Eligibility Rules, Okay

[Olé Olé]

Come. On. The. EYE EFF EH, Come on the EYE EFF EH, Come on the EYE, Come on the EYE EFF EHHHHHHH.

[EalingGreen]

In the interests of parity of esteem, surely aspiration to - and therefore discussion of - a unified Ireland team is just as legitimate as wanting to keep a team for the IFA?

I could "aspire to" an 8 inch penis, but unless I'm going to have 2 inches cut off, it simply isn't going to happen.

Just as you can aspire to an all-Ireland team, but unless or until there is a single Irish state, then your aspiration for a single team simply cannot, and will not, happen. On which footballing point I don't know whether the "aspirers" simply do not understand how such things work in the game, or are wilfully ignoring it. Possibly both?

Claiming it's "antagonistic" and "offensive" to simply want a united Ireland team in football is just another way to shut down the discussion. You might well mourn the end of an institution. Go ahead, change is tough. But the FAI, and team, as it was will change in this future too.

There is no "discussion", at least where it counts i.e. in the offices of FIFA.

For while FIFA will permit a single Nation State to have eg four Member Associations (UK), three (eg China) or two (eg Denmark), they have never in their 120 year history* permitted two or more separate Nation States to merge their Associations into one, nor will they ever do so.

As for "offence", how would you like it if someone told you that Derry City must eg revert to membership of the Irish League, without your having any say in the matter? You'd be outraged too -understandably enough - despite your team at least continuing to exist, unlike the NI team under your aspiration.

While the FAI they may do whatever they like, for since they have NO power to realise your aspiration, that's no concern of mine.


* - In order to understand better how these things really work, you might want to read eg the history of the Saarland national football team, which was even permitted by FIFA to enter the 1954 World Cup Qualifiers, despite only being a Protectorate of France, not an integral part. Such that until France agreed that the territory could become part of the FRG, the Germans had no say in its status and could not incorporate it into the West German FA:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saarla..._football_team

FIFA could suddenly make some changes (they have been chopping and changing a lot lately) but I don't think a unified team will come before political unity. When that happens, to bring it back somewhat on topic, it will be interesting to see if British nationality alone would permit a player to play for the unified team, for a period. Or if those 'marooned' in the new Ireland could opt to play for another British team...

That which you've written in bold is meaningless verbiage, while the rest is, well, whatever you want it to be - good luck with it anyhow.

[EalingGreen]

You will be assimilated.

The GFA & the de facto all Ireland team already in existence and all the yadda yadda about Hong Kong won't change that. There will be one resting point in this, an acceptable one to nationalist Ireland, the rest is just stages on that journey.

Quote whatever polls you like now there & demographics while you're at it.

You will be assimilated.

Spoken like a love-struck teenage boy who's determined that the girl next door will go out with him, despite her not having the slightest bit interest* in him.

Or to quote the artiste Brooksie, popular I believe with the young people of today: "She's just not into you"


* - Something to do with the weedy physique, the greasy hair and the buck teeth)

[Fixer82]

Spoken like a love-struck teenage boy who's determined that the girl next door will go out with him, despite her not having the slightest bit interest* in him.

Or to quote the artiste Brooksie, popular I believe with the young people of today: "She's just not into you"


* - Something to do with the weedy physique, the greasy hair and the buck teeth)

While I ultimately disagree, this is a wonderful post

[elatedscum]

Did anyone see that tackle by Conor Bradley on Mbappe? **** it, time for a border poll. That’d be a better Sinn Fein slogan: Make Conor eligible again

We have an unbelievable way to lose transformational players, I know someone who has been a friend of Conor’s family since before Conor was born - he said to me years ago, it was just unbelievable how the FAI ****ed it up. We all joke about “ours to lose” but Bradley, a GAA playing gaelgeoir, who refused to stand for GSTQ as an u16, who’s been on amateurs radars since he was 14 - awful from the association. Right up there with Martin O’Neill’s handling of Rice and Grealish

[seanfhear]

Did anyone see that tackle by Conor Bradley on Mbappe? **** it, time for a border poll. That’d be a better Sinn Fein slogan: Make Conor eligible again

We have an unbelievable way to lose transformational players, I know someone who has been a friend of Conor’s family since before Conor was born - he said to me years ago, it was just unbelievable how the FAI ****ed it up. We all joke about “ours to lose” but Bradley, a GAA playing gaelgeoir, who refused to stand for GSTQ as an u16, who’s been on amateurs radars since he was 14 - awful from the association. Right up there with Martin O’Neill’s handling of Rice and Grealish

Worse than the Rice/ Grealish situations.

