Spotlight

[Not Brazil]

I think George McCartney and now that Traitor finnan is retired aron hughes would make an AI team. If i think other players are'nt good enough thats my opinion. And i dont think im too far off the mark

Of course, we all have an opinion - that's the lifeblood of discussion.

You will understand tho, that as a Northern Ireland fan, I have absolutely no desire to support a team consisting of two players from Northern Ireland, when I can watch a team entirely consisting of players representing Northern Ireland.

[citizenerased]

the whole program was full of holes and biased from an NI point of view...


They didnt highlight enough the sectarian abuse cathoics indure at windsor park, my mate who is from Tyrone(and catholic) went to windsor a good few times before to an NI game and said it was one of the scariest things ever, he said the sectarianist abuse was ridiclous..Players like Chris Baird, Aarron Hughes, Neil Lennon, Damien Johnson..even the beloved David Healy was gettin abuse(during his drought period)....'Up to our necks in Fenian blood sung throughout'...why would you expect these palyers to declare for ye....

Your fans giving abuse to people coming out of a catholic church after mass aswell(this happened to a friend of mine in belfast)..disgraceful..

Then comparing the situation with quatar poaching players from brazil...laughable to say the least...NI have no argument..get over it and move on, because Gibson wont be the last player we poach..

Even when they were filming outside the FAI headquaters in abbotstown, thye showed the ****ttiest part of the building in the background.

And as for the all ireland 11, the only players i would take would be chris baird and johnny evans..no one else..healy wouldnt start a head of Doyle!

[Not Brazil]

They didnt highlight enough the sectarian abuse cathoics indure at windsor park, my mate who is from Tyrone(and catholic) went to windsor a good few times before to an NI game and said it was one of the scariest things ever, he said the sectarianist abuse was ridiclous..Players like Chris Baird, Aarron Hughes, Neil Lennon, Damien Johnson..even the beloved David Healy was gettin abuse(during his drought period)....'Up to our necks in Fenian blood sung throughout'...why would you expect these palyers to declare for ye....

When was the last time your "mate" attended a Northern Ireland match?

Are you telling us that all the players you mention received "sectarianist abuse"?

[Stuttgart88]

I've a few Northern Ireland mates who are chuffed that their team has been reclaimed from the bigots. Watching their games on TV they regularly focused the cameras on the crowd and all I could see was a bunch of regular lads in their shirts enjoying the games. I'm sure there's still an unpalatable section in their support but then again I'm becoming increasingly bemused at some of the current ROI fans. Nobody's perfect.

[lopez]

The most interesting bit was the players saying repeatedly that 'they were never asked' to play by the IFA.. ergo they were asked by the FAI? Kinda flys in the face of the rubbish about not poaching our players doesnt it?

See to be honest, the one thing that has annoyed me more about this than anything else is this - for ages we have tried to take the religion out of our team.. it was a milstone around it and it has taken ages, and some dedicated people, to get rid of it.... then the FAI come up and start religiously segragating gthe kids again? WTF is that about? And none of you down there can't say it hasn't happened, but you come up here and see what it has done. Thanks.

What a load of tosh that the FAI are picking players on their religion. You could agree if the players' names were along the lines of Paddy McGinnty, that they thought, he's Catholic, let's give him a buzz. But Darren Gibson? Sorry am I missing something but can someone point out how the FAI would have deduced that he was Catholic from that.

Anyway, what do you want? Unionist players opting aswell?

And, great to see two kids on Derry City's books off on tour with the Northern Ireland Under 18 squad next week.

I would have thought that should be normality if the two teams on Ireland were sectarianism/politics free. After all, don't see many northern Gaelic football players/supporters opting for Kerry, even though they are clearly a far better side. Maybe when you remove all the unionist paraphernalia from NI games then you'll probably find no one opting for a side that does not represent their geographical entity.

Of course, we all have an opinion - that's the lifeblood of discussion.

You will understand tho, that as a Northern Ireland fan, I have absolutely no desire to support a team consisting of two players from Northern Ireland, when I can watch a team entirely consisting of players representing Northern Ireland.

