Pedro Mendes

[TiagoIlori]

This one is cropping up again - whether he gets enough points to get a permit now though is another question.

Due to his age we might be able to get one for “outstanding talent” but it doesn’t seem very likely that it would be successful.

[Sutekh]

This one is cropping up again - whether he gets enough points to get a permit now though is another question.

Due to his age we might be able to get one for “outstanding talent” but it doesn’t seem very likely that it would be successful.

Mendes is 21 and has not played a full international appearance for Portugal, last international recognition was 2 apps at u21 level in 2019. Given the criteria for automatic endorsement of a deal is that the player must be from a country ranked in the world top 50 and have played in 70% of internationals over the previous 2 years Mendes is a bit short of being granted clearance.

So, unless there are exceptions to be had around loans and/or young players or moves to the football league, this story is no more than a poorly thought out media rehash of something from the “summer”.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Obviously not gone well for him at Almeria, but they're doing well, so hopefully more to do with other players playing well, rather than him being shit. Would be happy with a loan till the end of the season, as backup for João, assuming he can get a work permit.

[WestYorksRoyal]

If we've been tracking him for a long time and have confidence in his ability, we shouldn't let a difficult 6 months put us off as it happens to the best of players. But agree loan is better than permanent at this stage.

[Nameless]

This one is cropping up again - whether he gets enough points to get a permit now though is another question.

Due to his age we might be able to get one for “outstanding talent” but it doesn’t seem very likely that it would be successful.

Mendes is 21 and has not played a full international appearance for Portugal, last international recognition was 2 apps at u21 level in 2019. Given the criteria for automatic endorsement of a deal is that the player must be from a country ranked in the world top 50 and have played in 70% of internationals over the previous 2 years Mendes is a bit short of being granted clearance.

So, unless there are exceptions to be had around loans and/or young players or moves to the football league, this story is no more than a poorly thought out media rehash of something from the “summer”.

Apparantly the option being pursued is to smuggle him over in the back of a lorry and send him out in a shirt with Smith on the back with firm instructions not to do any interviews post match.

[Snowflake Royal]

Due to his age we might be able to get one for “outstanding talent” but it doesn’t seem very likely that it would be successful.

Mendes is 21 and has not played a full international appearance for Portugal, last international recognition was 2 apps at u21 level in 2019. Given the criteria for automatic endorsement of a deal is that the player must be from a country ranked in the world top 50 and have played in 70% of internationals over the previous 2 years Mendes is a bit short of being granted clearance.

So, unless there are exceptions to be had around loans and/or young players or moves to the football league, this story is no more than a poorly thought out media rehash of something from the “summer”.

Apparantly the option being pursued is to smuggle him over in the back of a lorry and send him out in a shirt with Smith on the back with firm instructions not to do any interviews post match.

He probably needs to sign for a team in Kent for this season then, until he can get out of that holding lorry carpark.

[Brain Traysers]

This one is cropping up again - whether he gets enough points to get a permit now though is another question.

Due to his age we might be able to get one for “outstanding talent” but it doesn’t seem very likely that it would be successful.

Mendes is 21 and has not played a full international appearance for Portugal, last international recognition was 2 apps at u21 level in 2019. Given the criteria for automatic endorsement of a deal is that the player must be from a country ranked in the world top 50 and have played in 70% of internationals over the previous 2 years Mendes is a bit short of being granted clearance.

So, unless there are exceptions to be had around loans and/or young players or moves to the football league, this story is no more than a poorly thought out media rehash of something from the “summer”.

It seems the new rules are significantly more complex than the old internationals-based system, but do give a lot more leeway. Now its a combination of that, plus the level the club play at, share of minutes played, competitions the club qualified for etc. Overall it's harder to get a player from lower European leagues, but easier to get players from top South American clubs

I think it will take a while for a few examples to filter through before its widely understood, for now it seems players over 21 from top 5 leagues are virtually guaranteed a permit. The Portugese top league is the second of six bands (so fewer points), and the Spanish second div is band 4, so since the reference period is based on last 12 months his eligibility will probably depend on what is included in that window. Expect to see lots of players making cameo appearances for top clubs to make them eligible for permits and thus sales to UK based clubs

In Mendes case, counting last season at Sporting looks to be worth at least 14 points of the 15 needed for a permit:
Continental Progression - R32 of Band 2 comp = 2pts
League Finishing Position (Sporting = 4th in Band 2) = 2pts
Band of Current club = 2 = 10pts
(full rules here)

Then he might also be eligible for +5 points for being a youth player making his senior debut at a band 2 club - his debut was 11th Jan 2020, so that 5 points would need to be as part of an application made in the next few days. If not, then I'd be pretty confident the 1pt required is available somewhere for his u18 and u21 caps and/or Almeria mins this season.

