Declan Rice | Switches international allegiance to England four years ago

Djemba-Djemba

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Why is it hostile? If you don't want to play for ireland then don't use our youth set up to further your career.
Is this meant to be controversial?
Why was he using the N.Ireland youth setup himself then? He's on record himself saying he played for the N.Ireland youth team as it's a step up the ladder for his career. He's a complete hypocrite.

Or is it only bad if you use Ireland as the stepping stone?

Will he be telling Nathon Redmond to feck off if he decides to play for Ireland?
 
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diarm

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I don't go to work for loyalty and all that shit, i go to work to pay the bills and progress my career, as long as thats on the table i'll give it my everything however it all boils down to the benjamins and ensuring my career is going somewhere, why do football players have to be any different?
Because your work isn't paid for by the thousands of fans who attend or watch you work on telly. You aren't sponsored for your work by companies looking to use your public image and reach to sell their products.

I'll never understand how so many people can't quite understand how being a footballer or working in other high profile industries is different to their day jobs.

If you piss off the clients who pay for your services, you won't last long in your job, no matter what it is. If you piss off smaller clients so you can make more money off bigger clients you might last longer, but your lack of integrity will catch up with you eventually.
 

12OunceEpilogue

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Because anytime they win anything they're bloody painful. Look at them going far in the WC for example or when they won the Rugby World Cup.. they're the country equivalent of a Liverpool supporter :lol:.

I'm Irish but I do agree you haven't a chance in hell of winning anything with Ireland so Rice was only smart making the move.
Does that make Irish lads Berties pre-08 then? Or more accurately Notts County fans; bitter about a neighbouring fan base who last had success decades ago having any kind of joy whatsoever?

There is some well over the top bellendry from some English fans when we do anything even remotely good on a sports field but if we're Scouse, you're a bunch of Berties :lol:
 

SquishyMcSquish

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I was wondering why a thread about such a meh player kept being bumped but then I come in and see it's not at all about Rice, but about England's super easy run to the WC semi which they royally fecked up :lol:
He would be Ireland's best player if he actually wanted to play for your shower.

Also, imagine laughing at a side for reaching a World Cup semi and going out in ET to a talented Croatian team, whilst your own team can't qualify for diddly shit and struggle against Gibraltar.

I know it must hurt not actually being able to cheer on your own country every tournament and having to just support anybody who plays England, but the bitterness is a little sad.
 

Nick7

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He would be Ireland's best player if he actually wanted to play for your shower.

Also, imagine laughing at a side for reaching a World Cup semi and going out in ET to a talented Croatian team, whilst your own team can't qualify for diddly shit and struggle against Gibraltar.

I know it must hurt not actually being able to cheer on your own country every tournament and having to just support anybody who plays England, but the bitterness is a little sad.
:lol: you really are a precious little git
 

SquishyMcSquish

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:lol: you really are a precious little git
Nah, salty Ireland fans are the precious ones.

Look, he made a step up. You guys can watch him sing God save the Queen as England march on at every tournament, you can maybe claim Ireland had a hand in our success!
 

12OunceEpilogue

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He would be Ireland's best player if he actually wanted to play for your shower.

Also, imagine laughing at a side for reaching a World Cup semi and going out in ET to a talented Croatian team, whilst your own team can't qualify for diddly shit and struggle against Gibraltar.

I know it must hurt not actually being able to cheer on your own country every tournament and having to just support anybody who plays England, but the bitterness is a little sad.
I find this kind of thing just as strange as the bitterness to be honest. Can we not all agree we've all witnessed some hilariously shit football and administration over the years and keep it just to banter about who's slightly less of an embarrassment?
 

Nick7

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Nah, salty Ireland fans are the precious ones.

Look, he made a step up. You guys can watch him sing God save the Queen as England march on at every tournament, you can maybe claim Ireland had a hand in our success!
:lol::lol::lol::lol: Oh no I'm so sad!

Grow up a bit, yeah? You're making a fool of yourself, again.
 

POF

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I don't go to work for loyalty and all that shit, i go to work to pay the bills and progress my career, as long as thats on the table i'll give it my everything however it all boils down to the benjamins and ensuring my career is going somewhere, why do football players have to be any different?
Of course you're right but it really is a shame. International football shouldn't be about money. It should be about players playing for pride in their country. In my opinion, international football is more about players like George Weah playing for Liberia, Bale for Wales, Aubameyang for Gabon, Litmanen for Finland or Yorke for T&T than big superstars playing for big countries.

I know but I can only imagine he is doing it because he feels English.

