James McClean

theteal · 20-02-2012 1:06pm

MD1990 wrote: »

James Mc Clean @JMcC_23 absolutely buzzin and honoured to be called up to represent my country... best feeling there is #ROI

twitter is good for something afterall - my cup genuinely runeth over for the young lad

cgpg5 · 20-02-2012 1:06pm

Makes no difference he's probably 4th choice left winger in the squad anyway, shouldn't be the case but he is!

Raskolnikov · 20-02-2012 1:21pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Trap is a lazy manager who wont even attend a Premiership game.

That is just a blatant lie. Himself and Tardelli have watched several Premier League games, I believe they have watched McClean at least twice in person since the start of the year.

Paully D · 20-02-2012 1:26pm

Raskolnikov wrote: »

That is just a blatant lie. Himself and Tardelli have watched several Premier League games, I believe they have watched McClean at least twice in person since the start of the year.

True.

Him and Tardelli were at Chelsea V Sunderland and Tardelli was at Middlesbrough V Sunderland (where ironically McClean had his worst game for us by far). That's more than Capello did when he was England manager and Darren Bent was flying.

The thing that will appeal most to Trap about McClean is that he constantly works back. He's a fantastic winger to have in the sense that he can beat a man, but he's also a good defender. That's a luxury these days, usually you get someone who can beat a man or a bit of a clogger, rarely do you get both which is what McClean provides.

cgpg5 · 20-02-2012 1:38pm

This is all great and everything but barring injury McClean is not going to Poland/Ukraine, so there is no doubt that the Trap-bashers who are celebrating McClean's call up now will be out in force again come late May

ctrl-alt-delete · 20-02-2012 2:16pm

cgpg5 wrote: »

This is all great and everything but barring injury McClean is not going to Poland/Ukraine, so there is no doubt that the Trap-bashers who are celebrating McClean's call up now will be out in force again come late May

At least the lad will have spent some time with the squad, and that Trap will have a better look at him.

His only hope is injury, not many doubt that, but I'm happy Trap looks willing to prepare for that introducing a form player to the mix.

briany · 20-02-2012 3:30pm

Looking at his twitter, he's not shying away from giving it back to his detractors giving him stick over his choice to play for Ireland. Fair enough that he has give some back but I wouldn't want to be getting too entrenched in a dialogue either.

bizmark · 20-02-2012 4:02pm

briany wrote: »

Looking at his twitter, he's not shying away from giving it back to his detractors giving him stick over his choice to play for Ireland. Fair enough that he has give some back but I wouldn't want to be getting too entrenched in a dialogue either.

Dont blame him when people are calling him a rebel **** and hoping he breaks his leg tbh

briany · 20-02-2012 4:55pm

bizmark wrote: »

Dont blame him when people are calling him a rebel **** and hoping he breaks his leg tbh

Yeah but he doesn't want to get into a pointless hate match with the shower either. Best not to feed the trolls and maintain his dignity. Also, he doesn't need to entertain such thoughts with an important opportunity like this coming up.:)

bizmark · 20-02-2012 5:39pm

briany wrote: »

Yeah but he doesn't want to get into a pointless hate match with the shower either. Best not to feed the trolls and maintain his dignity. Also, he doesn't need to entertain such thoughts with an important opportunity like this coming up.:)

Thats true enough just i can see how it would be hard for a young fella to just ignore it when hes clearly quite proud and happy but your right

JP Liz V1 · 20-02-2012 6:51pm

Hope he has a great game and shows Trap why he should be going to the Euros congrats to him anyways

paddy kerins · 20-02-2012 7:33pm

Good to see him get the call up. Haven't really been able to see him too much this season but looks top notch in the games I have seen him in. Hopefully he'll actually get a run out

kevohmsford · 20-02-2012 7:39pm

Delighted he has been called up. There has been a lot of speculation that he would not be called up until World Cup qualification but he is playing so well for Sunderland at the moment.

the realpigiron · 20-02-2012 9:00pm

briany wrote: »

Yeah but he doesn't want to get into a pointless hate match with the shower either. Best not to feed the trolls and maintain his dignity. Also, he doesn't need to entertain such thoughts with an important opportunity like this coming up.:)

Someone should tell the lad to ignore the ****s. It shouldn't even be questioned if a player from the island of Ireland decides to play for the ROI team. There's a few characters in the North who need to get that into their heads, that Murray fella who works for the BBC among them. The existence of the NI soccer team is what should be under question.

