General Sykes wants to play for the republic

[Mintygreen]

Mark Sykes switches allegiance from Northern Ireland to Republic of Ireland

Mark Sykes decides he no longer wants to be considered for selection by Northern Ireland and switches allegiance to Republic.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Sarge]

Mark Sykes switches allegiance from Northern Ireland to Republic of Ireland

Mark Sykes decides he no longer wants to be considered for selection by Northern Ireland and switches allegiance to Republic.

www.bbc.co.uk

be interested to see what OWS reports on this story

 

[West Oxon U’s]

Wow.

 

[Mintygreen]

Someone must have advised him the republic want him , not going to make him popular back home !

 

[Jason N]

That will add more ££££ to the lad. Fair play to him. I think this could be a very good season for him.

 

[LeftSideBoy]

That will add more ££££ to the lad. Fair play to him. I think this could be a very good season for him.

I agree. I think the fact he has been given the #10 shirt, speaks volumes. Clearly KR fancies him to push on and play a key role. I really rate him.

Did you see his involvement in the 2nd goal in our first friendly, this week? Absolute filth.

 

[Bornyellow]

That will add more ££££ to the lad. Fair play to him. I think this could be a very good season for him.

Couldn’t agree more I hope his ankle injury isn’t anything serious. He had a stop start pre season last year and that set him back at the start of the season. Think we may see him playing more centrally as well this year.

 

[unification]

Thoughts @Ox4Eva?

 

[Ox4Eva]

Thoughts @Ox4Eva?

Piece of s**t...

 

[beyondthefourth]

Wonder what that will do, if anything, to the dynamic between him and Joel Cooper within the squad as well.

 

[androidyellow2]

Wonder who the last player to do that was? Ballsy stuff from the boy.

 

[Whingit]

If you were born on the island, you're Irish.

 

[Marked Ox]

Wonder what that will do, if anything, to the dynamic between him and Joel Cooper within the squad as well.

I doubt anything tbh.

 

[beyondthefourth]

I doubt anything tbh.

You'd hope. If anything, it's one person fewer to compete with for his own seleciton!

 

[Sarge]

If you were born on the island, you're Irish.

I though if you drank Guinness ( or Murphys) you could claim Irish Nationality ?

 

[MiddleBartonYellow]

Catholic then.

 

[Junior_1]

Catholic then.

Poorly advised...

 

[ljs]

Poorly advised...

Why so?

 

[MiddleBartonYellow]

Poorly advised...

Some of them find it difficult to represent N Ireland for obvious reasons. If we grew up there we would probably understand it a bit more.

 

[MG]

It depends to an extent on your class background and the precise district you come from. In addition, Brexit has changed the dynamics in NI. Johnson shafted the DUP and moderate Unionists have accepted the inevitability of closer ties with the south so a switch like this is less contentious than it might have been four years ago. Sykes’s decision is in itself an indication of how things are changing.

 

[beyondthefourth]

Some of them find it difficult to represent N Ireland for obvious reasons. If we grew up there we would probably understand it a bit more.

I read the 'poorly advised' comment being in reference to you making that particular 'Catholic then' comment.

Bear in mind, Sykes represented the Northern Irish U21s 11 times (when he was managed by the current boss of the main national team), and was in 3 training camps with the main squad under O'Neill.

Until Sykes comes out and gives a reason, it's all guesswork on our part. Best not to resort to simple secular speculation.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Poorly advised...

Why poorly advised? The Republic are the better team and maybe it fits better with his family and background. NI is likely to merge with the rest of the island failrly soon but not during the peak of Sykes’s career.

 

[Ox4Eva]

If you were born on the island, you're Irish.

If you were born in Oxford, you are Welsh then...

 

[MiddleBartonYellow]

I read the 'poorly advised' comment being in reference to you making that particular 'Catholic then' comment.

Bear in mind, Sykes represented the Northern Irish U21s 11 times (when he was managed by the current boss of the main national team), and was in 3 training camps with the main squad under O'Neill.

Until Sykes comes out and gives a reason, it's all guesswork on our part. Best not to resort to simple secular speculation.

Highly likely that will be the reason though. Which of course is his personal decision.

 

[m]

If you were born in Oxford, you are Welsh then...

What's your logic there?

 

[Followtheox1]

If you were born in Oxford, you are Welsh then...

The answer is yes you could be Welsh. If your parents are for example, you may feel Welsh too. It is possible to align yourself to more than one country you know. It's possible to feel you belong to more than one place. I'm the son of an immigrant. I was born here, I feel English but certainly don't just feel English.

 

[Front Post]

Are we really still having comments that suggest negative connotations relating to whether someone is protestant/catholic, Irish/Northern Irish, Celtic/Rangers etc?

I would imagine for the majority of us, it has little relevance or impact on our daily lives, yet for some reason (and it's since the referendum), it seems to be a topic that has become "louder" again. Certainly going to watch England away has noticeably changed since 2016 with increased volume of anti-pope style chants. Normally by teenagers in who in the main have no idea about history and certainly have seen no troubles during their lifetime, yet presumably have gathered their opinions from those elders who they associate themselves with.

Who Mark Sykes choose to pledge his international football allegiance to has absolutely no relevance to me or any of us.

 

[Basham Wonderland]

Provided he doesn't start getting all James McClean about it, then I can't see why anyone should have an issue.

 

[beyondthefourth]

Doesn't make the Republic squad anyway. Will be glad to have him available for league selection for the time being.

 

[Benox]

Doesn't make the Republic squad anyway. Will be glad to have him available for league selection for the time being.

I’d assume he’s been given some indication that this isn’t far from reach though. Unless there is some non-footballing reason why he’s made this decision after being included in 4 previous full squads.