QuoteIf he genuinely wants to play for Ireland, then Spain, Argentina and Germany could all make an approach and he'd still turn them down flat.Originally Posted by the doc
Prey tell!That's interesting EG - what that about a gentleman's agreement between the various British associations?Combined with the waffle and drivel you constantly posted in another thread about NI's selection policies ????
Anyways I'd disregard what "the doc" posts if I was you. He has his own little agenda there.
havnt seen him play but i did see him on that peterborough documentry and he was a complete knob, saying that i hear hes improved an awful lot
Last edited by frog-gufc; 18/02/2009 at 10:11 AM. Reason: typo
I think he's got a lot of potential and should be included in squads. He's only just turned 24 and has played over 100 games for Preston in the last few years. Dunne is our best central defender, but he has a tendancy to pick up cards (e.g. last time away in Cyprus) and so we do need cover in that position. O'Shea is outstanding for his club but I've never been 100% convinced by his displays for us, he always seems on the verge of a spectacular error, in terms of performances for us he's miles behind Dunne.
McShane is another option, he's developing as a player and is still young, but I worry about his tendancy to pick up injuries. As I say he's an option but we could do with cover beyond him. Bruce is pretty much the same age as Sledge, but he has a massive advantage in terms of the fact he can play in midfield. I saw him play for Tranmere a few times 2-3 years ago and he was impressive but a little rash, hopefully he'll have improved with age and experience. He could become a very good defensive midfielder for us and he's out of contact at the end of the season, it will be interesting to see where he goes. I've heard Fiorentina (perhaps a Trap inspired link http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...5875-20888591/) are interested in him and I think a move to the continent could help him develop as a defensive midfielder and that would be a massive advantage for us, we could even end up using him as a Lothar Matthaus like forward sweeper (just in front of the other back two), which could give us freedom to play players like McGeady and Duff/Hunt as wing backs.
Overall I'd say St. Ledger does merit a place in the B team and probably a place in the squad for the full team certainly for friendly matches.
"Waffle and drivel" is it?That's interesting EG - what that about a gentleman's agreement between the various British associations?
Anyways I'd disregard what "the doc" posts if I was you. He has his own little agenda there.
There is no "Gentleman's Agreement" between the four British Associations; rather, there is a written agreement, lodged with FIFA and incorporated in their Statutes.
This Agreement sets out the arrangements governing a British Passport Holder's eligibility vis-a-vis the four Associations and as such, it works perfectly well (as illustrated recently e.g. by the case of Andrew Driver).
When I referred to the IFA's new enhanced scouting network, I meant their seeking out of players from England, Scotland and Wales etc who also qualify for NI under the Agreement (due to a parent or grandparent etc.)
The Englishman St. Ledger may be one such case, since if posts on this thread are to be believed, he has a grandparent from Co. Tyrone. The fact that he also has a grandparent(s) from Co. Carlow, and the ROI may be his first preference, does not change that.
On which point, if he is only interested in playing for ROI, Good Luck to him. But if he may consider representing NI, then I'd be happy for him to join our squad. As I said elsewhere, I couldn't see him getting capped at CB, but possibly at RB.
In what sense?
There was a written agreement added as an addendum to the statutes, that was until May 2008.
That written agreement has been removed as an addendum from the statutes in May 2008 and replaced by Article 16.
Are you being serious? Bruce is very poor and the ball and not quick enough or able to read the game well enough to play sweeper.
I too saw Bruce play for Tranmere he was "basic" to say the least.
St Ledger is a far more accomplished player having played RB,LB,CB,Def Midfield and Sweeper at Peterborough and has also played RB,CB and Def Midfield for Preston.
I think as a defender St. Ledger is better, but for midfield cover I'd have Bruce in ahead of him. I think a B team could have room for both. It will be interesting to see where Bruce goes in the summer.
He does! but has no chance whilst the like of Givens is there and advises Trapp, so whats he to do?
I'd say his best option is to make the FAI aware of whats going on and see what happens when the next games come up and take it from there.
Why? Because the history of players complaining about treatment has worked so well in the past?
If he keeps playing as well as you say he is then he'll get into the squad on merit (see the previously cited cases of Noel Hunt and Keith Andrews)
BTW if he doesn't turn out to be the bast*rd offspring of Paolo Maldini and Franz Backenbauer so help me ChristI will force you to walk down O'Connell Street, bollock naked with a sandwich board ringing a bell admitting you don't know more than our international manager when it comes to picking the team
Funny enough, theres an Italian connection on his fathers side of the family!
Bruce as a midfield option? Crikey, I know things have been bad but...
Looks like the Doc, is the man in the know!
http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/st...l-1647361.html
Eg
I noticed in a recent article that the IFA u21 manager is hoping to bring some new players into his set-up.
He mentioned a lad called Chris Stokes and another called Oliver Norwood.
Now as someone who is fond of using the terms ‘defectors’ & ‘poachers’ when talking about Irish lads from the North choosing to represent Ireland on the international stage, would you class Stokes & Norwood as ‘defectors’ as they have both represented England at u16 & u17 level and would you call the IFA ‘Poachers’ for deciding to pick the players?
Credit too him for that, but its no more than what were were saying that if he wanted to play for the Republic it shouldnt matter if even Brazil had approached him.If he is good enough then he will get his chance and its up to him to take it when it comes around. Hope he is good enough because the more options we have for every position the better
Its really not that complicated!!!
Well done to St. Ledger, hopefully he can get a friendly or a B game soon so that Trap can watch him again close up.
More commitment than a few others we could mention. Good stuff from him & he clearly deserves a chance - certainly as the most likely replacement for Dunne and O'Shea.
The replacements for Dunne and O'Shea, certainly in the long term, will be O'Dea and Wilson............................................ ..............in my opinion - of course
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