Ciaran Clark D Free agent b.1989

[Sullivinho]

Not only that but Houllier opted to throw Clark on when Dunne got injured at the weekend ahead of Carlos Cueller. He's very much in the first team setup.

Vote of confidence from the new man in charge, good stuff.

[HammerNThongs]

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/sport/clark-chooses-ireland-2389443.html


Clark chooses Ireland



http://www.independent.ie/multimedia/archive/00717/N001557128765516098_717611t.jpg
Ciaran Clark





Thursday October 21 2010

Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark has pledged his international future to Ireland - to repay his mother and father for the support they have shown him.
Clark, who played 78 minutes of last Saturday's goalless draw with Chelsea, was born in London and has captained England Under-18s. But he has decided to commit to playing at senior level for Giovanni Trapattoni's side as an act of faith for the backing he received from his Irish-born mum and dad.
Clark said: "Why have I chosen to play for Ireland? For myself and my family. My family have done a lot for me over the years, since I was a little boy. I owe them a lot so I've made this decision for them."
He added: "Richard Dunne (Villa and Ireland defender) mentioned it to Ireland and they looked into it and got in contact with me and the club. They gave me time to think about it and about my decision.
"If all the paperwork has gone through by the next game, I'll be in contention so fingers crossed that happens."
Clark, regarded as one of Villa's brightest prospects, added: "I was England Under-18 captain but I didn't think I was going anywhere really with that.
"When a young lad gets an opportunity like this, it is hard to turn down."

[Noelys Guitar]

No messing about. Great news. A real prospect in a crucial position for any team.

[paul_oshea]

Is it time to start getting excited again?

Duffy/Clark/Coleman etc etc

[Razors left peg]

Any time we get young players who play regularly and well in the Premier league it is always exciting

[third policeman]

Didn't someone say that Hogan Ephraim was about to declare. He looks like a seriously decent prospect.

[Kingdom]

I love it when a little spark like this can lift the gloom a little.

Wilson, Duffy, Clark, St Ledger.

I'm liking that. A lot.

[Fergie's Son]

Very clear and precise as to why he is declaring for Ireland. Delighted for him and his family and for us fans! Let's hope he works out in the long term but lt's a credit to him that he was so up front about it.

[Stuttgart88]

Without referring back to article 18, even a friendly cap ties him because this will be his one change of association? I think he must have had at least one competitive underage cap already for this to hold.

I know he has declared and all, it's just the frustrated lawyer part of my brain asking (not a big part), not the part that tries to see reality.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't think there's a test case for it yet, but the language of the article seems to support your argument. geysir might know otherwise.

[paul_oshea]

Reading between the lines he is still leaving the door open for England with the "that didnt seem to be going anywhere".

I mean im pretty sure he knew that he could play for ireland before this.....all london irish born i know are aware of this because they have an Irish passport. Perhaps he didnt know he could get an Irish passport, but i dont really believe that.

[geysir]

Who knows what he knew but it appears that Dunne increased his awareness. A young CH with promise and ability, breaking into an EPL team, always has a chance of an England cap.

It's pretty clear that Clark can only change once and as Stutts has written, he has already been capped competitively for England. Once he is capped for us, even in a senior friendly, there is no going back.
That was the conundrum Maguire shied away from.

[Adrock]

I love it when a little spark like this can lift the gloom a little.

Wilson, Duffy, Clark, St Ledger.

I'm liking that. A lot.

Or perhaps someone born or raised within our own borders even :rolleyes:

[Charlie Darwin]

Or perhaps someone born or raised within our own borders even :rolleyes:
Paul McShane. Feel better now?

[SkStu]

Paul McShane. Feel better now?

or perhaps someone who is not ginge even :rolleyes:

[Sullivinho]

Or perhaps someone born or raised within our own borders even :rolleyes:

Two of them were born and raised within our own island. Good enough for me.

Sean and Ciaran can gtfo though. ;)

[Stuttgart88]

Sean and Ciaran can gtfo though. ;)All the British born in our squad have got good Irish names: Kevin, Sean, Ciaran, Kieren (nobby spelling though), Aiden, Liam, McCarthy and even Green.

[Charlie Darwin]

or perhaps someone who is not ginge even :rolleyes:
Denis Irwin? Pace of the game might be a bit much for him nowadays.

[elroy]

Or perhaps someone born or raised within our own borders even :rolleyes:

Artificial borders. All (except for Sledge) were born Irish on this land.

Foot.ie the place to get upto date breakingnews, about a week ahead of the indo anyways.

