly try to get him onboard

Again, reposting this link :

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-jon-flanagan-not-3354654