Irish team don't care about Ireland?

[Soper]

I'd be the first to criticise some of the players, but it is clear to see that some do care about the team (Doyle, Long, Given, Kilbane - shame he hasn't the ability).I just get the impression that some players don't care, like O'Shea.

[liaml]

Even though he isn't Irish, Kilbane gives it his all

Kilbane isn't Irish? How do you make that out? The man gives everything for his country and you question his right to wear the shirt!

Doyle and Long grew up in Ireland so they obviously care a lot.

Sorry I don't see how that follows. Robbie Keane, Duffer, O'Shea and Dunne all grew up in Ireland yet you question their commitment. Long did nothing for 80 minutes against a pub team yet he "cares" a lot.

Maybe being brought up as part of the Disporia is precisely why Kilbane runs his guts out for his country, and maybe growing up at home and never having to "prove" their nationality is precisely why the likes of Robbie Keane obviously don't everything they can.

[Lionel Ritchie]

That is true. Even though he isn't Irish, Kilbane gives it his all and really, really wants Ireland to do well. I admire that about him.

And Given, he cares the most. I remember seeing that Hanging with Hector episode with him, he sounded crushed that Ireland wouldn't be going to Euro 2006.

Doyle and Long grew up in Ireland so they obviously care a lot.

Even Roy Keane cared a lot. He returned home to Ireland several times, you'd see him in the audience for Six Nations matches for example or talking to the Cork GAA team.


But the bulk of the team. Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, John O Shea, Richard Dunne. I really wonder how much they care about Ireland.

I saw in the Independent saying that Keane and Duff would quit Ireland if Stan was sacked, I don't think they'd miss it too much.

Terribly, terribly confused theoretics at play here. Sad really.

[liaml]

With Keane's track record he'd use it as an excuse to go out on the p***

[brine3]

none of these lads were making the same noises when we were within one home win of reaching the 2006 playoffs and delaney refused to back kerr.

they were happy to see the back of kerr, because he made them get up early, study the opposition, train hard and eat well. stan lets them get the beers in and sleep in.

they want to have fun and party with mick byrne. representing ireland and wanting to win doesn't seem to do it for them.

they need a good kick up the arse. robbie especially.

[Saint Tom]

With the exception of a few they could not give a flying ****. All they want to do is pull Mick byrnes flute and arse around. Thats all down to the managerial regime and by extension, the clown charged with the running of football on the country who replaced a manager (while not setting the world alight) with a managerial virgin who just doesnt know what to do.

evryone of the 2-3k of us who travelled to both cyorus and san marino would give our left testicle to wear the green shirt and these dopes couldn't care less.

Staunton and Delaney out now

[FarBeag]

As much as people talk about the so called mercenaries we had in the Charlton era, at least they sweated blood and guts for the right to have that green shirt on their backs. Compare this to the present set-up where 99% of the squad is born in Ireland, only a handful of them show the same commitment. What does this say about our present pack of glory hunters? Irish players are becoming the English players of Europe, too fu*king rich, with no passion, no balls no pride.

I would love to ask Robbie Keane why he wants Stan to continue to be his boss? I bet he could not give one valid/acceptable reason. It makes me sick. Thank god for our supporters, at least they will never give up hope even though many will be questioning their sanity by continuing to watch this complete drivel. I really hope that I have to eat my words here and the future for Irish football turns out to be bright but I I am so pessimistic at the moment.

[OwlsFan]

With Keane's track record he'd use it as an excuse to go out on the p***

Like he did for the never to be forgotten equaliser against Germany

Some of the theories put forward here are a joke. How many of the Jack Charlton team fitted in the theory above? I suppose they didn't care either. Or Mick Mcs team that qualified for Korea/Japan didn't care either because they didn't play in Ireland. And Roy keane cares because he comes home to watch a high profile rugby game or some such

Must be an awful lot of black eyes around the place because of the knee jerk reactions.

[GavinZac]

Like he did for the never to be forgotten equaliser against Germany

Some of the theories put forward here are a joke. How many of the Jack Charlton team fitted in the theory above? I suppose they didn't care either. Or Mick Mcs team that qualified for Korea/Japan didn't care either because they didn't play in Ireland. And Roy keane cares because he comes home to watch a high profile rugby game or some such

Must be an awful lot of black eyes around the place because of the knee jerk reactions.

nice to have an outsiders perspective on things, OwlsFan, but i have to say that the motivation of scoring against a world class team at the world cup is one thing, leading the charge against the might of san marino is another. you cant base keane's motivation on the germany game

[sylvo]

What I mean is that Doyle and Long developed as players in Ireland instead of joining foreign academies.

And for Kilbane I meant he wasn't born in Ireland, he is Irish he proves that with his commitment.

While I agree that some of these overpayed self important fcekers couldn't give a b@llacks about things by the looks of things, I don't know what living abroad has got too do with it.

Where we not a nation that had many people living abroad sending money back while the country was on its knees as recent as a generation ago, I take it they couldn't care about Ireland either.