[Gnobe]

Am I right in thinking both his parents are irish then?

My dad was born in Canada but moved back here when he was 2. Nobody calls him Canadian and he certainly doesn't think himself as one! The only other time he was there in his life was for a two week holiday when he was a student back in the 70s! Now I don't know what age Ciaran's dad came over here at, perhaps as a teenager or something?

At least what we can say is regardless of whether it's his second choice, he's clearly made his mind up quickly, no 'waiting on England' like O'Hara, so he must feel quite passionate about it.

[The Fly]

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2175027,00.html




Ciaran Clark has given the green light to the Republic of Ireland - after a glowing reference from Richard Dunne.

The starlet defender has informed FAI officials he is ready to play for the senior side despite already donning the Three Lions of England.

Clark was England under-20 skipper after representing his country of birth through the various schoolboy age-groups.

But the rookie defender has now committed himself to the Emerald Isle after qualifying through his Irish mother and grandparents.

This decision only comes as a result of Dunne discovering the 20-year-old's Irish roots following a chat at Bodymoor Heath - and a subsequent recommendation to national team bosses.

Clark most now wait for the decision to be rubber-stamped before being eligible for selection.

He said: "I had a word with Clarky a couple of months ago, so I'm to blame.

"I went straight onto our recruitment guy and he's been in touch. It's great. I think he has declared so once it goes through it will be great to have him in the squad.

"He's certainly going to be a top player. I think for Ireland it'll be outstanding, to have a young player of his talent in the squad.

"He's absolutely brilliant. It's just a matter of time before he breaks through and commands a position instead of someone older than Clarky playing all the time.

"That's the way it will be because as a defender it always take that little bit longer because managers tend to want that experience at the back.

"But he's got everything to come shining through as a star player.

"I think his mother's Irish so whether she's been putting pressure on or not, I don't know.

"He's open to it, he wants to play international football and it might come soon. The opportunity is there for him."

Dunne is relishing the prospect of playing alongside Clark for both club and country.

And he hopes Clark's decision will tempt other promising young players to explore their Irish connections.

Villa had a strong Irish contingent in the 1990s with Paul McGrath, Andy Townsend, Ray Houghton, Steve Staunton and Tony Cascarino at the club.

He added: "It would be great to play alongside Clarky for Ireland.

"We've got a couple of young centre halves coming through and I think with Ciaran added to that it will just make the squad so much stronger.

"Sometimes you get to a point where you can't see any more players coming through for Ireland.

"So if you can get players like Clarky playing, other people in a similar situation to him might decide to follow him and play for Ireland."

[paul_oshea]

fair play to dunney, some lads just wouldn't be bothered even if they were aware, even at our own club, lads are just interested in their own game/own playing time etc, that when they played other sports with lads with irish connections they wouldn't try and actively recruit, in the end these lads figure out for themselves, but like the clarkie case some others might not be aware.

Well done richard dunne, genuinely putting his country first.

[Adrock]

Artificial borders. All (except for Sledge) were born Irish on this land.

Foot.ie the place to get upto date breakingnews, about a week ahead of the indo anyways.

Well Clark actually wasn't - unless we have an imperial colony in southern England.
I think we ought to recruit a welshman or two though so we can have a true United Kingdom grand slam team - then they could represent Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics as well which would I'm sure be a more representative team than the 11 Englishmen they are planning on putting out.
They'd have to leave the dutchman out though I expect.........

[paul_oshea]

there is a young lad coming through for wales in the u16s at the moment a great prospect by all accounts, at cardiff i think. he has to be irish:
Tom O'Sullivan

[Adrock]

there is a young lad coming through for wales in the u16s at the moment a great prospect by all accounts, at cardiff i think. he has to be irish:
Tom O'Sullivan
Yes his ancestors must have floated across the Irish Sea at same point. I wonder if the FAI have a deisignated Wales family tree checker or are they all employed in England? It seems insulting and direspectful to the Welsh for the FAI not to try and pinch any of their players

[Sullivinho]

Bring back yapster.

[Crosby87]

Wait a minute why does Clark all of a sudden switch sides after captaining the Limey's U-20 team?

[Colbert Report]

I could see Gareth Bale on the left wing for the GB team.

[paul_oshea]

Bring back yapster.

Bring back sean parker.

[Murfinator]

I'm just thankful he took international advice from Dunne and not the other Irishman at Villa...

[The Fly]

He's on the bench today for Villa against Sunderland

[Closed Account 2]

I see we have a class-a wum in this thread... His rigid definition of nationality barely extending beyond the village he's probably never left.

