Joseph Lapira

**OneRedArmy** · 28/05/2007, 4:43 PM

Originally Posted by Qwerty

What a lot of drivel, is the world laughing becuase we capped a promising Irish-American? Do we cringe in shame because of this?

Was the world not laughing when we lost 5-2 to Cyprus? Did we not cringe in shame?

If we capped Vinny Jones years ago you could argue that it would have devalued the Irish shirt because he was a mercenary prostituting himself to several countries hoping to satify his ego, but not a proud Irish-American like Lapira who has more promise than many capped by Ireland over the years.

Have you got a crystal ball? How is he more promising that about 100 other young professionals playing at a significantly higher level in Ireland? He's certainly playing at a lower level.

Come on then, tell me how good NCAA soccer is? I've seen some of it, have you?

Re the prouds Irish American, he's that proud he didn't have an Irish passport until last Monday.....

**tetsujin1979** · 28/05/2007, 4:46 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Re the prouds Irish American, he's that proud he didn't have an Irish passport until last Monday.....

Proof?

**OneRedArmy** · 28/05/2007, 4:56 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Proof?

Irish Times on Saturday from memory?

**tetsujin1979** · 28/05/2007, 5:00 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Irish Times on Saturday from memory?

anyone got an ireland.com account:
http://www.ireland.com/sports/soccer/intl/index.html

**timmy mallet** · 28/05/2007, 7:04 PM

I'm sure some of yiz have cheked it out, but if not here is some NCAA highlights -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ8nLbHi1e0

Never mind the quality of the football, the commentary, stats and graphics are quality

!!

**tricky_colour** · 28/05/2007, 8:19 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Came on, made 2 passes and then the ref blew up for full time.

So the ref was none too impressed with him too

**tricky_colour** · 28/05/2007, 8:27 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Re the prouds Irish American, he's that proud he didn't have an Irish passport until last Monday.....

I don't think most Americans even have an American passport either an the majority of them never leave the country (thank God

).

The 'passport test' doesn't really prove too much, all it shows is a desire to leave the country!!

I think I would be right in saying that many Irish citizens, born and breed don't actually have a passport?

A passort just shows a desire to travel.

**Qwerty** · 28/05/2007, 9:59 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Have you got a crystal ball? How is he more promising that about 100 other young professionals playing at a significantly higher level in Ireland? He's certainly playing at a lower level.

Come on then, tell me how good NCAA soccer is? I've seen some of it, have you?

Re the prouds Irish American, he's that proud he didn't have an Irish passport until last Monday.....

Kevin McDonald said after the games he wouldn't name individuals who impressed him becuase he said football is all about opinions. Why don't you, who is not in any way close to the squad and the training sessions, give Stan the benefit of the doubt about the appropriateness of capping Lapira.

I've seen NCAA and MLS games, too many tbh. I've zero doubt that several MLS clubs would pick him up in a flash and MLS is certainly better quality football than eL, I,m sure we can agree on that if nothing else. Just becuse he is not playing at eL level doesn't mean anything.

The key word is promise, you could say he could go on to match what Olsen and Reyna have done or he could disappear into obscurity, I'm hoping for the former. I am partial to Irish Americans and really happy to see one finally play for Ireland, we can do without your Little Irelander rants.

**Metrostars** · 29/05/2007, 5:24 PM

I know some fall through the cracks but Lapira has never been selected for any US underage team.

**ollie** · 29/05/2007, 5:52 PM

Originally Posted by timmy mallet

I'm sure some of yiz have cheked it out, but if not here is some NCAA highlights -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ8nLbHi1e0

Never mind the quality of the football, the commentary, stats and graphics are quality

!!

Haha
"That is UCSB's 419th foul of the season. 57 yellow cards and 10 ejections"

You gota love the yanks

**Stuttgart88** · 30/05/2007, 2:18 PM

I've little problem with Lapira being capped, considering the circumstances. It's not ideal but an international cap isn't necessarily what it was anyway, with the proliferation of friendlies, mass substitutions etc.

