Spotlight on BBC 6 Counties tomorrow night

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

To be honest its a bit disappointing to hear players saying they'll play for the best team or the one that approaches them first. I understand why they all want to play international football to further their careers but it'd be nice to see some national pride. At 23 I think Mark McChrystal can't change to ROI anyway.

Disappointed that the FAI didn't go on camera and defend their position, especially considering they have a much stronger case than Howard Wells.

All in all, I didn't hear that much I didn't already know.

[Chrisowc]

Indeed it will. This issue cannot be investigated without looking at the reasons why young nationalists feel uncomfortable playing for NI, what role (if any) the history of blatant sectarianism within football in the north may have had in their decision, what role (if any) the IFA's insistence on GSTQ and the Ulster banner may have had in their decision etc. or it is just gloryhunting?

Gloryhunting it is then.

[magickingdom]

Indeed it will. This issue cannot be investigated without looking at the reasons why young nationalists feel uncomfortable playing for NI, what role (if any) the history of blatant sectarianism within football in the north may have had in their decision, what role (if any) the IFA's insistence on GSTQ and the Ulster banner may have had in their decision etc. or it is just gloryhunting?

Gloryhunting it is then.

get over it. and what would you call guys from the north who want to play for the roi but dont make it and then play for the north?

[Doogie Browser]

Very poor show I thought.
But was glad the likes of Felix Healy highlighted that the IFA did not actively pursue players from the north West when he was at Derry.  For years underage teams be they schoolboy, U19, U21 have systematically ignored people from the North West.
Its the old 'I want the better looking car' scenario the IFA seen the FAI attracting players they didn't even realise were eligible and then kicked up a fuss.  Your man Wells didn't even have an insight into the amount of people affected.  Although to be fair at least he faced the camera.

Eamon McCann - what a legend though eh?

[nifan]

Only caught the end of the show as i was playing football (scouts from neither NI or ROI present ) but it looked the same old.

The main point it knocked home to me is how much i dislike howard wells

[Chrisowc]

Indeed it will. This issue cannot be investigated without looking at the reasons why young nationalists feel uncomfortable playing for NI, what role (if any) the history of blatant sectarianism within football in the north may have had in their decision, what role (if any) the IFA's insistence on GSTQ and the Ulster banner may have had in their decision etc. or it is just gloryhunting?

Gloryhunting it is then.

get over it. and what would you call guys from the north who want to play for the roi but dont make it and then play for the north?

I was being flippant but that is more or less what it a lot of it boils down to.  That, and typical IFA incompetence.  I don't care who plays for 'the north' so long as he gives 100% for the shirt.

[Chrisowc]

Eamon McCann - what a legend though eh?

The type of people who wear suits and polish the buttons!

[Doogie Browser]

Eamon McCann - what a legend though eh?

The type of people who wear suits and polish the buttons!

The man is a walking soundbite, always entertaining.

[Solomon Kane]

[

There have been plenty of nationalists who have represented Northern Ireland at all sorts of activities. 

care to name one?

Eamonn Magee - Commonwealth games.

[Main Street]

get over it. and what would you call guys from the north who want to play for the roi but dont make it and then play for the north?

Failures?

[thejuice]

it is just gloryhunting?

Were talking about joining the ROI squad, you can rule glory-hunting out    ,we're not Brazil either you know

To quote myself from page 2,

[his holiness nb]

But re the "some of my best freinds are black" defence. Some of the OWC boys are the worst offenders here. I dont know how many times its been mentioned that guys go to games with nationalist, or catholic freinds to NI games.

You are falsely conflating about two different things when you compare Fearons "defence", with those OWC fans who point out that a number of NI fans come from a Catholic/Nationalist background.

Re. the former, Fearon consistently slates the IFA/NI team etc on the basis that they're "sectarian", "monocultural" etc and uses this as a basis for his criticism of anyone associated with them. However, with his reference to Gerry Armstrong, he revealed that he simply hates anyone connected with the team in an utterly unreasonable and prejudiced manner. Of course, having realised that he had let his mask slip, he attempted to retrieve the situation. First, he attempted to defend himself by pretending he only meant someone should "have a word with" Armstrong - a palpable lie. So next he came out with the amazing revelation about NI fans that he would, in fact, have them "about the house" - as if that somehow proves his liberal and tolerant credentials.

Whereas, with the latter, OWC fans only point to the small (but increasing) number of NI fans from a Catholic/Nationalist background who attend NI games in order to demonstrate what can only be a good thing - namely that they want the NI team to be open to all. Therefore, it is not a question of our being "offenders" like Fearon with something to "defend" or conceal - we are proud of it for its own sake.

And for the record, whilst it is still a minority and we still have our share of meatheads in our support, in each of the last four NI matches I personally have attended, home and away, it has been in mixed company.

Onwards and Upwards   

EG I get your point, and am not saying who is right or wrog here, as I have already give my opinion on that, but just pointing out that when Fearon points out how very few catholics go to games, out comes the OWC boys with reports of nationalist freinds being with them at the last game.

Note, I am NOT saying anyone is telling lies, just pointing out that you need to give the benefit of the doubt when these things are said. If you say you go to games with nationalists Nifan,  Ibelieve you, even though I have no way of proving it, and these reports do help the image some have of the OWC so some skeptical people might say its bullshit.

Same goes with Tony. He has come out with some shite on here, but that doesnt mean we should automatically dismiss it when he says he has OWC relations.

[spiritof91and94]

[

There have been plenty of nationalists who have represented Northern Ireland at all sorts of activities. 

care to name one?

Martin McGuinness....

[nifan]

hhn, Fearon has stated that he knows NO catholics who support NI.
He has also continually insulted and derided NI fans, and now he pulls out these 2 nephews. I wonder does he class them as the same as the NI fans he is so keen to attack in general.

[his holiness nb]

hhn, Fearon has stated that he knows NO catholics who support NI.
He has also continually insulted and derided NI fans, and now he pulls out these 2 nephews. I wonder does he class them as the same as the NI fans he is so keen to attack in general.

Ok you may have a point, but it was the whole "I have lots of black freinds" comment from EG that got me thinking.

It is possible however that the nephews are protestants of course. Jayus I hope they dont read this site!