Joseph Lapira

**Soper** · 25/05/2007, 1:56 PM

Well, in another thread a Galway fan of some description was saying how it made a mockery of the squad that he was selected. I will try to find the post now.

Found it - http://foot.ie/showpost.php?p=691965&postcount=206

**geysir** · 25/05/2007, 2:25 PM

Originally Posted by Soper

Well, in another thread a Galway fan of some description was saying how it made a mockery of the squad that he was selected. I will try to find the post now.

Found it - http://foot.ie/showpost.php?p=691965&postcount=206

If you have a problem with one person, fine, but don't generalize.
The vast majority on this forum welcomed Gamble's inclusion and were keen to see him play and play well.

It's just the same old stuff being recycled against Stan. As is said in the North, some people would get out of bed at 7am just to be offended. As McCarthy said once, whining like a bunch of women in a washeteria.

**Manc Irish Wolf** · 25/05/2007, 2:27 PM

Jesus, a few causual beers at lunch and I come back to this furore.

Dodge - "He was called up before anyone in the management team had seen him, and his uncle works in the FAI" - He wasn't called up, but asked to train having been recommended, getting the nod after the management obviously saw something in him. So what if his uncle works for the FAI - he won't play regularly if he's not good enough.

FergalR - "So tell me why Lapira deserves a cap more than the any of the players that have played in the eL this season?" - I'm not saying that he does, however players are called up in such friendlies based upon their potential ability - which having had a look at hime, Stan obviously thinks he has. I would be more than happy to see players like O'Donovan & Gamble get the chance to prove themselves that they deserve, however the exceptional circumstances in this instance is that players like Lapira (like Dixon) have the option to represent other countries - so if they are adjudged to be any good, we need to poach them while we can.

**Soper** · 25/05/2007, 2:32 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

If you have a problem with one person, fine, but don't generalize.
The vast majority on this forum welcomed Gamble's inclusion and were keen to see him play and play well.

It's just the same old stuff being recycled against Stan. As is said in the North, some people would get out of bed at 7am just to be offended. As McCarthy said once, whining like a bunch of women in a washeteria.

I wasn't generalizing, I said my problem was with people commending Lapiras cap, yet at the same time, moaning about Gambles. Perhaps I didn't make myself clear enough.

**geysir** · 25/05/2007, 2:35 PM

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear enoug

People as in many, person as in one.

**Soper** · 25/05/2007, 2:39 PM

I just know Plastic Paddy is going to post something in a similar vein soon enough, so I was really using my psychic ability in using 'people'.

**OneRedArmy** · 25/05/2007, 2:43 PM

I still don't understand the selection.

If we accept the fact he has done nothing of note to merit selection and assume that he was selected on the basis he was young and has potential, then he still falls within a large group of Irish qualified players (some indeed Irish!!) who are also young and have potential to become a decent footballer.

But they key point is that selection from within this distinct pool of young, developing footballers should be based on merit and Lapira, based on his achievements to date and the level he plays at is nowhere near the top of this pool.

Thats why his selection raises eyebrows and when you add in his family links to the FAI its no wonder people are adding two and two together and assuming the FAI decided to save a transatlantic airfare.

**geysir** · 25/05/2007, 2:51 PM

assuming the FAI decided to save a transatlantic airfare.

There is also the saving of a match fee to be considered.

**paul_oshea** · 25/05/2007, 2:54 PM

maybe its simply a case then that there was room in teh squad, he is based in america, we dont play in america that often, it would give him a chance to shine and to train with professional players, and its an awful long way for a player to come all the way from america just for a friendly in ireland or europe just to check out his ability...whilst there was can check out his ability in training...nothing lost nothing gained, if he isnt good enough then say bye bye...obviously staunton saw something he liked in training and gave him his chance on wednesday....Nothing is lost by giving him his chance now, plenty of time for said EL players to get their chance. I am 100% sure that lapira wouldnt have got this call up if we were playing a friendly in england/denmark/brazil/russia for example.

