Those two would probably be better stand-ins...
And I'd be pessimistic if we had our strongest ever Irish team or even a notional Greatest Ever UI team...
Germany are World Champs and, er, 'half-decent'!
Those two would probably be better stand-ins...
And I'd be pessimistic if we had our strongest ever Irish team or even a notional Greatest Ever UI team...
Germany are World Champs and, er, 'half-decent'!
Just wondering why not picking two players was wrong if it would have no bearing on the outcome though. It'd be irrelevant rather than wrong!
I think Ardee's point is that if we'd selected two players who didn't want to play for us earlier, then maybe now we'd be able to not call them up as replacements for Coleman and McCarthy.
More to do with the fact, they'd be 'better' than any other replacements.
Do keep up...
I'd take Hendrick and O'Brien over Noble and Naughton even if they did want to play for us (they don't) but each to their own. If we're going to talk about English players who have no intention of declaring for Ireland then we might as well set our sights higher than two average players.
Except they're both (nearly always) injured...
The point is Naughton/Noble are eligible. Lots of other average players aren't!
How would we select eligible players who don't want to play for us though?
Hendrick was out for a few months last season but I don't think his injury record is too bad otherwise, few knocks here and there but nothing significant. Played and scored for Derby's U21's last night btw.
It was Martinez who was casting doubt over the participation of McCarthy and Coleman in the upcoming games: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/socc...rthy-1.1948195
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl O'Malley
Lots of eligible ones who don't either though.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Threads passim.
German 20-man squad announced: http://www.dfb.de/news/detail/bellar...schaft-107187/
interesting quotes from Loew:
according to google translate:Quote:
Löw lobt die Iren: "Sie geben nie auf"
Zum Spiel gegen Irland sagt Löw: "Die Iren haben mit Martin O’Neill einen neuen Trainer. Sie sind - wie wir - mit einem Sieg in die Qualifikation gestartet. Wir wissen, dass es sehr unangenehm sein kann, gegen sie zu spielen. Viele von ihnen spielen in der Premier League. Sie sind kampfstark, geben nie auf. Mich begeistert die Fußballkultur der Iren, ihre Leidenschaft, ihre bedingungslose Hingabe, ihr Fußballherz. Ich erwarte ein sehr intensives Spiel und freue mich auch auf die Stimmung in Gelsenkirchen."
Quote:
Loew praises the Irish: "never give up"
To match against Ireland says Löw: "The Irish people have with a new coach Martin O'Neill you are - like us - started with a victory in the qualification We know that it can be very unpleasant to play against them, many... of them play in the Premier League. they are strong in the tackle, never give up. excites me about the football culture of the Irish people, their passion, their unconditional devotion, their football heart. I expect a very intense game and am looking forward to the atmosphere in Gelsenkirchen. "
Wow. Fair play to Mr. Loew, that's a very complimentary analysis. I really hope we fulfill his perception of us.
He called us Die Iren! How dare he!
Er, it's Deutsch?
Maybe he's confusing us with someone else...
Yes AB, it's Deutsch. I can't believe I missed that.
So why quote it? Tets had already done a translation...that just seems a bit pointless.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
http://media.giphy.com/media/zSYrX29fmhKBq/giphy.gif
Technically they're not eligible until they apply for a passport, which I presume they haven't done yet. The meet the criteria for a passport, correct, but they're not eligible, therefore cannot be called up. Grealish is different I assume as he surely needs a passport to play for the under- 21's already. Therefore he could conceivably be called up.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Oh God, you'll get Danny started again :)
Naughton and Noble haven't been selected as they have no interest in playing for us; not because some supporters haven't taken to them, Noble in particular. And they're not unwanted because their ability is in doubt; plenty recognise their talent or potential utility. They're not wanted because they haven't displayed any interest whatsoever in representing us. In fact, Noble has been pretty explicit about his intention not to play for us; he wants to play for England. The only one in Noble's camp playing with the notion of him playing for us is his agent. If he did declare and proved himself worthy, the general tune might change, but it's no surprise very few don't really take to such mercenary gamesmanship. I sense most supporters would rather a team of dedicated players with positive squad morale, even if possibly individually weaker on a broad technical front or with lesser strength in depth, than a team featuring pretenders and chancers such as Noble or Jermaine Pennant.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Lots of eligible players don't want to play for us? Is that not the problem I've just identified as being largely outside of our control or am I misreading your point? No matter what Gary McAllister might think, we can't (and don't) coerce players into playing for us.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
At least he didn't praise our "rugby heart" amongst the fighting-Irish clichés!Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
If I may... :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
Eligibility stems from held nationality (and the fulfilling of any other relevant criteria); not necessarily from a held passport. A passport merely offers evidence of a player's nationality and, hence, supports his eligibility. It's simply the most convenient and reliable document to be used for verification purposes, so FIFA generally stipulate the use of passports for such purposes. IFA players don't require British passports to represent NI, for example, but they still must be (verified) British citizens. FIFA allow the IFA to verify their players' eligibility via other forms, I understand. Some of them possess Irish passports only.
You're correct that Naughton and Noble aren't technically eligible for us though. To be eligible to play for us, they would have to put in motion a request to switch via FIFA. Once FIFA approve any request, it can be effected by representing a new association in a competitive fixture (or perhaps a game of lesser status; I don't think we've ever been able to work out exactly what might and mightn't effect a switch).
Sorry, Charlie. I couldn't help it! :p