Yeah - there's an obvious fear amongst the North's support that Gibson could be the thin end of the wedge re dual eligibility.Originally Posted by geysir
I think the "Ireland or nobody" comment was probably made in exasperation and in an attempt to categorically reaffirm his desire to take up his birth right and play for Ireland.
Quoting years at random since 1975
Sorry but I totally refuse to believe that one of our politicians took credit for something he didn't do.Sorry, Gspain, but you, too, are falling for the spin and bluster put about by Ahern in his effort to make political capital from this.
Quite simply, whilst Ahern was putting out Press Releases and giving interviews etc, it was the IFA who actually persuaded them to amend the offending Directive.
Dermot Ahern never even got as far as Switzerland, never mind got to meet anyone important!
I can only speak for myself, not my "buddies". But any "antipathy" I feel towards the ROI is based on two things, neither of them political.
The first is all part of the normal rivalry and banter which goes on between football fans i.e. after years of having to endure jokes and digs when we were s hite and you were flying high, it's nice now that the pendulum has swung the other way and we can return the favour. I intend to make the most of it, before it swings back again (as it no doubt will). As such, if you think I give your lot a hard time, you should hear the fun I've been having with my England pals (and fellow Brits!) over that night, nearly two years ago!
The second is a degree of resentment at the FAI having unilaterally decided to break the decades old "Gentlemens' Agreement" and start selecting NI-born players. Worse still, I mistrust them when they say that they never approach players, only respond when approached, since at least two players (Baird & McKenna) have given the lie to that.
Anyhow, that resentment is not politically-motivated, since I would say the exact same if we were similarly treated by any other Association anywhere else in the world. If you want a clearer exposition for my motivation in this respect, see Post #350 on this thread.
Agree - can you imagine "my first choice is Ireland, however despite the assurances from FIFA, and my own certainty regarding eligibility, I'd quite like to keep the door open to play for the North in the event of successful lobbying by zealous unionists".
Well on point 2 the political world has changed and now NI born players, can rightly, play for their country: Ireland. So objectively that "Gentlemens' Agreement" is well & truly defunct, not least cos it is decades old - & reflected an era when nationalists were the underdogs!
Though I'd be inclined to be more open and encourage them to approach likely recruits, & be open about it.
Except that he originally stated his "ROI or nothing" stance before the recent pronouncements by Wells and Worthy.
And as for it "affecting his family", I can see how it might be irritating for them. However, can you not see where Wells and Worthy are coming from?
As Wolfie has alluded to, Wells's and the IFA's concern is that if this is not challenged, then it could lead to NI losing significant numbers of other players from what is already a small enough pool. Any Association is going to do exactly the same, should it consider that Regulations may be being broken. And Wells has said several times that it is nothing personal against DG.
As for Worthington, rather than conducting a "witchhunt" against DG, as some posters on here would have it, he is merely saying to DG that should he prove ineligible for the ROI (as the IFA thinks he may be), we will not exclude him from an international career entirely (subject to the player's agreement, of course).
As such, Worthy is only doing what most new managers do when they take over (Stan, for example) in seeking to select from the widest possible choice of players. If he or the IFA were the politically or sectarian-motivated bigots that some here would have us believe, surely their response to DG would be: "Don't think we'll have you back if you lose your case with FIFA"?
Wipe the political mud from your eyesight.
Since 1880
No "fear" whatsoever.
All that matters is that Northern Ireland only field players who are totally committed to doing their very best for Northern Ireland.
If there are those in our ranks who don't give 100% for the shirt, get rid of them I say.
Those players eligible to play for Northern Ireland who don't wish to, for whatever reason, are no loss at all.
Give me a limited player with a burning desire to succeed with Northern Ireland over a gifted player whose heart isn't in it every time.
Fighting over players who don't want to play for you is, frankly, rather stupid in my opinion.
Concentrate on those players who are totally committed, and develop accordingly, is how I want to see things going forward.
Onwards and Upwards, as the saying goes.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
I can of course see where they are coming from - but there are some things bigger and more important than even football. He, Wells & Co should not be seeking to undo the right to self determination agreed for the people for the North.
As such, Worthy is only doing what most new managers do when they take over (Stan, for example) in seeking to select from the widest possible choice of players. If he or the IFA were the politically or sectarian-motivated bigots that some here would have us believe, surely their response to DG would be: "Don't think we'll have you back if you lose your case with FIFA"?
I accept Worthys motivation is purely football (though I think ill advised), but it does stir up a lot of bad feelings, hatred (& potentially worse) which he would have been all to well aware of.
Nonsense. All it takes is an anoydyne statement from DG along the lines of "ROI is my preferred choice and since I am informed by the FAI that I am eligible, that's all I'm concentrating on".
After all, it looks as if Tony Kane managed not to "burn his boats" in similar circumstances.
So you would agree with the statement to which this was a retort - that Gibson was politically motivated by stating "Ireland or no one"
Wipe it from yours
no chance , those are the fellas we're after!!
Was he crazy!! Yeah , in a very special way , an Irishman.
I slept, and dreamed that life was Beauty;
I woke, and found that life was Duty.
That's a new one. So I guess we've no need to pay taxes to Her Majesty's Government anymore? Why didn't anyone tell us this sooner
Since 1880
But I want all our players to want to play for us & no one else & to say it - it's exactly the spirit we need, & I don't think he has anything to apologise for.
I don't want us to be his "preferred choice" - I want to be his only choice. Which is what he said.
eh , i think some people have been trying to !
Was he crazy!! Yeah , in a very special way , an Irishman.
I slept, and dreamed that life was Beauty;
I woke, and found that life was Duty.
He may be politically motivated, he may not. Either way it doesn't mean objectors are 'zealous unionists'. Wise the bap like
Since 1880
How likely is that to happen given where he grew up and who he represented at underage level?
Didn't let me in on it. I'm going to put my new-found right to self determination to good use, and set up my own Republic, zero tax rate. You can join if you want, but only if you declare an 'aspiration' to play for my football team
don't worry about passports, I can issue those to whoever I want, we can call it your birthright or something
Since 1880
bet you'd give san marino a game!Didn't let me in on it. I'm going to put my new-found right to self determination to good use, and set up my own Republic, zero tax rate. You can join if you want, but only if you declare an 'aspiration' to play for my football team
don't worry about passports, I can issue those to whoever I want, we can call it your birthright or something
Was he crazy!! Yeah , in a very special way , an Irishman.
I slept, and dreamed that life was Beauty;
I woke, and found that life was Duty.
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