NI boss targets Republic's Gibson

Eg What Are Gibson's "political/non-footballing" Motives For Playing For Us And Not Your Lot??

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

The IRFU = Building an Ireland of Unequals.

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I thought thats what the army did 38 years ago?

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Originally Posted by geysir

Darron's assertion of nationality is his birthright.
A decision made by Darron to play for Ireland is obviously reinforced by his background.
We are not here in this forum to discuss the merits or demerits of the social and political history of NI. We just have to accept and respect the situation as it is now and move forward from here. A decision that Darron made should not be made lightly. I'm glad that Kane can go back offer himself for the NI team, another plus for the FIFA structure which allows this up to the age of 21.
It would appear to me to be a more natural situation for Irish nationals in NI to continue playing with their peers through the NI football structure, it's an easy choice to make.
For those kids like Darron, they should have the structure maintained to facilitate a choice to declare for the Irish team. The FAI for their part should approach this with the interests of the player to the fore.

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So what you're saying [emboldened] is that the IFA should spend their scarce resources developing young players so that they (the players) may then opt to play for another Association, should it suit them?

I'm sorry, but notwithstanding the right within the Rules of any youngster to switch, that's not what I pay my admission or membership money to the IFA for - and I would say that equally in respect of players who wish to switch to ROI, England or any other Association.

[QUOTE=EalingGreen;759889]

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Originally Posted by eelmonster

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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EG you are the one who comes on here talking about NI being the successor to the team , or indeed the continuation of the team prior to 1921 or 1950 and you dotn know what flag they played under ???

[QUOTE=RogerMilla;759940]

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

EG you are the one who comes on here talking about NI being the successor to the team , or indeed the continuation of the team prior to 1921 or 1950 and you dotn know what flag they played under ???

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sure the mans a muppet i've said it for months! how anyone can have as much time as that to post such diatribe on numerous forums is beyond me!

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Originally Posted by eelmonster

:eek: Absurd.

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Sophistry of the highest order. How can Ravenhill not be in Ireland?

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Originally Posted by livehead1

I thought thats what the army did 38 years ago?

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I'm talking sport chum.:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

I'm talking sport chum.:rolleyes:

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lol sorry, just having the craic with ya!!! Last day at work, no court attendance and off to majorca on monday, I am ON IT!!

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

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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Putting interpretations of FIFA rules aside.
I can respect any NI born Irish National choosing to play for the NI team. I don't see real substance with politics coming into the equation. I can imagine they are very proud to represent NI.
Do you respect an NI born Irish National's decision to choose the Irish team?

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Originally Posted by livehead1

lol sorry, just having the craic with ya!!! Last day at work, no court attendance and off to majorca on monday, I am ON IT!!

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Enjoy your holiday.:cool:

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Originally Posted by livehead1

no court attendance and off to majorca on monday,

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Good lad - I like to see foot.e boys keeping out of trouble - please also keep up the good behaviour when you get back.

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Originally Posted by geysir

Putting interpretations of FIFA rules aside.
I can respect any NI born Irish National choosing to play for the NI team. I don't see real substance with politics coming into the equation. I can imagine they are very proud to represent NI.
Do you respect an NI born Irish National's decision to choose the Irish team?

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I imagine they would answer with "it's not about whether we have respect for his decision. It's about whether it's valid under FIFA's elegibility rules".:D

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

The IRFU = Building an Ireland of Unequals.

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nb

Are you that well known troll who spends his life online touring sites using various names/handles.(including owc site) :confused:

You sound very like him.

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Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia

Good lad - I like to see foot.e boys keeping out of trouble - please also keep up the good behaviour when you get back.

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LMFAO

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Originally Posted by livehead1

Still waiting for an answer from EG as he seems to be knowledgable about some "political/non-footballing" matters that are behind the reason why he wasnt to play for us.

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I'm not quite sure what you're after with your question, but my point is that I am not entirely persuaded about Gibson's motives for adopting his "ROI or nothing" stance.

On the one hand, I can quite understand why someone who comes from a Nationalist background like his would prefer to play for the ROI over NI. I've no problem with such an aspiration and assuming he's eligible, then I wish him good luck (except if he should ever play against NI, that is!).

