or in in the case of Northern Ireland and in pretty much all respects, "you win few, you lose many".
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
From the latest BT article, posted earlier:
"Two years ago FIFA decreed that under the Good Friday Agreement if a player eligible for Northern Ireland has an Irish passport he can play for the Republic"
That's **** poor "analysis", yet again, from the BT.
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...
Competitive games since 2006:Originally Posted by SkStu
NI 27-11-8-8-41 points
RoI 29-11-13-5-46 (including one for drawn play-off game)
Not very methodical from the mountie there.
I don't agree with you on much, but hear hear to that. Bought the tele and thought the same reading that article.
Taking this back to football, I would love to see this team in a few years.
-------- Pimp My Goal ---------
Coleman Duffy Clark Ferguson
------------- Wilson ------------
-------McCarthy Gibson-------
-Stokes----------------Treacy-
------------ Long ---------------
And hopefully more to come...
And taking it away from it again...
You're working under the impression immigrants will support the status quo. But the likelyhood is they will support the status quo in the communities they live in. I'm sure it won't be long until the first of the 2nd generation eastern European immigrants from West Belfast togs out for Antrim in the Ulster Championship. Indeed there is a Pole standing for the assembly under an SDLP ticket in East Belfast.
And from a football perspective, footballing 2nd gen immigrants are likely to be quite mercenary in which country they declare for. I'd say if they are top class, they're best option is likely to be Poland, Romania or Czech Rep if they qualify for those countries, but for the Latvians/Lithuanians/Hungarians/etc ROI is likely to be the best option.
Last edited by backstothewall; 31/03/2011 at 10:41 PM.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
The status quo in NI (that there's a border, basically) is the same for both communities.
I think the DUP fielded a Polish Council candidate a few years ago- I read about it in Fortnight, IIRC.Indeed there is a Pole standing for the assembly under an SDLP ticket in East Belfast
Why would they be any more mercenary than anyone else in NI?And from a football perspective, footballing 2nd gen immigrants are likely to be quite mercenary in which country they declare for
WC 2010 qualifyingI'd say if they are top class, they're best option is likely to be Poland
NI 4-3-3-15
PL 3-2-5-11
Why do you say that? Their recent record in qualifying for tournaments is similar (one each of the last eight).for Latvians...ROI is likely to be the best option
GR, I'm not getting into a quotefest with you. Regardless of how well Latvia did in getting to Euro 2004, you know the point I'm making. Our qualifying record over the last 8 tournaments equals all 3 of the eastern countries I mentioned combined, and I could have gave a dozen examples.
Those Eastern Europeans will be likely to be more mercenary than average, because kids born and bred in NI seem difficult to tie down to NI. What makes you think you have a better chance, or even an equal chance with a kid with no parental connection to any part of Ireland at all?
And yes the DUP fielded a Polish candidate. The DUP have a polish council candidate, but the SDLP have several EE council candidates, and a Polish assembly candidate. Its all within the margin of error with such small numbers, but you would have to admit that it still illustrates my point that the split won't be entirely towards one community or the other, rather that people will probably join the community they live in, and adopt the appropriate political opinions.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
I think you are
I understand your point, I don't agree with it. Even if perceived chance of qualifying was the only criterion for a dual-qualified player to weigh up in picking which offer to accept, your record over 16 years is no better than Latvia, and a third as good as Slovenia. A notional Slavic or Baltic wunderkind isn't immediately going to associate the RoI with regular qualification.Regardless of how well Latvia did in getting to Euro 2004, you know the point I'm making
One doesn't follow from the other, does it? You're just guessing, there's no real way of knowing how an individual case, or a few of them, will behave.Those Eastern Europeans will be likely to be more mercenary than average, because kids born and bred in NI seem difficult to tie down to NI
I didn't claim you could measure such chances, you did. In general, there are other factors which might influence the player: which team would be the most likely to offer representative football, whether this would help get professional contracts and so on.What makes you think you have a better chance, or even an equal chance with a kid with no parental connection to any part of Ireland at all?
Indeed, I agree it's unlikely all the Latvians (say) in NI are likely to be entirely unionist or nationalist. I suspect many of them- even if settling locally, having kids and grandkids etc.- may choose to remain 'neutral'. Political opinions are a choice btw, not for others to determine as inappropriate unless they are illegal.you would have to admit that it still illustrates my point that the split won't be entirely towards one community or the other, rather that people will probably join the community they live in, and adopt the appropriate political opinions
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...293540053.html
This is delicious
The Star have it aswel ,looks a good prospect, the IFA will be seething after this.
Carrick United:
Munster Junior Cup Champions 04,10 & 15, Munster Senior Cup Champions 2011, FAI Juinor Cup Champions 2008
12 x Waterford Premier League Champions
It's an April fool. Just like the bank stess tests.
In future years, the last four years in Irish history will be known as "The Long April Fools' Day"
Very kind of Northern Ireland to continue being a feeder team to help give valuable international experience to our blossoming youth.
You're welcome. Although a youth set up that's just finished last in a group behind Estonia, Armenia and Georgia might better be described as wilting.
Hey, we get French guys handling the ball to score against us in WC play-offs, you guys get Polish goalies (holy or otherwise) fresh airing back passes. Not fair!
A fair point. I expect you'd win rather more competitive games than us if you got to the finals of competitions.
As you'll have seen, that clown gifted us all three goals. If only he had a Faroese or Estonian imitator...you guys get Polish goalies (holy or otherwise) fresh airing back passes. Not fair!
That pretty much sums up NI's qualification prospects.
We'll settle for a scraped 1-0 win over the Faeroes, then it's game on
Yes, NI are poor this series, but Slovenia and Serbia have underperformed while even the improviong Estonians have already lost twice at home.
16 or 15 points might be enough for second. We'd have to beat both Serbia and Estonia at home, realistically.
Last edited by Gather round; 01/04/2011 at 2:42 PM.
I'm sure you would given NI's record in front of goals and the Faroes' ability to get a draw in Belfast.We'll settle for a scraped 1-0 win over the Faeroes, then it's game on
Aren't they always
Estonia have three away games in a row which might knock them out of contention for qualification before the double-header with NI. With Italy qualified by the time NI are due to play them, 9 points from the last 3 games should be very achievable.
If a certain keeper didn't have a Macedonia last saturday our group could look a lot different.
You need to get shots on goal to score.
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