Great move for him. German is easy to learn. And Werder Bremen are a great club. He'll probably start out in the reserve side. But they still play in the 3rd tier. Regional Liga.
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Great move for him. German is easy to learn. And Werder Bremen are a great club. He'll probably start out in the reserve side. But they still play in the 3rd tier. Regional Liga.
Tremendous system. I believe Spain do something similar.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nagger
Really? Although I enjoy German football, and get over for games now and again, I've never liked the idea of reserve sides playing in the third division, as opposed to their own youth league. They've no fans, there's zero atmosphere and so on.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sullivinho
While in Madrid on holiday this year I went to Vallecano- Huesca in their D2. Huesca is a town in Aragon, near Zaragoza. There were about 20 away fans, I doubt their reserves have much of a following.
It doesn't have the depth of interest that Englaish football has but I think most observers think that the Bundesliga is a model of sense and sustainability on the basis of its tight regulations regarding ownership and financial prudence.
The EPL is a bit like Wall Street banking - focus on short term rewards with huge share of revenues going to employees with no long term "skin in the game". This encouarages risky behaviour. Even Alan Greenspan admitted after the crash that his conviction - that left to their own devices the banks wouldn't endanger their own existence - was wrong. The EPL is taking the same light regulation stance and it'll cost them.
German top flight clubs, on the other hand are like Nationwide Building Society, managed for its members with a view to the longer term. The cost to the Bundesliga has been loss of competitiveness at the top level in Europe but they're well placed to benefit in the current environment and especially when UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules kick in. The Bundesliga's ability to provide & nurture talent for the national teams vastly surpasses that of England.
Where England wins out is global appeal, its genuinely deep league structure and, for the time being, competitiveness in Europe.
German Bundesliga grounds are fantastic and fan culture is superb too, every bit as good, if not better than in England.
1828: DONE DEAL: The Irish Football Association has confirmed 19-year-old Cliftonville and Northern Ireland under-21 striker Liam Boyce has completed a move to Werder Bremen - Tottenham's opponents in the Champions League group stages, of course, for an undisclosed fee. From the Irish Premiership to the Bundesliga... it's a funny old game!
An international transfer would make a nice bonus:cool:
If you think that the 'transfer' of Gibson/Wilson/Duffy/Kearns caused a furor, good God what would happen here?
Why would it cause a furor? He was ignored by the IFA team until April this year when they included him in a couple of u19 games, I'm not aware that he was ever involved in beaglebum's youth set-up before this.Quote:
Originally Posted by Deckydee
Er, he was "ignored" by pretty much everyone, considering he only made his Cliftonville debut last season (2009-10).Quote:
Originally Posted by co. down green
In fact, Beaglehole has been very refreshing in the way he has been prepared to give youth its chance as early as possible, including comparable IL players like Martin Donnelly, who has already gained a senior cap.
Oh and btw, Beaglehole drafted Boyce straight into the NI U-21's, when he had just turned 19 and had barely half a season with Cliftonville.
P.S. Beaglehole only took over the U-21's in August 2008, so whatever else, he's hardly been ignoring "uncut diamonds" for very long.
Welcome back EG, glad you've recovered from your bout of eligibilityitis :)
Thanks for the kind wishes, but this thread is about Liam Boyce.Quote:
Originally Posted by co. down green
You know, the young kid who has been ignored by the FAI all this time...:rolleyes:
If the gentlemen's agreement agreed with the IFA in 1999 still stands due to the goodwill of the FAI - in spite, of course, of the IFA's recent irresponsible attempt to breach and dismantle it wholesale - then you'll know that Boyce has to volunteer his interest to the FAI before they call him into any team. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
Yeah, but there are direct flights between Hamburg and Dublin, and he knows Shane Duffy. Its just easier for everybody this way.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
:)
Go with your heart Liam.
Least that way if you have any regrets you can say that it was the heart that led ya.
Never fear EG, The FAI have a whole army of willing spies who track all possible recruits in the North, young Boyce's file was opened when he was playing for Rushlight Celtic in the Belfast Sunday league, afew years back. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
In that case, does his non-inclusion at any level for ROI mean that he is not considered good enough by the FAI to be worth approaching, even at under-age level?Quote:
Originally Posted by co. down green
Or that he has been approached, but declined?
Northern Ireland's world-class coaching facilities were decided as more suitable for his early footballing education.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
But when it comes to senior international football, he might want to play for an actual nation... ;)
Is anyone monitoring Padraig Almond's transfer from Sligo to Paccos Ferriera in Portugal. Seems odd. Must be a player with good potential. Anyone know anything about him?
Quote:
Originally Posted by TrapAPony
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crosby87
nice guys.Quote:
Originally Posted by backtowalsall
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...sh/8964485.stm
Steve Beaglehole applauds Liam Boyce transfer
Liam Boyce will cap a whirlwind week by starting for Northern Ireland Under-21s in their European Championship qualifier against San Marino on Friday.
The striker has returned to the squad's base after securing a dream move from Cliftonville to Werder Bremen.
U-21 boss Steve Beaglehole applauded the player for moving to Germany.
"Not everyone of his age would do that and it is to his credit that he was keen to go. I'm delighted and it could be the making of him," said Beaglehole.
Boyce is due to join the Bundesliga club's Under-23 side in one of the most surprising transfers of the summer.
"I know one or two clubs in England were looking at Liam but nothing came of it," said Beaglehole.