When we got to the last eight in Italia 90 how many of those players lived in Ireland (or where born there) as well as the manager who lead us there.

Whats needed is some strong leadership like we had with Jack, and maybe some of these overpaid fcekers maybe being left out for a while from teams if their not willing to put in the graft, not an Irish address.

[bennocelt]

That is true. Even though he isn't Irish, Kilbane gives it his all and really, really wants Ireland to do well. I admire that about him.
.

no he is dutch, obviously

[galwayhoop]

While I agree that some of these overpayed self important fcekers couldn't give a b@llacks about things by the looks of things, I don't know what living abroad has got too do with it.

Where we not a nation that had many people living abroad sending money back while the country was on its knees as recent as a generation ago, I take it they couldn't care about Ireland either.

When we got to the last eight in Italia 90 how many of those players lived in Ireland (or where born there) as well as the manager who lead us there.

Whats needed is some strong leadership like we had with Jack, and maybe some of these overpaid fcekers maybe being left out for a while from teams if their not willing to put in the graft, not an Irish address.

your right sylvo, living/being born in ireland has very little to do with how 'irish' someone is and their passion for the country. in fact, as someone said above sometimes the reverse is often true. in a lot of cases the diaspora have a stronger passion and sense of irishness than those born and living in ireland. just look around ireland today and you'll see that we in this country are rapidly becoming the 'plastic paddies'. most things about our culture is a mirror of british culture: boots, top shop, premiership football, big brother & 'thierry henry your havin a larf'. people love to say they are irish but it is token irishness in the main. in contrast 2g irish people in britain ... etc still maintain strong cultural links with the 'old country'. to suggest that someone has no sense of irishness due to where he was born is ludicrous. your patriotic sense comes from within not from your address!!

[Eirenua]

your right sylvo, living/being born in ireland has very little to do with how 'irish' someone is and their passion for the country. in fact, as someone said above sometimes the reverse is often true. in a lot of cases the diaspora have a stronger passion and sense of irishness than those born and living in ireland. just look around ireland today and you'll see that we in this country are rapidly becoming the 'plastic paddies'. most things about our culture is a mirror of british culture: boots, top shop, premiership football, big brother & 'thierry henry your havin a larf'. people love to say they are irish but it is token irishness in the main. in contrast 2g irish people in britain ... etc still maintain strong cultural links with the 'old country'. to suggest that someone has no sense of irishness due to where he was born is ludicrous. your patriotic sense comes from within not from your address!!

This is certainly true in my case, since I left Ireland I have certainly being more aware of my irishness and take every opportunity to let people know I am Irish and about Ireland. My two sons who were not born in Ireland, I am bringing them up to be fully aware all things irish, probably something I would not do to such a great extent if I was living in Ireland. Probably would expect the government and media do that job. dangerous!!!

[wexfordclockend]

your right sylvo, living/being born in ireland has very little to do with how 'irish' someone is and their passion for the country. in fact, as someone said above sometimes the reverse is often true. in a lot of cases the diaspora have a stronger passion and sense of irishness than those born and living in ireland. just look around ireland today and you'll see that we in this country are rapidly becoming the 'plastic paddies'. most things about our culture is a mirror of british culture: boots, top shop, premiership football, big brother & 'thierry henry your havin a larf'. people love to say they are irish but it is token irishness in the main. in contrast 2g irish people in britain ... etc still maintain strong cultural links with the 'old country'. to suggest that someone has no sense of irishness due to where he was born is ludicrous. your patriotic sense comes from within not from your address!!

Well said that man, can't bear all this "plastic" ****e, there can't be many in Ireland that don't have any relatives overseas, I have cousins that were born in Ireland & live in England AND the other way round! so who is Irish or English in this case?

Irish family & blood is all that matters, I'm a Kelt not an Anglo-Saxon!

[Thunderblaster]

The guys not pulling their weight should be publically birched on the halfway line in Croke Park by a madame who runs a brothel!!

[RiffRaff]

Sorry but i dont agree with the point of this thread. Probably 20, 30 or 40 years ago we had players who didnt care or want to play for us because of the set up, but they had to because in those days, playing for your country was still the biggest honour in football and there would have been outrage if anyone refused to play for their country - whether it was Brazil or the Isle of Man. Nowadays it easy, no in fact its fashionable for players to retire early from international football. If any of our players couldnt be bothered, it would quite easy for them to take that option. The likes of Kiely, Gary Kelly, Cunningham and Breen hardly got slaughtered for retiring and if for example Duff used his injuries as an excuse for retiring early, i'm sure he's weather the storm quite easily. I'm as disappointed as anyone with the performances but i dont think thats the reason.

[Jamjar]

How many past internationals come home once they are finished their career? Very few.

Possibly because they have had kids and settled down abroad. I moved to Galway from Dublin about 10 years ago, and will never go back. My kids are bogtrotters and I have settled here (although I'm still trying to learn the language), but that doesn't mean that I don't like Dublin or that I'm not proud of being born there.