The Kevin Nolan saga

[shakermaker1982]

excellent post. My mum and dad had to leave Ireland and head for England when they were 16 and 17 to look for work. I am born here, as is my brother but we both have Irish passports and see ourselves as Irish because we were brought up as Irish in an area that was predominantly Irish. I know my Irish history blah blah and even have to follow Mayo to Croke park...........

If Nolan is only wanting to play for Ireland because England don't want him then he can **** off but if he is keen to wear the green shirt and will give 100% then he's more than welcome to.

I have had this for most of my life, I can't understand how these high & mighty people who where born in Ireland & never even ventured away from Ireland can say that a person who was born in another country isn't Irish. Many Irish people had no choice but to leave Ireland in the 50's/60's/70's & 80's just to be able to feed their families...

I am happy with my nationality & would never consider playing for another country, certainly not England or Northern Ireland, but it is very narrow minded to think that you have to be born in Ireland to play for Ireland, Paul McGrath was born in England, what nationality is he??

I understand the problem that certain people could have with Morrison & Nolan, as they would prefer to play for England (well Morrison would probably prefer to stick with Ireland even if he got the chance to play for England), but how do you differentiate between who we think is Irish or not??

Born in Ireland??
Born in Ireland & was brought up in England - Finnan
Born in England & Live in Ireland for 20+ years?? Live in Ireland for 10+ years?? Live in Ireland for 5+ years??
Born in England & moved back to Ireland - McGrath
Born in England & brought up in England, but want's to play for Ireland & has supported Ireland all their life, e.g Breen, Kilbane, McCarthy....
Born in England & supported England & wants to play for England - Morrison, Nolan, Aldridge (not sure)

Is it the last type of Ireland player that you dislike??

Sean

[eirebhoy]

if we don't express an interest in Stephen Ireland, we may as well give up soccer as a national sport!!!!

Who's we?

[Reality Bites]

I didn't think i'd have to explain this one but "We" being IRELAND or Irish football

[Hither green]

When RB wants to know what the Irish think he just looks into his own heart

[Stuttgart88]

Didn't Stevie Ireland say he'd play? Non-story.

[Closed Account 2]

Yeah but we need to get him in and signed up asap... Any young decent player who has the choice between us and another country should be played or come on as a sub in a full friendly to lock them in and prevent them from being poached.

I'd like to have seen the likes of Nolan played in the meaningless China game or something like the Unity Cup, that way we could tap them up so they could only play for us. Then we can look at their commitment and see if they should be playing in the crucial matches without worrying about if they'll declare for another side.

[dr_peepee]

I think Richardson was always gonna declare for England...

I remember reading some years ago that Keane was in the ear of Richardson and Darren Fletcher to declare for Ireland.

[Roverstillidie]

this diaspora row is getting repetitive. Its not an anti-english thing, its a chancer thing.
the reality is Nolan isnt Irish, but might choose to become Irish to further his career. I dont want players in green whose only reason for being there (and yes, Clint falls into this category) to get a few extra quid at contract time because they are international players.
We have had mixed fortune with these opportunists over the years, Townsend worked out very well for example.
I think there is a split between the ole ole type and the more earthy fans on this. I would rather be worse with pride than play morrison or nolan, who are essentially parasites.

[Hither green]

I take the point. I’m sure there are plenty of people who aren’t patriotic and feel comfortable having 2 or more nationalities, but Nolan did clearly say that he wanted to play for England, so that should be that. It didn’t seem so bad in the past capping older players who’d never been given the chance to play for their first choice country, but it’s a bit desperate trying to “convert” young topflight players who would prefer to play for someone else. It makes us a laughing stock when we go out looking for someone’s Irish granny, like we apparently did with Marlon King.

That said, I’ve never regretted Morrison being part of the team, he may have preferred England but he’s played his heart out in the green jersey.

[gspain]

My understanding is that Nolan is no longer eligible to play for us as the FIFA amnesty has expired. In fairness to the guy he has always maintained he is English and wants to play for them. It is just another non story for slow news days.

I have no problem with anybody playing for us who qualifies that WANTS to play for us. A good chunk of our support particularly our travelling fans were born in England too. They are still Irish are very following us long before the glory days too.

Kevin Kilbane who grew up doing Irish dancing in Preston is every bit as Irish as a kid growing up in Dublin playing playstation and supporting Man Utd.

[Cowboy]

It was my understanding that the rule was temporarily extended to cover under 25's and has now reverted to cover u21's and below. Can anyone clarify this?

[CraftyToePoke]

I still don't see the validity of the argument. It is possible to be both English and Irish, and as such he has a right to choose. We have no right to say that he can't. We've already had players who had stated a preference for another country but still performed to the top of their ability and with pride for us. Ray Houghton always stated that his preference was Scotland!!!

sorry to drag this up again all but ive been away for a few days you see.

closter, he would be representing us, ireland, irish people everywhere, YOU, and he does not see himself as irish, the fact that it worked with Houghton is neither here nor there because for every Houghton theres a batch of duds who should never have worn the shirt. surely you can see that?

Can you truthfully tell me you feel equally represented by someone like Nolan or Morrison as you would by Kilbane or Given? because i just cant see how that would be.

