FAI...June 2024 Friendlies v Hungary and Portugal

[michaelg]

I see Michael O'Neill is looking for some sort of gentleman's agreement over players not being able to declare for the republic.  I hope Martin tells him where to go

Drink does tend to affect one's cognitive functions..

No dice.

He defo was on even more plonk than usual last night. Interesting that he is making a thing of the players religion and yet funny how he and Gerry in all their time at the IFA have done sweet fa to make it more desirable for Catholics to play for NI. I remember big Gerry's extensive research into the anthem brought the class conclusion. We probably need to change it but we won't. Anyway the whole poaching issue is tiresome, the rate the IFA are going they will end up with plenty of ex fai players scannel being the latest target.

Interesting because it's true.  I am fully aware of the current situation as to who can play for the ROI, but can you not see how only approaching catholics from NI could be perceived as a sectarian approach?

[Jim_Murphy_74]

In fairness any lad that needs to be 20+ or signed for a big English club before realizing that he is actually Irish rather than Northern Irish is either a tad confused or a mercenary ****.  Probably the latter.  Once out of the youth system you are a man. If you play for the "Black North"at U-21 then you have made your bed.

/Jim.

[Jim_Murphy_74]

I see Michael O'Neill is looking for some sort of gentleman's agreement over players not being able to declare for the republic.  I hope Martin tells him where to go

Drink does tend to affect one's cognitive functions..

No dice.

He defo was on even more plonk than usual last night. Interesting that he is making a thing of the players religion and yet funny how he and Gerry in all their time at the IFA have done sweet fa to make it more desirable for Catholics to play for NI. I remember big Gerry's extensive research into the anthem brought the class conclusion. We probably need to change it but we won't. Anyway the whole poaching issue is tiresome, the rate the IFA are going they will end up with plenty of ex fai players scannel being the latest target.

Interesting because it's true.  I am fully aware of the current situation as to who can play for the ROI, but can you not see how only approaching catholics from NI could be perceived as a sectarian approach?

Yes. It's logical why they do it, but it is by definition sectarian.

/Jim

[Syferus]

In fairness any lad that needs to be 20+ or signed for a big English club before realizing that he is actually Irish rather than Northern Irish is either a tad confused or a mercenary ****.  Probably the latter.  Once out of the youth system you are a man. If you play for the "Black North"at U-21 then you have made your bed.

/Jim.

What the heck is with this /Jim stuff?

Use a signature!

[michaelg]

I see Michael O'Neill is looking for some sort of gentleman's agreement over players not being able to declare for the republic.  I hope Martin tells him where to go

Drink does tend to affect one's cognitive functions..

No dice.

He defo was on even more plonk than usual last night. Interesting that he is making a thing of the players religion and yet funny how he and Gerry in all their time at the IFA have done sweet fa to make it more desirable for Catholics to play for NI. I remember big Gerry's extensive research into the anthem brought the class conclusion. We probably need to change it but we won't. Anyway the whole poaching issue is tiresome, the rate the IFA are going they will end up with plenty of ex fai players scannel being the latest target.

Interesting because it's true.  I am fully aware of the current situation as to who can play for the ROI, but can you not see how only approaching catholics from NI could be perceived as a sectarian approach?

Yes. It's logical why they do it, but it is by definition sectarian.

/Jim

Yet it's the IFA who are acccused of being the sectarian association.  The IFA are in a no win situation really.

[Applesisapples]

I see Michael O'Neill is looking for some sort of gentleman's agreement over players not being able to declare for the republic.  I hope Martin tells him where to go

Drink does tend to affect one's cognitive functions..

No dice.

He defo was on even more plonk than usual last night. Interesting that he is making a thing of the players religion and yet funny how he and Gerry in all their time at the IFA have done sweet fa to make it more desirable for Catholics to play for NI. I remember big Gerry's extensive research into the anthem brought the class conclusion. We probably need to change it but we won't. Anyway the whole poaching issue is tiresome, the rate the IFA are going they will end up with plenty of ex fai players scannel being the latest target.

Interesting because it's true.  I am fully aware of the current situation as to who can play for the ROI, but can you not see how only approaching catholics from NI could be perceived as a sectarian approach?

Alan Kernaghan, was he not a Bangor Protestant? If the IFA were serious about attracting Nationalists they would have dropped the anthem and loyalist flag years ago, but no that might lose them 90% of their loyalist base. As for the U21 nonsense as someone pointed out on twitter this would work against the IFA as in the past Darren Gibson and others chose not to play underage rather than become ineligible. If nationalists want to play for NI good luck to them but many who consider themselves Irish first and foremost should be free to choose the Republic.

