Nice of Rice. Makes total sense.
Declan Rice | Switches international allegiance to England four years ago
- Thread starter Walters_19_MuFc
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Also likes of Rice and Sancho now hopefully in the English first team ... mouth watering how much the side should improve now from the World Cup.
Good move for him and England.
He’s a talent in one of the only areas England look short in right now. They have some fantastic prospects coming through.
He’s a cockney with an English mother. It’s not like it’s faking.
Would also love to see United sign him. We are miles off the top teams in the CL so we are better off investing in younger players IMO.
He’s a talent in one of the only areas England look short in right now. They have some fantastic prospects coming through.
He’s a cockney with an English mother. It’s not like it’s faking.
Would also love to see United sign him. We are miles off the top teams in the CL so we are better off investing in younger players IMO.
What English players have done themselves justice since 1966 at international level?
Wait you had the likes of Scholes, Neville, Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney, Ferdinand to name a few I remember all in the same side and did nothing. Rice is looking good. He could improve his consistency but he's no Scholes or even close to what I remember of Robson.
Has to be said, his statement is very well written. Impressive head on his shoulders if that's all his own work.
Probably the same as the number of Irish who did themselves justice in the same time period.
The guys who were World Cup semi finalists in 1990, Euro 1996 and last years lot who got to the semi finals.
Last years squad performed above and beyond their ability level so in that sense they did themselves justice.
Even if England don’t represent a realistic chance to win a trophy - it’s a more entertaining ride than playing for Ireland who realistically will not be pushing beyond group stages at international tournaments.
He probably had help writing it. I do not mean that as an insult it just in his position why wouldn't you have someone else write it for you?
Cant Blame him Ireland are fecking shite.
It didn’t do Keane, Brady or Giles - three talents as good as England’s best-ever in those positions - any harm.
He doesn’t need to be as good as those. He’s coming into a more competent set up and a young group of lads who are more humble and play in a more modern set up. No guarantee of success but this current version of England is better to watch than that so called golden generation despite being half as talented.
He is english so should be playing for England. Playing for Ireland would be like the english cricket captain situation. not sure how they should fix this stuff but its a joke as it stands. demeans international competition
And did they get the international recognition that their talents merited? You could argue such was the strength of their domestic careers Keane and Brady did but all of those guys would be England’s greatest mids and probably could have pushed England to winning international titles (not that it means anything if in their heads they felt 100% allegiance to Ireland).
It didn’t do Keane, Brady or Giles - three talents as good as England’s best-ever in those positions - any harm.
Cases like Giggs though I don’t understand .. could have been an amazing England legend but chose Wales and didn’t even try that hard for them anyway.
great news for England. There's always a need for talented, young midfielders.
Giggs was never eligible for England
Course he's switched.
Would you a) Wanna play under Mick McCarthy in a side which plays dire football with little chance of even qualifying for a tournament.
or b) Play in Southgate's barmy army, with what will be one the most talented squads in European football for the next decade or so, pretty much guaranteed to qualify for tournament. As a midfielder you have the likes of Sterling, Kane, Rashford and Sancho ahead of you whereas for Ireland uh ... Shane Long?
No brainer once he realised he had a shot.
Would you a) Wanna play under Mick McCarthy in a side which plays dire football with little chance of even qualifying for a tournament.
or b) Play in Southgate's barmy army, with what will be one the most talented squads in European football for the next decade or so, pretty much guaranteed to qualify for tournament. As a midfielder you have the likes of Sterling, Kane, Rashford and Sancho ahead of you whereas for Ireland uh ... Shane Long?
No brainer once he realised he had a shot.
Never liked him anyway. Poor man's Glenn Whelan.
Ye I would agree with that. So what would lead you believe he will become a better player for choosing England?
First they take our spuds, now back for our Rice.
There's a generation of England players coming through now that are actually successful in international youth football. England will win a major trophy in the next 12 years, I'm certain of it. Much more than I was of the golden generation.
Ireland got to two quarter finals of the world cup going back to 1990 too and with a fraction of the budget England have and a fraction of the playing base. Do you really think he's improved his chances of winning international tournaments by that much?
Depends what your criteria is.
Alan Mullery, Kevin Keegan, Trevor Brooking, Bryan Robson, Steve Coppell, Peter Shilton, Gary Lineker, Michael Owen, and Wayne Rooney to name but a few. They haven't actually lifted a pot but they have certainly shone at international level.
Bobby Robson had a very good set up. Eriksen was a great manager at the time appointed. Capello also was class. Southgate had a good run with a structured side in the world cup but I'm not sure he is better than these managers.
The fact this current squad are World Cup semi finalists and in the nations league semi final having beaten Croatia and Spain and boast genuine world class talent might be a hint. Oh, and the fact that England have an incredibly talented generation coming through which have won tournaments at youth level.
Ireland struggle even to qualify for a tournament. Of course he has a much better chance to win a tournament with England than with Ireland, the fact England have underperformed in the past doesn't change the clear reality they are a vastly superior team now and for the foreseeable future.
No they took our corn and grain. They left us the spuds but they were fecked!First they take our spuds, now back for our Rice.
Rice wasnt part of those English youth teams was he? I was surprised more of those young players didn't break into top division sides in the last few years since the win. That said there is no direct transition from youth level international success to senior. Ireland did really well in a youth tournament under Brian Kerr I think back in the late 90s but only a handful of this side progressed to senior level which is statistically accurate.
The big problem is that a lot of the best players on those English youth teams were in Chelsea and City's academies.
So no real difference from say Liam Brady, Roy Keane or John Giles? I think your club has far more bearing on you reaching your potential than your international team.
You'll get no argument from me there. Liam Brady was one player I'd have loved to see in a United. We had Johnny Giles in one once but he slipped over the Pennines to Leeds.
Yeah fair enough about consistently qualifying but he's also massively increasing the competition he has for his position by declaring for england. He will also likely be pushed to centre back I think with England as opposed to the defensive midfield role. He could potentially have qualified for a few major tournaments with Ireland and I can understand his choice throwing his hat in with England.
Could have been huge for Ireland, disappointing that. I can't help but think his recognition and progression in his league form has influenced his decision. That sad fact is that many people born in England see the Irish national team as a second option. An option where they know the won't get many if any opportunities for England so play for Ireland. He's obviously got assurances from Southgate of getting big opportunities to play. I'm not a fan of international football but have a few friends that are really disappointed. It could be the difference in Ireland getting to the next world cup or not, not a lot coming through.
I personally feel after 16 years of age you make a decision and it's final. Brings the integrity of what it means to play for your country in to question. I think Declan released a carefully worded statement and fair play to him. I hope he gets the opportunities that have clearly been promised. Big blow for Irish football that.
I personally feel after 16 years of age you make a decision and it's final. Brings the integrity of what it means to play for your country in to question. I think Declan released a carefully worded statement and fair play to him. I hope he gets the opportunities that have clearly been promised. Big blow for Irish football that.
Yes players at the age of 18 - 20 need playing time at the top level to allow them to make errors and learn. That is a huge issue with the top sides wanting finished products at all stages.
Bet half the caf don't want him anymore now 
That's true, but it's pretty clear that if he can nail down a spot in the squad then he has far more chance of winning something (or just going far in a tournament in general really) with England than he does with Ireland.
Yeah I echo your sentiments here. Really liked what I saw of him against Turkey but sure he needs to make the right call for himself as a player. I wish him every success............in his club career.............
I'd agree with that - especially with all the players Ireland have pinched from NI over the years!!!!
Born in London. Parents English. What more is there to say.