I just wonder if he agrees with any of Rio Mavuba's half a dozen caps for France, given his place of birth.

[The Fly]

I see we have a class-a wum in this thread... His rigid definition of nationality barely extending beyond the village he's probably never left.


He's not class-A wum edmundo, he's class-A patriot!

[Adrock]

I see we have a class-a wum in this thread... His rigid definition of nationality barely extending beyond the village he's probably never left.

I just wonder if he agrees with any of Rio Mavuba's half a dozen caps for France, given his place of birth.

I love the way people bring up completely irrelevant examples like that when discussing these issues. I believe Mavauba qualified for France by virtue of spending all but the first days of his life there. I'm surprised actually the FAI didnt make a play for him on account of our Atlantic coastline connecting us to his birthplace!

[amaccann]

I don't think it's fair to pick on someone because they feel a little ... uncomfortable? ... with this new recruit to Ireland. I can't say I'm exactly jumping for joy myself at another blow-in. It seems more like a cynical career move than some re examination of the lad's nationality. "So what, so long as he gives it his all?" some say.

Fair enough, it's not like players like Matt Holland didn't bust a gut for the shirt, but when there's another, legitimate, thread questioning the public's interest in the Irish team, maybe we shouldn't be so quick to welcome players who - at first glance - aren't actually Irish.

[geysir]

http://guestofaguest.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/drunk-irish-250x300.jpg

[Gnobe]

Fair enough, it's not like players like Matt Holland didn't bust a gut for the shirt, but when there's another, legitimate, thread questioning the public's interest in the Irish team, maybe we shouldn't be so quick to welcome players who - at first glance - aren't actually Irish.

Aren't the lads parents Irish?

[elroy]

I love the way people bring up completely irrelevant examples like that when discussing these issues. I believe Mavauba qualified for France by virtue of spending all but the first days of his life there. I'm surprised actually the FAI didnt make a play for him on account of our Atlantic coastline connecting us to his birthplace!

Completely irrelevant????? Its the exact same situation for crying out loud. An individual who was not born in the country but have ancestral links plays their international football for that country. Simple really.

Clear as day a WUM, but if you have ever met any Irish fans, particularly on away trips who were born outside Ireland, your opinion towards Irish players born outside the country may change somewhat.

[Closed Account 2]

I love the way people bring up completely irrelevant examples like that when discussing these issues. I believe Mavauba qualified for France by virtue of spending all but the first days of his life there. I'm surprised actually the FAI didnt make a play for him on account of our Atlantic coastline connecting us to his birthplace!

It's totally relevant. Your blurred almost, whimsical definition of nationality just doesnt stand up in the modern, international world. Rio Mavuba is an extreme example, but huge numbers of ex-USSR players (that's the former Soviet Union) could play for any number of modern nations, given the country of their birth no longer exists...

e.g. Odemwinge, born in Tashkent (now Uzbekistan) had a Russian mother and a Nigerian father - he could have played for 3 countries. Alexandr Aliyev, born in Khabarovsk (Russian town 30km from China, 500km from North Korea) has Ukrainian parents and so plays for them but could play for Russia. Artem Milevskiy, born in Mozyr Belarus, plays for Ukraine.

Savo Milosevic, born in Bijeljina, Bosnia, played for Serbia and Montenegro. Ivan Ergic, born in Sibenik, Croatia, to Serbian parents, moved to Australia aged 5, plays for Serbia. Valon Behrami born in Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia, plays for Switzerland, but Zdravko Kuzmanovic, born in Thun, Switzerland plays for Serbia. Nuri Sahin, born in Germany never lived in Turkey but plays for Turkish national team.

There are so many examples, immigration and emigration are facts of the modern world.

[Colbert Report]

If Owen Hargreaves can turn out for England then anything is possible! I love his fake British accent.

[Adrock]

Completely irrelevant????? Its the exact same situation for crying out loud. An individual who was not born in the country but have ancestral links plays their international football for that country. Simple really.

