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How are they "traitors"?

Like it or not they are playing for the team they would have grown up supporting and obviously have an allegiance towards!!!!

And due to the Good Friday Agreement which was voted in by the majority of the citizens in the North it is their right to represent the Republic Of Ireland team

The main point is, its a choice.No one forced them to play for the Republic. It was their choice. All they are doing is exercising their rights. To not let them play for the ROI would be denying them this.

Imagine how easier life would have been for Neil Lennon if he had that choice when he was starting out as a Footballer

Good luck to them

The 'North' that you like to talk about is in fact Northern Ireland.
A lot of people fail to realise that the country was separated 90 years ago and will remain separated for the coming 90. I'm glad you sort aren't Geography teachers.

By the way, don't you think that it was foolish of Gibson to suggest that everyone from Londonderry wants to play for Ireland? I'd say quite a few of them would be more than happy to pull on the shirt of their country - Northern Ireland

Yes i am well aware that it Northern Ireand. Its just quicker to type the "North"!!
I don't think Gibson meant it literally when he said "everyone from Derry wants to play for Ireland"!!!
He was obviously just referring to everyone he knows from Derry

Surely the point here is Gibson and others like him who choose to represent the Republic team do not consider NIreland to be their country.

Thats a belief they are entitled to hold

The IFA has been rendered obsolete for years now & the steady stream of player defections proves this. The sooner they wake up out of their silly, little Windsor Park bubble, the better!

Just read on the OneTeamInIreland website that Blackpool are interested in young ROI player Daniel Kearns of Dundalk

They're sending scouts over to watch him play in Dundalks next match.

He is the player in case people weren't aware that the IFA tried to "ban" from representing the Republic.

See how far they got with that

I really hope Alex Bruce agrees to swtich over to the North. Surely Worthington and the IFA will have to stop moaning over players "defecting" if he does agree to make the switch

their country - Northern Ireland
..................................................

There's no such country HangingBaskets. I'm glad you're not a Geography teacher either.

By the way, don't you think that it was foolish of Gibson to suggest that everyone from Londonderry wants to play for Ireland? I'd say quite a few of them would be more than happy to pull on the shirt of their country - Northern Ireland
--------------------------------

So glad you dont teach geography as its Derry not LondonDerry. Those who call it LondonDerry are wannabe english folks like yourself. Ive lived in Derry and I can safely tell you the vast majority of people support Ireland apart from a few folk on the waterside of the city. Thank god you dont teach geography eh.

let me clear this up for you all
people from Derry want to play for ROI
people from Londonderry want to play for NI

Glad Ive sorted that out

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Yeah dude because the UK are in such a fine condition eh. You are forgetting that the UK economy whilst not as bad as Eires is still in dire shape and the fact that the UK(not NI as most brits dont include NI in the UK) is overrun by immigrants. Mainly London. Good shape eh dude.

Don't bother debating the state of the economy with that bigot!!! Your only wasting your time.

True but as long as he knows..........and he knows.

His knowledge of the Economy is got from reading sensationalist Tabloid headlines.

A new survey released last week claimed that the Republic still has an average higher standard of living than the UK.
He seems to get a perverse pleasure from reading bad news stories about the Republic.

Hoping to see the Republic fail is all part and parcel of the Ulster Unionist mindset afterall isn't it.

The Germans have a word for it... Schadenfreude!!

People like him also suffer from a condition known as "Freudenschade" - sorrow at another persons success.

Its sad that he feels that way about the south. I am no UK fan but I dont wish there economy to fail as there are alot of normal sound working class people who need the work.

Looks like someone threw their rattle out of the pram lol..............

When you are dining at your local soup kitchen in a few years time you will remember this lol................

To quote Bobby De Niro..........................'You talking to me?'

"When you are dining at your local soup kitchen in a few years time you will remember this lol.."..............

Just proved my point there old bean . Schadenfreude at its most bitter .

You do realise that its because of people with your attitude that Nationalist fans and players (well the one's with any ability) want nothing to do with the NIreland team

^^^^^^^^^Just proved my point their dude lol...............

You need a job lol.................

I think we're all agreed that everyone can play for whoever they want, though there might be some formalities about compensation/early allegiance declaring to be worked out.

However, Darren Gibson is playing a bit fast and looose with the truth when he says, "Everyone from Derry wants to play for Ireland".

Firstly he should, of course, have said the ROI rather than "Ireland". Secondly, the Protestant community, roughly 25% of the city population, certainly do not want to play for the ROI. Sure, there are many little boys in places like the Fountain Estate who dream of playing for Ireland but for them it is the Green shirt with Keltic Cross of N.Ireland that they dream of pulling on.

Moreover, there are some Catholic players who genuinely prefer to play for N.Ireland. Extreme Republicans usually dismiss these players as no hopers who couldnt get into the ROI team. However, Paddy McCourt, a Derry man, is one of the most talented players from the island of Ireland and he has decided to throw his lot in with NI!

Mr Gibson and others would do well to remember these facts. RESPECT FOR ALL!

^^^^^^^^^Good points Shen, Gibson seems to be a bit off a village idiot to be honest lol....................

Would he label Rory a no-hoper lol...............

You calling someone a "Village idiot", now theres an ironic statement if ever i saw one

Shenandoah, do you honestly believe Paddy mc Court would be good enough for the ROI team!!

Certainly a talented player with bags of natural skill. But he's lazy and tends to over run the ball too much.

As for Niall mc Ginn