By Jesse Fink
March 11th 2009 @ 2:32am
Related coverage
An open letter to Bradden Inman
All this palaver about young Bradden Inman being overlooked by Pim Verbeek and Football Federation Australia is a bit laughable.
If you missed the story last week, it was reported that the 17-year-old, who made his Newcastle United debut in February against Manchester City, had been called up the Scotland under-19s on the basis if his mother’s nationality.
There followed an interview in the News Limited press quoting Inman as saying: “No one’s been in contact with me or anything. My goals are playing for Newcastle’s first team, and either playing for Scotland or Australia, maybe in a World Cup. At the minute playing for Scotland, it’s a lot better.
“If you travel to Australia you’ve got to sit on a plane for 24 hours and you don’t play matches that are as good. So, at the minute, it’s Scotland.”
Stay with Scotland, then, Bradden.
If “at the minute” you feel Scottish, then you have no business playing for Australia.
And if you think proverbially holding a gun to the head of the national coach to pick you is going to work, think again.
Verbeek doesn’t go in for that sort of brinkmanship. And besides, it’s not like you’re playing for a top English Premier League side in Europe and setting the world on fire.
If you’d secured a starting spot then perhaps Verbeek might be intrigued, but he’s got a surfeit of players “in that position” (ask Nicky Carle) and what makes you think you’ve got what it takes to jump the queue?
And far from your youth (17) being a carrot for Verbeek, it’s likely it actually works against you. Verbeek wants experienced players for his World Cup campaign and experience comes with age.
How many games has the very capable Matthew Spiranovic played for Australia under Verbeek? Or James Troisi, who also came off the bench for the Magpies? Or Dean Bouzanis?
Hardly any, or, in the case of Bouzanis, none at all.
There is the age-old issue of “locking in” players, especially those of Croatian origin, but the Socceroos really don’t need you right now.
And, frankly, if you think Scotland, a country you’ve probably seen more of in reruns of Rebus than in real life, is “a lot better” than the country of your birth, the country where you spent the first 14 years of your 17 years on this earth, then you have some maturing to do.
I’m sure you’re a very good player, the “next Harry Kewell” (how many times have we heard that sobriquet in the past decade?), but the Socceroos need players who burn for the green and gold, heroes like Tim Cahill (who spent years fighting FIFA to play for Australia after making the mistake of representing Western Samoa when he was a teenager).
We do not need mercenaries of convenience.
Because of your age, I’m prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt. Or at least put down your comments to the receipt of bad advice.
Australia, a football nation on the up, one match away from qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, owes you nothing right now.
You, however, owe it more than you think.
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dasilva said | March 11th 2009 @ 7:00am | Report comment
I don’t think you should be too fooled by TIm Cahill attempt to play for Australia. I think Cahill is a fantastic player and a legend of the game but don’t forget that he fought hard to play for Republic of Ireland for the World Cup 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1820871.stm
About Inman
I agree to the extent especially as I have little time for players who want to represent a country they never ever lived in. If he feels more Scottish then Australian then I think it’s a disgrace.
However I believe that you are confusing the issue. This is not about Pim Verbeek picking Inman for the full socceroos squad as so far Inman and Pim has absolutely zero reason to do so. Also Inman is only playing for the Scottish under 19 team not for the senior team. This is about Jan Versleijen selection of the young socceroos or now deceased manager of Martyn Crook selection of the Joeys.
Just have a brief look of the youth squad and you’ll see zero european players in the joeys and only about 6/23 euroroos in the young socceroos. There are many youth players in europe that never get monitored or contact by FFA and as most of these euroroos are dual nationality (helps avoid work permits), they are often monitored by other countries such as scotland, croatia, greece, wales etc. It’s very common for these players to complain that they never get contact from the FFA and often they have to used the media to get selected aka only spiranovich would have been picked for the socceroos AFTER Croatia tried to poached him and only Dean Bouzanis was picked for the Olyroos warm up match and now willing to make himself available four Young socceroos AFTER he played for Greece under 19 and there was a media outcry about it.
