Originally Posted by
third policeman
I think there's broader context for the Kelly situation. It seemed during the latter days of the MON era that we were a team that no-one wanted to play for. Even players without other options were refusing call-ups or were alienated from what now seems like a dysfunctional set-up. Somehow we have to become an attractive option and that is not just about results. There's a perception thing, or a momentum thing. In the Charlton era we were attracting 2G players who could realistically have had call-ups with England and Scotland, whilst under MON even Irish born players seemed less than thrilled by the prospect of pulling on the green jersey. If we were to land 2 or 3 from Kelly, Crowley, Bamford, Rice, Redmond et al, I suspect it might generate its own momentum and begin to have an impact on the decision-making of other 2G players. At the minute we 're not an appealing option. There's a sense that we're no longer a force in international football. Like it or not that's a factor for players with choices.
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