Potentially eligible players thread

[back of the net]

Sounds like an apocryphal story to me. I cannot imagine Killa ever getting near an England squad of any description. Did he address it in his book?

He sure did TOWK.

But I heard that story years ago in fairness to Kev....long before the book for what its worth

[Charlie Darwin]

Killer has confirmed it a few times. I don't really see why it's unbelieveable either, he was a good player.

[DannyInvincible]

I have mixed feelings on this, clearly England is his first choice, but he is 50/50 on nationality isn't he?
I think in that situation he is entitled to have a preference but he is also entitled to a second choice
if he can't get his first choice.

He has two Irish grandparents, so whatever simple ratio/fraction that equates to, ha.

I think perhaps one of the reasons he may not have got an England call up is he is not considered English enough perhaps?

His identity is English through and through, by the sounds of it. I don't think "not being English enough" is something the FA or Hodgson would have held against him. Do you think other players considered "not English enough" have been routinely ignored? I don't see it. It's the stuff of conspiracy theory. Sure, he played for England at various under-age levels. Actually, he captained them, didn't he? Besides, England have always been happy to call up eligible dual nationals, including even those born outside of England; see Owen Hargreaves, Raheem Sterling or John Barnes, for example.

HoweverI am very uneasy over his commitment, could he every play for Ireland V England? Could you trust him?

Ha, I can just see it now... Noble is captaining us in the 2018 World Cup final against England. We're in the dying moments with the score level at 0-0. Next thing, Noble picks up the ball in midfield and we all urge him forward for one last chance to steal the game before extra-time and the dreaded penalties. To everyone's surprise, he dribbles back towards Shay's goal, takes the ball into his own box and blasts it past the baffled 42-year-old caught off-guard in the Irish net. 1-0 to England, he races over in front of the stunned and heart-broken Irish supporters screaming, "Take that you fenian b*stards!"

We should have seen it coming.

[DannyInvincible]

Sadlier's all for calling up Noble. Kenny's having absolutely none of it.

[tricky_colour]

He has two Irish grandparents, so whatever simple ratio/fraction that equates to, ha.



His identity is English through and through, by the sounds of it. I don't think "not being English enough" is something the FA or Hodgson would have held against him. Do you think other players considered "not English enough" have been routinely ignored? I don't see it. It's the stuff of conspiracy theory. Sure, he played for England at various under-age levels. Actually, he captained them, didn't he? Besides, England have always been happy to call up eligible dual nationals, including even those born outside of England; see Owen Hargreaves, Raheem Sterling or John Barnes, for example.



Ha, I can just see it now... Noble is captaining us in the 2018 World Cup final against England. We're in the dying moments with the score level at 0-0. Next thing, Noble picks up the ball in midfield and we all urge him forward for one last chance to steal the game before extra-time and the dreaded penalties. To everyone's surprise, he dribbles back towards Shay's goal, takes the ball into his own box and blasts it past the baffled 42-year-old caught off-guard in the Irish net. 1-0 to England, he races over in front of the stunned and heart-broken Irish supporters screaming, "Take that you fenian b*stards!"

We should have seen it coming.

Well by my reckoning we have 4 grandparents ( unless some sort of cloning has been used, doubt it was around in those days) so 50% seems about right.
I would say the 'English enough' rule comes into play when there are other 'more english' players of a similar ability, and I think
the same applies to Irish players usually. If you are pulling up tree trucking in the Premiership you probably don't have to very English to
get a call from the FA, a love of roast beef or rambling through the countryside would probably get you in. So they will call the likes
of John Barnes.

I think there is something to be said for commitment, for some people playing for their country means everything, for others, not so much,
some would rather be doing something else other than international duty and might see going out of a tournament as not such a bad thing.

Might explain a few of England's flops actually.

Let's face it Stephen Ireland could have save himself a lot of hassle by kicking the ball in to the back of his own net!!!

Trouble is he might need three attempts

[TrapAPony]

John Giles: Mark Noble would go straight into the Ireland team

West Ham midfielder Mark Noble would get a place in the Irish team if he declared for Martin O'Neill's squad.