Clear as day a WUM, but if you have ever met any Irish fans, particularly on away trips who were born outside Ireland, your opinion towards Irish players born outside the country may change somewhat.
errr.....ok.......I don't think Mavuba actually has any French ancestry - he qualifies through having lived there almost his entire life. If he were to play for Angola there might be some validity to this example

[Adrock]

It's totally relevant. Your blurred almost, whimsical definition of nationality just doesnt stand up in the modern, international world. Rio Mavuba is an extreme example, but huge numbers of ex-USSR players (that's the former Soviet Union) could play for any number of modern nations, given the country of their birth no longer exists...

e.g. Odemwinge, born in Tashkent (now Uzbekistan) had a Russian mother and a Nigerian father - he could have played for 3 countries. Alexandr Aliyev, born in Khabarovsk (Russian town 30km from China, 500km from North Korea) has Ukrainian parents and so plays for them but could play for Russia. Artem Milevskiy, born in Mozyr Belarus, plays for Ukraine.

Savo Milosevic, born in Bijeljina, Bosnia, played for Serbia and Montenegro. Ivan Ergic, born in Sibenik, Croatia, to Serbian parents, moved to Australia aged 5, plays for Serbia. Valon Behrami born in Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia, plays for Switzerland, but Zdravko Kuzmanovic, born in Thun, Switzerland plays for Serbia. Nuri Sahin, born in Germany never lived in Turkey but plays for Turkish national team.

There are so many examples, immigration and emigration are facts of the modern world.

Ok so there are grey areas in regard to countries that have come in to or out of existence as is the case with Yugoslavia and the USSR. We;ve been here a while now though.........
I actually have quite a openminded and liberal approach to nationality, namely that you should be entitled to play for a country if you were

born there
grew up there
resided there at least five years
have parents from there and have not played competitively for another country up to the level of your preceived potential.
I believe the above defintion covers pretty much every international footballer in Europe other than our own and those of some of our celtic cousins. Even for Ireland Kilbane, Kevin Foley and Leon Best for instance I dont see why they shouldn't play for us. Its the grannyrulers and turncoats I have problems with and its hard to understand how any patriotic Irishman would welcome a team full of these. :confused:

[youngirish]

Ok so there are grey areas in regard to countries that have come in to or out of existence as is the case with Yugoslavia and the USSR. We;ve been here a while now though.........
I actually have quite a openminded and liberal approach to nationality, namely that you should be entitled to play for a country if you were

born there
grew up there
resided there at least five years
have parents from there and have not played competitively for another country up to the level of your preceived potential.
I believe the above defintion covers pretty much every international footballer in Europe other than our own and those of some of our celtic cousins. Even for Ireland Kilbane, Kevin Foley and Leon Best for instance I dont see why they shouldn't play for us. Its the grannyrulers and turncoats I have problems with and its hard to understand how any patriotic Irishman would welcome a team full of these. :confused:

I agree with you Adrock. The moment somebody mentions they might be uncomfortable with certain players born and bred in other countires declaring for us you get the usual garbage from the usual suspects on this site jumping down your throat throwing up the old tried and tested arguments regarding the Irish diaspora and the emigration since the famine, etc, etc etc. What they don't seem to understand is that almost everyone raising such points recognises the difference between a Kevin Kilbane or a Gary Breen (i.e. someone who though born abroad has grown up acutely aware of, and consequently being proud of their Irish roots ) and an Andy Townsend or Clinton Morrison who obviously only threw their lot in with us because they realised they weren't going to ever get a chance to represent the land of their first love - England. Now while it's true I supported both Townsend and Morrison (both were very useful players imo who represented Ireland to the best of their abilities) and am grateful for the service that they gave to the green jersey I do cringe at the thought of our first 11 being entirely made up of such players at the expense of other, perhaps less talented, Irish players with a genuine desire to represent their country (i.e. not Stephen Ireland).

[SwanVsDalton]

Its the grannyrulers and turncoats I have problems with and its hard to understand how any patriotic Irishman would welcome a team full of these. :confused:


I do cringe at the thought of our first 11 being entirely made up of such players at the expense of other, perhaps less talented, Irish players with a genuine desire to represent their country (i.e. not Stephen Ireland).

I don't really understand the argument. Our current side isn't full of 'grannyrulers and turncoats' and I don't see how the Irish team would ever be that way - and arguably it's never been that way (Charlton era only possible exception). It doesn't seem likely we'd ever have a first 11 'entirely' or predominantly made up of these players.

And since the idea of nationality is fluid, which we all appear to agree, how do we define, for the sake of argument, who's a 'Kilbane' and who's a 'Townsend'? For instance which is Ciaran Clark? Personally I reckon the former, a few seem to be arguing his declaration is a cynical cap grab from a born-and-bred morris dancing, tea drinking, Telegraph reading dyed in the wool Union Jack but that's not how I read it at all...