**Stuttgart88** · 25/05/2007, 2:55 PM

Of course it had absolutely nothing to do with the convenience of taking a prolonged close look at a prospect that would be difficult to do in other circumstances, and nailing his colours to the mast definitively while at it.

It was all about saving an air fare and making a bloke in the FAI feel good.

I've no problem with it.

**OneRedArmy** · 25/05/2007, 2:55 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

maybe its simply a case then that there was room in teh squad, he is based in america, we dont play in america that often, it would give him a chance to shine and to train with professional players, and its an awful long way for a player to come all the way from america just for a friendly in ireland or europe. Nothing is losed by giving him his chance now, plenty of time for said EL players to get their chance. I am 100% sure that lapira wouldnt have got this call up if we were playing a friendly in england/denmark/brazil/russia for example.

......which makes a mockery of being capped for Ireland.

Why didn't they just raffle a place in the squad on ebay to the highest bidder?

**paul_oshea** · 25/05/2007, 2:57 PM

no not if he saw something of promise in training. read it again.

by letting him train he was getting a first hand look at the player. Yes playing him for Ireland just for the sake of it would have been wrong but he got to see him in 4 days build up.

**OneRedArmy** · 25/05/2007, 3:06 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

no not if he saw something of promise in training. read it again.

by letting him train he was getting a first hand look at the player. Yes playing him for Ireland just for the sake of it would have been wrong but he got to see him in 4 days build up.

Make up your mind!

Either it was a selection of convenience/jobs for the boys or he's there on merit.

**paul_oshea** · 25/05/2007, 3:17 PM

training was convenience/handiness/get a look etc.

squad that was there for the match on wednesday, merit, from stauntons perspective at least.

Somewhere in between stuts 1st and 2nd line of his last post.

**Stuttgart88** · 25/05/2007, 3:26 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Why didn't they just raffle a place in the squad on ebay to the highest bidder?

Wouldn't that be an auction?

**cavan_fan** · 25/05/2007, 3:26 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

But they key point is that selection from within this distinct pool of young, developing footballers should be based on merit and Lapira, based on his achievements to date and the level he plays at is nowhere near the top of this pool.

Thats why his selection raises eyebrows and when you add in his family links to the FAI its no wonder people are adding two and two together and assuming the FAI decided to save a transatlantic airfare.

Another factor is whether he is elgible for anyone else, imagine if somene had had the foresgiht to cap Steven Gerrard at 15! It's unfair on young Irish players but it's in the best interests of the success of the Irish team.

**drinkfeckarse** · 25/05/2007, 3:29 PM

Would he have been capped had the tournament been on these shores? No. Plain and simple and that in itself disrespects the value of playing for Ireland.

He got capped because of a "ahh sure we're here now" attitude.

I have no issue with how good he is/isn't, I'm just angered at the amateurish way he came about getting a cap.

Dodge, I'm sure I remember Staunton saying that Alan "ahh sure he's fast" O'Brien had been recommended to him to by someone, so that would make it 2 players that Stan hasn't seen previously that have ended up getting caps. Unreal.

**dr_peepee** · 25/05/2007, 3:31 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

It was all about saving an air fare and making a bloke in the FAI feel good.

The most sarcastic Priest in Ireland!!!!!

**OneRedArmy** · 25/05/2007, 3:32 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Wouldn't that be an auction?

Fair point!

**DmanDmythDledge** · 25/05/2007, 3:35 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Maybe not live, but I definitely think Stan has at least seen videos of him.

Similar to the "videos" he saw of Alan O'Brien on Sky Sports News probably.

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

no not if he saw something of promise in training. read it again.

by letting him train he was getting a first hand look at the player. Yes playing him for Ireland just for the sake of it would have been wrong but he got to see him in 4 days build up.

If he was anyway impressed by him he would have given him more than a few minutes at the end of the game.