Finnan Retires from International Football

Nunu · 22-01-2008 05:01PM

alanmurphy83 wrote: »

Maybe he is smart enough to know that we have f**k all chance of reaching the next major finals. So he doesn't want to spend another two years trawling around europe for no reason.

Wow, what a defeatist attitude! If that's how he's thinking then he is right to retire.

shane86 · 22-01-2008 05:02PM

DesF wrote: »

:
Maybe aul Shay isn't as "world class" as the green spectacle wearers think.

You yourself stated he was the only world class player on our national team only a few days ago

Id rate Shay as better than Cech tbh, its just that the awful defence he has worked with over the years doesnt always cause the goaline to reflect it.

Awful news about Finnan

_blank_ · 22-01-2008 05:02PM

Nunu wrote: »

Wow, what a defeatist attitude! If that's how he's thinking then he is right to retire.

Defeatist, or realist?

_blank_ · 22-01-2008 05:03PM

shane86 wrote: »

You yourself stated he was the only world class player on our national team only a few days ago

I also own a pair of green spectacles.

shane86 wrote: »

Id rate Shay as better than Cech tbh,

Ha.

Nunu · 22-01-2008 05:03PM

DesF wrote: »

Defeatist, or realist?

Ye, i'd stick with defeatist...unless you can look into the future...can you:eek::D

_blank_ · 22-01-2008 05:06PM

Nunu wrote: »

Ye, i'd stick with defeatist...unless you can look into the future...can you:eek::D

I can't see into the future, but I can tell you that it will take a damn miracle for Ireland to qualify for the WC.

And miracles haven't happened in two thousand years.

ninebeanrows · 22-01-2008 05:06PM

IMO a player who retires from Internation Football age 31 with no serious reason illustrates the players lack of pride for his "country".

A true Irish player would not do this, but Finnan has lived in England for nearly all of his live.

Spud83 · 22-01-2008 05:10PM

Nunu wrote: »

Ye, i'd stick with defeatist...unless you can look into the future...can you:eek::D

Maybe it is defeatist. But if you look at the chances of success with Liverpool or with Ireland, you would say Liverpool have a better chance of success, and Finnan has a better chance of keeping his team and squad place at Liverpool if he is able to rest during international breaks.

_blank_ · 22-01-2008 05:11PM

alanmurphy83 wrote: »

Maybe it is defeatist. But if you look at the chances of success with Liverpool or with Ireland, you would say Liverpool have a better chance of success,

About the same imo.

:D

Mr Magnolia · 22-01-2008 05:11PM

Couldn't agree less weathercheck. The man wnet to game after game only to watch Stephen Carr take the starting spot. As I said, I'm surprised he didn't jack it in ages ago.

Pighead · 22-01-2008 05:12PM

DesF wrote: »

I can't see into the future, but I can tell you that it will take a damn miracle for Ireland to qualify for the WC.

And miracles haven't happened in two thousand years.

Wrong Desmond. Traore won his Champions League medal less than 3 years ago.

AckwelFoley · 22-01-2008 05:14PM

..another example of players loseing their national pride...

money over the green.

Shame.

I'll play if i get the call.

invincibleirish · 22-01-2008 05:28PM

what a shame alright, he'd only just be 34 at the time of the next WC (if we qualify;)) and we need all the experienced players we can get for the qualifiers. its ridiculous in this day and age that players are retiring from international football so young, look at fernando couto, he retired from international football at 35 and he's still playing now at 39!.

p.s. its obvious from some sentiments on this thread that people put the club they follow before their country and are happy for finnan to retire, what a disgrace.

maybe when a new high calibre manager is appointed (stop laughing down the back there!) they might have a word with him to un-retire, i can imagine the long drawn out process in getting a new manager hasnt exactly inspired him to stay on.

leninbenjamin · 22-01-2008 05:29PM

eh? why are people giving him a hard time over this decision? he's 31, it's a completely understandble move.

