Jamie O'Hara

[Acornvilla]

I'm almost certain I read before that he threw his hat in with Scotland..
yep he said the same thing about three years ago i think at the time i heard he can play for wales aswell

[seanfhear]

At the moment he is not playing well enough for the Isle of Mann:p

[elroy]

Funny how he wasnt (and certain others who recently have shown an interest) declaring for us during the Stan era. Surely hes not just attempting to jump on the bandwagon of a team on the up. :eek:

[TrapAPony]

Anyone here have any ''inside'' info as to whether O'Hara, Nolan, Noble, Naughton etc. are any way near to declaring for us or not??

[SilkCut]

Call this boy up now! I'd hate us to lose out on him (a la Tim Cahill). Could be a real prospect!


In fairness we didn't miss out on Cahill, he played for American Samoa while he was playing junior football in Australia, it would have been some pretty impressive scouting to have seen him then! He tried to play for us but FIFA said no in 2002, then they changed some rule to allow him play for Australia - something to do with the Pacific Islands territories being linked to Australia and New Zealand, not sure exactly what. I am the first to criticize the FAI but this one was not their fault.

As for McSheffery? Not a chance, exact same as Jon Macken and Jon Goodman, would make no impact what so ever.

[Brendan 82]

Anyone know what happened to that young guy from Montserrat? Think he plays for Udine , grandson of an Irish nun or something

[tetsujin1979]

Anyone know what happened to that young guy from Montserrat? Think he plays for Udine , grandson of an Irish nun or something
it was a hoax

[seanfhear]

it was a hoax

The grandson of a hoax. Where is the Irish connection.

[bwagner]

I think we need to look at Simon Cox because we are really over relying on Keane
Darren Ambrose- as he is a free scoring midfielder for a below par palace team. We need to get more goals from midfield.
O 'Hara- Talented with prem exp and can play in a few different roles.
Matthew Kilgallon - will be back in the premiership next year and had bags of games for a young defender 23/24 – Dunne is not getting any younger.

I would like to get a young at John Joe Shelvey but I don’t think he is interested.

[irishultra]

is shelvey an irish surname? i heard about that guy but i wonder maby overhyped.

[The Scientist]

Have to say I’m totally against all these players wanting to play for us now! I hate the granny rule and I firmly believe that anyone who plays for the republic should have either (a) been born in this country (b) full Irish citizen after living here for 5 years

No players shud be playing for Ireland through parents, grandparents and great grandparents. Ledger, Kilbane, McGeady and the likes should play for their countries e.g. Scotland and England!

[livehead1]

Have to say I’m totally against all these players wanting to play for us now! I hate the granny rule and I firmly believe that anyone who plays for the republic should have either (a) been born in this country (b) full Irish citizen after living here for 5 years

No players shud be playing for Ireland through parents, grandparents and great grandparents. Ledger, Kilbane, McGeady and the likes should play for their countries e.g. Scotland and England!

Tell me you're joking. You hate the granny rule yet you are quite content for a Brazilian living in Dublin for 5 years to play for Ireland.

[endabob1]

Naughton may be going back on loan to Sheff Utd.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1241157/Sheffield-United-bidding-bring-Kyle-Naughton-Spurs-loan.html


Scientist, when Waterford sign a foreign national who is good enough to play for Ireland and pay him enough to stop bigger clubs overseas poaching him and manage to hold on to him for 5 years then we can talk, until then I suggest you get out your history books and read about the pre-Celtic Tiger days of mass emmigration from the country.

[The Scientist]

what i mean by full irish citizen is they are extended family who are irish but the person in question must have lived here for 5 years. simple as!!

as for your history books, tough ****!

[endabob1]

How is an international standard footballer going to live in Ireland for 5 years? Should he commute from Waterford to London, Manchester etc.. in order to earn a living?

I should know better than to get into this but it's about the third time in the last month that one of these threads has been hi-jacked by bigot brigade and it's starting to wear thin

[Mayo Red]

what i mean by full irish citizen is they are extended family who are irish but the person in question must have lived here for 5 years. simple as!!

as for your history books, tough ****!

So what you're saying in effect is that players such as St. Ledger, Kilbane, McGeady etc can't be Irish despite the fact that they have extended Irish family, but that they can become Irish if they have lived in Ireland for 5 years, but only because they have extended Irish family!

Are you for real??????

