Mercenary, Do or Die?

**Tired&Emotional** · 24/01/2006, 4:23 PM

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

Supposing ...just supposing there was a Santa ...and you could get a present off him -but in order to for him to get to you his sleigh would have to run over the Easter Bunny ...

would it be worth it? well would it. I'll add a poll.

Last I heard, they were both fictional

**livehead1** · 24/01/2006, 8:53 PM

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

Supposing ...just supposing there was a Santa ...and you could get a present off him -but in order to for him to get to you his sleigh would have to run over the Easter Bunny ...

would it be worth it? well would it. I'll add a poll.

I created this thread for a reason. That reason was to gauge an opinion of the feeling amongst irish football fans in relation to whether they would be prepared to sacrifice qualification for a major competition for the pride of being able to say that there were no mercenarys in our side. If you cannot see that then maybe you need to read through it again, there are many people who have contributed contradictive views on this thread. People may not agree with them but they are able to accept them and take them into account. Comments like yours are not welcome contributions, they are needless and stem from either a lack of knowledge on the subject or a distinct amount of ability to see what the question is asking. I would advise you to read the question again, if you wish to make a contribution to this discussion then that is more than welcome, providing that this contribution is going to be sensible and related to the topic in discussion, if not, you know where to go.

**Hither green** · 25/01/2006, 8:47 AM

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

Supposing ...just supposing there was a Santa ...and you could get a present off him -but in order to for him to get to you his sleigh would have to run over the Easter Bunny ...

would it be worth it? well would it. I'll add a poll.

Yes because all the Easter Bunny has to offer are a bunch of fecking chocolate eggs

**Lionel Ritchie** · 25/01/2006, 9:10 AM

Originally Posted by livehead1

I created this thread for a reason. That reason was to gauge an opinion of the feeling amongst irish football fans in relation to whether they would be prepared to sacrifice qualification for a major competition for the pride of being able to say that there were no mercenarys in our side. If you cannot see that then maybe you need to read through it again, there are many people who have contributed contradictive views on this thread. People may not agree with them but they are able to accept them and take them into account. Comments like yours are not welcome contributions, they are needless and stem from either a lack of knowledge on the subject or a distinct amount of ability to see what the question is asking. I would advise you to read the question again, if you wish to make a contribution to this discussion then that is more than welcome, providing that this contribution is going to be sensible and related to the topic in discussion, if not, you know where to go.

I thought my supposition was every bit as rational, reasonable and downright plausable as yours about our qualification for a tournament hingeing on our willingness to sell our pure gaelic celtic souls down the river so that someone you've deemed a "johnny foreigner" can be the catalyst, the linchpin, the final piece in the jigsaw as it were that somehow pushes us over the line.

If you want to romanticise about all Irish players being raised on the slopes of the twelve pins, recanting the mystic tale of an Tain Bo, hurl in hand and sliotar in fist then be my fcuking guest mate. But Irish citizenship is a legal matter -end of. If someone's entitled to it by grace of our law then best of luck to them (and not for you to sneer on their good fortune). If thereafter they happen to be handy footballers -then bonus for the rest of us.

**Macy** · 25/01/2006, 9:33 AM

Originally Posted by lopez

There are at least three threads on the subject and certain posters (not you) have been against anyone without an Irish accent from getting picked. It's their opinion of course. Who am I to argue if they think a dog born in a stable is a horse.

They've been the minority though Lopez, unless you're trying to goad them out of the undergrowth? I think it's a bit disingenuous to continue to bring it up as if the majority who are against mercenaries also share that view.

**tetsujin1979** · 25/01/2006, 9:37 AM

perhaps slightly off-topic, but I'd like the opinions of those who voted not to play a mercenary - is this guy a mercenary or not? And would you have a problem with him playing for Ireland? And what if he decides to declare for his native country?
For me, nope, not at all. We're going to see more and more of this as Ireland becomes a more cosmopolitan society.

From http://www.unison.ie/sportsdesk/stor...=12&si=1548267

Name: Emeka Onwubiko
Age: 16
Born: Nigeria

IRISH underage international football is at its healthiest since the successful days of Brian Kerr in the late 90s. Following impressive displays by the under-17s and 19s late last year, they both face into an elite qualifying stage for the European Championship finals in March and May respectively.

But manager Sean McCaffrey may have to do without one of his brightest emerging talents when the under-17 team faces Romania, Israel and Serbia & Montenegro in Dublin at the end of March.

Emeka Onwubiko arrived in Ireland from Nigeria shortly after his father and mother three years ago and his progress through the ranks since then has been rapid. He has been part of the Irish under-15 and 16 set-ups for the last two years, but has now hit a stumbling block - he doesn't have an Irish passport.

The issue currently lies with the appropriate authorities, but as is the case with these applications, they tend to take longer than expected and all the 16-year-old can do is wait.

McCaffrey for one is hoping for a speedy conclusion as the striker is very much part of his plans.

Vincent Butler has been nurturing Onwubiko since he was encouraged to have a look at a youngster playing for St Kevin's Boys back in 2003. The Kennedy Cup, a competition where schoolboy leagues from all over Ireland send their most promising players, is the usual environment for unearthing emerging talent, but Onwubiko fell through that particular net and luckily Butler spotted him that day.

Since then he has represented Ireland a number of times, but, because of his visa situation, he has only been able to play home internationals. Despite that Onwubiko still managed to finish as top goalscorer for the under-16s last year.

Butler believes that the youngster definitely has the potential to be a professional footballer. At only 16 his pace, strength and touch are exceptional and that has attracted the attention of Premiership scouts.

However, like playing for the under-17s, Onwubiko must hold an Irish passport before being offered a pro-contract and this has already cost him a chance with Manchester City who turned down an opportunity to sign him.

