A 'Home' Squad

Originally Posted by backtowalsall

The feeling is entirely mutual.




The name Britannia derived from the travel writings of the ancient Greek Pytheas around 320 BC, which described various islands in the North Atlantic as far North as Thule (probably Iceland). Although Pytheas' own writings do not survive, later Greek writers described the islands as the αι Βρεττανιαι or the Brittanic Isles. The peoples of these islands of Prettanike were called the Πρεττανοι, Priteni or Pretani. These names derived from a Celtic name which is likely to have reached Pytheas from the Gauls, who may have used it as their term for the inhabitants of the islands. Priteni is the source of the Welsh language term Prydain, Britain, which has the same source as the Goidelic term Cruithne used to refer to the early Brythonic speaking inhabitants of Ireland and the north of Scotland. The latter were later called Picts or Caledonians by the Romans.

That is what i mean by Geography and history. This island and these islands have a history that extends beyond the English version that starts in 1066.

Trying reading a bit. I'm sure theres a decent library in Derry.

You should try reading Cardinal John Henry Newman on the subject. He, an Englishman by birth, didn't consider the term '' British Isles'' to be in any way accurate! I like the IONA one myself as it tip's it's hat to St. Columbkille ( aka Columba) an Irish ecclesiastical explorer and sales agent

For what it's worth I've no problem with the term British Isles. It's not an assertion of sovereignty. To seek to replace it with a less convcenient expression smacks of chippiness in my view. There are more important aspects of our relationship with the British to fret about in my opinion.

this is a brilliant thread. I love it.

I think the home nations team should have a new anthem to include every one. Maybe they could sing 'One' by U2. Sure isn't Bono a knight as well.

Seriously though, We'd easily get 3 or 4 players in the team. given, finnan, Keane and Mcgeady

I think Wales would have 2, maybe 3 players in the team, depending on whether Giggs would be considered eligible having retired from Welsh matches.

I think on recent form, especially in internationals, Koumas, Bale and Bellamy would have to be considered for a place in the squad, if not the starting XI.

This would be my team for the record:

G-Given/Gordon-how do you choose? Impossible, imo.
LB-Bale
CB-Richards
CB-Terry
RB-Finnan I guess
LM-Giggs, assuming he's eligible.
CM-Ferguson
CM-Hargreaves
RM-Bentley-little controversial but he's been playing really well for Blackburn recently.
CF-Healy
CF-Crouch

Subs: Given/Gordon, A.Hughes, Dunne, Koumas, Beckham, Rooney, Keane.

No Lampard or Gerrard anywhere near the team. They would turn us into a kick and rush team which is the one thing I really would not want to see, especially at international level. The above players can actual keep the ball and pick out a pass, rather than shooting from 30 metres out and sticking the ball in row Z.

Originally Posted by backtowalsall

The feeling is entirely mutual.




The name Britannia derived from the travel writings of the ancient Greek Pytheas around 320 BC, which described various islands in the North Atlantic as far North as Thule (probably Iceland). Although Pytheas' own writings do not survive, later Greek writers described the islands as the αι Βρεττανιαι or the Brittanic Isles. The peoples of these islands of Prettanike were called the Πρεττανοι, Priteni or Pretani. These names derived from a Celtic name which is likely to have reached Pytheas from the Gauls, who may have used it as their term for the inhabitants of the islands. Priteni is the source of the Welsh language term Prydain, Britain, which has the same source as the Goidelic term Cruithne used to refer to the early Brythonic speaking inhabitants of Ireland and the north of Scotland. The latter were later called Picts or Caledonians by the Romans.

That is what i mean by Geography and history. This island and these islands have a history that extends beyond the English version that starts in 1066.

Trying reading a bit. I'm sure theres a decent library in Derry.

Without questioning the veracity of your facts (afaia they're all true) you are using, clever well-worded historical ideas that are really non-sequitor to your initial contention. I'm not trying to be an arse, but thats really not fair
To consider Ireland a home-nation is to take a historical term and apply it incorrectly; the term home nation was used to denote the entities of the UK (called by the British states, what they are in modern political terms, I'm not really sure) in the North Atlantic Archipelago, and make a distinction from other states that belonged to the then British Empire all around the world.

So for you to consider Ireland a home nation, by the term's very own definition, Ireland would need political affiliation with the UK.

To consider Ireland British in the way iron-age/earlymedieval/etc historians considered the North Atlantic Archipelago to be British is a fairly acceptable notion in my opinion, although I personally feel that the historical baggage that British carries with it, make the term divisive and unnecessary to use when we have other alternative to describe the nations on these islands and the islands themselves.

