FAI...June 2024 Friendlies v Hungary and Portugal

[ludermor]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpvZnWsvuUk&feature=share

One of the best Euro tunes ive heard

[Minder]

McClean threw his lot in with the Republic because he was pissed off about not getting selected for Norn Iron, if they had selected him when he was at Derry Coty he would now be playing for them.

He tell you that himself I take it? 

No but he did tell the Sunday Times the following -

"I maybe would have played for the North. I had been playing well with Derry City week in week out and he wasn't picking me but was picking players from the Irish League. I don't know why. I didn't hear from them for two years and then I got a call up when I signed for Suderland".

[Nally Stand]

McClean threw his lot in with the Republic because he was pissed off about not getting selected for Norn Iron, if they had selected him when he was at Derry Coty he would now be playing for them.

He tell you that himself I take it? 

No but he did tell the Sunday Times the following -

"I maybe would have played for the North. I had been playing well with Derry City week in week out and he wasn't picking me but was picking players from the Irish League. I don't know why. I didn't hear from them for two years and then I got a call up when I signed for Suderland".

You said he wanted to play for the north but opted for the south BECAUSE wasn't getting picked for OWC. Which is nonsense. In so far as I can see he is merely saying that he would have played for the north IF he couldn't get his chance of fulfilling what he calls his "dream" of playing with the south - not that he is playing for the south "because" he didn't get his chance for the north.

[Minder]

McClean threw his lot in with the Republic because he was pissed off about not getting selected for Norn Iron, if they had selected him when he was at Derry Coty he would now be playing for them.

He tell you that himself I take it? 

No but he did tell the Sunday Times the following -

"I maybe would have played for the North. I had been playing well with Derry City week in week out and he wasn't picking me but was picking players from the Irish League. I don't know why. I didn't hear from them for two years and then I got a call up when I signed for Suderland".

You said he wanted to play for the north but opted for the south BECAUSE wasn't getting picked for OWC. Which is nonsense. In so far as I can see he is merely saying that he would have played for the north IF he couldn't get his chance of fulfilling what he calls his "dream" of playing with the south - not that he is playing for the south "because" he didn't get his chance for the north.

That's an interesting, but unsurprising, interpretation of a direct quote from McClean.

I thought you had no interest in soccer?

[Tony Baloney]

McClean threw his lot in with the Republic because he was pissed off about not getting selected for Norn Iron, if they had selected him when he was at Derry Coty he would now be playing for them.

He tell you that himself I take it? 

No but he did tell the Sunday Times the following -

"I maybe would have played for the North. I had been playing well with Derry City week in week out and he wasn't picking me but was picking players from the Irish League. I don't know why. I didn't hear from them for two years and then I got a call up when I signed for Suderland".

You said he wanted to play for the north but opted for the south BECAUSE wasn't getting picked for OWC. Which is nonsense. In so far as I can see he is merely saying that he would have played for the north IF he couldn't get his chance of fulfilling what he calls his "dream" of playing with the south - not that he is playing for the south "because" he didn't get his chance for the north.

Almost all soccer players are mercenaries so why rush to the defence of a man with a reversible jersey. You wouldn't play for the north if you had the talent and opportunity and that would be your right but McClean can hardly claim to have the moral or idealogical high ground after he pulled on the OWC jersey.

Whilst it is great that he eventually made the right choice he should have just shut the f**k up as he has made a fool of himself.

[Gazzler]

A serious lack of understanding of what actually goes on in the 6 counties and in particular Windsor park is evident on this tread.

Well go on then tell us all what actually goes on?

[Tony Baloney]

I find it a bit hollow now for him to be spouting his great love for the republic side and his unease with the IFA setup. As someone else was saying if he had such reservations about it why did he play all the way up through their youth ranks and at U-21 level? How come he was willing to ignore the Unionist trappings for the benefit of his career back then but now he isn't? He can say what he likes about the IFA, and most of it is true, but its sounds very hypocritical to me given he wore the green and white for so often and without complaint.

Calling him hollow is far out IMO.

I'm not sure the same opportunities exist for someone growing up in Derry compared to say Dublin as far as schoolboy football opportunities go. When you're at that age you have to be selfish and you take anything that comes your way. So from underage I can understand why he did play for NI.

