NI boss targets Republic's Gibson

[EalingGreen]

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.

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.

Of course there are bigger and more important things than football, but just as political developments like the GFA should not affect football (imo), football deciding that someone may play for one team but not another, need not in any way affect someones "right to self-determination" on political matters.

Can you not see the difference? Or assuming for the sake of argument that they are Nationalists, do you think e.g. Chris Baird or "Sammy Clingan 32" are any less Irish or Nationalist for playing football for NI?

As for Worthy, I accept that his (football-motivated) utterances may have caused irritation, even difficulty, for DG and his family (though strictly speaking, it is more the Press).

But can you honestly tell me how a new manager stating that if a player changes his mind, or is barred from playing for another team, that he will be welcomed back to his first team, could stir up "hatred or worse"?

All DG has to say is "Thanks, but no thanks" and wait for FIFA to decide.

[osarusan]

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

I'm in.

Make me the ambassador to Japan please.

I'll do my best to create a new citizenship issue which will come to the fore in 18 years or so.

[geysir]

How likely is that to happen given where he grew up and who he represented at underage level?

It has happened now with Darron.
With FIFA's blessing
Who knows for the future

We have covered all the angles re international eligibility. Our league is nurturing great talent, unable at present to hold onto them.
The competition for places in our squad is hotter than ever.

[EalingGreen]

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.

Well that is where we must disagree. I've no doubt had you asked e.g. Pat Jennings, his preferred choice would have been a United Ireland team, maybe even the ROI, over NI. But that never stopped him giving 100% for NI over 126 games.

Similarly, NI was Alan Kernaghan's preferred choice. But when we didn't allow him to play for us (stupidly, I might add, since it would have been OK with FIFA), he was quite prepared to turn out for the ROI, always giving 100% (afaik). Did you resent him for your not being his first choice?

Which is why I can only think that DG's motivation is at least partly political. After all, neither you nor he can point to any footballing reasons why he might not represent NI, in the event of his being ruled ineligible for ROI by FIFA.

[geysir]

After all, neither you nor he can point to any footballing reasons why he might not represent NI, in the event of his being ruled ineligible for ROI by FIFA.

Sometimes we are not as keen as you to enter the fantasy world of H. Wells

[EalingGreen]

Sometimes we are not as keen as you to enter the fantasy world of H. Wells

It is not "fantasy", it is still open to be decided. In which case, should FIFA determine that DG may not play for ROI, what footballing reasons could he have for not throwing his lot in with NI? He was prepared to represent NI before now. And after all, Alan Kernaghan did it in reverse.

[Paddy Garcia]

Or assuming for the sake of argument that they are Nationalists, do you think e.g. Chris Baird or "Sammy Clingan 32" are any less Irish or Nationalist for playing football for NI?

No I don't - cos they have free choice & I support their decision - just like Gibson.

[geysir]

It is not "fantasy"

Hold your horses, lighten up a bit
Okay, 'science fiction', if you want to be so pedantic

[paul_oshea]

Did you resent him for your not being his first choice?

no, just for him being crap...

..AH, maybe that was it!

[RogerMilla]

no, just for him being crap...

..AH, maybe that was it!

he wasnt that crap , and served us well when we needed him. and long may the northern lads continue to do so !

[Paddy Garcia]

All DG has to say is "Thanks, but no thanks" and wait for FIFA to decide.

But we know it's decided.

[brine3]

The GFA agreement has nothing to do with this btw as NI born people were entitled to Irish passports all along.

That's correct, but before the GFA this was only something that the Irish government offered, without official approval from the British. Post-GFA both the UK and Irish governments recognise the right of people from Northern Ireland to claim British nationality, Irish nationality or both. So bascially the de facto government of Northern Ireland (the UK) and a large majority of it's people (vis-a-vis the 1998 referendum) approve of Gibson legally holding Irish nationality.

So I don't think it can really be compared to Brazilians being given Qatari passports. There is no bilateral agreement on nationality between the Brazilian and Qatari governments like there is between the UK and Irish governments.

[tricky_colour]

It is not "fantasy", it is still open to be decided. In which case, should FIFA determine that DG may not play for ROI, what footballing reasons could he have for not throwing his lot in with NI? He was prepared to represent NI before now. And after all, Alan Kernaghan did it in reverse.

He has as much chance of playing for NI as Osama Bin Laden has of playing for the USA basketball team.

[Paddy Garcia]

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

I've not been following the whole thread, but I've just realised you are a new recruit from OWC. Anyway welcome.

Made me laugh telling me to wipe the political mud from my eyes - I see all your 12 posts are on this topic - I hope you can contribute to other issues here, other than this "political item".

