NI boss targets Republic's Gibson

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Originally Posted by lopez

So tell me, what was your post of complaint following Marty's decision to put up a 'We support our Boys' banner on ourweeminds?

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First, owc is a private messageboard, owned by Marty, who can do whatever the hell he likes with it.

Second, my Favourites Link takes me past the home page and straight into the forum, so I never even noticed the banner in question (which in any case, wasn't there when I checked just now).

Third, had I noticed it, I might well have complained, in the same way as I have complained about a number of other threads, posts etc, which I felt were similarly inappropriate.

Fourth, if the IFA ever carried a political message like that in any of its official publications or forums etc, then damned right I'd complain about it!

Finally, it's a bit rich your complaining about a political message on another Board when you posted on this Board that you were not just entitled, but proud, to sing IRA songs at ROI matches. As such, that puts you right up there with Young Irish and Livehead on this Board in your espousal of double standards...:rolleyes:

Still waiting for an answer from EG to tell us all what darron gibsons "political/non-football" motives are for wanting to play for us and not ni.

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Originally Posted by eelmonster

why not follow the example of your fellow UK associations Scotland and Wales and adopt a flag and anthem acceptable to all sections of the community in NI.

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I think Wales fly the Welsh flag and the Scots fly the Scottish flag.

Northern Ireland fly a Northern Irish flag.

If we changed to a Saint Patrick's Cross, I'm quite sure I could live with that.

On anthem, I support the introduction of a new "sporting" anthem, to be played at appropriate football, GAA and rugby matches held in Northern Ireland.

The team called "Northern Ireland" will not be changing tho - and that's the real issue with many people.;)

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First, owc is a private messageboard, owned by Marty, who can do whatever the hell he likes with it.

Second, my Favourites Link takes me past the home page and straight into the forum, so I never even noticed the banner in question (which in any case, wasn't there when I checked just now).

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Can you share this link? that lopez is refering to I mean.

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The game in Belfast was deemed an "away" fixture by the IRFU.

"Protocol" only seems to work one way.

I'm sure it comes as a great shock to many people that Belfast is not in Ireland - at least according to the brains at the IRFU.

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So when we play as "Ireland" belfast should be included as part of IReland? The island of Ireland?

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

The game in Belfast was deemed an "away" fixture by the IRFU.

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Where on earth did you hear/read that!?

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Originally Posted by livehead1

So tell us o fountain of knowledge what are Gibson's political/non-footballing issues why he won't play for you lot? you would love to put it down to that now.

Maybe he wants to play for a side that has good footballers, great up and coming talent and might actually qualify for a major competition. In fact, Gibson might remember the days of the 1994 world cup or 2002 world cups, he'll hardly remember Northern Ireland last qualifying for a major tournament as he wasn't even born!!:D:D

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So are you saying that it's actually a mercenary desire for success which is behind DG's opting for the ROI? Some Irishman, that, eh? Still, he'll be in good company with all the other "plastics" who suddenly remembered their Oirishness when the chance to play in World Cups etc presented itself.

Of course, when the Qualification Tables for Euro2008 are finally worked out, it could just turn out that he backed the wrong horse on that one, too! ;)

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

So are you saying that it's actually a mercenary desire for success which is behind DG's opting for the ROI? Some Irishman, that, eh? Still, he'll be in good company with all the other "plastics" who suddenly remembered their Oirishness when the chance to play in World Cups etc presented itself.

Of course, when the Qualification Tables for Euro2008 are finally worked out, it could just turn out that he backed the wrong horse on that one, too! ;)

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You haven't answered the question. Your like a fecking politician, attempt to answer a question by asking a question!

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

I think Wales fly the Welsh flag and the Scots fly the Scottish flag.

Northern Ireland fly a Northern Irish flag.

If we changed to a Saint Patrick's Cross, I'm quite sure I could live with that.

On anthem, I support the introduction of a new "sporting" anthem, to be played at appropriate football, GAA and rugby matches held in Northern Ireland.

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I think that would be a very positive move - but can you imagine trying to convince the GAA, or some of the more extreme NI supporters. :(

[QUOTE=eelmonster;759838]The original IFA represented the island of Ireland, not 6 counties in the north east of the country (as it was then ;)) and certainly didn't fly a defunct sectarian flag.[/QUOTE]

I have no idea what flag, if any, the IFA flew prior to 1921. But I am certain that the IFA will never have flown any "sectarian" flag of any sort, defunct or current, at any stage before or since.

