When did we become Brazil?Originally Posted by greendeiseboy
I suppose though with players like McShane and Kilbane ahead of him he knows he has a near impossible task to break into the defence while until both Paul Green and Andy Keogh retire he'll be unable to stake a claim for a midfield spot.
If you take this attitude to its logical conclusion you should be against NI picking players such as Lee Camp who waited until it was clear he wouldn't get a chance with England before making the switch to NI. An association like yours with such a small pool of talent can't be too picky when it comes to players. Stop picking anyone who even considers playing for the ROI and you effectively rule out the entire nationalist community.
I share your idealism Newryrep but I think some subjective realism is not entirely unreasonable from someone in Shane Ferguson's position. If he believes his level of ability relegates him to a flag not of his own and keeping abreast of Ireland's fortunes with chairman McGinn and the rest of the OWC based ROI supporters club, so be it. Speaking of McGinn, had he declared for us a few years back, how many international caps would he have now? That's the kind of hypothetical proposition I assume Ferguson will have been mulling over these last few months, based on the reported reasoning given by that source on YBIG.
Y'think?
I've made clear I don't think we should pick English U-21 or U-19 players, or those already capped by any other country. Of course I realise that as long as the FIFA rules allow movement, my preference is very much in a minority.
Regardless of pool size, I think we can be picky enough to ignore players who give the impression of not being arsed.An association like yours with such a small pool of talent can't be too picky when it comes to players
Hardly just anyone, is it- the bloke got a full cap (if absurdly) as a 17 year old in 2009. Any other member of the Nationalist community who wants to play for the RoI should, if offered a NI cap as an adult, eitherStop picking anyone who even considers playing for the ROI and you effectively rule out the entire nationalist community
a) accept it and not consider playing for the RoI or anyone else in future, or
b) decline it. Preferably before the squad is announced puvlicly, or at least not three days later like James McClean.
There's no inherent reason why any MotNC can't go on to have a career playing for NI, just as English and Scottish players turn out for the RoI.
Sull: y'what?
Last edited by Gather round; 27/08/2011 at 7:28 PM.
Lee Camp played for England, and switched to Northern Ireland when he weighed up that he was very unlikely to represent England at senior international level, because he wasn't good enough.
Players like Duffy played for Northern Ireland until such times they thought they were good enough to play for the South.
We hear that Ferguson isn't switching to the South because he feels he isn't good enough.
Camp didn't represent England all the time harbouring ambitions to play at senior international level for Northern Ireland - if good enough, he would have stuck with England.
Do you get the difference?
If you want to try your luck with the South, just go before representing Northern Ireland at Under 19 or above.
Perhaps the default position for the IFA should be that "nationalist" players are assumed, all things being equal, to have a preference to represent the South at senior international level. The IFA can then concentrate on developing players whose ambition is to represent Northern Ireland at senior international level.
Of course, any "nationalist" player who persues his dream with the South, but finds he isn't good enough, could contact the IFA and let them know that he would consider a switch?
What you reckon?
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
I reckon you're edging towards dangerous ground. Just have a think about the practicalities on the ground of implimenting such a 'default position'.
" I wish to God that someone would be able to block out the voices in my head for five minutes, the voices that scream, over and over again: "Why do they come to me to die?"
The only way to achieve such a scenario is to have both FAI and IFA youth training camps in the North. Let the player decide from a young age which one he wishes to attend. I somehow doubt though if that solution would be agreeable to Not Brazil.
In such a scenario, there would be absolutely no need to have "FAI and IFA youth training camps in the North" whatsoever.
Players wishing to play for the South could simply attend FAI youth training camps in the 26 Counties ie. on the territory of the FAI. - I'm quite sure if it is the player's dream to play for the South at senior interrnational level, the location of a youth training camp isn't going to stop him persuing that dream.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
There are FAI regional development centers in Letterkenny and Dundalk which arguably can "service" the Northeast. Probably would be a good idea to have a regional development center in Belfast as well to make it more convenient for all involved.
Imagine that, sure getting a consular/passport office was had enough.
Good luck with that "good idea".
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
Liverpool FC have an academy in the Northeast so why not the FAI?
You can do South Belfast to Dundalk in about 1 hour with a favourable wind. What is a reasonalble distance/timeframe to be near an FAI centre haour and half ? Antrim would most likely be most disadvantaged
I'm sure in the pursuit of a childhood dream, an extra half hour is neither here nor there.
Last edited by Not Brazil; 29/08/2011 at 11:11 AM.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
Would that be an anonymous internet rumor?
Is there no room for a player who wants to represent the FAI but is also okay with representing the IFA?
Is the prerequisite for Nationalists who wish to represent the IFA, that they relegate their sentiments to the default OWC position?
Become bitter hypocrites you mean?
Some bloke who says he knows and has spoken recently Ferguson's family, wasn't it?
There's room for anyone eligible and committed, even if he supports and might have ideally preferred to play for another team. Ferguson's declining past call-ups suggests a lack of commitment.Is there no room for a player who wants to represent the FAI but is also okay with representing the IFA?
Don't ask, don't tell, you mean? I take your point, but no. They need merely show commitment as above. If so, how sentimental their politics are is irrelevant.Is the prerequisite for Nationalists who wish to represent the IFA, that they relegate their sentiments to the default OWC position?
Like gays in the US military
The prerequisite should simply be that the IFA nurture and develop those players who ambition is to represent Northern Ireland at senior international level.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
Whereas the North have qualified for how many (or even play-offs) since October '85?
Thirteen successive finals missed (probably) and counting.
But is this actually even anyone? Has anyone ever come out and said it's their 'ambition' to do that ?? Examples, please!
And it's 'whose'. At least get that right!
Last edited by Wolfman; 30/08/2011 at 8:49 PM. Reason: Basic maths.
Posting Permissions
Quote
Bookmarks