Granny Rule candidates

**jockser** · 17/01/2006, 3:58 PM

Originally Posted by The Stars

if you weren't born in Ireland or Grew up here I dont think you should be considered for International call up.
What have we got to lose by playing Eircom League players (who grow up dreaming of playing for their country).It cant be worse than Kerrs policy of playing English players with some Irish conections.

Half the french team were not born in france, Michael Owen is welsh, poland have a striker(whatsis name) from africa.........any other examples of other international team playing non natives?

**Stuttgart88** · 17/01/2006, 4:03 PM

Kevin Pietersen won The Ashes for England, Mike Catt won them the Rugby World Cup. Both 100% South African. A Brazilian who happened to live in Belgium knocked us out of a World Cup as did a pair of Turks who happened to live in Switzerland.

**pete** · 17/01/2006, 4:36 PM

Moved on from the 2G issues - if anyone feels strong enough about start new thread.

I still feel its embarishing search the Football league for average players using the granny rule. There might be something to the granny rule if say we got a quality player from Brazil who can't get in the Brazilan squad cos too much quality in his position. There have probably more granny rule dudes as successes.

**Cosmo** · 17/01/2006, 5:51 PM

'Nationality' is a sketchy thing eg I have a mate who was adopted as a baby from a foreign country (continental european) and he'd come across as more irish than most people

Would also have mates that are second generation (and one third generation) irish living and brought up in the UK who consider themselves irish.

However my problem is with players hmming and hawing about playing for us. They should be asked once and once only. If they dont play for us first time being asked they should be told to f**k off if they come crawling back after realising they're not going to make it with England. Nolan was rightfully told to f**k off - and while im at it, morrison should also have been told to f**k off for hmming and hawing about playing for us after a couple of decent performances on the box until he finally realised he wasn't good enough for england

**sligoman** · 17/01/2006, 6:08 PM

Originally Posted by Green Tribe

what if you or some of your family moved to Uk USA etc had a child born there who wanted to play for Ireland and was talented enough, would you still say that, huh? wise up.

I think meself and PP had a wee chat about this before

.

**John83** · 17/01/2006, 6:13 PM

Originally Posted by marksman

What he actually said was "going down the granny route" The last player to do this was Wayne Rooney....or was that the granny "root" ?

The granny in question is sueing the newspaper for libel. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/4616920.stm

**silentbob** · 17/01/2006, 7:53 PM

Originally Posted by The Stars

if you weren't born in Ireland or Grew up here I dont think you should be considered for International call up.
What have we got to lose by playing Eircom League players (who grow up dreaming of playing for their country).It cant be worse than Kerrs policy of playing English players with some Irish conections.

There are so many things wrong with this statement I dont know where to begin, but here is some food for thought.

Out of the 9 goals Ireland have scored in our 3 World Cup outings, 4 were scored by players born in Ireland, the others were born outside the country. Ireland would have failed to qualify for World Cup 94 if Alan McLoughlin hadnt scored in Winsor Park(again born outside of Ireland). I think these two points alone cover your first point.

What have we got to lose by playing Eircom League players? The simple answer to this is that we dont have anything to lose, IF these players are better than any others out there who could also represent our country. However, IF there are better players out there who could also play for Ireland, by ignoring these we may lose out on qualifying for a major tournament.

In reply to your final point about Kerrs policy of playing English players with some Irish connection just to say that I was unaware Kerr adopted this policy. When did he decide on this policy? Who are these players you speak of? I would be really greatful if you could answer these two small questions for me.

**lopez** · 17/01/2006, 8:48 PM

Originally Posted by pete

...I find the granny rule search embarishing & even speaking to foreigners at work here makes us a laughing stock especially to be so public about...

These foreigners. Where are they from? Because I can think of few countries that haven't took advantage of the granny rule. Japan possibly

Originally Posted by The Stars

if you weren't born in Ireland or Grew up here I dont think you should be considered for International call up.

Please Mr. Stars. Can I still go and watch your team?

I have been going for 25 years?

What a w*nker!

**TheJamaicanP.M.** · 17/01/2006, 9:10 PM

Originally Posted by lopez

These foreigners. Where are they from? Because I can think of few countries that haven't took advantage of the granny rule. Japan possibly

You're dead right Lopez. Most countries have taken advantage of it at this stage. BTW, the player who helped raise the profile of the Japanese football team was the Brazilian, Alex.

**livehead1** · 17/01/2006, 9:10 PM

Originally Posted by The Stars

if you weren't born in Ireland or Grew up here I dont think you should be considered for International call up.
What have we got to lose by playing Eircom League players (who grow up dreaming of playing for their country).It cant be worse than Kerrs policy of playing English players with some Irish conections.

as a 2nd G irish person with their links in sligo mainly i find your comments absolutely ridiculous, have you been outside of sligo? the funniest part of what you say must be the line where Eircom league players, who as you so correctly say, 'grew up dreaming of playing for their country' is something i find hilarious. Not only do you make the outrageous claim that we as an international side have nothing to lose by playing EL players even if they are not as good as the players who are eligible to us, yet you feel it necessary to point out that they would love to play for their country. Well following those comments, i can classify myself as having a love and a desire to play for my country, ireland. However under your 'rules' of selection i would now be ineligible so i may be forced to go and play for england. This is something that i would not like to do but being forced into a corner have little choice.

Following your comments about kerrs apparent policy of playing players with english connections, you may want to check your facts before saying such stupid accusations. Kerr gave debuts to one english born player, Jon Macken, the other non-irish born player he gave a debut to and rightly so (to stop links with scotland if anything else) was the hugely talented Aiden McGeady.