I mean would you wear the shirt and belt out God Save the Queen because I certainly couldn't
He was quoted saying "it's always been Ireland" when he was in the Ireland squad and he was "always English" now he plays for England. He's got dual nationality and obviously feels connection to both countries but he's in PR mode now so every word out of his mouth is what he wants people to hear.

He's chosen England because they are a much better team and it will definitely add to his career prospects. It's a no brainer but his quotes are very disrespectful to everyone who helped him develop in the Irish set up.
 

SquishyMcSquish

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:lol::lol::lol::lol: Oh no I'm so sad!

Grow up a bit, yeah? You're making a fool of yourself, again.
Only ones making a fool of themselves are the crybaby Irish fans mocking a far better national side because a player chose to represent them.

What do you guys expect? Jabs at England at every opportunity but nobody will jab back?

And you call me precious :lol:
 

POF

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He would be Ireland's best player if he actually wanted to play for your shower.

Also, imagine laughing at a side for reaching a World Cup semi and going out in ET to a talented Croatian team, whilst your own team can't qualify for diddly shit and struggle against Gibraltar.

I know it must hurt not actually being able to cheer on your own country every tournament and having to just support anybody who plays England, but the bitterness is a little sad.
The lack of self awareness in this post is hilarious!

Why don't people from other countries want England to win? Read your own post and swap Germany for England and England for Ireland and it might give you a clue.
 

Nick7

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Only ones making a fool of themselves are the crybaby Irish fans mocking a far better national side because a player chose to represent them.

What do you guys expect? Jabs at England at every opportunity but nobody will jab back?

And you call me precious :lol:
:lol: OK Glaston.
 

SquishyMcSquish

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The lack of self awareness in this post is hilarious!

Why don't people from other countries want England to win? Read your own post and swap Germany for England and England for Ireland and it might give you a clue.

I don't go round supporting every team that plays against Germany and constantly playing down anything good Germany might do, is the difference.

Nor would I have the nerve to laugh at them or say they fecked anything up if they reached a World Cup semi final whilst we were struggling to get out the groups.

I don't expect Ireland fans to support us, why would I? It's just funny how much it obviously grates on some Ireland fans that we had a good tournament.
 

POF

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I don't go round supporting every team that plays against Germany and constantly playing down anything good Germany might do, is the difference.

Nor would I have the nerve to laugh at them or say they fecked anything up if they reached a World Cup semi final whilst we were struggling to get out the groups.

I don't expect Ireland fans to support us, why would I? It's just funny how much it obviously grates on some Ireland fans that we had a good tournament.
But if you had superior German fans laughing at England not getting out of the group, saying your team was garbage and you bottle every major tournament when you lose on penalties because you are gutless losers with massive egos, would you want them to win the semi final?
 

An Irish Red

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You guys can watch him sing God save the Queen as England march on at every tournament
The only good teams you played against at the world cup were Croatia (lost) and Belgium (lost twice). You even needed penalties to beat Colombia.

Sure England are currently better than Ireland, as you should be with your population, but marching on at every tournament? not a chance. You wont get a draw that lucky again.
 

Zebs

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Squishy is being had by the Irish lads here. Chap doesn't know he's had the piss taken out of him for pages now :lol:
 

SquishyMcSquish

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But if you had superior German fans laughing at England not getting out of the group, saying your team was garbage and you bottle every major tournament when you lose on penalties because you are gutless losers with massive egos, would you want them to win the semi final?
I was quite happy for Ireland to do well before the anti-England brigade started trying to ruin everybody's fun in the summer.

Also, I probably wouldn't actively want Germany to win anything, but nor would I be that invested in the game. I wouldn't really care either way, when it comes to international football I care how England do and that's about it.
 

diarm

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"marching on at every tournament" :lol::lol::lol:

I bloody love Spurs fans!
 

SquishyMcSquish

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Squishy is being had by the Irish lads here. Chap doesn't know he's had the piss taken out of him for pages now :lol:
Yeah, that's definitely it mate. All the Irish fans are just pretending to dislike England/be annoyed about Rice, just like they were the entire summer.
 

Zebs

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Yeah, that's definitely it mate. All the Irish fans are just pretending to dislike England/be annoyed about Rice, just like they were the entire summer.
You really have no clue what we think though do you? Have you met an Irish person before? :lol:
 

SquishyMcSquish

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The only good teams you played against at the world cup were Croatia (lost) and Belgium (lost twice). You even needed penalties to beat Colombia.

Sure England are currently better than Ireland, as you should be with your population, but marching on at every tournament? not a chance. You wont get a draw that lucky again.
England in 2018 weren't that good, it was a tournament too early for us. Most people recognise that.