Raskolnikov · 22-01-2008 05:34PM

Very disappointing that he should retire at only 31. Having said that though, I hope he can be persuaded to postpone his decision. His experience would be tremendous to have during the forthcoming qualification campaign.

invincibleirish · 22-01-2008 05:37PM

i guess im just old fashioned, when your called upon to play for your country you should play, not be concerned about what may happen with your domestic career.

p.s. Stephen Carr came out of retirement did he not? maybe Finnan will do the same.

prendy · 22-01-2008 05:37PM

IMO a player who retires from Internation Football age 31 with no serious reason illustrates the players lack of pride for his "country".

A true Irish player would not do this, but Finnan has lived in England for nearly all of his live.

ah hear. he stated that he'll be 34 by the time the WC comes round. he feels he wont be in the team then so why not step aside and let a younger player through.

question the pride of someone who represented their country 50 times???
grow up!

BaZmO* · 22-01-2008 05:46PM

invincibleirish wrote: »

i guess im just old fashioned, when your called upon to play for your country you should play, not be concerned about what may happen with your domestic career.

That's just nonsense. So you'd risk your bill paying job?

invincibleirish wrote: »

p.s. Stephen Carr came out of retirement did he not? maybe Finnan will do the same.

LOL. Using Stephen Carr as an example!! Best one yet!!

ninebeanrows · 22-01-2008 05:48PM

prendy wrote: »

ah hear. he stated that he'll be 34 by the time the WC comes round. he feels he wont be in the team then so why not step aside and let a younger player through.

question the pride of someone who represented their country 50 times???
grow up!

Yea i do actually.

If he had some pride he would keep playing until he reached 35 or if he picked up an injury.

TBH retiring at 31 is shameful.

invincibleirish · 22-01-2008 05:54PM

BaZmO* wrote: »

That's just nonsense. So you'd risk your bill paying job?

LOL. Using Stephen Carr as an example!! Best one yet!!

LOL indeed, thats nonsense, if your logic for not playing international football is potential injury then why play international football at all at any age?

Stephen Carr, moody michael as he is, still came out of retirement, and as i said the more experienced players who have played in a successful WC qualifying campaigns the better!

as i said already players can play at the highest levels and play international football well into their 30s, using random examples Cannavaro is 34, Campbell is 33, Beckham is 32, all want to play for their country in the next WC campaigns, why not Finnan?

event · 22-01-2008 05:54PM

BaZmO* wrote: »

That's just nonsense. So you'd risk your bill paying job?

you make it sound like he's on the breadline.

how exactly would he risk his job by playing on?

gosplan · 22-01-2008 06:09PM

invincibleirish wrote: »

what a shame alright, he'd only just be 34 at the time of the next WC (if we qualify;)) and we need all the experienced players we can get for the qualifiers. its ridiculous in this day and age that players are retiring from international football so young, look at fernando couto, he retired from international football at 35 and he's still playing now at 39!.

p.s. its obvious from some sentiments on this thread that people put the club they follow before their country and are happy for finnan to retire, what a disgrace.

This is a load of rubbish to be honest. 34 is too old to be bombing up and down the touchline and chasing pacy wingers in (if we get to them) a WC finals. Nearing 32 even is probably too old to be embarking on a new qualifying campaign while hoping to challenge for a title and play a major part in the champions league.

Finnan recognises this and also knows that new players are coming up through the ranks.

As regards Couto - just because a player is still playing at 39, doesn't mean he's still up to international level - isn't he playing for Parma?

To give you the perfect example, Maldini played for Italy until it was obvious he was no longer going to be considered for the first team. Ask any Italian and they'll tell you he's one of the best players ever but he waited too long to retire. Many that I know feel this cost them an important game or two.

Finnan's given the Irish team as much as anyone could ask. At the age of 32 he probably feels that he has maybe 2 years left at Liverpool. looking at the Irish set-up, it's obvious that another new era is about to start under the stewardship of god knows who. maybe he just feels it's not going to be his era this time around.

You're more than a bit ungrateful to be honest. He's a model pro and has carried himself just as that throughout everything that's gone on. I can't remember him choosing not to travel anywhere as some would.

gracehopper · 22-01-2008 06:12PM

alanmurphy83 wrote: »

Maybe he is smart enough to know that we have f**k all chance of reaching the next major finals. So he doesn't want to spend another two years trawling around europe for no reason.

DesF wrote:

Or maybe he just thinks it would be a big waste of time, and isn't arsed any more, coming over and being treated like a mug by the clown association.