Fenian Army · 20-02-2012 9:05pm

Hope he does well, as for unionists moaning about him switching, well, you reap what you sow.

briany · 20-02-2012 9:35pm

the realpigiron wrote: »

Someone should tell the lad to ignore the ****s. It shouldn't even be questioned if a player from the island of Ireland decides to play for the ROI team. There's a few characters in the North who need to get that into their heads, that Murray fella who works for the BBC among them. The existence of the NI soccer team is what should be under question.

Yeah, it's a bit of a catch 22 for the IFA in that I think they do have a right to feel hard done by, monetarily, if they put money into training a player from a young lad up to his teens at least only for him to declare for Ireland but what can they really do? Ask young children to pick their international allegiance on their first day of training with their under 10s team? Ask the parents to choose for them? Pull facilities and money away from predominantly nationalist/catholic areas? Strike a deal with the FAI? Ultimately any deal with the FAI would have to hinge on the fact that players from Northern Ireland are entitled to declare for ROI if they so wish as that right is given to them through Irish citizenship and it's not worth it to reopen old wounds and stir up a still contentious socio-political issue over something as ultimately trivial as football.

Rhys Essien · 20-02-2012 9:42pm

briany wrote: »

Yeah, it's a bit of a catch 22 for the IFA in that I think they do have a right to feel hard done by, monetarily, if they put money into training a player from a young lad up to his teens at least only for him to declare for Ireland but what can they really do? Ask young children to pick their international allegiance on their first day of training with their under 10s team? Ask the parents to choose for them? Pull facilities and money away from predominantly nationalist/catholic areas? Strike a deal with the FAI? Ultimately any deal with the FAI would have to hinge on the fact that players from Northern Ireland are entitled to declare for ROI if they so wish as that right is given to them through Irish citizenship and it's not worth it to reopen old wounds and stir up a still contentious socio-political issue over something as ultimately trivial as football.

As a peace offering,when Paul Green came knocking on the FAI's door with his Irish passport,he should have been told that Windsor Park is that way >>>>>>>>>>>>

ddogsbollix · 20-02-2012 9:52pm

every northern ireland player has the choice of playing for the republic and thats the way it should stay! Mc Clean is a fantastic player and it is in his right to play for the republic!! its such a shame that some people from the north will have a new opinion of him being a traitor. lets hope he has a great career!

POKERKING · 21-02-2012 9:56am

I am happy he is in but he prob wont get on the pitch in the friendly, trap has done similar with Coleman and Mccarthy.

Old Gill · 21-02-2012 10:35am

Shows the bigotry of large sections of the northenr support. Personally I think "Norn Iron" is a makey up country and no different to the likes of half of Leinster trying to field an international team. But thats only my opinion and I recognose that northern protestants believe the 6 counties is a "nation" and so no problem if they want a national football team. Live and let live I say. However its quite obvious the same feelings dont come the other way with the NI support demanding northern players play for a team they have no allegiance to, a "country" they dont recognise and a national anthem they abhore. Just live and let live and stop people trying to force their views onto others.

BTW I would also speculate that the "money invested" in under age players is minimal and most likely covered in grants from uefa anyway so to use this as an excuse is petty

citytillidie · 21-02-2012 10:47am

Old Gill wrote: »

Shows the bigotry of large sections of the northenr support. Personally I think "Norn Iron" is a makey up country and no different to the likes of half of Leinster trying to field an international team. But thats only my opinion and I recognose that northern protestants believe the 6 counties is a "nation" and so no problem if they want a national football team. Live and let live I say. However its quite obvious the same feelings dont come the other way with the NI support demanding northern players play for a team they have no allegiance to, a "country" they dont recognise and a national anthem they abhore. Just live and let live and stop people trying to force their views onto others.

