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Post by knowingeye on May 27, 2018 5:23:29 GMT
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Post by Trouserdog on May 27, 2018 5:32:36 GMT
Dear Mr Whelan
I wanted to write to you before talking about this face to face and explain my reasons for not wearing a poppy on my shirt for the game at Bolton.
I have complete respect for those who fought and died in both World Wars - many I know were Irish-born. I have been told that your own Grandfather Paddy Whelan, from Tipperary, was one of those.
I mourn their deaths like every other decent person and if the Poppy was a symbol only for the lost souls of World War I and II I would wear one.
I want to make that 100% clear .You must understand this.
But the Poppy is used to remember victims of other conflicts since 1945 and this is where the problem starts for me.
For people from the North of Ireland such as myself, and specifically those in Derry, scene of the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, the poppy has come to mean something very different. Please understand, Mr Whelan, that when you come from Creggan like myself or the Bogside, Brandywell or the majority of places in Derry, every person still lives in the shadow of one of the darkest days in Ireland’s history – even if like me you were born nearly 20 years after the event. It is just a part of who we are, ingrained into us from birth.
Mr Whelan, for me to wear a poppy would be as much a gesture of disrespect for the innocent people who lost their lives in the Troubles – and Bloody Sunday especially - as I have in the past been accused of disrespecting the victims of WWI and WWII.
It would be seen as an act of disrespect to those people; to my people.
I am not a war monger, or anti-British, or a terrorist or any of the accusations levelled at me in the past. I am a peaceful guy, I believe everyone should live side by side, whatever their religious or political beliefs which I respect and ask for people to respect mine in return. Since last year, I am a father and I want my daughter to grow up in a peaceful world, like any parent.
I am very proud of where I come from and I just cannot do something that I believe is wrong. In life, if you’re a man you should stand up for what you believe in.
I know you may not agree with my feelings but I hope very much that you understand my reasons.
As the owner of the club I am proud to play for, I believe I owe both you and the club’s supporters this explanation.
Yours sincerely,
James McClean
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Post by stokiebis on May 27, 2018 5:44:06 GMT
No thanks scummy ira twat .the club say they have learnt lessons well listen to the fans .there are alot of us veterans in the stoke city family who never want this scum near our club .if u buy him he will get booed he should never wear our shirt .hope he has returned all his premiership wages with the queens head on it
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Post by thischarmingmanc on May 27, 2018 6:09:48 GMT
Veteran or not you don't get to choose the politics of the people who play for the club. On a wider note the poppy becomes meaningless if everyone is forced to wear them. I generally, don't but no one gives a monkeys because i'm not a premiership footballer. Why don't I wear one? because idiots like you insist that i must. No thanks scummy ira twat .the club say they have learnt lessons well listen to the fans .there are alot of us veterans in the stoke city family who never want this scum near our club .if u buy him he will get booed he should never wear our shirt .hope he has returned all his premiership wages with the queens head on it
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Post by salopstick on May 27, 2018 6:14:27 GMT
Dear Mr Whelan I wanted to write to you before talking about this face to face and explain my reasons for not wearing a poppy on my shirt for the game at Bolton. I have complete respect for those who fought and died in both World Wars - many I know were Irish-born. I have been told that your own Grandfather Paddy Whelan, from Tipperary, was one of those. I mourn their deaths like every other decent person and if the Poppy was a symbol only for the lost souls of World War I and II I would wear one. I want to make that 100% clear .You must understand this. But the Poppy is used to remember victims of other conflicts since 1945 and this is where the problem starts for me. For people from the North of Ireland such as myself, and specifically those in Derry, scene of the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, the poppy has come to mean something very different. Please understand, Mr Whelan, that when you come from Creggan like myself or the Bogside, Brandywell or the majority of places in Derry, every person still lives in the shadow of one of the darkest days in Ireland’s history – even if like me you were born nearly 20 years after the event. It is just a part of who we are, ingrained into us from birth. Mr Whelan, for me to wear a poppy would be as much a gesture of disrespect for the innocent people who lost their lives in the Troubles – and Bloody Sunday especially - as I have in the past been accused of disrespecting the victims of WWI and WWII. It would be seen as an act of disrespect to those people; to my people. I am not a war monger, or anti-British, or a terrorist or any of the accusations levelled at me in the past. I am a peaceful guy, I believe everyone should live side by side, whatever their religious or political beliefs which I respect and ask for people to respect mine in return. Since last year, I am a father and I want my daughter to grow up in a peaceful world, like any parent. I am very proud of where I come from and I just cannot do something that I believe is wrong. In life, if you’re a man you should stand up for what you believe in. I know you may not agree with my feelings but I hope very much that you understand my reasons. As the owner of the club I am proud to play for, I believe I owe both you and the club’s supporters this explanation. Yours sincerely, James McClean It’s not a debate I can be arsed to get into. I’ve read that letter before and he just picks the bits that suits his agenda.
