Shane Ferguson being spoken to by FAI

darkman2

Republic in move for Northern Ireland's Shane Ferguson
Saturday, 30 April 2011




The Republic of Ireland last night confirmed that they want to make Shane Ferguson the next Northern Ireland-born player to switch allegiance to the south.

Ferguson, who hails from Londonderry, has already played at senior level for the country of his birth, coming on as a substitute in a 3-0 defeat to Italy in June 2009.

But that game was not a competitive international — and it means that the 19-year-old Newcastle United midfielder can still declare for the Republic.

Yesterday Don Givens, who heads up the Republic's scouting network, admitted that the FAI had been in contact with Ferguson but would not be drawn on how far down the line negotiations were. The move, predicted by the Belfast Telegraph last month, is sure to rile the Irish FA, who are still reeling from the recent about-turn by Adam Barton.

The Preston midfielder played in a friendly game for Nigel Worthington’s men against Morocco last November, but has since thrown his lot in with the Republic of Ireland and has turned out for their under-21 team.

Two years ago FIFA decreed that under the Good Friday Agreement if a player eligible for Northern Ireland has an Irish passport he can play for the Republic.

The FAI have taken full advantage of that ruling with Darron Gibson, Shane Duffy, Marc Wilson, Daniel Kearns and Paul George making the move. Now Ferguson, who turns 20 in June, looks likely to be the latest to switch sides

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/republic-in-move-for-northern-irelands-shane-ferguson-15149212.html#ixzz1L3BnUN8U


Don Givens apparently made these rather insensitive comments at a press conference

“Shane is still kind of making his mind up but Mick Martin has spoken to him,”
Givens told journalists.

“I’m sure the North are not too happy with us. They have a small pool of players but in the long run, the less good results they get the more the dual players will want to come to us.”

Paully D

Haven't seen much of him but watched him play a fair amount of Newcastle's 4-0 defeat to Stoke and he was very good. Highly rated at Newcastle too, so hopefully we can get him tied down.

Limerick Dude

Has played a few premiership games for Newcastle this season, and i think every game we had in the Carling Cup.

Looks to be a very promising player, originally a left winger but is deployed at left back this season.
Has a fair bit of skill, and he rounds players quite often.

Good news.

bobbysands81

Great to see another promising young player opting for the Republic.

lordgoat

bobbysands81 wrote: »

Great to see another promising young player hedging their bets on the Republic of Ireland soccer team.

fyp

bobbysands81

lordgoat wrote: »

FTP

Touché.

That_Guy

Good prospect. Very nearly scored the goal of the season against Stoke too. I'd imagine he'd play at left back myself.

Surely Kilbane has got to be dropped at some point.

super_furry

Ugh. Whatever about kids who change their minds, there something that really doesn't sit right about poaching senior internationals.

doomed

Unseemly poaching by FAI. On the plus side if a young player has come into contact with Don Givens and still wants to play for us then he must be genuine.

Pauleta

Limerick Dude wrote: »

Has played a few premiership games for Newcastle this season, and i think every game we had in the Carling Cup.

Looks to be a very promising player, originally a left winger but is deployed at left back this season.
Has a fair bit of skill, and he rounds players quite often.

Good news.

Reminds me of a young Kevin Kilbane :cool:

Guy:Incognito

Jesus, I hadnt realised you can switch even after playign senior friendlies at this stage. We may as well go the final step and just let players pick whoever they want to play for at any stage of their career.We could buy ourselves a decent international side.

Nalz

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Jesus, I hadnt realised you can switch even after playign senior friendlies at this stage. We may as well go the final step and just let players pick whoever they want to play for at any stage of their career.We could buy ourselves a decent international side.

Where were you for the whole James McCarthy fiasco?

yabadabado

he looks a decent prospect and if Enrique leaves in the summer he will most likely be 1st choice LB next season.

Predalien

If they are going to continue with this policy they should really be keeping a low profile doing it, part of that should be telling Don Givens to keep his gob shut.

yabadabado

Predalien wrote: »

If they are going to continue with this policy they should really be keeping a low profile doing it, part of that should be telling Don Givens to keep his gob shut.

