FAI...June 2024 Friendlies v Hungary and Portugal

[Applesisapples]

Here's the way it looks: McClean was happy enough to turn out for the north when he'd returned from Lincoln City and was playing for Derry City. Had he been called into the senior squad at that stage, I don't doubt that he'd have taken the cap and worn it to bed. Then he starts getting noticed and there's transfer talk in the papers. He gets a big move to Sunderland and all of a sudden he starts thinking that a cap for the republic is a possibility. Why settle for NI and a football backwater when there's a chance of the Euros?

Do you accept that McClean was 'there for the taking' but instead was ignored for two years while at Derry City by the NI senior management? Cos the way I look at it, NI only wanted him once word about him making a big move last summer became apparent. He was just right to withdraw, from a team that didn't want him/notice him until he became potential premiership material.

He has to justify his sudden change of heart, so he comes out with all the sectarian bullshit. Worst of all, he calls his team mates - McCourt, McGinn, Baird, Clingan - liars. He's a dick. I quite understand why you feel such an affinity with him.

As a Northern Ireland football fan, do you honestly think those players consider GSTQ their National Anthem? Do you think they consider the defunct Ulster banner their National flag, or feel any affinity to the Union flag? Because I'd call them liars too if they said they did.

RE whether you accept his justifications for the change of heart or not; they are just as valid as the reasons people like me avoid Windsor Park completely.  It is a pity that you, other NI fans and worst of all the IFA don't see the bigger picture, that the baggage associated with the NI team is doing so much damage. So long as this situation remains the same and the empty rhetoric comes from the IFA wigs; I and many others will gladly support any player who plays underage with NI and makes the switch to the ROI for senior.

I can accept 100% that he felt pissed off at not getting a call up to the NI senior team when he was playing well for Derry, particularly when Worthington was handing out caps to a few no hopers. I can accept 100% that he liked the idea of playing football on the big stage for the republic. If he'd stuck with that line, I wouldn't have a problem with him. What I can't abide is that he feels the need to slag off his former team mates, the NI backroom people, and the NI football support in order to justify his decision. The fact that he plays the sectarian card to do so just makes him despicable in my opinion.  I also accept that GSTQ turns a lot of people off supporting NI. I think that the fact that some players and supporters from nationalist backgrounds are prepared to rise above this is to their credit - in exactly the same way that people like Rory Best, Andrew Trimble, Stephen Ferris, etc are prepared to play for Ireland, while thousands of Ulster prods go along to support them, despite the tricolours and the Soldier's Song and the presidential salutes and all that stuff. I'm not a NI fan, btw - prefer to spend my time and money in Ravenhill (and this season, also in Thomond, the Aviva and on Saturday, Twickenham  )

You should know then that there are strict protocols around anthems and flags in rugby which see no Irish NA abroad and GSTQ in Belfast and The Irish NA in Dublin. The Presidential Salute is a courtesy to the President. Ulster is also represented by the 9 County Flag being flown.

[Olaf]

.....and the Republic by a tri-colour. The protocols are a mess and not all embracing to all players and supporters.  Unionist Ulster fans and players have not  seen this as a  barrier to them wanting to play for/support the the team.

[trileacman]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2012/0515/320958-ireland-may-become-part-of-three-way-bid/

Ireland makes 3 way bid for Euro 2020.

Apart from the Aviva, and they could probably rig in Thomond as well, what other stadia could you throw in?

[AZOffaly]

Pairc ui Chrocaigh

[Applesisapples]

.....and the Republic by a tri-colour. The protocols are a mess and not all embracing to all players and supporters.  Unionist Ulster fans and players have not  seen this as a  barrier to them wanting to play for/support the the team.

Likewise with Nationalists and the Ulster Rugby team.

[Canalman]

Honestly think that we are going to be humiliated at the Euros.

We are the proverbial drunk staggering down the motorway.............. lucky so far but a calamity heading our way.

Imvho the players are nowhere near good enough. V good article last weekend comparing the team in Euro 88 to the one we have now. Scary stuff of a comparison.

[deiseach]

You should know then that there are strict protocols around anthems and flags in rugby which see no Irish NA abroad and GSTQ in Belfast and The Irish NA in Dublin. The Presidential Salute is a courtesy to the President. Ulster is also represented by the 9 County Flag being flown.

GSTQ was not played at Ravenhill when Ireland took on Italy there in August 2007. They can play Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead at rugby matches for all I care but the IRFU should at least be consistent.

