Nations League

[Blowitupref]

Ronaldo has left the Portuguese squad after he sat on the bench for the last nations league game and was apparently told he would be on the bench again for tomorrow's game.

In a Trump like style/statement he said.

"In due time, I will tell all Portuguese people the truth about the reasons that led to my departure from the national team, to which I have always dedicated myself".

Is that him retired now?

Can imagine so at international level. Won't retire altogether until he scores 1000 goals on 979 at the moment.

[weareros]

North 2 up away to Ukraine with 29 mins gone.
3 up now.
Average age i heard on BBC 2 commentary of team is 22. Michael Bloodline O'Neill must be doing something right.
Had the luxury of giving Céadach O'Neill his 4th cap, ensuring his future is bowing to GSTK.

[Tony Baloney]

North 2 up away to Ukraine with 29 mins gone.
3 up now.
Average age i heard on BBC 2 commentary of team is 22. Michael Bloodline O'Neill must be doing something right.
Had the luxury of giving Céadach O'Neill his 4th cap, ensuring his future is bowing to GSTK.

Article on the BBC News website this week about their academy structures. They run some sort of camp via Campbell College. Like them or loathe them they are doing something right. The more successful they are the more likely it is that ambitious parents from a nationalist background will encourage them to stay with OWC.

Aforementioned article https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/crpd0ww7z7n9o

[Walter Cronc]

North 2 up away to Ukraine with 29 mins gone.
3 up now.
Average age i heard on BBC 2 commentary of team is 22. Michael Bloodline O'Neill must be doing something right.
Had the luxury of giving Céadach O'Neill his 4th cap, ensuring his future is bowing to GSTK.

Article on the BBC News website this week about their academy structures. They run some sort of camp via Campbell College. Like them or loathe them they are doing something right. The more successful they are the more likely it is that ambitious parents from a nationalist background will encourage them to stay with OWC.

There's no question that the immense S&C at underage GAA is providing ready made athletes for professional soccer.

Correct me if I'm wrong but is another major advantage NI has that if that say a nationalist lad utilises their right to a British passport - they can go to England at 16, whereas if they've an Irish passport they have to wait to 18? Are the brexit rules based on where you are born or nationality?

[Baile Brigín 2]

North 2 up away to Ukraine with 29 mins gone.
3 up now.
Average age i heard on BBC 2 commentary of team is 22. Michael Bloodline O'Neill must be doing something right.
Had the luxury of giving Céadach O'Neill his 4th cap, ensuring his future is bowing to GSTK.

Article on the BBC News website this week about their academy structures. They run some sort of camp via Campbell College. Like them or loathe them they are doing something right. The more successful they are the more likely it is that ambitious parents from a nationalist background will encourage them to stay with OWC.

There's no question that the immense S&C at underage GAA is providing ready made athletes for professional soccer.

Is this nonsense still believed?

[weareros]

North 2 up away to Ukraine with 29 mins gone.
3 up now.
Average age i heard on BBC 2 commentary of team is 22. Michael Bloodline O'Neill must be doing something right.
Had the luxury of giving Céadach O'Neill his 4th cap, ensuring his future is bowing to GSTK.

Article on the BBC News website this week about their academy structures. They run some sort of camp via Campbell College. Like them or loathe them they are doing something right. The more successful they are the more likely it is that ambitious parents from a nationalist background will encourage them to stay with OWC.

There's no question that the immense S&C at underage GAA is providing ready made athletes for professional soccer.

Is this nonsense still believed?

Why would it be nonsense? Pat Jennings, Martin O'Neill and Gerry Armstrong all credited their GAA background to their soccer success. GAA builds athletes from a young age, long before they do an 8 week course at an academy during their teens. I saw the bit about the JD Academy during BBC's half time break and one thing that was noticeable was the time Michael O'Neill invests in young players. I doubt that happens in the FAI setup, where our senior manager is invested like that. Irish manager never even saw Céadach play. It's why Conor Bradley and Céadach O'Neill were already set to play for North before an FAI administrator is approaching them too late. An administrator is always going to pale in comparison to a senior manager and as for the personalities of some of the underage managers trying to win a lad over. Goodnight Irene.

