Fawazzock
Jack Burkitt
He says the phrase "you know" like it's a nervous tick
David McGoldrick
- Thread starter Loughborough_red
- Start date
Roonaldo
Geoff Thomas
I kind of agree, but not always.
I know loads of 2nd, 3rd and even 4th generation Irishman that would choose Ireland ahead of England due to their cultural identify. It really gets on my tits when people band the 'plastic paddy' thing when footballers are making the choice for this reason. Being Irish is quite a complicated concept and i think it's fair to say that there are some people that were not born there that feel more Irish than the Irish themselves sometimes!
However, I never feel very comfortable about those who choose to play under a 'flag of convenience'. In David's case, I'm sorry, but to chosse to play for Ireland when you find out that the Gran of your paternal mum, who you never had anything to do with, turns out to be Irish it pushing it a bit.
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Alpha Fail
Jack Burkitt
What would we have people do instead, play for England if they qualify? You still aren't going to win anything, a good performance is the least anyone expects and a bad one is vilified for ever more. The Ireland thing was a joke 20 years ago and still is today, but it's quite an entertaining one and no-one really minds. They are very supportable.
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Francis Benali (on loan)
Guest
Martin O'Neill is an interesting one having played for Northern Ireland and managed Ireland. How many have been involved with both sides?
I guess that is down to the Republic of Ireland not being as competitive during O'Neill's playing days, being before Jack Charlton took over and brought in a few players using the lineage rule.
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Francis Benali (on loan)
Guest
Brian Clough thoughts on Mick McCarthy Euro 88: http://youtu.be/aMP3zVs_MI4
Brolin
Swedish Meatball
Harsh on Dave, who has a more complicated family history than some.
He was adopted by an Irish family, the McGoldricks, and has long considered himself Irish. McGoldrick says he has always been listed as an Irishman on the back of programmes, when they display the flag next to the name, and he's been on Soccerbase as Irish since coming through at Southampton.
But there was some confusion over whether he could officially play for Ireland, the country of his adopted family. Tony Cascarino caused all sorts of confusion when he announced he was adopted after his retirement, you might remember.
In recent years, Dave has got in touch with his birth mother who also happens to help him qualify for Ireland.
I understand rather than waiting to get a call from Ireland asking him would he consider playing, he just got one himself a passport months ago and let it be known he would welcome the call if it ever came.
Senior Flange Technician
Laying Pipe
"Irish" family is stretching it a bit but yeah, his adoptive and biological parent(s) have irish connections. Not sure what the fuss is about really?.
Wes' Organ
Biggles
If he's been to Ireland or has drank a pint of Guinness, then for the purposes of international football, he's a proper Paddy.
Roonaldo
Geoff Thomas
Didn't know that much detail, so fair enough.
Wes Organ - I suppose John Barnes, Kevin Piersersan, Graeme Le Saux, Wilfred Zaha, Matt Le Tisier, Raheem Sterling, Terry Butcher, Owen Hargreaves, Justin Rose, Johnathan Trott, Bradley Wiggins, Douglas Jardine, Chris Froome & Mo Farah must have had a pint of mild at some point then?
Wes' Organ
Biggles
Thanks for being gentle with the list Roonaldo, you could have easily made it 10 times longer!
I think that there should be a much stronger criteria for representing a country, probably draw the line at parents birthplace or 15 years residency, with exceptions being made for the children of refugees etc where it would genuinely be unsafe to represent their home nation.
When you look at people like Januzaj at Man Utd who dam represent any of about a dozen nationalities the system cannot possibly be right in our ever increasingly mobile world.
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Francis Benali (on loan)
Guest
For the sake of argument the majority of the English/British list spent a lot of time living in England, many had an education here. There are a couple who came over specifically for sport, but most didn't. Can't really compare them to Tony Cascarino and Andy Townsend. There are other names you could use though that could compare though I suppose.
valspoodle
Ian Bowyer
Why can't it just be place of birth? Or nationality ie passport held, not the passports you could hold, but the passport you travel on.
Perhaps footballers could be asked, for the record when they sign their first pro contract, which country that are nationals of, and later when they are selected for international football, they can only play for the country they nominated at the start of their career.
Perhaps footballers could be asked, for the record when they sign their first pro contract, which country that are nationals of, and later when they are selected for international football, they can only play for the country they nominated at the start of their career.
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Francis Benali (on loan)
Guest
But some people genuinely feel they are nationals of more than one country. Maybe your parents are from two different countries, and you've already lived in both.
Wes' Organ
Biggles
Good idea Vals, anything to put a bit of pride back into international football.
I wonder how many players will discover Qatari roots before 2022? Kerching!
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Francis Benali (on loan)
Guest
Stephen Cherono once of Kenya, became a Qatari two-time steeplechase World Champion and a world record holder as Saif Saaeed Shaheen.
Wes' Organ
Biggles
Hmmmm, wait and see Cameliniho and Arabio, the Brazilian born wonder kids.
Excuse the casual racism, ta!
Ravi
Upper Decker
Which nationality a player feels he belongs to is important, or we get the Podolski situation where a player is initially rejected by his chosen national team, and later refuses to celebrate when he later scores against them. He was born in Poland and held a German passport so was eligible for both under Valspoodles proposed clear rules.
And what FB said ^^
And what FB said ^^
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And then you've got poor old Rio Mavuba, who was born on a ship in international waters, who had to fight to be able to play for France (where his parents settled, as refugees).
Roonaldo
Geoff Thomas
Very true.
I hold a both a British and Irish passport and to limit who I could have played for depending on which one I travel on would be ridiculous as I travel on the one I can bloody well find first!
There's nothing wrong with considering yourself an Irish Englishman, Welsh Scot, Bermudan Sri Lanki or whatever else for that matter. If that's how you feel thats how you feel, feck what anyone else thinks.
Andy Townsend is a difficult one. Openly admits that it started out as a flag of convenience but fell in love with Ireland, captained us, gave it absolutely everything and now holds an Irish passport. Unlike John Aldridge, I have a hell of a lot of a time for him.
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winnits
Guest
I think we can all agree Aldridge is an abhorrent w**ksock of a man.
Frankly, if I found John Aldridge on fire in the street, the first thing I'd do is poor more petrol on the bastard.
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Francis Benali (on loan)
Guest
I wouldn't do that. That would be awful.
Roonaldo
Geoff Thomas
I concur....an awful waste of petrol.
Senior Flange Technician
Laying Pipe
Pissing all over Man U. Imagine what could have been [emoji38]
Senior Flange Technician
Laying Pipe
Goes off and they fall to pieces [emoji38]