Mannus withdraws from NI squad - Any thoughts?

[pineapple stu]

It's happened plenty of times. We've had matches called off for having two players in the 21s squad. I remember slagging some Shels fans in Cyprus who were getting text updates of their game while we were missing nothing cos our game was postponed.

[Dodge]

As above Cork getting their games postponed for gamble's call ups are an almost exact replica of the mannus situation (only teams change)

[marinobohs]

It's happened plenty of times. We've had matches called off for having two players in the 21s squad. I remember slagging some Shels fans in Cyprus who were getting text updates of their game while we were missing nothing cos our game was postponed.

As I pointed out it is open to the club to seek a postponement but I would be surprised if it were granted especially as the games are not competitive. Moot point now in this (Morrow) case but I think clubs have had to play before with players out on International duty.
Wonder will there be postponements for clubs affected by callups to the Aviva fixture ?

[Dodge]

As I pointed out it is open to the club to seek a postponement but I would be surprised if it were granted especially as the games are not competitive.

Its not open to interpretation. If clubs want the games postponed, they get it. The rules were specifically changed to only 1 player needing to be absent

[RoRo]

I think Mannus made the right choice. Who wants to play against minnows like Turkey and Chile when you can play the Big Club in Dalyer!!

It does actually show how far the league has come though and if I was a Rovers fan I'd be chuffed with his decision.

[marinobohs]

Its not open to interpretation. If clubs want the games postponed, they get it. The rules were specifically changed to only 1 player needing to be absent

Cheers Dodge I stand corrected, didnt know about rule change. Sure its impossible to keep up with them (as most refs seem to believe )

[osarusan]

It does actually show how far the league has come though and if I was a Rovers fan I'd be chuffed with his decision.

I'm sure Rovers fans are delighted with his decision, but I actually think it says more about how meaningless and unwanted NI's friendlies are than about how far our league has come.

[EalingGreen]

I'm sure Rovers fans are delighted with his decision, but I actually think it says more about how meaningless and unwanted NI's friendlies are than about how far our league has come.

My guess is that it is partly a reflection on the standard at SR/LOI, rather more of a reflection on the meaningless nature of this Tour (not NI friendlies in general), but mostly a reflection of the reality of Mannus's personal situation.

That is, if he is "easily on more than a grand a week" (Party Saint), then that is not to be sniffed at or jeopardised - especially since no-one is ever likely to offer him more.

In fact, if he fell out of favour with Shams (or fell out with his manager), he'd very possibly have to accept noticeably less from whatever new club signed him, since there can't be many clubs paying that sort of money in the LOI, none in the IL, and none in England/Scotland who are prepared to give him a chance.

It all goes back to something I noted elsewhere, namely, when we were all kids etc, we all swore "we'd give our right arm to play for our country etc" - and no doubt we meant it.

But as we grow up, some of us (at least) come to appreciate that footballers are also human beings, with duties and responsibilities (wife, kids, mortgage etc) which they need to attend to, too.

Now I know nothing about Mannus's personal circumstances or attitude, but if those are the sorts of considerations which have influenced his decision, then I for one will not condemn him. And I say that as someone who is every bit as committed a fan as when I was a kid dreaming of being NI's first one-armed international!