We're kicking on big time recently though and by 2020/2022 will clearly be a significantly better side, more equipped to take on the best sides.
 

the chameleon

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He looks like the type of player we would love to hate if he played for our rivals.

Woodie, please make him our c$nt before it's too late!
 

POF

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I was quite happy for Ireland to do well before the anti-England brigade started trying to ruin everybody's fun in the summer.

Also, I probably wouldn't actively want Germany to win anything, but nor would I be that invested in the game. I wouldn't really care either way, when it comes to international football I care how England do and that's about it.
So a fan of another team actively insults your team, you wouldn't enjoy the comeuppance when they get knocked out?

I applaud your virtue good sir.
 

SquishyMcSquish

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You really have no clue what we think though do you? Have you met an Irish person before? :lol:
No, but it's also pretty clear that it's not some co-ordinated attempt to just pretend to be annoyed about England. Irish fans were bitter all summer, and (shock horror) remain bitter now when Rice made the switch.

Irish fans being anyone but England merchants is an eternal truth of football.
 

Ban

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England in 2018 weren't that good, it was a tournament too early for us. Most people recognise that.


We're kicking on big time recently though and by 2020/2022 will clearly be a significantly better side, more equipped to take on the best sides.
England usually does well in qualifying, it's nothing new.
 

SquishyMcSquish

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So a fan of another team actively insults your team, you wouldn't enjoy the comeuppance when they get knocked out?

I applaud your virtue good sir.
Most England fans didn't start insulting the Irish teams until Ireland fans became obsessed with playing down England/cheering on everyone who played them.

Most England fans couldn't give two shits what Ireland do. I still don't really care if they win or lose.
 

Nick7

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He'd cost a bomb now. We should have gone for him when he was still Irish, he'd have been half the price !
I know it's almost a cliché but I'd like to see how he does next year. He's evidently a very good player, but I'd like to see how he gets on when all this nonsense is over. Will he kick on even further?
 

Classical Mechanic

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England usually does well in qualifying, it's nothing new.
Not entirely true. We usually qualify with a degree of ease but make heavy weather of sides like Czech Republic and Montenegro away (this has literally happened a couple of time in the recent past). Our goals for column is usually underwhelming. I think the World Cup + the Nations League + these two games this break shows a different England to what we have seen in the recent past.

All that said, it doesn't mean we will necessarily win anything as there will always be a number of sides good enough to knock us out at tournaments.

Was he? I actually remember very few that I know being excited by him.
In fairness Mick Mac was planning on 'building a side round him'. Perhaps he was being literal given that as Rice is a DM he would be in the middle of the formation.
 

the chameleon

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He'd cost a bomb now. We should have gone for him when he was still Irish, he'd have been half the price !
True! Though most players are going to cost a bomb now. Our senior management have had heads in the clouds w@nking over the likes of Bale and Varane. In the meantime there's been an emergence of so many players that would have cost half the price 12-18 months ago.
 

Djemba-Djemba

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I know it's almost a cliché but I'd like to see how he does next year. He's evidently a very good player, but I'd like to see how he gets on when all this nonsense is over. Will he kick on even further?
The bits I've seen he looks good but yeah you're right, definitely too early to say ah he's a top player.

Loads of lads look good at a young age then fail to push on.
 

SquishyMcSquish

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England usually does well in qualifying, it's nothing new.
Nah, havent ever seen such a unified, progressive England team before. The football is far better than it has been before, even when we were easing through qualifiers the football was dire. If people can't see the difference I feel like they've not really been paying attention.

Combine that with the nations league performances and the increasing success of England teams at youth level, and you can see something exciting is developing. Not surprising Rice wanted to be a part of that.

Even at the WC the difference in attitude and approach was clearly there, players gave their all, and actually looked happy to be there. Your lot are a good team and it was no embarrassment to lose to you.
 

Zebs

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No, but it's also pretty clear that it's not some co-ordinated attempt to just pretend to be annoyed about England. Irish fans were bitter all summer, and (shock horror) remain bitter now when Rice made the switch.

Irish fans being anyone but England merchants is an eternal truth of football.
Ok mate, if it makes you feel better.

You're clearly just upset you haven't beaten us in 34 years. xxx am I taking the piss here? Who knows!?
 

the chameleon

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I think we need to take some gambles. At this point there are finally some strong homegrown players emerging. This has not happened since the golden generation. We need to build a new backbone for our side that will be around for the next decade. The other choice is a bunch of foreign players who if good enough will flirt with the likes of Madrid.

He'd be a strong candidate for this. As @Nick7 says, wait another season. But, pounce if someone else goes for him.