Forget those who won’t play for us, says NI skipper Baird
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Are many of you soliciting?
I think the question should read "Do some of you guys work?"Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Quotes from Chris Baird: “It’s up to any player what he wants to do but if they aren’t committed then we can carry on without them,” said Baird.
“Nobody can change a player’s mind. If it’s not right for them, it’s not right. If he wants to move on then fair enough. It’s down to him at the end of the day."
Don't tell some of those on OWB....
I think Chris Baird has this spot on.Quote:
Originally Posted by Predator
A player like him, who gives 100% for the green jersey, wouldn't have a lot of time for wasters in our squad.
According to a poster on OWC, Brian Kerr was on RTÉ radio yesterday evening discussing the eligibility issue and English-born players juggling between playing for England and playing for us. Apparently he was fairly critical of the FAI in relation to calling up players who are also eligible to play for NI, presumably a reference to Adam Barton. Anyone happen hear what he said?
I seem to remember Kerr writing something before in some column or other of his where he accused the FAI of "poaching" northern talent, but didn't Kerr call up northern-born players himself? And then, he holds a bit of a grudge with the FAI anyway, doesn't he?
In an interview with the Irish Times (published 2nd March 2010), Kerr described the current recruitment policy of the FAI to be "unfair, seedy and predatory" and "wrong".Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Bit of a poacher turned gamekeeper - he selected McStay and Crossley for ROI underage teams.
He qualified his apparent hypocricy, by commenting:
"But I do have a problem with the pursuit of lads who have played for Northern Ireland at underage level – in Duffy’s case even up to under-21. If either had declared for the Republic when they were younger then fine, but once a fella gets to 17, 18 we shouldn’t be dizzy trying to get them"
It was newstalk, you can listen to it here: http://media.newstalk.ie/listenbackQuote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Scroll down to Off The Ball -> Wednesday, March 23rd -> Part 1.
The discussion starts just after the 30 minute mark, and also includes Malachy Clerkin from Setanta
Wasn't Brian Kerr himself eligible for the North, as in having the minimum of a Beal-feirste born grandparent?Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
I did talk to him some years ago on the subject of this & his alleged support of Rangers, but unsurprisingly he was somewhat evasive on the subject.
Though he did claim his primary commitment was to the FAI. Who were his employers at the time.
Not sure of Kerr's background at all but it's unlikely he ever would have made any international squad given that the highest level he ever played at was with the Shelbourne 'B' team before calling it a day and focusing on coaching.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Just reading about his early days on Wikipedia and found these bits in particular both amusing and rather curious:
Quote:
At age 13, Kerr took his first coaching role when appointed to the Crumlin United under 11 side.
Anyone know what the "bizarre incident" entailed?Quote:
He was reserve team manager at Shelbourne F.C. in 1978 and after a stint playing for Bluebell United he was appointed assistant manager at Shels in 1983. The following season he moved to Home Farm where he was involved in a bizarre incident in November 1984.
No you're right, if they won't give 100% to the green jersey, they can play for you wasters!Quote:
Originally Posted by Not Brazil
As if Kerr's opinion matters. He's just sticking his oar in.
For once Danny, am going to pull rank. The word was 'eligible'.
As it wasn't just Ireland he was eligible for. Scotland too, possibly?
In fact I'm surprised certain posters haven't started getting animated about whatever 'whataboutery' that proves, if anything.
Don't be like that G. Clearly both squads have and had a number of wasters over the years.Quote:
Originally Posted by gastric
Aren't we all?Quote:
Originally Posted by Predator
You Northern Ireland fans confident about the Serbie game tonight? I bet it's gonna be a little strange for both sets of players playing in front of 200 or so people. Could you guys sneak a win/get a draw?
Gorman, Corry Evans and Cathcart in the NI team. Would have few worries with Cathcart, but the other two are very raw. Bit of a gamble.
Massive ask shakermaker 1982.Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Not convinced that the surreal atmosphere will do us any favours.
Odd team selection - a real gamble.
Hoping for a draw, fearing a 3-0 defeat.
Cory Evans has scored more away winners against good teams than any ROI player in 20 years!
I think the Serbs are a tasty team though.
The surreal atmosphere will surely resemble the reserve team atmosphere your players are used to :)
when the cats away the mouse will play.
On the plus side, 9 of our starting 11 are playing regularly in the Premiership/Championship/SPL - the exceptions being Jonny Evans and young Gorman.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Extremely odd comments from Worthlesston in relation to the team selection for Serbia. Suggests all is not well in the dressing room.
Sadly Belgian trip is now cancelled.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gather round
Oh well.
Touché.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gather round
Flanders' loss is our gain
Watching Barton now against Portugal U21s (he is a football player, remember?) and he looks like an awkward, lanky lump.
Not worth the fuss, you reckon?
No idea on this showing but he hasn't really shown any great attributes beyond his ability to foul people. He doesn't seem to be playing regular football so I guess that's a mitigating circumstance.
I think he's doing okay. One of "our" (:))better players tbh - him and Towell in the middle.
tbf it's a big step up in level from the NI team.
