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[NI poised to lose Devine and Ferguson to Republic]

Ah poor wittle nigel, no-one wants to take his calls!
Gurning aul shite. 


NI poised to lose Devine and Ferguson to Republic
Northern Ireland are set to see another two of their young players switching allegience to the Republic of Ireland.

NI boss Nigel Worthington has been informed that Preston North End defender Daniel Devine has opted to play for the Republic.

Worthington believes Shane Ferguson intends making the same move after the Newcastle United defender failed to reply to his calls.

A Fifa ruling allows N Ireland-born players to opt for the Republic.

Fifa rules include a clause allowing players to change nationality once before they play a senior competitive match if they were born "on the territory of the relevant association".

The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 provided for Northern Ireland-born people to claim either British or Irish nationality.

Darron Gibson, Shane Duffy, Marc Wilson, Daniel Kearns and Paul George have already made the move to the Republic.

There is a good production line here and to lose them is disappointing. Quote Nigel Worthington

Teenagers Devine and Ferguson, who played for the senior team in a friendly against Italy in 2009, have also represented Northern Ireland at youth level.

A disappointed Worthington wants further clarification on the eligibility ruling.

"It needs to be more black and white - to put all the indecision to bed once and for all," he said.

"It's frustrating and disappointing that a lot of time, energy, commitment and finance goes into these players over a period of years and then when they are 17, 18, 19 or even 20, there is the opportunity for them, because of the ruling, to vacate to another country.

"There is a good production line here and to lose them is disappointing.

"I've left voicemails, text messages and made random calls to Shane (Ferguson) but at no time did we get a reply."

So is the so called "Free State"          now the Proper Ireland  . This gets so confusing. What is it with people from the 6 counties (Gaoth Dobhair Abu is from Donegal so question not aimed at him) supporting the crowd they tell to "take it down from the mast Irish traitors"?

While I don't care about either team and would support a 32 county Irish cricket or hockey team ahead of either of them, you appear to wish to deny people a choice as to who they mostly feel in touch with. Would you like my Irish passport back as well? If so, gimme back all the taxes I've paid.

I'm sure this has been asked before but can someone from the South declare for the North?

Yes, but why would anyone want to.

I think it would be quite amusing if you were crap and could'nt get on the Ireland team to declare for the north.

I don't really think the "strength" of the south's team is anything to be boasting about either!

I think we're neutral in name only.

Perhaps that's part of the problem.

The Garden of Remembrance supposedly commemorates all those who fought for a 32 County Independent Republic. That has yet to be achieved. Hence having the British Head of State laying a wreath an having the British National Anthem played there is simply hypocritical.

It started off as a 26 county republic and then they added Fingal and Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown so on current trends it should be at 32 by 2040.

By which time, due to popular demand, yis will all be in the commonwealth

Even as a joke, what utter tripe to suggest.

Good man gallsman, you keep me right

I do love your pseudo-republicanism.

The Garden of Remembrance supposedly commemorates all those who fought for a 32 County Independent Republic. That has yet to be achieved. Hence having the British Head of State laying a wreath an having the British National Anthem played there is simply hypocritical.

It started off as a 26 county republic and then they added Fingal and Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown so on current trends it should be at 32 by 2040.

By which time, due to popular demand, yis will all be in the commonwealth

Even as a joke, what utter tripe to suggest.

Just like the Love Ulster riots five years ago, the images the world will see of Irish Republicanism will show a group of retards, a majority of whom I imagine rarely, if ever, encounter the slightest semblance of "British oppression". Hope the Gardaí batter every last one of them.

Will yiz be as upset about the disruption caused by Obama's visit?

Yes.

[it could be reasonably argued that getting into bed with Stalin was just as bad, could it not?]

Personally, I feel it morally reprehensible that any Government should seek to steer some sort of middle course between a democratic Allied coalition and the Third Reich. The fact that they were dependent upon the Allies for their own very survival makes it even worse.

While I largely agree with what you say and constantly laugh at MGHU's defence of anything any government of the 26 counties has done, it could be reasonably argued that getting into bed with Stalin was just as bad, could it not?

Except that when the UK and France etc declared war on Germany for invading their ally, Poland, in 1939, the USSR was not involved.

In fact, the USSR had not long signed a mutual Non-Agression Pact with Germany and so was neutral* at the outbreak of the war against the Nazis.

In fact, he Pact had been cynically negotiated for Hitler with a credulous Stalin, in order to buy Germany time whilst they built up their forces and dealt with Britain and France. As soon as he felt ready (1940), Hitler tore it up and launched Operation Barbarossa against the USSR, leaving a stunned Stalin to bring the USSR into the war.

