Sunderland's James McClean rules out Northern Ireland rethink
Sunderland's James McClean appears to have ruled out reversing his decision to declare for the Republic of Ireland.
McClean played for Northern Ireland at youth and Under-21 level but opted for the Republic last year after turning down a Northern Ireland senior call-up.
New Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill said earlier this week that McClean was on his "radar" but those hopes appear to have been dashed.
"I have declared myself for the Republic," McClean told the Irish News.
"That's where I see my [international] future.
"If I don't get called up, then I'll live with that but I have confidence in my own ability that I will get a call-up at some stage with the Republic of Ireland.
"Hopefully this now puts this matter to bed."
McClean, who moved to Sunderland from Derry City last August, revealed that he had been contacted by the new Northern Ireland manager in recent days.
"He rang me just to congratulate me about how the last two [Sunderland] games have gone and to see how I'm getting on.
"He said he would keep in touch with me and he'll call up and see me, which I appreciate, but I just want to put the Northern Ireland thing to bed now."
After a number of outings as substitute, the Derry-born player made his first Sunderland start in the New Year's Day win over Manchester City and he scored in the 4-1 win over Wigan on Tuesday.
Comment - The most telling parts of the article for me is this -
"If I don't get called up, then I'll live with that but I have confidence in my own ability that I will get a call-up at some stage with the Republic of Ireland.
"Hopefully this now puts this matter to bed."
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"He said he would keep in touch with me and he'll call up and see me, which I appreciate, but I just want to put the Northern Ireland thing to bed now."
There really is no arguing with that.
Welcome aboard James. Look forward to seeing you in the next U21 squad
Mind's Made Up - Leave Me Alone
posted on 7/1/12
comment by give impartiality a hand (U9711)
posted 24 minutes ago
Appointing a RC just to get the young nationalist players is a very low level the IFA have sunk to.
The nationalists would not be hard to convince to play for the North if the North did not play at Windsor. If the North did not have the English National Anthem played before home matches.and if there was a Northern Irish flag flown, No Union Jack.
These small measures would take the politics of the unionist ascendancy out of the sport and create a neutral environment.
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Your comments reflect alot on you dude lol....................
So nationalists and unionists should not play in the same team according to you
I think you will find that the N.I flag and anthem issue will be history in a few years lol.................
posted on 7/1/12
Sure the anthem isn't a problem at the minute according to NI international Ivan Sproule:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/world-football/2011/11/26/ivan-sproule-blasts-paul-mcveigh-claim-northern-irish-stars-switch-allegiances-due-to-national-anthem-86908-23589506/
What a shock, a Unionist claiming to know what Nationalists think......
posted on 7/1/12
Sproule talks about McVieghs back page comments being chip wrappers the next day. Sproules didn't even make it into the Chippies.
Old attitudes die hard right enough. Did he expect someone to come out 10 years ago and say they didn't fancy the anthem or Stadium? Look what happened Lennon around the same time.
These guys are their worst enemies sometimes.
posted on 8/1/12
Your right Gibbo old habits in N.I die hard...........
A classic recent example is the Lord Mayors knee jerk reaction when asked to present an award to a child in the army cadets...............
But these old habits will eventually die and in 20 years time team N.I will be one happy family lol...............
posted on 8/1/12
At the end of the day it's up to McClean who he wants to play for. Good luck to him , life goes on.
posted on 8/1/12
Its all like Ivan Sproule says...
The anthem to Frau Saxe-Coburg-Gotha isn't a problem.
The loyalist flag they use isn't a problem.
Playing in front of 14,000 rangers fans, who hate your guts, isn't a problem.
The fact that sponsoring the team with your attendance, is basically sponsoring the rigging of the Irish League in favour of Linfield, isn't a problem.
The fact when you go to play away from home, it's like loyalism on tour, isn't a problem.
The clear hostility they show to anything that they see as Irish, isn't a problem.
I mean how could you turn that down? You would have to be a fool!
posted on 8/1/12
What is the link between the Lord Mayor delegating a task, as all Belfast Lord Mayor's have before him and wanting to have equal esteem for nationalist, who are prepared to play for this manufactured statelet, and unionists who are only happy when they exercise control or rule over nationalists.
Unionists have two choices, either they treat nationalists as equals.or else they have dwindling pool for selection.
posted on 8/1/12
Spanglers article removed already lol....
Think he is related to Belfasts mayor lol....
posted on 8/1/12
Young James really looks like a star in the making!
posted on 8/1/12
Fair play to the kid CP,
If he is good enough he has a great manager to bring him along....................