Jamie O'Hara

[elroy]

But sure all England are likely to do is give him one cap so that he can't play for us and then discard him.

Doubt it, they havent really done in the past so would be surprised if they started now. They have some many options for midfield, realistically O'H isnt an option for a competitive game any time soon, unless perhaps used as a left sided MF.

[Irish_Praha]

Steve Bruce.

I think he only played for the England B team, maybe that was enough to tie you down back then?
Also he didn't declare for ireland as it would have affected his chances at Man UTD because of the 3 foreginer rule in Europe back then. If that was more important to him than playing for Ireland then we were probably better off without him. He would of had stiff competition with McGrath and Moran at the time aswell.

[Colbert Report]

I think he only played for the England B team, maybe that was enough to tie you down back then?
Also he didn't declare for ireland as it would have affected his chances at Man UTD because of the 3 foreginer rule in Europe back then. If that was more important to him than playing for Ireland then we were probably better off without him. He would of had stiff competition with McGrath and Moran at the time aswell.

Kevin Moran and David O'Leary were well past it by the time Bruce was in his prime. We were well covered there though with McGrath, Babb, and Alan Kernaghan!

[Irish_Praha]

Kevin Moran and David O'Leary were well past it by the time Bruce was in his prime. We were well covered there though with McGrath, Babb, and Alan Kernaghan!

We are going a bit off topic here but O'Leary and Moran are only 2 and 4 years older than Bruce respectivly so when he was at the age where he should be deciding his "nationality" they would have both been still very active. He would have been a handy player to of had in his early 30's though, when the other two were past it as you say.

[Bungle]

I say let him wait and see. I don't think we should be so sensitive about him preferring England. He has feelings for both countries, that's indisputable, so let him take his time and decide. It's a big decision. With England he'd have the chance to play in major finals regularly. With us maybe never. But I do think if he opts for us he'll give full committment and will be a big asset.

Spot on. It seems to me that Jamie is very proud of his Irish roots but obviously declaring for us is not the easiest decision as he would have grown up wanting to play for them and lets face it they're a much bigger footballing nation that nearly always graces tournaments. He's a very talented young lad who if he declared for England would probably win a few caps, especially given the troubles at left back/left mid for England and the ageing of Gerrard and Lampard in the centre i.e places up for grabs. Both of my boys were born in London; one of them supports us, the other supports England but is very proud of his Irish roots. My lad who supports England above any other team would give 100% for the green shirt if he declared for us, much like Jamie would I'm sure.

[Deckydee]

His stock has gone down in my humble opinion. We should not pursue this player.

The difference with all aforementioned players (Townsend, etc) is that they did not choose for England first and then choose for Ireland. They didn’t go on television and say ,well I hope Bobby Robson picks me and if he doesn’t , I will pop over to Jack.

I guess its like this, how would you like it if a nice girl asked your friend out and he said no. Then she came over and asked you out and said the only reason she did it was because your friend turned her down and you were her second choice. In theory she never would have dated you if your friend said yes. It is a silly comparison but that’s exactly what is going on here.

Basically Jamie is saying that:

‘I hope England pick me, if they don’t, I will choose Ireland’
‘I don’t want to play for Ireland really but if Im desperate.........'
‘Ireland are second choice for me’

Do you want someone playing for Ireland who felt we were his second choice? Do you???

I was willing to cut O’Hara some slack but not anymore

[Yard of Pace]

His stock has gone down in my humble opinion. We should not pursue this player.

The difference with all aforementioned players (Townsend, etc) is that they did not choose for England first and then choose for Ireland. They didn’t go on television and say ,well I hope Bobby Robson picks me and if he doesn’t , I will pop over to Jack.

I guess its like this, how would you like it if a nice girl asked your friend out and he said no. Then she came over and asked you out and said the only reason she did it was because your friend turned her down and you were her second choice. In theory she never would have dated you if your friend said yes. It is a silly comparison but that’s exactly what is going on here.

Basically Jamie is saying that:

‘I hope England pick me, if they don’t, I will choose Ireland’
‘I don’t want to play for Ireland really but if Im desperate.........'
‘Ireland are second choice for me’

Do you want someone playing for Ireland who felt we were his second choice? Do you???

I was willing to cut O’Hara some slack but not anymore

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.

[dr_peepee]

Just watched an interview with O Hara on Soccer Saturday on Sky. Said hes honoured to be linked with us but is going to wait until after the World Cup to make a decision because alot of the England players are in the later part of their career and he would like to think hes good enough to be considered as part of the new generation. Said he definately wants to play international football and because he has already played for England that would be his first preference.
First time Ive heard him interviewed and comes across as a decent fella

Hmm... More power to him... It's like getting turned down be a bird you don't really fancy in the first place though.

