Jamie O'Hara

**Deckydee** · 10/03/2010, 10:50 AM

Just found this - Im as fast as the RTE website somtimes

http://www.tribune.ie/sport/article/...-new-recruits/

Interesting:

Trapattoni has set a deadline for the Tottenham player

**geysir** · 10/03/2010, 11:10 AM

"Trapattoni has set a deadline for the Tottenham player"

Makes total sense imo but there is nothing in the article to to even remotely support the notion that Trap has set a deadline.
And certainly if there is a deadline, it has not been imparted to OHara

**dr_peepee** · 10/03/2010, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by geysir

"Trapattoni has set a deadline for the Tottenham player"

Makes total sense imo but there is nothing in the article to to even remotely support the notion that Trap has set a deadline.
And certainly if there is a deadline, it has not been imparted to OHara

True. Trapp has laid it all out for him in so many words though.

He tries to keep his options open and plays the humble card citing his honour of represent either, then totally negates it by his other comments re: waiting til after the world cup and thinking he's good enouigh based on current form. Not the brightest bulb in the box really. The less said easiest mended should be the stance of somone in his situation, even if it is what he truly feels.

**Deckydee** · 10/03/2010, 12:01 PM

Message to Mod: - Could we start a poll on this?

**ArdeeBhoy** · 10/03/2010, 1:53 PM

Originally Posted by Bungle

Andy's gone up in my estimation even further if that's true! What an absolute legend

Houghton was who I meant. Another mate played against Townsend in the Cubs and said he was sh*t-hot. Scored 8 of his teams 11 goals.

**Bungle** · 11/03/2010, 8:08 PM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

Houghton was who I meant. Another mate played against Townsend in the Cubs and said he was sh*t-hot. Scored 8 of his teams 11 goals.

Alright sorry about that!well razor has gone up in my estimation so

**Adrock** · 12/03/2010, 1:32 PM

Originally Posted by Yard of Pace

Eh, we're not a hormonal teenager, we're a football team representing Ireland. O'Hara considers himself English AND Irish. If we were his first choice he'd need his head examined. We've been to one World Cup since 1994. We narrowly beat San Marino and were trashed by Cyprus. We played some of the worst football matches I've ever seen in the last qualifying series. Stop being so precious and accept it. If he didn't feel Irish he wouldn't even consider playing for us. But he does. If he decides to come then we should accept him with open arms. We're not pursuing him now, we invited him, he can make his mind up later.

How exactly can you 'feel

Irish' if you've never lived here? I would assume he fancies playing for England because he happens to be English. He also may give consideration to playing for us as a second choice as we are his only alternative option that I am aware of for playing international football which any decent player aims to do. Its nothing to do with sentimental yearnings for the land of your ancestors - do you really think that's how footballers feel?
O'Hara just happens to be in that grey area of not being quite good enough to be sure of making the England squad but too good for immediately settling for option B. This explains the stance he is taking which is perfectly reasonable. Personally I think its a wonder we have become a competative international team recently for the first time probably ever, whilst only minimaly exploiting the granny rule and I think it would be quite sad to be going back up that alley again. We've proved we don't need to do it as so many folks assume so lets gain a bit more respect by qualifying for a tournament with an Irish team, not an English team please.

**third policeman** · 12/03/2010, 2:42 PM

Originally Posted by Adrock

How exactly can you 'feel

Irish' if you've never lived here? . We've proved we don't need to do it as so many folks assume so lets gain a bit more respect by qualifying for a tournament with an Irish team, not an English team please.

So what are you saying here? We tell the likes of Kevin Kilbane, we dont want you because you are English.

**Yard of Pace** · 12/03/2010, 2:48 PM

Originally Posted by Adrock

How exactly can you 'feel Irish' if you've never lived here?

Apologies, I stopped reading after this line.

