Shane Ferguson

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

I see Tardelli has been referred to in the most unendearing of terms for his brief comment on the matter, despite having clearly been directly asked about it by a journalist.

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That just shows you how blindly seething some of the IFA fans are on the matter. The mere fact that Tardelli commented on the matter is enough to send some into hysterics.

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I also note the poster you're referring to had a word with Ferguson in an attempt to convince him to play for NI. Hmm... Given dubious and cloudy accusations of the FAI and nationalist community "pressuring" players from nationalist backgrounds into declaring for us, surely that's blatant hypocrisy?

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That it is, but when the IFA and their fans try to talk a player into doing something it's not 'coercion', it's 'encouragement', don't you know?.

Don Givens confirmed that the FAI has been in contact with Shane Ferguson in today's Star. He said that Ferguson wants a bit of time to make his decision.

Oh God, the FAI were in contact or Don Givens was in contact?...

Givens has stated that Shane has refused to play for his country.
Shane has claimed that he did say he needed a bit of time to make his decision but Don had slammed down the phone before he could go on to explain that he wants to declare for the FAI but first he wants to inform his parents.

Honestly, I only had a sneaky glance in a petrol station this morning without actually buying the paper. It mentioned someone else speaking on behalf of the FAI, so I don't think it was Givens himself...

From today's Examiner:

Trap likely to call up North ace Ferguson

Giovanni Trapattoni is set to annoy the IFA again and call Newcastle United's Shane Ferguson into his squad for the Carling Nations Cup game against Northern Ireland next month.

Derry-born Ferguson has met Irish scout Mick Martin to discuss his move to the Republic despite winning a senior cap with the North.

the 19 year old left-sided player appeared in a 2009 friendly against Italy but is still free to switch allegiances.

Trapattoni is ready to name him in the squad for the end of season games against Northern ireland, Scotland and Macedonia despite the problems it will cause with the North.

Darron Gibson, Marc Wilson and Shane Duffy have already switched sides and chief Irish scout Don Givens knows the latest movement will irritate Nigel Worthington and the IFA.

"Shane is still kind of making his mind up but Mick Martin has spoken to him" confirmed Givens. "I'm sure the North are not too happy with us. They have a small pool of players but in the long run, the less good results they get the more the dual players will want to come to us."

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Originally Posted by Sullivinho

"in the long run, the less good results they get the more the dual players will want to come to us."

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Hmm, they're quite handily placed right now despite a couple of poor results. Just shows the value of a decent away win over a direct opponent. I wouldn't bet too much on NI underperforming the ROI in this campaign - wrt group placing anyway, maybe not total points.

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Originally Posted by Sullivinho

"Shane is still kind of making his mind up but Mick Martin has spoken to him" confirmed Givens. "I'm sure the North are not too happy with us. They have a small pool of players but in the long run, the less good results they get the more the dual players will want to come to us."

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Givens is some **** stirrer

Ah. Mick Martin, it was.

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Originally Posted by Don Givens

I'm sure the North are not too happy with us. They have a small pool of players but in the long run, the less good results they get the more the dual players will want to come to us.

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I don't think the results of the IFA team matter much to the likes of Shane Ferguson, Shane Duffy, Gibson, Wilson, Kearns when it comes to making the decision to change to the FAI.

Givens is simply incapable of opening his mouth without rubbing someone up the wrong way.

edit: that just sounds dirty

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Originally Posted by Predator

I don't think the results of the IFA team matter much to the likes of Shane Ferguson, Shane Duffy, Gibson, Wilson, Kearns when it comes to making the decision to change to the FAI.

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That's what I was thinking myself. I reckon Don knows it too.

Interesting developments and good to hear it if Ferguson does eventually go through with the switch. I hadn't really seen it ending that way. Givens' comments are cretinous coming from someone in a professional capacity, mind.

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Originally Posted by Sullivinho

"Shane is still kind of making his mind up but Mick Martin has spoken to him" confirmed Givens. "I'm sure the North are not too happy with us. They have a small pool of players but in the long run, the less good results they get the more the dual players will want to come to us."

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thats pretty reprehensible from Givens.

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Originally Posted by Predator

I don't think the results of the IFA team matter much to the likes of Shane Ferguson, Shane Duffy, Gibson, Wilson, Kearns when it comes to making the decision to change to the FAI.

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Agreed. It's more a question of nationality and cultural identity that they probably feel more comfortable with.

And why have a pop at Givens or whoever, they're only the messenger.

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Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

Agreed. It's more a question of nationality and cultural identity that they probably feel more comfortable with.

And why have a pop at Givens or whoever, they're only the messenger.

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Because Givens is basically saying that its good if Ferguson switches because it will make NI more **** and because of this we can get more of their players. Whereas, like you say, its really about a sense of nationality and identity rather than just playing for the better team. He's just stirring the pot for no good reason and thats not doing either side any favours.

I'd be critical of Givens on the basis that I doubt he's reiterating any official FAI line. He appears to be indulging in some needless personal waffle that also happens to be both ignorant and entirely incorrect; results having absolutely nothing to do with player allegiance, of course, as has been pointed out.

Being unnecessarily triumphalist - something on which Givens verges by expressly referring to the IFA's situation when it ought to be entirely irrelevant to our ambitions - wouldn't be the most prudent of official stances either as it merely serves to provoke further paranoid hysteria around what should be a non-issue, not to mention providing fuel for a mass helping of vitriol towards the specific players concerned, and doesn't look too smart when trying to exert a claim over the moral high ground on the issue at large either. Don't give their overused windbags any more bloody oxygen, for Pete's sake!

Players declaring to play for us should not be scrutinised in the context of declaring for us at the IFA's expense, as if the IFA's situation is our fault or the fault of the player. Northern-born Irish nationals have as much right to play for us as they do them. The debate as to who "possesses" these individuals is, of course, a redundant, ludicrous and utterly objectionable concept, but if a cretin were to go conceptualising down that route, as I've seen many do, these individuals, in the daft nomenclature of such an argument, are as much "our" players as they are "their" players. Likewise, the FAI also bear a financial cost from players who declare to play for us at whatever level, just in the same way the IFA do, and just as both associations reap the accompanying and concurrent rewards.

Anyway, personally, I'm just delighted that Ferguson looks set to finally declare for his country. ;)

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Originally Posted by Eirambler

Because Givens is basically saying that its good if Ferguson switches because it will make NI more **** and because of this we can get more of their players. Whereas, like you say, its really about a sense of nationality and identity rather than just playing for the better team. He's just stirring the pot for no good reason and thats not doing either side any favours.

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Maybe, but think a lot of people seem to be overstating his influence. For once I wouldn't agree 100% with DI, but will cede once again to his more articulate response.

And even if Givens is doing what his critics suggest, to me it's 'fair game' in the general scheme of things. Especially in the overall context of what's preceded this.
Do you think anyone would behave differently under the same circumstances??

Givens' comments were snide, which helps nobody and makes the FAI out to be arrogant. It's not nice and we shouldn't applaud it. Even though we're competing with them for players, I'd always wish NI the best and would like nothing more than to see both our teams compete at a major tournament.

Fair enough CD, but as we all know that feeling's hardly mutual.

I have no sympathy for the north losing out on players especially as the governing body there haven't been arsed about changing to a more politically correct and meaningful national anthem. How players from nationalist communities can stand and listen to that before a match is beyond me. I mean Neil Lennon did his level best and look at the treatment he's been getting. Sort the IFA out into being a less sectarian organisation and maybe just maybe there wont be as many 'deserters' to the south.Till such a time I don't think northern fans can have to many grievances.