I can’t see Cannon switching in September (When I think he will be cap tied for the rest of cycle if he plays for Ireland?) being how established he is in the set up
He got his first Ireland under 21 cap this March, and as far as I can see only has 5 caps across their age groups. Doesn't seem particularly well embedded into their set up and his connection is only at grandparent level.
Cannon’s stats are dreadful despite a half decent scoring record in the second tier this season. Unless he becomes a much better player he isn’t getting near the England seniors. He probably knows this himself so is unlikely to switch after being in the Ireland setup for a number of years.
Best interesting to see a list of English developed and qualifying players that play for other countries now. It must be pretty big at this point.
US coach - “We had some very good conversations with Flo and his agent,” Hudson said. “Just sharing what we do—talk[ing] to him about where we see him in our team, allow[ing] him just to get a feel for the culture of the team and the guys. And the conversations were great—went really, really well. And then since him and his agent have gone back to Europe, there’s just been a couple of text messages. “Now it’s down to him to make a decision,” Hudson concluded. https://www.si.com/.amp/soccer/2023...gun-england-youth-dual-national-arsenal-reims Sounds like this still has legs and the decision is still pending. If he wants to declare for them surely he does it right away to be involved in the US games coming up? USA v Mexico in June is probably their biggest game all year on their calendar?
I don't think so. They never declare until all the paperwork is finalised. I would be amazed if he didn't switch at this point.
I would expect the first we will hear is a leak of the paperwork being submitted. Considering how much coverage this gets in the USA I am not sure it would remain secret until confirmed.
They do. You could argue players want to confirm their stance before that process because any request for paperwork gets leaked.
Balogun posted on Instagram about his latest club match and the comments are 95% Americans urging him to ‘come home’ or words to those effect, It’s fascinating how desperate they are for him.
As someone who is part American, striker is definitely one of if not the weakest positions in the team. MLS, aside from being a weaker league, doesn’t have the same the same stakes as European leagues. Playoffs and no relegation mean that regular season matches don’t mean anywhere near as much so country over club is pretty much the universal sentiment. Lots of people would do that for players their club is poking to sign, only country comes first in the US so they do it for national team instead
Ornstein mentioned Balogun’s club future this morning on The Athletic (Sounds like he will leave Arsenal in the summer) but only mentioned how he has played for both England and USA youth teams with no update.
Simon preston, one of the biggest voices in Jamaican football media, interviewed one of the bigger Everton fan channels, Toffee TV, about the Jamaica eligible players there. As an update, there are actually quite a few at Everton - these are the names: Demarai Gray Dwight McNeil Mason Holgate Ben Godfrey Ellis Simms (Elijah Campbell is also eligible in the youth ranks and Dominic Calvert-Lewin used to be eligible back in the day, that's obviously over) They do a break down of the main senior candidates and their prospects with both Everton and on the international level. It's a long video so I summarize what they think about each player below. I'm sharing this here because I was curious: What do England fans think of these views, and of these players? What is their standing in England's player pool, and what are their prospects for the future, both at the club and international level? Dwight McNeil: According to Toffee TV, will never be an England player. Indeed, Toffee TV doesn't seem to rate him much but admits hes a good enough player to do a job in the EPL as a useful piece who just does the basic job of a winger and can get a cross in from game to game when you need it. He'll have a spot in the EPL for a long time with mid/lower table clubs, but that's it. Would be a good get for Jamaica and probably should strongly consider it. Demarai Gray: More raw talent than McNeil, on his day flashes really high level ability but just isn't consistent enough. That inconsistency will keep him away from england, especially now at almost age 27. It is also what has kept him from being a bigger name at the EPL level and landing at bigger clubs. He's reportedly submitted his papers to the Jamaica high commission, and Toffee TV seems to agree that makes sense - he's out of the England picture. Mason Holgate: Looked like a probable senior England international and likely Everton captain at his best. Injuries and resulting inconsistency scuttled that. Now he's basically out of the picture at Everton and failing to really get minutes. You almost assume he's still a 21 or 22 year old prospect, but he's actually turning 27 in fall. He kind of needs to figure it out, right now - he is not a young prospect anymore. Should probably leave Everton asap and go find a place to play. On raw talent, he's got the stuff to stay in the English top tier somewhere. No real England chance at this point, would be a nice get for Jamaica. Ben Godfrey: Showed up and looked like an England CB. Injuries have screwed him up and taken him off-track. He's being moved around a bunch, CB, LB, etc. Hasn't gotten enough time at CB to just relax and get on with it, and whenever he's gotten a run injuries have struck and he's out trying to scrape his way back into the squad. Toffee TV wonders if he may be better fit at holding midfield long term. Just needs to iron out his positional sense and nail down a place in the team - is still only 25, so there's time to do this. if he does that he has real England potential, so Jamaica would need to convince him sooner rather than later. Pretty unlikely he commits to Jamaica soon given this upside - maybe in 2025 if Jamaica is offering a seat on the WC plane and England still hasn't panned out. Ellis Simms: Seems too early to tell, he's only 22 and just beginning to get minutes at Everton. Might not be good enough for England ultimately but expect him to wait a few years to find out. Maybe another one for 2025.
I thought Gray was already a Jamaica player. He apparently submitted paperwork two years ago. Does he even qualify or does he actually want to play for them? The rest won’t be good enough to play for England. That they’re talking about Godfrey becoming a holding midfielder shows where his career is going. Simms looks well out of his depth in the PL. He was doing OK in the Championship but got recalled because of Everton’s injury crisis and FFP issues meaning they can’t spend. O’Neil would’ve had a chance in previous generations but his position is really competitive for England now. We beat Italy in the last break missing Rashford and Sterling from the squad in his position. Sancho is behind those as well. A number of the best prospects in the youth teams also play as wide forwards.
Cannon carrying on banging in the goals, up to 7 in the last 9. Very impresive for a first loan out in the championship - you only need to look to see how England regulars from his age Gelhardt and Delap have struggled to make an impact. If he keeps up this kind of scoring for the rest of the season you could say he'd deserve a place in the under 21 euro squad if Balogun isn't available.
There were some rumours that were unfounded re: his already being a Jamaica player before he had committed. He did submit papers a while ago (don't think it was quite 2 years ago but perhaps a year or so ago), but they had some errors. He's apparently made the final submission as of last week to the Jamaican High Commission, and there is optimism he could be ready for the Gold Cup. He 100% qualifies - it's been confirmed many times by him publicly (and privately - I DM'ed him on twitter like a decade ago when I was trying to compile lists of eligible players for Jamaica, and he confirmed it straight off). What of Holgate? Really interesting turn for Godfrey. When he was first getting rumoured for us back in early 2021 I was sure he was not realistic at all. Life comes at you fast.
Holgate, like Godfrey, hasn't developed like many hoped he would. He's 27 in October so should entering his prime years but is struggling for game time at a relegation battling club. It's a long way for him to into the England squad when you consider that Coady, Tarkowski and Keane keep him out of the Everton team - and they can't even get in the England squad! The same applies for Godfrey who has become a utility man for Everton rather than tying down the centre back position. England also have a few young centre backs coming through like Colwill and Harwood-Bellis that look much more like modern centre backs. The competition is getting harder.