[nigel-harps1954]

Did anyone see that tackle by Conor Bradley on Mbappe? **** it, time for a border poll. That’d be a better Sinn Fein slogan: Make Conor eligible again

We have an unbelievable way to lose transformational players, I know someone who has been a friend of Conor’s family since before Conor was born - he said to me years ago, it was just unbelievable how the FAI ****ed it up. We all joke about “ours to lose” but Bradley, a GAA playing gaelgeoir, who refused to stand for GSTQ as an u16, who’s been on amateurs radars since he was 14 - awful from the association. Right up there with Martin O’Neill’s handling of Rice and Grealish

The difference is, Bradley was taken in by the north very young, and was never going to change allegiance. Fiercely loyal lad.

[Eirambler]

To be honest, in Bradley's case it's the player I feel sorry for more than anything. He'll probably win 100 caps and achieve nothing in his international career. Of course club success will matter much more to most players, and probably even more so to him, but there's a chance we could have a really strong international team in a couple of years time that he could have been a part of.

Playing for the north must feel like such a dead end, is it only one tournament qualification in about 40 years they've had? Where we've had six in the same time period, and have a big advantage in terms of 2028 ahead of us also?

I get it for the players on the nationalist side who recognise they won't be good enough to play for us, but Bradley will just end up spending his international career trying and most likely failing to carry his team to tournament finals, with even the short cut to Euro 2028 now taken off him. Maybe, if anything comes out of it, it will be a lesson for other northern nationalists to back themselves until such time as it becomes clear they're not at the level required. They can always do a Ronan Hale and switch to the north if and when that point comes, no need for them to be tying themselves to anyone as a teenager.

[seanfhear]

A United Ireland might save him

[John83]

Finally, a reason to vote for the Shinners.

[liamoo11]

The difference is, Bradley was taken in by the north very young, and was never going to change allegiance. Fiercely loyal lad.

I agree ultimately hos decision. I saw him play victory shield against us in Kerry years ago played midfield so it wasn't like he wasn't known. Clearly just choose to stay loyal to the North so can't see what people want the Fai to have done? You can't force him to come on board .

[EalingGreen]

To be honest, in Bradley's case it's the player I feel sorry for more than anything. He'll probably win 100 caps and achieve nothing in his international career.

Yeah, Conor must be looking at the likes of (103 cap) James McClean and thinking "Damn! If only I hadn't allowed myself to be tied to NI, I maybe could have achieved all the international medals and trophies he has on his mantelpiece."

I get it for the players on the nationalist side who...

What you need to "get" is that for the present generation of youngsters, the likes of Sean Moore or Kone Doherty are the exception not the rule, the default position being that they play for NI.

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/...pride-30125979

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1055327849460278

https://www.tiktok.com/@northernirel...72687611645217

[Eirambler]

Well of course, as the reality is that most of them won't be good enough to play for Ireland. Indeed TKD and Moore may well end up with the north, and that's fine, but at least they've backed themselves to have a go with us before settling for that. The same as Hale.

Players will always speak about their pride for playing for whatever country they play for, these lads are well trained in terms of media work. Bradley may even believe that now to some extent. Lennon was almost certainly saying similar back in the day. It's very rare to get an example like Niall McGinn where a player admits during his career that he'd support another team over the one he plays for. Indeed saying that publicly would be unwise. I expect it's in 10 or 15 years time that the regrets are likely to come.

[Buckett]

It's the same for ordinary citizens up there, they probably say out loud that they like it in the north but deep down, they must be miserable living in an impoverished kip. The only good thing in their lives is a football pyramid that's the envy of the rest of the world

[EalingGreen]

Players will always speak about their pride for playing for whatever country they play for, these lads are well trained in terms of media work. Bradley may even believe that now to some extent.

Jeez, had you even a modicum of self-awareness, you'd realise just how incredibly patronising those comments are.

Lennon was almost certainly saying similar back in the day.

"Back in the day"?