I'd go along with that.Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
That should have been a sending off. Terrible tackle.
No answers to the BK eligibility issue??
Surely worth a few threads of it own and a national holiday for all the countries concerned??
Worthington is clueless. Never has a plan B.Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
The sooner we get rid the better.
I wouldn't be too harsh on Worthlesston based purely on the Serbia game.
Serbia were not necessarily the better team on the night but it was quite apparent they had the better players. Serbia were able to make substitutions that changed the game - Tosic (sp?) ran the show in the second half. Worthlesston doesn't have options like that available to him - a couple of injuries and NI are exposed as out of their depth at this level.
Their better players totally dominated the second half, so I think they were probably the better team on the night.Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
Tosic started the game. Ninkovic was the second-half sub man of the match. We should really have man-marked him with Baird.Quote:
Serbia were able to make substitutions that changed the game - Tosic (sp?) ran the show in the second half
Most of our bench players are either kids or past their best, it's true.Quote:
Worthlesston doesn't have options like that available to him - a couple of injuries and NI are exposed as out of their depth at this level
But...they lost one game by one goal, after beating Slovenia and drawing with Italy. Hardly out of depth, unless you think the Serbs were similarly so being thrashed at home by Estonia and barely scraping a draw with the Slovenes.
It's fair to blame him for, variously
a) starting a schoolboy who should be in the U-19 squad at best
b) persisting with the clearly unfit and uninterested Healy
c) only allowing Mccourtadona five minutes at the end.
NI put in a strong collective, team effort on the night throughout the game. Serbia's team didn't play in total harmony for 90 minutes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gather round
They were better in every position during the second half. As you say yourself, they totally dominated. Questionable what benefit man-marking one player would have made.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gather round
You lost by one goal but Serbia's second half performance was a class above what NI could respond with. NI were out of their depth.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gather round
The game is a team sport. If there isn't a collective effort, the most talented team won't always win the game.
I'm sure Healy is interested in playing for NI. Silly to suggest otherwise. Whether he is fit or not is another issue but it's apparent however he can't play as a lone striker. Feeney was the other option on the bench but he is a League One player i.e. there isn't any real strength or depth available to Worthlesston.
I can agree that the decision to play a school boy in a competitive game is questionable. In hindsight to how Serbia played in the first half, McCourt could have caused havoc if played ahead of Gorman. But as Worthlesston says himself, the kids listen to what their told.
The thing that we are most irked about is that it was clear the Serbs had changed tactics second half and that those tactics were clearly trumping ours. Any idiot could have seen that we needed to make a change early second half as their goals were coming.
Paddy McCourt is probably our most gifted player in terms of technical ability and should be starting every game in all honesty, but to just give him 5 minutes at the end is a joke.
Disagree. They sat back far too negatively in the second half, repeatedly gave the ball away and failed to support each other when we (rarely) had it.Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
With less time on the ball, he might not have set up two goals?Quote:
Questionable what benefit man-marking one player would have made
Quote:
You lost by one goal but Serbia's second half performance was a class above what NI could respond with. NI were out of their depth
NI were poor. I understand your argument that the Serbs were likely to dominate once in harmony, regardless of how strong, or collective our less talented guys were; but it's contradicted by previous games in the series.
Agreed.Quote:
The game is a team sport. If there isn't a collective effort, the most talented team won't always win the game
Moving at walking pace, constantly arguing with the officials and picking up a pointless booking suggest otherwise. Why are you so sure? Do you ghost-write his column? Be honest, he isn't up to it any more and isn't prepared to make the extra effort to compensate for that.Quote:
I'm sure Healy is interested in playing for NI. Silly to suggest otherwise
Sorry, that should have said match-fit. He's barely played in club football since Euro 08, it's hardly a surprise.Quote:
Whether he is fit or not is another issue
I recognise the lack of depth. Feeney obviously lacks Healy's past record but at least moves his arse a bit more.Quote:
but it's apparent however he can't play as a lone striker. Feeney was the other option on the bench but he is a League One player i.e. there isn't any real strength or depth available to Worthlesston
If we lose to the Slovenes, it's time for a new coach and to promote some U-21 and fringe players. They just might get better, Sir David and Itsy-Bitsy won't.
Not just questionable, crazy. He has never played professional footballer. He's an A-level student who goes to Wolves third team part-time.Quote:
I can agree that the decision to play a school boy in a competitive game is questionable
In hindsight- or even with foresight- you'd think that an international side would have been able to cope. I imagine they've seen Paddy's wonder-goals against Saint Mirren reserves and the like ;)Quote:
In hindsight to how Serbia played in the first half, McCourt could have caused havoc if played ahead of Gorman
Aye, a bit snide that. If he wants to slag off the older players, he should resign first.Quote:
But as Worthlesston says himself, the kids listen to what their told
Healy's done. He has been done for quite a while now. Spent far too long sitting in the reserves in the premier league collecting a wage and now he's useless.
He should have taken a step down and moved to some team like Rangers after he left Fulham.