[Jim_Murphy_74]

If nationalists want to play for NI good luck to them but many who consider themselves Irish first and foremost should be free to choose the Republic.

At what stage do they consider themselves Irish first and foremost.

Imagine a 21 year old doesn't feel that strongly while playing League of Ireland and plays for Northern Ireland U-21s but once gets signed for a premier league club comes to the attention of FAI?

How did his real nationality and allegiance allow him play for Northern Ireland in case the Republic don't come calling?

Michael O'Neill well within his rights to ask that Republic don't tap up anyone who had gone to that far with the other crowd.

/Jim.

[From the Bunker]

If they play for Ireland North or South - They are Irish to me! Just because two associations chose to remain apart does little or nothing to change this for me!

[tyssam5]

If nationalists want to play for NI good luck to them but many who consider themselves Irish first and foremost should be free to choose the Republic.

At what stage do they consider themselves Irish first and foremost.

Imagine a 21 year old doesn't feel that strongly while playing League of Ireland and plays for Northern Ireland U-21s but once gets signed for a premier league club comes to the attention of FAI?

How did his real nationality and allegiance allow him play for Northern Ireland in case the Republic don't come calling?

Michael O'Neill well within his rights to ask that Republic don't tap up anyone who had gone to that far with the other crowd.

/Jim.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ forgave the thief on the cross, surely we can forgive a U-21 game or two?

[Main Street]

Now whisky nose O'Neill wants a gentleman's agreement, that any player capped by NI from the age of 17 onward be bound to the IFA forever,
We already have had this nonsense before, as well as those tapping up accusations -  with little or no evidence to support them.
I see /Jim just assumes those tapping up ravings as 100% true .....Jesus weeps again.
The FAI have always maintained that if a player calls them up, they respond, that's not tapping up.
Whisky nose O'Neill was quoted as saying   "see Sean Scannell,  his blood line is from the North"
Wtf, is he on about bloodline to a piece of turf in Armagh? as if that should define less connectionj to the FAI team and more to the IFA team, his brain must be befuddled. Nordies by dint of birth in the 6 counties have a different "irishness" about them,  different than those people born down south??

Players have the right to choose, the reason for that is simple. According to the FIFA statutes  the player's (civil) rights are superior to the rights of the association. When it comes to international eligibility, the  player's right to choose comes first, as long as he/she is eligible to change associations.

[AQMP]

I see Michael O'Neill is looking for some sort of gentleman's agreement over players not being able to declare for the republic.  I hope Martin tells him where to go

Drink does tend to affect one's cognitive functions..

No dice.

He defo was on even more plonk than usual last night. Interesting that he is making a thing of the players religion and yet funny how he and Gerry in all their time at the IFA have done sweet fa to make it more desirable for Catholics to play for NI. I remember big Gerry's extensive research into the anthem brought the class conclusion. We probably need to change it but we won't. Anyway the whole poaching issue is tiresome, the rate the IFA are going they will end up with plenty of ex fai players scannel being the latest target.

Interesting because it's true.  I am fully aware of the current situation as to who can play for the ROI, but can you not see how only approaching catholics from NI could be perceived as a sectarian approach?

IF the FAI approaches anyone from the North, surely it would be because of their perceived national identity, not their religion??

[Jim_Murphy_74]

I see /Jim just assumes those tapping up ravings as 100% true .....Jesus weeps again.

I am not particularly interested in whether lads approach the FAI or vice versa.  I am sure there is plenty of hinting etc. done quietly.

What I do accept is the it is particularly galling when a lad who plays U-20 or senior friendly games for Northern Ireland then decides to make the jump.  So whether you think that is fair enough or not, it's surely fair enough for Michael O'Neill to ask his buddy Martin O'Neill to not do that.  If Martin says no dice then fair enough.

However, I think it's a joke that lads go straight for getting personal about Michael O'Neill and alcoholism etc..l as if it's completely out of whack.

/Jim.

[Applesisapples]

If nationalists want to play for NI good luck to them but many who consider themselves Irish first and foremost should be free to choose the Republic.

At what stage do they consider themselves Irish first and foremost.

Imagine a 21 year old doesn't feel that strongly while playing League of Ireland and plays for Northern Ireland U-21s but once gets signed for a premier league club comes to the attention of FAI?

