Mason Melia - the next Evan Ferguson?

[Pogue Mahone]

Youngest player ever to start for his LOI club? Tick

Youngest player ever to score for his LOI club? Tick.

Big for his age? Tick.

So far, so Evan Ferguson…

Currently taking U17 Euros by storm with two goals and two assists in a 4-2 win over Hungary that put Ireland through to the QF. Born in 2007. Apparently Liverpool (spit) want to sign him but can’t do anything until 2026 (cos Brexit) so some big German clubs sniffing round.

Getting this thread started early so I can look like some kind of football scouting genius in a few years time. Safe in the knowledge that none of you cnuts will remember it if he disappears into obscurity.

On a more serious note recruiting talent from Ireland is a hell of a lot more difficult after Brexit. Evan Ferguson wouldn’t be playing for Brighton right now if it wasn’t for his English mum. So we can expect a lot of the next generation of Irish PL talent to either stay in Ireland much longer or learn their game on the continent.

 

[Lash]

Youngest player ever to start for his LOI club? Tick

Youngest player ever to score for his LOI club? Tick.

Big for his age? Tick.

So far, so Evan Ferguson…

Currently taking U17 Euros by storm with two goals and two assists in a 4-2 win over Hungary that put Ireland through to the QF. Born in 2007. Apparently Liverpool (spit) want to sign him but can’t do anything until 2026 (cos Brexit) so some big German clubs sniffing round.

Getting this thread started early so I can look like some kind of football scouting genius in a few years time. Safe in the knowledge that none of you cnuts will remember it if he disappears into obscurity.

On a more serious note recruiting talent from Ireland is a hell of a lot more difficult after Brexit. Evan Ferguson wouldn’t be playing for Brighton right now if it wasn’t for his English mum. So we can expect a lot of the next generation of Irish PL talent to either stay in Ireland much longer or learn their game on the continent.

Probably better for Irish football though, no? I think Scotland is benefitting from a lot of their young lads playing on the continent first.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Probably better for Irish football though, no? I think Scotland is benefitting from a lot of their young lads playing on the continent first.

It has definitely been better for our league. We are now seeing more young players breakthrough and play a season or two before moving to England, usually to a lower league team but the player is then straight into a first team rather than a loan merry-go-round for a couple of seasons.

 

[cyberman]

Lot of young, Irish players heading off to Italy.
We have some serious talent coming through.

 

[horsechoker]

Don't trust any kind of Mason

 

[Bebestation]

Ireland would be mad with Grealish, Rice, Ferguson, Bazunu and all these lot.

Great to see develop.

 

[Massive Spanner]

On a more serious note recruiting talent from Ireland is a hell of a lot more difficult after Brexit. Evan Ferguson wouldn’t be playing for Brighton right now if it wasn’t for his English mum. So we can expect a lot of the next generation of Irish PL talent to either stay in Ireland much longer or learn their game on the continent.

Why is this though given the UK and Ireland still have free movement? Cause they're under 18?

 

[Fr. Todd Unctious]

Probably better for Irish football though, no? I think Scotland is benefitting from a lot of their young lads playing on the continent first.

Had been saying for years I wish a lot of our younger lads would look beyond England and Scotland as the be all and end all. You look at some of the Scandinavian countries you see them with players playing in Spain/Italy for random teams like e.g Celta Vigo/Udinese/Verona etc..

Thanks to Brexit there's been a good few gone to the continent particularly Italy.

 

[Lash]

It has definitely been better for our league. We are now seeing more young players breakthrough and play a season or two before moving to England, usually to a lower league team but the player is then straight into a first team rather than a loan merry-go-round for a couple of seasons.

I think it's better that the Prem money doesn't allow teams to just hoard youth players now, there's plenty of talent here we should focus on and on the flip side there is a steadier progression path for younger players from other leagues, that seems to be resulting in longer term success.

 

[Lash]

Had been saying for years I wish a lot of our younger lads would look beyond England and Scotland as the be all and end all. You look at some of the Scandinavian countries you them with players playing in Spain/Italy for random teams like e.g Celta Vigo/Udinese etc..

Thanks to Brexit there's been a good few gone to the continent particularly Italy.

I even think the same about English players, cut your teeth by soaking up a different footballing culture. You'll no doubt be richer from the experience and will set you apart from others.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

I think it's better that the Prem money doesn't allow teams to just hoard youth players now, there's plenty of talent here we should focus on and on the flip side there is a steadier progression path for younger players from other leagues, that seems to be resulting in longer term success.

Our best younger players are now getting a taste for Europa League and Europa Conference too. It will hopefully result in better long-term development. There was a time when all the best young players in this country were littered around the bigger English academies, usually leading to these players becoming lost amongst the talent and ironically returning to League of Ireland to restart their careers.

 

[Lash]

Our best younger players are now getting a taste for Europa League and Europa Conference too. It will hopefully result in better long-term development. There was a time when all the best young players in this country were littered around the bigger English academies, usually leading to these players becoming lost amongst the talent and ironically returning to League of Ireland to restart their careers.

Precisely and the path will become more well-trodden, so it will likely be emulated. Good news for all involved!

 

[limerickcitykid]

Why is this though given the UK and Ireland still have free movement? Cause they're under 18?

Because no one has legally challenged it yet. FIFA have a rule that international transfers below 18 aren’t allowed except for in the EU because FIFA doesn’t actually have any legal right to infringe on local employment laws. The same applies to Ireland and England and all it will take is someone challenging it and it will be allowed again.

 

[Oscar Bonavena]

Lot of young, Irish players heading off to Italy.
We have some serious talent coming through.

I think Irish underage football is also benefiting from the emergence of the 2nd generation kids of African, South American and European migrants that have moved to the country in the last 20 years.