That's the view of Republic of Ireland midfield legend and media pundit John Giles.
Giles, speaking at the Dublin launch of the Westport sea2summit adventure race to be held on November 8, also believes that it's time for James McCarthy to fulfil his promise and be the boss of the central area of the pitch for Ireland.
As a player, Giles was always cool, calm, and collected, and he brought that clarity of analysis to the subject of Mark Noble and U-21 player Jack Grealish who have yet to commit to wearing the green.

Noble, 27, qualifies to play for Ireland but has displayed a reluctance to make the leap of faith required to end his hopes of a call-up for England.
Giles wouldn't hesitate to avail of Noble's services if he decided to join up with the Republic squad.
"When I was the Irish manager, I would have picked anyone that would improve the team once you are obeying the rules.

"I would take Noble tomorrow, as he would improve our team. He's a good Premier League player, and we don't have many good Premier League players. I think he would get into the team straight away.
"Young Grealish has a decision to make and I can understand it.
"Most of the lads I know who were raised in England want to play for England, it's just natural for them. There are greater rewards and greater exposure playing for England than there is for us and that's just the honest situation," said Giles.


http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-30560708.html

[gastric]

John Giles: Mark Noble would go straight into the Ireland team

West Ham midfielder Mark Noble would get a place in the Irish team if he declared for Martin O'Neill's squad.

That's the view of Republic of Ireland midfield legend and media pundit John Giles.
Giles, speaking at the Dublin launch of the Westport sea2summit adventure race to be held on November 8, also believes that it's time for James McCarthy to fulfil his promise and be the boss of the central area of the pitch for Ireland.
As a player, Giles was always cool, calm, and collected, and he brought that clarity of analysis to the subject of Mark Noble and U-21 player Jack Grealish who have yet to commit to wearing the green.

Noble, 27, qualifies to play for Ireland but has displayed a reluctance to make the leap of faith required to end his hopes of a call-up for England.
Giles wouldn't hesitate to avail of Noble's services if he decided to join up with the Republic squad.
"When I was the Irish manager, I would have picked anyone that would improve the team once you are obeying the rules.

"I would take Noble tomorrow, as he would improve our team. He's a good Premier League player, and we don't have many good Premier League players. I think he would get into the team straight away.
"Young Grealish has a decision to make and I can understand it.
"Most of the lads I know who were raised in England want to play for England, it's just natural for them. There are greater rewards and greater exposure playing for England than there is for us and that's just the honest situation," said Giles.


http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-30560708.html

Giles is stating what O'Neill and Roy would be thinking, as managers make pragmatic, not emotional decisions!

[DeLorean]

Sounds like an apocryphal story to me.

Yet you find a story about Mark Noble roaring sectarian abuse at an Irish crowd believable.

I cannot imagine Killa ever getting near an England squad of any description.

Even though Mark Noble, an "average, average" player, capatined their U21's?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I'd give Noble the benefit of the doubt on this one purely because it hasn't gained any traction.

Same Redditor posted this comment.

"Seriously.

It's worth noting that the crowd was giving the English players a fair bit of abuse (not so much from the family section mind, but I suppose it can be hard to tell where it's coming from when concentrating on the game).

Noble doesn't have a well known history of lashing out at supporters, but he did that game. Probably more as a reaction to the boos each English touch got more than a deep hatred of Ireland, but that's still a completely unacceptable thing for a future Irish international to scream at Irish supporters."

[tetsujin1979]

Sounds like an apocryphal story to me. I cannot imagine Killa ever getting near an England squad of any description. Did he address it in his book?

It's common knowledge he was called into an England underage squad and refused it

[DeLorean]

I'd give Noble the benefit of the doubt on this one purely because it hasn't gained any traction.

Same Redditor posted this comment.

"Seriously.

It's worth noting that the crowd was giving the English players a fair bit of abuse (not so much from the family section mind, but I suppose it can be hard to tell where it's coming from when concentrating on the game).

Noble doesn't have a well known history of lashing out at supporters, but he did that game. Probably more as a reaction to the boos each English touch got more than a deep hatred of Ireland, but that's still a completely unacceptable thing for a future Irish international to scream at Irish supporters."

