Ferguson...

If I was a young premier league player I would be asking for extra money not to play for my country - the club game is much bigger, and playing for your country is just not worth the grief.........

 

Under the good friday agreement anyone born in northern ireland can apply for a british or irish passport or both. If he has an irish passport then his birthplace is Ireland. So just because people are born in northen ireland doesnt automatically mean northern ireland is their birthplace. Im a catholic born in northern ireland with an irish passport that gives my birthplace as Ireland. Politics should never mix with football and I only wish we went the same way as the rugby team and had one team.

 

While I've got no problem with Ferguson (or any other player from Northern Ireland) being given the opportunity to play for the Republic I do think it's wrong that Ferguson has already been capped at senior international level for Northern Ireland, but because it was "only" a friendly he's free to turn around and say he now wants to play for the Republic.

I can understand the logic behind letting someone switch countries when they've been previously capped at under 18 level, but once your capped at senior level that should be that regardless of whether it's a friendly or not

 

"Sorry Nigel, my phone was on charge"

 

Silly post!

 

That's what I'm surprised at. This seems quite a political thing when really these lads would surely prefer to have the decision made for them. I imagine it has something to do with losing a vote on the FIFA council or whatever, but can you imagine how much stronger a united Ireland would be? I have friends in Ireland who don't understand why this is the case, as they feel all it has done is created a scramble between the two nations to get players signed up. It'll have nothing to do with politics or religion, it'll be purely selfish I'd imagine. Doesn't seem a healthy way and as you say there seemed a more obvious solution.

 

No

 

As a northern irish resident who takes no part in religion, I would still choose RoI, the days of Healy and Lawrie Sanches Green and White Army are dead. The days of beating England 1-0 at Windsor are dead. The days of beating Spain 3-0 at Windsor are dead. RoI have alot of decent players. Why would anyone want to play for the tripe that is our NI squad. Sick of watching them. Horrendous bunch of players who dont care at all.

 

I think we should leave Ferguson for another day and instead get behind Ireland tonight and tomorrow morning. I'm confident there will plenty joy this weekend and a big fat kiss for Slovakia to beat Russia tonight

 

i will be cheering on both ROI and Northern Ireland 2nite

 

And Scotland tomorrow?

 

Lets not go that far...

(In all seriousness I'm genuinely hoping for wins for all the home nations and our slightly less homely neighbours in Eire!)

Also, sorry in advance to Welshtoon - but its gotta be Ireland in the rugby (I've knee caps to think about)

 

****in right you do

In all honesty this quarter-final is making me sick with nervousness

 

Pardew has got to sit the lad down and talk about it. He's clearly having bother making the decision and would probably appreciate his manager helping him

 

good call! i reckon that would work wonders for the young lad. Its always good to represent a country but having your main manager helping you make your decision would work wonders and really give the lad the confidence boost he needs. theres a huge difference between NI and ROI teams. The atmosphere at Windsor Park on a good night is second to none but those good nights dont come along that often.

 

Wales can pick 11 PL regulars (incl. top players like Bale, Ramsey and Bellamy), can NI do the same? The only reason Wales have been poor for these qualifiers is they have had so many players missing. Bale, Ramsey and Bellamy have only appeared in the same team on 5 occasions for Wales!