Why aren’t people monitoring players who are making waves in Liverpool or Newcastle United youth squad. Why didn’t anyone called them up to the under 17 joeys to monitor their progress and assess their talents and keep them in the loop? Do they seriously believe that the state institutes youth development is better then Liverpool/Newscastle United? It’s sheer negligence from FFA. Say what you want about the patriotism of defectors but one thing you have to say about those poaching countries is that at least they make the players feel wanted and welcome to their team.
danny said | March 11th 2009 @ 8:02am | Report comment
jesse, i tip my hat to you. well said.
however, at the same time, as dasilva said: why aren’t the ffa making a concerted effort to keep in touch with overseas australians? this ‘i haven’t heard from them’ is becoming something of a recurring theme.
sledgeross said | March 11th 2009 @ 8:19am | Report comment
I agree Jesse.
Bradden, I know you are a kid, but if you dont want to play for Oz, then f*ck off pal. Just because you have played a few games in the premier league as a teenager doesnt guarantee anything (just ask Neil Kilkenny, who attracted rave reviews for Birmingham).
Yes, FA should be more proactive in tracking these young blokes, but if they dont have the ticker or courage to play for Australia, let them play for their second choice countries. I actually follow lower league Scottish football, and let me tell you, some SPL teams wouldnt even make League One in England. It is a shadow of its former self. Your furphy about the distance, well, South Americans have a way to travel, and I highly doubt you would be travelling on a cargo plane.
Talking about playing against weaker teams, ok, there are some top European teams, but some crappy ones too. Im sure it would be tougher playing Uzbekistan and Kuwait than the Faroe Islands, Andorra or Liechtenstein!
Dont be as weak as piss mate.
metalboxhead said | March 11th 2009 @ 9:13am | Report comment
Totally agree Jesse. The problem here is that we are dealing with young kids who expect everything here and now, rather than earning representation for their country. I’d also be interested to know how the Scottish born players would welcome him. If he doesn’t have any allegiance to Australia, how much could he have for Scotland considering he plays in England anyhow? What respect does he deserve from the Scottish players who are very patriotic (and would rather boycott the Olympics instead of representing Great Britain)?
Pippinu said | March 11th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
The days of Scotland making the WC are long gone, he clearly needs a football history lesson there.
I agree that Pim need not be distracted by his youthgul mutterings just yet.
Das makes a very good point about how we keep tabs on youngsters and how we put the Joeys together (who have not performed well for the best part of a decade).
Kazama said | March 11th 2009 @ 10:10am | Report comment
In the end, this is about getting a game for an international side. Playing international football increases your exposure (a.k.a. whoring yourself out) and therefore your chances of landing a bigger contract. It’s all about the money, national pride means nothing to a lot of footballers these days IMO. The Scottish team is a lot easier to break into than the Australian one, particularly for a youngster like Bradden, so he is doing what he can to fast track his international career.
That said, I think it is very disappointing footballers have this attitude. And I agree – if Bradden doesn’t give a rat’s about Australia we shouldn’t give a rat’s about him.
Maybe the solution is to organise a meaningless friendly on a FIFA match date and play as many uncapped multi-national youngsters as possible – that way we will always have access to them if we want them and they aren’t going to play for their second cousin’s grandmother’s nation of birth if we don’t.
StiflersMom said | March 11th 2009 @ 10:12am | Report comment
Nice retort Jesse, I was happy to see a report on 442 this morning with Chris Coyne happy to put Country before club, the passion burns in him, like any team if you want a first team spot you have to fight for it and not make idol threats just to get some attention. We saw with Big Sasho, Pim does not take kindly with players threatening to play for another country if not picked for Australia.
My Message to Bradden, if you don’t love it, P### Off.
Towser said | March 11th 2009 @ 10:32am | Report comment
Stiflers Mom
Thats the bottom line isn’t it “Passion”. If you haven’t got it you’ll never give 100% anyway.
Arnie cops it as a coach(with justification in my opinion) but his quote of if you cant get a bit of “blood on the Wattle” when playing for Australia holds true.
What goods a half arsed player as far as committment goes when we come up against countries like Japan & Iran let alone supposed minnows like Kuwait.
jimbo said | March 11th 2009 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
Yes and the national coach and his sidekick Wags the Dog are paid big money to scour the world and identify appropriate talent for the national team and should be in contact with them.
