“I would love to play for Ireland, absolutely love it”. Believe it or not this quotation is from Stephen Ireland. Not last week, but in December 2005. Just around the time he had broken into the Man City first team with a man of the match display in his debut against Everton in October of the same year. The future looked bright for the young man from Cobh. So why was there a desire to play for Ireland and why wasn’t he playing? Ireland had been told he would never play for Ireland again after having an argument with underage supremo Brian Kerr. The details being, a Republic of Ireland underage team were due to play in Cobh, and Ireland being a native of the seaside town thought Kerr would at least consider him worthy of a game in front of the masses of family and friends he had invited to the game. This wasn’t the case; in fact he wasn’t even considered for a place on the bench. Now considering Ireland had left Man City mid season you can see why he would be annoyed, to the extent he considered declaring for England or Italy (which he was entitled to do). Ireland was never too far away from the spotlight. In the 2007/08 season he decided to introduce a new goal celebration which involved dropping his shorts to reveal “superman” boxers. He was lucky to escape further sanctions. Then came the Bebo page scandal in which he publicly (on the web) declared his hatred for football and posted pictures that would make a sailor blush. When you thought it couldn’t get worse there was the “grannygate” scandal. Whilst away in Slovakia with the Ireland squad, then manager Steve Staunton received a call from Ireland’s girlfriend saying that Stephen’s grandmother had died. Staunton relayed the message to Ireland who contacted home, learning that sadly his girlfriend had in fact miscarried. Ireland went back to Staunton and asked to return home due the death of his maternal grandmother (who had partly raised Ireland from the age of 5). The FAI arranged a private jet to fly him home.
On his return home it emerged that in fact Ireland’s maternal grandmother was still happily alive if not a little bemused by the messages of condolences. When Ireland was then contacted by the FAI he replied that there had been some confusion and that it was in fact his paternal grandmother. After more investigation by the media it was discovered that Ireland’s other granny was also happily still alive. In the days that followed the true and sad reason for his departure from Slovakia Ireland had in attempt to shield attention from his private life had thrown it wide open. The media furore was possibly the biggest since Saipan and left most people bemused. Afterwards Ireland stated “I love playing for my country and am grateful for the understanding Mr Staunton and the FAI have shown to me since I told them the truth”
So where is Stephen Ireland? Since his self-imposed international exile he has flourished in the Premiership, scoring 23 goals in 96 games for Man City; he is one of only 3 first team players that started last season for Man City to be still there! Since “grannygate” a new manager of the national team has given us a renewed sense of optimism about Irish international soccer, one that hasn’t been there since the age of Jack Charlton and Mick McCarthy. With 4 goals in 6 games for the national team it is obvious what we are missing. But we are on the verge of qualification, and it has become more obvious in recent months and weeks that Ireland is unlikely to come back. If interviews in the Sunday Times are to be believed it is “the best decision” he ever made. Whatever Ireland’s reasons for staying away, one is sure that in later life he will have regrets. The media are doing their bit to perpetuate the stand-off to the extent that Mr Trapattoni cannot hold a press conference without someone asking about Stephen Ireland. At this stage would it be fair for Ireland to come back into the squad? I don’t think so. Whose place would he take? Do the Irish squad want him back and how would he be received? I imagine that this has more to do with Ireland’s absence than anything else. It wouldn’t have happened in Jack Charlton’s day. In fact Jack Charlton recently said “I don’t agree with him, he needs to apologise. Come and play and say you’re sorry for what you said and did -- or bugger off and don’t bother”. There wasn’t much big Jack was wrong about.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
THE EDUARDO CONTROVERSY
The first big controversy of the season has arrived thanks to Eduardo! There's no doubt in my mind that the Croatian's initial intention was to engineer a penalty but the contact never came from Boruc and he then went to ground. Did he dive? YES. Should diving be outlawed? YES. Should divers receive match bans? YES.
The problem, of course, is consistency or the lack thereof. Why start with Eduardo? I counted at least three dives from Celtic players over the course of the match but they occurred around the halfway line and received no attention. What really angers me about the Eduardo story is the blatant 'Johnny Foreigner bashing' in the British media. The worst dive I have ever seen was from Steven Gerrard when winning a penalty against Hungary before the 2006 World Cup. Was he lambasted? No, quite the contrary. Ian Wright applauded him for doing it, arguing that in the World Cup 'THEY will all be doing it (diving) over THERE.' Gerrard has continued in the same vein since then, including his spectacular dive against Atletico Madrid. Let us not forget Wayne 'Wazza' Rooney who dived to win a penalty against Arsenal in the 2004/2205 season when the Gunners were trying to extend their long unbeaten run to 50 games. And don't get me started on Joel Cole, Emile Heskey, Ashley Cole and Gary Neville who hit the deck with great regularity.
Maybe UEFA are right to make an example of Eduardo on the basis that they have to start somewhere but this is a very dangerous can of worms which is being opened. UEFA will now be obliged to act on EVERY dive and dish out bans accordingly. I hope they do so; if they don't then Eduardo is being victimised. Presumably they will go after Messi whose violent head movement against Shaktar tonight warranted a red card? Certainly, any other player in the world would have been shown a red card.
Eduardo was wrong and there is no defence but are UEFA really going to go down this road and why have they waited until now? Surely Ronaldo gave them plenty of opportunities to act over recent years?