I'd say his reason is a combination of both of the above. Finnan was a model pro and always gave his best in an irish shirt so i dont think there is any weight in the claim that he doesnt want to play because he's an english based player. Roy, Carr, Kenny are just a few "Irish" lads who have retired prematurely in the past.

To all the liverpool fans i would say he has more chance of winning something with ireland than with you shower!!!

Nunu · 22-01-2008 06:17PM

gosplan wrote: »

This is a load of rubbish to be honest. 34 is too old to be bombing up and down the touchline and chasing pacy wingers in (if we get to them) a WC finals. Nearing 32 even is probably too old to be embarking on a new qualifying campaign while hoping to challenge for a title and play a major part in the champions league.

Finnan recognises this and also knows that new players are coming up through the ranks.

As regards Couto - just because a player is still playing at 39, doesn't mean he's still up to international level - isn't he playing for Parma?

To give you the perfect example, Maldini played for Italy until it was obvious he was no longer going to be considered for the first team. Ask any Italian and they'll tell you he's one of the best players ever but he waited too long to retire. Many that I know feel this cost them an important game or two.

Finnan's given the Irish team as much as anyone could ask. At the age of 32 he probably feels that he has maybe 2 years left at Liverpool. looking at the Irish set-up, it's obvious that another new era is about to start under the stewardship of god knows who. maybe he just feels it's not going to be his era this time around.

You're more than a bit ungrateful to be honest. He's a model pro and has carried himself just as that throughout everything that's gone on. I can't remember him choosing not to travel anywhere as some would.

Totally wrong.

Maldini was begged on more than one occasion by the Italian managemaent to join up with them for Euro '04 and then again for World Cup '06 - even as late as just before the squad deadline. They also said he didn't have to play friendlies. And i don't remember him ever costing them a game or two?

invincibleirish · 22-01-2008 06:23PM

Malidini was 34 when he retired and was considered such a liability that he was asked back for both the 2004 EC and 2006 WC!

Gary Neville is 32, chances are he'll be in Capello's plans for the 2010 WC qualifying.

Cafu captained Brazil to WC victory in 2002 at age 32, with Roberto Carlos the other Fullback( they then played in the 2006 WC as well)

Lilian Thuram and William Gallas have/will be playing a part in Frances previous Campaigns, Thuram went well into his 30s, in Gallas' case he will be playing for the foreseeable future and he is a year younger then Finnan!

please dont call me ungrateful, i like Stevie Finnan and i think he can do a job for us in the WC qualifiers, im disappointed with his decision, who isnt?

vorbis · 22-01-2008 06:27PM

sad decision. I never like any player retiring from internationals before their club career is over.

Bluntly, it has to be about greed. I mean he's already minted and he's basically trying to keep earning premiership wages for as long as possible. Its debatable how much continuing his international career would shorten his club career. I reckon you're talking inmonths not years. Its typically what 8 games a year ffs.

herbieflowers · 22-01-2008 06:35PM

hmmm, maybe we can coax Stephen Carr out of retirement...

yahoo_moe · 22-01-2008 06:55PM

DesF wrote: »

:eek:

Is he really?

He looks much smaller tbh.

Sky did a great piece on him before (during the Premiership's Greatest Ever Foreign Players) where he explains that he's not that small and then 10 or 15 teammates and ex-teammates line up to say that he's done great for such a small chap... classic

invincibleirish wrote:

Cafu captained Brazil to WC victory in 2002 at age 32, with Roberto Carlos the other Fullback( they then played in the 2006 WC as well)

And they were both well past it by '06... I think it's a fine decision - a new manager might have ended up not playing him because he's "looking to the future" anyway, who knows?

herbieflowers · 22-01-2008 06:58PM

it's not like any Irish players play half as good for their country as they do their clubs anyway...

eirebhoy · 22-01-2008 07:40PM

DesF wrote: »

Or maybe he just thinks it would be a big waste of time, and isn't arsed any more, coming over and being treated like a mug by the clown association.

Association smociation. He's representing Ireland. His country. **** the FAI and **** the board of Shelbourne FC that managed to get them into such a state.

Anyway, thankfully Stephen Kelly has been very impressive for Birmingham this season.

Finnan Retires from International Football

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