FAI...New Manager Hunt continues

[lurganblue]

U23 is Olympic team, LoI selection. I assume you mean U21?

Wpuld be the second Cavanman to play for the senior team if he made it.

Meath, Offally, Carlow, Tyrone and Leitrim are the only ones to not have produced an Ireland player.

U23 is the reserves for English League sides now. Jake Doyle Hayes starts most games for Villa at this level. Was on thr bench last week for first team v Nottingham Forest.

Dean Smith is the right man for his development.

[BennyCake]

One of his Kilbane parents is from Mayo and the other from Longford. He was born and raised in Preston..

Don't think Roscommon have had any?

Achill island I think. Seen him with a Mayo jersey on on AI day.

Darren Fletcher has Mayo connection too. I wouldn't call either Mayo men though

Actually, I think I confused Kilbane and Fletcher.

[Geoff Tipps]

One of his Kilbane parents is from Mayo and the other from Longford. He was born and raised in Preston..

Don't think Roscommon have had any?

Achill island I think. Seen him with a Mayo jersey on on AI day.

Darren Fletcher has Mayo connection too. I wouldn't call either Mayo men though

Actually, I think I confused Kilbane and Fletcher.

Kilbane's dad is from Achill as is Fletcher's mother.
Both have been to recent All Irelands to support Mayo. Indeed Kilbane was at the first league game against Monaghan this year.

[laoislad]

I've met Kilbane a few times, he considers himself a Mayo man.

[BennyCake]

I've met Kilbane a few times, he considers himself a Mayo man.

There you have it. Straight from the er, horses mouth.

[imtommygunn]

Big Mayo fan. He 's always on twitter about Mayo whether it be league or championship.

[Main Street]

Sure who would voluntarily choose to be a Larry?

[lurganblue]

Dan Crowley is worth a look at too. Might be able to provide the creativity that the side lacks.  Doing good things at Willem II.

[Billys Boots]

Sure who would voluntarily choose to be a Larry?

Good point. 

[seafoid]

Sure who would voluntarily choose to be a Larry?

Anyone seeking happiness

[dec]

Interesting article at Slugger O'Toole regarding where the eligible Irish players are playing.

https://sluggerotoole.com/2018/12/28/irish-footballers-across-the-water-by-numbers/

It references an interview with Michael O'Neill from back in October
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/michael-o-neill-globalisation-of-british-football-has-left-irish-leagues-behind-1.3653020

"In a quiet corner of an Edinburgh café, Michael O'Neill has a list of names in front of him. It is a short list. It features players born in Ireland who appeared in the Premier League last weekend.
There were four who started – Shane Duffy at Brighton, Matt Doherty at Wolves, Greg Cunningham at Cardiff City and Craig Cathcart at Watford. "

Also a table from the Slugger article
Irish participation in the major English and Scottish Leagues (26th/27th December 2018)
                  RoI  NI 
Premier League
  Starters        6  1 
  Used Subs     2  0 
  Unused Subs  4  1 
           
Championship
        Starters  16  7 
     Used Subs  4  3 
  Unused Subs  6  3 
           
SPFL 
          Starters  8  4 
       Used Subs  3  1 
    Unused Subs  5  1 

[Ball Hopper]

Good interview here...Eamonn Dunphy and Mick McCarthy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0Sn5ggFKfQ

[nrico2006]

Does anybody remember the name of the young African footballer who was making a name for himself a few years ago. Think he might have been from Mayo or somwhere in the west.

[From the Bunker]

Does anybody remember the name of the young African footballer who was making a name for himself a few years ago. Think he might have been from Mayo or somwhere in the west.

Noe Baba https://www.transfermarkt.com/noe-baba/profil/spieler/248047

[gerrykeegan]

Unless Rice is some genius player, it'd be mad not to go with Ireland. Look at the likes of McAteer, Big Cas, Townsend, Houghton, Kilbane, Etc. Those fellas are all legends in Ireland, and ended up with decent media careers on rte/tv3 etc, released autobiographies etc. They made a decent living from the game after retiring.

What would Rice amount to? A small fish in a huge pond in England. A few caps (if he's lucky) then never to be heard of again.

But from an earnings perspective, one English cap pays mote than 1,000 Irish ones. Depends on his priorities.

But its moot, the bridges are ablaze

first time watching Rice live. He looks the real deal in midfield. Very composed. Would love to see him play for us.