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2018 6:14:47 GMT
I hope we don’t sign him because I don’t rate the bloke. One player id bite your hand off for from the baggies is rondon
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Post by bristolpotter on May 27, 2018 6:17:39 GMT
Not wanted at our club keep going until you reach Parkhead theres a good Ira lover
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2018 6:19:32 GMT
I've never thought him to be that good a footballer, and he's never been someone that I've ever wanted to be at Stoke City in the past. I really hope we don't try and sign him now. I also don't agree with his politics nor his stance over (not) wearing a poppy.
Please don't sign him Stoke !
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Post by stokiebis on May 27, 2018 6:20:57 GMT
Veteran or not you don't get to choose the politics of the people who play for the club. On a wider note the poppy becomes meaningless if everyone is forced to wear them. I generally, don't but no one gives a monkeys because i'm not a premiership footballer. Why don't I wear one? because idiots like you insist that i must. No thanks scummy ira twat .the club say they have learnt lessons well listen to the fans .there are alot of us veterans in the stoke city family who never want this scum near our club .if u buy him he will get booed he should never wear our shirt .hope he has returned all his premiership wages with the queens head on it Shut up u clown u ain't forced to wear it u ain't in the public eye even the German players wear it n it is political with this prick he has been pictured many times with murderer Adams
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Post by y_oh_y_delilah on May 27, 2018 6:22:00 GMT
No thanks scummy ira twat .the club say they have learnt lessons well listen to the fans .there are alot of us veterans in the stoke city family who never want this scum near our club .if u buy him he will get booed he should never wear our shirt .hope he has returned all his premiership wages with the queens head on it Agreed, but did you really need to write it twice? Personally, I’ve enjoyed and been amused by TD’s posts for years but in this case I simply can’t agree with the sentiments he expresses. Living in a foreign country, which effectively McClean does by representing The Republic of Ireland at football, you need to show a bit of respect that countries ideals and values. You need to bend a bit and conform. Decent people from the south of Ireland have no problem at all in wearing the poppy and respecting the war dead from all countries. In fact last year The Royal British Legion sold €245,000 worth of poppies in the south of Ireland. Yes, we all deplore the actions of the British Army that Bloody Sunday but that isolated incident doesn’t stop decent people of all religions, creeds and sensitivities from respecting the fallen of ALL conflicts from ALL countries by wearing that symbol of peace. No, Mr. McClean whilst I respect your right to earn a living in our shores, to do that you need to understand what the vast majority of people here here stand for and to show such blatant disrespect by turning your back on our anthem and not conforming to our values, you will not be welcome at our football club. Oh and by the way, you’re not a very good footballer anyway!
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Post by nott1 on May 27, 2018 6:28:29 GMT
Get back to your stone throwing mates you cunt and never darken our decent club again!
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Post by Trouserdog on May 27, 2018 6:43:21 GMT
Personally, I don't see what the big deal is- the guy has his reasons for not wanting to wear a poppy; that's up to him, he's not trying to stop anyone else wearing one so I couldn't really care less.
I'll continue to wear one every year, I always have done, but it doesn't affect my life one way or the other if someone else either wears one or doesn't.
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Post by Lakeland Potter on May 27, 2018 6:47:01 GMT
Personally, I don't see what the big deal is- the guy has his reasons for not wanting to wear a poppy; that's up to him, he's not trying to stop anyone else wearing one so I couldn't really care less. I'll continue to wear one every year, I always have done, but it doesn't affect my life one way or the other if someone else either wears one or doesn't. I pretty much agree with all of that, TD - and I speak as someone who has family members from BOTH communities in Northern Ireland. I don't want McClean at Stoke because I think there are many better deals we could do for the sort of fee and wages we would be expected to pay. So, I really hope that Rowett doesn't put in a bid for McClean.
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Post by PottersBrim on May 27, 2018 6:48:55 GMT
Veteran or not you don't get to choose the politics of the people who play for the club. On a wider note the poppy becomes meaningless if everyone is forced to wear them. I generally, don't but no one gives a monkeys because i'm not a premiership footballer. Why don't I wear one? because idiots like you insist that i must. Shut up u clown u ain't forced to wear it u ain't in the public eye even the German players wear it n it is political with this prick he has been pictured many times with murderer Adams Look, I’m no McClean fan but stating that you aren’t forced to wear it while simultaneously calling him a prick for not wearing it is somewhat hypocritical.
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Post by Waggy on May 27, 2018 6:55:35 GMT
No, i do not want him at our club.