If he is as good as they say he is – as good as Kool – and about to make a debut as the youngest ever “Aussie” kid to play in the EPL then make the effort to give him a few minutes against Ireland, like we did for Spiranovic, to seal his fate.
Gareth said | March 11th 2009 @ 1:28pm | Report comment
I love how people just assume the FFA knows about every kid that is in europe. More often than not teenagers just stop playing in australia and pop up in europe somewhere and its not until cases like this where their progress is known. IIRC it was a pure fluke that we found out Kilkenny (or was it Wesolowski?) grew up in Australia and was eligible. Especially non Institute players are impossible to track as they’ve had even less contact with the state federations.
The truth of the matter is all people know about this Brad Inman is that he has sat on the bench and his nickname is Kaka. As for making the bench, correct me if im wrong but aren’t the sixth and seventh spots on an EPL bench reserved for youth/reserve players that have come through the club’s youth system. Its an achievement but its hardly an indication he is the next Kewell (shudder…).
On another note though, how are these ‘third party countries’ able to claim products of other countries? England and Australia have produced Inman but Scotland claims the spoils? How can a country that has contributed in no way to his development as a footballer claim his as one of their own. Same with Bouzanis and greece. It doesn’t make sense.
dasilva said | March 11th 2009 @ 2:13pm | Report comment
They could always look at this list here http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Abroad/index.html
I’m sure that Inman was on this list for a long time.
The best database website on Australian Football (great reference for looking at past matches and past players) going in to details most of Australian players playing abroad including plenty of players we haven’t heard of.
Any player on this list who is at a big club could be kept in tabs with.
If worst comes to worst you could just look at the Football Manager database.
Dean Bouzanis represented Australia Under 17 at 2005-2006. He then got picked up by liverpool in 2007. He was loan to Sydney FC in that same year in 2007 so FFA should be aware that he is playing for Liverpool. In 2007 – 2008 he wasn’t selected for the joeys/ young socceroos after joining liverpool. THere was no excuses not to keep in tabs with him and it seems like joining Liverpool was detrimental to his national selection. If you look at the Joeys side there is zero european players in that side. It seems like there is a policy to exclude european players from selection for the joeys. Maybe it’s due to logistical reasons but it’s an absolute disaster that joining Liverpool is detrimental to your national selection.
After a years absence from the youth national team squad in Australia, he was then selected to play for Greece under 19 in 2008.
So us not keeping tabs on Bouzanis risked us losing him to Greece.
Gareth said | March 11th 2009 @ 2:49pm | Report comment
“After a years absence from the youth national team squad in Australia, he was then selected to play for Greece under 19 in 2008.”
Years of abscence? He was 17/18 when he played for the olyroos. How many years was in the ‘wilderness’ considering he had already represented Australia at under 17 level. What was Arnold and Baan supposed to do? Drop Vukovic because some jumped up little shit thinks he is top stuff. IIRC Pim went and spoke to him personally, he then went and played for Greece again.
Not keeping tabs on him? I’m sure he was invited to train with the national team before leaving for liverpool. He trained with Sydney FC for months and then within six months of being in England he was playing for Greece. What did he want a daily blowjob to stay in the green and gold.
dasilva said | March 11th 2009 @ 4:18pm | Report comment
Fair enough Gareth, I concede the point
Having done a bit more research you are right about Bouzanis and he was a bad example of “no contact from FFA” (although I don’t believe he played for greece after pim has talked to him. I don’t think he represented greece since he played for the olyroos in malaysia and now I think he committed himself to Australia and is open to play for the young socceroos).
jimbo said | March 11th 2009 @ 4:30pm | Report comment
That’s what we have friendlies for – give someone else a chance instead of picking the same bunch every time.
Its the managers call on how good he thinks the player is and is not expected to give everyone playing overseas a few minutes of game time to make sure they don’t play for anyone else.
But if he’s as good as Harry Kewell was at the same age – then why not?
md said | March 11th 2009 @ 5:26pm | Report comment
I would give you a cheers for this if there were a button.