[trileacman]

North 2 up away to Ukraine with 29 mins gone.
3 up now.
Average age i heard on BBC 2 commentary of team is 22. Michael Bloodline O'Neill must be doing something right.
Had the luxury of giving Céadach O'Neill his 4th cap, ensuring his future is bowing to GSTK.

Article on the BBC News website this week about their academy structures. They run some sort of camp via Campbell College. Like them or loathe them they are doing something right. The more successful they are the more likely it is that ambitious parents from a nationalist background will encourage them to stay with OWC.

There's no question that the immense S&C at underage GAA is providing ready made athletes for professional soccer.

Correct me if I'm wrong but is another major advantage NI has that if that say a nationalist lad utilises their right to a British passport - they can go to England at 16, whereas if they've an Irish passport they have to wait to 18? Are the brexit rules based on where you are born or nationality?

If that were true the ROI soccer lads would be alot better than they are. The really striking thing is the amount of UK-born players (from both backgrounds) in the NI team. Devenney, both Charles boys and a few others are all mainland born and raised.

[trileacman]

Just did a double check there and of the 11 players who started against Ukraine only 5 grew up in NI. They really trawl the UK system for talent very successfully. Shea Charles in particular is a great find and surprisingly played underage for NI when you would have thought he could have possibly been on England's radar.

[Baile Brigín 2]

North 2 up away to Ukraine with 29 mins gone.
3 up now.
Average age i heard on BBC 2 commentary of team is 22. Michael Bloodline O'Neill must be doing something right.
Had the luxury of giving Céadach O'Neill his 4th cap, ensuring his future is bowing to GSTK.

Article on the BBC News website this week about their academy structures. They run some sort of camp via Campbell College. Like them or loathe them they are doing something right. The more successful they are the more likely it is that ambitious parents from a nationalist background will encourage them to stay with OWC.

There's no question that the immense S&C at underage GAA is providing ready made athletes for professional soccer.

Is this nonsense still believed?

Why would it be nonsense? Pat Jennings, Martin O'Neill and Gerry Armstrong all credited their GAA background to their soccer success. GAA builds athletes from a young age, long before they do an 8 week course at an academy during their teens. I saw the bit about the JD Academy during BBC's half time break and one thing that was noticeable was the time Michael O'Neill invests in young players. I doubt that happens in the FAI setup, where our senior manager is invested like that. Irish manager never even saw Céadach play. It's why Conor Bradley and Céadach O'Neill were already set to play for North before an FAI administrator is approaching them too late. An administrator is always going to pale in comparison to a senior manager and as for the personalities of some of the underage managers trying to win a lad over. Goodnight Irene.

The notion that the GAA condition soccer players better than soccer do for soccer is bonkers.

Playing multiple sports before specialising makes you a better sports person. Gaelic games isn't particularly unique in that.

I have no idea what the rest of your post is about - the FAI are light years ahead of the IFA in terms of youth development. I understand about 5 of the OWC squad are domestically produced. 5 of the current Irish squad aren't.

But in general have we not moved on from the idea of 'claiming' any soccer player who at one point also played gaelic games as GAA property? Caedach O'Neill gave up football at 14 to concentrate on soccer and was nowhere near county level. How much of his development are you claiming?

[gallsman]

all mainland born and raised.

Careful now, Marty will be demanding your nationalism membership card is revoked.

[Walter Cronc]

North 2 up away to Ukraine with 29 mins gone.
3 up now.
Average age i heard on BBC 2 commentary of team is 22. Michael Bloodline O'Neill must be doing something right.
Had the luxury of giving Céadach O'Neill his 4th cap, ensuring his future is bowing to GSTK.

Article on the BBC News website this week about their academy structures. They run some sort of camp via Campbell College. Like them or loathe them they are doing something right. The more successful they are the more likely it is that ambitious parents from a nationalist background will encourage them to stay with OWC.

There's no question that the immense S&C at underage GAA is providing ready made athletes for professional soccer.

Is this nonsense still believed?

