There may also be the issue that has ruined England's chances of ever doing well again, which is that you don't become an international without being talked up first. This is something that I fear may start happening with Ireland - so many players are brought into squads on the basis of talk, and being current in people's minds. Does anyone here REALLY think that Staunton would have capped Gamble (who fully deserved to play) if there had not been a lot of talk about him deserving a place first - I would not be surprised if another Reading player or two, formerly playing with City and already in a squad or two hadn't mentioned him as deserving a go.
In this case, Stephen Hunt has started people talking about whether his brother Noel was deserving of a place. Wouldn't you expect as much if your brother saw someone less experienced and more unproven than you getting in ahead of you?
That question was less stupid, though you asked it in a profoundly stupid way.
Help me, Arthur Murphy, you're my only hope!
Originally Posted by Dodge
Some of you guys fall for it every time, a journo picks a (in this case a "me brudder") quote, takes it out of it's context and put's it in another context to fill out an article with the title ...brother Noel´s snub ".
Always the simple interpretation supported by facts will win against any interpretation supported by conspiracy standard theories.
Silly move from Hunt! He already had the tag of 'super-sub', and now he undermines Stan. Not that I disagree with what he says, but Stan is such an ignorant donkey that he will hold it against Hunt!
Vote John Delaney for the (electric) chair! Who says a Chartered Accountant doesn't have the ability to see the obvious potential of Stan as the next great international manager! Cyprus 5 : Ireland 2! ... can never be excused!
Agreed.
Its sad that everything Stan does is shot down. Sections of our footballing public and media is getting more and more like the English as every day goes by......
ok, the facts on this:
- Lapira is an American born US citizen
- He is playing amateur, colleges football, generally recognised as LSL level
- His uncle is an employee of the FAI
- This uncle suggested to Stan that he was eligible
- Stan picked him
Where are the conspiracy theories to say;
a: There are dozens of strikers more deserving,
b: Employees of the FAI should not be putting forward relatives as prospective players and
c: stan should not be picking players due to outside forces?
This is hardly grassy knoll stuff
I don't agree it was for no obvious reason. The reason was that Stan clearly thinks Lapira may turn out to be a quality player. He picked him to tie him to Ireland. If Lapira turns out to be even of Matt Holland quality he'll have done a good piece of work. If he doesnt then he hasnt lost much.
Comparing him to players like Noel Hunt is ridiculous. Noel Hunt is never going to be a major player for us. It is possible Lapira may be.
Now you may disagree with this but it was not a random pick, there was a clear idea behind it.
more facts
Stan picks team
Hunt spoke out to the press contradicting the manager.
and some opinion.
Hunt should not run down his international managers selection in the press.
Hunt should concentrate on cementing his place in our first 11 and should never make comments concerning other players deserving caps.
I like hunt but he is 100% wrong to have vented his spleen on this and i expect Stan to have serious words with him.
Was he crazy!! Yeah , in a very special way , an Irishman.
I slept, and dreamed that life was Beauty;
I woke, and found that life was Duty.
I take your point, but i just dont think giving a player a cap to tie him to Ireland is right. If Lapira truely wanted to play for Ireland then he had plenty of time to earn a place in the squad without any danger of the USA capping him first. I dont think we'll gain much from this anyway as i doubt Lapira will amount to much (remind me to eat my words if im wrong).
I wish Hunt would have played in the US as well as he complains (see also Reading contract etc). And since when is Noel Hunt the next Maradona?
"Jacques Santini...will be greeted in every dugout of the country by "one-nil, one-nil" - Clive Tyldsley, 89th minute of France-England June 13, 2004.
"Ooooohhhh Nooooooo" Bobby Robson 91st minute.
Exactly right. And a decent 90 mins. in a competitive match does not seem to much to ask for.
Noel Hunt is 24 years old and is far from prolific in the SPL. If we are going to start saying that he deserved a place before Lapira, then I would contend that Morrison, Connolly, O'Donovan and Lee should have been ahead of him. O'Donovan is an interesting prospect and the others (esp. Morrison, considering the fact he scores goals AWAY from home) have proven themselves either through international performances or better strike rates than Noel Hunt. He's too old for the youth excuse and is never going to amount to much.
American college soccer produces better players than its given credit for. Nobody seems to take into consideration that the lads playing at that level are students who have the choice of pursuing football as a career or going into whatever field is linked to their academic studies.
"No regrets, none at all. My only regret is that we went out on penalties. That's my only regret. But no, no regrets." -Mick McCarthy
Come off it, Hunt is a class player, ye anti Hunt guys were fierce quiet for a while especially after his good performances for Ireland, dont tell me ye need another good season of Hunt to be proven wrong.........again!
so the long and the short of it is that only Keane gets to criticise?
christ you lot have short memories.
fair play to hunt. he has risked his international career standing up to nepotism and corruption.
as for the rest of you, repeat after me: ole ole ole
I wish he was class, but he is not. A modern day equivalent to Slavin, Liam O'Brien, McGoldrick etc.Come off it, Hunt is a class player, ye anti Hunt guys were fierce quiet for a while especially after his good performances for Ireland, dont tell me ye need another good season of Hunt to be proven wrong.........again!
He has not yet earned his spurs - unlike Robbie OhNoYouDidn't.And until he does should spend all his spare time practicing football not complaining.
Didn't see any mention of Keane here....
"Well I think they'll be a little disappointed with that" - Matt Holland on TV3 after 5-2 drubbing by Cyprus
Keane isnt a member of the squad , he is a formern captain trying to drum up publicity for guide dogs.
And Hunt as Ken Saro Wiwa ?? Don't make me laugh.
Was he crazy!! Yeah , in a very special way , an Irishman.
I slept, and dreamed that life was Beauty;
I woke, and found that life was Duty.
I really think people are reading too much into this. As I said earlier this was a cap of convenience. We were playing a couple of games in the states so the manager decided to have a look at the guy. If Noel hunt played there he would probably have taken a look at him. I'm not in favour of calling up amateurs but it's still down to the manager.
Now thats funny. Nepotism and Hunt complaining about his brother not being in the squad.
"Jacques Santini...will be greeted in every dugout of the country by "one-nil, one-nil" - Clive Tyldsley, 89th minute of France-England June 13, 2004.
"Ooooohhhh Nooooooo" Bobby Robson 91st minute.
But isnt he doing the same as you say Lapira's uncle has done? Use a connection to Stan to bring notice to a player who otherwise wouldnt get it?
To sum it up this is how I see the relevant merits or otherwise of including either of the two strikers:
Noel Hunt is crap and is always going to be crap and he can only play for Ireland even if by some miracle he turns out to be otherwise so there was no gain to be achieved by taking him along for the tour.
Joseph 'Justin Collins' Lapira is crap, will most likely remain crap but there is a tiny possibility he could turn out to be decent, that and the fact that he is elligible to play for the Yanks made him a more worthy candidate to be included in the squad for the tour.
Last edited by youngirish; 13/07/2007 at 3:07 PM.
Posting Permissions
Quote
Bookmarks