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Post by cobhamstokey on May 27, 2018 6:57:53 GMT
As a new manager trying to keep in with the fans I’m not sure McCleans a good choice as he’s just too controversial and I’m not sure he’s so good that he’s worth it.
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Post by biglad180 on May 27, 2018 6:59:32 GMT
just hope someone tells him that the stoke fans do not want him anywhere near our club. we should be in for the likes of lookman not the mcleans of the world. let him swan off to celtic
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Post by Gods on May 27, 2018 7:01:57 GMT
I hope the dreaded poppy police bullies don't start dictating our transfer policy but reading that article it sounds like he has options including staying at WBA and would not come anyway.
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Post by robwahlmann on May 27, 2018 7:04:35 GMT
Dear Mr Whelan I wanted to write to you before talking about this face to face and explain my reasons for not wearing a poppy on my shirt for the game at Bolton. I have complete respect for those who fought and died in both World Wars - many I know were Irish-born. I have been told that your own Grandfather Paddy Whelan, from Tipperary, was one of those. I mourn their deaths like every other decent person and if the Poppy was a symbol only for the lost souls of World War I and II I would wear one. I want to make that 100% clear .You must understand this. But the Poppy is used to remember victims of other conflicts since 1945 and this is where the problem starts for me. For people from the North of Ireland such as myself, and specifically those in Derry, scene of the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, the poppy has come to mean something very different. Please understand, Mr Whelan, that when you come from Creggan like myself or the Bogside, Brandywell or the majority of places in Derry, every person still lives in the shadow of one of the darkest days in Ireland’s history – even if like me you were born nearly 20 years after the event. It is just a part of who we are, ingrained into us from birth. Mr Whelan, for me to wear a poppy would be as much a gesture of disrespect for the innocent people who lost their lives in the Troubles – and Bloody Sunday especially - as I have in the past been accused of disrespecting the victims of WWI and WWII. It would be seen as an act of disrespect to those people; to my people. I am not a war monger, or anti-British, or a terrorist or any of the accusations levelled at me in the past. I am a peaceful guy, I believe everyone should live side by side, whatever their religious or political beliefs which I respect and ask for people to respect mine in return. Since last year, I am a father and I want my daughter to grow up in a peaceful world, like any parent. I am very proud of where I come from and I just cannot do something that I believe is wrong. In life, if you’re a man you should stand up for what you believe in. I know you may not agree with my feelings but I hope very much that you understand my reasons. As the owner of the club I am proud to play for, I believe I owe both you and the club’s supporters this explanation. Yours sincerely, James McClean I respect his opinion and he is certainly entitled to make his own choice about wearing the poppy. What I'm more uncertain about is if he is the right kind of player to take us back to the PL again. He works hard, but there is very little to get excited about with this player and he hardly ever scores goals either. I really wish Rowett would look for someone more exciting, or we could just as well stick to Ramadan and Chapou.
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Post by nigerianstokie on May 27, 2018 7:21:30 GMT
What is the big deal? Wearing a poppy is a choice, not an obligation. He doesn't wear it, and has his reasons for doing so. It doesn't mean he disrespects this country at all. Doesn't forcing it upon people kind of defeat the object of what the poppy represents? Fighting for freedom.
On another note, I wouldn't be against signing him, but his arrival wouldn't exactly get me excited. Not good enough if we are pushing for promotion.
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2018 7:25:25 GMT
I hope the dreaded poppy police bullies don't start dictating our transfer policy but reading that article it sounds like he has options including staying at WBA and would not come anyway. Still think him staying at WBA is the most likely. He started every game for Moore on their good run so I’d imagine he’d get plenty of game time if he stayed. Not a great player imho, but solid enough, especially at this level.
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Post by heworksardtho on May 27, 2018 7:25:27 GMT
What is the big deal? Wearing a poppy is a choice, not an obligation. He doesn't wear it, and has his reasons for doing so. It doesn't mean he disrespects this country at all. Doesn't forcing it upon people kind of defeat the object of what the poppy represents? Fighting for freedom. On another note, I wouldn't be against signing him, but his arrival wouldn't exactly get me excited. Not good enough if we are pushing for promotion. You should give your head a wobble , and go visit the war cemetery’s then you might change your opinion
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Post by werrington on May 27, 2018 7:26:43 GMT
No thanks scummy ira twat .the club say they have learnt lessons well listen to the fans .there are alot of us veterans in the stoke city family who never want this scum near our club .if u buy him he will get booed he should never wear our shirt .hope he has returned all his premiership wages with the queens head on it I think you’ve missed the point of his actions ibis and gone off on a queen and country rant without thinking it through ? He doesn’t wear it because many in his community were shot down on that fateful day by British forces ...his relatives and friends whom he has to live with and communicate with would put him in a very difficult position when he goes back home Put yourself in his shoes and if something like this happened in Stoke by let’s say the French would you honour their memorium ? I’ve seen your post also regarding the Germans etc but the difference is they were soldiers in combat and not civilians on the street ...his community where he was brought up and raised I’m not defending his actions far from it as it’s his call not to wear the poppy but I’m just putting myself in his world , have a look around Stoke-on-Trent in the lead up to Poppy Day and even the day itself and there’s probably more not wearing than wearing .....what are your opinions on them Me I wear one as I want to honour the fallen and thank them for their fantastic bravery but it’s a personal and awkward set of circumstances for him
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Post by PolPotter on May 27, 2018 7:27:13 GMT
Please God no!