If you want to accuse people of cheapening the value of an Irish cap look to those who don't turn up for friendlies, who cried off this trip for flimsy personal reasons or whatever. They were offered a cap but turned it down.

**tetsujin1979** · 30/05/2007, 3:22 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

If you want to accuse people of cheapening the value of an Irish cap look to those who don't turn up for friendlies, who cried off this trip for flimsy personal reasons or whatever. They were offered a cap but turned it down.

Good point, if any of us were offered a cap, we'd take it in a heartbeat.

**geysir** · 30/05/2007, 6:01 PM

Is there an actual cap given or is it mythical?

**Dodge** · 30/05/2007, 6:15 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I've little problem with Lapira being capped, considering the circumstances. It's not ideal but an international cap isn't necessarily what it was anyway, with the proliferation of friendlies, mass substitutions etc.

If you want to accuse people of cheapening the value of an Irish cap look to those who don't turn up for friendlies, who cried off this trip for flimsy personal reasons or whatever. They were offered a cap but turned it down.

Its not like they didn't get abuse here too.

**eirebhoy** · 30/05/2007, 7:03 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Is there an actual cap given or is it mythical?

Yeah they still get caps I think.

**Stuttgart88** · 30/05/2007, 8:42 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Its not like they didn't get abuse here too.

The general point stands though. There was a time when playing for your country was the ultimate. Now you have players withdrawing or being withdrawn for all kinds of spurious reasons. This by definition opens the door to less deserving players (in terms of ability). The hectic & lucrative club calendar is diluting the importance of the international game.

I forgot to vent my spleen towards those cnuts who retire from international football in their 20s to focus on their club careers - that's the ultimate insult to the value of a cap, real or otherwise. It's like they're saying "I've had a few now I couldn't be arsed".

**Billsthoughts** · 31/05/2007, 8:05 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I forgot to vent my spleen towards those cnuts who retire from international football in their 20s to focus on their club careers - that's the ultimate insult to the value of a cap, real or otherwise. It's like they're saying "I've had a few now I couldn't be arsed".

strangely enough this also neatly sums up my attitude to work this morning...

**youngirish** · 14/06/2007, 9:17 AM

June 14, 2007

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood will run the rule over Irish international youngster Joe Lapira during a week-long trial in August � but any move is unlikely to go through until the New Year.

Lapira, one of the rising stars of the American college scene, made his senior Irish debut in last month�s 1-1 draw with Ecuador.

The 20-year-old enjoyed a stunning collegiate season in 2006, scoring 22 goals and winning the Hermann Trophy for top player on the university circuit, a prize previously lifted by feted US internationals Alexi Lalas and Claudio Reyna.

He will spend time at Pittodrie in August but as he does not graduate until December, any move to a professional career is not expected to take place until January.

**RogerMilla** · 14/06/2007, 9:43 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Its not like they didn't get abuse here too.

they didnt get half enough in my opinion with soem of the flimsy excuses they came up with and i hope stan has the cojones to drop a few of them.

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Yeah they still get caps I think.

i think it is only very select that you get caps for now , certainly not every game merits a specially made cap , anyone know the exact procedure here ?

Originally Posted by youngirish

June 14, 2007

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood will run the rule over Irish international youngster Joe Lapira during a week-long trial in August � but any move is unlikely to go through until the New Year.

would be great if he got playing there , some tidy players , playing good football and uefa cup as well next season. god i hate the two jimmies though.

**tetsujin1979** · 14/06/2007, 9:47 AM

Originally Posted by RogerMilla

i think it is only very select that you get caps for now , certainly not every game merits a specially made cap , anyone know the exact procedure here ?

I think I remember Duff complaining before that you only get one actual cap at the end of the year, with all the games you've played stitched on to it. Think he said something about being a little jealous compared to the England players at Chelsea, who all got one cap per appearance.

Originally Posted by RogerMilla

would be great if he got playing there , some tidy players , playing good football and uefa cup as well next season. god i hate the two jimmies though.

His trainer at Notre Dame was interviewed on NewsTalk a few weeks back, he played at Aberdeen under Ferguson and that's more than likely how the trial was organised