[paul_oshea]

Thats a bit of a tongue twister there red :D

[greendeiseboy]

Right Scientist....just say for example and seeing as like me you're from Waterford, Noel Hunt, Stephen Hunt, John O'Shea and Jim Beglin - who all live in England and just say have kids who are good enough to play international football but who are born and raised in England because of their father's career then they should play for England................Some hope

[Mayo Red]

Thats a bit of a tongue twister there red :D

Exactly......but hey it ain't my theory!!:D

[Paddy Garcia]

Right Scientist....just say for example and seeing as like me you're from Waterford, Noel Hunt, Stephen Hunt, John O'Shea and Jim Beglin - who all live in England and just say have kids who are good enough to play international football but who are born and raised in England because of their father's career then they should play for England................Some hope

If Stephen Hunt and Noel Hunt have a kid together you'd be lucky to get a half decent player.

[Larssonisghod]

If Stephen Hunt and Noel Hunt have a kid together you'd be lucky to get a half decent player.

he'd do well with the ladies though! :p:p

[greendeiseboy]

If Stephen Hunt and Noel Hunt have a kid together you'd be lucky to get a half decent player.

Wrong in so many ways!!:D

[irishultra]

no to nolan
no to o'hara
no to naughton

all those players turned ireland down, nolan even thought somehow he would make the dutch team lol. o'hara actually played against the irish under-21's and we have coleman, no need for naughton.

my criteria if born abroad:
can't have played for another international team, that includes under 21's, under 18's, under 16's etc...

basically think of kevin kilbane.

[greendeiseboy]

no to nolan
no to o'hara
no to naughton

all those players turned ireland down, nolan even thought somehow he would make the dutch team lol. o'hara actually played against the irish under-21's and we have coleman, no need for naughton.

my criteria if born abroad:
can't have played for another international team, that includes under 21's, under 18's, under 16's etc...

basically think of kevin kilbane.

Have to agree 100% with you on that. The rule change is a joke and but in fairness to the three you have mentioned none of them have ever publically stated to the best of my knowledge that they want to declare for us

[SilkCut]

my criteria if born abroad:
can't have played for another international team, that includes under 21's, under 18's, under 16's etc...

basically think of kevin kilbane.

That's pretty fair in an ideal world, however we don't live in an ideal world so we should all be prepared to accept any player A: Good enough to improve our squad. B: Wants to play for us and C: Qualified to play for us.

How many of us would have turned away Scholes or Rooney had they wanted to play for us? Lets be honest would all of this pedantic arguing have applied in those cases? I can fully understand people not wanting players who turned us down before now getting capped, but I think it is fair enough for players to weigh up their International options and if they want to do that publicly thats fine, they then only have themselves to blame if they end up looking ridiculous a la Vinnie Jones when the fans of the country they eventually play for don't take to them.

If you have Irish blood and you are good enough to play for us then welcome aboard. What if Messi had Irish blood, how ****ed off would we be????

If you don't want Ireland to be successful whilst playing within the rules then you should probably question your Irishness. (Not directed specificly at you IrishUltra.)

[endabob1]

I broadly agree, but I think to disqualify someone because at 15 he played for the country he resided in would be wrong. Ryan Giggs played Schoolboy football for England because he was in school in England but has always said he would never play for anyone other than Wales. I think U21 would be a fairer cut off, by the age of 20 you should know where you stand & if given the opportunity you should pitch your hat in with us at U21 level.
That said exceptions will always need be made, late developers etc,,,,
Personally (and I speak as an emigrant) I'm a lot more comfortable with 1st and 2nd generation players than I am with the Brazilian's popping up in random countries getting a passport one day and running out for the national team the next, that is what is really devaluing international football imo.
Rather than rejecting players born to Irish emigrants we should celebrate them as an intrinsic part of the culture of our country. For century's we have gone to the 4 corners of the world but Irish emigrants that I know still call Ireland home. I like Silk Cut’s criteria
A: Good enough to improve our squad.
B: Wants to play for us and
C: Qualified to play for us.
B is the important one

[SilkCut]

Rather than rejecting players born to Irish emigrants we should celebrate them as an intrinsic part of the culture of our country. For century's we have gone to the 4 corners of the world but Irish emigrants that I know still call Ireland home.

Could not have put it better myself. It would seem that some people really have to go and work and live in another country to really understand what it is to "be Irish" I never really felt it when I lived at home. Now I am acutely aware of where I come from.

