Jamie O'Hara

[Bungle]

I loved lads like Townsend and Aldo but if they had been asked to play for England they would've jumped at the chance. I even seem to remember Razor saying that he would've loved to have played for Scotland if asked. The fact is that back then they weren't asked by the equivalent programme (Saint and Greavsie or football focus) about what their intentions of international football were because neither would've have been close to the English team before they declared for us.
Andy went on to being a top class player who would have won many caps for England and Aldo went on to being one of the best goalscorers in Europe but they wouldn't have been close to Robson's radar at the time when they decided to throw in their lot with us.
I respect Jamie's honesty if anything and good luck to him if he declares for them. If he declares for us, then we have one hell of a committed player.

[Yard of Pace]

Charles N'Zogbia who's been doing great things at left-midfield for Wigan all season is now eligible for England. The lads on Football Weekly were speculating on a potential call-up.
I'd really enjoy the idea of a Frenchman declaring for England, and in turn helping to prompt an Englishman to declare for Ireland! Well, not really, but it'd be an interesting one.

[tetsujin1979]

Capello has already said he won't call up Almunia, who also qualifies under residency, so he's unlikely to call up N'Zogbia

[Charlie Darwin]

But Almunia is worse than all of the keepers in and around the England squad.

[ArdeeBhoy]

I even seem to remember Razor saying that he would've loved to have played for Scotland if asked. The fact is that back then they weren't asked by the equivalent programme (Saint and Greavsie or football focus) about what their intentions of international football were because neither would've have been close to the English team before they declared for us.

Know 3 lads who were with him at school in North London, who said he always wanted to play for Ireland when he pitched up at their place as a 12 year old. They claim the sometimes overt hostility towards people of Irish roots at the time was a contributory factor. And he was far from the best player in the school....
Met Ray'o last year, who laughed when I asked that question. Though to be fair we're talking nearly 40 years ago!

[tetsujin1979]

But Almunia is worse than all of the keepers in and around the England squad.
James is 39, and will probably retire soon, Green is injury prone, and Joe Hart doesn't have the experience yet.
They could do worse than Almunia.

[Charlie Darwin]

Green's been injured less than Almunia over the past couple of years. They could do worse than Almunia, but I don't think he's as good an option as Robinson, Green, Hart or even Foster, who's average enough too. Fair enough, he's better than Carson, but so is everyone else.

[Yard of Pace]

Capello has already said he won't call up Almunia, who also qualifies under residency, so he's unlikely to call up N'Zogbia

Is Capello staying on after the World Cup? I'd fancy the inevitable England World Cup media/WAG circus to make him decide being England manager isn't all that much fun.

(Sorry, didn't wish to turn this thread into a discussion about England!)

[Bungle]

Know 3 lads who were with him at school in North London, who said he always wanted to play for Ireland when he pitched up at their place as a 12 year old. They claim the sometimes overt hostility towards people of Irish roots at the time was a contributory factor. And he was far from the best player in the school....
Met Ray'o last year, who laughed when I asked that question. Though to be fair we're talking nearly 40 years ago!

Andy's gone up in my estimation even further if that's true! What an absolute legend:cool:

[paul_oshea]

is he not on about ray houghton there bungle?!

[Deckydee]

Just found this - Im as fast as the RTE website somtimes :o

http://www.tribune.ie/sport/article/2010/mar/07/trap-goes-out-shopping-for-new-recruits/

Interesting:

Trapattoni has set a deadline for the Tottenham player

[geysir]

"Trapattoni has set a deadline for the Tottenham player"

Makes total sense imo but there is nothing in the article to to even remotely support the notion that Trap has set a deadline.
And certainly if there is a deadline, it has not been imparted to OHara

[dr_peepee]

"Trapattoni has set a deadline for the Tottenham player"

Makes total sense imo but there is nothing in the article to to even remotely support the notion that Trap has set a deadline.
And certainly if there is a deadline, it has not been imparted to OHara

True. Trapp has laid it all out for him in so many words though.