"Liam will get a great football education in Bremen - they have invested in raw potential and he can be anything he wants to be.
"He is an old-fashioned centre forward, who does his best work in the box - he is physical, brave and can finish.
"What Liam needs to do now is build up his fitness but that should come naturally as he switches from part-time to full-time football."
Selected, no. Ignored...maybe he just hasn't posted his letter yet. http://www.irishleaguesupporters.com...ilies/wink.gifQuote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
If young Liam has his heart set on playing for the Republic, perhaps he will show some integrity and get his letter posted to the FAI soon - if he doesn't see his future with Northern Ireland, no point fcuking around (denying someone who really wants the shirt) eh?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_Parker
And don't dilly dally on the way....
His decision and no one elses. Whatever that is he will have my full support.Quote:
Originally Posted by Not Brazil
Absolutely.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_Parker
Best made sooner, rather than later.
No doubt he would do so when it suits him and not someone elses agenda.Quote:
Originally Posted by Not Brazil
So you believe players should be allowed to suit themselves come what may, without any consideration for principle or integrity etc?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_Parker
We'll remember that the next time someone shafts Cliftonville or the ROI, purely out of self-interest...:rolleyes:
I certainly do anyway. As long as the rules (FIFA & legal) are followed, I have no problem with the decisions that players make (self interested or not). Trying to ascribe values like "principle" and "integrity" to uneducated football players is folly. They'll make the decisions that suit them bestQuote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
Check out the Shane Lowry thread - no bad feeling or sour grapes from anyone.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
http://foot.ie/threads/124017-Shane-Lowry
The only "agenda" I would have ( and, I'd be reasonably confident it would be shared by many of my fellow Northern Ireland supporters) is to ensure we are not dicked about by tosspots with an "agenda".Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_Parker
Message is very clear - if a player doesn't really want to play for Northern Ireland, clear off and let someone who does honour the shirt.
If a player does really want to play for Northern Ireland with pride in the honour bestowed upon him, he'll have unwavering support.
If a player wants to dick about, he'll be treated with appropriate contempt.
That's pretty fair, don't you think?
Well it would seem that some players have been attempting to make that decision, but are being pressurised by the underage IFA managers to stay.Quote:
Originally Posted by Not Brazil
According to a reliable source over on the 'Are We A Country' website.......
Lads alarming news from our u18s, by a nailed on source 2 players mouthing off on the tour being ****ed off, never again wanting to play for NI going to go to the ROI. One of the players apparently had told P Kee previously last year with the u17s he didn't want to play and apparently the manager hounded him over a period of months bending over backwards for him to return. He inturn went on this tour and after getting subed went mouthing off he's never playing for f**ckn NI again. His mate in the team is supposedly saying the same. Don't really want to mention the players in question but apparently their behaviour was rubbish.
What do you suggest should be done? As a dual citizen he has the choice to play for two teams. Players are always going to act in self-interest. Humans have a general tendency to do that. You're deluded if you think otherwise, or that they'd take your agenda into consideration. In this instance, "principle" and "integrity" are just words to mask your own self-interest. For whatever reasons, maybe it suits Boyce to give up his time for Northern Ireland now. And for other reasons, maybe it'll suit him to switch to us at some point in the future. Get off your high-horse.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
Declaring his footballing nationality, one way or the other, has nothing to do with his integrity nor could it be seen as him acting purely out of self-interest. Chosing either association is shafting no one. It will be an adult acting on his free will based on his reasons and as per his nationality allows him to do so within the FIFA Statutes.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
Liam should get involved with the NI U-21's to try and bring as many as possible over to the land of milk and honey that is playing for the FAI
It's well-known that Shane Duffy was put under similar pressure to stick with Northern Ireland. In fact, Worthington, as well as guilting him and Beaglehole having fast-tracked him through their youth set-up, even called him into the senior squad for a game after Duffy had made it very clear that he wanted to play for us simply in order to make a scapegoat out of Duffy and draw attention to his "dropping out" of the squad. On the back of the illusion that Duffy was in a similar set of circumstances to Darron Gibson et al and the subsequent publicity the stunt garnered, the IFA breached the gentlemen's agreement with the FAI and went off to CAS with Daniel Kearns.Quote:
Originally Posted by co. down green
Who in the NI squad out in Slovenia doesn't want to play for them? Surely once they have declared they have shown that your assertion is not true? If on the other hand you are refering to underage players, that's what they are, underage as viewed by FIFA and free to choose for themselves.Quote:
Originally Posted by Not Brazil
hope it works out for him :) who knows
As DannyInvincible has noted, plenty of players were and evidently still are being 'hounded' to stay. Obviously it's the manager's job to try to keep his best players, but I would hope that there is a point where a manager has the courtesy to respect a player's decision. No player should be given a guilt trip to make him stay, nor should he be fast-tracked.Quote:
Originally Posted by co. down green
Oh, so you're still here, troll? Magnificent. We were wondering if you were ever going to actually address the posters who took the time to reply to you.Quote:
Originally Posted by fhtb
You left out the bit from the same source which stated:Quote:
Originally Posted by co. down green
"it causes unrest with the other players as one actually passed comment as to" why don't you f**ck of then." Enough said i think."
Shame on Paul Kee and ther coaching staff for "hounding" such individuals.
They should simply have asked the same (extremely salient) question as the player above - perhaps a little more "diplomatically".
No place, and no compromise, for those who don't want the shirt.
Simple as that.
Have to say, I agree wholeheartedly with you there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Not Brazil