[amaccann]

That's pretty fair in an ideal world, however we don't live in an ideal world so we should all be prepared to accept any player A: Good enough to improve our squad. B: Wants to play for us and C: Qualified to play for us.

Why should we be prepared? Has the goal overtaken the purpose in Irish international football? I thought it was once about simply representing your country & doing the best that your pool of players allows. Excuse me for being nostalgic here, but I'd rather see us flounder as constant 3rd seeds than completely give up our ideals. I don't think it should ever be reduced to a glorified club system where anyone can signup, so long as they have had a guinness now and again.

and before anyone points out the Jack Charlton era, no, I was never completely happy with that situation.

[FarBeag]

Just watched the Man City v Portsmouth game on TV this afternoon. Tottenham must have some excellent players in thire midfield if Jamie O’ Hara can’t get a game there. He was superb, best player on the pitch imo.

If this lad want to play for us we should grab him with both hands. I know he has played with Eng U 21s but he is too good to hold that against him.

[TrapAPony]

Just watched the Man City v Portsmouth game on TV this afternoon. Tottenham must have some excellent players in thire midfield if Jamie O’ Hara can’t get a game there. He was superb, best player on the pitch imo.

If this lad want to play for us we should grab him with both hands. I know he has played with Eng U 21s but he is too good to hold that against him.

Saw the game too & I'd agree. He has been playing like that all season for Portsmouth though & should definitely be called up for us. If we could get him, Noble, Cahill etc. we would be flying it.

[leedslad]

I like Silk Cut’s criteria
A: Good enough to improve our squad.
B: Wants to play for us and
C: Qualified to play for us.
B is the important one

Have to disagree here, C has to be the most important one.
Doesn't matter how much he wants to play for us if he
isn't qualified to play for us:D

[superfrank]

My criteria is if he's good enough & better than what we have already then call him in whether he's English, Ethiopian or Venezuelan.
I'd agree with that. I don't care what their reasons for wanting to play for Ireland are, just as long as they are good enough and give it their best.

[Deckydee]

I agree too but what would happen if we ever faced England in a major competition?

[SilkCut]

Why should we be prepared? Has the goal overtaken the purpose in Irish international football? I thought it was once about simply representing your country & doing the best that your pool of players allows. Excuse me for being nostalgic here, but I'd rather see us flounder as constant 3rd seeds than completely give up our ideals. I don't think it should ever be reduced to a glorified club system where anyone can signup, so long as they have had a guinness now and again.

and before anyone points out the Jack Charlton era, no, I was never completely happy with that situation.

Understandable point mate, very understandable but what you described is the ideal situation, one where winning doesn't matter where the taking part is what counts. Football is not like that at any level, if your team is not successful it won't be supported, it wont make any money and the sport itself will suffer. We have to perform to the highest level possible, if that means 2nd and 3rd generation players who cant get a game with their country of birth then so be it.

[SkStu]

a couple of things i wondered when watching Palace v Wolves last night.

1) how the hell is Darren Ambrose white? When people were talking about him i thought he was a black player for some reason. He actually played pretty well too by the way and doesnt look like just a "journeyman" as he has been portrayed here..

2) is the Derry who plays for Palace the same as the Shaun Derry who played (iirc) for the Irish underage teams? Ran the show from midfield last night from what i seen...

[SkStu]

not saying either of these lads should be in the squad, just observations/questions more than anything.

[TrapAPony]

a couple of things i wondered when watching Palace v Wolves last night.

1) how the hell is Darren Ambrose white? When people were talking about him i thought he was a black player for some reason. He actually played pretty well too by the way and doesnt look like just a "journeyman" as he has been portrayed here..

2) is the Derry who plays for Palace the same as the Shaun Derry who played (iirc) for the Irish underage teams? Ran the show from midfield last night from what i seen...

Darren Ambrose is a good player, he's good enough to be playing in the Premiership for someone like Wigan, Wolves etc. 11 goals scored in the Championship this season also and is still only 25. He's good enough to be in the Irish squad considering some of the players there at the moment.


Shaun Derry..if he is eligible..I wouldn't even look at him. He will be 33 at the end of the year.

