David Connolly

**Real ale Madrid** · 18/11/2002, 10:24 AM

In fairness to Connolly after reading about the whole thing on rte.ie he didn't actually snub ireland he has an ankle injury. Sounds like a bit of a dodgy strory.

**Éanna** · 18/11/2002, 10:27 AM

Originally posted by pete
Connolly has since "declined" to join up with the irish squad for Greece so good riddance!

Declined?! Arrogant little ****er

Who does he thimk he is? Roy Keane

**Éanna** · 18/11/2002, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by oddboy
Of those that remain only Gary Doherty has much experience of playing as an out and out attacker and it now seems that Glen Crowe of Bohemians may partner him up front at the start of Wednesday's match.

Crowe, who would be the first Eircom League player since Pat Byrne 16 years ago to be capped at senior level if he features

**rolo** · 18/11/2002, 11:06 AM

sure anelka has done the same to france today.
it'll be interesting to see how they deal with it...

**Shano** · 18/11/2002, 11:17 AM

shocked with the amount of withdrawals - nothing wrong with any of them.

**pete** · 18/11/2002, 12:03 PM

I don't know whether to admire Connolly or not for being honest & saying he didn't want a call up instead of making up an injury which i'm sure a few other the other withdrawals are doing.

Looks odds on that Crowe will play some part in the game too which is good.

With only 15 outfield players as well looks like Houlihan be in with good chance of a game...

**Éanna** · 18/11/2002, 5:51 PM

connolly gives a different version of events here
After his row with Richie Foran, I can certainly believe that Givens may have behaved like that.

**fosterdollar** · 19/11/2002, 11:41 AM

i dont know what sort of reaction I'll get to this but does anyone think that maybe its ok to not want to play an international match if you dont want to?

**gustavo** · 19/11/2002, 12:28 PM

well im sure nicolas anelka would agree with you anyway!

**fosterdollar** · 19/11/2002, 12:41 PM

but should they really have to be just injured not to play. What gives us the right to demand excuses from them?

**patsh** · 19/11/2002, 12:42 PM

Originally posted by Magoo
i dont know what sort of reaction I'll get to this but does anyone think that maybe its ok to not want to play an international match if you dont want to?

Yes, surely people can make up their own minds at different times.
Remember David O'Leary ?
Well no one accused him of being a traitor etc, he did want to play for irleand, yet he was treated like sh*t by that f*cking gobdaw Charlton simply because he did not want to go to some meaningless tournament in Iceland, and wanted to go on holiday with his wfe and kids instead.

**fosterdollar** · 19/11/2002, 12:49 PM

Originally posted by Magoo
i dont know what sort of reaction I'll get to this but does anyone think that maybe its ok to not want to play an international match if you dont want to?

sorry, i meant not PLAY if u dont want to....

**Éanna** · 19/11/2002, 1:28 PM

Originally posted by Magoo
i dont know what sort of reaction I'll get to this but does anyone think that maybe its ok to not want to play an international match if you dont want to?

IMO, representing your country is one of the greatest honours that can be bestwowed on anyone and I have no time for someone who would refuse such an opportunity unless there are extreme mitigating circumstances

**fosterdollar** · 19/11/2002, 1:33 PM

Originally posted by Éanna

IMO, representing your country is one of the greatest honours that can be bestwowed on anyone and I have no time for someone who would refuse such an opportunity unless there are extreme mitigating circumstances

but we're hardly heading to war a aginst Greece

**Shano** · 19/11/2002, 1:56 PM

completely agree with you Eanna - Magoo what are you talking about

**fosterdollar** · 19/11/2002, 2:02 PM

Originally posted by Shano
completely agree with you Eanna - Magoo what are you talking about

I'm talking about the demonising of players for not playing matches which are important but less important than most internationals. It's well for Duff et al to be picked automatically only to say that they have injuries when we all bloody know that they would be available for their respective clubs under the same circumstances. At least Connolly had the dignity to ask why he wasnt picked in the first place. You all took the p!ss out of him when it was suggested that maybe he should have been picked originally. What has been sown is now being reaped.

**Éanna** · 19/11/2002, 2:15 PM

Would it be that hard for a fella to turn up to the squad and only play 10 minurtes or whatever? come on like, they´re going to be training with their clubs anyway

**fosterdollar** · 19/11/2002, 2:21 PM

no, i agree completely. IMO he should be going. I know that its a massive honour to play for Ireland. However, I dont like the double standards of dogging him out of it one day and demanding he be in the squad the next.

One other thing; I dont think that just because a player does not want to play when they are not injured they deserve to be slated. Too often people are not given a right of reply in situations like that. Remember that his story is that GIvens didnt wait about long enough to hear that he has a problem with the stitches in his ankle coming out.

**Wizzard** · 19/11/2002, 2:33 PM

Originally posted by Éanna
Would it be that hard for a fella to turn up to the squad and only play 10 minurtes or whatever? come on like, they´re going to be training with their clubs anyway

What about players that have retired from International Football, should they be demonised for refusing to play for their country when they are still able to play for their clubs?