Off Topic Martin Samuel ... what a ****head

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
But that's the historically inherited English way of thinking isn't it, that they own anything and everything that the empire or colonials touched once, hundreds of years ago. If you look at an image of the earth there aren't any borders or lines drawn on it, and no names printed on the different territories and land masses.

I too have dreams of world domination
 
  • Like
Reactions: saintanton
Being mod of this place has been the first step on the ladder for a fair few emperors and dictators. <ok>

That's right, I was given North Korea after my first stint as mod, things went a bit wrong though so I came back for a while but now I'm the Grand Overseer of Guatemala, my plan to abduct RHC's daughter was recently foiled but I have other plans.
 
That's right, I was given North Korea after my first stint as mod, things went a bit wrong though so I came back for a while but now I'm the Grand Overseer of Guatemala, my plan to abduct RHC's daughter was recently foiled but I have other plans.

The reaction to the news Luv il jong was leaving North Korea
You must log in or register to see images


You must log in or register to see images
 
  • Like
Reactions: luvgonzo
The choice will be his, Samuels has no influence on the matter.
Exactly. The lad will know 'what he is' in terms of his heritage and whether he considers himself English or Irish and he therefore needs to go with his heart.

Samuel is a fat mess anyway, who is the Chief Sports writer for the paper that prints the most jarg stories aside from the ****ing Metro, his relevance is diddly squat.
 
I know that but im actually talking about the rule change Samuels is advocating not that the lad or anybody should take notice of fatty like.

again, he has no say in rule changes and seems to have you wound up. Just take him with a pinch of salt buddy
 
So Ireland have a scout to look for Players who could qualify to play via grandparents etc?

He was picked at u15 level for England but was unable to play
 
I've now read the actual piece;

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ar...llow-Jack-Grealish-play-Republic-Ireland.html

and in fairness he makes a decent point there and it's a balanced argument

He's an English hack putting his opinion on the subject in an English rag, if you look at it from both sides you'll see that hash also has a balanced argument.

As hash, you, pjs and others have said its down to the lad himself to choose, but Samuel taking the moral highground on the birthplace of players is pure horse manure.
Its never stopped England when choosing overseas born players for footy, cricket, athletics or boxing.

Eoin Morgan(England cricket's captain)was born in Dublin and is Irish.

[HASHTAG]#doesmartinsamuellknowthis[/HASHTAG]
 
He's an English hack putting his opinion on the subject in an English rag, if you look at it from both sides you'll see that hash also has a balanced argument.

As hash, you, pjs and others have said its down to the lad himself to choose, but Samuel taking the moral highground on the birthplace of players is pure horse manure.
Its never stopped England when choosing overseas born players for footy, cricket, athletics or boxing.

Eoin Morgan(England cricket's captain)was born in Dublin and is Irish.

[HASHTAG]#doesmartinsamuellknowthis[/HASHTAG]
He's not made a balanced argument at all, in fact he's mis-represented what Samuels actually said!

By balanced, I mean he's viewed it from both sides, try reading it......

The rules were intended to help those without a choice — unable to play for their country of birth, but good enough to represent that of their ancestors. Andy Townsend, born in Maidstone, wasn't regarded highly by those in charge of England but was considered good enough to play for Ireland 70 times, through his Irish grandmother. Good luck to him — England's loss was Ireland's gain.

But Grealish's situation isn't like that. The rules as applied in his case do not combat the absence of choice, they offer more choice, where none is necessary.

Grealish would have long been around the England age group teams by now. He would certainly be in next season's Under 21 team, if he wasn't already heading to the European Under 21 Championship in the summer or to the Toulon Under 20 tournament.

So while Ireland haven't broken any rules, they are certainly making the most of them. Their last Under 21 squad — which did not include Grealish — was made up of 21 players, 11 of whom were not born in Ireland. That cannot be right. It is not fair on those within Ireland's club youth system. It is time for change.


As the planet shrinks more players will have these options.

So is it right that a national association operates as clubs do, recruiting the best young players in what is increasingly a free market. How long before there are secret inducements, promises, before agents are involved?

What if a sharp figure with good connections said he could 'get' Grealish for England, that he had the ear of the player and his family, but would want his expenses covered and maybe a bit extra? Far-fetched? Today's era of the super-agents would also have seemed that way had it been described to those who fought for the abolition of the maximum wage in the 1960s.

For who will benefit, long term, if not the wealthiest associations? Ireland may win over Grealish but imagine the howls if the positions were reversed: if the FA stepped in to entice a young Irish footballer, with a Brummie grandfather, to switch sides?
 
If the lad chooses Ireland he'll have a better chance of playing far more games, unless he suddenly becomes a sought after superstar that plays for England for years.

I know which of the above is the better option for the lad but he'll probably do the opposite.