Wasn't he quite open to the idea and referenced his mother's side being very Irish and his uncles keen for him to play for us as they are all Ireland supporters?
Edit: http://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer...-31159774.html
Might be a different article but he doesn't rule out playing for Ireland. Even though it's his dream to play for England.
Last edited by Olé Olé; 16/01/2017 at 3:25 PM.
I was simply trying to help him understand why not every young man would jump at the chance to play for Ireland.
Some don't want to regardless of their ability. Some want to play for their own country.
It's admirable to want to do that rather than settle for another option at the first sign of adversity.
And I was clearly referring to players like Kitson, Hogan and Wickham rather than Bamford.
I thought Bamford said England was his first preference.
Why would/should he then be jumping at the chance of playing for Ireland.
I think he said he does identify with Ireland and for example if I wasn't good enough for Ireland .... I would play for Scotland !
Some people seem convinced that if someone has some Irish blood they will want to play for Ireland.
Some (Kitson, Wickham, Naughton, Noble) are completely uninterested. Some (Jutkiewicz, Hogan) are blase.
Bamford said he wouldn't rule it out. Not doom and gloom but hardly a glowing endorsement of our prospects of attracting him either.
Again, TOWK, youre fighting a fight that just isnt there - certainly not on this board.
I think most of us know that our chances of attracting 2g or 3g foreign born potential players decrease as their respective ability/success increases. This is a lesson we have learnt going back to the 80's under Jack. No one is under any illusion in that regard. It shouldnt stop us asking the question until we receive a definitive indication or answer. I am fine to pursue indecision or ambiguity to a reasonable extent - having a diverse background creates, by its nature, ambiguity or indecision in these situations and for these players. It is perfectly ok for players to feel more Irish, more English or 50/50 and to still not be sure.
Regarding the quote that Delorean picked out - I am convinced that if someone has Irish blood they may want to consider playing for Ireland and we should make that option open to them, make our pitch and ask the question.
These players will have earned the luxury of choice.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
In Bamford and Hogan's cases England isn't going to happen. You have to wonder when these lads finally give up on this English dream. You got Kane, Rooney, Sturridge, Welbeck, Vardy, Walcott, Carroll, Rashford who will all be called up ahead of them for instance no matter what they do...then there are solid players like Rodriguez, Austin, Deeney, Gray, Wilson who won't be getting called up yet are Premiership regulars. Then there is the likes of Gayle who is running away with the Championship scoring charts and he hasn't a hope of a call-up and Abraham will be coming through very soon too. If these lads consider themselves any way shape or form Irish then I just don't get their hesitancy at all. We are not exactly a poor footballing nation ourselves so you have to wonder what these lads are waiting for.
Last edited by TrapAPony; 16/01/2017 at 7:08 PM.
"We lost because we didn't win"- Ronaldo
This is it, we just delivered a major finals performance that England were left casting envious glances at and are strolling our group looking at qualifying again, for a three out of four recent qualification record. There should be guys digging out green grannies left right and center.
I think a large part of that specific issue is that international football just isnt that appealing any more to a lot of players. Especially if you wont be dining at the top table.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
Why, because of the injury risk?
I agree with this, Messi clearly would prefer out, the lad Matip at Liverpool has decided he'd prefer not to bother now. Even Ribery and Lahm have retired at and early age.
Anyway, I have no problem with a lad looking at Ireland as a second best option. It can be a genuine case of him feeling more English but having a real connection through family to Ireland as well. Who's to say lads like Townsend/Aldo/McCarthy/Hughton would not have played for England if they had been called up there first, and didn't Houghton turn to us after being snubbed by Scotland.
Anyway, without going back over dozens of pages here, could anyone give me a brief on the prospects of these lads?
Hogan
Bamford
Redmond
Anyone else that is performing well now we are or should be trying to enlist?
You've got them in the right order there in terms of likelihood to play for us. I think we have a good shout with all but I'm afraid that's very dependent on the England prospects for the latter pair who have played for England at numerous grades, unlike the late-bloomer Hogan.
All 3 actually have very strong Irish links, in fairness. 3 of Hogan's grandparents are Irish and Redmond and Bamford's mothers identify as Irish (per Redmond's mother's twitter and per Bamford), born to Irish parents I suspect.
All 3 have strong links, may identify as English first and foremost (as well as Irish) and may have England as their first choice. But there's every possibility the point will come where they throw their lot in with us. It's a waiting game.
Last edited by Olé Olé; 17/01/2017 at 11:35 AM.
Unfortunately I don't think we will get any of the players on "polsters" list, the only one we might get in Bamford
Hogan has had half a year to declare and has not
Bamford is a long shot
Redmond has said he is waiting for England full stop
I'd have Bamford top in terms of being the most likely also. He's played with us already, he's in tune with his Irish roots and his career has stagnated compared to the other two. Redmond has every chance of playing for England at some stage, seems to be playing to a high level and improving all the time.
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