[Mad Moose]

Just when I was thinking about a shake up of the Irish International Team I couldnt helping thinking of the great work carried out by Jack Charlton and the players he called up for the Republic, particularly the story of going to see John Aldridge at Oxford United and ended up coming away with Ray Houghton. How significant this turned out to be and the rest as they say was history.Which leads me on to the current situation. I for one never want to mention our international side and Roy Keane in the same sentence but he's gone and its a pity how it all transpired. I'm not sure if Stan has the influence but Bobby certainly has.I think this management pairing may succeed and I'll be looking toward that gentleman of the game Bobby Robson. Which leads me on to what could be hugely significant. So much depends on whether Stan or Bobby can persuade Kevin Nolan to declare for the Republic. I for one am in awe of the guy and he could end up been the difference between demise and success. Jack in his time knew the players, other managers may not have considered the lower leagues. Kevin Nolan would be a first choice in any side.In relation to England thankfully they cannot decide on their best side and sometimes an indulgence of talent isnt the be all and end all. We need Kevin to declare. He is without doubt a player we really need and I hope he doesnt get an England call up.Time for Stan to get over to Bolton. The power of persuasion.

Just a thought.

Brendan Grufferty.

[Donal81]

Just when I was thinking about a shake up of the Irish International Team I couldnt helping thinking of the great work carried out by Jack Charlton and the players he called up for the Republic, particularly the story of going to see John Aldridge at Oxford United and ended up coming away with Ray Houghton. How significant this turned out to be and the rest as they say was history.Which leads me on to the current situation. I for one never want to mention our international side and Roy Keane in the same sentence but he's gone and its a pity how it all transpired. I'm not sure if Stan has the influence but Bobby certainly has.I think this management pairing may succeed and I'll be looking toward that gentleman of the game Bobby Robson. Which leads me on to what could be hugely significant. So much depends on whether Stan or Bobby can persuade Kevin Nolan to declare for the Republic. I for one am in awe of the guy and he could end up been the difference between demise and success. Jack in his time knew the players, other managers may not have considered the lower leagues. Kevin Nolan would be a first choice in any side.In relation to England thankfully they cannot decide on their best side and sometimes an indulgence of talent isnt the be all and end all. We need Kevin to declare. He is without doubt a player we really need and I hope he doesnt get an England call up.Time for Stan to get over to Bolton. The power of persuasion.

Just a thought.

Brendan Grufferty.

Jaysis, this issue is dead and buried, isn't it? He can't declare, right? If this is the case, could someone please place a large banner on the site, KEVIN NOLAN CANNOT PLAY FOR IRELAND so we can stop bringing him up. If I'm wrong, I apologise.

[eirebhoy]

This has been discussed many times and he is not eligible for us.



1 Any person holding the nationality of a country is eligible to play for
the representative teams of the Association of his country. The
Executive Committee shall decide on the conditions of eligibility
for any Player who assumes a new nationality and for whom par. 3
of this article does not apply, or for any Player who would, in principle,
be eligible to play for the teams of more than one Association
due to his nationality.
2 As a general rule, any Player who has already represented one Association
(either in full or in part) in an official competition of any category
may not play an international match with another Association
team.
3 If a Player has more than one nationality, or if a Player acquires a new
nationality, or if the Player is eligible to play for several Association
teams due to his nationality, the following exceptions apply:
(a) Up to his 21st birthday, a player may only once request changing
the Association for which he is eligible to play international
matches.
A Player may exercise this right to change Associations
only if he has not played at “A" international level for his
current Association and if at the time of his first full or
partial appearance in an international match in an official competition
of any other category, he already had such nationalities.
Changing Associations is not permitted during the preliminary
competition of a FIFA competition, continental championship
or Olympic Tournaments if a player has already been
fielded in a match of one of these competitions.
(b) Any Player who has already acquired eligibility to play for one
Association but has another nationality imposed upon him by
a government authority, is also entitled to change associations.
This provision is not subject to any age limits.

4 Any Player who wishes to exercise this right to change Associations
shall submit a written and substantiated request to the FIFA general
secretariat. After submitting the request, the Player is no longer
qualified to play for his current Association’s team. The Players’
Status Committee shall decide on the request. The committee’s
decision may be brought before the Appeal Committee. The Regulations
for the Status and Transfer of Players contain more detailed
provisions.
5 Any Players who have already had their 21st birthday at the time of
implementation of these provisions and who fulfil the requirements
in par. 3 (a) are also entitled to submit such a request to change
Associations. This entitlement will expire definitively twelve months
after implementation of this provision

[NeilMcD]

This should be a sticky

[as_i_say]

tbh there is still loads o confusion over this. instead of quoting from FIFA regulations someone here who knows why he cant 100% play for us should post with bullet points the reasons why!!!

also anyone read the Oirish Daily Mail last week-alderidge writes for them. long piece about how robbo should nab nolan and how nolans eyes allegedly "lit up" when aldo told him about what it was like to wear the green.

Nolan has been approached as far as i know and has turned us down but i think some clarity is needed on the subject of him being able to play for us.

Sticky!

[klein4]

we have to get Nolan playing for us at all costs!

[Stuttgart88]

as i say, Nolan WAS approached but in 2004 when there was a 12 month temporary amnesty for players to switch countries if they have played underage but not full internationals for another country. We got Jon Macken via this amnesty. Nolan has played U21 for England & if he was to play for us he would have had to declare by 31st December 2004.

So as I understand it, it's end of story.

[as_i_say]

good stuff-didnt know about that. yes i agree its time to forget about him but maybe this thread will now put an end to any discussions on it in future (yeah right!)