MICHAEL O’NEILL PINPOINTED developing a bigger pool of players as a key strategy at his unveiling as the new Northern Ireland manager.
The recently-departed Shamrock Rovers boss doesn’t technically begin his two-year reign until February 1, but he signalled his intent at Windsor Park earlier today.
There has been a considerable amount of criticism aimed towards the FAI from the likes of the IFA’s elite player mentor Gerry Armstrong with regard to players switching allegiance from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland in recent years.
And O’Neill suggested that, with the exception of Manchester United’s Darron Gibson, those who decided to make the move have had little or no impact in the first team.
“Darron Gibson is really the only exception to that, so players who are eligible for us can have long and distinguished careers,” he told UTV.
He added that there are a number of players who have “gathered a huge amount of caps and have fantastic experiences as a Northern Ireland player”.
The 42-year-old has a huge task on his hands taking charge of a team which hasn’t qualified for a major tournament in 25 years and finished ahead of only the Faroe Islands in the qualifiers for Euro 2012.
He also emphasised the significance of making players feel at home early on in their careers.
“It’s important that, from a young age, they feel part of the Northern Ireland set-up and they see a pathway for them,” he added.
The World Cup 2014 qualifier away to Russia will be his first competitive game in charge but first up is a friendly with Norway on February 29.
I like GAA too! If only I cold find a way to wriggle out of my PAYE obligations, I could then throw out a bit of the cash I’d save to my pet sport and everyone would say I’m a great fella.
@Hibernicus: There’s always one who has nothing good to say.
@Richard Ford: You misunderstood, I am inspired & keen to emulate the great man!
@Hibernicus: the man owns and runs a Swiss based company where he is clearly doing pretty well. This is also where he pays tax. I appreciate that might be a difficult concept to wrap your head around when you’ve likely spent your life in the one village.
@Hibernicus: . Well then please do your very best to do so. All donations gratefully accepted Hibernicus.
@Hibernicus: typical
@Paul Odeier: succinct!
@Hibernicus:you come across as a great fella.revenue are crying out for great fellas
As I said to Shane below, we are a tax haven. Tax avoidance is the way of the world. We gratefully accept multiple billions from corporations who base their headquarters here to avoid tax. We can’t have it both ways. People be careful not to fall off their high horses.
Fantastic balanced journalism from the headline down, exactly why I decided to pay for a subscription.
I look forward to the day when I can stop paying tax like all the smart people and donate an iPad to the club raffle for a gushing write-up in the local paper.
@Shane Griffin: When are you expecting to become one of the smart people?
@Shane Griffin: how do you feel about the fact that Ireland is a tax haven? Do you think we should send back the multiple billions we receive from tax dodging corporations every year???