QuoteOriginally Posted by Wangball
Footballers/brains!?
You're right about Connolly though. Came through the Arsenal Youth system under Brady and does qualify.
Yes
No
You'd like to think that if any of them had half a brain they'd realize that they were just being capped for the sake of stopping us picking them, not one of them is even half in contention for a World Cup call up from England.
Another name I've heard linked is Matthew Connolly from QPR, Tardelli spends an awful lot of time down that way and this fella can't of gone unnoticed
You show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser - Vince Lombardi
Footballers/brains!?
You're right about Connolly though. Came through the Arsenal Youth system under Brady and does qualify.
Intruiging... Finally something to gabber about.
It'll kick off the usual Plastic Paddy debate but it does tug at the interest levels? Who are they? Then when they're named we pay particular attention to the club form, then even even the hardcore fenians despite the reservations are mildly curious about them in the next Friendly...
A defender, Winger and Attacker!!! I wonder who it is? Is the defender Cahill I wonder? Maybe he's looked at Terry, Ferdinand, Upson, Brown, King, Woodgate, even Shawcross and Mancienne and thought about it (Not discussing the merits of his thought process. Just speculating)..
The winger is more of interest. Wonder who that is?
'And Crouch must score'
Gaël Kakuta's Japanese grandfather is allegedly half Irish!
Just going on my previous post I'd say there's more than a chance that its Hogan Ephraim, again from the QPR link.
He made his eligibility known, through his agent, last year. I reckon that initially it was maybe a Gary Cahill-esque ploy to ignite some interest within the England set up but that hasn't panned out for him.
As for O'Hara/Noble they have to realize that they currently look like being skipped out in the England stakes by the likes of Wileshire & Lansbury (sp!) at Arsenal. If they want to play international football now is their chance.
Whilst I agree that in an ideal world our team would be 11 Irish born players we have to accept we don't live in an ideal world. And frankly I could'nt give a hoot if they weren't brought up eating coddle, being altar boys & riverdancing at weekends or whether they have 10, 20 or 50 England Under 21 caps as long as when they pull on our jersey they play with the pride and passion that it deserves.
You show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser - Vince Lombardi
Who are you agreeing with? How would that be a perfect world? Makes a mockery of the 1000's of 2nd generation fans who follow the BIG and great servants such as Kilbane, Breen and co who have represented us down through the years.
It makes it worse that you couldnt care less how those who might represent us actually qualify??
I thought you were off the drink Ronnie?
"No, I drink to help me mind my own business....can I get you one? (c) Ronnie Drew
I don't believe and will never believe that an Irish team should be 11 Irish born players. Plenty of people had to get the boat in times past, and many may have to get it in the future. So long as the person is proud to be Irish, proud of their heritage and the sacrifices their kin had to make, and doesn't have to have their belly rubbed to declare then I'd be happy.
I was born in Dublin, speak like a Dub, but have never once felt a part of Dublin. My folks are both from Kerry and I try to go their as often as I can, visiting uncles cousins etc, and keeping up to date with whats going on.
Last edited by Kingdom; 25/11/2009 at 2:01 PM.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Seriously doubt Noble would even consider it... He has that "Rule Britania" vibe about him, like John Terry or something.
Why should it matter how they qualify to play for us? As long as they do qualify it doesn't bother me in the slightest.
My point is that they don't need to be like Kilbane or Breen, 2 guys who were obviously brought up steeped in the traditions of their ancestry and incredibly proud of it, as long as that once they come on board and commit to being Irish Internationals they give their all and represent Ireland with pride, commitment and passion.
And without meaning to nit pick I said ideal world, not perfect world.
I do accept your point though, the Irish team should never be seen as exclusive to Irish born players
Last edited by Wangball; 25/11/2009 at 3:08 PM.
You show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser - Vince Lombardi
I get your point fella, he does have that cockney wideboy apples & pears air about him but so did/does Townesend, and he was one of our best ever converts!
You show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser - Vince Lombardi
Connolly was in underage squads before, although I don't think he ever played for us, and then changed his allegiances to England.
did some searching and I've posted on this before:
The RTE link still works, but the thefa.com link is no longer working
The rules are a bit confusing, but these players won't be tied to England until they are capped in a competitive international. So, they'll have to go to the World Cup and play, and I don't think Capello is going to go to those lengths to tie a couple of fringe players to the country.
I stand corrected but I think a senior cap of any description debars them from switching. It was raised when the FIFA rule was changed earlier this year.
Any chance the winger hes refering to is Andy Reid???
Its really not that complicated!!!
Not to mention the importance of a real desire to play for us. Take for example Liam Lawrence, only recently on the scene for us, has performed very well and seems very dedicated to the cause, no compliants there whatsoever. Unlike a certain A O'Brien for example althou I do accept he took a large % of the flack for the Cyprus performance.
The fickle side of me thinks that many players who have eligibility on the fringes will now be more interested in declaring for Ireland as a result of our recent success and high profile. High profile/success = same for the individuals involved.
But K Nolan, no thanks, as far as im aware there was no interest when approached in the past, irrespective of his eligibility, therefore I dont think we should go and knock on that door again.
As for having a team of 11 Irish born players, with the more away trips I go on, I appreciate how wide reaching the Irish diaspora is and how much it means to lads born in the UK and elsewhere. Prouder Irishmen than the born Irishmen themselves.
Is that mark noble you're on about at west ham? he'd be a serious player for us
Where did the famous Lewis Emanuel and Lee Frecklington ever go to? Staunton and Devlin put some awful rubbish in the Senior and B squads in the 18 months they had.
'And Crouch must score'
The B squad is something that really should be utilised to the full over the next few months. Give Brady and an underling complete control of it.
It is vital that the positions we were short in this campaign are scoped out entirely in the 9 months till qualifying.
I don't care if it means calling up 30 players for each friendly, but we need to be thorough. It wasn't great that Gibson came off the bench in Paris with next to nothing in senior football this season. The real squad players, Brian Murphy, Andy Keogh, Noel Hunt, Kevin Foley et al need games to prove themselves. A B squad (or futura squad similar to scotland 6/7 yrs ago) would provide this outlet. Bring the best of the LOI into the fold if necessary to give them a shot. Some deserve it.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Frecklignton is doing well at Peterborough, scored a cracker earlier this season. Doubt he'll be near our senior team soon but then again, look at Stephen Hunt and how he came to the top.
Saw Emanuel in that B game and was rather impressed. Tidy on the ball and bags of energy getting up and down the wing. He's a bit short though. No idea where he is now. He was at Luton, wasn't he?
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