I’m not sure that Harry Kewell would even want to be the next Harry Kewell. Nobody should have an orthopedic surgeon on speed-dial – let alone one in every city. The MBF fees would be huge – even with the 30% government rebate.
Many London clubs chant “your just a small team from scotland” when playing Newcastle. Maybe Inman believes it.
Inman – aim higher son and tell your manager to shut up, until you’ve either scored a few or forged an amazing partnership with the real Socceroo in your team.
Cheers
md
Sam said | March 11th 2009 @ 5:43pm | Report comment
I still think he’s worth keeping an eye on. Remember Vince Grella had the same sort of argument about not being noticed or contacted whilst playing in Italy (to Frank Farina). It is more a scream for attention, and this is how many footballers are. I am only going on gut feel here, but if he does break into the Newcastle team and begin to play regularly maybe we might regret not doing something. We desperately need attacking options in the Socceroos. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water yet…
His arrogance is just what might make him a real talent. You know the kind of technically gifted player we really need!
Joe FC said | March 11th 2009 @ 10:15pm | Report comment
Well said Jesse.
Usually Silent Bob said | March 12th 2009 @ 9:47am | Report comment
You are all f*n ridiculous! Need I remind you that Inman was not the one to contact the media, infact he has been OS for almost 3 years now and kept to himself – unlike many of the ‘bigheads’ out there that think they’re gods gift – and I guess thats why all you people that are shocked you’ve not heard of him, he goes about doing his business, which is playing football. He has a passion for sure – he left his home, his friends and family at 14 because he was passionate & dedicated enough to do so, unlike some of the other little boys that had daddy hold their hand & couldn’t hack it some came back home in tears.
Why do people think that playing for a Premier League Team – any PL team is something to be laughed at? Lets not forget he is a youth player, he’s not saying he wants a start for the Socceroo’s, but if you used common sense the youth is surely a place to start.
The article was originally meant to be about the fact that an Australian – something you all seem to be so proud of is doing well yet going unnoticed in his home country, not something for all you little men get your knickers in a knot over.
He isn’t threatening anyone about picking him or not picking him, he wasn’t complaining – he was asked a question and he answered honestly. I am Australian & very proud, and I have seen this kid play & I can tell you all something for nothing – you want him on your team…and if Australia do ever take their opportunity to invite him to trial he’s got one more game of international experience under his belt.
sledgeross said | March 12th 2009 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
“No one’s been in contact with me or anything. My goals are playing for Newcastle’s first team, and either playing for Scotland or Australia, maybe in a World Cup. At the minute playing for Scotland, it’s a lot better.
“If you travel to Australia you’ve got to sit on a plane for 24 hours and you don’t play matches that are as good. So, at the minute, it’s Scotland.”
Nah, your right Usually SIlent Bob, he seems a real PASSIONATE Aussie. Its a simple equation. EIther you want to play for us or not. If he chooses Scotland, good luck to him, it says more about that countries ability to produce players than anything else. If you have seen him play and think he is special, then I will trust your judgement mate, and hope he does choose us. I think people just get fed up with blokes who have done very little in their career speaking up like this. Maybe Bradden is just feeling the residual wrath.
Anyway, Ill definately keep an eye out for him on your recommendation.
Usually Silent Bob said | March 12th 2009 @ 2:19pm | Report comment
Yeah uh-hu I am right on this occasion. What you’ve quoted above missed out an important part “when I spoke to the Scotland coach about it” so yeah the Scotland coach got in there as quick as he could point out the benefits – there was no choice to be made, he didn’t really have to Aussie dudes on the other phone now did he. He hasn’t jeopardised anything as he is still eligible should he ever get the opportunity to play for Australia, and I’m sure he knew the technicalities of it all.
What he probably didn’t count on though was the backlash & gutless comments that people who have absolutely no idea who he is as a person or player would start sprouting. To everyone telling a 17 year old boy to f*ck off – what bearing is it on you what country or club he plays for???
sledgeross said | March 12th 2009 @ 3:50pm | Report comment
Boo hoo, put your toys back in the pram mate. If he is big enough to talk to the media, he can be judged on it. Its not gutless at all to give an opinion mate, thats what this website is for. Oh, its an Aussie based site as well, so if colorful vernacular and colloquialisms are used to emphasise a point, thats ok too.
