Tim Cahill

[ofjames]

I seem to remember that when Tim Cahill brought his challenge against the FIFA rules that saw him tied to Samoa, his original intention was to declare for Ireland, and was being actively encouraged to do so by Mick McCarthy.

From my recollection, i think it was in the months before the 2002 world cup when it was in the news.

Have i just imagined this???

He wuda been a great player for us to get. Forget bout kevin Nolan!

[stiofain]

No, your dead on mate.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20020127/ai_n9709741

[EalingGreen]

Curiously, Cahill was actually born in Australia, has an English father, also a brother who represented Samoa (only) several times:

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2006/s1661771.htm

Considering he was living in England and playing for Millwall at the time he challenged the restriction whereby he could only play for Samoa, I wonder whether he didn't opt to switch to ROI initially, because Australia were crap (at the time, at least), and it was going to be much harder to break into the England team than the ROI team?

Anyhow, he seems proud enough now to be an Aussie, and his international career didn't turn out too badly.

[RiffRaff]

I think the reason he was considering Ireland was that the Australia FA didnt offer him any support in his appeal to FIFA and they subsequently did a u-turn - probably when they realised his potential

[tetsujin1979]

I watched him play for Millwall against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road in 2000-01 and was sorely tempted to ring the FAI and tip them off about him. I never bothered because they're such muppets.
And not ringing them makes you the anti-muppet I suppose?

[Stuttgart88]

I was at Italy against Australia in the 2006 WC match in Kaiserslautern, last 16. Cahill was best player on the pitch by a distance. Really impressive.

[Aldini98]

Hes a dirtbag, always looking for a scrap.

[Paddy Garcia]

I met a Samoan cousin of his in New Zealand two years ago and she told me that when their granny's house burned down in Samoa he bought her a new one.

$168.75

[Torn-Ado]

I met a Samoan cousin of his in New Zealand two years ago and she told me that when their granny's house burned down in Samoa he bought her a new one.

The least he could have done in all fairness.

[Paddy Garcia]

The least he could have done in all fairness.

Well he could have played for the land of his grandmother.

[pineapple stu]

Somehow I tihnk buying a new house has that, shall we say, useful quality.

[reder]

I only mention it because he seems a decent sort. Must be the Irish blood.

He is a dirty horrible little tw*t. I would rather see Gazza playing for us.