Kevin Nolan anyone?

[ifk101]

Read carefully. The link is not between being Irish and being Catholic, its about the culture of certain communities in North Liverpool. If Nolan did not have Irish connections then he would not be eligible, but he does and he is! Not really sure why you are getting so wound up over this, but you are wrong on two counts. During the Stan episode it was down to eligibility, the FAI would not have explored this issue had Nolan been willing to consider playing for us. Secondly, I trust my colleague and on all the available evidence he knows a great deal more about Nolan than you do.

I don't know why you assume I'm getting wound up about this. You think it's worth considering Nolan (for the third time) - I don't. His eligbility was looked into under McCarthy's reign - he wasn't eligible then. His eligibility was looked into again under Stan's reign - Stan made it known he was interested in Nolan, Nolan made it know he wasn't interested in Ireland, it subsequently became known again he wasn't eligible. As you seem to have no konwledge of this, I'm doubtful to the assertion you have made in the last sentence of your post. BTW how big a Dutch community is there in Liverpool?

[third policeman]

I don't know why you assume I'm getting wound up about this. You think it's worth considering Nolan (for the third time) - I don't. His eligbility was looked into under McCarthy's reign - he wasn't eligible then. His eligibility was looked into again under Stan's reign - Stan made it known he was interested in Nolan, Nolan made it know he wasn't interested in Ireland, it subsequently became known again he wasn't eligible. As you seem to have no konwledge of this, I'm doubtful to the assertion you have made in the last sentence of your post. BTW how big a Dutch community is there in Liverpool?

I would like to see evidence of Nolan's alleged "lack of interest" at the time of the Stan / FAI enquiry into eligibility. I would suspect that the Dutch community in Liverpool was slightly bigger than the Irish community in Gothenberg, and generally more civil as well.

[geysir]

Are you totally naive or on a wind up?
The point is, he has not expressed any interest at all, he did not take advantage of that window like Jon Macken

In all the 25 years the Nolan thread has been running, the closest we got to reading something about 'Nolan talking about declaring for Ireland' was an article Stutts cunningly posted, which hooked the board for a couple of hours on April 1st.

[drummerboy]

People are forgetting that Nolan was part of the Irish U18 squad under Brian Kerry. On the day of a game against England I think, he decided he did not want to represent the Republic of Ireland and asked to go home. I certainly don't hold it against him for wanting to represent the country of his birth but I think he made his decision then and the matter should have been closed then.

[as_i_say]

People are forgetting that Nolan was part of the Irish U18 squad under Brian Kerry. On the day of a game against England I think, he decided he did not want to represent the Republic of Ireland and asked to go home. I certainly don't hold it against him for wanting to represent the country of his birth but I think he made his decision then and the matter should have been closed then.

Never heard that one before! If thats the case then really its the same as dave kitson. its pretty obvious he has no interest in us and why would he if he considers himself English, and if he did drop out of our underage setup for that reason then its to his credit.

Clinton Morrisson on the other hand...:mad:

[tetsujin1979]

People are forgetting that Nolan was part of the Irish U18 squad under Brian Kerry. On the day of a game against England I think, he decided he did not want to represent the Republic of Ireland and asked to go home. I certainly don't hold it against him for wanting to represent the country of his birth but I think he made his decision then and the matter should have been closed then.
did some research on this, he was called into the U18's under Kerr for a friendly VS Switerland
from http://www.kickinmagazine.ie/u18squad1392000.htm

Bolton's Kevin Nolan, Manchester United's Paul Tierney and QPR's Brian Fitzgerald have been called up for the first timebut for some reason he didn't play, from http://www.kickinmagazine.ie/kevinnolan31102000.htm

Brian Kerr called Nolan up for Ireland's friendly game against the Swiss u18 team at the end of September. But the player did not get a chance to shine on the pitch so his options are still open also from that link Allardyce is quoted as saying

I know the lad and his dad would prefer that he played for England and they are well aware of the situation

[drummerboy]

AFAIK he asked not play and went back to his club.