At which turn of events, what would you say ther Allies should have done? Ask Stalin to stop fighting so as to keep their own cause unsullied? Or merely pretend that the USSR weren't actually in the war?



* - Just like the Irish Republic... 

Thanks for the history lesson.

How Machiavellian of you.

Personally, I feel it morally reprehensible that any Government should seek to steer some sort of middle course between a democratic Allied coalition and the Third Reich. The fact that they were dependent upon the Allies for their own very survival makes it even worse.

While I largely agree with what you say and constantly laugh at MGHU's defence of anything any government of the 26 counties has done, it could be reasonably argued that getting into bed with Stalin was just as bad, could it not?

Alright chaps,

I'm heading to Budapest in mid-august and then on to another city by train and then home from the second city. Can't decide where to go and was wondering if any of you have been to any of these places and could recommend them..

Belgrade - sounds fantastic but put off by having to fly to England and then another flight home (cost!)
Bratislava - I'm put off by stories I have heard about the place.
Ljubljana - anybody ever been here, whats it like?
Vienna - I'm not that fussed but perhaps its good?
Brno - sounds good but again have to fly home via Stansted.
Bucharest - bit of a jaunt by train but can fly home to Dublin.

Any advice, suggestions much appreciated!

Lads' piss up or with a missus?

Vienna is stunning, Bratislava is a kip.

Colleague in work says Belgrade is class for a piss up (practically giving the beer away it's that cheap) but a dive of a city. Considering it got the shit bombed out of it a little more than 10 years ago I don't think you could expect much more!

Another trophy won tonight, 3-1 win over Bolton in the Manchester senior cup final, full 90mins for Fletcher,Rafael.

The conveyor belt just keeps on rolling 

I hear this Darren Fletcher kid is the next up and coming young superstar ready to take Old Trafford by storm.

Does this mean I "merk'd" him?! I'm not quite sure what it means as I speak neither twat nor Peckham.

Another trophy won tonight, 3-1 win over Bolton in the Manchester senior cup final, full 90mins for Fletcher,Rafael.

The conveyor belt just keeps on rolling 

I hear this Darren Fletcher kid is the next up and coming young superstar ready to take Old Trafford by storm.

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/863137-blind-man-confused-over-mystery-enema

3 in a row not since that days of Johan Cruyff.

That was only 17 years ago that Cruyff won his fourth. Not really a big wait for a 3 in a row, especially with the rise of Deportivo and Valencia at the turn of the century.

Google doesn't really provide context, unless you dig a bit deeper on it.

Or, you could just be like me and know quite a bit about Spanish football.

I was referring to Google Central, Ross.

Ah, my apologies. I think ross knows more than I originally gave him credit for. Still doesn't talk any sense though.

Still think he is a WUM.

A WUM would be Liverpool fan that uses Chelsea/Arsenal club crests during the season! now google that bitch 

What exactly is he supposed to google?

I'd say he (minder) needs to google the term WUM.

Why would he do that seeing as ross just gave him a definition? Why explain something to someone and then tell them to google it?

3 in a row not since that days of Johan Cruyff.

That was only 17 years ago that Cruyff won his fourth. Not really a big wait for a 3 in a row, especially with the rise of Deportivo and Valencia at the turn of the century.

Google doesn't really provide context, unless you dig a bit deeper on it.

Or, you could just be like me and know quite a bit about Spanish football.

I was referring to Google Central, Ross.

Ah, my apologies. I think ross knows more than I originally gave him credit for. Still doesn't talk any sense though.

Still think he is a WUM.

A WUM would be Liverpool fan that uses Chelsea/Arsenal club crests during the season! now google that bitch 

What exactly is he supposed to google?

MGHU, I find your bluster any time anyone uses the term "Free State" be completely and utterly hypocritical You attempt to lecture people about technicalities over naming and constantly insist that as the 26 county state that occupies the majority of the island is named Éire in its constitution, the correct term in English is Ireland. You frequently refer to this constitution as some sort of vindication, conveniently ignoring the fact that when that constitution was written, the State unreservedly laid claim to the territory of the whole island of Ireland. That constitution, as you know, has been amended in this respect following the GFA.

So while your constitutional backing of the name "Ireland" for the 26 county state, this is as inaccurate as "Free State".

There was no name change to the country (state) in any ammendment of Bunreacht na hÉireann. The Irish Free State is a redundant term. Is it only people from the 6 counties that are allowed to get offended.

So what you're saying is you base the offence you take on a technicality of the Constitution. What was the name of the 26 counties pre-1998, whe the constitution laid claim to the entire island?

You are a pedant. A disgrace living up the history of the Fine Gael party in which you refuse to ever see any wrongdoing.