Switching sides

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My thoughts are that you can't force people to play for NI if they see themselves as Irish, it's a question which will not go away and you have to respect people's personal preferences. I had a friend who was good enough to get into the NI youth team and he did so to raise his profile, but all the kids from my neighbourhood were ROI supporters growing up and that would have been his first preference if it was available.
 
N.I got Bruce as a swap though, must be a first in international football?

The only thing that I don't get is him playing U21 level for N.I, I think they should be told by a certain age they need to have made up their mind who they want to represent.

I can see them amending that part.
 
I have no real problem with a young lad wishing to play for the ROI. What I do object to, is that player going through the youth teams for NI and then suddenly declaring their allegation for the Republic. They knew all along that they wished to play for the Republic but only used NI to develop themselves. So very wrong. NI should be given compensation for every time it happens.
 
The U.S government send a cheque to Cuba for every year they occupy Guantanamo.
For all the players that declare for Ireland instead of the Regional representative side, you can just take it off the tab the British government owe us for 842 years of uninterrupted occupation<ok>

Or perhaps the IFA should compensate the FAI for availing of the services of players from the Nationalist community who only play for the regional representative side as a result of having our country partitioned?

just a thought.
 
RebelBhoy said:
The U.S government send a cheque to Cuba for every year they occupy Guantanamo.
For all the players that declare for Ireland instead of the Regional representative side, you can just take it off the tab the British government owe us for 842 years of uninterrupted occupation<ok>

Or perhaps the IFA should compensate the FAI for availing of the services of players from the Nationalist community who only play for the regional representative side as a result of having our country partitioned?

just a thought.
Click to expand...

<doh>
 
what is serious about it?
Irish men chose to represent Ireland. when that avenue becomes available to them, they avail of it.
No problem.
 
RebelBhoy said:
what is serious about it?
Irish men chose to represent Ireland. when that avenue becomes available to them, they avail of it.
No problem.
Click to expand...

That avenue is available to a lot of these guys long before they use NI as a stepping stone. I seriously doubt as to whether you would be stupid enough not to see that there is something wrong in there not being a cut off age for "switching sides." You are old enough to leave home and start working or Uni at 18 years of age and you are damn sure old enough to choose which international side to represent.

No problem with the switching but I do have a problem with the "stepping stone" approach.

Sorry for only posting now btw. Haven't visited this board in ages because I didn't think ANYONE did!
 
There is a cut off age for "switching sides". That age is when you are deemed good enough to play for Ireland in a competitive International, or conversely when you decide that you'll never get a full International cap.
 
Like I said before the problem is a player going through the youth teams for NI and then suddenly declaring their allegation for the Republic. They knew all along that they wished to play for the Republic but only used NI to develop themselves. Must stop.
 
So they should be denied coaching at a young age because they associate more with their national side?
 
merrysupersteve said:
No. They should seek their coaching from the national side that they associate themselves with though.
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A way around this would be for the FAI to set up camps in the north. That would eliminate the problem of kids going through the NI youth sides then changing when they are older. Would you be happy for this to happen? If not then your arguements are null and void to be honest.
 
To resolve this issue why not both Northern Ireland and the Republic agree to a formal agreement that a player must declare at 18 which country they wish to play for. No reason why the FAI dont set up a training facility here although logistically how hard would it be for any player to travel the short distance over the border (either way) to training if the relevant association paid basic expenses. Have to say though I personally think a player should only be able to play for an association if either he or one of his parents where born there. Not ideal for OWC with obviously limited talent pool but would do away with 'blow ins' who dont really care. Only an opinion! By the way just started going back to the NI games with the youngster after a big break away interesting that one my kids after one game said she wouldnt go back as it wasnt as exciting as the Irish League where we travel home and away following a local side. Does the lack of passion on the pitch come from a poor manager or lack of players who really care?
 
puteulanus olympus said:
To resolve this issue why not both Northern Ireland and the Republic agree to a formal agreement that a player must declare at 18 which country they wish to play for. No reason why the FAI dont set up a training facility here although logistically how hard would it be for any player to travel the short distance over the border (either way) to training if the relevant association paid basic expenses. Have to say though I personally think a player should only be able to play for an association if either he or one of his parents where born there. Not ideal for OWC with obviously limited talent pool but would do away with 'blow ins' who dont really care. Only an opinion! By the way just started going back to the NI games with the youngster after a big break away interesting that one my kids after one game said she wouldnt go back as it wasnt as exciting as the Irish League where we travel home and away following a local side. Does the lack of passion on the pitch come from a poor manager or lack of players who really care?
Click to expand...

I don't think there's a lack of passion but maybe a lack of confidence and a certain level of disillusionment with a manager who is determined to overload the team with defensive players, no matter how good or bad the opposition is. We have a limited pool of talent but not as limited as the tactics we adopt would suggest.

You aren't going to see an exciting game of football when you are set up to defend for your lives for 90 minutes, whilst offering zero threat at the other end. Sure, we won't concede many goals with the current tactics but would we actually pick up any less points if we were to go out and attempt to play a bit of football now and again? I don't think we would.

Worthless has described this as a must not lose game when in truth it is must win and everyone knows it. The manager will no doubt be delighted if we can play out another drab nil nil draw.
 
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