Seems a bit nonsensical. If the guy turns up and gives everything for the shirt (like Townsend did) I don't have a problem. It ain't Texas lads - our side's not about to be overrun by English yahoos, sneaking over the border and 'stealing all our jobs' from hard-working, decent, 'perhaps less talented' Irishmen.

[boovidge]

Ok so there are grey areas in regard to countries that have come in to or out of existence as is the case with Yugoslavia and the USSR. We;ve been here a while now though.........
I actually have quite a openminded and liberal approach to nationality, namely that you should be entitled to play for a country if you were


born there
grew up there
resided there at least five years
have parents from there and have not played competitively for another country up to the level of your preceived potential.

I believe the above defintion covers pretty much every international footballer in Europe other than our own and those of some of our celtic cousins. Even for Ireland Kilbane, Kevin Foley and Leon Best for instance I dont see why they shouldn't play for us. Its the grannyrulers and turncoats I have problems with and its hard to understand how any patriotic Irishman would welcome a team full of these. :confused:

So McGeady and McCarthy both out? Should they return their passports to the DFA and apologise for taking the place of Adrock approved players?

[Closed Account 2]

Ok so there are grey areas in regard to countries that have come in to or out of existence as is the case with Yugoslavia and the USSR. We;ve been here a while now though.........
I actually have quite a openminded and liberal approach to nationality, namely that you should be entitled to play for a country if you were

born there
grew up there
resided there at least five years
have parents from there and have not played competitively for another country up to the level of your preceived potential.
I believe the above defintion covers pretty much every international footballer in Europe other than our own and those of some of our celtic cousins. Even for Ireland Kilbane, Kevin Foley and Leon Best for instance I dont see why they shouldn't play for us. Its the grannyrulers and turncoats I have problems with and its hard to understand how any patriotic Irishman would welcome a team full of these. :confused:

Parfait Mandanda, brother of Steve Mandanda (french 2nd choice national keeper) played U21s for France but plays nationally for the Congo DR. He was born in Nevers, central France and has never lived in Congo DR.

Kevin Prince Boateng, German mother, Ghanian father, born in Berlin, never lived in Ghana, played U15 through to U21 for Germany, played at the last World Cup for Ghana.

Mourad Meghni, born in Paris, Algerian Parents, never lived in Algeria, played for U17-U21s for France, was in the Algerian team at this years African Nations Cup. Same scenario with Antar Yahia (born in Mulhouse, France, played for France at U16-U18s); same with Belhadj (born Jura, played for France U18); same with Bellaid (born in northern Paris, played U16,18,21 for France, also could have played for Tunisia as well)... There are several more in the Algerian team who played youth football for France, born in France and never lived in Algeria - e.g. Medjani, Yebda, Abdoun, Boudebouz.

Chretien of Morocco (born in Nancy, only ever played for Nancy, played for french youth teams) also El Ahmadi and Mounir El Hamdaoui (born in Holland played for Dutch national youth teams) and El Zahar (played schoolboy football for France). Kaba Diawara was born in France and played U21 football for them but now plays for Guinea.

Even in other continents you have the likes of Jermaine Jones born in Frankfurt played for Germany U21s now plays for the Americans.

So I think it's disingenuous to say your definitions cover "pretty much every international footballer in Europe" and even if you were to now back-track and say "oh I meant only players playing for European nations" the likes of Ludovic Obraniak (born in Metz, played U21 for France, now plays for Poland) and Damien Perquis (same except born in Troyes) disprove the statement, even ignoring ex-USSR/Yugoslavia issues.

[Adrock]

Parfait Mandanda, brother of Steve Mandanda (french 2nd choice national keeper) played U21s for France but plays nationally for the Congo DR. He was born in Nevers, central France and has never lived in Congo DR.

Kevin Prince Boateng, German mother, Ghanian father, born in Berlin, never lived in Ghana, played U15 through to U21 for Germany, played at the last World Cup for Ghana.

Mourad Meghni, born in Paris, Algerian Parents, never lived in Algeria, played for U17-U21s for France, was in the Algerian team at this years African Nations Cup. Same scenario with Antar Yahia (born in Mulhouse, France, played for France at U16-U18s); same with Belhadj (born Jura, played for France U18); same with Bellaid (born in northern Paris, played U16,18,21 for France, also could have played for Tunisia as well)... There are several more in the Algerian team who played youth football for France, born in France and never lived in Algeria - e.g. Medjani, Yebda, Abdoun, Boudebouz.