He tries to keep his options open and plays the humble card citing his honour of represent either, then totally negates it by his other comments re: waiting til after the world cup and thinking he's good enouigh based on current form. Not the brightest bulb in the box really. The less said easiest mended should be the stance of somone in his situation, even if it is what he truly feels.

[Deckydee]

Message to Mod: - Could we start a poll on this?

[ArdeeBhoy]

Andy's gone up in my estimation even further if that's true! What an absolute legend:cool:

Houghton was who I meant. Another mate played against Townsend in the Cubs and said he was sh*t-hot. Scored 8 of his teams 11 goals.

[Bungle]

Houghton was who I meant. Another mate played against Townsend in the Cubs and said he was sh*t-hot. Scored 8 of his teams 11 goals.

Alright sorry about that!well razor has gone up in my estimation so:cool:

[Adrock]

Eh, we're not a hormonal teenager, we're a football team representing Ireland. O'Hara considers himself English AND Irish. If we were his first choice he'd need his head examined. We've been to one World Cup since 1994. We narrowly beat San Marino and were trashed by Cyprus. We played some of the worst football matches I've ever seen in the last qualifying series. Stop being so precious and accept it. If he didn't feel Irish he wouldn't even consider playing for us. But he does. If he decides to come then we should accept him with open arms. We're not pursuing him now, we invited him, he can make his mind up later.

How exactly can you 'feel :clover:Irish' if you've never lived here? I would assume he fancies playing for England because he happens to be English. He also may give consideration to playing for us as a second choice as we are his only alternative option that I am aware of for playing international football which any decent player aims to do. Its nothing to do with sentimental yearnings for the land of your ancestors - do you really think that's how footballers feel?
O'Hara just happens to be in that grey area of not being quite good enough to be sure of making the England squad but too good for immediately settling for option B. This explains the stance he is taking which is perfectly reasonable. Personally I think its a wonder we have become a competative international team recently for the first time probably ever, whilst only minimaly exploiting the granny rule and I think it would be quite sad to be going back up that alley again. We've proved we don't need to do it as so many folks assume so lets gain a bit more respect by qualifying for a tournament with an Irish team, not an English team please.

[third policeman]

How exactly can you 'feel :clover:Irish' if you've never lived here? . We've proved we don't need to do it as so many folks assume so lets gain a bit more respect by qualifying for a tournament with an Irish team, not an English team please.


So what are you saying here? We tell the likes of Kevin Kilbane, we dont want you because you are English.

[Yard of Pace]

How exactly can you 'feel :clover:Irish' if you've never lived here?

Apologies, I stopped reading after this line.

[Deckydee]

Found this today - http://www.dangerhere.com/something-not-right-about-jamie-ohara-and-second-choice-ireland/

[Adrock]

So what are you saying here? We tell the likes of Kevin Kilbane, we dont want you because you are English.

Don't have a problem with an occasional individual like Kilbane who has Irish parents, grown up with an ambition to play for Ireland , as the story goes, being picked . If you've grown up representing England and made clear that's your country of choice or your only qualification is through one of yer grandpops then as a matter of national pride we shouldn't be looking to pick them.
There are very few players - only Finnan springs to mind - who can genuinely claim to be both Irish and English.
A squad with a couple of English born players with Irish parentage who have never chosen to represent England at any level is still an Irish squad. A squad with an actual majority of players who qualify on on the granny rule as it once was is just a national embarassment and we shouldn't be looking to return to them days. Its like cheating on an exam where you've copied your neighbours work; the results might look good next to your name but it'd feel a whole lot better if you'd got the marks using your own abilities.

[Yard of Pace]

Found this today - http://www.dangerhere.com/something-not-right-about-jamie-ohara-and-second-choice-ireland/


Do fans really care what the previous nationality of the players who score the goals is as long as qualify?