But not necessarily one that are exclusively either born or have some an ancestral connection with NI.

[citizenerased]

When was the last time your "mate" attended a Northern Ireland match?

Are you telling us that all the players you mention received "sectarianist abuse"?

He attended games during the Sammy McILroy era and start of Sanchez era..that was around 02 , 03 ,04, 05 i think..he feared for his safety if his religious persuasian became evident!!


Yes Iam telling you that, they recieved sectarian abuse at one stage or another..maybe it was at a time when the bigotry was worse!! Why can you dismiss these claims? Im sure your pure as the driven snow...

We all have our bad ones..but to say that the biggotry has been completely eradicated is quite laughable to be honest..

[cheifo]

I've a few Northern Ireland mates who are chuffed that their team has been reclaimed from the bigots. Watching their games on TV they regularly focused the cameras on the crowd and all I could see was a bunch of regular lads in their shirts enjoying the games. I'm sure there's still an unpalatable section in their support but then again I'm becoming increasingly bemused at some of the current ROI fans. Nobody's perfect.

Oh my God!, a sensible post on this subject.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Oh my God!, a sensible post on this subject.

Indeed Chiefo -and it needed acknowledging by someone on "our side". These days, and for some years now, NI's support has been an absolute credit to everyone involved. Claims otherwise make up just a portion of some of the self-satisfied guff I'm reading on this thread from some in our ranks.

Frankly I think there's a proportionally bigger gob****e element in our support these days.

[Not Brazil]

He attended games during the Sammy McILroy era and start of Sanchez era..that was around 02 , 03 ,04, 05 i think..he feared for his safety if his religious persuasian became evident!!


Yes Iam telling you that, they recieved sectarian abuse at one stage or another..maybe it was at a time when the bigotry was worse!! Why can you dismiss these claims? Im sure your pure as the driven snow...

We all have our bad ones..but to say that the biggotry has been completely eradicated is quite laughable to be honest..

Having attended all Northern Ireland games at Windsor Park during the period mentioned, I can categorically state that "Up To Our Necks In Fenian Blood" has NEVER been chanted "throughout" a match (or, indeed, at all) during that period.

All of those games have been covered by television and radio - if you can produce any evidence whatsoever to the contrary, please post it.

If you cannot, I castigate your "mate" as a liar.

I have attended games during that period with Northern Ireland fans who choose to say their prayers in Catholic Churches, and none of them have ever feared for their safety.

During that period I have never heard a word of "sectarianist abuse" directed at any of the players that you mention. Neil Lennon's last home game for Northern Ireland was in 2001 - you should check out his view on the atmosphere at Northern Ireland matches nowadays.

Messrs Baird, Johnson, Hughes and Healy are all Northern Ireland heros.

I would be particularly surprised if you can back up any claims of "sectarianist abuse" directed at Messrs Healy and Hughes - they both hail from the Unionist community in Northern Ireland.

I neither deny that sectarianism was a major problem at our games, or claim that it has been "completely eradicated".

I do claim, without fear of contradiction, that things have improved dramatically since 2001.

And, you are absolutely correct, we all have "our bad ones" - including the Republic Of Ireland.

[Not Brazil]

Maybe when you remove all the unionist paraphernalia from NI games then you'll probably find no one opting for a side that does not represent their geographical entity.

But not necessarily one that are exclusively either born or have some an ancestral connection with NI.

As I have stated many times, I have no objection to players from Northern Ireland opting to play for the Republic Of Ireland - as is permissible under the FIFA statutes.

I have no doubt that if all the "unionist paraphernalia" was removed (whatever that is, bearing in mind that Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom, and exists because of the Union) that some younger players will continue to elect to play for the Republic Of Ireland - good luck to them.

I support those players, of whatever background, who pull on the Northern Ireland jersey and do it proud.

PS. There's only one Maik Taylor.

