Finnan Retires from International Football

estebancambias · 23-01-2008 02:05PM

Look DesF, I know you support Irish football more than me, and perhaps others that are bemused at Finnan's choice, and who would rather play for my country than play for their club side.

Its not really about pride in my country, but it is love for my country.

To the people who support teams in far away lands(I do to) how could you feel more joy seeing Chelsea lift the European Cup?

It means nothing really. Ireland is YOU!!!!!!! _____________(foreign team) is only an example of globalisation.

gosplan · 23-01-2008 02:19PM

I'm not coming down on one side or another but I'm not sure everyone is considering the experience of playing for your country.

I think the key is that we see the players as playing for us and wearing the green shirt. Their experiences probably show it more as working for the FAI.

He's entitled to feel he's given a lot to an organisation that have made it pretty much as difficult as they possibly could. He still turned up, he stilll played well despite everything and leaving now is no betrayal.

For those that think money comes into it - Finnan signed a three year contract last summer and it'll more than likely be his last at Liverpool. If anything a WC appearence in the summer he's out of contract would boost his profile.

_blank_ · 23-01-2008 02:23PM

estebancambias wrote: »

Look DesF, I know you support Irish football more than me,

I wasn't trying to say that at all.

But it galls me to hear people talk about "national pride", when they themselves exhibit a sever lack of it.

Unearthly · 23-01-2008 02:28PM

Good player, good servent. He will be a big loss

OPENROAD · 23-01-2008 08:29PM

shane86 wrote: »

:eek:
Maybe I am misreading this but you would rather see your club win the CL than your national team win the WC/Euros?

No spot on, I'd rather Arsenal win a corner. You seriously think I'm going to cheer on Robbie Keane, no chance, mind he is a good player, I will give him that. But sorry 100%Arsenal for me

shane86 · 24-01-2008 08:55PM

PHB wrote: »

We had a poll on this a while ago, in terms of a treble or a world cup. I personally pick a treble.

I have more attachment to my club football team than my national football team.

You remind me of an Irish Man U fan I was in college with who also supported England, he had even been at Euro 2000 cheering them on, despite absoloutely no family ties to England. Why? Because he reckoned England have a better team, therefore they deserve his support more than the Irish.

That is a shocking statement from any football fan, it really is. Id be surprised to hear anyone from Manchester stating it, let alone some Irish lad who likely picked Man U in the early 90s when they were winning loads and were bleedin deadly etc etc. If seeing the Man U squad lift a CL cup in a far off European city is more important than seeing Robbie (as unlikely as it is), lift a World/European cup, or even make it out of the knock out rounds, words escape me tbh.

OPENROAD wrote: »

No spot on, I'd rather Arsenal win a corner. You seriously think I'm going to cheer on Robbie Keane, no chance, mind he is a good player, I will give him that. But sorry 100%Arsenal for me

Why?!!?

Because he plays for your Norf Landan royvils? Personally I think Robbie should have the captaincy taken off him and made to earn a selection but still.

Jesus Christ.

OPENROAD · 24-01-2008 09:19PM

shane86 wrote: »

You remind me of an Irish Man U fan I was in college with who also supported England, he had even been at Euro 2000 cheering them on, despite absoloutely no family ties to England. Why? Because he reckoned England have a better team, therefore they deserve his support more than the Irish.

That is a shocking statement from any football fan, it really is. Id be surprised to hear anyone from Manchester stating it, let alone some Irish lad who likely picked Man U in the early 90s when they were winning loads and were bleedin deadly etc etc. If seeing the Man U squad lift a CL cup in a far off European city is more important than seeing Robbie (as unlikely as it is), lift a World/European cup, or even make it out of the knock out rounds, words escape me tbh.

Why?!!?

Because he plays for your Norf Landan royvils? Personally I think Robbie should have the captaincy taken off him and made to earn a selection but still.

Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ yourself, I've little interest in International football, end of, and yes because Keane plays for the spuds though that is not the reason I don't support Ireland, it is club football for me, obviously not for you,fair play, but get over it.

As for your mate supporting England, my English treacher, a scouse supporting priest was the exact same as your mate, supported England.

estebancambias · 24-01-2008 10:11PM

Shane- Your right absolute madness.

Its not like the Republic of Ireland is a country like Spain. If you were from Catalan and said I follow Barca; I don't care if Spain do well or not. Then perhaps your stance would be acceptable but your Irish. Arsenal means nothing to you, I'm sorry. Its not about loving international football either, you don't have to, but when YOUR National team is playing...your fellow countrymen are singing the national anthem it is your obligation to support them fully.

I don't like Rugby or Golf, but damn I'll support an Irish team or person at any cost.

*p.s I know you owe no explanaton to me, but that is crazy talk*

OPENROAD · 24-01-2008 10:24PM

estebancambias wrote: »

Shane- Your right absolute madness.

Its not like the Republic of Ireland is a country like Spain. If you were from Catalan and said I follow Barca; I don't care if Spain do well or not. Then perhaps your stance would be acceptable but your Irish. Arsenal means nothing to you, I'm sorry. Its not about loving international football either, you don't have to, but when YOUR National team is playing...your fellow countrymen are singing the national anthem it is your obligation to support them fully.

I don't like Rugby or Golf, but damn I'll support an Irish team or person at any cost.

*p.s I know you owe no explanaton to me, but that is crazy talk*

Sorry don't agree with you,and I'm not any less Irish because of it. And don't be stupid it is not my obligation to support them. As for Arsenal meaning nothing to me again that is not for you to decide.

estebancambias · 24-01-2008 10:48PM

They do mean something to you. I should have made it clearer. However, how your loyalty would be closer to Arsenal than to the Irish national team is quite bemusing.

What connection do you have with Sagna? What connection do you have with Stephen Kelly?

I think there would be far more possible to have emotion if Ireland missed a penalty in the world cup semi final than if Flamini missed a penalty in the champions league semi final.

OPENROAD · 24-01-2008 11:36PM

estebancambias wrote: »

They do mean something to you. I should have made it clearer. However, how your loyalty would be closer to Arsenal than to the Irish national team is quite bemusing.

What connection do you have with Sagna? What connection do you have with Stephen Kelly?

I think there would be far more possible to have emotion if Ireland missed a penalty in the world cup semi final than if Flamini missed a penalty in the champions league semi final.

We will have to agree to disagree

eirebhoy · 03-02-2008 06:10PM

Andy O'Brien in the form of his life has announced his retirement too. Tosser.

_blank_ · 04-02-2008 10:01AM

eirebhoy wrote: »

Andy O'Brien in the form of his life has announced his retirement too. Tosser.

:eek:

Jaysis eb.

Can you blame some of these players though?

The set-up they have to come to is obviously a farce, and hasn't changed since Saipan, as far as I can see.

The FAI don't have a place for the best footballing brain this country ever produced in Brian Kerr, there has been over a hundred days of fudging and hapless shíte over the appointment of the new manager.

The players are looking at all of this and wondering "What's the bleedin' point"

"National Pride" only stretches so far.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

PHB · 04-02-2008 10:06AM

Nothing has changed since Saipan, I think the players threatening retirement unless Tel is appointed have at least got the idea, that only way to get the FAI to do anything right is to force their hand.

LuckyLloyd · 04-02-2008 01:29PM

Agree with DesF, I wouldn't blame any member of the current squad who has given decent service with a few caps / or who has a family and kids packing it in at the moment.

Nailz · 04-02-2008 02:33PM

In all fairness if I was an international footballer, I would rather retire before the Euro qualifiers because as you still have a chance at the World Cup (as slim as that maybe with our current squad) you may aswell play it out, as the European championships are less desired then the World Cup I'm sure you'd agree.

Finnan Retires from International Football

Comments