O'Hara's already said "I'm English AND Irish" so for me it's a non-issue.

[Colbert Report]

I want Ireland to qualify for major tournaments as much as anyone but we should be doing it with players that want to play for us. I was born in Canada to Irish parents but I'd give my left ball to play a minute on the pitch for Ireland as I grew up there watching the great team of the early/mid nineties. I have no problem with players from other countries playing for us, but I do have a problem with selecting a guy who clearly would rather play for England. See you later Jamie O'Hara, good luck to you, no hard feelings but frankly I'd rather not have you in the team.

[rebelmusic]

I think to be fair you're being a bit harsh. Too many people here would still accept back stephan ireland but would complain about o'hara who at least has uttered the words "i'm irish" in some form or another.

If he truly feels both english and irish, then he would be insane to have ireland as his first choice, be reasonable folks

[greendeiseboy]

There are very few players - only Finnan springs to mind - who can genuinely claim to be both Irish and English.


Am I missing something here - Steve Finnan was born in Limerick!!

[Charlie Darwin]

He grew up in England.

[greendeiseboy]

He grew up in England.


Right, bear with me on this one - so the fact that he was born here, plays for us - just happened to be brought up there - makes him part English - Nah, dont get it

[Adrock]

Right, bear with me on this one - so the fact that he was born here, plays for us - just happened to be brought up there - makes him part English - Nah, dont get it

Nationality isn't just a racial issue. Where you 'happen to be brought up' is generally recognised as quite a significant criteria - perhaps the most important - in defining your national identity. Hence Patrick Viera being French and Senegalese, Ibrahimovic Swedish and Bosnian , Finnan Irish and English .....etc

[dr_peepee]

O'Hara's already said "I'm English AND Irish" so for me it's a non-issue.

I'd accept the ""I'm English AND Irish" thing from a youngfella torn between one or the other. Perfectly understandable

He's more or less said "I'll be Irish if the English don't want me" though. That's the difference. Think it, but have enough respect/sense not to say it, at the very least.

[Charlie Darwin]

Right, bear with me on this one - so the fact that he was born here, plays for us - just happened to be brought up there - makes him part English - Nah, dont get it
Kind of like that great English international Paul McGrath. I have no idea whether Finnan self-identifies as English, but he surely feels some affinity for the place.

[greendeiseboy]

Kind of like that great English international Paul McGrath. I have no idea whether Finnan self-identifies as English, but he surely feels some affinity for the place.

Having an affinity to a place is different to what Ardrock is suggesting i.e that Finnan sees himself as English as well as Irish. I've never heard this being said about him.

He might have an affinity to the place but I doubt he sees himself as English.

http://keeganlee1.com/stevefinnan.html


There are very few players - only Finnan springs to mind - who can genuinely claim to be both Irish and English.

[Charlie Darwin]

Well the point isn't about whether he does or not, it's that he could claim to be both if he felt strongly about it.

[Colbert Report]

Anyone watching the Liverpool/Portsmouth match today? It is 3-0 Liverpool at half time. Marc Wilson is marking Torres, Finnan is on Babel.

Jamie O'Hara is definitely the best player that Portsmouth have, and by a wide margin too. He's doing all the little things right - getting into open space, slowing the play down to allow time for his players to re-position, and he's made a few delightful long ball passes out to the wings. He'd certainly slot straight into our team if he were to make himself available - Keith Andrews would have to make way.

[Deckydee]

http://blog.ireland.com/itb_soccerpb?entry=199

........Not only is he a player that Ireland can easily do without, it is never a good sign when a player needs to be convinced to play for a team. To suggest that he is using Ireland as a fall-back option is disrespectful to the Irish fans and the Irish players that would jump at the chance of lining out for their country.

........But hopefully by then this situation will be sorted out and Trapattoni will only be picking players that have a desire to play for Ireland.

