Players eligible for Ireland

Luis Amor Rodriguez wrote: Cheers NIGW.   Where are you getting that info from on Lewis and Peacock Farrell?  That's interesting and surprising that you say the FAI were in touch. There are numerous interviews reported with both of them saying that they were approached by the IFA and the (English) FA, but no mention of FAI.  Which would be odd, if indeed they were approached by the FAI, and were then being asked about their eligibility choices to just not mention it at all. Genuinely interested - where are you getting that information from that they were both approached by the FAI?   Would love it if they were, but all the publicly available evidence at least points in the other direction.  They never mentioned it when asked about the topic, and no one from the FAI has ever mentioned it.

Born in England north of Leeds, but with an Irish grandfather from Enniskillen – Jim Farrell – Peacock-Farrell also qualifies for the Republic of Ireland. Indeed, Noel King from the FAI has been on asking similar questions to his English counterparts. King received similar answers.

“Last year, it was,” Peacock-Farrell says.

“Noel King. Again, it was a chat to see where I was, how I was feeling.

“I just said: ‘Look, I’m with Northern Ireland. I’ve played the [under-21] game and I don’t feel like I want to switch.’

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/proud-bailey-peacock-farrell-embraces-his-northern-roots-1.3621851

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/proud-bailey-peacock-farrell-embraces-his-northern-roots-1.3621851

Meanwhile, I don't know about Lewis, but this suggests he would not have been receptive to any approach:

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/i-was-always-going-to-choose-northern-ireland-over-england-jamal-lewis-36726672.html

As for the "gentlemans agreement", there definitely was one in operation for many years, but it has clearly been ditched for a decade or more. Had I the time, I could provide evidence/examples.

Anyhow, this is just a flying visit - Life (as ever) continues to intrude etc.

P.S. A previous browse suggested that I had stopped posting because I had been "handed my ass" by yer man from Dungannon (SuperDave?) and Danny I (unsure?). Anyhow, that was hardly my recollection, but if anyone has the time or inclination to dig it out re-post them and I might get round to replying - no promises, mind.

NIGreenWall wrote: Luis Amor Rodriguez wrote: Thought Jamal Lewis was outstanding at left-back for NI last week.  Put in a better display than any left-back in green has at the Aviva for a very long time.  Saville was also irritatingly good in midfield; and there's a fairly good chance he'll be playing in the PL this time next year. Amazing that neither were approached at any level to consider their options with us.   More potential players seemingly entirely ignored.  Until we sort out our recruitment, we're always going to be weak.   And whatever weird "gentlemen's agreement" of whatever nature that seems to be going on whereby we can't approach NI-eligible players, but they can have free dibs on ours, needs to be scrapped pronto. I see you regularly complaining that the FAI aren't approaching players with connections to NI, as a NI supporter I really wish that was the case but i can tell you they most definitely are, but they are in most cases being knocked back, so they aren't going to embarrass themselves and publicly admit it. Lewis was contacted by the FAI but he felt a loyalty to NI, the same with Peacock-Farrell, Saville wasn't approached because no-one thought he was eligible for anyone other than England, he had no idea himself that his granny was from Fermanagh, it was a fluke conversation between a NI supporter and I believe Saville's uncle that brought this information to light, two weeks later he was called into the NI squad. In the last approx 12 to 18 months, across the various age groups you have called up Lee Harkin born in NI, Anselmo Garcia McNulty his mum is from Belfast, Mark McGuinness through a NI born grandparent, Michael Duffy is switching to you and i believe there is another as yet unnamed player who has spoken to Michael O'Neill about switching. There is no gentleman's agreement in place.

Luis Amor Rodriguez wrote: Thought Jamal Lewis was outstanding at left-back for NI last week.  Put in a better display than any left-back in green has at the Aviva for a very long time.  Saville was also irritatingly good in midfield; and there's a fairly good chance he'll be playing in the PL this time next year. Amazing that neither were approached at any level to consider their options with us.   More potential players seemingly entirely ignored.  Until we sort out our recruitment, we're always going to be weak.   And whatever weird "gentlemen's agreement" of whatever nature that seems to be going on whereby we can't approach NI-eligible players, but they can have free dibs on ours, needs to be scrapped pronto.

I see you regularly complaining that the FAI aren't approaching players with connections to NI, as a NI supporter I really wish that was the case but i can tell you they most definitely are, but they are in most cases being knocked back, so they aren't going to embarrass themselves and publicly admit it.

Lewis was contacted by the FAI but he felt a loyalty to NI, the same with Peacock-Farrell, Saville wasn't approached because no-one thought he was eligible for anyone other than England, he had no idea himself that his granny was from Fermanagh, it was a fluke conversation between a NI supporter and I believe Saville's uncle that brought this information to light, two weeks later he was called into the NI squad.

In the last approx 12 to 18 months, across the various age groups you have called up Lee Harkin born in NI, Anselmo Garcia McNulty his mum is from Belfast, Mark McGuinness through a NI born grandparent, Michael Duffy is switching to you and i believe there is another as yet unnamed player who has spoken to Michael O'Neill about switching. There is no gentleman's agreement in place.

Dugs wrote: The O'Shea wrote: O'Neill still trying to muddy up the Obafemi situation, saying that "he thinks" he's now committed. No Martin, you really should know rather than just "think", he couldn't have been much more explicit.... He was also dismissive of the idea that he should have capped Rice competitively, saying that it would have been tantamount to "entrapment"  He really is an some idiot... O'Neill aside im not gone on the idea of capping someone either just to have them tied to us. It just dosent seem right. Im sure there are plenty for it and against it. The rules should be changed so this type of thing does not get out of hand and that would settle it.

The O'Shea wrote: O'Neill still trying to muddy up the Obafemi situation, saying that "he thinks" he's now committed. No Martin, you really should know rather than just "think", he couldn't have been much more explicit.... He was also dismissive of the idea that he should have capped Rice competitively, saying that it would have been tantamount to "entrapment"  He really is an some idiot...

O'Neill still trying to muddy up the Obafemi situation, saying that "he thinks" he's now committed. No Martin, you really should know rather than just "think", he couldn't have been much more explicit....

corkery wrote: The O'Shea wrote: Michael O'Connor, who's had a good start to the season for Linfield, is reportedly going to declare for NI. Still only 20. I wouldn't have anyone ever play for Ireland that played for Linfield. Linfield hate everything about us.

The O'Shea wrote: Michael O'Connor, who's had a good start to the season for Linfield, is reportedly going to declare for NI. Still only 20.