More British-born players anyone?(2G discussion

[Tipp Townie]

Regarding Lawrenson, i understand that it was Al Kelly who convinced him to play for Ireland when he was really young at Preston. I think Giles stuck him in the team way before he wanted to, purely because he saw the talent and realised he had to corner him before any of the England set-up noticed!

As for non-England/Scotland players, still close-by but Kev Sheedy was Welsh-born.

But i thought that Paul McGrath was actually born in Dublin, then spent his very early months in London before returning to Ireland?

[dynamo kerry]

Regarding Lawrenson, i understand that it was Al Kelly who convinced him to play for Ireland when he was really young at Preston. I think Giles stuck him in the team way before he wanted to, purely because he saw the talent and realised he had to corner him before any of the England set-up noticed!

As for non-England/Scotland players, still close-by but Kev Sheedy was Welsh-born.

But i thought that Paul McGrath was actually born in Dublin, then spent his very early months in London before returning to Ireland?

ask him next time you see him in leeson st.

[as_i_say]

nah mcgrath deffo born in england-also mcphail was born in london as well, not usa. makes sense about lawro. same deal as ray houghton. def-in-et-ly.

[tetsujin1979]

nah mcgrath deffo born in england-also mcphail was born in london as well, not usa. makes sense about lawro. same deal as ray houghton. def-in-et-ly.

You sure about McPhail? According to this - http://home.eircom.net/javascript/Ew...vemcphail.html - he was born in Queens.

[as_i_say]

well i wasnt 100% till you said it but I had a quick look and found:

http://www.4thegame.com/club/barnsle...enmcphail.html

http://www.soccerbase.com/players_de...playerid=13638

http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/previ...?playerid=8419

I also saw it on a pannini sticker i think and those guys are never wrong

[Metrostars]

A kid from the US was called up for a Under 16 game a few months ago. I'll have to dig that info out.

[Metrostars]

A kid from the US was called up for a Under 16 game a few months ago. I'll have to dig that info out.

Here it is (from August):

THE first result of the FAI's search for new players in America will be seen this week when the Irish U-17s take part in the Nordic Cup.

Among Sean McCaffrey's 18-man squad for the tournament in Reykjavik is 15-year-old American-born defender Conor Murphy from Wallingford, Connecticut.

Murphy, whose maternal grandparents hail from Dundalk, has been tracked for the past six months by McCaffrey after the Irish manager was tipped off about his eligibility and eagerness to play for Ireland by an Irish-based cousin.
...

There may be a ton of good young kids from the US who may be available for Ireland. I know that the father of Michael Parkhurst father is from Ireland, he is a center-half with the Revs in MLS.

[CraftyToePoke]

does anyone know if gareth barry,michael carrick or gavin mccan were ever investigated or linked with us? (going purely on their surnames here)

i think the american angle is well worth pursuing.for those lads it may be seen as a huge honour to be asked to play for us,as opposed to a back up plan if an england career doesnt materialise which has sometimes, devalued the honour of an irish cap when pursuing british based/born players.

theres also the factor that it may bring about a move to europe for their careers,should they do well for us, a big pulling factor foe players in the u.s.

[Dodge]

does anyone know if gareth barry,michael carrick or gavin mccan were ever investigated or linked with us? (going purely on their surnames here)

i think the american angle is well worth pursuing.for those lads it may be seen as a huge honour to be asked to play for us,as opposed to a back up plan if an england career doesnt materialise which has sometimes, devalued the honour of an irish cap when pursuing british based/born players.

theres also the factor that it may bring about a move to europe for their careers,should they do well for us, a big pulling factor foe players in the u.s.

So picking the British born lads devalues winning an Ireland but we should actively seek out Americans who may want to use us to get a move to europe?! How is that better?

ps... the sampadoria lad was called Simon somethingorother

[CraftyToePoke]

So picking the British born lads devalues winning an Ireland but we should actively seek out Americans who may want to use us to get a move to europe?! How is that better?

ps... the sampadoria lad was called Simon somethingorother

dodge,what i meant was..a lad who elects to represent us from a very early stage of his career,wherever he is born or what accent he speaks with is a better scenario then someone firstly fully pursuing the option of playing for england(or anyone else) and failing that electing to represent Ireland. i think that devalues an irish cap.

on the other matter,if the lads declare for us and as a consequence of that earn a move to europe then they will be playing at a higher standard which in turn will benefit us.

[Roverstillidie]

on the other matter,if the lads declare for us and as a consequence of that earn a move to europe then they will be playing at a higher standard which in turn will benefit us.

you have spectacularly missed the point here ctp.
it is not the function of the FAI to promote foreign born players careers (in fact they push kids into 'careers' in england rather than set up youth structures here to attempt to keep elite players in ireland long enough to get a fee for them). genuine diaspora playing for their exiled nation is one thing, and welcomed by yours truely, but the objection is to players soely 'becoming' irish to further their careers. the FAI should have no truck with that.

i include morrison (please play me sven), holland (singing gstq after taking an irish passport to play), townsend (black armbands for diana) and other non-entities like butler and goodman.

whether the plastics like it or not, players like morrison do alienate me somewhat from the national side. it is in no way shape or form an anti-english or burn the ports attitude, these guys are essentially parasitic and i would question whether they can be trusted when the chips are down.

ditto the brazilians playing for portugal, who have caused a split in the side.

i dont accept the 'any dcent player we can con fifa into letting us play' arguement for one second. i would rather be ordinary with pride

[Plastic Paddy]

whether the plastics like it or not, players like morrison do alienate me somewhat from the national side. it is in no way shape or form an anti-english or burn the ports attitude, these guys are essentially parasitic and i would question whether they can be trusted when the chips are down.