Part of it should be telling Don Givens to **** off.

3hn2givr7mx1sc

It doesn't feel right to be taking him after he has already played senior for them.

_blank_

baz2009 wrote: »

It doesn't feel right to be taking him after he has already played senior for them.

He couldn't have already played senior for them.

stumpypeeps

All citizens of Northern Ireland have a right to an Irish passport?

I assume Ferguson comes from a nationalist background, having begun his career at Derry city, he has as much right to play for the Rep of Ireland as anyone in that case?

yabadabado

Des wrote: »

He couldn't have already played senior for them.

he played a friendly

bobbysands81

Des wrote: »

He couldn't have already played senior for them.

He's played senior but not competitive.

Deedsie

baz2009 wrote: »

It doesn't feel right to be taking him after he has already played senior for them.

Rules is rules... The FAI should use the FIFA ruling to find players as often as they can. I'd like them to target the players from a unionist background as well... They might not have much luck, but the current approach is creating a catholic and Protestant team. The FAI team should be completely secular and should strive to represent all the people of Ireland.

Predalien

I think the FAI should come to some sort of agreement with the IFA where a player is capped in a friendly they should have to stick with that country. The FAI are really abusing the spirit of the Good Friday agreement, it would at least make the players make a decision before they are capped rather than this nonsense of players turning out for Northern Ireland then switching when the Republic look a better option.

3hn2givr7mx1sc

Deedsie wrote: »

Rules is rules... The FAI should use the FIFA ruling to find players as often as they can. I'd like them to target the players from a unionist background as well... They might not have much luck, but the current approach is creating a catholic and Protestant team. The FAI team should be completely secular and should strive to represent all the people of Ireland.

What does it matter what religion the players are?

It'll nearly always be Unionists with the North and Nationalists with the Republic, bar the odd exception anyway.

ynwa_17

Deedsie wrote: »

Rules is rules... The FAI should use the FIFA ruling to find players as often as they can. I'd like them to target the players from a unionist background as well... They might not have much luck, but the current approach is creating a catholic and Protestant team. The FAI team should be completely secular and should strive to represent all the people of Ireland.

But it isn't an All-Ireland team. They are the Republic of Ireland national team and while a Northern Irish team exists, that's all they'll ever be.

While I can understand the reasoning behind allowing players to choose, Fifa is undermining the autonomy of the Northern Irish team. While the FAI are acting within the rule (and well within their right to do so), taking players who have played senior level (regardless of the fact its a friendly) is ridiculous. I can only imagine the conversation that the FAI are having with these young lads. Without sounding generalistic, I can only presume they highlight their Catholic backgrounds and the idea that their four-fathers would've wanted them to represent the Republic.

Vurnon San Benito

If we get Ferguson we'll have secured an excellent full-back/winger for years to come.
The lad has bags of talent; here's hoping.

Fr Tod Umptious

ynwa_17 wrote: »

But it isn't an All-Ireland team. They are the Republic of Ireland national team and while a Northern Irish team exists, that's all they'll ever be.

While I can understand the reasoning behind allowing players to choose, Fifa is undermining the autonomy of the Northern Irish team. While the FAI are acting within the rule (and well within their right to do so), taking players who have played senior level (regardless of the fact its a friendly) is ridiculous. I can only imagine the conversation that the FAI are having with these young lads. Without sounding generalistic, I can only presume they highlight their Catholic backgrounds and the idea that their four-fathers would've wanted them to represent the Republic.

In order to maintain good relations between the FAs the first move in a case like this should be made by the player rather than the FAI

Deedsie

baz2009 wrote: »

What does it matter what religion the players are?

It'll nearly always be Unionists with the North and Nationalists with the Republic, bar the odd exception anyway.

Neither religion or politics should matter. The FAI should approach players from both communities not based on religion or politics. That's just my opinion. I accept that others would disagree with that, but expected politics or religion should not stop the FAI targeting any players.

LondonIrish90

Deedsie wrote: »

Neither religion or politics should matter. The FAI should approach players from both communities not based on religion or politics. That's just my opinion. I accept that others would disagree with that, but expected politics or religion should not stop the FAI targeting any players.