[irishultra]

Could not have put it better myself. It would seem that some people really have to go and work and live in another country to really understand what it is to "be Irish" I never really felt it when I lived at home. Now I am acutely aware of where I come from.

i'm born and grew up in a foreign country so i know what its like. people like kilbane are fine, mercenaries like andy townsend, houghton clinton morrison, jamie o'hara not so.

i dont even care for nationality, id never say im proud to be from somewhere but what your saying applies to people like kevin kilbane and lee carsley, people for whatever reason despite being born in a foreign country feel irish. that does not apply to the players i mentioned previously like o'hara. they felt english, scottish or a mixture of all 3(morrison)

[TrapAPony]

I don't care what their reasons for wanting to play for Ireland are, just as long as they are good enough and give it their best.

Some excellent points here. :)

[SilkCut]

i'm born and grew up in a foreign country so i know what its like. people like kilbane are fine, mercenaries like andy townsend, houghton clinton morrison, jamie o'hara not so.

i dont even care for nationality, id never say im proud to be from somewhere but what your saying applies to people like kevin kilbane and lee carsley, people for whatever reason despite being born in a foreign country feel irish. that does not apply to the players i mentioned previously like o'hara. they felt english, scottish or a mixture of all 3(morrison)

See where you are coming from but Townsend and Houghton mercenaries? Bit harsh on one of our finest captains and a man who ran himself into the ground in every game he played for us and considered himself Irish enough to turn down a move to Rangers when they were flying. Even Morrison has always given us everything he could, although I admit he did hawk himself about.

[ifk101]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0205/1224263811700.html

"REPUBLIC OF Ireland assistant manager Marco Tardelli said yesterday none of the players in Britain who became eligible to play for the Republic as a result of rule changes made by Fifa at the start of last summer have been approached with a view to accepting a call-up."

[TrapAPony]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0205/1224263811700.html

"REPUBLIC OF Ireland assistant manager Marco Tardelli said yesterday none of the players in Britain who became eligible to play for the Republic as a result of rule changes made by Fifa at the start of last summer have been approached with a view to accepting a call-up."

A member of the FAI told me last week that a number of players from the Premiership & Championship at all age levels have been contacted but due to the sensitive nature of the issue, are unable to disclose the identity of these players at the moment.

[Deckydee]

Seems we are not interested. I dont care either way. I think our squad is ok as it is with some new players coming in, we are fine

Betcha they would have declared if we were going to SA

[Deckydee]

GIOVANNI Trapattoni will stick with a guaranteed Irish policy as he builds a new squad to take on the Euro 2012 qualifiers -- and that means no place for Jamie O'Hara or any other potential recruits available under Fifa's revised eligibility rules....

http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/guaranteed-irish--trap-2053403.html

[TrapAPony]

I personally think it would be ridiculous not to draft in at least 1 or 2 who could make a difference. Then again he has been ridiculous over Andy Reid too.

[centre mid]

The squad we finished the 2010 qualifiers with needs only minor tinkering, both Reids should be back in the fold. Kevin Kilbane might be retired.

[tipplad]

Does anyone remember these comments by trap, Thursday 22-Nov: "Getting a striker is important for us. We have a list of players we are after. We are monitoring the situation and someone on our behalf has asked the players if they want to play with us.
"One or two are not sure because they can also play for the England Under-21s.

"We have a defender, a winger and an attacker lined up but we cannot say who they are just yet."

What is really going on?

[seanfhear]

Does anyone remember these comments by trap, Thursday 22-Nov: "Getting a striker is important for us. We have a list of players we are after. We are monitoring the situation and someone on our behalf has asked the players if they want to play with us.
"One or two are not sure because they can also play for the England Under-21s.

"We have a defender, a winger and an attacker lined up but we cannot say who they are just yet."

What is really going on?
At a guess maybe some of the prospects were not that keen

Sadly playing International football especially for some of the smaller nations may not be as attractive to these players as we think it is

Their "advisors" may point out that there are some drawbacks to playing international football.

Some clubs might be happier if you are not playing International football, certain amount of travelling, risk of injury, if things do not go well you can get a lot of flak for not performing at International level.

[TrapAPony]

Read in one of the papers today that Trap wants some sort of a training camp in Portugal during the summer so he can look at
as he stated, ''new players, young players and option players.'' I'd say there is work going on behind the scenes but at the moment Trap doesn't want to draw any attention to these players.

[The Fly]

I know Gary Cahill has often been mentioned as a possibility for us, well apparently he has suffered a blood clot in his arm which will rule him out for the rest of the season and perhaps even longer. Personally speaking, I would rather he wasn't a 'target' as I think he has already made his preference for England pretty clear - but anyway......................I thought I'd post this update nonetheless.