Take note of the smiley included in said post.
We already know that EG, but, thanks for the reminder.That is to say, I do not deny that most NI-born youngsters from said background have an inclination/affiliation towards ROI over NI etc.
Rather, in the light of the Paul George news, I was merely citing the words of Anton Rogan (plus the present-day examples of Niall McGinn, Chris Baird, Sammy Clingan etc) as to why it should not necessarily be so.
Last edited by The Fly; 26/10/2010 at 1:08 AM.
Last edited by Predator; 26/10/2010 at 12:51 AM.
Really? For it seemed to me that far from his non-involvement in the game since he retired being an interesting footnote etc, by conflating it directly with his main point ("NI-born should play for NI"), you were trying to discredit that point, along the lines: "Sure what would he know, he doesn't even go to games these days etc".
And I note that you provide no explanation for the snide "Doesn't do interviews these days" comment, either.
Still, nice try at trying to scoop the ball back over your own goalline...
Thick-skinned, eh? More "damning with faint praise", then?
No doubt he needed to be tolerant of circumstances that no player should have to endure, but I'd like to think that his forbearance was also at least as much down to an intelligence and perspective which allowed him to appreciate that, in his own words: "90 per cent of the [NI] fans were fine.”.
Plus I'd say he was pretty determined not to let the 10% prevent him making a career for himself, any more than he let that minority of Celtic fans who picked on him for his perceived lack of ability get him down, either. (If it wasn't so late, I'd type out the Jackie Dziekanowski story).
Which could explain why it's not on their website, then.
Still, I'm glad that it is on the Lost Bhoys website (which, btw, I believe to be the source from which the Belfast Telegraph filched its "interview")
Being born Irish nationals, none of the northern-born players who opt to play for Ireland have ever switched nationality, as you put it.
Second of all, there are and always have been plenty of players born outside of the north in NI squads down through the years. I'm sure Rogan was more than happy to play along with a few of them as international team-mates. Why is Rogan's opinion even worth consideration anyway? He is his own man; he's not Paul George.
You posted a quote from Rogan as if it in was in some way instructive, significant or should have any bearing on Paul George's decisions in life just because you'd be delighted to deny the lad an opportunity to line out for Ireland.
No-one has ever tried to infer that a player from a nationalist background ought to play for us out of necessity for fear he'd be cast down as a sell-out to his community, or however you might wish to put it. That's a straw-man that the likes of yourself have erected. No one would cast him down as such anyway. In spite of all this bizarre and warped nonsense of the FAI apparently breaching northern-born Irish nationals' identity rights or something, Irish fans and the FAI are not the ones trying to force players into playing for any team in particular here. Surely you haven't forgotten the farcical Kearns saga already? Who was it went to CAS for a moan there again?That is to say, I do not deny that most NI-born youngsters from said background have an inclination/affiliation towards ROI over NI etc.
Rather, in the light of the Paul George news, I was merely citing the words of Anton Rogan (plus the present-day examples of Niall McGinn, Chris Baird, Sammy Clingan etc) as to why it should not necessarily be so.
As Predator rightly says, it's a matter of personal choice for a dual citizen to represent whichever of the two nations for whom he is entitled to play (just so long as he's good enough to be chosen). Not once have I ever come across anyone here, elsewhere or in person seriously refer to the likes of Paddy McCourt or Niall McGinn as turn-coats or such for representing NI, save for that Aidinho character who I suspect was a NI/Rangers fan on a wind-up anyway.
Ealing Green, take your head out of where the sun don't shine. George has worked within the FIFA rules and good on him. No one really cares what Anton Rogan says, rules are rules. To keep this argument going on what you percieve are supposedly moral grounds is ridiculous!
Seriously - What is your problem with what I posted?
I have absolutely no issues with Anton Rogan or his opinions on playing for Northern Ireland, as has been posted by others, its his personal opinion and one that is not that controversial as far as I can see.
I wasnt trying to discredit his personal opinion, I was merely pointing out that he has no interest in football these days and as such I hazard a guess he is largely unaware of the furore of late with Gibson, CAS, Duffy, Kearns etc..etc.. not that it matters, he was giving a personal opinion based on when he played (I guess).
I didnt say he "Doesn't do interviews these days", I said "a man who just doesnt do interviews it seems" and there was nothing snide about it. I was quoting based on Rogans own words (in the interview you are already aware of by LostBhoys) and therefore thought it was a little bizarre that from doing nothing in the media he was all of a sudden doing the media circuit. However, you have suggested it was one and the same interview but I have no idea on that note.
Oh dear, am I really 1-0 down, I didnt realise I was even playing, thats just not fair.
Nope - Just my personal opinion. Some Norn Iron players have managed to ignore, rise above the abuse, others are unaffected by it and others choose to just not go down that road - each to their own I guess. I loved Rogan as a Celtic player myself, was very young when he played so it was more of a pannini sticker book 'love' and that his name was a bit weird.....
Ah cool, glad you cleared that up. So the 10% that abused him for playing for Northern Ireland was effectively the same thing as the 10% that picked on him for being a limited footballer for Celtic. Your stats on Celtic fans by the way - he never mentioned that in the interview.
Out of interest why is "interview" in quotation marks? What was it if not an interview? I thought it was great to hear from a legend from the past. Some of these fans podcasts are brilliant these days, improving all the time and with content that is not the politically correct, standard responses and opinions expressed in official media channels.
Last edited by Junior; 26/10/2010 at 8:23 AM.
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
John and Ringo.
What do I win?
should've
True geysir - re-reading it there, it was probably a dig at the BT - the paranoia and late nights are getting the better of me!
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
a northern ireland player debate which includes a grammar lesson. Could this thread be any better?
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Last edited by SkStu; 26/10/2010 at 5:13 PM.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
How difficult can it be, to get a better teacher of grammar than Paul?
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