That's a blindingly stupid post, he was a young player put under immense pressure by his manager as the 4 foreigners rule was in place in Europe at the time and QPR had European ambitions at the time believe it or not, Gallen always regretted it but was too young to stand up against his managers wishes at the time.Originally Posted by EalingGreen
was accusing me of being a bigot on the "World Football " thread within the rules? Not that I am going to be a snitch and go running to a moderator....
Sounds like you refuse to read Owen Coyle's story in brief. Sounds like you missed the part of Owen Coyle having the choice of declaring for both at the same time and chose Ireland without hesitation also knowing his first squad calling would be for a game against Scotland.
It sounds like there is no separation from your back orifice to your front.
Hard to credit that you are regarded as one of the more rational posters on the OWC
I suppose it's all relative.
How could anyone address such a question.Besides you still haven't addressed my point about playing international football being different from playing it. Do you know that Coyle has ambitions re the latter?
If you meant managing. I don't know his ambitions.
But he was asked directly about had he been contacted by the FAI in Jan last year, he replied that yes he received a letter the other day, offering him tickets for a game. Managing Ireland, he added that it would be "an honour" to be considered for the Ireland job.
Hi,
Here is a thread that I started about that very story on a QPR website:
http://qprdot.org/viewtopic.php?t=36...+truth&start=0
Their replies make for interesting reading!
Here is the article BTW in case you dont want to read the responses (Orginally from the Irish Times)
Gallen’s call stirs Ireland
His brothers played for Ireland while he chose England, but now Kevin Gallen has told Brian Kerr he wants to wear green
The scene is an Irish club in Acton, west London. It is June 2002 and on the big screen Ireland and Spain are set to lock horns in the last 16 of the World Cup. The bar is a sea of green flags and painted faces. The atmosphere is charged and electric, the mood expectant. The Gallen family sit among them, proud and happy and Irish.
Stephen Gallen waves his scarf in the air and casts a reproachful glare at one of his companions across the table. “How could you be shouting for Spain?” he scolds, waving a finger in his brother Kevin’s direction. Kevin Gallen stares back in outrage. “There’s no need to be saying that to me,” he complains. “Why would I want Spain to beat Ireland?” He knows protests are futile. They always have been. It’s 11 years since Gallen, the product of an intensely Irish upbringing, accepted the invitation to play for England and forfeited, in many eyes, any rights he had to consider himself an Irishman. Protesting his innocence has always been a pointless exercise. Context and circumstance were luxuries that the narrow-minded interpretation of his case never allowed.
What had always been a complex and contentious issue was, in Gallen’s case, reduced to convenient clarity. He was a traitor and a turncoat, deserving of our scorn. Mocked by many journalists and Ireland supporters, some friends and even members of his own family. Nothing he could say, he felt, would ever change it.
All he ever hoped for was a time when he could return to Ireland, have a drink in his uncle’s pub in Mayo and not have a local remind him of his treachery. He never believed it would happen. But he never imagined that his story would take the strange twist that it has.
It happened in November. A man from County Limerick sent him a letter pointing out a rule change by Fifa that enabled players capped by one country at under-age level to switch their allegiance to another. He read and re-read the letter and was intrigued by its contents but wary too. Would the Irish people accept him? Was he merely setting himself up for a hard and painful fall? He talked to people: his parents and brothers, Gary Waddock, youth coach at QPR, a friend in the Republic of Ireland supporters club in London. The feedback was reassuring. He thought about going to the press but balked at the inevitable “Come and get me” headlines. Instead he wrote a letter setting out his story and sent it to Brian Kerr. Encouragingly, Kerr wrote back.
“He sent me a very nice letter,” Gallen says. “I appreciated that. It wasn’t something he had to do. He said he was sympathetic to my case but wasn’t able to make any promises. I understand that. But he’s been to see me play and I know the door isn’t completely closed.”
Whatever happens, Gallen knows, it is a chance he had to take, an opportunity to heal old wounds. To represent Ireland like his two brothers did before him, to put an Irish cap alongside the English ones on the sideboard in a house where his parents are equally proud of all their sons. What, he thinks, is there to lose? “I could get more abuse. I could be called a traitor again. I’m well used to it. I’ve had it all and I could handle it again.”
THEY were a typical Irish family growing up in west London. Jim left his native Donegal in the 1960s and ended up on the buildings in Shepherd’s Bush. Tess left Mayo around the same time and ended up in the same area via a spell in America. They met in an Irish pub, married and raised a family of three boys and two girls to love Ireland and Queens Park Rangers.
The boys’ school was the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial in Holland Park. Their social life revolved around the Acton and Ealing Whistlers, the Irish music club Jim and Tess helped set up as a focal point for the Irish community.
