Irish Declaration

Gentlemen,

Just reading the thread there about Phil Bardsley and it has got me thinking.

I am aware of the site that you can see all the Irish players in England, but how does one go about getting himself on that list? Must he officially declare himself for Ireland and fill out a form for the FAI? Sounds like a silly question I know, but is it down to the players himself or are there scouts out there to try and convince players to play. I know it is not really right to try and convince someone to play for their country but you know what I mean.

What I would love is a website that would show players from the UK who HAVE NOT declared for the Republic, who can, and have not represented England at an U21 competitive game.

I guess my question is, could that be done and how would you go about doing it?

Going back to the site I mentioned above, is there one available for Europe as well? How about all us Paddys who live in different countries around the world, surely somewhere there is a future star in the making??

How about that Argentinean right back who played in the 1986 WC final with Maradonna who could have qualified for Ireland through his grandmother?

Decky Dee

or how about anyone that wants to play for us shouldnt have to be cajoled into it and would just inform the FAI of their elegibility

I am not sure about that Gustavo. I only found out very recently (I am 28) that my sister was born in England. She said that she never really thought about it.

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Originally Posted by Deckydee

I am not sure about that Gustavo. I only found out very recently (I am 28) that my sister was born in England. She said that she never really thought about it.

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i know what ur saying in respect of your sister but i think in terms of a soccer player who is playing professionally and could be a serious contender for an international call up then surely family members would inform that player of their ancestral routes and thus other routes to international soccer

i would agree with gustavo on this one decky dee

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Originally Posted by Deckydee

I am not sure about that Gustavo. I only found out very recently (I am 28) that my sister was born in England. She said that she never really thought about it.

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How old did you say your sister was?

How about we have all Irish players play for us instead. Just for the novelty of it.

For me, to play for Ireland there should be 2 conditions
1) You are eligible
2) You consider yourself Irish.

If you dont know you've Irish links til you're in your 20's and deciding on an international team then in my eyes you are not Irish

How about the manager is allowed to pick the best 11 players that available regardless of where they were born or whether they have to be begged or cajoled into playing or declaring for us in the first place...if Phil Bardsley came into our squad and performed well in a troublesome position for us then as far as I'm concerned it would be worth any begging or cajoling

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Originally Posted by Wangball

How about the manager is allowed to pick the best 11 players that available regardless of where they were born

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I agree with this part of your post Wangball but not the rest. Speaking as a Cockernee who would crawl over broken glass to don the green, the shirt and the honour that wearing it confers are both worth far more than that.

:ball: PP

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Originally Posted by Wangball

if Phil Bardsley came into our squad and performed well in a troublesome position for us then as far as I'm concerned it would be worth any begging or cajoling

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To say the very least, that's rather misguided.

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Originally Posted by Wangball

How about the manager is allowed to pick the best 11 players that available regardless of where they were born or whether they have to be begged or cajoled into playing or declaring for us in the first place...

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But then whats the point of international football? what makes its different from club football?

International football should be about pride and passion. Doing it for the jersey and for your country. Otherwise I don't see a point.

i think the player makes it known to the irish set up that his is elegible rather than a formal declaration. Could Liam Lawrence theoretically be in the next england squad even though he's "declared" for ireland?

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Originally Posted by boovidge

i think the player makes it known to the irish set up that his is elegible rather than a formal declaration. Could Liam Lawrence theoretically be in the next england squad even though he's "declared" for ireland?

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We should make him stand on the steps of the GPO and get him to read some form of solemn statement declaring his undying love for this, the land of his forefathers and pledge his international future to us and us only!!!.....Just in case

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Originally Posted by micls

But then whats the point of international football? what makes its different from club football?

International football should be about pride and passion. Doing it for the jersey and for your country. Otherwise I don't see a point.

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I see your point but its just a sad fact of the game that the majority of players don't think that way, if some lad called Esteban O Reilly (Irish Father) was playing for Boca Juniors & he was tearing it up, you'd want to wait until he came cap in hand to us begging for a cap rather than sending someone out there to ask/beg/plead with him to jump aboard the good ship mediocrity??

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Originally Posted by Wangball

I see your point but its just a sad fact of the game that the majority of players don't think that way, if some lad called Esteban O Reilly (Irish Father) was playing for Boca Juniors & he was tearing it up, you'd want to wait until he came cap in hand to us begging for a cap rather than sending someone out there to ask/beg/plead with him to jump aboard the good ship mediocrity??

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Yes.

It's just a personal thing I guess, but if we're going about convincing people who dont consider themselves Irish to represent us then I dont see the point of international football.

I'd rather 11 poor/average players who consider themselves Irish than 11 superstars who don't tbh.

I agree with micls 100% on this issue.......the international scene is being diluted by players looking for personal gain as opposed to pride and passion or 'love' for their country!

I myself qualify to play for the States as my mother was born in Chicago and if I had made it to be a top professional player and there was talk of international call-ups, I would go to play for the country that expressed most desire to have me. I would want to play international football but I'd rather play for a country that really wanted me over one that would just throw me so they call on me in the future.

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Originally Posted by superfrank

I myself qualify to play for the States as my mother was born in Chicago and if I had made it to be a top professional player and there was talk of international call-ups, I would go to play for the country that expressed most desire to have me. I would want to play international football but I'd rather play for a country that really wanted me over one that would just throw me so they call on me in the future.

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What would make you want to play international football?

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Originally Posted by micls

What would make you want to play international football?

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I'm guessing that the answer you want is that he wants to play international football because he loves his country & nothing would make him more proud (it'd be my answer) but this isn't the kind of answer your gonna get too often anymore....it goes back to the Stuart Pearce thing where he asked a young professional told hi he's rather have a Ferrari than an international cap....it might not be an ideal situation to have to ask players to represent their country but its sadly a sign of the times

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Originally Posted by Wangball

I'm guessing that the answer you want is that he wants to play international football because he loves his country & nothing would make him more proud (it'd be my answer) but this isn't the kind of answer your gonna get too often anymore....it goes back to the Stuart Pearce thing where he asked a young professional told hi he's rather have a Ferrari than an international cap....it might not be an ideal situation to have to ask players to represent their country but its sadly a sign of the times

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Not the answer I want, or expect but the answer would explain why he'd choose one country over another.

If we go too far down this road, and a lot of fault lies with the players, then we might as well scrap international football as there is no point to it