Im sure you’re proud of your son dad, no need to take it so personally. Im sure everyone here who has been critical would love to see the boy play for Australia.
Usually Silent Bob said | March 12th 2009 @ 5:15pm | Report comment
Sorry princess he aint my son, but typical that would be the comment when someone doesn’t agree with all the crap. At the end of the day though, guess its good opinions on here aren’t worth sh!t
dasilva said | March 12th 2009 @ 9:33pm | Report comment
To say he has no choice is rubbish.
The most obvious choice is to remain uncap for Scotland and make a public announcement say I rejected scotland and I’m working hard as I can to represent the young socceroos. THat will get people attention and perhaps he’ll get some contact from FFA.
In the end, I believe people in Australia (unless they decide to migrate to the country where they want to play eg. Kewell for England, Viduka for Croatia, Bresciano for Italy would have been understandable and fair) should have the belief to say I rather be uncapped then to represent another country.
jimbo said | March 12th 2009 @ 9:45pm | Report comment
das,
actually Bresc’s mother was Croatian, so he could have played for Italy, Croatia or Australia.
There is a choice – but sometimes its made with the guidance of the parents, grandparents or player’s agent. A 17 year old lad isn’t probably mature enough to decide on his own.
Maybe its arrogance, maybe pushing his luck to get selected ahead of others, but in the end its Pimbo and Wags the Dogs call to say whether he is good enough to keep or let him go – we can find someone better.
Pimbo wouldn’t let arrogance come into it would he?
Midfielder said | March 12th 2009 @ 9:51pm | Report comment
For God’s sake just cap him.
dasilva said | March 13th 2009 @ 1:52am | Report comment
Jimbo
I’m quite aware of bresciano’s croatian roots
However I’m more talking about how Bresciano lives and has a family in Italy. Viduka owns a house in Croatia and married to a Croatian girl. Kewell has a family in England, Scott Mcdonald living in Scotland. I wouldn’t begrudge them playing for those respective countries even if I would be annoyed as a fan. My problems are with the likes of Ogre, Simunic, Didulica, Bouzanis, Rhys Williams etc. I take very little importance in the ethnicity of the person and more importance in where the person lives or was raised and is a citizen to. If a person wants to play for another country then I’ll ask the person – do you have any intentions in living and becoming an active citizen in that country. If not then you have no business representing that country.
Matt said | March 13th 2009 @ 3:50am | Report comment
Australia has to deal with this more than most countries, after all 2 thirds of our country under FIFA’s rules could play for another country …. and if every player thought the way this kid is thinking then we would hardly have a football team.
If a kid thats grown up here for 14 years wants to turn his back on the country, because he is annoyed he hasnt been picked in past australian squads … well less said the better, but patience is a virtue, but a virtue that wont get you paid or boost your profile.
But the point was made that there are alot of young australians heading overseas and not hearing anything from the FFA, even if its just a “Hi we are watching you, keep up the work rate” we do have to address this, but it goes two ways, players need to understand that they wont be having there ass kissed by an FFA official every year ….
sledgeross said | March 13th 2009 @ 7:13am | Report comment
Hey Bob, we are allowed to express opinion here. Im allowed to have one just like you are. Youre right, no one here makes an decisions about the national team, but we are allowed to express our views. I still stand by my assertion that if anyone doesnt want to play for Oz, then dont, its simple. I also said that I would try and watch this kid play because you rate him highly. DOnt know what more I can do to be “fair”.
Its good you feel strongly about a topic, but dont have a go at someone else for having one either mate. If Im wrong Ill gladly apologise, but all we mere mortals can go in is what is presented to us!
