General Sykes wants to play for the republic

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Left Wing Cross said:
I think the FIFA rules were made in good faith. The problem is looking at this as poaching from a "a smaller country".

I imaging the rules were so that if a player was representing a "larger nation" at youth level, they wouldn't be excluded from representing someone else. Did anyone complain when Victor Moses or Shola Ameobi represented England up to U-21s but decided to represent Nigeria?
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Moses and Ameobi have connections to Nigeria through their families.

Mark Sykes is born in Northern Ireland to Northern Irish parents.

For arguments sake Robbie Keane wouldn't have the possibility to join NI even if he wanted to as he has no connection to the country. Why does the same rule not apply for players in NI? The rule is clearly bias and benefits one nation much more than the other. The ROI literally can pick from the whole country of Ireland and were restricted to just 5 counties.

Could you imagine if there was a rule where France can pick any English born player to play for them but England aren't allowed to pick the French born players.
 
Aren't Northern Ireland the superior international team at the moment anyway, or is that just Michael O'Neill's stellar work the last few years giving me an unduly positive impression? Thinking back to the Euro qualifiers, didn't they come damn close to getting out of a group that featured Germany and the Netherlands? The Republic always just seem to be playing (and losing) against Denmark
 
From a purely football perspective, I believe it's pretty simple. (I realise it's far form that from a political one though). It football terms, they each have an FA and Fifa recognises them as 2 different countries. Since he as born in NI and have represented them at U21 level, I don't think he should be allowed to change.
This would certainly add unnecessary problems from arising. I had a friend some years ago who played for England U18s, it was the last age group you could play for before you had to be attached to a professional club. I thin the rules should say that you make your choice and that's it from that point.

It complicated by the fact that in some quarters, he has actually choosing to play for the country of his birth. Someone can probably put me right, but I'm sure this doesn't happen anywhere else?
It's not a political issue, but as an aside, I believe that if you are born in the Channel Islands you can choose to represent any UK nation if thought it's not actually part of the UK.
 
Dolly said:
From a purely football perspective, I believe it's pretty simple. (I realise it's far form that from a political one though). It football terms, they each have an FA and Fifa recognises them as 2 different countries. Since he as born in NI and have represented them at U21 level, I don't think he should be allowed to change.
This would certainly add unnecessary problems from arising. I had a friend some years ago who played for England U18s, it was the last age group you could play for before you had to be attached to a professional club. I thin the rules should say that you make your choice and that's it from that point.

It complicated by the fact that in some quarters, he has actually choosing to play for the country of his birth. Someone can probably put me right, but I'm sure this doesn't happen anywhere else?
It's not a political issue, but as an aside, I believe that if you are born in the Channel Islands you can choose to represent any UK nation if thought it's not actually part of the UK.
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Correct- that's why Chris Tardif played for NI at u. 21 level, until they also realised he wasn't very good. Wikipedia says that loophole has now been changed. I clicked on the FIFA rules, but found myself nodding off after about twenty seconds.
 
mooro said:
Am I the only one that is beginning to worry that a certain person is getting a little ahead of himself and believing his own hype????
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No you aren’t the only one.There has been interviews in the past where I thought he was in danger of getting too ahead of himself and unfortunately he hasn’t put himself in a good light here.
 
Steve Gilbert said:
No you aren’t the only one.There has been interviews in the past where I thought he was in danger of getting too ahead of himself and unfortunately he hasn’t put himself in a good light here.
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I do remember a couple of interviews in his first half season where he was very much talking about his own performance over that of the team.
 
ThehatchetMan said:
Moses and Ameobi have connections to Nigeria through their families.

Mark Sykes is born in Northern Ireland to Northern Irish parents.

For arguments sake Robbie Keane wouldn't have the possibility to join NI even if he wanted to as he has no connection to the country. Why does the same rule not apply for players in NI? The rule is clearly bias and benefits one nation much more than the other. The ROI literally can pick from the whole country of Ireland and were restricted to just 5 counties.

Could you imagine if there was a rule where France can pick any English born player to play for them but England aren't allowed to pick the French born players.
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NI-born players are in a unique postion due to the dual passport eligibility brought in by the Good Friday agreement.
 
beyondthefourth said:
I do remember a couple of interviews in his first half season where he was very much talking about his own performance over that of the team.
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Don't mind a confident footballer as long as it doesn't turn into arrogance.
 
beyondthefourth said:
I do remember a couple of interviews in his first half season where he was very much talking about his own performance over that of the team.
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There was also an interview where he plainly said being at Oxford was just a stepping stone to a 'better' team.
Fine being confident, but don't put down your current team.

Anyway, I think people are getting ahead of themselves with his ability and influence on the pitch. To me he still isn't a definite starter.
 
Steve Gilbert said:
He was also very vocal about not starting games even though the team was winning.
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He might well have made some comments to that effect but I have a tendency to judge what I see on the pitch - Sykes contributed more and more as the season progressed and was one of those who definitely didn't let us down in the play-offs. In fact, he might well have been our best player and certainly contributed his best to the team effort. The international choice is his - he alone has to live with the consequences and he seems to have given it due consideration.
 
ljs said:
There was also an interview where he plainly said being at Oxford was just a stepping stone to a 'better' team.
Fine being confident, but don't put down your current team.

Anyway, I think people are getting ahead of themselves with his ability and influence on the pitch. To me he still isn't a definite starter.
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At least he turned up for the play-offs when some of our more established players didn't.
 
