The Kevin Nolan saga

**pete** · 13/03/2006, 11:41 AM

I think Nolan will be in the next england squad. Eriksson is so weak he lets the media pick his squads anyway. World Cup squads are about versatility more than quality.

**Metrostars** · 13/03/2006, 1:23 PM

I would love to see Nolan to be able to play for Ireland. Staunton brings him on as a sub for 5 minutes and then never to be picked again.

**gustavo** · 13/03/2006, 1:27 PM

Hehe now that would be funny!

**Jerry The Saint** · 13/03/2006, 6:33 PM

The Irish manager is appealing to FIFA about the eligibility of Bolton Wanderers captain Nolan to wear the green jersey.

If FIFA uphold the appeal, the final decision would rest with Nolan, who is eligible for Ireland through the grandparents' rule.

Talk about going about things arseways. I presume there's some cost involved in this silly "appeal" (especially if the FAI win it). And even after going out of their way to break the rules/cheat, Nolan still has the option of telling Staunton/FAI to get stuffed.

At the very least we shouldn't even waste the price of a phone call or a stamp on this nonsense until Nolan makes his mind up.

**Only2keanos** · 13/03/2006, 8:47 PM

I think Stan is going about this the right way. If getting Nolan to play for us proves to be the difference between qualifying for a major tournament or not then nobody will really care how he came about playing. One thing is for sure is that if results dont go Stans way, he will be cast aside just as cheaply as Kerr was and nobody would say well at least he didnt pursue that Englishman that time.

The main reason I wouldnt have a problem with Nolan is that some people dont feel as strongly about their nationality as others. I am 100% Irish and it means a lot to me to say that, but I understand that some people are not that concerned with the town, county or country they are from. Maybe his influential manager was the key to him rejecting Irelands approaches before or maybe it is because he considers himself and English and always will. Either way, we can never know his real motives for sure, the only thing we can do is judge his performances, if and when he ever actually plays for Ireland. If he ends up playing for England, then good luck to him I say.

**tricky_colour** · 13/03/2006, 9:32 PM

Personally I don't think a players nationality should be fixed untill
he has played for a country at senior level. What they did at U21 and particularly U18 (when you are not technically an adult) shouldn't count.

Also what wrong with having duel nationality? You could even play
the first half for one country and the second half for the opposition

,
or represent two different countries in the same competition, what wrong with
that? If you are eligible to play for two nations then why should you
be forced to choose just one?
Seems like FIFA are forcing you to be 100% one nationality when for many
people that is not the case.

**Qwerty** · 13/03/2006, 10:01 PM

You don't have to look very far, take Peter Charles the showjumper born in Liverpool of Irish Grandparents who represented English several times at international level, failed to be selected for the '92 Olympics and so switched his nationality to Ireland. He has always maintained he intended representing Ireland at some point but I don't know how true or honest this is. I think Charles was welcomed with open arms and made the Olympics at the expense of a native born Irishman...at least I don't recall any negative media coverage.

**tricky_colour** · 13/03/2006, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by totalfootball

If you look at athletics, you find that Qatar and Saudi Arabia have some fantastic runners now. They are Kenyan, and have simply been given citizenship and lots of money as an inducement to switch country.

In international football, at present, players are allowed to switch countries until they are 21, even if they have played in competitive internationals at underage level. If you remove this rule, what will ultimately happen is that, just as in athletics, some countries which are willing to give away citizenship to world class sportsmen and to pay them lots of money, will end up with the best teams. International football will end up being all about money, just as club football already is.

International football is already all about money, the ruling just reinforces the situation, players (and their parents) know which side their bread is buttered
on well before the age of 21. The situation is made worse because made, other national sides are depleted of players who don't make the grade of the country with the deepest pockets.
It's a bit like Chelsea stripping other clubs of their best players only for them
to languish in the reserves, it helps Chelsea because whilst the player is not playing for Chelsea it ensures he is not playing against them.
It's a bad ruling in my opinion, it make the situation worse not better because
it weakens the strength of other countries and thus makes them even more less attractive to players with duel nationality.

**tricky_colour** · 13/03/2006, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by Qwerty

You don't have to look very far, take Peter Charles the showjumper born in Liverpool of Irish Grandparents who represented English several times at international level, failed to be selected for the '92 Olympics and so switched his nationality to Ireland. He has always maintained he intended representing Ireland at some point but I don't know how true or honest this is. I think Charles was welcomed with open arms and made the Olympics at the expense of a native born Irishman...at least I don't recall any negative media coverage.

So what? He was eligible to represent Ireland so what's the problem?
He made the Olympics because he was best of those eligible, what wrong with that?

**CollegeTillIDie** · 14/03/2006, 6:29 AM

Originally Posted by Qwerty

You don't have to look very far, take Peter Charles the showjumper born in Liverpool of Irish Grandparents who represented English several times at international level, failed to be selected for the '92 Olympics and so switched his nationality to Ireland. He has always maintained he intended representing Ireland at some point but I don't know how true or honest this is. I think Charles was welcomed with open arms and made the Olympics at the expense of a native born Irishman...at least I don't recall any negative media coverage.

Well it wasn't Charles that had the doped horse now was it?

**Volc�n Masaya** · 14/03/2006, 7:12 AM

In fairness you can't compare the Tim Cahill situation to Nolan. Cahill was very young (14 or 15) at the time he played for Samoa, (where he just happened to be on holidays iirc). So it would have been a bit unjust to tie him to Samoa for the rest of his life.

As regards players being allowed to play for several countries, Di Stefano played for Argentina, Colombia and Spain. Puskas and couple of other Hungarians also played for Spain. And of course the great Jackie Carey once captain both Irelands (the IFA version and the FAI version) in the same week!!

