Rory Donnelly

**punkrocket** · 20/12/2011, 3:45 PM

Originally Posted by Not Brazil

I suspect you are unfamiliar with the comments attributable to Rodgers, as highlighted in post #15?

Not true, I am familiar with the contents of the aforementioned missive, kinda backs up everything I know about Carnlough and it's residents.

**third policeman** · 20/12/2011, 4:01 PM

Ok "lambast" might be a bit of an overstatement, but there is more than a hint from posters on this thread and others that footballers with a nationalist background should declare for Ireland. In the case of McCourt and McGinn it has been speculated that their declaration was pragmatic based on the unlikelyhood of them making it into the ROI team. References to Armstrong's "Uncle Tom" or "Castle Catholic" behaviour also carry a definite suggestion of disloyalty. If Billy Hamilton or Norman Whiteside had made similar comments they would have been seen as natural or predicatable, but because Armstrong is a Catholic who played GAA his pro IFA position makes him a "douche"

**BonnieShels** · 20/12/2011, 5:14 PM

Not exactly. It's Gerry's lack of understanding of eligibility and the reasons behind anyone's choice to play for the FAI's or the IFA's representative teams that makes him a douche/turd sandwich.

**Stuttgart88** · 20/12/2011, 5:57 PM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Not exactly. It's Gerry's lack of understanding of eligibility and the reasons behind anyone's choice to play for the FAI's or the IFA's representative teams that makes him a douche/turd sandwich.

...or his deliberate misrepresentation of the facts. If it's not deliberate then his lack of awareness is lazy, ignorant and frankly hard to believe given the role he has taken on. It takes about 30 minutes to read and understand the CAS judgment.

**Newryrep** · 20/12/2011, 8:15 PM

Originally Posted by third policeman

Ok "lambast" might be a bit of an overstatement, but there is more than a hint from posters on this thread and others that footballers with a nationalist background should declare for Ireland. In the case of McCourt and McGinn it has been speculated that their declaration was pragmatic based on the unlikelyhood of them making it into the ROI team. References to Armstrong's "Uncle Tom" or "Castle Catholic" behaviour also carry a definite suggestion of disloyalty. If Billy Hamilton or Norman Whiteside had made similar comments they would have been seen as natural or predicatable, but because Armstrong is a Catholic who played GAA his pro IFA position makes him a "douche"

nationalist 'background' nor religious references dont really meant anything

It would be expected that nationalists would declare for Ireland and non nationalists wouldnt.- That is all really, ........its not difficult to comprehend though plenty seem to have trouble

**BonnieShels** · 20/12/2011, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

...or his deliberate misrepresentation of the facts. If it's not deliberate then his lack of awareness is lazy, ignorant and frankly hard to believe given the role he has taken on. It takes about 30 minutes to read and understand the CAS judgment.

You're giving Gerry and the IFA way to much credit.

**Charlie Darwin** · 21/12/2011, 2:51 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

...or his deliberate misrepresentation of the facts. If it's not deliberate then his lack of awareness is lazy, ignorant and frankly hard to believe given the role he has taken on. It takes about 30 minutes to read and understand the CAS judgment.

As if Elite Player Nentors have 30 minutes to spare.

**theworm2345** · 21/12/2011, 3:37 AM

Originally Posted by third policeman

Beginning to feel sorry for footballers from "Nationalist" backgrounds in NI. Play for us and they become hate figures on OWC. Stick with / elect to play for NI and get lambasted here for implicit treachery. Also have considerable sympathy for Armstrong. He is without question an Irish footballing legend for his 82 World Cup heroics. The whole of Ireland got behind NI in that tournament. I think we should respect the right and decision of any NI born player to play for NI or in Armstrog's case work for the IFA to spot and develop talent. Whatever decision Donnelly makes, I'd wish him all the best (and hope he signs for Liverpool)

So is Don Givens

Originally Posted by Scooby Doo

Also, Gerry Armstrong is a colossal douche - period.

So is Don Givens

**BonnieShels** · 21/12/2011, 8:43 AM

Worm, rest assured if I could thank that twice I would.

