An open letter to Bradden Inman

Four year down the track at 21 years of age & yet to make his English Premier League debut for Newcastle United. He is currently on loan at Crewe Alexandra where he has scored 2 goals from 2 matches so far. Scotland are last in Group A on 2 points from 4 matches. Scotland isn't going to a World Cup in a long time.

Well I feel for the Kid - he's trying to work his trade where the money is. Obviously Loves australia. I'm a pom - from newcastle england, living in Brisbane Australia. Everything I hear about this boy - well he has the ability to be world class. I would hate to see him choose scotland over australia - firstly because it would limit his opportunities of ever playing in a world cup, secondly because since i have been in OZ I want australia to do well at Soccer or Football if you will (lol) Anyway thats my shout - at least in the years to come he will be playing for the toon. Check out Tommy Oar - what a telent ;)

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?

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!!!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

He's not good enough to play with the Victory - plus we don't take kindly to too much lairising and finessing.

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?

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

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!

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 ....