**Irish Pride** · 14/03/2006, 9:06 AM

I expected this reaction from Nolan, It happened before. There were strong calls from the media for Zac Knight to be included into the england squad and he missed out and knight said "i might have to consider my INTERNATIONAL future, apparently i can play for ireland so why not if i cant play for england"

Low and behold he was called up for about 3 international caps which i doubt he will ever add too. So Nolan will either end up winning 1 cap under Sven or end up playing for us. I just want him to say what he wants to do.....either play for us of them. I thought this was all sorted out when he said no thanks last year but guess not.

**tetsujin1979** · 14/03/2006, 9:24 AM

Originally Posted by Volc�n Masaya

In fairness you can't compare the Tim Cahill situation to Nolan. Cahill was very young (14 or 15) at the time he played for Samoa, (where he just happened to be on holidays iirc). So it would have been a bit unjust to tie him to Samoa for the rest of his life.

Not quite right. Cahill was living in London at the time and was approached by Samoa to play for them in an underage tournament. He only took it because his grandmother (who still lived in Samoa) was very ill at the time and by taking their offer he got a free trip to Samoa to see her. This all came out when he looked to change his international allegiance, and Samoa had no objections

**greatbleddyman** · 14/03/2006, 9:33 AM

I think the most important criteria is that he has an Irish sounding surname.

**Risteard** · 14/03/2006, 9:46 AM

Good article by Vincent Hogan in the Independent on this today.

**paul_oshea** · 14/03/2006, 10:16 AM

I think the most important criteria is that he has an Irish sounding surname.

here here, if a dog is born in a stable it doesn't make it a horse!

can you post the vincento hogan piece?

**eirebhoy** · 14/03/2006, 10:22 AM

http://www.unison.ie/sportsdesk/stor...=12&si=1580178

Ireland should tell Nolan where to go
Tuesday March 14th 2006

IT IS hard not to harbour a faint throb of misgiving as Kevin Nolan mulls over the sustained courtship of Steve Staunton.

Nolan, reputedly, has spoken to the Republic of Ireland manager more than once about the possibility of declaring for the land of his grandparents. It is a story that carries the whiff of unrequited passion.

Nolan, who played for England in an under-18 European Championship qualifier but could, according to some, follow Tim Cahill's successful challenge to FIFA eligibility rules, is prevaricating on the basis that a better offer might yet materialise from Sven Goran Eriksson.

To be fair, the boy from Toxteth doesn't feign any compelling emotional attachment to the Republic. Actually, playing for England would, unequivocally, be his preference.

Indifference

But, given Eriksson's apparent indifference to his bright form with Bolton, it seems highly unlikely any approach would be forthcoming to Nolan this side of the World Cup. So, does he wait to discover the identity of Eriksson's successor (Sam Allardyce would, clearly, suit him fine)?

Or does he declare himself 'Irish' in time for the May friendly against Chile in Dublin? All indications are that he'll bide his time and take a punt on Uncle Sam.

Now precedent, undeniably, supports Staunton in his efforts to recruit Nolan.

After all, neither John Aldridge nor Ray Houghton had ever even been to Dublin when Jack Charlton called them up for his first game in charge of the Republic, a friendly against Wales, in 1986. Indeed it is said that the greatest concern of both players back then was a fear of getting caught up in 'The Troubles'.

Aldridge was already 28 and admitted at the time that he had just become "tired of waiting to see if England will have a look at me."

It was the persuasion of an Oxford United team-mate, Dave Langan, that convinced the Liverpudlian to avail of the grand-parent rule (his grandmother was from Athlone) and declare for Ireland.

Now there are uncanny echoes of the past as Joey O'Brien, apparently, is working hard on Staunton's behalf in the Bolton dressing-room to persuade another Liverpudlian to turn his back on a gloriously indifferent, England.

Referring to O'Brien's efforts, Nolan has been quoted as saying "I told him it's something I have to think about. I'm fed up talking about England."

He is, indisputably, a decent Premiership player and at 23 could have ten solid years of international football ahead of him.

And perhaps it is nothing more than coincidence that this story (breaking simultaneously in a number of English newspapers on Sunday) coincides with Nolan being voted the Barclay's Premiership Player of the Month for February.

But there is a murmur of canvass about this business that can scarcely encourage Staunton. Short of standing outside Erikkson's home wearing a tee-shirt emblazoned with the words 'PLEASE PICK ME', it is difficult to see what more Nolan can do to catch the England manager's eye.

Staunton is perfectly right to avail of the grand-parent rule just as zealously as his immediate predecessor Brian Kerr - chose to keep it at a distance. And, at least, he has (we trust) stopped short of Charlton's circular to all English clubs in '86, requesting them to put a notice on their boards saying that "if anyone had an Irish mother, father or grandmother, then I would be interested and I would come and see them."

But Stan needs to be wary of becoming the fall-guy in an England World Cup story.

This is not to imply that Nolan is being deliberately mischievous. It is merely to point out that at no stage has he indicated a desire, let alone a compulsion, to play football for the Republic of Ireland. On the contrary, his stated wish as an Englishman is to play for England.

Perhaps we should respect that and concentrate on those who see more symbolism in an Irish shirt than a low-watt consolation prize.

Hoganvin2@yahoo.ie

**dr_peepee** · 14/03/2006, 6:10 PM

Some papers have questioned why Nolan didn't just take up the option during the recent "window" to throw his lot in with us! A fair point, but I wonder how much Kerrs position as the senior manager may have been a factor in his decision to ignore the oppertunity... Given what happened when he was underage manager.

Personaly, I don't see anything coming of it.

And as much as I generally try to side step the "Plastic Paddy" arguments, this is going on far longer than say Morrisons deliberations, or even Dave Kitsons question, and is getting on my whick a bit.