The Whistlers also fielded seven or eight soccer teams who wore the Irish green. The Gallen brothers were the stars.Kevin was so talented he played on the same team as Joe, three years his senior. Jim was their manager.
Watford would come looking for Joe, and QPR for Kevin when he was 14. England schoolboys was the next step. That didn’t mean much in terms of national fealty. In 1992 Joe made his debut for the Ireland under-21s; that Kevin would follow in his footsteps was accepted as a formality.
But neither Joe nor Steve, who would play for the Ireland youths in 1994, were quite like their brother. Kevin was a teenage sensation, the most talked about young striker in England apart from Robbie Fowler. In two seasons in the QPR youth team he knocked in more than 130 goals and in the spring of 1993 the English FA came calling, enlisting him for the European under-18 championship finals that summer.
The loss to Ireland, a country with a chronic shortage of quality strikers, was inestimable. Inevitably it magnified the extent of Gallen’s perceived crime. He says vehemently that nobody from the FAI ever approached him directly. In the middle of the Charlton years, when the approach to youth football was feckless, that is well believable.
At the time Joe McGrath, the FAI’s national director of coaching, said he had been aware of Gallen since the turn of the decade. “Somebody at QPR was absolutely determined that Kevin should opt for England,” McGrath explained. Gallen tells a similar, more detailed story.
“What I said in my letter to Brian was that I didn’t know whether contact had been made between the FAI and QPR but nobody from the FAI spoke to me directly. I knew they had to be aware of me through my brothers but I was never told of any approach. Maybe I could have taken a step back and thought about the consequences but when you’re a kid you don’t think much about the future. It’s all about the here and now.”
And that’s only half the story. The three-foreigner rule was then in place and QPR didn’t need a Republic of Ireland international on their books. He remembers people at the club who were disparaging of the idea of playing for Ireland. “People who wouldn’t call it Ireland,” he says, “but refer to it as Eire, you know, in a joke sort of way.”
QPR wanted him but their interest was conditional. A new four-year contract with gob-smacking bonuses was waved in front of him, hinging on one crucial detail. “It all hung on whether I played for England. It was all England, England, England. Ireland was never mentioned. Ireland didn’t enter the equation as far as they were concerned.”
His situation has always been compared with that of other Irish players, usually to compound his guilt. It’s been reported that Kevin Kilbane withstood pressure at Preston to declare for England, as if Kilbane was a similarly talented prodigy, as if he had suffered the same overbearing influence.
History was not to be Gallen’s friend. His goals would help England win that European under-18 championship. Fowler, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Sol Campbell were among his teammates. After that a senior debut for QPR would follow at Old Trafford and his first senior goal at Loftus Road a few days later. But people in Ireland don’t remember that now. They recall only one thing.
“When I come to Ireland I get it all the time,” he says. “‘Why didn’t you play for Ireland? Why? Why?’ If I’m with family and I go to my uncle’s pub somebody will bring it up and I’m like, ‘Oh for f*** sake. It’s gone. I can’t do anything about it now’.”
Nor did his family grant him immunity. “I get it off my two brothers. We get on very well but they take this very seriously, especially Steve. He’s very patriotic and I know he’d be delighted if I got the chance to play for Ireland.”
As luck would have it one of his four England under-21 caps came against Ireland at Lansdowne Road in March 1995. He was sitting in the dressing room when he heard his name announced followed by loud hoots of derision. “It was a hard day. Little kids coming up to me and effing and blinding me.
I don’t think it was nice for my parents in the stands. I tried to laugh it off. What else could I do?” He never got a senior cap for England. He knows there are those who feel justice was served, that karma prevailed. The pressure of being a starlet didn’t help, neither did a cruciate ligament injury in August 1996. Only now, he thinks, is he approaching the form that earned him such a lavish reputation.
He’s blunt about his situation, though. He knows Ireland are short of strikers and feels he could do a job as a foil for Robbie Keane, but while he has scored 16 goals for QPR this season and played as well as ever, they are still in Division Two and he will be 29 in September. If Kerr passes him over for football reasons he will understand.
“I can see that point of view,” he says. “I know for a fact a lot of people would not be happy to see me in the Ireland squad. But then a lot of people would be happy, too. Everybody’s got an opinion. You can’t please everyone. I understand, too, if he wants to bring youngsters through. But at the end of the day it’s about getting results and I feel the way I’m playing at the moment I can help.”
No illusions. He’s neither apologising nor playing the victim’s card, he’s just explaining and asking for compassion. He only has hope. “A part of me is preparing for the worst,” he says. “People telling me to go away, to f*** off. I know that’s a possibility.”
But maybe, just maybe, in the months ahead the one person who matters might come whistling a different tune.
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist thinks it will change; the realist adjusts the sails.
Good article thanks DD,
In case you don't know what Deckydee looks like
I notice Ealing Green has not responded to the above...unusual for him to be so quiet....