How did his real nationality and allegiance allow him play for Northern Ireland in case the Republic don't come calling?

Michael O'Neill well within his rights to ask that Republic don't tap up anyone who had gone to that far with the other crowd.

/Jim.

Surely thats up to the individual and O'Neill is messing with identity politics here and rights afford to nationalists under the GFA. You can't enrol in the schools system in the South if you live in the North. At the end of the day if the FAI stood up to the sectarian supporter base then there might be prospects that many nationalists would accept playing for NI. But this goes to the heart of this statelet, there is no recognition at any level that unto 45% of the population see themselves as Irish.

[Jim_Murphy_74]

If nationalists want to play for NI good luck to them but many who consider themselves Irish first and foremost should be free to choose the Republic.

At what stage do they consider themselves Irish first and foremost.

Imagine a 21 year old doesn't feel that strongly while playing League of Ireland and plays for Northern Ireland U-21s but once gets signed for a premier league club comes to the attention of FAI?

How did his real nationality and allegiance allow him play for Northern Ireland in case the Republic don't come calling?

Michael O'Neill well within his rights to ask that Republic don't tap up anyone who had gone to that far with the other crowd.

/Jim.

Surely thats up to the individual and O'Neill is messing with identity politics here and rights afford to nationalists under the GFA. You can't enrol in the schools system in the South if you live in the North. At the end of the day if the FAI stood up to the sectarian supporter base then there might be prospects that many nationalists would accept playing for NI. But this goes to the heart of this statelet, there is no recognition at any level that unto 45% of the population see themselves as Irish.

I am not arguing the in and outs of that.  I am saying that if by the time you have reached U-20 level/adult level and haven't made the swith then there is something amiss.  I am guessing that Michael O'Neill feels that if he (and his organisation ) are investing into these players at that level (I accept your schoolboy argument) then they have skin in the game.

Look at the McLean case.  He is plays for U-20s while at Derry City and looks set to join Northern Ireland senior ranks.  Maybe he is uncomfortable with certain aspects that you outline but hey the Republic aren't interested in a League of Ireland player. Next thing Sunderland come calling and Niall Quinn is negotiating his contract.  Quinn says I'll put a word in with Trap and Delaney and hey presto James is a Republic of Ireland player.

You have to see that to a Northern Ireland manager it looks like he was used in that case.  McLean was either perfectly comfortable but saw chance to get to a better team or was uncomfortable
but was happy to suck it up and use them until something better came along.  Otherwise we have to accept that at 22 years of age McLean suddenly realized that Northern Ireland team had no recognition of his 45% of the population.

So I get your argument about Nationalists wanting to play for the Republic and I think they should be allowed.  However, I also get Michael O'Neill's frustrations at lads who stall on exercising that right and use Northern Ireland to further their career. 

All I have argued is that I get where he is coming from.  I don't think it's fair to bring up references to drink etc.. as if it's complete beyond foundation.

/Jim.

[JPGJOHNNYG]

I see /Jim just assumes those tapping up ravings as 100% true .....Jesus weeps again.

I am not particularly interested in whether lads approach the FAI or vice versa.  I am sure there is plenty of hinting etc. done quietly.

What I do accept is the it is particularly galling when a lad who plays U-20 or senior friendly games for Northern Ireland then decides to make the jump.  So whether you think that is fair enough or not, it's surely fair enough for Michael O'Neill to ask his buddy Martin O'Neill to not do that.  If Martin says no dice then fair enough.

However, I think it's a joke that lads go straight for getting personal about Michael O'Neill and alcoholism etc..l as if it's completely out of whack.

/Jim.

Young people will switch allegiance for numerous reasons. Sure didnt Grealish do just that when he thought it would further his career as did Agyei-Tabi as did Crowley as did Bamford as did Keane etc etc etc etc. f**k me the FAI have probably lost more youth players to England than Northern Ireland have to the South but it doesnt fit in with the apartheid crap GAWA like to spin nor does the likes of Gorman or Bruce going the other way and maybe even Scannell if the latest reports are to be believed.
O'Neill is getting grief because you would have thought with his background he might have had a little bit more understanding as to why some of these lads have a dilemma but no and as I said earlier how has he used his position to try and make the team more acceptable to all in Northern Ireland? anyone? the elephants in the room are all still there last time I checked. So if he wants to come up with clownish statements long time after the subject looked dead and buried then people are probably entitled to have a go at him.