Jamie Clarke,the GAA's answer to Stephen Ireland?

[No wides]

The great shame is the thousands (it seemed to me they matched the home support in terms of numbers) of Armagh fans in Cavan today do not get to see one of the best players in the County in a county jersey this year.

Most of these supporters would love or have loved to have had the talent to be selected for the county.They cannot fathom how players who have the talent spurn the opportunity.

You think he would have made a difference at half back?

[T Fearon]

If every county player does a Jamie where is Gaelic Football? There is no other logical argument than fielding without one of its best players inevitably weakens a team.

[BennyHarp]

If every county player does a Jamie where is Gaelic Football? There is no other logical argument than fielding without one of its best players inevitably weakens a team.

30 odd pages in and you seriously are scraping the barrel with your argument at this stage, Tony.

[From the Bunker]

Down the years we have had a litany of players who would not play for their County/Country. Effenberg, Ginola, Cantona, Keane (after Saipan for a while), Stephen Ireland, Duncan Ferguson, Giggs, Ribery, Paul Scholes, Nicky Joyce, Jimmy Barry Murphy (for the footballers), Larry Tompkins, Rory Gallagher. Life went on. People talked about the loss of such a player, about what could have been, about how wrong the player was. Nothing more annoys me that dwelling on such an issue! The player is gone he's gone, deal with it! Look to the lads who want to dedicate their time and effort. Forcing a player to come back into the fold can upset the team/group mindset and focus! Often the missing players value gets over-rated. This has happened with countless Dunphy rants. Average joes (playing in the Championship) not playing/picked for Ireland suddenly end up being Champions League standard players in the eyes of the public.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Mickey Harte said it best I'd say: "it's not about who you haven't, it's about who you have".

Such a fecking palava about feck all Tony, get a grip. 

[From the Bunker]

Mickey Harte said it best I'd say: "it's not about who you haven't, it's about who you have".

Such a fecking palava about feck all Tony, get a grip. 

Hammer on the table Sold to Fear ón Srath Bán

[T Fearon]

I doubt Mickey would have been so philosophical had Peter Canavan opted out in his prime.

[BennyHarp]

I doubt Mickey would have been so philosophical had Peter Canavan opted out in his prime.

I definitely don't remember Tyrone fans starting a vile thread like this when Steven O'Neill opted out and I don't remember Mickey being a anything other than diplomatic about his choice. 

[T Fearon]

He worked like a beaver to get him back for the AI Final though.Different scenario.O'Neill was in the twilight of his career,had delivered and owed his county nothing.

[BennyHarp]

He worked like a beaver to get him back for the AI Final though.Different scenario.O'Neill was in the twilight of his career,had delivered and owed his county nothing.

So what's the acceptable length of time before you don't "owe" your county anything?

By the way, O'Neill was still one of the best forwards in the country and as important to Tyrone at the time as Jamie is to Armagh. Stevie coming back for the final is irrelevant, had you been a Tyrone fan in 2008 (and thankfully you weren't) I suspect you would have had O'Neill hung, drawn and quartered as publicly as you could and maybe that sort of attitude from supporters on social media would have discouraged him from returning.

[T Fearon]

Totally different scenario.He was in the twilight of his career,and had delivered two All Irelands.Also this is not the first time Jamie has gone roaming.Also Jamie has not retired as O'Neill did,he is just not available at the moment,thus effectively trying to pick and choose when he decides to play.

[BennyHarp]

Totally different scenario.He was in the twilight of his career,and had delivered two All Irelands.Also this is not the first time Jamie has gone roaming.Also Jamie has not retired as O'Neill did,he is just not available at the moment,thus effectively trying to pick and choose when he decides to play.

It's not totally different Tony, O'Neill walked away at a time when he was probably in the top 5 forwards in the country and it was a big shock at the time. The difference is that no Tyrone fan, that I recall, attempted to assisinate his character on a public forum.

Also, are you saying if Jamie retired then you'd be happy enough? So all this whinging from you is just semantics on the  wording about his reason for leaving and what actually annoys you is that he is making a lifestyle choice which doesn't fit in with your own narrow mindset?

[T Fearon]

O Neill had given long years of unbroken service and had delivered.He was "retiring" not "taking time out" in the middle of his career.There is a world of difference.

[take_yer_points]

Totally different scenario.He was in the twilight of his career,and had delivered two All Irelands.Also this is not the first time Jamie has gone roaming.Also Jamie has not retired as O'Neill did,he is just not available at the moment,thus effectively trying to pick and choose when he decides to play.

It's not totally different Tony, O'Neill walked away at a time when he was probably in the top 5 forwards in the country and it was a big shock at the time. The difference is that no Tyrone fan, that I recall, attempted to assisinate his character on a public forum.

Also, are you saying if Jamie retired then you'd be happy enough? So all this whinging from you is just semantics on the  wording about his reason for leaving and what actually annoys you is that he is making a lifestyle choice which doesn't fit in with your own narrow mindset?

And he was only 27. If footballers are in the twilight of their career at 27 then Jamie Clarke at 26 must be hitting the twilight of his now too

[No wides]

This thread needs locked and deleted, disgusting trolling of a young man who just wants to live his life.