I don't frequent many youth games outside of GAA but I can't imagine NI underage matches having the full trimmings as far as Unionist trappings are concerned - so maybe he was more worried about what lay in store at Windsor had he opted to declare for the NI senior squad. I personally would have loved NI to have qualified for the Euros but I'd never in a million years go to Windsor for the exact same reasons I suspect McClean doesn't want to play for them.

Maybe calling him hollow is a bit extreme but I'm just saying that he isn't the beacon of nationalist disobedience towards the IFA that some people are making him out to be. I understand his problems with the NI team but turning round now and saying that he only ever wanted to play for the republic is hypocritical to me given that he donned the IFA jersey without complaint for several years. If he done it to further his career then grand but don't turn around and say that you only ever wanted to play for the South. He may have wanted to play for the South growing up but when he was willing to dispense his ideals to further his career not that long ago.

I don't know Wislon's case but if what I read is true then he is one of the few players able to come out and rant about this because he has backed his principles from the start.

+1.

If I had read this first I could have saved my last post.

[Celt_Man]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpvZnWsvuUk&feature=share

One of the best Euro tunes ive heard

Ahh that is top quality stuff!!!

[SHEEDY]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpvZnWsvuUk&feature=share

One of the best Euro tunes ive heard

brilliant 

[laoislad]

Penalty shoot out between Crusaders and Derry City in the Setanta Cup Final.

[Jim_Murphy_74]

McClean threw his lot in with the Republic because he was pissed off about not getting selected for Norn Iron, if they had selected him when he was at Derry Coty he would now be playing for them.

He tell you that himself I take it? 

Well he was interviewed by Derry Journal in 2009 and said:

"International recognition is very important to most players. I thoroughly enjoyed playing for the Under-21s and, therefore, any call-up to the senior squad would be considered an honour"

So I have to say I understand the frustration of the OWC fans that in the space of a few years McClean went from "enjoyed playing for the U-21s" to "not being comfortable with the setup".   No doubt you and your ilk understood that "any call up to the senior squad" was meant to refer to the Republic not OWC but I can see how OWC fans might have made a mistake.

Also McClean was called into OWC senior squad in July 2011 but did not move to Sunderland until August.  Interviewed on July 28th by League of Ireland site extratime.ie he said "'I am delighted to be called into the squad".  He withdrew on 9th of August hours after signing for Sunderland.

Now after the fact, have spoken of his delight and honour of playing for OWC, he says he actually was uncomfortable and never wanted to play for them.

Personally I see a lot of inconsistency here. 

/Jim.

[Jim_Murphy_74]

I didn't see any reference to Windsor in the quotes I read. U21 games are usually played at club grounds and would attract a fare few local Province fans.

Reference was in Sindo three weekends ago, interview with Dion Fanning:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/no-rest-for-the-gifted-on-mccleans-journey-to-the-top-3081196.html

"I can even remember playing under 21s for Northern Ireland and even standing for the national anthems . . . You're looking around Windsor Park as a Catholic and seeing all the Union Jacks and listening to the songs the fans sing and I just didn't feel at home at all. Even in the squads I felt like a bit of an outsider. There weren't too many Catholics, it just didn't feel right."

So if he wasn't there as a player, was he there as a supporter?

/Jim.

[laoislad]

Crusaders win on penos.
The commentator said they are now All Ireland Champions...the Dubs won't be happy.

[michaelg]

McClean is best ignored if you ask my opinion - Doesn't seem the sharpest knife in the drawer (Can't remember where he has played for example) and seems to love the aggro and attention that his tweets bring - Interestingly, the media were not as interested in the sectarian abuse aimed at Josh Carson of Ipswich and Northern Ireland by some clown in Donegal - Although not as prominent a footballer, it strikes me that the media always take the opportunity to put the boot into NI football fans wherever possible

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

McClean is best ignored if you ask my opinion - Doesn't seem the sharpest knife in the drawer (Can't remember where he has played for example) and seems to love the aggro and attention that his tweets bring - Interestingly, the media were not as interested in the sectarian abuse aimed at Josh Carson of Ipswich and Northern Ireland by some clown in Donegal - Although not as prominent a footballer, it strikes me that the media always take the opportunity to put the boot into NI football fans wherever possible

Will you be supporting the ROI in the Euros?