BTW I would also speculate that the "money invested" in under age players is minimal and most likely covered in grants from uefa anyway so to use this as an excuse is petty

Well as I said before he went to school in the North so had to play school boy football in the North which is run by the IFA.

Its a bit like Ryan Giggs he went to School in England hence why he played for the England school boys.

Paul4As · 21-02-2012 10:59am

briany wrote: »

Looking at his twitter, he's not shying away from giving it back to his detractors giving him stick over his choice to play for Ireland. Fair enough that he has give some back but I wouldn't want to be getting too entrenched in a dialogue either.

McClean should just focus in on his playing on the field.
I haven't seen his twitter account...but if he is repeatedly replying to people who are giving him stick for leaving the Northernn Ireland set-up it shows a bit of immaturity on his part.

Paul4As · 21-02-2012 11:06am

Old Gill wrote: »

Shows the bigotry of large sections of the northenr support. Personally I think "Norn Iron" is a makey up country and no different to the likes of half of Leinster trying to field an international team. But thats only my opinion and I recognose that northern protestants believe the 6 counties is a "nation" and so no problem if they want a national football team. Live and let live I say. However its quite obvious the same feelings dont come the other way with the NI support demanding northern players play for a team they have no allegiance to, a "country" they dont recognise and a national anthem they abhore. Just live and let live and stop people trying to force their views onto others.

BTW I would also speculate that the "money invested" in under age players is minimal and most likely covered in grants from uefa anyway so to use this as an excuse is petty

I am certainly no bigot just because I support Northern Ireland. And I would say a large percentage of our support is not bigoted.
But there are bigots in Northern Ireland...some of which who support Norn Iron and others who support the Republic.
As for Northern Ireland is a "makey up country"...you are hilarious!

...and definitely seem to have a few issues with Irish history.
Hopefully the Northern Ireland football team does not resort to being composed of only protestants players and protestants fans. Sports should bring different people and communities together...not separate.

Fr Tod Umptious · 21-02-2012 11:17am

the realpigiron wrote: »

Someone should tell the lad to ignore the ****s. It shouldn't even be questioned if a player from the island of Ireland decides to play for the ROI team. There's a few characters in the North who need to get that into their heads, that Murray fella who works for the BBC among them. The existence of the NI soccer team is what should be under question.

If you read your history you will see that a team run by the IFA has just a much ligitmiacy as one run by the FAI.

Where there every to be a single Irish team (hopefully not) then Belfast would have a better claim to being it's headquarters than Dublin.

Rhys Essien · 21-02-2012 11:19am

Paul4As wrote: »

I am certainly no bigot just because I support Northern Ireland. And I would say a large percentage of our support is not bigoted.
But there are bigots in Northern Ireland...some of which who support Norn Iron and others who support the Republic.
As for Northern Ireland is a "makey up country"...you are hilarious! ...and definitely seem to have a few issues with Irish history.
Hopefully the Northern Ireland football team does not resort to being composed of only protestants players and protestants fans. Sports should bring different people and communities together...not separate.

For a start Northern Ireland need to get a national anthem.

Orando Broom · 21-02-2012 1:00pm

briany wrote: »

Yeah, it's a bit of a catch 22 for the IFA in that I think they do have a right to feel hard done by, monetarily, if they put money into training a player from a young lad up to his teens at least only for him to declare for Ireland but what can they really do? Ask young children to pick their international allegiance on their first day of training with their under 10s team? Ask the parents to choose for them? Pull facilities and money away from predominantly nationalist/catholic areas? Strike a deal with the FAI? Ultimately any deal with the FAI would have to hinge on the fact that players from Northern Ireland are entitled to declare for ROI if they so wish as that right is given to them through Irish citizenship and it's not worth it to reopen old wounds and stir up a still contentious socio-political issue over something as ultimately trivial as football.