TastyGood article thanks DD,
In case you don't know what Deckydee looks like
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist thinks it will change; the realist adjusts the sails.
http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/donega...ate.5269273.jp
Owen Coyle's Wembley date
Owen Coyle's Burnley are one step from the Premier League
Date: 14 May 2009
By Alan Foley
Donegal will have a special interest in the Coca-Cola League Championship play-off final with former Republic of Ireland striker Owen Coyle's Burnley side facing Sheffield United at Wembley on May 25.
Coyle, who was born in Paisley to Donegal parents, saw his Burnley side overcome Reading on a 3-0 aggregate scoreline over the two legs of the play-off semi-finals.
Tuesday's 2-0 win at the Madejski Stadium came courtesy of superb second-half goals, from Martin Paterson and Steven Thompson, adding to Saturday's 1-0 success at Turf Moor when Graham Alexander scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.
With his mother Frances a native of Glaserchoo in Gortahork, and his late father Owen from Gweedore, Coyle qualified to play for the Republic of Ireland during his own playing days, when he lined up for a number of clubs including Bolton Wanderers, Dundee United and Motherwell.
He made just one appearance for Jack Charlton's side, in a 1994 friendly against Holland in Tilburg, which Ireland won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Tommy Coyne.
After managing St Johnstone in the Scottish First Division, Coyle took over at Burnley in November 2007. This season, his first full term in charge, as well as making the play-off final after finishing fifth in the Championship, Coyle's team have defeated Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the Carling Cup, losing to the latter over two legs of the semi-final.
Owen Coyle's late father is buried in Gweedore and as a child, he played in summer cups in the Falcarragh/Gortahork area.
OK, so that's two of you can't manage basic arithmetic.
No-one's forcing you to stop ****-stirring, to be "PC" nor to be polite. But- as I've explained patiently on numerous past occasions- if you do any of the above, you can hardly be surprised when it's challenged.
I've explained why I do- if you can't see it, never mind, no harm done. Let's move on?
No, it's true enough. You care enough to post snide digs against the NI team and its fans: were you really indifferent, you wouldn't, regardless of what EG or I or anyone else posted.
No, it's poor argument getting challenged. Not sure what you mean by "hardline"- just empty cliche, maybe? I don't think anything I've said on this forum is that. I don't suggest abolishing anyone else's team, I don't begrudge people for playing for whichever team(s) they're eligible, etc.It's the old NI hardliners us against the world attitude
Ha ha. I've been reading this forum since 2003 (my previous id got banned after a lively row with mi buen amigo Lopez), and the same themes recur regularly. And have done since well before EG weighed in.I doubt anyone here would mention NI if EG disappeared
Last edited by Gather round; 18/05/2009 at 10:28 PM.
Come on lads, if this post wasn't a mischievous wind up I don't know what is. This is what started it all.Originally Posted by EalingGreen:
"Speaking of which, even if Coyle did fancy a spell managing an international team as a "stepping stone", I'd imagine he and Scotland would appeal more to each other than he and ROI" Yeah, you're right, why would be attracted to managing Scotland? After all, he was only born and brought up there. And played for 12 Scottish clubs. And managed two Scottish clubs before moving to England.
Much more likely that he'd prefer ROI, on the basis of a seven minute appearance as substitute for the ROI in a friendly in Tillberg, at the age of 28, following the FAI's exhumation/discovery of his Irish Granny (or whatever). The fact that he was never remotely good enough to play for Scotland obviously had nothing to do with it...
I enjoy the NI lads' football contributions to this site but when they resort to this type of stuff it's tedious & unwelcome. GR had the decency to admit his error when corrected over the "rigged" UEFA 2000 play-off draw and the apology was accepted generously. Why don't you do the same EG and we'll all move on?
Ehm, think you are the one that can't manage basic arithmetic....eight years have not elapsed since Sept 1 2001....and if you try and argue that point it really proves that you lot will never admit when you are wrong.
So let me get this straight the time elapsed between 31 December 2008 and 1 January 2009 was a year in your calender, was it? I've heard the UK education system is considered poor by developed world standards but who knew?
Pure nonsense of course. If you or EG posts NI related nonsense on an ROI forum I'll challenge it and respond in kind. I honestly don't care about your football team and you may consider this a snide comment if you wish but I don't look at you as rivals to us. You try to compare the two teams when your team has never done anything in International football in well over 2 decades (most of my lifetime) whereby we've been in 4 final tournaments since then so let's be realistic here, why would I care about your team?
Our team however, is obviously hugely important to both yourself and EG and that's where the problem lies when EG belittles the ROI and throws in comparisons that paint NI in an unrealistically favourable light I'll challenge them and why wouldn't I? Isn't this an ROI board after all?
