Blog Archive

[blues six glens nil]

Some stuff which might have already been posted on HNH or ILF/ILS

The dates are approxomate.

Apologies in advance if anything isn't topical

MARCH 2008

LOCAL BOYS DONE GOOD ........ PITY LOCAL PEOPLE CAN'T APPRECIATE IT

As the new Northern Ireland squad has been announced for Wednesday's game against Georgia, the stand-out name which has caught people's attention is that of Michael Gault, called up for the first time.

Instead of celebrating the fact that 3 locally based players are capable of gaining a place in the international squad, as well as a 4th, Gary Hamilton being in the squad earlier in the season, the self-proclaimed 'Greatest fans in the world' are begrudging his selection, because of what league he plays in, effectively condemning him before he's even kicked a ball for his country, some of whom openly admitting to have never seen him play.

Northern Ireland fans are quick to use the 'Our Wee Country' alter-ego and website to show their pride in their wee country's footballing achievements, but if a player from their own wee country's league gets an international call-up, he is met with sniggers and derisionment.

Especially in the case of Alan Mannus. Those who begrudge him his place in the squad seem to have had an irony bypass as they clamour for Roy Carroll's recall, a player who asked not to be picked for internationals until he stated otherwise, whilst castigating George McCartney for the heinous crime of not worshipping at the altar of Saint Lawrie.

The knock-on effect of Gault's call-up is that locally based players, and those returning from unsuccessful spells in England know that if they perform in the Irish League, Nigel Worthington is watching.

He should know, he was once in their shoes, beginning his career with Ballymena United before someone spotted him and allowed him a chance to have a playing career in England, which has led to him becoming Northern Ireland manager.

If an international call-up won't get you noticed, how about having your talents broadcast on Sky TV, such as Coleraine defender Howard Beverland, currently on trial at West Bromwich Albion.

Whisper it to the Green and White Army, but players such as Stuart Elliott, Ivan Sproule, and Gareth McAuley, who they cheer on, all began their careers in the same league that Mannus, Thompson and Gault, who supposedly aren't good enough for Northern Ireland, play in.

Any player who gets an international call-up deserves the fans respect. That includes Irish League players. I will happily put club loyalties aside if a player from another Irish League club gets an international call-up.

To merely dismiss a player before seeing him play is ignorant, arrogant and disrespectful. Gault deserves better than that.

It is an irony that Northern Ireland fans are quick to castigate those from Northern Ireland who support the Republic, wheeling out the "You should support the team from where you're born" line, yet that attitude doesn't extend to club football, coming up with the usual reasons of "it's rubbish" or mentioning the S word. Yet if someone was to say the exact same about the Northern Ireland team, they'd be quick to get offended and pull their Angry from Tunbridge Wells (or wherever the Ulster equivalent of Tunbridge Wells is) pose on the front page of the News Letter.

Likewise, Northern Ireland fans are quick to get offended if anyone is disrespectful or dismissive to their team, such as the big furore last year when the Swedish media described Northern Ireland as "Lambs to the slaughter" before a game, yet they are showing the same disrespect to 3 of their own players. In my eyes, any complaints against the Swedish media, or anyone else who patronises their team, have no credibility in my eyes.

Mannus, Thompson and Gault have nothing to prove to their doubters on OWC.

They are full-time professionals. They have previous international experience with the under-21s. They play every week for their clubs. They have experience of playing European football. They have experience of playing in front of big crowds at Windsor Park. Add to that their Setanta Cup experience, playing against the cream of the Eircom League.

In Mannus and Thompson's previous, and brief, international appearances, they left the pitch with their heads held high, gave their all, and more than held their own.

If that isn't good enough for the Green and White Army, perhaps they, not the players, are the ones who should look at themselves.

[blues six glens nil]

Bump.

Sadly