West Bromwich Albion did offer him a two-year-deal which would commence in June and if the deal goes through, the Irish public could be hearing a lot more about Onwubiko over the next few years.

"It would be brilliant if I got a chance to play in England," says the youngster. "It's been great playing with Ireland over the last couple of years, but I was shocked when I found out I couldn't play anymore after all the hard work I had put in.

"After the first phase I thought that was it, it's over, but I have some hope now that I will get a passport and be able to play with the under-17s."

**Dodge** · 25/01/2006, 10:04 AM

BTW that lad has a dublin accent (for those who are hung up on accents...)

**Macy** · 25/01/2006, 10:07 AM

He's not a mercenary - he's come up through the ranks. He'd be a mercenary if he said he wanted to go and play for England now (but there's no evidence of that - just of another Irish club falling over themselves to send a young lad to England at the earliest opportunity).

**Hither green** · 25/01/2006, 10:12 AM

I’m sure that’ll be controversial for many. I guess, for obvious reasons, countries like england and France had to deal with this issue years ago whilst it’s quite a new one for Ireland but I don’t have a problem with him representing Ireland – assuming he becomes a citizen and is willing to commit to the country. But nor would I have a problem with him wanting to represent Nigeria. With population movements all countries are going to have to get used to such scenarios.

**Greenbod** · 25/01/2006, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Roverstillidie

lopez, if you get off your high horse for a minuite and actually read what people are saying we might be able to have an informed debate.

no-one so far has suggested that genuine diaspora be blocked from representing ireland.

merely that staunton openly admitting he will try and find non-irish players who are technically eligible but dont know it is a regressive step and a very short-termist view.

olisadebe is a polish citizen by virtue of nationalisation. clinton morrison is a chancer. when you can spot the difference, you might be able to approach this rationally.

What is "technically eligible". There is no such thing. Either you are eligible or not. Irish citizen = eligible. Not Irish citizen = not eligible. Like it our not, Clinton Morrison is an Irish passport holder, and as such is as eligible as any other Irish citizen. The only valid reason for "blocking" any passport holder from representing Ireland should be based on their footballing ability.

**Dodge** · 25/01/2006, 11:08 AM

Thats not the point. The point is he didn't know he was Irish nor had any intention of becoming Irish until he was asked (because of the name Morrison) did he have any Irish blood and if he did would he like to "join" our squad. After finding out he was, and then issueing a come and get me plea to the English team, then the jamiacan team, and then finally settling on Ireland

**Lionel Ritchie** · 25/01/2006, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Thats not the point. The point is he didn't know he was Irish nor had any intention of becoming Irish until he was asked (because of the name Morrison) did he have any Irish blood and if he did would he like to "join" our squad. After finding out he was, and then issueing a come and get me plea to the English team, then the jamiacan team, and then finally settling on Ireland

Doesn't matter a rats ass. He was perfectly within his rights to do all of the above though I'd question the accuracy of your version of events.

So the guys a bit of a doofus for not knowing he probably had Irish background. Are we going to start maligning slightly thick footballers now? Coz if we are I predict a long winter of discontent.

**Hither green** · 25/01/2006, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by Greenbod

What is "technically eligible". There is no such thing. Either you are eligible or not. Irish citizen = eligible. Not Irish citizen = not eligible. Like it our not, Clinton Morrison is an Irish passport holder, and as such is as eligible as any other Irish citizen. The only valid reason for "blocking" any passport holder from representing Ireland should be based on their footballing ability.

I don't know the exact rules but it's not just about citizenship/passport holding as he no doubt also holds a British passport. The key point is that he was no doubt approached by the FAI prior to getting the passport. If he identified that closely with Ireland he'd have surely had a passport beforehand.

Originally Posted by Dodge

Thats not the point. The point is he didn't know he was Irish nor had any intention of becoming Irish until he was asked (because of the name Morrison) did he have any Irish blood and if he did would he like to "join" our squad. After finding out he was, and then issueing a come and get me plea to the English team, then the jamiacan team, and then finally settling on Ireland

Did he? I don't remember the Jamaica bit.

**Dodge** · 25/01/2006, 11:39 AM

Certainly did talk about playing for Jamaica.

**tetsujin1979** · 25/01/2006, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Thats not the point. The point is he didn't know he was Irish nor had any intention of becoming Irish until he was asked (because of the name Morrison) did he have any Irish blood and if he did would he like to "join" our squad. After finding out he was, and then issueing a come and get me plea to the English team, then the jamiacan team, and then finally settling on Ireland

AFAIK it's his mother's side that he's Irish, so his surname is irrelevant in this case

**Dodge** · 25/01/2006, 11:58 AM

Except the fact that that's why he was asked...

**Roverstillidie** · 25/01/2006, 12:02 PM

clinton morrison never lived, played or had anything to do with ireland before someone approached him with the idea of representing us. this is what i mean by 'technically eligible', a foreigner who could apply for an irish passport but would have had no intention of doing so if it wasnt for footballing reasons. legally could declare to be irish, but has no affinity to ireland. like a lot of us and the UK......

this has nothing to do with accents or celtic purity. its prostituting our national side, again.

are people seriously happy that stan is going back down the road of investing resources in hunting players ancestors as opposed to youth development? ok, the rules are there, but its a short termist, narrow view and alienates a lot of people from the side.

**Shelsman** · 25/01/2006, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by Hither green

If he identified that closely with Ireland he'd have surely had a passport beforehand.

It's possible for a person to feel Irish but not feel the need to go and get a second passport if there's nothing wrong with the one he has ( if all he uses a passport for is travel, rather than use it to try to prove his identity / ancestral roots ). It's only when he was asked to play for Ireland that he had to get the relevant papers..........

Besides all this, I think he has done well for us overall and has put in plenty of effort and passion.