[Drumcondra 69er]

did some research on this, he was called into the U18's under Kerr for a friendly VS Switerland
from http://www.kickinmagazine.ie/u18squad1392000.htm
but for some reason he didn't play, from http://www.kickinmagazine.ie/kevinnolan31102000.htm
also from that link Allardyce is quoted as saying

Allardyce has previous for pushing dual qualified kids towards England, he made Kilbane attend a youth or under 21's training camp while he was at Preston, Kilbane says he went along in his Ireland shirt. Players are worth more in England if there English internationals, no doubt about that. I wouldn't hold teh yout thing against Nolan, it's the fact that he had teh chance after that during the amnesty and didn't commit that I'd have an issue with.

[third policeman]

I cant honestly remember what the terms of the initial amnesty were. I think it applied to players under the age of 21. I dont know whether he would have been covered by that amnesty or not, but it is the case that his eligibility was subsequently investigated by the FAI when Staunton was in charge and at that point he was not eligible. Dont think anyone has any doubts that for whatever reason (his father, Allardyce, his own sense of identity) his first preferance was England. In this sense he is probably not any different to Townsend, Aldridge, Robinson, Morrison etc etc. It is now the case that he is eligible, and unlikely to make it into the England setup (partly due to competition from other Irish qualified players like Noble and Milner). I just wonder whether our management has made any attempts to talk to Nolan and see whether he wishes to avail of his changed circumstances. I dont think we pay them to make value judgements about people's Irishness, their job is to improve the team and pick the best players.

[ifk101]

I dont think we pay them to make value judgements about people's Irishness, their job is to improve the team and pick the best players.

The Football Association of Ireland

"The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body of football in Ireland. Our game is being developed and supported by the FAI and its associates; clubs, affiliates and leagues, in every townland, city street and community across Ireland, in line with our mission to foster, develop and promote football.

Our goal is to continue to increase participation in all sections of the community through our members, voluntary and executive, working with the many stakeholders who enjoy and support our sport."

No - nothing there about making "value judgements about people's Irishness".

Nothing there either about chasing Englishmen journeymen with Irish ancestry throughout their active playing careers until they get a yes.

You just need to accept that not everybody with a grain of Irish ancestry wants to play for Ireland. Let's focus on those that do, eh?

[third policeman]

You just need to accept that not everybody with a grain of Irish ancestry wants to play for Ireland. Let's focus on those that do, eh?


Actually IFK I am not talking about "everybody with a grain of Irish ancestry" I am talking about one individual who once upon a time was actually a member of an Irish international squad, is now eligible to play for us and is better than most of our other central midfield options. I kind of get the point that you would not like to see him selected, and think that he would decline the offer in any case. That's an entirely valid opinion. Now learn to express it without questioning the intelligence, impuning the motivation or consistently misrepresenting those who might disagree with you.

[DeLorean]

Well said TP, think you must have upset IFK in a past life or something:D or else Kevin Nolan did!!

[youngirish]

Does anybody else think it's a bit sad that people are desperate to chase run of the mill English footballers to represent our proud and great nation?

Footballers who were never good enough to represent their home country and who have refused opportunites to represent us in the past?

I personally would much rather see us not qualifying for major tournaments than have 11 english players on the pitch in such tournaments with little or no affinity to Ireland.

It makes a laughing stock of our team on the international stage when it's full of England B players.

[Colbert Report]

Close this thread please.

[Paddy Garcia]

It did plenty of harm to our underage structure if you ask me.
I don't think it's too much to ask that the National Team is made up of players proud to be there rather than the best reject team we could cobble together.

Someone like Kitson mentioned above deserves more credit than Cascarino in my opinion.

Interesting - but I don't think this is right. I think that team , and the success they secured, inspired at least one generation. And I believe they were all proud to pull on a green jersey- unlike some of our current home grown crop(see other very long thread - S Ireland).

If you want to take a look at what has harmed our underage structure - you could start with the - home grown & proud - manager of our U21's

[DeLorean]

Close this thread please.