[GalwayBayBoy]

Honestly think that we are going to be humiliated at the Euros.

I would be surprised if they were. They are extremely difficult to break down and have been pretty much ever since Trap took over. It's not exactly exciting to watch them play but but they are very well drilled at what they do.

That said they could still lose all three games but if they do I don't think they would lose them by much.

[Donnellys Hollow]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2012/0515/320958-ireland-may-become-part-of-three-way-bid/

Ireland makes 3 way bid for Euro 2020.

Apart from the Aviva, and they could probably rig in Thomond as well, what other stadia could you throw in?

Do the host nations not qualify automatically for these things? Surely they'd never agree to having three teams already pre-qualified.

[Bingo]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2012/0515/320958-ireland-may-become-part-of-three-way-bid/

Ireland makes 3 way bid for Euro 2020.

Apart from the Aviva, and they could probably rig in Thomond as well, what other stadia could you throw in?

Do the host nations not qualify automatically for these things? Surely they'd never agree to having three teams already pre-qualified.

Isn't it been extended to 24 teams at that stage, so maybe they could fit them all in. Think only Turkey are actually interested apart from this consortium.

[Jim_Murphy_74]

He wasn't quoted anywhere as saying he lined out for the u21's at Windsor pk, get it?

This is the quote from the Indo article.  Note the quotation marks are theirs not mine:

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."

The only thing in his defence is that the free-wheeling between "I" and "You" he uses could be construed that he was talking in generalities.

That tied to the Derry Journal quote:

"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"

People here are critical of the IFA for not showing an interest in McClean until he was heading to a big club.   Equally it's obvious that OWC fans would be pissed that he went from "enjoyed playing" to "not feeling right" once a better offer came his way.

/Jim.

[J OGorman]

Jim, gone give it a rest re James. You've already posted the same bit twice, we all seen it the first time. I know the fella. He's a decent spud who's game as buck when it comes to playing and training. A spokesman and a political speaker he is not. However, when a young man is constantly asked the same questions re opting out of the North etc  and when there are media and folk like yourself dissecting  every word he says, well, with the right amount of spin, a little salt and paper and a smigeon of angst, certain agenda's can always be enhanced.   He'll be a joy to watch @ the Euro's.

Canny wait

[Applesisapples]

You should know then that there are strict protocols around anthems and flags in rugby which see no Irish NA abroad and GSTQ in Belfast and The Irish NA in Dublin. The Presidential Salute is a courtesy to the President. Ulster is also represented by the 9 County Flag being flown.

GSTQ was not played at Ravenhill when Ireland took on Italy there in August 2007. They can play Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead at rugby matches for all I care but the IRFU should at least be consistent.

Well I can't comment on what happened then but the protocol was in place. i think Ireland's Call should be stuck to as a compromise.

[Jim_Murphy_74]

Jim, gone give it a rest re James. You've already posted the same bit twice, we all seen it the first time. I know the fella. He's a decent spud who's game as buck when it comes to playing and training. A spokesman and a political speaker he is not. However, when a young man is constantly asked the same questions re opting out of the North etc  and when there are media and folk like yourself dissecting  every word he says, well, with the right amount of spin, a little salt and paper and a smigeon of angst, certain agenda's can always be enhanced.   He'll be a joy to watch @ the Euro's.

Canny wait

JOG,

Point taken.  I was just making the point to Main Street that I wasn't interpreting what a journalist said but was reading a direct (at least attributed) quote.


/Jim.

[Olaf]

Jim, gone give it a rest re James. You've already posted the same bit twice, we all seen it the first time. I know the fella. He's a decent spud who's game as buck when it comes to playing and training. A spokesman and a political speaker he is not. However, when a young man is constantly asked the same questions re opting out of the North etc  and when there are media and folk like yourself dissecting  every word he says, well, with the right amount of spin, a little salt and paper and a smigeon of angst, certain agenda's can always be enhanced.   He'll be a joy to watch @ the Euro's.

Canny wait

JOG,

Point taken.  I was just making the point to Main Street that I wasn't interpreting what a journalist said but was reading a direct (at least attributed) quote.


/Jim.

It is certainly reasonable to interprete the quote as stating that McClean had played at Windsor. Most if not all folk would place that interpretation on it.

He's more of a loss to NI than Gibson . He's gone and I hope that is the last we hear from him on that issue.