Magilton fumes over more North Defections

Lenny82 wrote: Give them back Gibson!

And Wilson!

Joking aside, this is a nothing story that people will try to make into one. Jim Magilton is currently being paid to be annoyed by this sort of thing. I am sure if he said something along the lines of ' I really don't blame them, I wish I played for them', there would be death threats to him and all sorts. It drags up the usual responses of 'if they changed their anthem and weren't followed by a shower of f**kers then they wouldn't have players changing' , is equally bollocks. McClean, Gibson and Wilson are just three lads from the IFA jurisdiction who have played for their country. I don't think it would make a difference if the anthem at Windsor was Maniac 2000 or the flag was a cock and balls. The FAI's ineptitude is also not relevant, as we will get these players no matter what. They might just find it harder to breakthrough if our association gets their house in order. The FAI's failures are irrelevant too, although the North might get more player like McGinn and McCourt if we have stronger squads.

PhilliyK wrote: Irish2011 wrote: I read an article in the Sunday Times the weekend by Paul Rowan where he wrote that 3 more North of Ireland players have switched to the Republic. The only one named was a Sheffield United youngster who's name escapes me. Jim Magilton was quoted in the article and is not a happy man. I don't know what Magilton expects with the North of Ireland's anthem, flags. etc. Stephen Mallon? He switched last summer ffs   Few lads from the north in Uniteds ranks, think only 2 or 3 Irish lads there at moment but could be wrong as not followed the academy sides as closely this year

Irish2011 wrote: Jicked wrote: Irish2011 wrote: Gary McKay wrote: Mick, Jim and the Coerver lads doing a fantastic job up there so naturally they're gonna be pissed.   Again the FAI relying on other countries to develop our players.   Other countries? These players have every right to play for us. If the North of Ireland's support were not so bigoted, they might keep these players.   Here Chief, not sure if you've done the CSPE junior cert yet, but if you're going to all that trouble to refer to them as the "North of Ireland", Gerry and the boyos don't like you calling it the Republic of Ireland. Best of luck on Friday.  I won't be voting Sinn Fein buddy, I can promise you that.

That's a shame.

You should.

No point in Magilton fuming, there's absolutely nothing he nor the IFA can do about it. Flags/anthems etc. are red herrings, the fact is that there is a large minority of people in the north who identify as solely Irish, and we will always be their team. No amount of pandering or moderation will change that, and rightly so. You can change the flags and banners, but at the end of the day it's still the Northern Ireland national team, and the likes of Gibson/Duffy/Wilson/McClean don't identify as "Northern Irish" so it won't make a damn bit of difference to them. They'll still choose us as they are perfectly entitled to.

We can all laugh at this.  But there will soon come the day when children of immigrants in Ireland declare for the country of their parents.  Kids who were born here, grow up here, possibly even trained and coached here but then choose to play for Nigeria or Poland.

newrynyuk wrote: We can all laugh at this.  But there will soon come the day when children of immigrants in Ireland declare for the country of their parents.  Kids who were born here, grow up here, possibly even trained and coached here but then choose to play for Nigeria or Poland.

newrynyuk wrote: We can all laugh at this.  But there will soon come the day when children of immigrants in Ireland declare for the country of their parents.  Kids who were born here, grow up here, possibly even trained and coached here but then choose to play for Nigeria or Poland.

great to see the perma rage from magilton

I'm thinking Rory and Ronan Hale