This sort of thing could be quite worrying for the future of youth football in Northern Ireland.

From my understanding, the Irish FA do a really good job of distributing resources evenly across political and religious divides at the moment.

Could it get to the stage where they decide it is counter productive to spend money in largely catholic/nationalist areas, if the young talents who emerge invariably switch to playing for the republic? Surely it would make sense if money and coaches were used only in areas where the majority of players are from a unionist background, because its becoming quite clear that they are going to be the only ones willing to play for Northern Ireland?

This would be a massive backwards step for the country as a whole, but in particular very unfair for young lads who just want to play football and develop their game, regardless of background or policital/religious beliefs. Sets a very worrying precedent in my opinion.

SharpshooterTom

Get rid of GSTQ. It's a disgrace that anthem is still being played out today in a near 50/50 society.

ynwa_17

Gnobe wrote: »

Get rid of GSTQ. It's a disgrace that anthem is still being played out today in a near 50/50 society.

What relevance does that have here at all?

Liam O

ynwa_17 wrote: »

What relevance does that have here at all?

Northern Irish Catholic players would see it as a deterrent for fairly obvious reasons...

ynwa_17

Liam O wrote: »

Northern Irish Catholic players would see it as a deterrent for fairly obvious reasons...

By that reckoning, the GAA should drop the use of Amhrán na bhFiann to try and get more Protestant's playing their sport, no?

Regardless, you aren't playing for the Queen. You aren't playing for your National Anthem. You're playing for your country ... or in the case of those who have moved - Their adoptive country.

3hn2givr7mx1sc

ynwa_17 wrote: »

By that reckoning, the GAA should drop the use of Amhrán na bhFiann to try and get more Protestant's playing their sport, no?

Regardless, you aren't playing for the Queen. You aren't playing for your National Anthem. You're playing for your country ... or in the case of those who have moved - Their adoptive country.

It'd sicken me to line out for that anthem, tbh.

Fr Tod Umptious

baz2009 wrote: »

It'd sicken me to line out for that anthem, tbh.

Well it has not bothered Ferguson so far it seems, seeing as he has played up to senior level for NI.

SharpshooterTom

The majority of Northern Ireland supporters on Our Wee Country support a change to anthem. It would be a good step forward and would attract more catholic players.

grenache

darkman2 wrote: »

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/republic-in-move-for-northern-irelands-shane-ferguson-15149212.html#ixzz1L3BnUN8U


Don Givens apparently made these rather insensitive comments at a press conference

“Shane is still kind of making his mind up but Mick Martin has spoken to him,”
Givens told journalists.

“I’m sure the North are not too happy with us. They have a small pool of players but in the long run, the less good results they get the more the dual players will want to come to us.”

I suppose that's what happens when the majority treat a large minority like utter sh*t for 60 odd years. They have nobody but themselves to blame.

tonycascarino

Irish man wants to play for Ireland. Shocking.

Guy:Incognito

tonycascarino wrote: »

Irish man wants to play for Ireland. Shocking.

He already has .

Trilla wrote: »

Where were you for the whole James McCarthy fiasco?

McCarthy never played for Scotland at any level, nevermind senior level.Ferguson has played for Northern Ireland. Which is kind of the point of the thread.

Mars Bar

We'd have Ferguson and Cunningham fight it out for left back then? If Ferguson is left footed, I'd like to see him on the wing and have Cunningham at left back...

Nalz

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

McCarthy never played for Scotland at any level, nevermind senior level.Ferguson has played for Northern Ireland. Which is kind of the point of the thread.

Yes McCarthy played a friendly game for Ireland and hadnt played a competitive match for Ireland up until the Macedonia game, so until then he was eligible for Scotland. Martinez was mouthing off in the press apparently that he hadnt made his mind up in terms of his international career...thats what the whole fiasco was about.

Same thing here. Ferguson has played for the north in a friendly only.

Only difference here is we could be gaining a player (from Northern Ireland) as apposed to nearly losing one (to Scotland).

You get me now?

flahavaj

ynwa_17 wrote: »

By that reckoning, the GAA should drop the use of Amhrán na bhFiann to try and get more Protestant's playing their sport, no?