[Yard of Pace]

http://blog.ireland.com/itb_soccerpb?entry=199

........Not only is he a player that Ireland can easily do without, it is never a good sign when a player needs to be convinced to play for a team. To suggest that he is using Ireland as a fall-back option is disrespectful to the Irish fans and the Irish players that would jump at the chance of lining out for their country.

........But hopefully by then this situation will be sorted out and Trapattoni will only be picking players that have a desire to play for Ireland.

In only the first few lines that piece includes "chase" "trying so hard" and "begging him". Are we doing that? I don't think so. The offer is there and if he decides not to bother waiting for England to call he can play for us as he also feels Irish.
Seems fair enough to me.

[TrapAPony]

We should get as many good players as we can. Too many average players in the Irish squad at the moment IMO.

[tetsujin1979]

I get the impression that Trapattoni cares little for the ideal nationality, he just wants the best players for the squad. If that means waiting for O'Hara to make his mind up, or for Stephen Ireland to change his mind, then he'll do exactly that for the greater good of the quality of the team.

Incidentally, this is what I had hoped for by appointing an "outsider" to the game here. We needed someone who would come in with a fresh pair of eyes, and know exactly what would be done to get the best team on the pitch and would come without any of the baggage that appointing someone from within the Irish football setup would bring.

[Gnobe]

Nationality isn't just a racial issue. Where you 'happen to be brought up' is generally recognised as quite a significant criteria - perhaps the most important - in defining your national identity. Hence Patrick Viera being French and Senegalese, Ibrahimovic Swedish and Bosnian , Finnan Irish and English .....etc

What happens when you leave a country at 14? Or that you've been that to two different schools in two different countries?

I was born in England, left there when I was 14, moved to Omagh, did my gcse's here, a levels here, and now a student at queens in belfast. I've been here for 10 years now almost I certainly regard myself as a local here. England's not my home anymore and hasn't been since I was about 14.

[Charlie Darwin]

I think the major point is that we need to be producing top-quality players in Ireland, and I think most people would agree that qualifying for one tournament every decade isn't going to inspire youngsters to become great players, especially given the recent success of the rugby team. If bringing in a few O'Haras, even as squad players, helps us reach a major tournament, then I think it's worth it.

[rebelmusic]

To be honest, if o'hara comes in and helps us qualify and do well in the euro's all the complainers will do a u-turn. Charlie's post is probably the most sensible - and o'hara has a decent ammount of irish in him. I wonder how much of this has to do with old irish/english rivalries. If he was half-dutch, half-irish would anyone be complaining? Dont think they would, in fact they'd probably make an online petition asking him to play for ireland

[dr_peepee]

If he was half-dutch, half-irish would anyone be complaining? Dont think they would, in fact they'd probably make an online petition asking him to play for ireland

I dunno. There was an online petition to Kevin Nolan instigated by posters on here some years ago.

I defended Clinton when he took a similar stance back in 2001. But with the O'Hara "package" something doesn't sit right. His comments alone regarding his international options say alot. Not in the slightest bit diplomatic when it comes to appeasing his possible "2nd option", shows a lack of common sense. Also has an inflated opinion of his England options given he can't get into his club squad ahead of Huddlestone and Jenas. The glamour model girlfriend too. I seen her on big brother (I said seen not watched there's a difference). The reason he's on loan is probbly cos he can't handle the fact she's been passed around the Spurs dressing room like a can of Deep Heat.

I dunno. I can't see him being an asset to the squad long term. He'll be missing friendlies and faking injuries before you know it. Storming out of squads if he doesn't start. There's just something a bit Chav about him. Put it this way. If tomorrow Keith Andrews was dropped for O'Hara, Andrews would be snapping but would bust a gut to get back in. However if O'Hara was dropped for Andrews I foresee a "Stick your team up your hole. I'm better than him." scenario...

Just a hunch..