Just to clarify EG also posted rankings that have since been deleted that caused most of the trouble (when I stated my surprise that NI where a few places above Gabon) before anyone mentioned NI. It's not just his Owen Coyle rant.
Last edited by youngirish; 19/05/2009 at 10:18 AM.
Excellant post....
Don't worry, I don't argue with the empty-headed. Except to say that I don't claim to represent any "lot"
See above. It's 'calendar', by the way.
No, it's a wrong comment- you obviously do care, as detailed above and below. I've no problem with anyone else being indifferent to the NI football team.I honestly don't care about your football team and you may consider this a snide comment if you wish
Fine, you can choose as rivals whoever you like, or nobody. You can argue that qualifying for the finals 15 or 20 years ago is hugely more significant than 25 or 30 years ago; I disagree. Both teams are mediocre at the moment: qualifying for one tournament out of seven makes you merely a bit less mediocre over those 15 years as a whole. You beat arguably the weakest team at the finals in 2002- we've beaten England, Spain and top-seeded Sweden since. On current form we're a bit better, it's straightforward enough.but I don't look at you as rivals to us. You try to compare the two teams when your team has never done anything in International football in well over 2 decades (most of my lifetime) whereby we've been in 4 final tournaments since then
Don't know. But you obviously do, as you keep posting on here about it?so let's be realistic here, why would I care about your team?
Up to a point. I don't post that often- 800 over six years. Why would it be a problem even if I posted ten times that?Our team however, is obviously hugely important to both yourself and EG and that's where the problem lies when EG belittles the ROI and throws in comparisons that paint NI in an unrealistically favourable light I'll challenge them and why wouldn't I? Isn't this an ROI board after all?
The thing is, your challenge to what you see as EG's wind-ups doesn't really amount to much more than reminding us you how much better you used to be in the past, and more seriously telling us ad nauseam that NI are rubbish even though you're not interested in them.
Last edited by Gather round; 19/05/2009 at 10:55 AM.
Please get back on topic and take your squabbling to P.M
Will do. I'm looking forward to a shoot-out between Paterson and Ward in the play-off final. Burnley to win 2-1.
2002 is not 15 or 20 years ago though we've already established that maths is not your strong point. What exactly is?
You also ignore the fact that we've been consistently better in every qualifying campaign in over 20 years getting to 4 play-offs for qualification. How many have NI made? The last campaign NI punched way above their weight and we underperformed horribly which resulted in our manager getting sacked yet still we both finished 3rd in the group.
I would also comfortably say even though we are pretty mediocre we are way better than NI at the moment. David Healy the Sunderland reserve striker is your best player ffs. When the group winds down I fully expect you to be nowhere in it while we'll at least be third. Get back to me then and only then with your unrealistic, ill-informed, NI biased drivel. That's all I have to say on the matter I can only devote so much time per day to the less gifted amongst us.
Last edited by youngirish; 19/05/2009 at 4:16 PM.
Indeed, which is why I distinguished between the two. No-one doubts you had consistently excellent teams from 1986-1994. Their relevance to football now is limited.
Dealing patiently with sh it-stirrers.though we've already established that maths is not your strong point. What exactly is?
No, I've taken your point that failing to qualify is mediocre- therefore failing to qualify for six of the last seven tournaments is consistently mediocre. You can't have it both ways. If you aren't interested in other mediocre teams, don't drone on about being slightly less mediocre than them in the past.You also ignore the fact that we've been better in very qualifying campaign in over 20 years getting to 4 play-offs for qualification
We got more points, six wins to four, beat all three potential qualifiers. We've also got more points this time, albeit from a game more. But honestly, we aren't any more stirred by this than you (RoI fans generally). We'll remain mediocre unless and until we qualify for a finals.The last campaign NI punched way above their weight and we underperformed horribly which resulted in our manager getting sacked yet still we both finished 3rd in the group
However comfortable you are, the evidence (group tables) suggests otherwise.I would also comfortably say even though we are pretty mediocre we are way better than NI at the moment
Are you on drugs? He's been poor in every NI game this season. Luckily, our squad now is strong enough to cope.David Healy the Sunderland reserve striker is your best player ffs
Must I? I'll get to you (or anyone else) when you need to be corrected. But yes, if you get more points in the final table in October, of course you are better.When the group winds down I fully expect you to be nowhere in it while we'll at least be third. Get back to me then
Right oh, bye.and only then with your unrealisitic, ill-informed, NI biased drivel. That's all I have to say on the matter I can only devote so much time per day to the less gifted amongst us
It's "unrealistic" by the way.
If all you can do is nit pick a couple of typos to back up your arguments on an internet forum then you really are onto a loser from the off. I don't have time to check my spelling before posting, I have a job I need to be doing. Learn your maths and you too could one day follow in my footsteps (unlikely but anything's possible).
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