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2018 7:33:57 GMT
Personally, I don't see what the big deal is- the guy has his reasons for not wanting to wear a poppy; that's up to him, he's not trying to stop anyone else wearing one so I couldn't really care less. I'll continue to wear one every year, I always have done, but it doesn't affect my life one way or the other if someone else either wears one or doesn't. Personally I agree with everything you say. The only problem I've got with McLean playing for Stoke is that he's a little bit shit.
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Post by heworksardtho on May 27, 2018 7:39:33 GMT
Personally, I don't see what the big deal is- the guy has his reasons for not wanting to wear a poppy; that's up to him, he's not trying to stop anyone else wearing one so I couldn't really care less. I'll continue to wear one every year, I always have done, but it doesn't affect my life one way or the other if someone else either wears one or doesn't. Personally I agree with everything you say. The only problem I've got with McLean playing for Stoke is that he's a little bit shit. Your right there and also they want 6 million for him , that’s taking the piss
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Post by JurgenVandeurzen on May 27, 2018 7:44:47 GMT
Personally, I don't see what the big deal is- the guy has his reasons for not wanting to wear a poppy; that's up to him, he's not trying to stop anyone else wearing one so I couldn't really care less. I'll continue to wear one every year, I always have done, but it doesn't affect my life one way or the other if someone else either wears one or doesn't. This- if he’s gonna help get us up. Sign him. Pace, power, passion - isn’t that what everybody on here has been crying out for?
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Post by salopstick on May 27, 2018 7:56:40 GMT
No thanks scummy ira twat .the club say they have learnt lessons well listen to the fans .there are alot of us veterans in the stoke city family who never want this scum near our club .if u buy him he will get booed he should never wear our shirt .hope he has returned all his premiership wages with the queens head on it I think you’ve missed the point of his actions ibis and gone off on a queen and country rant without thinking it through ? He doesn’t wear it because many in his community were shot down on that fateful day by British forces ...his relatives and friends whom he has to live with and communicate with would put him in a very difficult position when he goes back home Put yourself in his shoes and if something like this happened in Stoke by let’s say the French would you honour their memorium ? I’ve seen your post also regarding the Germans etc but the difference is they were soldiers in combat and not civilians on the street ...his community where he was brought up and raised I’m not defending his actions far from it as it’s his call not to wear the poppy but I’m just putting myself in his world , have a look around Stoke-on-Trent in the lead up to Poppy Day and even the day itself and there’s probably more not wearing than wearing .....what are your opinions on them Me I wear one as I want to honour the fallen and thank them for their fantastic bravery but it’s a personal and awkward set of circumstances for him I do t want him because many of my community have been shot and killed by people and in the name of a cause he supports. Attachment Deleted
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Post by pyrus on May 27, 2018 7:56:49 GMT
Can he play football: yes / no / don’t give a shit? Is he good enough: yes / no / don’t give a shit? Do you need to know about his political position on a range of current and historical issues: yes / no / don’t give a shit?
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Post by werrington on May 27, 2018 8:02:48 GMT
I think you’ve missed the point of his actions ibis and gone off on a queen and country rant without thinking it through ? He doesn’t wear it because many in his community were shot down on that fateful day by British forces ...his relatives and friends whom he has to live with and communicate with would put him in a very difficult position when he goes back home Put yourself in his shoes and if something like this happened in Stoke by let’s say the French would you honour their memorium ? I’ve seen your post also regarding the Germans etc but the difference is they were soldiers in combat and not civilians on the street ...his community where he was brought up and raised I’m not defending his actions far from it as it’s his call not to wear the poppy but I’m just putting myself in his world , have a look around Stoke-on-Trent in the lead up to Poppy Day and even the day itself and there’s probably more not wearing than wearing .....what are your opinions on them Me I wear one as I want to honour the fallen and thank them for their fantastic bravery but it’s a personal and awkward set of circumstances for him I do t want him because many of my community have been shot and killed by people and in the name of a cause he supports. View AttachmentAnd that’s a fair call by you also mate
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