The GAA aren't losing Protestant players or have a problem with Protestant players defecting to play elsewhere, whereas the Northern Ireland team appear to be losing quite a few lads to the South.

Guy:Incognito

Trilla wrote: »

Yes McCarthy played a friendly game for Ireland and hadnt played a competitive match for Ireland up until the Macedonia game, so until then he was eligible for Scotland. Martinez was mouthing off in the press apparently that he hadnt made his mind up in terms of his international career...thats what the whole fiasco was about.

Same thing here. Ferguson has played for the north in a friendly only.

Only difference here is we could be gaining a player (from Northern Ireland) as apposed to nearly losing one (to Scotland).

You get me now?

I know all about the McCarthy situation but at the end of the day it was nothign more than his club manager, who realistically has little to do with the situation talking in the press.

This situation is different as it seems the FAI are actively recruiting another countries senior international player.

bobbysands81

Gnobe wrote: »

The majority of Northern Ireland supporters on Our Wee Country support a change to anthem. It would be a good step forward and would attract more catholic players.

Why do the IFA even use GSTQ in the first place? Why also do they use the flag that they use?

Nalz

bobbysands81 wrote: »

Why do the IFA even use GSTQ in the first place? Why also do they use the flag that they use?

What do you think of Shane Ferguson as a footballer? Think he'll be much use Bobby?

bobbysands81

Trilla wrote: »

What do you think of Shane Ferguson as a footballer? Think he'll be much use Bobby?

No idea but it looks like he has a very bright future ahead of him and I wish him well whether he stays with the North or plays for the Republic.

Nalz

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

I know all about the McCarthy situation but at the end of the day it was nothign more than his club manager, who realistically has little to do with the situation talking in the press.

This situation is different as it seems the FAI are actively recruiting another countries senior international player.

Yes it is different, so what? I'm explaining the situation to you as you said you didn't realise you could switch after playing a senior friendly. McCarthy could have. Your posts below

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Jesus, I hadnt realised you can switch even after playign senior friendlies at this stage. We may as well go the final step and just let players pick whoever they want to play for at any stage of their career.We could buy ourselves a decent international side.

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

McCarthy never played for Scotland at any level, nevermind senior level.Ferguson has played for Northern Ireland. Which is kind of the point of the thread.

M5

I have seen him play a few times for us this season, looks very assured for such a young player, if he progresses he has the potential to be a top player. Would be quit a coup if we pull this off IMHO

tonycascarino

A little clip of what's to come?
[IMG]http:////i170.photobucket.com/albums/u242/supersewelly/ferguson.gif?t=1300629735[/IMG]

population

The minute I figured out what the GFA would mean for football, all I could see was a slow death for the NI team. I have never met a catholic from the North who ever dreamt of pulling on the NI jersey as a kid. Unless there are some serious concessions made to encourage more Catholic players to opt for the North, they have a bleak footballing future ahead of them

Paul4As

population wrote: »

The minute I figured out what the GFA would mean for football, all I could see was a slow death for the NI team. I have never met a catholic from the North who ever dreamt of pulling on the NI jersey as a kid. Unless there are some serious concessions made to encourage more Catholic players to opt for the North, they have a bleak footballing future ahead of them

I don't see a slow death for Northern Ireland FC...we are like any country...only wanting players who are committed to the cause...why would you want players who don't want to play for you?
As for catholics kids not dreaming of pulling on a Northern Ireland jersey...I don't think they dream of pulling on a Republic jersey either...more like a Man Utd or Liverpool jersey...those are the clubs that have world class players...Gerard, Kuyt, Reina, Rooney, Vidic, Valencia...who do Ireland have???...Keane, Gibson, St Ledger...:D...probably better players than Northern Ireland's though.
It is sad that FAI have brought politics in to football on the island of Ireland.

population

Irish jersey sales in Ireland are solid I assure you. In terms of the FAI bringing politics into football, well I could go on about this for hours, but football is a politicised sport. It amazes me that there can be one rugby team without too much fuss and yet one football team is a no goer, but that is the way it is.