Here is what NL said in 2022 in relation to the death threat he received i.e. 20 years after the event: "I’m proud of my (40) caps but felt like I could have won an awful lot more. I just wish those who instigated [the threat] realised what playing for Northern Ireland meant to me.”
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s.../41356549.html

And here is what he said after the first NI game following his transfer to Celtic, which earlier event had caused some [Rangers] fans amongst the NI support to boo him:
"I'm really sorry for the lads [that we lost]because the efforts they put in were magnificent.
"But the support out there today from the fans was brilliant.
"That is what Northern Ireland football should be all about.
"The atmosphere today was as good as it's ever been since I've been involved with Northern Ireland," added Lennon.
The home fans sang `There's only one Neil Lennon' at the end and manager Sammy McIlroy was delighted at the response of the 10,000 crowd.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...02/1240496.stm

While here is what he said in 2007:
GLASGOW Celtic captain Neil Lennon has commended the Irish Football Association for having its first ever Football For All (FFA) awards night to reward volunteers who have made a special contribution to football.
Lennon praised the Northern Ireland fans, and in particular Football For All Outstanding Achievement award winner Stewart McAfee, for the work they have carried out to create a more inclusive atmosphere at international games.
"People like Stewart are the unsung heroes who have been brave enough to challenge sectarianism and who have actively created a more fun, safe and family orientated atmosphere at international games," said the Lurgan man.
"Fans like Stewart have made the atmosphere at Northern Ireland football games in recent years the envy of fans across not only Europe, but world football.
"From a personal point of view I would like to thank them for their efforts."
https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Stars...L.-a0159840771

It's very rare to get an example like Niall McGinn where a player admits during his career that he'd support another team over the one he plays for. Indeed saying that publicly would be unwise. I expect it's in 10 or 15 years time that the regrets are likely to come.

All NI fans ever ask is that our players show honesty and effort when they don the green shirt. Which is why then Derry City player Niall, who typified those qualities throughout his NI career, received such a rousing cheer from the fans when he came off the bench for his debut at Windsor, before going on to become one of the most popular players we ever had:
https://www.facebook.com/story.php/?...852168871&_rdr

And by the same token, Marc Wilson never received any adverse reaction when opting for ROI instead of NI, since he was honest from the start.

Mind you, I wonder whether eg all those English-born players who've opted for ROI knowing that they would never have got near the England team have been similarly candid?

Or whether you subject them to the same criticism?

[EalingGreen]

It's the same for ordinary citizens up there, they probably say out loud that they like it in the north but deep down, they must be miserable living in an impoverished kip. The only good thing in their lives is a football pyramid that's the envy of the rest of the world

Isn't it lucky, then, that all 2 million of those people have someone like you to articulate what we should really think - if only we had your intelligence, awareness and generosity of soul.

Thank you, thank you deeply, for this wonderful public service.

[John83]

A little reminder that this is a thread for discussing eligible players, and not whether or not Northern Ireland is resplendant/a kip/etc. Ye can do that in off topic if ye want.

[EalingGreen]

A little reminder that this is a thread for discussing eligible players, and not whether or not Northern Ireland is resplendant/a kip/etc. Ye can do that in off topic if ye want.

Suits me.

But be aware that if/when others of those from amongst the "Usual Suspects" seek to drag the debate in such a direction on these threads, seemingly without sanction, you can expect me to have my say in response.

If nothing else, it illustrates the double standards of moderation on this board, whereby if I were to post something completely unfounded and offensive against one of your managers or players in the same way eg Bingham and McDonald received recently; or indeed slander the entire ROI population with stereotypical sh!te like 'Buckett' (above), then I'm pretty sure the post would be removed and I'd be suspended pronto.

[Eirambler]

Jeez, had you even a modicum of self-awareness, you'd realise just how incredibly patronising those comments are.

Mind you, I wonder whether eg all those English-born players who've opted for ROI knowing that they would never have got near the England team have been similarly candid?

Or whether you subject them to the same criticism?

Not patronising, just honest. Players realistically can't be in most cases, once they've made their bed they have to lie in it (and in the case of the north bow their heads and stand in a kind of dejected looking silence while their teammates sing for their king).

The only person I'm being critical of really is Bradley, because I think he'll regret his decision in the future (though he'll perhaps never admit it). But even then it's more that I feel bad for him than I'm critical of him as such. Bradley's position is irrelevant to any of the English born lads who play for Ireland, as - let's be honest - England senior caps simply weren't a realistic proposition for any of them.

[CraftyToePoke]

If nothing else, it illustrates the double standards of moderation on this board, whereby if I were to post something completely unfounded and offensive against one of your managers or players in the same way eg Bingham and McDonald received recently; or indeed slander the entire ROI population with stereotypical sh!te like 'Buckett' (above), then I'm pretty sure the post would be removed and I'd be suspended pronto.

And how would our presence be handled on the Our Wee Country forum ?
Are 'non loyal' types even allowed to register there ? Even if they are these days, they don't get to megaphone the place like you seem to feel entitled to on here.

You are given a lot more leeway here than is reciprocated and you routinely use it to drag threads into the off topic whataboutery cesspit we again find ourselves in. You are going to read things that you don't like or agree with here, maybe cry less.

Apologies mods, and to others.
Back on topic now.