STEVIE said | March 13th 2009 @ 9:54am | Report comment
you lot know nothing about this kids development, his family roots, how he was spotted playing football as a 9 yr old kid by newcastle in AUSTRALIA(WHAT HAPPENED TO THE AUSSIE COACHES OVER THE NEXT FOUR AND A HALF YEARS BEFORE NEWCASTLE THEN DECIDED TO TAKE HIM TO ENGLAND) HE HAS NOW PROGRESSED TO THE BRINK OF THE NEWCASTLE FIRST TEAM. (still no sign of an aussie coach) OH AND BY THE WAY, HE IS NOW 17 YRS OF AGE (still nign of an aussie coach) WELL DONE NEWCASTLE! VERY WELL DONE SCOTLAND AND THERE YOUTH COACHES!l
jimbo said | March 13th 2009 @ 11:00am | Report comment
Speaking of precocious talent, did anyone see the SBS interview with Christiano Ronaldo.
He has family – uncles and cousins in Melbourne and is hoping to come down under during the off season for a visit.
The other interesting point was that his family almost decided to migrate to Australia as well.
Imagine Christiano Ronaldo playing for Melb Victory.
Raises the question – would he have been as good a player if he grew up in Australia?
Pippinu said | March 13th 2009 @ 11:10am | Report comment
He’s not good enough to play with the Victory – plus we don’t take kindly to too much lairising and finessing.
dasilva said | March 13th 2009 @ 5:45pm | Report comment
Stevie
What has that got anything to do with Scotland.
If he wants to represent England then fine. They play a large role in his development. He is living there and is contributor to English society.So I have no problems of him going to play for England in which he is eligible for. However what the hell does scotland got anything to do with him.
STEVIE said | March 14th 2009 @ 2:48am | Report comment
DASILVA,
HIS MOTHER WAS BORN AND GREW UP IN SCOTLAND, THE RULES OF INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL STATE THAT HE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO PLAY FOR SCOTLAND. WHY IS IT SO DIFFERENT IN THIS CASE ? HE HAS SCOTTISH BLOOD RUNNING THROUGH HIS VEINS.
Craig said | March 14th 2009 @ 11:10am | Report comment
So hang on…Dasilva,
If he played for England which he can coz his Dad is English then you would be ok with that? Well someone should tell the boy then that you give your approval & I’m sure he’ll be greatful
Waz said | March 15th 2009 @ 10:16am | Report comment
Its not about just playing for your country – you really have to get over that. There is so much more opportunity over in the United Kingdom. Newcastle have done so much for Brad, hes a shining star. Who wouldnt play over there? Its football capital, so much more exciting, so many more opportunities. Hes gotten this far already and we shouldnt be surprised. Hes passionate about football, so he should use his skills to the best of his ability. Of course he would love to play for Australia, but Scottland got there first. Go for it.
midfield general said | March 15th 2009 @ 10:34pm | Report comment
I understand your sentiments Jesse, but tell me one modern day footballer who is not a mercenary. You can site examples like Gerrard, Cahill, Giggs etc., but they are multi millionaires already playing for top clubs and can afford to stay loyal to one club, or country.
Don’t knock him for taking career opportunities because there may not be many, and he knows he’s one tackle away from being finished. As for burning for green and gold, Baden’s not going to fight some war for Scotland, he’s just a footballer in an entertainment industry. Having said that, it’s hard to see how playing for Scotland is a better career move for young Baden, they’ll probably miss out on the WC finals, and generally speaking, I think Australians are more highly regarded than Scots in UK and Europe. I can’t think of one good Scottish footballer at the moment.
dasilva said | March 15th 2009 @ 11:55pm | Report comment
of course he has the right to play for Scotland as the rules say he can play for scotland. He doesn’t have to ask for anyone permission to do that.
But I have the right to dislike someone who choose to play for Scotland. quite frankly I hate the whole concept of putting importance in having (insert race) blood in your veins. How much difference is there between scottish blood, anglo blood, italian blood, chinese blood. I’ll tell you – virtually zero. It’s not important at all. What matters more is where you grew up, which countries raise you, which countries you are contributing to society and which society that contributed to your welfare. People shouldn’t be putting ethnicity into the scenario.
It’s the same deal with the other scenario with the uruguayan striker ricardo porta. If he ever chooses to play for Australia, the Uruguayan people have very legitimate reasons to dislike him.