Just to recap, was this the U21 game that England won 3-0 at Turner's Cross? It was the only Irish underage international I was ever at would you believe? I don't remember any hostility whatsoever. In fact, I vividly remember everybody (bar a stubborn friend of mine who we took the p!ss out of for being a dinosaur) standing and respecting GSTQ before kickoff, and there being a decent atmosphere in the ground generally. I can't remember that changing during the game at all.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.newstalk.ie/liam-george-o...ble-to-ireland

Liam George firmly against Noble call up.

[geysir]

Just to recap, was this the U21 game that England won 3-0 at Turner's Cross? It was the only Irish underage international I was ever at would you believe? I don't remember any hostility whatsoever. In fact, I vividly remember everybody (bar a stubborn friend of mine who we took the p!ss out of for being a dinosaur) standing and respecting GSTQ before kickoff, and there being a decent atmosphere in the ground generally. I can't remember that changing during the game at all.

The story an obvious crock of dung.
There hasn't been a peep until now that this highly contraversial incident took place.
Both times after scoring he ran to the Irish fans (the first goal to the section where I was sat, in the family section) and screamed abuse along the lines "Take that, you fenian *******s."

"where I was sat" ??

However a new controversy emerges as Noble faces charges of slinging the fascist salute in the direction of the crowd that night

[tetsujin1979]

been doing some research on this alleged abuse (slow day at work!)
Found threads on the game from People's Republic of Cork, boards.ie and from right here on foot.ie
The game was on Sky Sports, so lots of eyes on the game, none mention any kind of abuse from Noble after scoring.
PROC: http://www.peoplesrepublicofcork.com...d.php?t=116756
boards: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...p?t=2055165188
foot.ie: http://foot.ie/threads/73570-Republi...ctober-16th%29

none of this prove he didn't say or do what's alleged, but I'm pretty sure if he did then it would have been mentioned by someone in one of these threads

There's a slight chance I have a recording of it somewhere, although I think it's the return game in St Mary's I have

[DeLorean]

I'm pretty sure I still have the match programme at home. That won't help though. If I remember correctly, it was the same year that England first visited Croke Park in the rugby. I think the surprising respect that was shown for GSTQ and the good publicity it got had a bit of a knock on effect. That was going through my mind at the time anyway.

[paul_oshea]

Just because none of you didnt hear it or werent there, doesn't mean it didnt happen.

Loads of things happen in Gaza that cant be 100% verified, it doesnt mean they didnt happen.

Slightly off topic but we've heard nothing about the black box that was recovered from the Dutch Malaysian airlines flight over Ukraine

[Stuttgart88]

Tets, do something about this WUM will you?

[tetsujin1979]

Just because none of you didnt hear it or werent there, doesn't mean it didnt happen.

Loads of things happen in Gaza that cant be 100% verified, it doesnt mean they didnt happen.

Slightly off topic but we've heard nothing about the black box that was recovered from the Dutch Malaysian airlines flight over Ukraine

true, but how many things that happen in Gaza are in front of a sold out stadium, with live TV providing coverage?

Tets, do something about this WUM will you?

so.very.tempted.

[geysir]

I heard it didn't happen via a good mate who drinks in a pub not 200m from Roy Keane's local, you can't get any more authentic than that.

[DannyInvincible]

Well by my reckoning we have 4 grandparents ( unless some sort of cloning has been used, doubt it was around in those days) so 50% seems about right.

What about the generation in between; his parents? Can't they dilute, enhance or influence the determination of this specific measure?

I would say the 'English enough' rule comes into play when there are other 'more english' players of a similar ability, and I think
the same applies to Irish players usually. If you are pulling up tree trucking in the Premiership you probably don't have to very English to
get a call from the FA, a love of roast beef or rambling through the countryside would probably get you in. So they will call the likes
of John Barnes.

Wayne Rooney and Gary Cahill are from Irish backgrounds. Phil Jagielka is of Polish extraction. Andros Townsend is of Greek Cypriot and Jamaican descent. Danny Welbeck's roots are Ghanaian. Such "diluted" identities have never put the FA off selecting these players. Who else, besides poor Noble, has fallen victim to this alleged "rule"? If you're English and good enough, you'll get called up; if you're English and not quite good enough, you won't. I don't see why the "being English enough" factor would even come into play. What evidence is there to support your suspicion?