In current form, yes. Smalling has been God awful.
I couldn't care less if he's a senior player.
33
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 18
- Clean sheets
- 5
- Goals
- 0
- Assists
- 0
- Yellow cards
- 2
In current form, yes. Smalling has been God awful.
I couldn't care less if he's a senior player.
Indeed, playing international football can only be a good thing for him. He has a chance of playing as well, Northern Ireland are missing both Evans and Craig Cathcart I believe.
Its Ramshock though. He's on a wind up as per usual.
The poster that responded is talking out his arse. FAI poached no one. If a player declares for the Republic they'll pursue it if they deem them good enough, simple as that.
Alex Bruce plays for NI now. Should I have a rant about that?
Has he returned Lukaku to Bobby martin yet? 
You can't compare Alex Bruce to the players we have lost
I'm not going to get into it here but you say that the FAI have poached no one? Surely you don't believe that.
Smalling has started twice this season. Came off the bench vs Leicester (was poor) but he's been injured otherwise. Not just the fact he's a senior player but it's because I think he's a decent CB and not terrible.
I personally think that out of all of our now senior centre backs, he's the one that's most likely going to be shown the door when LVG spends some more money in that department. I was really excited about him after his first season too, but he's horribly regressed since then. I just don't trust him anymore, especially in the bigger games.
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You can't compare Alex Bruce to the players we have lost
I'm not going to get into it here but you say that the FAI have poached no one? Surely you don't believe that.
Agree re. thread. Not sure theres a suitable one out there though....
And yes for the record I do believe it.
This. This place is pathetic at times.
I do know that
Sorry misread your post thought it said he could only play for the IFA not would
Im not on a wind up as usual so keep your nose out Unionist Deco,
The FAI has 12 regional centres to work with kids on a daily basis. The IFA has 4 and I dont think its full time.
Im involved with the Rosario club in Belfast and Im aware of the state of the youth game.
Indeed. It's been an amazing couple of years for him if you think about it. I still can't quite wrap my head around how it's possible to go through the physical and positional changes he's gone through since he was 17 and not look out of place in United's starting XI at 19.
It happens.
As I said I understand that players will want to play for the ROI, I get that, I think it's an unfair loophole that the Republic have, but it's their right to abuse it as much as they want. However, what I can't stand is people looking at a players religion to see if he will opt for the ROI. As for young McNair, I have no idea what religion he is, nor do I care.
.
He wasnt even getting regular U21 action either. So LvG saw something Warren Joyce and Paul McGuinness couldnt see
Yeah especially since its only a year ago that he was looking somewhat out of his depth playing as a centre half in the under 19s Champions League and getting sent off. His all round development in the past year has been very impressive and I think Warren Joyce deserves a lot of credit
No problems. Him and Evans would make a good pairing if Evans stayed fit.
How's it unfair? That's a very narrow minded statement. If a person feels Irish they should have the right to play for the republic. I only feel sympathy when someone changes their allegiances after playing for one country the entire way up until senior.
Most of the players who have opted for the ROI have played underage football for Northern Ireland. As I said, I have no issue with it as it is the rules, however those players had no issue playing for Northern Ireland when they were younger. It wasn't until they had become a relative success or they had been approached by FAI scouts that they decided to switch allegiance.
Totally the other way round.McGuinness's decision to make him a CB has saved his career.He couldn't compete with the likes of Pearson,Rothwell,Weir,... further on the pitch.Joyce played him almost every game in the second half of last season and he has improved a lot during that period.
Id continue to start him, at the moment we don't have any senior CBs so i see no reason to bring Smalling/Jones ahead of him considering theyre also unproven.
I still have some faith in Evans ability but not on him consistently displaying it
I still have some faith in Evans ability but not on him consistently displaying it
He's been an u21 regular since the turn of the year or thereabouts.
Yeah, by and large Joyce is doing an excellent job. Unsung.
Utter bullshit. I know that the FAI have been in attendance at IFA Youth Games on the basis that they are scouting out potential players.
And you can have Bruce back if you wish, I mean, it isn't like the FAI haven't done the same thing *Cough* Adam Barton *Cough*
To a certain extent I'd agree, however Jones is the better player at the moment and would be better suited for the game against Chelsea. Saying that, many didn't think McNair would cope against Lukaku and he had him in his pocket the entire game.
Theres a huge United connection in the Northern Irish squad at the moment with Carroll, Cathcart, McCullough, the two Evans, Norwood and McNair and Croskery and Jordan Thompson in the under 19s and Lewis Thompson played for the under 16s last month
Indeed. I have high hopes for Norwood, never good enough for United but he has a lethal foot on him. Now young McNair could be our main CB for years to come alongside Evans.
Alongside someone else maybe. Not Evans.
Hmm another live one. You lot need to read up on shit and stop screaming from the same gospel sheet. Also get something for your cough
I was talking about Northern Ireland.
Yep definitely. The scouts in the North are very active.
Who played at CB before him then Keane and?
It's true, look at Getsme's post earlier on the page. I know people who have worked with youth players from both Irish League and youth football who confirm the same thing. Scout the players then drop a line to see if they are interested.
Oh ok.
They have every right to. The IFA have no ground to stand on. Your argument about the FAI not spending money on youth development was wrong. They have 12 full time centres to the NI's 4 and those arent full time. The passport and citizenship issue is somewhat a unique situation and any kid born in North can choose to play for South if they so wish its just the way it is.
Thorpe and Keane then Keane went on loan and McNair took over the starting role since then (Love played CB for a few matches as well)
So Thorpe and McNair both CM's converted to CB's. Makes you wonder what LvG didnt like in Thorpe. Is Thorpe a lefty?
I was taking the piss about how the FAI approach Northern Irish youth players.
What they are doing is morally wrong, they are abusing this totally unique situation to their own advantage, how many players from Northern Ireland actually end up playing for the Republic of Ireland?
I believe that the FAI would be happy enough to continue their sectarian head selection of Northern Irish players because it gives them an advantage. I've yet to see anything otherwise.
When the IFA are trying to make a more nonsectarian atmosphere around football the FAI are doing their best to stop them.
But anywho, I'll be at Windsor on Saturday hopefully seeing young McNair make his debut.
I was taking the piss about how the FAI approach Northern Irish youth players.
What they are doing is morally wrong, they are abusing this totally unique situation to their own advantage, how many players from Northern Ireland actually end up playing for the Republic of Ireland?
I believe that the FAI would be happy enough to continue their sectarian head selection of Northern Irish players because it gives them an advantage. I've yet to see anything otherwise.
When the IFA are trying to make a more nonsectarian atmosphere around football the FAI are doing their best to stop them.
But anywho, I'll be at Windsor on Saturday hopefully seeing young McNair make his debut.
Complete and utter mad hatter bullshit. Behave yourself Nev ffs
And Michael O'Neill didnt select McNair I dont think
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s...ter-united-new-boy-paddy-mcnair-30628093.html
Apart from air duels he managed to block him few times without a foul.
For a player with such little of PL experience a brilliant performance indeed.