Limerick 37, couldn't give two ****s about the national side, but I do about a proud Limerick native getting called a mercenary for leaving a side that refuse to acknowledge that he is currently the best right full they have, or that he probably is the best right full in the Priemer League at the momentOriginally Posted by NeilMcD
As an Ireland fan, im gutted but as a red I am over the moon. This means he can concentrate 100% on club football.
Finnan has been an excellent servant and an ever present. Can only remember him missing one game of note, including friendlies. He has started to suffer with injuries a lot more this season and this could be the cause of this decision.
Good luck to him. If he's not totally committed to playing for Ireland then he is right to go. We have other options available in Kelly, O'Brien, O'Shea and Foley.
Just a thought what was his relationship with Houllier like?
Excellent. I can tell you that 100%. Houllier brought Finnan to Anfield.
Well if you dont care about the National side why are you posting in the Ireland forum. How did Ireland acknowledge that he is the best right full we have. I think he is the best right full we have but I would still play him at left back. If he is retring because of that well then he is an even bigger dick than I thought he was. I would play anywhere for my country if I could. Sometimes you have to play good players out of position to fill a gap and left back is that gap. Staunton played him right back nearly all the time anyway especially towards the end so your point is rubbish.
Also his form has not been great this season for Liverpool and has been out of the Liverpool side at times. In my view nobody should retire from international football, international football should retire them.
In Trap we trust
International football is dead and the sooner fans wise up to it the better.
The vast amount of money these lads earn from their clubs means that there'll be more and more Stephen Ireland's and Steve Finnan's in the future.
His excuse is pathetic. As many have said above, 31 is still in a players prime.
The idea of a player "retiring" from international football makes my blood boil. The mere thought that they may be dropped at some stage in the future is enough to get them to throw the towel in case their fragile egos can't cope with it as they are so used to being in the centre of everything. Note their expectation that they would be consulted in the appointment of the new manager!!!! WTF?!?!?! Since when do employees decide on their boss?!
As far as I remember, players up until 10 or 15 years ago didn't retire from international football. They played until they didn't get picked anymore.
This is one symptom of a wider problem and one of the reasons I take little joy in following the bunch of money grabbing primadonnas* that currently wear the jersey that many of us would crawl over broken glass to wear.
*As with most things in life there are exceptions
really really disappointed about finnan, i thought he might give it one last go for the world cup!We really need his for this campaign. it is a funny time for him to announce this..maybe houllier is getting the job and he doesnt get on with him or something...at least we have wee joey to fill the gap..
'How can I hate women, my Mums one!!!' Chris Finch
I am surprised and disappointed by this.
Timing it for the day that the FAI hold a meeting about the new manager would seem like a huge coincidence.
So why is club football more pure and true so. Playrers leave there too for mercenary reasons. International football is ****ed, Club fooball is ****ed football is ****ed.
In Trap we trust
Because I feel like it and they didn't, thats my point, is my answer to those two questions
well this is for irish fans so go set up a thread on the limerick boys forum
'How can I hate women, my Mums one!!!' Chris Finch
Seems to be happening a lot these past few years.
If you can play club football at the top, you can play international, differant jersey and team-mates is 90% of it.
Standard is no better or worse then the champions league where he will be playing until he's 34 imo.
Age has also got nothing to do with ability, everybodys body ages at differant rates. I always hated when someone would say about a player i.e ''He's 34 now, they should get rid of him'' even though he might be playing as well as he ever was.
If he came out and said something along the lines of ''My legs arent as good as they were, more international games could mean retiring a year or two earlier then i would like'' that would be grand, instead of ''...ill be 34 by the next tournament....''
He seems to be assuming his body will not be in a good enough state to keep going at the top!!.
Give me Maldini/Larsson anyday!!
There's the right way, the wrong way.... and the Max Power way!! :-D
Can't be bothered, I think I'll just hang around here. Alternatively if ye'd set up a France National Team section I'd head off there, because if there's one national team I love, then it has to be France. Much prefer my representatives at international level to be millionaires I can't relate to with a French manager, than millionaires I can't relate to with a Cockney manager any day of the week
Will miss him, few of the quality players that we have/had
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist thinks it will change; the realist adjusts the sails.
Sorry that should read, how did they not acknowledge he was the best right back. As I said I acknowledge he was the best right back we had but I would still pick him at left back, that is calling picking a team, sometimes you have to do that.
In Trap we trust
totally agree with you. even the perception amongst fans of the game in general that international football is dying absolutely baffles me. How could this be???? Surely being born in a certain country forges part of your identity and stays with you for your entire life? Is it a case when these lads go abroad to chase the premiership dollars do they suddenly forget about where they come from?? I have worked abroad on several occasions and, if anything, I can say that it gives me a greater sense of national identity to be an Irishman living and working abroad.
Obviously being a footballer is not your regular job but I would have thought that there would be the same sense of pride in being Irish and definitely being given the opportunity to represent your country in some way shape or form would be the pinnacle of anyone's profession??!!!
Not having a go at Finnan in particular here but as ORA pointed out it seems that (certain) players view representing their country as some kind of hinderance to their career now rather than the pinnacle that it should be....
"Well I think they'll be a little disappointed with that" - Matt Holland on TV3 after 5-2 drubbing by Cyprus
I am sure they France National team do have a forum so why dont you go there then, is it because you dont speak french and you would not understand what they are saying.
In Trap we trust
"There will be a new manager coming in soon who will have his own ideas for the future with younger players having the chance to stake their claim to be in his plans."
A bit premature, I think, and we'll miss him but does he know something we don't about the new manager?
And lay of the Limerick lads, jebus doesn't speak for us all.
Esse Quam Videri
For a game or two yes, but constantly playing him out of position (left back, centre back and right midfield are some that spring to mind) is ridiculous and is the same slap in the face England delivered to Carragher. By retiring now Finnan can prolong his playing/paying days maybe a year or two longer, ala Shearer and Scholes. More power to him I say.
Que parlez-vous de ? Je parle l'à très bon français de mon temps habite en France! De toute façon j'aime la conversation du football sur ce site web
Last edited by jebus; 22/01/2008 at 1:59 PM.
Disapointed to see that Finnan has retired. He was a great addition to the Irish team, a quality full back.
It seems an odd time to announce his retirement alright, considering he's not a regular with Liverpool anymore. Thought the extra 5-6 games a year would have suited him.
He may be 34 at the next world cup, but we could do with him as a 31/32 yr old during the qualifiers.
Reading maybe too much into this, but maybe he is aware of the next manager and there maybe some poor history with Mr. Houllier ??? who knows
Overall a bit of a knock back and will make it harder to qualify now
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