[The Fly]

Incidentally, this is what I had hoped for by appointing an "outsider" to the game here. We needed someone who would come in with a fresh pair of eyes, and know exactly what would be done to get the best team on the pitch and would come without any of the baggage that appointing someone from within the Irish football setup would bring.

If only we could do the same for the under 21's.

[geysir]

Even though both are eligible under the same criteria, I can't say OHara gets the juices going in the way that McCarthy does.
If the team has a desperate need, I would turn a convenient blind eye to a deft rabbit trick from Trap.
For the greater good and all that.
But I'd expect Trap to be judicious and intolerant of any hanky panky.
As it stands, i'd say he has put O'Hara on the back burner.

[TrapAPony]

He's not everyone's cup of tea but Kevin Nolan got Championship Player of the Year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8568456.stm

[SilkCut]

I dunno. There was an online petition to Kevin Nolan instigated by posters on here some years ago.

I defended Clinton when he took a similar stance back in 2001. But with the O'Hara "package" something doesn't sit right. His comments alone regarding his international options say alot. Not in the slightest bit diplomatic when it comes to appeasing his possible "2nd option", shows a lack of common sense. Also has an inflated opinion of his England options given he can't get into his club squad ahead of Huddlestone and Jenas. The glamour model girlfriend too. I seen her on big brother (I said seen not watched there's a difference). The reason he's on loan is probbly cos he can't handle the fact she's been passed around the Spurs dressing room like a can of Deep Heat.

I dunno. I can't see him being an asset to the squad long term. He'll be missing friendlies and faking injuries before you know it. Storming out of squads if he doesn't start. There's just something a bit Chav about him. Put it this way. If tomorrow Keith Andrews was dropped for O'Hara, Andrews would be snapping but would bust a gut to get back in. However if O'Hara was dropped for Andrews I foresee a "Stick your team up your hole. I'm better than him." scenario...

Just a hunch..

It's time we stopped idealising football and football players, they are almost all selfish money grabbing fools now. The days of loyalty are over, they ended at club level a long time ago when money flooded the game and now it has crept into the inernational arena, we are now faced with the reality that players will consider their options carefully before making a decision on who to play for. The days of just playing for the country of your birth was your only option are gone especially for players of a certain level ie. O'Hara and Nolan - good players but well behind whats on offer for their birth countries, O'Hara will decide to play for Ireland IMO as he is nowhere near the quality of Milner, Gerrard, Lampard, Cole, Carrick, Hargreaves, Barry, Wright - Phillips or any of the many options England have in midfield, his only plus point for them is the fact he is a leftie but it would appear that Adam Johnson is also a better player. Had he kept his thoughts to himself I would be more inclined to accept him playing for us however his honesty does suggest that he will be 100% commited to whoever he plays for. He does fulfil only 2 of the criteria I mentioned earlier in the thread though, he would improve the team and he is qualified but does he want to play for us?

Why do people keep mentioning his girlfriend? Why is that important?

As a side point Steve Finnan is IRISH not Irish and English, he represented us at every international level never even thought to play for anyone else.

[Charlie Darwin]

Why are people so offended by the idea Finnan might regard himself as part-English?

[Colbert Report]

He's not everyone's cup of tea but Kevin Nolan got Championship Player of the Year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8568456.stm

Surely this can't be right, isn't there still two months left in the season?

[Razors left peg]

Surely this can't be right, isn't there still two months left in the season?

well when u consider that the forms for the PFA footballer of the year had to be submitted by xmas(not sure if thats still the case) its not that surprising

[Dodge]

well when u consider that the forms for the PFA footballer of the year had to be submitted by xmas(not sure if thats still the case) its not that surprising

That was the Footbakll Writers ||Award in England. PFA voting was done in April

The Football writers have chnaged (after they gave it to Ginola the year United won the treble)

[endabob1]

But Ginola won both awards that year because he was the best player in the league that year, regardless of who won what.