How much did the IFA directly spend on James McLean's development out of curiousity?

Orando Broom · 21-02-2012 1:08pm

Rhys Essien wrote: »

For a start Northern Ireland need to get a national anthem.

OWC needs to be black listed from all IFA sanctioned events for starters. One look at their website shows where thier loyalties lie.

Look to be honest I hope the IFA and OWC and every other Northern Irish football entity stay entrenched in their beliefs. They operate for the betterment of Irish soccer. It is only a matter of time before they players are moving to play for Ireland irrespective of their religious background. The IFA and all it's associations will be the vestigal tail of Irish football within twenty years.

Paul4As · 21-02-2012 1:46pm

Orando Broom wrote: »

OWC needs to be black listed from all IFA sanctioned events for starters. One look at their website shows where thier loyalties lie.

Look to be honest I hope the IFA and OWC and every other Northern Irish football entity stay entrenched in their beliefs. They operate for the betterment of Irish soccer. It is only a matter of time before they players are moving to play for Ireland irrespective of their religious background. The IFA and all it's associations will be the vestigal tail of Irish football within twenty years.

The OurWeeCountry website has the Red Hand of Ulster centre to their homepage. That is the flag flown at Northern Ireland games. There is nothing wrong with that! What do you want a tri-colour?

As I have said before...players play for their country not to look for success...it is to represent the country they were born or their family have roots. That fact will never change.
Club football is about playing for a team that wins all the time or who pays you the more money.
The IFA will still be present and functioning perfectly well in 20 years time. We may still have a pretty poor team...but we will still be there...probably still talked about with venom by people like you.

Concentrate on your own international team and your own organisation which interferes with our kids...and stop abusing the GAWA!

aidan24326 · 21-02-2012 2:31pm

Rhys Essien wrote: »

As a peace offering,when Paul Green came knocking on the FAI's door with his Irish passport,he should have been told that Windsor Park is that way >>>>>>>>>>>>

Paul Green is not from Northern Ireland. Anyway he's one of the worst players to ever pull on an Irish jersey so the North can have him if they want.

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Where there every to be a single Irish team (hopefully not) then Belfast would have a better claim to being it's headquarters than Dublin.

And why would that be now? Methinks you are just trolling with that statement.

briany · 21-02-2012 2:41pm

Paul4As wrote: »

The OurWeeCountry website has the Red Hand of Ulster centre to their homepage. That is the flag flown at Northern Ireland games. There is nothing wrong with that! What do you want a tri-colour?
As I have said before...players play for their country not to look for success...it is to represent the country they were born or their family have roots. That fact will never change.
Club football is about playing for a team that wins all the time or who pays you the more money.
The IFA will still be present and functioning perfectly well in 20 years time. We may still have a pretty poor team...but we will still be there...probably still talked about with venom by people like you.
Concentrate on your own international team and your own organisation which interferes with our kids...and stop abusing the GAWA!

I think it's better to have the Red Hand than a Union Jack but it's a perfectly valid for football fans there to wave that flag if they feel that represents them as it would be for others to wave the ROI flag. However, I believe neither should be flown in an official capacity because they would both serve to undermine the attempts to fashion a cross community team and ideally could be left out of occasions where both sets of fans come together.

I don't know what's in McClean's heart, and I don't think anyone but those close to him could. If it's a cynical thing, that he just wants to go with the team that's doing better then I don't agree with it. No international team really wants those kinds of players even if they need them but if it's out of a true sense of affiliation then he has every right to declare for Ireland and I will always view it as a perfectly valid thing to do so. Trying to keep people apart is often what drives them together and so it is for the IFA in that rather than trying to block players from switching, rather than trying to deny them that, they should be showing or attempting to show players at every level in their system and from all communities why it is better to go with NI in the first place and providing every impetus they can to make that so.

James McClean

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