Chretien of Morocco (born in Nancy, only ever played for Nancy, played for french youth teams) also El Ahmadi and Mounir El Hamdaoui (born in Holland played for Dutch national youth teams) and El Zahar (played schoolboy football for France). Kaba Diawara was born in France and played U21 football for them but now plays for Guinea.

Even in other continents you have the likes of Jermaine Jones born in Frankfurt played for Germany U21s now plays for the Americans.

So I think it's disingenuous to say your definitions cover "pretty much every international footballer in Europe" and even if you were to now back-track and say "oh I meant only players playing for European nations" the likes of Ludovic Obraniak (born in Metz, played U21 for France, now plays for Poland) and Damien Perquis (same except born in Troyes) disprove the statement, even ignoring ex-USSR/Yugoslavia issues.
Yes I meant in Europe as in playing for European countries amongst who there is an entire ONE exception to this on the continent - that of Obreniak. FIFA constantly seems to change its rules these days to appease nagging Third World countries. The old rules regarding eligibilitywere there in the first place place to ensure footballers didn't try swapping countries like they did clubs to suit their (adjusted) career aspirations. Its sad to see us going down that line as well.
Clark is only one individual but we are edging back to the Plastic Paddy ways of old, only this time we've got English players who actually played for England as well as those that never got asked to. The Charlton era was a bit of a joke really and now we have another foreign manager who treats the national team like a club side always on the look out for new recruits. A national team ought to be representative of that nation. Remember at the Athens olympics the greeks went out to recruit a baseball team out of Americans with greek ancestry. How representative of that of Greek baseball prowess? Not at all but they all qualified through the rules so that made them Greek baseball players right? Just because you're wearing the shirt of a country doesnt mean you necessarily representing that country in any real sense.

[SwanVsDalton]

Its sad to see us going down that line as well.


Clark is only one individual but we are edging back to the Plastic Paddy ways of old

Leaving aside arguments about 'Plastic Paddy ways of old', is this true? Really? Ciaran Clark and Paul Green hardly make us West Brit FC. Especially since, as has been discussed to death, Clark has EXTREMELY strong ties to Ireland.


The Charlton era was a bit of a joke really and now we have another foreign manager who treats the national team like a club side always on the look out for new recruits.

Eh don't we expect any manager, national or club, to be on the look out for new players? And regardless, your 'foreign manager' jibe is just plain wrong since McCarthy, Kerr and Stan had no issues capping 'new recruits' or treating it like a club side.


A national team ought to be representative of that nation. Remember at the Athens olympics the greeks went out to recruit a baseball team out of Americans with greek ancestry. How representative of that of Greek baseball prowess? Not at all but they all qualified through the rules so that made them Greek baseball players right?

Don't see how an amateur game of yankee rounders is a relevant comparison, especially since edumundo has provided you with plenty of examples from the same sport.


Just because you're wearing the shirt of a country doesnt mean you necessarily representing that country in any real sense.

Personally I think Townsend, Morrison and the rest of the invaders represented us in a real sense, since they gave their all for the green with pride and passion. I'd hope and expect the same from all Irish players, regardless of place of birth, in the future.

[Adrock]

I don't really understand the argument. Our current side isn't full of 'grannyrulers and turncoats' and I don't see how the Irish team would ever be that way - and arguably it's never been that way (Charlton era only possible exception). It doesn't seem likely we'd ever have a first 11 'entirely' or predominantly made up of these players.

And since the idea of nationality is fluid, which we all appear to agree, how do we define, for the sake of argument, who's a 'Kilbane' and who's a 'Townsend'? For instance which is Ciaran Clark? Personally I reckon the former, a few seem to be arguing his declaration is a cynical cap grab from a born-and-bred morris dancing, tea drinking, Telegraph reading dyed in the wool Union Jack but that's not how I read it at all...

Seems a bit nonsensical. If the guy turns up and gives everything for the shirt (like Townsend did) I don't have a problem. It ain't Texas lads - our side's not about to be overrun by English yahoos, sneaking over the border and 'stealing all our jobs' from hard-working, decent, 'perhaps less talented' Irishmen.
Effort's got nothing to do with it. Anyway given the chance to play international football is going to try their best out of professional pride - its not like they're forced to be out their against will (unless they're Stephen Ireland) Clark's statement is clearly worded to go out of his way to sound honorable about his career move but even so he still effectively states he's going to plays for us bacause he cant see his England career getting any further.

[boovidge]

the guy's very young, breaking into a premiership side and has been linked with clubs like man united. if he really wanted to play for england he would have waited a little longer don't you think? i have more reservations about someone like noble who has clearly waited until the england train has left the station.