The problem, of course, is consistency or the lack thereof. Why start with Eduardo? I counted at least three dives from Celtic players over the course of the match but they occurred around the halfway line and received no attention. What really angers me about the Eduardo story is the blatant 'Johnny Foreigner bashing' in the British media. The worst dive I have ever seen was from Steven Gerrard when winning a penalty against Hungary before the 2006 World Cup. Was he lambasted? No, quite the contrary. Ian Wright applauded him for doing it, arguing that in the World Cup 'THEY will all be doing it (diving) over THERE.' Gerrard has continued in the same vein since then, including his spectacular dive against Atletico Madrid. Let us not forget Wayne 'Wazza' Rooney who dived to win a penalty against Arsenal in the 2004/2205 season when the Gunners were trying to extend their long unbeaten run to 50 games. And don't get me started on Joel Cole, Emile Heskey, Ashley Cole and Gary Neville who hit the deck with great regularity.
Maybe UEFA are right to make an example of Eduardo on the basis that they have to start somewhere but this is a very dangerous can of worms which is being opened. UEFA will now be obliged to act on EVERY dive and dish out bans accordingly. I hope they do so; if they don't then Eduardo is being victimised. Presumably they will go after Messi whose violent head movement against Shaktar tonight warranted a red card? Certainly, any other player in the world would have been shown a red card.
Eduardo was wrong and there is no defence but are UEFA really going to go down this road and why have they waited until now? Surely Ronaldo gave them plenty of opportunities to act over recent years?
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
MANAGER OF YEAR
Karol Coleman swept the boards as the Overall League Winner from January to May and the Manager of the Year 2009. Can he be toppled next season?
CLUB PERSON OF THE YEAR
This award went to the shirt-burning and fun-loving JP Quinn who received a (priceless) UCCFFC t-shirt.
AWARD WINNERS - CUP OF CHAMPIONS AND SHIELD
On Thursday 25 June 2009 the inaugural UCCFFC movie and awards night was held in UCC's Aula Maxima. Amongst the award recipients were Frank Burke (Cup of Champions) and Marita Foster (UCCFFC Shield, on behalf of her brother, Dominic).
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
KREUZ CONTROL
Mark Kreuzer claimed his fourth monthly career title by winning in April. Mark won the first ever UCCFFC award in August 2001 but then - amazingly - had to wait until December 2006 for his next success before triumphing again in August 2007. The other top five placings in April were (2) Aodh Quinlivan; (3) Karol Coleman; (4) Evan Healy and; (5) Eric Moore.
RYAN GIGGS EDITORIAL (Issue 269)
With 801 appearances for Manchester United under his belt (and counting) plus 10 Premier League titles, 2 UEFA Champions League medals, 4 FA Cups and an UEFA Cup (I’m leaving out some of the smaller titles) Ryan Giggs is a footballer apart who richly deserves many accolades and a ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award. However, on the basis of 12 league starts and one goal (the stats have risen to 13/2 after the weekend) the Welsh Wizard was somewhat fortunate to be crowned PFA Player of the Year last weekend. In my mind, the likes of Vidic, Lampard and Gerrard were more deserving but I don’t have a vote! Equally, in the ‘Young Player’ category I would have ticked Stephen Ireland’s name on the ballot box in preference to Ashley Young.
Having set out my stall that Giggs should not be the Player of the Year, I would now like to justify his selection and pay tribute to him! The PFA award comes from the professional footballers themselves and this gives it credibility. Perhaps players were influenced by the Manchester United PR charm offensive and the concerted media effort back in January to crown Giggs but, nonetheless, players know what goes on during matches and they clearly value what Giggs has done over the past 12 months. Even if there was some sentimentality attached to the decision, so what? The second point I would like to make came to me yesterday afternoon as Leinster were destroying Munster in the Heineken Cup at Croke Park. The young Brian O’Driscoll was known for his dash, his cutting line breaks and his pace. Due to bulking up, regular injuries and getting older, O’Driscoll can no longer do on a rugby pitch what came so naturally to him 10 years ago. But he has not disappeared. Instead, O’Driscoll has accepted Father Time and adjusted his game accordingly and he now relies on other strengths – experience, anticipation and tackling. It takes a certain type of character to carry this off, a person who has natural talent, mental strength and a great intelligence. Ryan Giggs also possesses these characteristics. His re-invention and longevity surpasses even O’Driscoll. Giggs cannot gallop up the left wing in the thrilling fashion of old but, as a central midfielder, he offers quality, class and – that word again – intelligence. Maybe he’s not the true Player of the Year but can we really begrudge him the honour?
Having set out my stall that Giggs should not be the Player of the Year, I would now like to justify his selection and pay tribute to him! The PFA award comes from the professional footballers themselves and this gives it credibility. Perhaps players were influenced by the Manchester United PR charm offensive and the concerted media effort back in January to crown Giggs but, nonetheless, players know what goes on during matches and they clearly value what Giggs has done over the past 12 months. Even if there was some sentimentality attached to the decision, so what? The second point I would like to make came to me yesterday afternoon as Leinster were destroying Munster in the Heineken Cup at Croke Park. The young Brian O’Driscoll was known for his dash, his cutting line breaks and his pace. Due to bulking up, regular injuries and getting older, O’Driscoll can no longer do on a rugby pitch what came so naturally to him 10 years ago. But he has not disappeared. Instead, O’Driscoll has accepted Father Time and adjusted his game accordingly and he now relies on other strengths – experience, anticipation and tackling. It takes a certain type of character to carry this off, a person who has natural talent, mental strength and a great intelligence. Ryan Giggs also possesses these characteristics. His re-invention and longevity surpasses even O’Driscoll. Giggs cannot gallop up the left wing in the thrilling fashion of old but, as a central midfielder, he offers quality, class and – that word again – intelligence. Maybe he’s not the true Player of the Year but can we really begrudge him the honour?
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