Absolutely spot on. Ridiculous statement Dave!! Wilshire was not being racist and to suggest he was is the way of utter madness.
I think perspective is necessary here - JW's 'opinion' holds little actual weight... it is simply one individual's take on something that effects him - directly. From an employment point of view, the more qualifying players, the more competition for places in the squad/team for wee JW. I'm guessing all the England supporters on here want to see the team do well - won't dream of speaking for the Aussies, Irish, Peruvians etc. - it's simply a question of how far we are prepared to accept the relaxing of the 'rules' to achieve success. I have absolutely no issue with 'foreigners' playing for England. Anyone who wants to call themselves 'English' by way of family connection or the length of time they have spent in the country is fine by me. Other teams have been doing it for years, and it's in the rules - until that changes it's just the way it is and I welcome it. JW's position is not particularly racist - but it is terribly clumsy and ill thought out, his response to KP about his 'talking about football not other sports' (a precis not a quote) clearly illustrates the shifting sands of international sport and the way that different sport's representatives are perceived by supporters. I sincerely doubt he is actually prejudiced on the basis of race, but if anything is a young man who appears to have thoughtlessly spoken out of turn (probably in response to a mischievous newspaper reporter's question) and is now, very likely, deeply regretting the hornets nest he has stirred up, but is unable to back down from his position. For what it's worth, I think that the rules are pretty good - if you emigrate/immigrate to another country and that becomes your home, fair do's... it allows for a change of nationality based on where you make your home and accommodates family breakdown, war, refugees and all the other terrible situations that befall individuals throughout the world - to my mind at least - it's in keeping with the more fluid global society we live in. Where it becomes problematic is when the rules are bent to facilitate a 'fast stream' or quickie naturalisation based on just the desire to win. Frankly that's just not cricket (or maybe it is?). I honestly think that this is far less of a problem that people who change their allegiance to their club - that I just don't get... nothing could persuade me to support any of the other (smaller) West London Clubs, nevertheless I'd be prepared for someone to chuck me a couple of million quid to test that particular theory!
From my point of view - Wiltshire is a kid still growing up and a lot to learn, very injury prone and will play less than 50 times for England. For example look at the England cricket team and players for England (kevin pietersen etc) - not too many sad faces when we won the ashes back in 2005 and have been turning the tables on the worlds greatest teams since....................
Another one not worth commenting on except to say that JW is an idiot! And if anyone cannot see the racial element in his comments (regardless of the fact that he probably didnt mean them) then they are also. Very badly thought out response IMHO. Still not seen anyobne describe what make you/ us English, because if i remember my history correctly, we are a mish mash of other conquering nations with a German figurehead, so how involving other countries is wrong, is beyond me. In the words of one of our other (not so often seen) posters "Its probably time for white people to stop telling black people what racism is"? - Direct quote ! Im mixed race, am i allowed to be English? then because if not I'll have my English flag tatto removed. Pro Im outta here on this one. good luck
For me it's simple. A player should only be allowed to play for the country that he/she was born in or that of his/her parents. No exceptions, no granny rule, no loopholes etc etc I'm not racist nor do I believe that JW comments were. There's no shame in loving your country and wanting to protect who plays or represents it. Otherwise let's just do away with international sport.
Thats the problem mate, a lot of people who come / go to England consider themselves English and fully commit to the country. Mo farah is the perfect example. Why should he not represent the country he grew up in and obviously loves? Id bet he's considers himself just as English as everyone here and lok at the amount of hard work he has put in to restore some pride in our nation? You cannot fault him for that!
Not sure mate, thought it said earlier in this thread that he came to England as a 3 or 8 year old.? But thats just 1 example. Im sure there are many more, and without spending time looking (whilst im at work) it was purely to illistrate a point?
Queens, the great thing about this forum is that we are all entitled to our opinion. I respect yours but I'm firm in mine. Nothing at all to do with race, colour, religion etc.
There's a point where it becomes a bit farcical though, no matter what the sport: Greg Rusedski, Tony Cascarino etc
We could make playing for England as difficult as it is to get into the country That way any **** in the world could represent us
Dead right re St George but I stand with my own experiences re the die hard fan English fans I knew ... England is for English people is the message I got from these people I knew and wouldn't stand for it when I mentioned we are just born here and have no rights on this land ... People are free to come and go as they please ... England's history IMO is something to be thoroughly ashamed of. We are two faced England and St George's flag one minute ... Andy Murray the next England for centuries have bent things to suit themselves. I went to a couple of matches away and sorry but the vein of nationalism I saw went far deeper than a game of football Every time I see a Vauxhall people carrier with those bloody little Red Cross flags flapping from the windows ... Driven by a overweight mother in a England shirt I want to throw up Jack From the Shire is a complete Pratt ... England and their fans are seriously the laughing stock of the world