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

I have no idea what flag, if any, the IFA flew prior to 1921. But I am certain that the IFA will never have flown any "sectarian" flag of any sort, defunct or current, at any stage before or since.

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The Ulster banner is a politically sectarian flag.

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Originally Posted by lopez

I'm not sure if you have noticed the difference, but Linfield are a club who can pick and choose who they employ from a myriad of nationalities. Northern Ireland is, at least for the purposes of FIFA, a 'national team'. I don't mind going to work in Britain under a UJ, but that doesn't mean I am British. For Northern nationalists - your neighbours, perhaps you should try talking to them - the UJ is not the flag of their country. That's one of the many reasons so many support Ireland, and that Gibson wants to play for what he sees as his country.

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And the IFA does not fly the Union Flag at NI matches, so how might that deter Gibson or any other Nationalist?

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Originally Posted by eelmonster

Where on earth did you hear/read that!?

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In order to have to avoid playing GSTQ at Ravenhill, as previous protocol demanded, the IRFU deemed the game to be an away fixture.

Belfast Newsletter 21/08/06

"Confirming that Phil coulter’s Ireland’s Call will be played pre-match at Ravenhill and not God Save The Queen, an IRFU Ulster branch spokeswoman said that it was a matter of policy.

“When Ireland play in Dublin, the Irish national anthem plus Ireland’s Call are played but, when the team play outside Ireland, wherever that might be, only Ireland’s Call is played” she said. “So this is not out of the norm”.

:eek:

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Originally Posted by eelmonster

I think that would be a very positive move - but can you imagine trying to convince the GAA, or some of the more extreme NI supporters. :(

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Well, I and many others will be continuing to try and convince enough Northern Ireland supporters of it's merits.

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

And the IFA does not fly the Union Flag at NI matches, so how might that deter Gibson or any other Nationalist?

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It certainly didn't deter Sammy Clingan, my mate got his autograph and it was signed sammy clingan 32 :D:D

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Originally Posted by livehead1

It certainly didn't deter Sammy Clingan, my mate got his autograph and it was signed sammy clingan 32 :D:D

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Great to see Sammy give 100% for the six tho, isn't it?:D

Smashing bloke by the way.

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

In order to have to avoid playing GSTQ at Ravenhill, as previous protocol demanded, the IRFU deemed the game to be an away fixture.

Belfast Newsletter 21/08/06

"Confirming that Phil coulter’s Ireland’s Call will be played pre-match at Ravenhill and not God Save The Queen, an IRFU Ulster branch spokeswoman said that it was a matter of policy.

“When Ireland play in Dublin, the Irish national anthem plus Ireland’s Call are played but, when the team play outside Ireland, wherever that might be, only Ireland’s Call is played” she said. “So this is not out of the norm”.

:eek:

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:eek: Absurd.

this thread is fantastic. Going round in lots circles and going nowhere fast but highly enjoyable. How I see it? Gibson is Irish, wanted to play for us and has at last been given that opportunity. Good luck to Norhern Ireland in the Euro's, I hope you qualify. If rugby fans can get on why not football fans?

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Originally Posted by eelmonster

:eek: Absurd.

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The IRFU = Building an Ireland of Unequals.

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Originally Posted by as_i_say

What drivel is this now? Gibson IS Irish and DOES want to play for us (and nobody else, as has been stated categorically by the player) so if he makes it he wont be taking anyones place just his own rightful one.

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If that's how Gibson sees it, fine. I was asked what I would do if offered the chance to represent the ROI and merely stated that I would certainly consider it, but might be concerned that I might be taking the place of someone who was much more committed to them than I.

The fact that I might be a better player than the player I was keeping out is not the be-all and end-all of it for me, since I consider representing ones country to be about more than just the "best" players playing for the "best" team.

Were I given a straight choice between NI and the ROI, or England, or Brazil for that matter, I would choose NI every single time, irrespective of the fact that two of those teams offer a better chance of winning cups and medals etc.

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Can you share this link? that lopez is refering to I mean?

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Again, are you asking me? If so, Lopez was referring to a banner (presumably on the OWC home page?) which I never even saw. That is because instead of my typing in the website's full title when i want to access it, which would take me to the home page, I click on a shortcut which takes me straight to the forum section.