Why would it be nonsense? Pat Jennings, Martin O'Neill and Gerry Armstrong all credited their GAA background to their soccer success. GAA builds athletes from a young age, long before they do an 8 week course at an academy during their teens. I saw the bit about the JD Academy during BBC's half time break and one thing that was noticeable was the time Michael O'Neill invests in young players. I doubt that happens in the FAI setup, where our senior manager is invested like that. Irish manager never even saw Céadach play. It's why Conor Bradley and Céadach O'Neill were already set to play for North before an FAI administrator is approaching them too late. An administrator is always going to pale in comparison to a senior manager and as for the personalities of some of the underage managers trying to win a lad over. Goodnight Irene.

The notion that the GAA condition soccer players better than soccer do for soccer is bonkers.

Playing multiple sports before specialising makes you a better sports person. Gaelic games isn't particularly unique in that.

I have no idea what the rest of your post is about - the FAI are light years ahead of the IFA in terms of youth development. I understand about 5 of the OWC squad are domestically produced. 5 of the current Irish squad aren't.

But in general have we not moved on from the idea of 'claiming' any soccer player who at one point also played gaelic games as GAA property? Caedach O'Neill gave up football at 14 to concentrate on soccer and was nowhere near county level. How much of his development are you claiming?

Light years ahead?? Based on what?

Another question - would the FAI be allowed to have something similar to the JD academy and exclusively for northern players? Say based in Derry, West Belfast or Newry?

[trileacman]

North 2 up away to Ukraine with 29 mins gone.
3 up now.
Average age i heard on BBC 2 commentary of team is 22. Michael Bloodline O'Neill must be doing something right.
Had the luxury of giving Céadach O'Neill his 4th cap, ensuring his future is bowing to GSTK.

Article on the BBC News website this week about their academy structures. They run some sort of camp via Campbell College. Like them or loathe them they are doing something right. The more successful they are the more likely it is that ambitious parents from a nationalist background will encourage them to stay with OWC.

There's no question that the immense S&C at underage GAA is providing ready made athletes for professional soccer.

Is this nonsense still believed?

Why would it be nonsense? Pat Jennings, Martin O'Neill and Gerry Armstrong all credited their GAA background to their soccer success. GAA builds athletes from a young age, long before they do an 8 week course at an academy during their teens. I saw the bit about the JD Academy during BBC's half time break and one thing that was noticeable was the time Michael O'Neill invests in young players. I doubt that happens in the FAI setup, where our senior manager is invested like that. Irish manager never even saw Céadach play. It's why Conor Bradley and Céadach O'Neill were already set to play for North before an FAI administrator is approaching them too late. An administrator is always going to pale in comparison to a senior manager and as for the personalities of some of the underage managers trying to win a lad over. Goodnight Irene.

The notion that the GAA condition soccer players better than soccer do for soccer is bonkers.

Playing multiple sports before specialising makes you a better sports person. Gaelic games isn't particularly unique in that.

I have no idea what the rest of your post is about - the FAI are light years ahead of the IFA in terms of youth development. I understand about 5 of the OWC squad are domestically produced. 5 of the current Irish squad aren't.

But in general have we not moved on from the idea of 'claiming' any soccer player who at one point also played gaelic games as GAA property? Caedach O'Neill gave up football at 14 to concentrate on soccer and was nowhere near county level. How much of his development are you claiming?

Light years ahead?? Based on what?

Another question - would the FAI be allowed to have something similar to the JD academy and exclusively for northern players? Say based in Derry, West Belfast or Newry?

Possibly but they don't have the cash to run an operation like that. Also without competition matches it's kind of pointless. The whole point of your u15/17 is to develop them by playing other teams. I can't see UEFA allowing the FAI to run 2 underage squads.

[trileacman]

all mainland born and raised.

Careful now, Marty will be demanding your nationalism membership card is revoked.

I'd say I'm safe enough. His head probably melted at the multiple mentions of Northern Ireland.

[Milltown Row2]

all mainland born and raised.

Careful now, Marty will be demanding your nationalism membership card is revoked.

I'd say I'm safe enough. His head probably melted at the multiple mentions of Northern Ireland.

f**king alliance voter!!

[marty34]

all mainland born and raised.

Careful now, Marty will be demanding your nationalism membership card is revoked.

I'd say I'm safe enough. His head probably melted at the multiple mentions of Northern Ireland.

Good to educate a few on this board.


Tá gach lá ina lá scoile - everyday's a school day.