Lee Carsley and the National Anthem - O/T (ish)

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Originally Posted by LeftPeg_Pie

I do wonder if this thread (in its obvious microcosm) is half the reason Carsley may not sing. It’s one of those issues that is so polarising and can easily overtake everything else. This is his direct quote;

“This is something that I always struggled with when I was playing for Ireland. The gap between your warm up, you coming on to the pitch and the delay with the anthems. So it’s something that I have never done. I was always really focused on the game and my first actions of the game. I really found that in that period I was wary about my mind wandering off. I was really focused on the football and I have taken that into coaching.

“We had the national anthem with the Under 21s also and I am in a zone at that point. I am thinking about how the opposition are gonna set up and our first actions within the game. I fully respect both anthems and understand how much they mean to both countries. It’s something I am really respectful of.”

Linked to the divisiveness of the issue, referencing the ‘it’s part of my professional process’ reasoning is again (probably) the least controversial and headline stirring when compared to;

Atheism
Views on the Monarchy
Tradition vs Modernity
Born in Birmingham vs 40 caps for Ireland

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We may or may not believe it, but if that's what he says it's fair enough for me.

If he's avoiding giving the real reason, that's as much our problem as a society as it is his as an individual. What kind of environment have we created if someone doesn't feel able to express a honestly held opinion on a contentious issue?

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Originally Posted by the_anticlough

We may or may not believe it, but if that's what he says it's fair enough for me.

If he's avoiding giving the real reason, that's as much our problem as a society as it is his as an individual. What kind of environment have we created if someone doesn't feel able to express a honestly held opinion on a contentious issue?

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Couldn’t agree more. A lot of the above is speculation, of course. But like you say, it’s telling we can’t hold ideals and stick with them.

In my opinion he should be participating by singing the national anthem, he's excepted the job (all be it temporary) and I'm quite sure a requirement of the job is to show your patriotism towards the country your representing and that includes singing the national anthem, the idea that this is optional is like a policeman saying Im not wearing the uniform because i dont like the colour !!!
I don't believe his excuse either.

I think the definition of true patriotism is loving your country so much you want it to be better and improve.
Imagine having a great national anthem that EVERYBODY could get behind, not one that divides us? I've supported England for 55 years - it's a working class sport, as a anti-monarchist I'd love one day to sing an anthem that doesn't include me pledging allegiance to a hereditary ruler.

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Originally Posted by the_anticlough

I think the definition of true patriotism is loving your country so much you want it to be better and improve.
Imagine having a great national anthem that EVERYBODY could get behind, not one that divides us? I've supported England for 55 years - it's a working class sport, as a anti-monarchist I'd love one day to sing an anthem that doesn't include me pledging allegiance to a hereditary ruler.

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Amen. I’ve been to numerous England games over the years and never once sang the national anthem - means nothing to me. Can we swap it for the Welsh one? Now there’s an anthem to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

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Originally Posted by nw6pie

Amen. I’ve been to numerous England games over the years and never once sang the national anthem - means nothing to me. Can we swap it for the Welsh one? Now there’s an anthem to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

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It's wonderful isn't it, but can you imagine trying to sing it?! Here's the phonetic version, and that's hard enough:

My hair-n wool-add ver n-had eye
Un ann-will ee me
Gool-ard buy-rth ah chant-or-yon
En-wog-yon oh vree
Eye goo-rol ruv-elle-weir
Gool-ard garr-weir trah-mahd
Tross ruh-thid coll-ass-ant eye gwide

Gool-ard, gool-ard
Ply-dee-ol oiv eem gool-ard
Trah more un veer eer bee-rr hore-ff buy
Oh buthed eer hen-yithe barr-high

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nw6pie

Amen. I’ve been to numerous England games over the years and never once sang the national anthem - means nothing to me. Can we swap it for the Welsh one? Now there’s an anthem to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

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The Italian, the Spanish, the French, the Brazilian anthems are all miles better than ours. Real tunes than must make those lads properly revved up for the battle ahead.

Probably why we haven’t won anything for 58 years.

Being professional and getting focused
Republicanism
Atheism
All good reasons for me. Who's calling him out? Let's see their record.

It should be an entirely personal decision. If I had ever been lucky enough to represent England I would have been fiercely proud, but no way would I sing the National Anthem. I am an atheist anti-royalist, so why should I sing for something I don’t believe in and have no respect for?

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Originally Posted by cher1

It's wonderful isn't it, but can you imagine trying to sing it?! Here's the phonetic version, and that's hard enough:

My hair-n wool-add ver n-had eye
Un ann-will ee me
Gool-ard buy-rth ah chant-or-yon
En-wog-yon oh vree
Eye goo-rol ruv-elle-weir
Gool-ard garr-weir trah-mahd
Tross ruh-thid coll-ass-ant eye gwide

Gool-ard, gool-ard
Ply-dee-ol oiv eem gool-ard
Trah more un veer eer bee-rr hore-ff buy
Oh buthed eer hen-yithe barr-high

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Rambling Syd Rumpo ?