Mmmmm your annoyed people are STILL talking about McClean so you write an article about it talking about the thing you don't like

Dude you haven't really thought this out have you lol.................

You still going on about it Belfast mucker...Hope you are being ironic.

Wee question for ye.If a guy playing for Celtic said what McClean said,how would react?Not enough Prods here like,etc.
If an Ulster rugby player said what he said about playing for Ireland,how would you feel?

At least wise man O'Neill told him to wise up and get off twitter.

Look lads this argument will go on for ever. Two issues which scare nationalists off are the song and the flag. Until they are resolved u will get more and more people opting for the other Irish team.

I'm just pointing out that McLean called it as he sees it. Unless he's lying, which I seriously doubt, then his experience is unique to him and must be taken at face value.

Instead of great ending the kid why not stop and consider if he could actually be shedding some light on something ignored by IFA as its just to close to the bone.

I'm a rep fan and have grown up about 3 miles from Windsor. I know full well what James McLean means and can see where he is coming from.

No point denying it, its how the whole scenario of transferring has arisen

Lol you still talking about this BC lol..............

Sweep, sweep, sweep, out come the sweepers! Nothing to see here. Mclean said nothin and in particular he definitely did not mention anything about religion. Move along now. Show's over.

Great mature responses! Let's just keep taping about what he said cos it's all lies sure! Republican propaganda! Martin mcguinnesss probably paid him to say sure lol

Eejits

PS Belfast Celtic > ignoring his overtly sectarian comment about religion, you say yourself:

"I know full well what James McLean means and can see where he is coming from."

please feel free to add your views to - Anthems / flags for NI

http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewArticle/107191

Yes? No? Maybe?

Great mature responses! Let's just keep sweeping it under the carpet. Loyalist Lies! Ian Paisley probably forced him to say it sure lol

Fokbaik.... See above. I'm a rep ireland fan. If IFA want try attract young nationalists in the north it's up them to change things. If they don't want to change then fine. But don't hound anyone who changes to rep when he gets the chance. Blame the IFA for not acting.

Lol it's your problem lads, not ours.

If u want things to change then it's probably a good idea to do something about... Eh?

BC

You're missing the point with your assumptions about what the IFA do or don't know or how it's "up to them".

\The IFA and indeed NI fans want to be educated as to what nationalists DO want to see and hear in order to encourage them to buy block-tickets, attend games, pick NI over ROI. Give them something to work with! Anything!! This is being proactive and not unreasonable?

What we DON'T need to hear time and again is what fans from nationalist areas don't want to see/hear.

Belfast

Plenty of RC players did the business for NI and we loved them for it.NI games are free from sectarian chants etc.now,yet some folk wish to turn the clock back.
I ask again,if a prod at Celtic or Cliftonville or Ireland rugby turned round and said,there are no prods here,I am away,how would you react?

Yes I agree its probably the wrong thing to say but I think I know this place well enough to hear what he was sayin

In a nutshell he was saying he didn't feel at home at Windsor due to all the unionist trappings attached to that team. I can understand that.

Fokbaik. Whilst I would applaud the IFA for what thru have done and continue up to do the fact is I don't want to support northern Ireland. I am a dedicated fan of rep Ireland but long for the day when we all have one team as per rugby.

I can't offer IFA any help afraid

Belfast

I sit beside Catholics at Windsor,from NI and Eire,backing NI.
I work with Catholic and gaelic guys who support NI and they go to Windsor.
In the Troubles era,the songs and atmosphere was bad,but now it is friendly and this is down to the IFA,fans and Sport For All making it a more family friendly and non-sectarian enviroment.
If politically minded folk in the nationalist and republican areas wish to play for or support ROI,work away,but do not call NI fans or players bigots,for YOUR choices.

All too often when I point the finger back at the accuser and say "what do you want to see/hear", I should expect silence, or "it's inconsequential to me anyway."

Begs the question, those who whinge about flags/anthems/everything - to most NI fans your alleged desire for demanding changes as to how NI is represented is simply seen as a desire to see our wee football team stripped of its national emblems and symbols and not out of any desire to start supporting us in competitive football.

But as a gesture of goodwill and an extension of the olive-branch - I put it to one of these nationalists, put your money where your mouth is. Let's see you formulate a serious campaign amongst nationalist circles, using the media, using schools, using youth groups, using nationalist politicians, to see just exactly how you would like to see NI represented.

In full view of the media let's see you march to IFA HQ in your hundreds.....no....thousands with a dossier containing the results of your campaign. The IFA (and NI supporters) would have no choice but to sit up and listen. It would be a PR disaster if the IFA did not.

We've heard you're not happy, so is there anyone prepared to call the IFA's bluff and make enquiries about what it would take for young nationalists to support NI, buy up tickets, pick NI over ROI *

*(before any NI fans say it, I'm well aware that young nationalists do support NI, buy up tickets and have picked NI over ROI).

Bluebell I have not called anyone anything. Just expressed an opinion. People can support whatever team they wish and good luck to them. I'm happy supporting republic.

I just thought it was important to input on the McLean issue from a different angle as to the one portrayed on these boards as it wasn't accurate in my opinion

Fair points fokbaik.............look forward to the likes of republican gibborocket answering that one.

Fokbaik, why don't you start supporting republic?

Take your answer and apply it to why I don't have interest in promoting support for the northern Ireland team

I was born and bred in Northern Ireland. You?

Belfast

I was not singling you out or saying you were calling us bigots,but others have done so.
I know you are not one of the greener brigade mate,for want of a better description.

Good luck to the ROI,and well done Celtic lifting the SPL trophy yesterday.

TBAB, call me pessimistic about that, but can you imagine some wee lad with a clipboard and pen dandering about nationalist areas, stopping people in the street, wandering into public houses, visiting hoody-filled youth clubs - politely asking folk what would encourage them to support Northern Ireland?

It would be like that scene from the film Trainspotting where the Yank tourist asks the bar manager where "the facilities" are and is closely followed into them by Begbie, Renton and co

Another important issue (from my perspective anyway) is the IFAs continued financing of Linfields hold over the Irish league.

As a paying fan I have grown despise this blatant doping by the supposed governing body

Belfast

As a Bluemen,I agree,we get a nice wee slice to buy players etc and my Crues mates and reds colleagues remind me of our IFA funding.
Then again,we supply the stadium,even if it is falling down.

Fokbaik, why don't you start supporting republic?

Take your answer and apply it to why I don't have interest in promoting support for the northern Ireland team

________

Not sure I follow the logic here. I was born and bred in Northern Ireland. What about you BC?

Fokbaik- Ireland. It's that simple. All the arguing in the world won't change it.

By the way your reference to nationalist areas is a typical snort. Classless and very much 'the people' retoric