Him Sean Davis, Scott Parker and Joey Barton can compare their cap haul in 20 years.

[DeLorean]

I guess its like this, how would you like it if a nice girl asked your friend out and he said no. Then she came over and asked you out and said the only reason she did it was because your friend turned her down and you were her second choice. In theory she never would have dated you if your friend said yes. It is a silly comparison but that’s exactly what is going on here

I wouldn't mind as long as I got the ride. The ride in this case is a metaphor for Euro 2012 Qualification!!

[Serb]

I guess its like this, how would you like it if a nice girl asked your friend out and he said no. Then she came over and asked you out and said the only reason she did it was because your friend turned her down and you were her second choice. In theory she never would have dated you if your friend said yes. It is a silly comparison but that’s exactly what is going on here.

I don't think this metaphor is quite accurate. He has been picked by England at underage level, and much like what has happened with James McCarthy, he wants to repay the faith shown to him by making himself available for the senior team. Sounds like he's going to wait and see what midfielders retire after the World Cup (I don't think any of them are old enough to retire really apart from Beckham) and weigh up his chances of getting into the squad. Maybe he thinks there's a chance he might get selected as cover for the vacant left-back spot?

It's not ideal anyway, but I can understand where he's coming from.

[Bungle]

I loved lads like Townsend and Aldo but if they had been asked to play for England they would've jumped at the chance. I even seem to remember Razor saying that he would've loved to have played for Scotland if asked. The fact is that back then they weren't asked by the equivalent programme (Saint and Greavsie or football focus) about what their intentions of international football were because neither would've have been close to the English team before they declared for us.
Andy went on to being a top class player who would have won many caps for England and Aldo went on to being one of the best goalscorers in Europe but they wouldn't have been close to Robson's radar at the time when they decided to throw in their lot with us.
I respect Jamie's honesty if anything and good luck to him if he declares for them. If he declares for us, then we have one hell of a committed player.

[Yard of Pace]

Charles N'Zogbia who's been doing great things at left-midfield for Wigan all season is now eligible for England. The lads on Football Weekly were speculating on a potential call-up.
I'd really enjoy the idea of a Frenchman declaring for England, and in turn helping to prompt an Englishman to declare for Ireland! Well, not really, but it'd be an interesting one.

[tetsujin1979]

Capello has already said he won't call up Almunia, who also qualifies under residency, so he's unlikely to call up N'Zogbia

[Charlie Darwin]

But Almunia is worse than all of the keepers in and around the England squad.

[ArdeeBhoy]

I even seem to remember Razor saying that he would've loved to have played for Scotland if asked. The fact is that back then they weren't asked by the equivalent programme (Saint and Greavsie or football focus) about what their intentions of international football were because neither would've have been close to the English team before they declared for us.

Know 3 lads who were with him at school in North London, who said he always wanted to play for Ireland when he pitched up at their place as a 12 year old. They claim the sometimes overt hostility towards people of Irish roots at the time was a contributory factor. And he was far from the best player in the school....
Met Ray'o last year, who laughed when I asked that question. Though to be fair we're talking nearly 40 years ago!

[tetsujin1979]

But Almunia is worse than all of the keepers in and around the England squad.

James is 39, and will probably retire soon, Green is injury prone, and Joe Hart doesn't have the experience yet.
They could do worse than Almunia.

[Charlie Darwin]

Green's been injured less than Almunia over the past couple of years. They could do worse than Almunia, but I don't think he's as good an option as Robinson, Green, Hart or even Foster, who's average enough too. Fair enough, he's better than Carson, but so is everyone else.

[Yard of Pace]

Capello has already said he won't call up Almunia, who also qualifies under residency, so he's unlikely to call up N'Zogbia

Is Capello staying on after the World Cup? I'd fancy the inevitable England World Cup media/WAG circus to make him decide being England manager isn't all that much fun.

(Sorry, didn't wish to turn this thread into a discussion about England!)

[Bungle]

Know 3 lads who were with him at school in North London, who said he always wanted to play for Ireland when he pitched up at their place as a 12 year old. They claim the sometimes overt hostility towards people of Irish roots at the time was a contributory factor. And he was far from the best player in the school....
Met Ray'o last year, who laughed when I asked that question. Though to be fair we're talking nearly 40 years ago!

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

[paul_oshea]

is he not on about ray houghton there bungle?!