However, whilst a preference towards ROI is one thing, antipathy towards NI, even if that were the only option for international football open to him, is something else. And I can only conclude that his opposition to playing for NI is at least in part politically-motivated. Otherwise, why are the majority of other players from a Nationalist background, whether with the choice to represent ROI or not, still prepared to represent NI?

If I am correct in my surmising, then fair enough, he's entitled to believe whatever the hell he likes, but imo he is a lesser person for it than other (Nationalist) players who do not let personal political convictions cloud their reasoning over footballing issues. Or lesser than the likes of Alan Kernaghan. Or indeed, lesser than those northern Unionists (myself included), who always trooped to Lansdowne in their thousands to watch Ireland play, irrespective of the fact that it was under a flag (Tricolour) and to an anthem (Soldiers Song) which does not in any way represent our tradition on this island.

Having said all that, othere are one or two other aspects of this which don't quite fit. For one thing, DG was happy enough originally to represent NI in under-age football. Which in itself wouldn't necessarily mean anything, except that he has also mentioned previously that he fell out with an IFA coach who wanted him to play for NI at a time when MU were ofering him a trial. Why should that be pertinent, if he was always only ever going to represent ROI in the long term, anyhow?

And one other minor point is that a significant number of those youngsters currently switching from NI to ROI come from Derry, like Gibson. Which is understandable enough, seeing as how it's a Nationalist town, on the border, with its senior team playing in the Eircom. Except that DG is actually a product of Institute FC, the club from the "other" side of the river.

Anyhow, now that I've answered as best I can your question, Livehead, is there any chance you'll answer mine from yesterday? You know, when I asked you to find the post where you say I accused you of being a "bigot" , on account of your signature? :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by RogerMilla

EG you are the one who comes on here talking about NI being the successor to the team , or indeed the continuation of the team prior to 1921 or 1950 and you dotn know what flag they played under ???

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I know that the NI team administered by the IFA is the successor to the Ireland team administered by, ahem, the IFA, since it's pretty damned obvious.

But I don't know what flag, if any, flew over Windsor, Solitude, North, Lansdowne etc when Ireland were playing internationals 86+ years ago, since I'm not old enough* to have attended. I am, however, capable of disabusing those misinformed individuals who seem to think that the Union Flag currently flies over Windsor...


* - And even if I were, I'd probably be incapable of remembering ;)

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Originally Posted by geysir

Do you respect an NI born Irish National's decision to choose the Irish team?

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I had hoped I had made it perfectly clear in my previous posts, but I completely understand and respect an NI-born Nationalist's aspirations to represent the ROI and providing they comply with all of FIFA's eligibility criteria, then good luck to them all.

That includes Gibson, even despite the fact of his "ROI or nothing stance", which I can only conclude must not only be pro-ROI, but at least partly anti-NI in motivation. Indeed, if he should be ruled ineligible for ROI, and were prepared to change his mind about NI (however unlikely), I would not hold this against him.

Rather, I would leave it to the NI manager to determine, on footballing grounds, whether he should be selected or not.

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

However, whilst a preference towards ROI is one thing, antipathy towards NI, even if that were the only option for international football open to him, is something else.

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That's a bit rich tbh EO - I think I have expressed my disapppointment at the celebratory stance you and your buddies adopt when Ireland lose, go through a hard time (plenty for you to celebrate I grant), drop in the rankings etc etc. Would you therefore concede that your antipathy is politically motiovated.

And to be fair I've not heard anything negative about NI from Gibson, only positive feelings for Ireland. You are looking for a political slant to justify the suite of unhealthy views you have built.

I'd always rooted for the North in the past, but the level of antipathy (& worse) from you guys makes it very hard to warm to supporters of your team.

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Originally Posted by Maroon 7

I imagine they would answer with "it's not about whether we have respect for his decision. It's about whether it's valid under FIFA's elegibility rules".:D

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And you would "imagine" completely wrongly, Maroon 7, at least as regards this poster, to whom Geysir's question was originally directed (see Post# 514)

Ealing G in your answer you neglected to read and comprehend the conditional "Putting interpretations of FIFA rules aside."

I would say the likely interpretation is that the "Ireland or Nobody" is a reaction to the IFA and team Manager public bleating about Darron and his choice.
It has affected him and his family.