**Deckydee** · 12/03/2010, 5:33 PM

Found this today - http://www.dangerhere.com/something-...hoice-ireland/

**Adrock** · 12/03/2010, 5:40 PM

Originally Posted by third policeman

So what are you saying here? We tell the likes of Kevin Kilbane, we dont want you because you are English.

Don't have a problem with an occasional individual like Kilbane who has Irish parents, grown up with an ambition to play for Ireland , as the story goes, being picked . If you've grown up representing England and made clear that's your country of choice or your only qualification is through one of yer grandpops then as a matter of national pride we shouldn't be looking to pick them.
There are very few players - only Finnan springs to mind - who can genuinely claim to be both Irish and English.
A squad with a couple of English born players with Irish parentage who have never chosen to represent England at any level is still an Irish squad. A squad with an actual majority of players who qualify on on the granny rule as it once was is just a national embarassment and we shouldn't be looking to return to them days. Its like cheating on an exam where you've copied your neighbours work; the results might look good next to your name but it'd feel a whole lot better if you'd got the marks using your own abilities.

**Yard of Pace** · 12/03/2010, 6:29 PM

Originally Posted by Deckydee

Found this today - http://www.dangerhere.com/something-...hoice-ireland/

Do fans really care what the previous nationality of the players who score the goals is as long as qualify?

O'Hara's already said "I'm English AND Irish" so for me it's a non-issue.

**Colbert Report** · 13/03/2010, 12:02 AM

I want Ireland to qualify for major tournaments as much as anyone but we should be doing it with players that want to play for us. I was born in Canada to Irish parents but I'd give my left ball to play a minute on the pitch for Ireland as I grew up there watching the great team of the early/mid nineties. I have no problem with players from other countries playing for us, but I do have a problem with selecting a guy who clearly would rather play for England. See you later Jamie O'Hara, good luck to you, no hard feelings but frankly I'd rather not have you in the team.

**rebelmusic** · 15/03/2010, 7:37 AM

I think to be fair you're being a bit harsh. Too many people here would still accept back stephan ireland but would complain about o'hara who at least has uttered the words "i'm irish" in some form or another.

If he truly feels both english and irish, then he would be insane to have ireland as his first choice, be reasonable folks

**greendeiseboy** · 15/03/2010, 9:08 AM

There are very few players - only Finnan springs to mind - who can genuinely claim to be both Irish and English.

Am I missing something here - Steve Finnan was born in Limerick!!

**Charlie Darwin** · 15/03/2010, 1:33 PM

He grew up in England.

**greendeiseboy** · 15/03/2010, 2:05 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

He grew up in England.

Right, bear with me on this one - so the fact that he was born here, plays for us - just happened to be brought up there - makes him part English - Nah, dont get it

**Adrock** · 15/03/2010, 3:52 PM

Originally Posted by greendeiseboy

Right, bear with me on this one - so the fact that he was born here, plays for us - just happened to be brought up there - makes him part English - Nah, dont get it

Nationality isn't just a racial issue. Where you 'happen to be brought up' is generally recognised as quite a significant criteria - perhaps the most important - in defining your national identity. Hence Patrick Viera being French and Senegalese, Ibrahimovic Swedish and Bosnian , Finnan Irish and English .....etc

**dr_peepee** · 15/03/2010, 4:05 PM

Originally Posted by Yard of Pace

O'Hara's already said "I'm English AND Irish" so for me it's a non-issue.

I'd accept the ""I'm English AND Irish" thing from a youngfella torn between one or the other. Perfectly understandable

He's more or less said "I'll be Irish if the English don't want me" though. That's the difference. Think it, but have enough respect/sense not to say it, at the very least.

**Charlie Darwin** · 15/03/2010, 4:47 PM

Originally Posted by greendeiseboy

Right, bear with me on this one - so the fact that he was born here, plays for us - just happened to be brought up there - makes him part English - Nah, dont get it

Kind of like that great English international Paul McGrath. I have no idea whether Finnan self-identifies as English, but he surely feels some affinity for the place.