Gibson may be ready for Ireland return

Everyone is proud that Osman/Jags/Baines represent England. There are ongoing arguments about Baines being a better left back than Cole. Everyone is happy that we now have a top quality squad, full of internationals. We are also impressed if a new player has represented country at any level.

How come then that lots of people seem to be happy for many of our players to skip International games or even do a "Pienaar" and retire?

Whether we like it or not, it is part a and parcel of the deal. Personally, I respect players who want to represent their countries, as often it is not that well paid (eg, African countries) and is a big effort in travel etc.

The case of Gibson is a bit unusual as Trapatonni has been an absolute twat in his team selection (especially at the Euros) and I don't blame Gibson taking his time in making himself available.

After the last international friendly, Everton lost 1 - 2 to Reading partially due to so many players away on international duty and returning back tired and not prepared to face Reading. Who had practically had no players away on international duty and able to prepare uninterrupted for a whole week. Those 3 points lost maybe the points that would have given Everton 4 th spot. So we will wait and see at the end of the season the effect and outcome of those lost 3 points.

“Playing in the biggest tournament against the best players in the world was something that I will always look back on with great satisfaction.”

Quote from Kevin Sheedy (referring to 1990 World Cup) who is an Evertonian who I much admire for his behaviour both on and off the pitch.

In that quote, it's playing in the tournament he's talking about with pride. Gibson was born in Londonderry, I suspect his reason for choosing to play for the Republic was it gave him a better chance of playing in these tournaments. If NI were the stronger team, I bet very few players would switch to the Republic. Basically, players might take pride in playing for their country but it's as much about personal glory as well.

Actually he was born in Wales and qualified for Ireland through his (Clare-born) father. I don't think he could play for Norn Iron but presumably could have played for Wales (or England?). Anyway, who gives a stuff.

Sheeds doesn't strike me as the type of guy who did things for personal glory and certainly playing for the Republic of Ireland was no guarantee of any glory! Just ask Liam Brady or Johnny Giles who were great players in mediocre international teams.

Similarly, at the moment, the RoI team are very average (IMHO) yet players like Duffy & Coleman all want to play and represent their country. Similarly, other Everton players take pride in representing their countries. I hope like hell that none get injured etc but I fully understand where they are coming from.

You might get the odd NI player playing for the Republic due to the greater chances of success but given the political history up there you can be near certain that it was based on the fact that he felt Irish and not British.

If you're a Catholic in the North why would you play for them when you see what Lennon and McGinn have had to go through.

Also, they have a fair idea that representing the Republic means they won't be getting bullets in the post or receiving death threats like Neil Lennon because they are Roman Catholic.

Let's not turn this topic into a religion based bigoted topic but that's the reason why they play for the Republic, right or wrong, and as well you know it.

Fully agree with Shane about why he would play for RoI. I still believe that either option is certainly no guarantee of "glory" and requires a fair amount of commitment and pain for the player himself.