I havent seen you post much on here, yet you have over 1000 posts, i hope others are better constructed than the pile of Sh*te you have just placed on the internet, if not, i hope i dont have to read many more of these comments.

The only advice i can give you, apart from making such bigoted comments, is to get out of sligo and go and meet some of the irish diaspora in places like england and the such like and then make your conclusions as to how 'irish' they are compared to your wonderful self.

**M@ttitude** · 17/01/2006, 9:14 PM

Here we go again.. please sligoman lets stay out of it! My nephew isnt spanish because he was born on holidays..

**lopez** · 17/01/2006, 9:20 PM

Originally Posted by TheJamaicanP.M.

You're dead right Lopez. Most countries have taken advantage of it at this stage. BTW, the player who helped raise the profile of the Japanese football team was the Brazilian, Alex.

The right Hon. gentleman is right. I must admit I'm not that massively clued up on the international scene outside Ireland and Spain and picked Japan solely that I heard somewhere it was the country with the least amount of immigration/emigration (Note to Stars: Try looking up these words on google with Irish attached to it. It will prove a valuable history lessorn). Therefore a country that has few 2G living abroad (they do have a large 4 or 5G community in Peru and the US) while having few foreign born Japanese citizens.

Even the German FA, a country that restricts citizenship to those of German blood, has bent the rules. Say what you like about Morrison, but the lad at least has a Granny born in the country he plays for.

**klein4** · 17/01/2006, 9:24 PM

I dont mind players declaring for ireland. its a personal thing where you feel you or your people are from. my problem begins when we start tryin to recruit people who only want to play for ireland to further their career or cause they are not good enough to play for england. As well as that I think we should be doin it with a bit more subtlety.there is just something a bit unseemly about the "if youve had a pint a guinness come and play for us" attitude.I know there are guys who played for us in the past who would fall into the above category and never ever let us down. but still. personally I think it demeans the jersey a bit.

**sylvo** · 17/01/2006, 9:29 PM

Originally Posted by The Stars

if you weren't born in Ireland or Grew up here I dont think you should be considered for International call up.
What have we got to lose by playing Eircom League players (who grow up dreaming of playing for their country).It cant be worse than Kerrs policy of playing English players with some Irish conections.

This is my post of the month. I guess i'll never ever get the chance to play for Ireland ever.

You got too work on your wind up's son.

**eirebhoy** · 17/01/2006, 10:43 PM

Lou Macari (he scouted for Kerr) was on Setanta talking about this subject. He said Kerr contacted Kevin Nolan but Nolan had his sights set on England. He wasn't going to try and persuade players.

**lopez** · 17/01/2006, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by klein4

I dont mind players declaring for ireland. its a personal thing where you feel you or your people are from. my problem begins when we start tryin to recruit people who only want to play for ireland to further their career or cause they are not good enough to play for england. As well as that I think we should be doin it with a bit more subtlety.there is just something a bit unseemly about the "if youve had a pint a guinness come and play for us" attitude.I know there are guys who played for us in the past who would fall into the above category and never ever let us down. but still. personally I think it demeans the jersey a bit.

This subject has been done to death. However, there are a couple of points to recap. The majority of 2G players with two Irish parents have opted for Ireland from a young age. One or two haven't (I can't off hand think of them) but, then, f*ck them. Those - ie. Townsend, Aldridge, Robinson Morrison, Galvin, etc - who have f*cked about with playing for Ireland are normally those with just one Irish parent or grandmother/father. The choice here is do you take advantage of a rule that every major European country takes advantage of at one time or other, or not? TBH, the five mentioned above have been far from basket cases and served their 'adopted country' well.

Being a bit controversial here - but hey, I'm going to stick my head out anyway, so feel free to shoot - do you think it is also disingenuous or double standards to draft players into the national side, where in mainstream society they would normally be shunned from attaining well paid managerial jobs or even citizenship itself? E.g. Non-whites in the French team.

**Den Perry** · 18/01/2006, 6:49 AM

I'm almost sure Matthew Kilgallon of Leeds is born in York of Irish parents. He seems like a decent defender, my only worry being the longer he plays alongside Paul Butler, the more bad habits he'll get.

In addition, just a my opinion on the whole 2g thing. Shouldn't matter if you are born here or not, If you fee you are Irish, fair enough.But morrisson did arse around and nolan should be told where to go as well.

**Plastic Paddy** · 18/01/2006, 7:23 AM

Originally Posted by Den Perry

I'm almost sure Matthew Kilgallon of Leeds is born in York of Irish parents. He seems like a decent defender, my only worry being the longer he plays alongside Paul Butler, the more bad habits he'll get.

He's taken the Queen's shilling. He plays for England at u-21 level.

PP

**klein4** · 18/01/2006, 8:01 AM

Originally Posted by lopez

Being a bit controversial here - but hey, I'm going to stick my head out anyway, so feel free to shoot - do you think it is also disingenuous or double standards to draft players into the national side, where in mainstream society they would normally be shunned from attaining well paid managerial jobs or even citizenship itself? E.g. Non-whites in the French team.

football is a working class game and the majority of white players(and I hate defining people along those terms.) would be shunned from management positions also given where they are from. is footballs gain really the city of londons loss with someone like wayne rooney? thats only a very general response to your very general point.

**pete** · 18/01/2006, 9:26 AM

Originally Posted by lopez

These foreigners. Where are they from? Because I can think of few countries that haven't took advantage of the granny rule. Japan possibly

Most countries tend to use for high quality players, not Football league no hopers. As mentioned above Lou Macari i think was a scout for Kerr & he said Kerr never abandonded the granny rule but there just no quality players available.

Originally Posted by lopez

Please Mr. Stars. Can I still go and watch your team?

I have been going for 25 years?

What a w*nker!

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