PS what does fhtb stand for ?

[geysir]

I wonder would this drug work for those IFA aficionados stuck in denial.

"New York, USA.
Government medical services and prison authorities around the world are reportedly "overjoyed" by the launch of a new prescription drug that cures people who are suffering doubts about the veracity of anything scientific which conflicts with their own beliefs.

Shares in Alabama Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (API) rocketed to 89 US dollars following the long-awaited announcement of a miracle cure for Truth Denial Syndrome (TDS).

Soon to be marketed and sold under the name Wellozac, the drug works by rapidly closing down the brain's centre of intellectual inquiry. It also blocks the re-uptake of politically incorrect neurotransmitters involved in critical thought processes, surprisingly this has the effect of reactivating the dormant ability to distinguish between truth and lies.
Particularly so in the European Union where prisons & mental hospitals are bursting at the seams with professors, journalists and academics who are all suffering the symptoms of advanced and potentially fatal TDS and other associated diseases.
There are however side effects associated with Wellozac. It's active ingredient Zealotine has been shown to cause pathological episodes of ludicrous behaviour."

[Bottle of Tonic]

Jesus, posting on this thread has gone through the roof the last few days since I last looked in on it! It's all during the day though......
What sort of cushy-arse desk jobs are ye all at that ye can afford to spend the whole day on foot.ie(and every other site searching to back up arguments)?!?!?
jesus after the days work I'm after putting in ye make me sick!

[cheifo]

There appears to be no loan move for Gibson before deadline.Suprised to be honest.Reserve team football doesnt help anybody.

[co. down green]

There appears to be no loan move for Gibson before deadline.Suprised to be honest.Reserve team football doesnt help anybody.

According to last weeks Times

'Several Premier League clubs have enquired about taking Darron Gibson, the highly-rated young Manchester United midfield player, on loan, although the champions have so far turned down all offers.'

And speaking after Gibson's performance against Doncaster in a pre-season friendly earlier in the month Ferguson said "I thought Darron was excellent, He is potentially one of the best young players at the club. He's got good physical prowess, two great feet, good pace - he's got everything in his locker.He just needs experience and that's something he'll hopefully get plenty of this season."

Ferguson seems intent on keeping him at Old Trafford for the season.

I think a loan deal would have been a better idea for the 19 year old but Fergie seems to have his own plans.

[lopez]

First, owc is a private messageboard, owned by Marty, who can do whatever the hell he likes with it.

Second, my Favourites Link takes me past the home page and straight into the forum, so I never even noticed the banner in question (which in any case, wasn't there when I checked just now).

Third, had I noticed it, I might well have complained, in the same way as I have complained about a number of other threads, posts etc, which I felt were similarly inappropriate.

Fourth, if the IFA ever carried a political message like that in any of its official publications or forums etc, then damned right I'd complain about it!

Finally, it's a bit rich your complaining about a political message on another Board when you posted on this Board that you were not just entitled, but proud, to sing IRA songs at ROI matches. As such, that puts you right up there with Young Irish and Livehead on this Board in your espousal of double standards...

Nice politician's response and typical EG. Wouldn't bet on it, but I thought the message was on the forum page aswell. It is good to see that you would have offered your objections had you known this was happening.

As for my own double standards, I'm not seeking to attract unionists or Britons, inside or outside, the 26C to support (the Republic of) Ireland. If you looked elsewhere on this forum there's a ticket scarcity for a match on Wednesday week. As I already stated, I'd point all unionist football fans and prospective players towards Windsor Park where they'd feel more at home.

[EalingGreen]

Nice politician's response and typical EG. Wouldn't bet on it, but I thought the message was on the forum page aswell. It is good to see that you would have offered your objections had you known this was happening.

As for my own double standards, I'm not seeking to attract unionists or Britons, inside or outside, the 26C to support (the Republic of) Ireland. If you looked elsewhere on this forum there's a ticket scarcity for a match on Wednesday week. As I already stated, I'd point all unionist football fans and prospective players towards Windsor Park where they'd feel more at home.

Were I really a politician, I would doubtless have offered an opinion (either way), despite not having even seen the item in question, but I'm not, so I won't.

As for your second paragraph, are you really trying to justify your espousal of the singing of partisan political songs at football matches as a means of "controlling" demand for tickets? Does this mean you feel such songs should not be sung at matches which might not otherwise sell out?

Nope. I'm sure my original opinion stands: for you to berate the owner of a private website for expressing his support for his compatriots who are fighting overseas (not the actual conflict itself, btw), when you support the singing of political songs at a public football match is pure hypocrisy.

"Football For All?" - Not when you're Lopez, it would seem...