Originally Posted by danonion

So for you to consider Ireland a home nation, by the term's very own definition, Ireland would need political affiliation with the UK.

One arguement is that we do, (we have many in fact) but not the one i will use

What i will say is that we don't need a political affiliation with the UK to be a home nation. If and when Scotland pulls out of the UK will they cease to be a home nation?? Its a term with whatever definition you choose to put to it, and in my opinion the home nations are Ireland, Scotland, Wales & England (in that order hopefully)

That said, a home nations team should NEVER happen. Unless to play continental Europe for charity or something.

Originally Posted by backtowalsall

in my opinion the home nations are Ireland, Scotland, Wales & England (in that order hopefully).

I thought it was s political thing (as you said earlier)

The term means whatever you want it to mean.
In this case it refers to Ireland, N Ireland, Wales, Sotland and England.
It's not a political term, just a convienient term to refer to local nations who
failed to qualify.

One argument against us being considered a home nation is this. Britain has snakes and we don't ... reason? Because Britain came out of the sea while it was still physically connected to continental Europe. Our little island remained immersed until several thousand years later, hence no snakes.

Originally Posted by Cymro

I think Wales would have 2, maybe 3 players in the team, depending on whether Giggs would be considered eligible having retired from Welsh matches.

I think on recent form, especially in internationals, Koumas, Bale and Bellamy would have to be considered for a place in the squad, if not the starting XI.

This would be my team for the record:

G-Given/Gordon-how do you choose? Impossible, imo.
LB-Bale
CB-Richards
CB-Terry
RB-Finnan I guess
LM-Giggs, assuming he's eligible.
CM-Ferguson
CM-Hargreaves
RM-Bentley-little controversial but he's been playing really well for Blackburn recently.
CF-Healy
CF-Crouch

Subs: Given/Gordon, A.Hughes, Dunne, Koumas, Beckham, Rooney, Keane.

No Lampard or Gerrard anywhere near the team. They would turn us into a kick and rush team which is the one thing I really would not want to see, especially at international level. The above players can actual keep the ball and pick out a pass, rather than shooting from 30 metres out and sticking the ball in row Z.

To illustrate how poor we are there are two ROI players max in this team and none of them play ball more than 25 yards from their own goal!

In fairness I don't think Cymro was actually going for the best 11 players. Dunne is clearly the better of the 2 Man City centre halves atm although Richards is potentially world class. And Healy isn't as good as Keane, Bellamy, Rooney and a few more.

Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

One argument against us being considered a home nation is this. Britain has snakes and we don't ... reason? Because Britain came out of the sea while it was still physically connected to continental Europe. Our little island remained immersed until several thousand years later, hence no snakes.

No it was St Patrick that go rid of the snakes.

Originally Posted by tricky_colour

...In this case it refers to Ireland, N Ireland, Wales, Sotland and England.
It's not a political term, just a convienient term to refer to local nations who
failed to qualify.

Why not add Belgium?

Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

...Our little island remained immersed until several thousand years later, hence no snakes.

Charlie Haughey?

Originally Posted by lopez

Why not add Belgium?

We have no land border with Belgium.

Originally Posted by tricky_colour

We have no land border with Belgium.

Don't have a land border with Scotland, Wales or England either. Why not the Faroes or Iceland?

Originally Posted by lopez

Don't have a land border with Scotland, Wales or England either. Why not the Faroes or Iceland?

Scotland, Wales and England are part of the UK which has a land border with Ireland.

I guess you could call the team the homeland squad or something like that.
Faroes and Iceland don't have a land border with either the UK or Ireland

Originally Posted by tricky_colour

Faroes and Iceland don't have a land border with either the UK or Ireland

If that's an official FAI statement, I want independent confirmation.

Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

One argument against us being considered a home nation is this. Britain has snakes and we don't ... reason? Because Britain came out of the sea while it was still physically connected to continental Europe. Our little island remained immersed until several thousand years later, hence no snakes.

That's an urban myth, we all know who got rid of the snakes FFS.

Originally Posted by dynamo kerry

Seriously though, We'd easily get 3 or 4 players in the team. given, finnan, Keane and Mcgeady

1/2 of this forum don't want McGeady anywhere near the Irish team!

Originally Posted by tricky_colour

Scotland, Wales and England are part of the UK which has a land border with Ireland.

I guess you could call the team the homeland squad or something like that.
Faroes and Iceland don't have a land border with either the UK or Ireland

This is very much clutching at straws. Home nation has a specific meaning. Ireland does not fit the criteria of this meaning. We are not a home nation, one cannot consider us a home nation.

Arguing that Ireland is a home nation is congruent to arguing we are part of the UK.