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I don't know about that. The jury is still very much out on McGeady and Steven Reid had a number of chances for Ireland when he played poorly (I'll accept that both may have shown better form at club level recently). Anyway, both players were regularly in Kerr's squads - you could argue that the likes of Mark Kennedy and Rory Delap have been ignored but Staunton clearly doesn't rate them either.Quote:
Originally Posted by as_i_say
Jerry, Steven Reid WAS regularly ignored, honestly. In fact he actually did OK under Kerr at times. He played very well in Kerr's first game & it was his free that Kilbane headed in. It's only my personal theory, but the reason he was muck on the RHS of midfield at home to Russia was that he & Carr just had no understanding of each other whatsoever.
I've copied the following from11-a-side.com. Interesting to note that Bruce snr turned Ireland down because of the 5 Foreigner Rule in Europe at the time (if true I'd actually have some sympathy for that decision), though I thought players brought up through the junior ranks in England didn't count - can't really remember!
Birmingham boss backs Alex for Irish role
February 24, 2006
Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce has backed his son Alex’s decision to declare for Ireland – at the same time revealing the thinking behind his own decision to rebuff an approach from Jack Charlton to turn out for Ireland for the World Cup in the United States in 1994.
Alex, a central defender or full back, is likely to make his under-21 debut against Sweden in Drogheda on Tuesday evening.
And Bruce is happy for his son to reform familial links with Ireland, although he felt he would not have been best served by the move when he was starring for Manchester United.
He said: “With his grandparents being Irish he thought, why not? It’s genuine that both sides of our family are Irish.
"I think the opportunity to gain international recognition appeals to Alex and I am happy to support him in that.
"I had that chance when Jack Charlton was in charge of the Republic before USA ’94. I nearly went but I decided against it, especially as we were going to be hindered as a club at Manchester United with the five foreigners rule.
"But obviously with my mother being Irish it was a close call. Jack rang me. He said that he had just spoken to a waiter on the train and heard that my mother was Irish! He said: ’Why haven’t you told me before!’”
Apologies if it's been mentioned above, but weren't both McAteer & Kernaghan eligible for Ireland only because they had ancestry from the 6 counties? Is Alex Bruce descendent from the North or was he only eligible for them because of the reverse of McAteer & Kernaghan's situation? Bruce snr didn't specify in the interview above.
kennedy and delap have had their chances, particularly kennedy-he's no use. delap has been unfortunate with injuries at vital times but cant see him getting a look in.
Seriously though s reid and mcgeady WERE virtually ignored by kerr. i havent checked any stats but i cant remember any competitve games that steven reid started for us even though he was playing well at center mid and right mid last season for blackburn.
kerr would pick holland at all costs (and roy of course). duff and andy reid were both automatic when they were both poor enough to have been subbed in a few games and were not. steven reid should be given a shot instead of accomodating andy just for the sake of it. my 2 cents
anyway hindsight but im hoping that all these youngsters will be just thrown straight in-exactly what mick did in 96. the stars will remain an
remember alan moore, liam daish, dominic foley, john goodman,graham barrett and others and i cant think of? give them international caps straight away if they are playing at a high level and see if they can handle it.
id also give trundle a go even though hes decided to stay at swansea
BTW Reid is far too old to be considered a prospect (and was under Kerr too)
Mark Kennedy was not picked as he is not good enough.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
Steven Reid has only showed good club form in the last 12 months. I still remember him coming on as sub against Russia & trotting around the pitch, no energy & no class.
Kerr used the granny rule to get McGready & while he was ok last year has had terrible form this season while Kerr was in charge so i don't think him beinmg ignored is valid.
Whenever you suggest a player should be in a squad you also have to consider who should be dropped.
i didnt say that reid was a prospect. he was a prospect in 2001 but i believe he deserves to be in there. lets face it there were plenty of lads trotting around the place under kerr.
What has Houghton done to earn your disapproval?Quote:
Originally Posted by ThatGuy
In reply to whether Carragher was ever asked to play for us,the answer is no.However undoubtedly if he had been asked he would have said yes.He's a typical Liverpudlian,who doesnt really have any affinity for England and like most Liverpudlians has an affinity for Ireland.I lived in Bootle where he is from and remember in 1988,when we beat England,all the scousers were going mental when Houghton scored!!A few years ago,Liverpool fans used to buy in droves a t shirt with Carra on it saying "**** it,its only England",because he was constantly being overlooked for a call up.
Surely if he had this "affinity" for us , he wouldnt have had to wait to be asked to declare .
Steve Bruce did not declare for Ireland for only one reason. It would have put ManURe over the 5 non-foreigners rule which applied in UEFA competitions before Bosman among other things.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Legend
Club before country - an easy enough decision if you've no strong personal allegiance.
:ball: PP
..the same as Kevin Gallen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Plastic Paddy
No, Gallen wanted to play for England. As QPR were highly unlikely to qualify for europe, there's no way that was the reason.
