Fester Carsley retires again...

[Donal81]

What have Morrison or Houghton ever done to prove that they're interested in playing for Ireland that Carsley hasn't? I'm not trying to be difficult here Donal but from what you've said so far it just seems that you never took to Carsley for some reason that you can't quite pinpoint.

We all feel like that about some players so don't feel bad (mine is Colin Healy)

I know you're not being difficult. This is what I'm saying and what I'm not saying...

I never particularly took to Carsley as a player in the same way that I never took to Ian Harte or Kevin Kilbane the winger - it had nothing with where they were from or how Irish they considered themselves, I didn't think they deserved to be in the starting XI, especially when we had alternatives. Kerr's choice of a semi-fit Carsley against Georgia is still for me his one really bad decision. That's what I thought but it's simply a footballing matter. My mother's from Birmingham with Irish parents so I understand how someone can feel connected to Ireland without having been there.

However, I can see how many never took to him as he never seemed to be part of the squad in the same way that, again, Houghton or Morrison did. Again, I'm not making cases for either of these over Carsley, let me reiterate that, in terms of Irishness and wanting to play for the team. Houghton was very much part of the squad. Also, although he never made a secret about his Scottishness, this didn't seem to bother anyone.

Carsley never elaborated on why he was there - which Morrison did - so the mercenary tag could easily be applied. I'm not calling him that but I think that's why he wasn't the most popular of players. The fact that he's retired early hasn't helped his popularity either. The fact that he said in his statement that he doesn't miss it says something too.

I didn't like him as a footballer as I didn't think he contributed anything whatsoever to the team but that's another argument. Houghton and Morrison were accepted by the Lansdowne crowd, Carsley wasn't, that's what I'm saying, not arguing the merits of either one over another. See what I mean?

[Dillo]

Carsley never elaborated on why he was there - which Morrison did - so the mercenary tag could easily be applied. I'm not calling him that but I think that's why he wasn't the most popular of players. The fact that he's retired early hasn't helped his popularity either. The fact that he said in his statement that he doesn't miss it says something too.

All I know is he's pretty popular at Goodison Park these days!

Carsley always done his best for Ireland and that's all that matters at the end of the day. It's not so long ago that a certain Roy Keane wasn't the most popular of players in the Irish camp and he probably still isn't. Performance on the football pitch is the be all and end all. If Keane had remained at the World Cup who knows how far Ireland would have progressed? Maybe no further but we don't know and we'll never know. Popularity means little in this day and age. It will only get you so far in life Donal. Carsley said that he doesn't miss the International scene. But why would he?? He spent 90% of his time benchwarming.

[Donal81]

All I know is he's pretty popular at Goodison Park these days!

Carsley always done his best for Ireland and that's all that matters at the end of the day. It's not so long ago that a certain Roy Keane wasn't the most popular of players in the Irish camp and he probably still isn't. Performance on the football pitch is the be all and end all. If Keane had remained at the World Cup who knows how far Ireland would have progressed? Maybe no further but we don't know and we'll never know. Popularity means little in this day and age. It will only get you so far in life Donal. Carsley said that he doesn't miss the International scene. But why would he?? He spent 90% of his time benchwarming.

Lads, my only beef with Carsley was that he was a brutal player for Ireland. I was just saying how the crowd never really took to him and what I believed to be the reason for that, that's all!

I thought he might miss the international scene as it was such an honour to play for his country and be involved with the squad.....