Harry Arter

Of course it has an effect, but coming up with as an excuse and making him above criticism because of it is just plain wrong. If Harry Arter needed some time off from football I am sure he would have said but he went to a warm weather training camp with his club, Bournemouth didn't just go there for team bonding alone; it was his job.

He didn't spend extra time with his family, nobody would have begrudged them if he did, but he didn't! He has spoken magnificently on the subject and I am sure he is helping others, if he needed time I am sure he would have taken it, explained why and all bar the usual twitter cranks would have accepted it.

The doubts about his commitment started before his tragedy in December 2015 too. 

I think this is around the fourth time he is pulled out of a squad and subsequently appeared for his club, which may just be coincidental, of course, but the fact remains that nobody knew of his absence for Wales until a social media post was picked up in the media. We still have had no clarification as to why he missed those games, something which, in this day and age, is incredibly unusual. MON outlined the reasons behind all other absentees to the media with lip service paid to Arter.

We don't know of anyone's personal life or how anybody is coping. There was little, and still is little, sympathy for Steven Ireland even though not that that lad's head was all over the place, even before his missus miscarried, it is no coincidence that the best form of his career coincided with Sven getting him to see a psychiatrist, I don't see how the rules should be different for Arter. There has been and will be doubts over his commitment, they will probably continue until he plays more than 2 games in a row. He won't be the first or last either,  as international football slips down the list of priorities.

Jesus - I can't believe I have to keep repeating myself. 

First of all, do you know Harry Arter? Because I certainly don't but from reading that story and where he was born etc I would highly doubt any of his best mates are in the Republic of Ireland squad. Your post says it all - "a group of footballers".

He has been at Bournemouth since 2010. And reading his story his "best mates" were the ones that helped him through the tragedy, the same lads that would have been on that trip. No offence to the Irish boys but I know who I would prefer to chill with. 

All I could manage? The facts are there - if he is fit he plays. Where is the evidence that he is a bunk or not committed. Just because loudmouth knowitalls on here think they know everything about a persons private life. 

I think people need to relax a small bit. If MON / Keane didn't fancy him or had question marks over his commitment he would be out the gap. In fact the rest of the players wouldn't want him near the set up. Get a grip.