Ireland vs. Ecuador

[Steve Bruce]

and who is more likely to qualify now Steve.........

We are in just as good a position as we where before. The requirement was to win the next 3 games before Spain and Sweden played theirs and the requirement is STILL win the next 3 games.

[NY Hoop]

Until the new rankings where released I forgot about this thread.

But now at least the rankings now reflect the reality of the difference between NI and ROI at this present moment.

If you honestly believe that I feel sorry for you. Ranking system is a joke and only minnows like yourself get wet over it.

KOH

[Steve Bruce]

If you honestly believe that I feel sorry for you. Ranking system is a joke and only minnows like yourself get wet over it.

KOH

TO be honest it is a bit of fun, but I find it a good laugh when another country who are minnows themselves come off with a minnows jibe.

Not only that we are a better team. Our results have proved that over the last couple of years. Whilst we are beating Sweden, England and Spain, your struggling to beat San Marino

[NY Hoop]

TO be honest it is a bit of fun, but I find it a good laugh when another country who are minnows themselves come off with a minnows jibe.

Not only that we are a better team. Our results have proved that over the last couple of years. Whilst we are beating Sweden, England and Spain, your struggling to beat San Marino

The difference sonny is that we are a country. And we've never been humbled by Iceland at home.

KOH

[Steve Bruce]

The difference sonny is that we are a country. And we've never been humbled by Iceland at home.

KOH

We are a country to, with our own devolved government just like Scotland & Wales.

And also it was the ROI who broke away from us not the other way round.

We may have been humbled by Iceland, but atleast the make up of our team is 90% Northern Ireland born and bread.

The ROI's two successful teams contained more Englishmen than Irishmen 94 and 2002. The sign of first class minnows. Republic of English Rejects

[Soper]

The ROI's two successful teams contained more Englishmen than Irishmen 94 and 2002. The sign of first class minnows. Republic of English Rejects

Our survey says - EH UH

2002
13 Irish born players
4 English born with Irish parents
6 English born with Irish grandparents

Frankly, you have insulted me. I was born in Wales, to an Irish parent, and lived in Sligo for 10 years +. I am Irish, just likethe majority of the players who represented my county.

[Steve Bruce]

Our survey says - EH UH

2002
13 Irish born players
4 English born with Irish parents
6 English born with Irish grandparents

Frankly, you have insulted me. I was born in Wales, to an Irish parent, and lived in Sligo for 10 years +. I am Irish, just likethe majority of the players who represented my county.

Was there not 11 englishmen in 2002.

Slight mis judgement about the majority in the 2002, nearly 50 50 between Englishmen and Irishmen.

My sisters where born in England, I'm from Belfast, my family is all from Belfast, but my sisters are still English, with Northern Ireland connection. But they are English.

I felt insulted by the remark we are not a country and more or less being denied ligitamacy(sp?). Something that should never even enter a football debate, but it has and I'm going to hit back.

[Pablo]

Was there not 11 englishmen in 2002.

Slight mis judgement about the majority in the 2002, nearly 50 50 between Englishmen and Irishmen.

My sisters where born in England, I'm from Belfast, my family is all from Belfast, but my sisters are still English, with Northern Ireland connection. But they are English.

I felt insulted by the remark we are not a country and more or less being denied ligitamacy(sp?). Something that should never even enter a football debate, but it has and I'm going to hit back.

Are you trying to convince us or Yourself?

[Ceirtlis]

We are a country to, with our own devolved government just like Scotland & Wales.

And also it was the ROI who broke away from us not the other way round.

We may have been humbled by Iceland, but atleast the make up of our team is 90% Northern Ireland born and bread.

The ROI's two successful teams contained more Englishmen than Irishmen 94 and 2002. The sign of first class minnows. Republic of English Rejects

Northern Ireland have had a fair few "english rejects" play for them in the past so get off your high horse. During the world cup in 2002 at least 7 Irish born players started each game and all the main players were Irish born so ya presumed wrong about that dont try and pass it off as nearly 50-50. The rankings are a load of ****** always have and always will be. Also if your going to slag ROI off about our recent results try picking a game we didnt win.

[Steve Bruce]

Are you trying to convince us or Yourself?

Nope, I know my national identity.

[Steve Bruce]

Northern Ireland have had a fair few "english rejects" play for them in the past so get off your high horse. During the world cup in 2002 at least 7 Irish born players started each game and all the main players were Irish born so ya presumed wrong about that dont try and pass it off as nearly 50-50. The rankings are a load of ****** always have and always will be. Also if your going to slag ROI off about our recent results try picking a game we didnt win.

So you have 12 Irish players and 11 English players and that isn't nearly 50-50

Also compare any NI team in history to any of the Irish Republic team in the last 20 years and you have always had more englishmen.

We reached the World Cup finals with the vast majority of Northern Ireland men.

Currently we have 2 non-Northern Ireland born players. Taylor who is German and James Quinn(who will probably never play again for NI) who is English.

[Louth4sam]

How does Taylor qualify to play for you?

[ifk101]

Fair play to NI for doing so well in the rankings, it is a considerable achievement.

And just so you know Steve Bruce, I've personally have never had any sense of rivalry with the NI football team. It's always good to see our regional teams doing well

[Steve Bruce]

Fair play to NI for doing so well in the rankings, it is a considerable achievement.

And just so you know Steve Bruce, I've personally have never had any sense of rivalry with the NI football team. It's always good to see our regional teams doing well

I'll let you away with that, for it brought a smile.

[Steve Bruce]

How does Taylor qualify to play for you?

I'm not quite sure. Probably NI parents. He's still German though with Northern Ireland connections.

[Louth4sam]

I'm not quite sure. Probably NI parents. He's still German though with Northern Ireland connections.

He has no Northern Ireland connection except he has a British passport so you cant really slag us about having non irish born players when you've abused a crazy rule like that.

[Steve Bruce]

He has no Northern Ireland connection except he has a British passport so you cant really slag us about having non irish born players when you've abused a crazy rule like that.

So you are comparing ONE player to Irelands MANY players.

This is hilerious

[Flexy]

Only current ROI player not Irish is McGeady at the moment steve

[Louth4sam]

No comparing the rule that we use that can be used in any fifa county compared to the one you use that can only be used in the uk. Anyway this is the team that played our last competitive match 3 non irish born players in it.

1 Shay Given
5 Richard Dunne
3 Steve Finnan
4 Paul McShane
2 John O'Shea
6 Lee Carsley
11 Damien Duff
7 Stephen Ireland
9 Kevin Kilbane
8 Aiden McGeady
10 Kevin Doyle

[The Sheliban]

Didn't we always have strong ex-League of Ireland representation in internationals. Without going back to the 50s and 60s, names like Staunton, Roy Keane, Paul McGrath, Ronnie Whelan spring to mind?