*Official* English Football Season 2009-2010

[BoyBrumby]

When I was in Vietnam I read one of your rags (Daily Mirror or Telegraph, it was free btw) and they asked a bunch of former players, managers etc. and opinion was pretty divided as to whether or not England should pick him and a lot of the Scots were against the idea (I think a similar case with Ranger's Nacho Novo wanting to play for Scotland, but the SFA said no). I haven't seen Novo play much (don't really care about the SPL too much) so I can't say if he would add something to Scotland or not, but they seemed pretty much against the idea of not picking somebody who doesn't have Scottish blood in them. This was just after the Man U - Arsenal European Cup Semi Final 1st leg at OT.

It's madness IMO, when as you say, a lot of other nations don't have a problem with such a thing. Croatia pick a bloke who was born in Brazil and a couple of blokes who were born in Australia (had Croatian parents TBF) and was raised here and got training at the AIS FFS.

Yeah, it seems short-sighted at best and borderline xenophobic at worst. I reckon there's an argument that Almunia is just as entitled to a call-up as Hargreaves was because he's at least played five years pro football over here. Hargreaves (half-Welsh, Canadian-born and raised) hadn't kicked a football in anger in Blighty before his call.

I guess in the case of the four home nations the situation is slightly complicated by all sharing British citizenship. At some point fairly recently (1993 according to this link) they tightened up the qualifcation criteria, because previously if a British citizen was foreign-born he had a choice of any of them, regardless of residence or parents' nationality. Maik Taylor (born in Germany to an German mum and English dad) took advantage of this to play for Northern Ireland despite no connections to the six counties at all.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Bit of a mixed feeling for me, I'm not entirely in favour of it, but neither am I totally opposed. Personally, I think that he is one of the strongest eligible candidates for the role, and would do a good job if selected. However, I do have a slight gripe in the sense that he doesn't have an English bone in his body (despite actually speaking better English than the majority of the countries population), I know Pietersen doesn't either, but at least he made the jump over to the UK when he was fairly young with the intention of effectively leaving SA behind and has played the majority of his professional career in England. Though Almunia has played the majority of his football in England, his attitude to playing for the national side strikes me as being a bit like..."well, I've tried and failed to get into the Spain squad, may as well have a crack at England now". I wouldn't be opposed to him playing....but something wouldn't quite sit right with me over it.

Not true, actually. His mum was born in Liverpool, thus entitling him to British citizenship from birth anyway. If KP was a footballer he wouldn't have had to serve his 4-year qualification period, even.

 

[GIMH]

I didn't know Pietersen was a Merseysider at heart. Him, Botham, seems like an endless list of cricketing brilliance

 

[sledger]

Not true, actually. His mum was born in Liverpool, thus entitling him to British citizenship from birth anyway. If KP was a footballer he wouldn't have had to serve his 4-year qualification period, even.

Fair enough, didn't realise that.

 

[Matteh]

I guess in the case of the four home nations the situation is slightly complicated by all sharing British citizenship. At some point fairly recently (1993 according to this link) they tightened up the qualifcation criteria, because previously if a British citizen was foreign-born he had a choice of any of them, regardless of residence or parents' nationality. Maik Taylor (born in Germany to an German mum and English dad) took advantage of this to play for Northern Ireland despite no connections to the six counties at all.

Itstl, waiting for my Northern Ireland call up then.

 

[Pizzorno]

Just a sidenote on all this Almunia talk, Mikel Arteta qualifies next year. Might even be sooner I think. Would you let him in the England side?

 

[Pothas]

Would love to see it from a Football point of view, but do not think it will ever happen.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Which one of Garth Barry, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard would he replace?

 

[Pothas]

Well he is a better player than Garath Barry, if he would fit into the side I am not entirely sure but he would be a great addition to the squad.

 

[Agent TBY]

Which one of Garth Barry, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard would he replace?

Should play him only in friendlies, as a replacement for the injured Gerrard.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

I strongly disagree that he's a better player than Barry in the position that Barry plays for England.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I strongly disagree that he's a better player than Barry in the position that Barry plays for England.

Yeah, not really an apt comparsion. Arteta plays more of the role Carrick plays for England or Alonso did for yer Scousers, deep lying but not really a screening midfielder as such. If we played Arteta where Barry features he'd struggle because tackling isn't really his bag.

We'd need to leave out one of Fat Frank or Stevie G IMHO and can't see that happening.

Would have Arteta in the squad if available tho.

 

[Matteh]

You'd easily have Arteta at the very least in the squad, much better impact sub than say Carrick/Beckham(who still has qualities that England should use) in the middle.

Plus naturally great cover for Gerrard/Lampard when they flake/do awfully.

 

[sledger]

You'd easily have Arteta at the very least in the squad, much better impact sub than say Carrick/Beckham(who still has qualities that England should use) in the middle.

Plus naturally great cover for Gerrard/Lampard when they flake/do awfully.

Yeah, agreed.

 

[The Sean]

Sunderland have signed Lee Cattermole from Wigan for an initial £6m, rising to £8m.
Not wildly exciting, but the best we've got today.

FWIW, Arteta would walk into any England squad I was picking.

 

[grecian]

Hmmm, why can't Rio do that type of thing when playing for United.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Barry playing like a Citeh man already. Blind ball across your own goal? Always a good idea, obv.

 

[grecian]

Not been great has it?

Dragons Den beckons......

 

[sledger]

Not been great has it?

Dragons Den beckons......

Theo Paphitis drops a Bombshell on the den...

"Gareth Barry is ****, I'm out"

 

[BoyBrumby]

Beautiful strike from Defoe. Good advantage from the ref too after Oojer smashed into the back of Rooney.