Re: Football Season 2013/14 & Summer Window
 

If there is then it played no part in Giggs playing for Wales. He had the choice (similar to Michael Owen) but chose Wales. Had anyone known how he was going to turn out would any England fans have taken JW's attitude? No way, especially during those times in the 90s when England's options on the attacking left were severely limited.

Re: Football Season 2013/14 & Summer Window
 

As of '93 he had the choice who to play for as a british passport holder, the situation is unique to the british Isles so has no baring on any other case, also prior to '93 he couldn't choose. Also what did he ever do at international level?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_eligibility_rules

Re: Football Season 2013/14 & Summer Window
 

Looks like the Cardiff owner is making some rather silly decisions.:shocked:

new appointment

Re: Football Season 2013/14 & Summer Window
 

One man does not make a team so it's not a case of what he ever did at international level - the fact is England had deficiencies in Giggs' position before and during his peak. Giggs is not English but he was eligible to play for them before he declared for Wales.

The point I'm making was if it had been known what sort of player he'd turn out to be would England fans have been saying 'No, he's not English so we don't want him"?

Re: Football Season 2013/14 & Summer Window
 

I wish that were true but I always get the impression it isn't. It's why I care less about the national team. It's just not national, it's England. I was much more up for the Olympics with Team GB flying under the British flag and Scotsman teaming up with Welshman teaming up with the Northern Irish teaming up with the English. My passport says British, the flag is the Union Jack, and the Island contains three nations (and we have a few other islands too :D).

I would love a British football team. I don't think many share that desire however. I think it's stupid have the nations have governed together, created together, fought together, and competed together but when it comes to Football it's somehow different. The country was happy when Murray won so why can't we all have the same unity for Football? Bizarre.

Re: Football Season 2013/14 & Summer Window
 

Giggs went to school in England and had his early footballing education here not to mention his entire career so it's an entirely different situation to the current one. The point I'm making is he did nothing at international level so why would he have been the man to solve any deficiencies, based on what he did he'd have been another John Barnes.

Re: Football Season 2013/14 & Summer Window
 

I feel confident (though not asked everyone) that scotland does not want a british team for football, and could care less for a british team. But that is for football. Other sports, status quo remains.

Not sure about Wales, perhaps they prefer to be part of the England set-up? Isn't that same for the beloved cricket?

Next you will want a welsh/england rugby team :D

Re: Football Season 2013/14 & Summer Window
 

He did nothing at international level due to who he was playing alongside - I'm sure much the same thing will be able to be said about Bale over the next few years but no legitimate England fan would refuse him in the team if they had the option.

Again you're missing the point - Wiltshire said only English players should qualify for England. If Giggs' choice had been based on a fan (or even a player) vote he'd never have turned out for Wales.

---------- Post added at 05:48 ---------- Previous post was at 05:46 ----------

You mean could not care less.

I'm pretty sure that overall most fans would prefer a GB team.

No, again a BRITISH team would be the preference.

As long as the team was still called Wales :)

Re: Football Season 2013/14 & Summer Window
 

It would have been wonderful to have had Giggsy playing for us..

Re: Football Season 2013/14 & Summer Window
 

Could of, would of, should of, my moneys on him having done nothing for England, just like he did for Wales. Wiltshire then clarified his position to one I agree with giggs and bale spent the majorities of their school and early footballing lives here and as such have England more than Wales to thank for their ability today. A much better example to use would be Lennox Lewis imo, some one who was born here left as a baby, represented his adopted country at the olympics and if I'm being cynical rediscovered the country of his birth to boost his pay cheque, that said I bet he in particular does feel something for this country but in his heart I doubt he ever calls it home.

Re: Football Season 2013/14 & Summer Window
 

aka backed down when he realised how silly his comments were.

Don't worry, you weren't in danger of looking like you were going to be complimentary about Wales.

England wouldn't have said no to Giggs, in fact amongst others Harry Rednapp and Sven both said they wished he hadn't chosen Wales.

Re: Football Season 2013/14 & Summer Window
 

I didn't say they would say no, just that he would've made no difference to the team and done nothing in it. I don't think he backed down as such, more fully explained his position, we either want access to footballers and their thoughts or we want these awful media savvy say nothing interviews that we get after matches.

Re: Football Season 2013/14 & Summer Window
 

He still would have had the call-up, and that's what this is all about. Januzaj getting a call-up for the England team and whether his not being English should make a difference.

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I think the rules are pretty fair as they are. If a country invests in a young player from an early age the player should be able to play for that country no matter where they were born. The only thing I don't agree with is when the player is older and they qualify through residency, like when there was talk of Almunia and Arteta playing for England.

Re: Football Season 2013/14 & Summer Window
 

Yes and as stated their different cases ones been here five minutes and the other spent his entire life here all but.