[citizenerased]

I would be particularly surprised if you can back up any claims of "sectarianist abuse" directed at Messrs Healy and Hughes - they both hail from the Unionist community in Northern Ireland.

.

Your wrong there fella Hughes played gaelic football with cookstown and his cousin went to school with my 'mate'(as you like to exclaim it). He is very much from a nationalist background. As with David Healy you are wrong also about that, he has no affiliations to any loyalist persuasions..his dad is a catholic...he emphasised this when after the game in which you beat spain at windsor the crowd threw union jacks and NI flags with the red hand on them..and he refused to be drapped in either..get your facts right, dont presume anything..

I understand things are changing gradually with NI fans, but you cannot ignore the elements that still exist..

[Not Brazil]

Your wrong there fella Hughes played gaelic football with cookstown and his cousin went to school with my 'mate'(as you like to exclaim it). He is very much from a nationalist background. As with David Healy you are wrong also about that, he has no affiliations to any loyalist persuasions..his dad is a catholic...he emphasised this when after the game in which you beat spain at windsor the crowd threw union jacks and NI flags with the red hand on them..and he refused to be drapped in either..get your facts right, dont presume anything..

Absolute lies, my friend.

Laughable, in fact.

I know Healy's father personally, and Hughes school don't play GAA.

If you wish to continue with your lies, I'll show you the pictures of Healy adorning the flag of his beloved Northern Ireland after games.

Do yourself a favour, and stop making things up.

It only shows you up to be a desperate bigot.

[GavinZac]

It only shows you up to be a desperate bigot.

Right, because having differing facts on whether a lad played GAA logically means you discriminate by religion.

Clown.

[Not Brazil]

Right, because having differing facts on whether a lad played GAA logically means you discriminate by religion.

Clown.

I think it was our learned friend, citizenerased, who claimed that Aaron Hughes is "very much from a nationalist background".

I couldn't give to flying ones where any player says his prayers - but I do know that Arron Hughes is most definately not from "a nationalist background".

As for the stuff about Healy - absolutely priceless jackanory material.

Healy, and all of his family, are proud Northern Ireland patriots.

PS. How can you have differing facts? A fact is a fact.

[Gather round]

I think NB knowing Clifford Healy personally was more of a clincher, Gavin

[GavinZac]

I think NB knowing Clifford Healy personally was more of a clincher, Gavin

When did I dispute that? Being wrong about a fact doesn't make one a bigot.

I think it was our learned friend, citizenerased, who claimed that Aaron Hughes is "very much from a nationalist background".

I couldn't give to flying ones where any player says his prayers - but I do know that Arron Hughes is most definately not from "a nationalist background".

As for the stuff about Healy - absolutely priceless jackanory material.
Healy, and all of his family, are proud Northern Ireland patriots.

PS. How can you have differing facts? A fact is a fact.

You didn't answer my question. Who cares if you're right? Your pathetic bleating of the word "Bigot!" is what I object to and it seems to be a favourite tactic amongst NI posters on here. I was once called a bigot because I pointed out that amongst the general public, Linfield have a lingering bad image down here. I object to that! I treat all religions with equal contempt.

[Not Brazil]

You didn't answer my question. Who cares if you're right? Your pathetic bleating of the word "Bigot!" is what I object to and it seems to be a favourite tactic amongst NI posters on here. I was once called a bigot because I pointed out that amongst the general public, Linfield have a lingering bad image down here. I object to that! I treat all religions with equal contempt.

I think that telling lies in order to demonise is a form of bigotry.

Do you dispute that?

[cheifo]

Apparantly Andy Townsends dad use to to get his body spray painted green white and orange and would march through his town singing a nation once again every second day.

[Not Brazil]

Apparantly Andy Townsends dad use to to get his body spray painted green white and orange and would march through his town singing a nation once again every second day.

Very good.

[Not Brazil]

NI flags with the red hand on them..and he refused to be drapped in

Ahhhh - the dreaded "Red Hand" of the loyalist O'Neill clan, as features on the badge of the Tyrone GAA team - whom, presumably, your "mate" supports.