Was McGeady not picked fairly regularly for the U21s during Kerr's reign?Quote:
Originally Posted by as_i_say
100 yay - Mercenaries are so good for generating posts.
That's not what Jerry Francis thought - his eyes firmly set on the England job at the time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
And it was what Jerry thought that mattered, not QPR's real chance of qualifying. And actually for a time they were not far off.
personally glad that he has opted for you and not us. we dont really want players not commited to us putting on the shirt.
beggars cant be choosers?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dassa
NI management called him up 3 times so they clearly wanted him. My feeling toward mercenaries is pragmatic, there are times when we need them and the depth they provide but in an ideal world we would play the Breens and Kilbanes and not the Hollands and Morrisons. Despite the reasonably high numbers of Irish youngters in the UK we don't have many quality center backs coming through - not that I think Bruce is a quality center back at this point but he could develop into one like his father and become an option in years to come. Probability is he will be playing League 1 sooner rather than later and then gradually slip into obscurity.
were far from beggers and if he turned us down once should never have been given further chance. in his position of midfield or defence centre we have much more talanted players than him.Quote:
Originally Posted by livehead1
i can think of a few more who turned ya down and then ended up in the jersey, maik taylor? we've done it as well thoughQuote:
Originally Posted by Dassa
he has made a bad career choice cos he is far more likely to play for NI than us but i can understand Dassa's feelings on the matter.
I wouldnt put me house on us beatin the north at the moment...Quote:
Originally Posted by livehead1
He's said several times since he retired that he still considers himself scottish and looks for their results first. Just incase people try and claim that it was for the audience he was talking to at the time, he said this on an RTE production - The Green and the Red about players who'd played for United or Liverpool, and Ireland. Gave the story of how he decided to play for Ireland in a fit of pique because he was píssed off not getting his game for scotland when he thought he should've been in their team.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia
I think its safe to say that people like us would give anything to represent our countries. But thats because we are real fans for many players today the honour of pulling on that green top of either country just doesnt mean what it should. very dissapointing but maybe a sign of the times im afraid.
no clinton morrison is but look at the commitment and effort he has put into the green jersey and nobody was complaining bout him in israel or switz .. if alex bruce comes on as a player and does well for us then fair play to the lad .. wish him well
Reading the paper today and i seen and Alex Bruce said he watched his dad win everything as a player for club but not getting a cap for country. he then said he has irish family back ground but here is the best part of the article and i quote:
"Its something you look forward to as a lad, representing a country. Its nice to be wearing the Ireland kit"
Hands up how many of us dreamed of representing A country as a kid?????
I know i've always wanted to represented MY country but as a lad i never said it would be great to play so Scotland or Hungry or Iran.
When will the kids learn. Well he is irish now, lets back him. he might make it.
the clinton M. discussion is irrelevant now, that fella puts so much effort in when he plays for us, always works so hard, hes a good player and a nice man, no1 i have spoke to has a bad word 2 say about him, a gent
Vinny Jones is the ultimate mercenary, he even looks the part. Whenever we bring up the topic of mercenaries we have to at least acknowledge we didn't take Vinny up on his offer...
Yeah I remember the headlines in the papers about 10 years ago when we wer considering his offer "It's Vinny O'Jones" :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Qwerty
Did we ever get a chance to turn him down? As I recall he could not prove his eligibility. He came to Dublin to get his granny's birthcert but with no success. Having said that, I think Charlton said he wouldn;t have picked him anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by Qwerty
But I could be totally wrong.
i always dreamed of playing for Country A...great team they had in the 90s
Me too! I hate that Country B...so much.Quote:
Originally Posted by as_i_say
The guys on the Northern Ireland board dug up this one
http://www.fifa.com/en/media/index/0,1369,74563,00.html
My reading of this is that if Alex Bruce's only qualification fdor us is through his grandmother from Co. Down then he would not be eligible. He may have a connection to the Republic as well but I haven't seen that clarified.
It would also rule out any NI born players from playing for us as the previous rule used to allow passport holders to play for a country. Anybody born on th eisland can get an Irish passport but now they will need a RoI grandparent at a minimum.
Lads I qualified by birth to play for the Republic; through my mother for Northern Ireland ; through my mother's father being born in Cairo ..for Egypt; and through my father's mother being born in Valparaiso ....for Chile.
And while I am proud to be Irish ... it would have been an honour to represent any of them if I am honest!
Now as it happens I didn't even have the talent to represent San Marino but that's life ! :D
Quote:
Originally Posted by gspain
Well if he has an Irish born (anywhere on the island) granny especially one born before 1949 then he as far as I know can still become an Irish citizen.
The referendum that was voted on in 2004, came into effect on 1 January 2005 which is when the rules changed. And Alex is more than 15 months old isn't he?:D