**punkrocket** · 21/12/2011, 9:00 AM

Anyway regardless of who he ends up playing for internationally I hope that Cliftonville have plenty of after sales stuff in the contract to extract a bit of mileage from the sale as £100,000, the figure swansea are said to have offered, is pretty risible for such a a prospect. All right he's only a prospect, if a proven goalscorer in the IL, but with 3 premiership sides in the hunt dont tell me that they dont think he's not worth a bigger punt than that.

**Predator** · 21/12/2011, 9:26 AM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Worm, rest assured if I could thank that twice I would.

Thank. Remove thanks. Thank. Job done.

**ifk101** · 21/12/2011, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by third policeman

Ok "lambast" might be a bit of an overstatement,

Have the decency to admit you were way off the mark.

Originally Posted by third policeman

but there is more than a hint from posters on this thread and others that footballers with a nationalist background should declare for Ireland.

Who? Give examples.

Originally Posted by third policeman

In the case of McCourt and McGinn it has been speculated that their declaration was pragmatic based on the unlikelyhood of them making it into the ROI team.

McCourt got a senior cap when he was 18 while playing with a division 3 side. McGinn has stated who he supports.

Originally Posted by third policeman

References to Armstrong's "Uncle Tom" or "Castle Catholic" behaviour also carry a definite suggestion of disloyalty. If Billy Hamilton or Norman Whiteside had made similar comments they would have been seen as natural or predicatable, but because Armstrong is a Catholic who played GAA his pro IFA position makes him a "douche"

More drivel.

**Closed Account** · 21/12/2011, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by Predator

Thank. Remove thanks. Thank. Job done.

I thought it was odd that he didn't even Thank him once! Despite his reverence.....

**seanfhear** · 21/12/2011, 12:23 PM

Rory:

If you want to, come and play for us. We will give you a hundred thousand welcomes.

All are welcome.

**Not Brazil** · 21/12/2011, 1:12 PM

Originally Posted by punkrocket

Not true, I am familiar with the contents of the aforementioned missive, kinda backs up everything I know about Carnlough and it's residents.

What do you know about Carnlough and it's residents, and how do Rodgers comments back up what you know?

**punkrocket** · 22/12/2011, 9:57 AM

As this is a thread about Rory Donnelly I don't want to go into too much detail about the home town of a prospective manager of the lad's but suffice to say that Carnlough is a strongly nationalist town at the southern end of the Glens of Antrim and my suspicion would be that anyone hailing from there would be unlikely to advise a player to play for NI a suspicion supported by his son's actions. Yes he does say all that stuff about supporting NI which we have to take at face value but I wonder just what advise his son was given by him, I'm sure he was asked for his thoughts. I don't think there is conclusive evidence either way, but I still have my suspicions. Bit of a christmas whodunnit, must get the cluedo out over the holidays. Who loves ya baby?
What do you think of the kind of money being offered for Donnelly? I think it's a bit of an insult and hope that Cliftonville hold out for a decent price and follow ups.
Anyway I see that there has been a deadline for resolution of the whole saga by Cliftonville and that Arsenal are now interested as well. Can't see it being done and dusted that quick myself.

**Not Brazil** · 22/12/2011, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by punkrocket

suffice to say that Carnlough is a strongly nationalist town at the southern end of the Glens of Antrim and my suspicion would be that anyone hailing from there would be unlikely to advise a player to play for NI .

Brendan Rodgers (born and raised in Carnlough - "a strongly nationalist town").

"I want to see Northern Ireland boys play for Northern Ireland"

**punkrocket** · 22/12/2011, 10:15 AM

He must be raging with his wee boy then. I suppose being born in England though he advised him to hold out for an England cap.

**Not Brazil** · 22/12/2011, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by punkrocket

He must be raging with his wee boy then.

Did you really bother to read Rodgers comments?

"the reason my son is playing for the Republic is simple - they asked him while he was never asked to play for Northern Ireland"

Rodgers Jnr will shortly have the opportunity to play for Northern Ireland.