Players eligible for Ireland

No, we should be playing players that will bring us success and be professional in their performances for us. It's all very well and good saying we only want green-blooded, fervent nationalists playing for us, but that sentiment loses its attraction if you're getting a drubbing every match. There's no feeling like winning, and no one would give a toss about Liam Kelly's, Jack Grealish's, Mark Noble's etc national sentiments if they helped us get to a World Cup. Give me Mark Lawrenson over Paul McShane any bloody day of the week...

Edited by The O'Shea - 21 Mar 2018 at 1:49pm

horsebox wrote: We should only be playing players that genuinely want to play for us.

In rugby the lads who play here for a couple of years are eligible, with no family connection.

I'm sure playing internationally for Ireland would not have been on their minds 8 or 9 years ago, having never stepped foot in the country.

It doesn't take much for someone to "want" to play for us.

At the very least, we should be forcing as many borderline youngsters as possible into a situation where they have been capped, so if they play internationally its with us or nobody.

We don't have a massive amount of players to choose from, managers should be asking anybody and everybody available.

Get them capped and see where it goes from there. Better to have the bloody option though no? If application and desire is a problem down the line then don't call him up again. But at least we could have the choice.

The way it is done now is farcical. They are relying on the player to do the groundwork instead of them doing it. There's no point in getting on the high horse - if he is eligible in any way, extend the invitation.

Edited by E2016 - 21 Mar 2018 at 2:06pm

talking about 'forcing' players to play for us would create a squad that nobody would want to share a dressing room with or cheer on in a stadium.

Obviously they can reject the call. But at that age they are more likely to accept it.

The forcing part is them not being able to change after making that initial decision.

O neill say anything more on bamford our robinson over the last few days

The Huntacha wrote: Robinson in the process of getting his passport isn't he?

cause of brexit ya?

E2016 wrote: horsebox wrote: We should only be playing players that genuinely want to play for us. At the very least, we should be forcing as many borderline youngsters as possible into a situation where they have been capped, so if they play internationally its with us or nobody.

Luis Amor Rodriguez wrote: Jamal Lewis - highly rated 20 yo Norwich left back with Mam from Belfast:   https://www.balls.ie/football/norwich-youngster-northern-ireland-385632 In the North's senior squad along with Conor Hazard, a Celtic keeper on loan at Falkirk we've been hearing about for some time.  Is there any reason we've let these boys slip through the net?   I hope we're keeping tabs on these lads, as obviously they won't be committed to the North even if they play against South Korea.

Heard the lads Whyte and Sykes are another 2 top prospect and also Celtic fans.

Pity looks like we lost Hazaard.

Edited by dubstep - 22 Mar 2018 at 10:47pm