So basically - he probably would be fine...

[Stranded]

Due to his age we might be able to get one for “outstanding talent” but it doesn’t seem very likely that it would be successful.

Mendes is 21 and has not played a full international appearance for Portugal, last international recognition was 2 apps at u21 level in 2019. Given the criteria for automatic endorsement of a deal is that the player must be from a country ranked in the world top 50 and have played in 70% of internationals over the previous 2 years Mendes is a bit short of being granted clearance.

So, unless there are exceptions to be had around loans and/or young players or moves to the football league, this story is no more than a poorly thought out media rehash of something from the “summer”.

It seems the new rules are significantly more complex than the old internationals-based system, but do give a lot more leeway. Now its a combination of that, plus the level the club play at, share of minutes played, competitions the club qualified for etc. Overall it's harder to get a player from lower European leagues, but easier to get players from top South American clubs

I think it will take a while for a few examples to filter through before its widely understood, for now it seems players over 21 from top 5 leagues are virtually guaranteed a permit. The Portugese top league is the second of six bands (so fewer points), and the Spanish second div is band 4, so since the reference period is based on last 12 months his eligibility will probably depend on what is included in that window. Expect to see lots of players making cameo appearances for top clubs to make them eligible for permits and thus sales to UK based clubs

In Mendes case, counting last season at Sporting looks to be worth at least 14 points of the 15 needed for a permit:
Continental Progression - R32 of Band 2 comp = 2pts
League Finishing Position (Sporting = 4th in Band 2) = 2pts
Band of Current club = 2 = 10pts
(full rules here)

Then he might also be eligible for +5 points for being a youth player making his senior debut at a band 2 club - his debut was 11th Jan 2020, so that 5 points would need to be as part of an application made in the next few days. If not, then I'd be pretty confident the 1pt required is available somewhere for his u18 and u21 caps and/or Almeria mins this season.

So basically - he probably would be fine...

Thanks for posting the rules. Interestingly* and possibly why we looked to employ that Brazilian guy as DOF but it is now a lot easier to bring over players from South America. For example if a player has played 80% of internationals for Columbia, Peru, Venezuela or Chile (not to mention the big 2 countries) in the qualifying period, he will automatically get a permit.

Outside of that if a player makes 1 appearance (and minutes played total 1% of the total) for a Brazilian top flight side they automatically get 8 points, so if they have played 80% of minutes in the qualifying period they will already have hit 15 points.

So under this new system, it will be more difficult to bring in a player from the EU only inso much as they need to play regularly in a semi decent league but players from South America in particular will be a lot easier to sign - potential big opportunity for a smaller club to progress quickly and cheaply if they really know that market.

[Norfolk Royal]

Looks like we are getting him on loan now. Bit worrying that most of the matches in his YouTube clips seem to be played at something akin to Prospect Park.

[Zip]

Looks like we are getting him on loan now. Bit worrying that most of the matches in his YouTube clips seem to be played at something akin to Prospect Park.

Low risk punt. We will probably look to offload Baldock and claw back some of his wages.

[Royalwaster]

Looks like we are getting him on loan now. Bit worrying that most of the matches in his YouTube clips seem to be played at something akin to Prospect Park.

All those goals are for the Sporting U23 team ... explains the poor defending.

[Hound]

Makes some sort of sense as the Joao backup.

[Hendo]

Hard to see this as anything other than a good low-risk move by the club.

- Comes in for the rest of the season as Joao back-up/bit part player, not expecting to start and score every game
- Isn't going to be on high wages, even if we're paying 100% of them
- If it doesn't work out, no major impact
- If it does work out and he looks a talent, we could look at signing him permanently and it might be a bit of a coup with a possible low transfer fee.

[Hound]

Andre Bikey is assistant manager at Almeria interestingly*

[Hendo]

That is interesting, always liked him.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Bikey back here as manager one day would be the dream <3

[royalp-we]

Looks like we are getting him on loan now. Bit worrying that most of the matches in his YouTube clips seem to be played at something akin to Prospect Park.

Low risk punt. We will probably look to offload Baldock and claw back some of his wages.

A punt indeed. Very low risk. 1 senior goal to his name. I thought we were after promotion?

[Hendo]

Bikey back here as manager one day would be the dream <3

<3 <3

[Pepe the Horseman]

Bikey back here as manager one day would be the dream <3

<3 <3

[Hendo]

Bikey back here as manager one day would be the dream <3

<3 <3

Bikey joined English Premier League club Reading for an initial trial period during their pre-season trip to Sweden in 2006, where he impressed manager Steve Coppell despite being sent off in his final trial match for head-butting an Örgryte IS player

How can that not make you smile