Without hesitation.Originally Posted by geysir
Just something further on McEleney (and his eligibility) beyond what I wrote in post #7259; last August, he spoke of welcoming recognition from the watching Martin O'Neill (who he referred to as "[his] national manager") during Dundalk's European games: http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3919/...sists-mceleney
If it does come to the point whereby he gets the call up or is on the verge then I would like if he addressed the NI thing. A simple line in an interview stating "ah, I was just twisting the FAI's arm and had no interest in playing for them" would do me. I don't like the fact that he flirted with the idea of playing for them, for whatever reason.
Patrick doesn't have to explain anything unless he wants to. There are northern born players who are comfortable with the idea of playing with either of the two intl teams. Both options are equally valid. That choice is the equivalent of a civil right in football but of course that choice resonates more with Irish social history, past and present, than most other situations.
The IFA/FAI and their football community have to accept that some players who are overlooked from their 1st choice have the option of the other side, and players who are stuck in their 2nd choice by circumstances have the right to switch to their 1st choice.
The small O'Neill's pitch to players like Patrick is that there's a better chance of getting selected by the IFA.
Ah, I wouldn't be too concerned about that. I'd agree with geysir; Paddy doesn't need to explain himself to anyone. He has already volunteered the info you'd like anyway and has put an explanation of his motives into the public domain: http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3942/...gue-says-derry
He simply wanted to play international football when he considered playing for the IFA (like Niall McGinn did when he decided to line out for NI, for example) and had been frustrated by the fact that the League of Ireland was being ignored by Trapattoni - so Paddy clearly felt a chance to play for Ireland would never arrive - whereas Michael O'Neill had formerly managed Shamrock Rovers, so had a direct and intimate knowledge of the league, and had seemingly outlined attractive plans to/for Paddy.
As we know, Paddy was later told by someone in the IFA that he'd need a British passport and he didn't agree to this - he evidently doesn't regard himself as British and wasn't comfortable with the prospect of obtaining such a passport - so it seems that knocked the idea of switching on the head. Nevertheless, it is clear from his words in this and previous posts that his national or cultural allegiance lies with Ireland; his commitment certainly wouldn't be in question if he was called up by Martin O'Neill.
Last edited by DannyInvincible; 14/03/2017 at 12:24 PM.
What was it about the passport? the article says he was waiting for one, that assumes he had applied for one.
What was McEleney's passport nightmare?
We should not assume that he ever applied for a British passport. My understanding is that the "nightmare" or "disaster" (as he described it to the Sentinel) of the situation was that he was told he would need a British passport by the IFA; not that he'd applied for a British passport and was having difficulty obtaining one. If he'd wanted to apply for one, he'd have been able to obtain it very easily.
If it is the same Sentinel article you are quoting that is dated October 2012, he says “I told Noel King my decision and he tried to get me to reconsider but my mind had been made up. I have talked with Michael O’Neill and U21 boss Stephen Robinson a few times and they were telling me their plans for the future and I was very interested. They both spoke very well and I’m just looking forward to trying to be part of that now.” http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk...t-ni-1-4385364
Fast forwrad a year (Sept 2013) and he says "It was just to play international football as quick as I could," he said of his decision to switch international allegiance. "But now the whole passport situation is stopping me which is a nightmare. http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3942/...gue-says-derry
The use of the word "nightmare" is interesting, no? Was it also a nightmare for his brother to switch?
He used the word "disaster" in a video-recorded chat with Kevin McLaughlin of the Sentinel in August of 2013. The video of the interview was published on the Sentinel's website although it doesn't appear to be working any longer. I posted this about it at the time:
Interesting in what sense?
We can't assume that Shane shared the exact same sentiments or sense of cultural stigma or taboo (in relation to personally applying for and/or possessing a British passport) as Paddy, nor can we assume that Shane's then-existing circumstances (in terms of what passport or passports he may or may not already have had in his possession) were identical to the circumstances of Paddy, as the holder of just an Irish passport, when he decided to switch to the IFA. (Check your PMs.)
A British passport nightmare?
this would do it for me.
On Nolan this morning -
'Morally poor' - NI manager Michael O'Neill hits out over Republic 'poaching' young players
https://audioboom.com/posts/5705488-...-young-players
"FAI were morally poor in their pursuit of a young player"
Once you get past the past the subtext of O'Neill's ungainly pedophile connotations, it was a decent report.
Chris Donnelly commentator managed to get his word in
"O'Neill needs to watch the language he uses"
"The notion that players are being poached is wrong" ("lads are perfectly entitled, ruled upon by CAS. to represent the south").
"There is the notion that NI owns these lads, they don't"
"The 2nd problem that O'Neill has is hypocrisy". (no need to list examples used and Danny already has a bulging file)
Its actually still very surprising that various reps of the NI team and association can trot this tired old stuff out and not get challenged on what they are saying and what they are insinuating. The rules and law are very clear on this point.
This right for soccer players was specifically negotiated during the Good Friday Agreement, right Danny?
Seriously though, if the IFA still cant retain young players who identify as "Irish" (as opposed to Northern Irish or British) after their most successful period since the early to mid 80's then they need to look internally and ask if they are doing all they can to make the experience one that these kids just cant "walk away from". And they very well might be - at which point they need to accept that certain players will always have a stronger affiliation with the Irish team and will likely seize the opportunity - should it arise. Being a Moaning Michael wont fix anything though! Sad!
A better, albeit brief, treatment of the matter than I was expecting for a show on the perennially-misinformed/misinforming BBC.
Steve Beacom, although a fan of NI (I think), gave a fair enough outline of the situation, and Chris Donnelly spoke very well on the matter, as ever; he was informed, debunked the misleading "poaching" narrative (by pointing out it was a matter of legitimate entitlement and choice for the players concerned) and also highlighted Michael O'Neill and the IFA's hypocrisy (with specific mention of Johnny Gorman switching from FAI to IFA and Michael O'Neill once trying to convince Sean Scannell to switch to the IFA four months after his last appearance for our under-21s).
Last edited by DannyInvincible; 14/03/2017 at 1:28 PM.
I think Chris' emphatic statement that the IFA think they own these players was the best line and one that goes to the heart of the matter.
Noel King strikes back: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sp...-35535864.html
Noel King speaks sense and clears up a lot of nonsense. McEneff's father contacted the FAI although King confirms that McAneff never actually switched in the end as the fact he played for NI's under-21s would have rendered him unavailable for our under-21s in the same competition.
I'm stunned though at the usually-reliable and insightful Dan McDonnell citing "the FAI's interpretation of the Good Friday Agreement, supported by FIFA" as meaning that "any player born north of the border can opt to throw in his lot with the Republic".
The cringe worthy elements in the BT article have been edited for some reason and it alters the effect.
eg in the last line
"and King insisted that the FAI are doing nothing wrong."
A denial is tagged onto King, and placed in such a way as to sound similar to a denial usually used by tax avoiding criminal masterminds
Here is the Indo version of that article about the row that rumbles
Last edited by geysir; 16/03/2017 at 1:33 PM.
https://twitter.com/McDonnellDan/sta...88587467399169
His response on Twitter above.
Imagine the Bellylaugh taking the side of the IFA... madness! INM need to put manners on them.
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
Happy with King's response. Made some salient points. In particular re the traffic going the other way (FAI to IFA).
McEneff situation is quite up in the air. You would have to imagine if he improves to a level of senior international that he has one clear first choice. If NI move in the meantime then he has an issue on his hands. Interesting to learn his aul man is a Dub. Had assumed McEneff was a northern name (which it still probably is but via Dublin in this case).
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