If you don't like the coffee....stay out of Starbucks

[tetsujin1979]

DeLorean, it's been done to death, on more than one occasion, I'd be in favour of locking the thread unless Nolan indicates that he wants to play for Ireland

[boovidge]

Nothing new has been said and I doubt he will ever represent us but the fact remains that he is as available for selection as Robbie Keane or Richard Dunne and therefore a thread concerning him is entirely reasonable imo.

[DeLorean]

DeLorean, it's been done to death, on more than one occasion, I'd be in favour of locking the thread unless Nolan indicates that he wants to play for Ireland

There are so many threads that I don't bother with, as I know by the title I have no interest. Fair enough, Kevin Nolan and Ireland isn't really a hot topic at the moment, but with the recent change to the international player rulings and the form of Nolan, I don't think it's that unreasonable that somebody would want to discuss it further. Even if I did, I would probably stay clear of the debate, not call for everybody to shut up about it.

[Acornvilla]

well im available for selection too i want a thread!!

[ifk101]

.... who once upon a time was actually a member of an Irish international squad

You were not aware of this until tetsujin1979 posted his research into the matter and contrary to what you are suggesting, it once again highlights that Nolan doesn't want to play for Ireland.


and is better than most of our other central midfield options.

"our" ;). I think we have at least 6 players that are better than Nolan (arguably more) and all 6 want to play for Ireland.


Now learn to express it without questioning the intelligence, impuning the motivation or consistently misrepresenting those who might disagree with you.

My apologies Third Policeman. But it's quite simple; he's doesn't bring anything extra to the squad and, most importantly, he doesn't want to play for Ireland. He has had approximately a decade to demonstrate some interest in playing - which he has not. I don't need to question your intelligence, your motivation or misrepresent you as your continued posting on this matter demonstrate you are more than capable of doing that yourself.

[third policeman]

You were not aware of this until tetsujin1979 posted his research into the matter and contrary to what you are suggesting, it once again highlights that Nolan doesn't want to play for Ireland.



"our" ;). I think we have at least 6 players that are better than Nolan (arguably more) and all 6 want to play for Ireland.



My apologies Third Policeman. But it's quite simple; he's doesn't bring anything extra to the squad and, most importantly, he doesn't want to play for Ireland. He has had approximately a decade to demonstrate some interest in playing - which he has not. I don't need to question your intelligence, your motivation or misrepresent you as your continued posting on this matter demonstrate you are more than capable of doing that yourself.


Actually I was aware of Nolan's involvement in a previous Irish squad. I think you are confusing what I know with what you dont know.

Disregarding the ironic emphasis on the word "our" which I assume is another questioning of my "true loyalty to the cause". I would love to know who these six superior players actually are. You might also want to let Trapp know, because he evidently is not picking them.

And finally, I suggest you look up the meaning of the word apologise before you use it next time. As far as I can recollect it does not mean the futile repetition of the original slur.

I think our exchange on the issue of Nolan has run its course. If you want to pursue this spat can I suggest we find another channel that does not subject the readers of this forum to such inane point scoring.

[irishfan86]

Nolan is a better player than any of our central options apart from S. Reid, and even that is debatable.

He was the key player that helped Bolton qualify for Europe under Allardyce, and has the ability to be a match winner.

Whelan, Andrews, Miller, and Gibson lack this ability to make an impact on games that Nolan has.

The issue is that he doesn't seem to feel Irish, and that's fair enough. But to claim that Whelan or Andrews are better players than Nolan is rubbish.

Nolan performed poorly due to injuries last year, but now that he is fully fit, his class is showing in the Championship.

[ifk101]

I think you are confusing what I know with what you dont know.

It's already been established that you know what your mate at work tells you.


As far as I can recollect it does not mean the futile repetition of the original slur.

:D


I think our exchange on the issue of Nolan has run its course.

That's one thing I can agree with you on.


If you want to pursue this spat can I suggest we find another channel

Just use the ignore list option, thanks. :D