Two things:

1. Please use a term, any term, other than "the plastics". It's frankly insulting and shows that you're hardly attempting to relate to us (your fellow posters, the wider diaspora) at all. Try 2G instead. It's largely what we are and it means that we'll respond nicely to you. (As for my handle? An ironic reference to being called a "plastic" all my life... )

2. The sons-of-the-soil brigade hardly set the heather blazing on Saturday, did they? On that basis, I'd never trust Waterford-born players or indeed most Dubs when the chips were down. And don't ever let men from Tallaght near the team, oh no...

PP

[mjpcc]

I think we have extablished beyond doubt that a large percentage of
Ireland's follwing are 2gs or ex-pats and I see no reason why the team itself should not reflect the wider Irish community.

[dancinpants]

I think we have extablished beyond doubt that a large percentage of
Ireland's follwing are 2gs or ex-pats and I see no reason why the team itself should not reflect the wider Irish community.

But isn't the team made up of players that LIVE and play in England? Does this not make ALL the Irish born players ex-pats?

I agree with RTID, there seems to be too many "hanger ons" and they need to be rooted out. And their like must be prevented from gettin' in in the future.

[tricky_colour]

Regarding Matt Holland singing GSTG he is entitled to if he has and
English as well as Irish parent, or whatever, some people are of mixed
nationality, are they to be barred from playing International football.

Could we take a poll on this?
Should people of mixed nationality be barred from playing International football? That seems to be the view of some here.

[tricky_colour]

But isn't the team made up of players that LIVE and play in England? Does this not make ALL the Irish born players ex-pats?

I agree with RTID, there seems to be too many "hanger ons" and they need to be rooted out. And their like must be prevented from gettin' in in the future.

Yep it's a fekking pain commuting on da ferry.

[dancinpants]

Yep it's a fekking pain commuting on da ferry.

lol

[Dan K]

1. Please use a term, any term, other than "the plastics". It's frankly insulting and shows that you're hardly attempting to relate to us (your fellow posters, the wider diaspora) at all. Try 2G instead. It's largely what we are and it means that we'll respond nicely to you. (As for my handle? An ironic reference to being called a "plastic" all my life... )

The one that I hate is "British born" or "English Born".

I was born Irish, in England.

[Roverstillidie]

Should people of mixed nationality be barred from playing International football? That seems to be the view of some here.

thats not what anyone has said. dont try and put words in peoples mouths
i will repeat, the issue is not 2g (apologies PP, i was quoting someone else...) players being welcomed, its no g players who find a tenious link with ireland strictly to enhance their footballing careers, often after a 'come and get me' plea to the england manager at the time.

matt holland (and he isnt the worst) summed this attitude up when after declaring for ireland and taking an irish passport, publically sang the anthem of his previous nationality. not exactly inspiring towords his motives. how many of the 2g'rs on here sing that song when the issue arises? diito townsend as captain insisting that black armbands be worn for di. where was he when greysteel and a load of fans watching ireland were gunned down?

i understand that the concept of duel nationality or identity is a tricky one, especially in the northern context, but i find it very hard to believe matty was making a subtle political point. he sings his anthem when he hears it, and it unfortunatly isnt the one he chose to represent.

only a pure bigot wouldnt welcome the tradition of the diaspora playing for ireland over the years, but the likes of morrison abuse that linkage and all it stands for in order to get a move or a few more grand at negotiation time.

[davey]

thats not what anyone has said. dont try and put words in peoples mouths
i will repeat, the issue is not 2g (apologies PP, i was quoting someone else...) players being welcomed, its no g players who find a tenious link with ireland strictly to enhance their footballing careers, often after a 'come and get me' plea to the england manager at the time.

matt holland (and he isnt the worst) summed this attitude up when after declaring for ireland and taking an irish passport, publically sang the anthem of his previous nationality. not exactly inspiring towords his motives. how many of the 2g'rs on here sing that song when the issue arises? diito townsend as captain insisting that black armbands be worn for di. where was he when greysteel and a load of fans watching ireland were gunned down?

i understand that the concept of duel nationality or identity is a tricky one, especially in the northern context, but i find it very hard to believe matty was making a subtle political point. he sings his anthem when he hears it, and it unfortunatly isnt the one he chose to represent.

only a pure bigot wouldnt welcome the tradition of the diaspora playing for ireland over the years, but the likes of morrison abuse that linkage and all it stands for in order to get a move or a few more grand at negotiation time.

As a 2g, I'd find it hard to argue with any of that. Good post. Holland singing GSTQ is a bit hard to swallow allright although perhaps being a bit hard on Townsend - Greysteel and Princess Di?? Not being fair on the man linking those two.