I think we've found this seasons scapegoat!!!

A young lad has made a decision about potential international honours that is entirely within the rules laid down by FIFA and the national associations. He informs the manager before it gets anywhere near the press. He then issues a statement that is respectful to NI and the opportunities they have given him, but expresses a desire to play for ROI.

And before that he's spoken about wanting to succeed, to get himself into the starting line up, to make a contribution in as many games as possible. Everything we won't want from a young player.

Now all of a sudden, he's full of himself, arrogant and lacking in integrity!

I hope to God that there is a partially visible tattoo or mystery french player on show at the Palace game to help everyone get back to what really bloody matters!!!
 
Scotchegg said:
I think we've found this seasons scapegoat!!!

A young lad has made a decision about potential international honours that is entirely within the rules laid down by FIFA and the national associations. He informs the manager before it gets anywhere near the press. He then issues a statement that is respectful to NI and the opportunities they have given him, but expresses a desire to play for ROI.

And before that he's spoken about wanting to succeed, to get himself into the starting line up, to make a contribution in as many games as possible. Everything we won't want from a young player.

Now all of a sudden, he's full of himself, arrogant and lacking in integrity!

I hope to God that there is a partially visible tattoo or mystery french player on show at the Palace game to help everyone get back to what really bloody matters!!!
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Oh for goodness sake people are rightfully commenting on an action he’s taken that is extremely controversial. It doesn’t mean he’ll be blamed for defeats. He’ll be judged on merit like everyone else.

Last season you accused people of making Mackie a scapegoat...it’s a label you use to undermine valid criticism. The guy was holding the team back and people made that judgment (just as you have subsequently but a little late accepted). Nobody wants an oxford player to do badly but will always identify where the team can get stronger just as they’ll identify who they think is helping us the most: ability is not an egalitarian concept.

But just as in any course of life, people will also be judged by their actions and in this case people will make judgments as to the brand of Mark Sykes
 
arthurturner said:
Well, you can think what you like, but there may be, and probably are, issues which are none of our business as to why Mark has made this decision. It's a matter for him and not for us on this forum to criticise him. All we should care about is the fact that he's becoming an important part of our team and will be crucial to our performances this season. Further speculation is pointless and unfair. I would suggest that the mods bring this topic to a close.
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Strange suggestion. Why can’t we talk about this and why would you want to shut down the conversation ?

Personally I care about many things not just the success of my favorite football team, and my moral barometer is able to broaden beyond this horizons.

Mark has explained his reasons in the press. They’re very unconvincing and if the allegations that he was tapped up by the ROI are true, they should hang their heads too.

The fact that other players have done this in the past, or a loophole in the system allows it, in my opinion doesn’t make it more palatable.
 
Ricky Otto said:
Oh for goodness sake people are rightfully commenting on an action he’s taken that is extremely controversial. It doesn’t mean he’ll be blamed for defeats. He’ll be judged on merit like everyone else.

Last season you accused people of making Mackie a scapegoat...it’s a label you use to undermine valid criticism. The guy was holding the team back and people made that judgment (just as you have subsequently but a little late accepted). Nobody wants an oxford player to do badly but will always identify where the team can get stronger just as they’ll identify who they think is helping us the most: ability is not an egalitarian concept.

But just as in any course of life, people will also be judged by their actions and in this case people will make judgments as to the brand of Mark Sykes
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"Extremely controversial"???

How many players have represented one nations at youth level before playing for other nation? Hundreds! Not just in football, our cricket team has always included players from other nations. As with athletics. And boxing. In fact, you'd do pretty well to look to a sport where our national team hasn't benefited from importing talent.

How many of these have led to people questioning the integrity of those involved?

I may be wrong, but do you live/work in America? Does anyone question you (or others) for turning their back on the education system that invested in you? No, of course not. Sykes has done absolutely nothing wrong and the hysteria is embarrassing.
 
Im not bothered whether he plays for NI or ROI. Just commenting on his current ability.

Also, as has been said, coming out with the usual scapegoat quote is pretty boring, its just commenting on a players ability, as others have with Eastwood, and the boring scapegoat phrase was then also used.
 
If you criticise any players performances, someone on here will come out with the line ‘oh, here we go, X is the new scapegoat I suppose’, as sure as night follows day.

If you say anything at all negative about the club in any way, Scotchegg will comment, disagreeing with you. It’s just the facts of life!
 
Scotchegg said:
"Extremely controversial"???

How many players have represented one nations at youth level before playing for other nation? Hundreds! Not just in football, our cricket team has always included players from other nations. As with athletics. And boxing. In fact, you'd do pretty well to look to a sport where our national team hasn't benefited from importing talent.

How many of these have led to people questioning the integrity of those involved?

I may be wrong, but do you live/work in America? Does anyone question you (or others) for turning their back on the education system that invested in you? No, of course not. Sykes has done absolutely nothing wrong and the hysteria is embarrassing.
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You can't make these comparisons with other sports or countries because what has happened here hasn't happened elsewhere to my knowledge.

Mark Sykes has no relatives or blood line connecting him to Republic of Ireland. I'm sure if sancho and Harry kane could just up root and start representing Germany that English fans would be just as enraged.

Your lack of compassion and being able to look at this from a different perspective is your issue here. I can fully understand why an Oxford fan with no ties to Northern Ireland may not be frustrated by this. However to claim the outrage is embarrassing is just pure ignorance and shows a really lack of understanding.
 
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