Hell I realise me disliking him and many other Australian who dislike him for making that choice is not going to make a difference. Doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to.
dasilva said | March 16th 2009 @ 12:01am | Report comment
One of the good things about Cricket is that the ICC got rid of playing for the countries of your parents rule after the 1996 world cup where the UAE team were almost 90% indians where lot of them barely lived in that country. Now you could only play in the country of your birth or the country where you have been residence for 5 years.
I think FIFA should adopt that.
happychappy said | March 19th 2009 @ 4:55am | Report comment
comment i read at the start i couldnt b bothered to read all the others..
someone commented about how would the other players playing for their patriotic side feel…their are more than half in the u19 squad that have come from england born in england grown up in england however have scottish backgrounds. they have no negativity towards them,,,,unless they play shit lol.
and quite frankly players within the uk that chose to play for just say wales but live in england well even tho there’s the whole england hate scotland scotland hate england n wales just is watever blah blah they dont tell the player that has decided to play for a country other than their birth 1 to fuck off and their a disgrace. because in the end it’s their career its their life its the persons CHOICE.
like its their job, so ofcourse its a huge decision to make when u have options. at the minute as all these articles say,,,hes been offered to play for scotland and is doing so with the u19’s so i dnt see why people are sayin play for australia play for australia ..when he hasnt been asked so really its a pointless thing saying chose australia…mayb when he reaches the u21 ages ppl should b bricken it .
people could go on for ages sayin play for australia if not ur a fuken tossa…well okay is he bothered..probably not coz in the end its his life not everyone elses.
whatever he does hope its his decision and no one elses. good luck to you…btw i hope u dont read all these threads n stuff coz some ppl out there can b so harsh!
dasilva said | March 19th 2009 @ 7:11am | Report comment
let’s look at eddie bosnar.
this guy been offered to play for Croatia back when he was playing in the eredivisie. He said no.
This guy since then still hasn’t been capped for Australia. However he still say he doesn’t regret the decision as he doesn’t want to play for any other country. Rather be uncap then play for another country
That’s what you want from players. Inman has a choice, doesn’t mean we have to like it.
In any case, the whole playing for your parents nationality rule is a bad idea and Cricket has the sense to get rid of it and FIFA should follow.
tonypop said | May 12th 2009 @ 5:52am | Report comment
I have never read such disrespect from so many aussies in all my life!! Making out Inman should play for Australia or England before Scotland is laughable. Scotland have lost out to other countries in terms of their best players too.
In many terms Australia is also lucky to have Celtic’s Scott McDonald since he was ignored for many years,and his family are all Scottish.Fans of the socceroos need to look at the bigger picture.I think your parents nationality is more important than say if you were born at sea on a cruise.this is becoming silly.
I will support Bradden Inman whoever he plays for ,and will always be respectful unlike many of you.
Scotland have for years been a much better team than Australia,but becuase Australia are improving’they seem to have an arrogance.
Iain said | July 4th 2009 @ 2:39am | Report comment
I’m a Scot, and we have had two of our best prospects (Aiden McGeady and James McCarthy) poached off us by Ireland, as thye have Irish lineage, so I can sympathise here. IMO you should play for the nation which reared you, the nation you grew up in, and the nation which contributed to your development as a player. It was Australia that did that with Inman, not Scotland, or England for that matter, as he lived in Aus up until he was in his teens.
Duggo said | October 15th 2009 @ 10:06am | Report comment
i wrote a email to John Boultbee (National Youth Manager) himself after i saw a couple of articles on Bradden, and i was
a little upset myself that nothing, it seamed, had been done to lure Bradden back to our National team. If hes as good as they
say he is or rather will be, then everything should be done to make him a socceroo in the future, we need as many talented midfielders as we can get to give some real quality ball to our strikers, timmy wont be around forever!! anyway i did recieve an email back from Mr Boultbee himself regarding Bradden and he assured me they were keeping a close eye on Braddens progress and that he wasnt going under the radar, he also added to not believe everything i read about the ffa not taking notice of theyre young players, i hope for your sake Mr Boultbee and Braddens you are right!!!
Matt Bell said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:45am | Report comment
Football is about the long term as well as the short term, you’ve got to look at your squad in 10 years as well as in 10 months, if you don’t ‘lock in’ the promising youngsters now who will you have for the future?