O'Hara mulling over Ireland

[mawspurs]

Source: Sky Sports

Spurs midfielder to use summer to decide allegiance.

Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara has confirmed he will make a decision this summer over whether to switch allegiances and play for Republic of Ireland.

The 23-year-old, who starred on loan for Portsmouth this season, has played for England at Under 21 level, but never made the step up to senior level.

The midfielder qualifies for the nation through his grandparents and will make a decision one way or another this summer to ensure the issue does not drag its heels.

"I've always loved playing for England so I wouldn't want to upset anyone or disrespect the Ireland people as well, because I've got a lot of family in Ireland," he told Sky Sports.

"It's going to be a difficult decision to make and I don't want it to become a big deal in a way."

Regular football

O'Hara also concedes that if he fails to break into Spurs' first team next season then he would consider his future after enjoying regular football on loan at Pompey.

He is eager is continue to make his name at White Hart Lane, but would have no qualms moving on if he is not part of manager Harry Redknapp's long-term vision.

"If I can't break in there and Harry pulls me in and says I'm not going to feature as much as I'd like then yeah hopefully I've done enough this year to earn a move to a decent Premier League club," he continued.

Meanwhile, O'Hara believes Portsmouth keeper David James should be England's No.1 in South Africa after his outstanding display in the FA Cup final.

The experienced keeper, who is one of three vying to start under Fabio Capello this summer, almost single-handedly kept out Chelsea on Saturday before they eventually succumbed to Didier Drogba's winner.

O'Hara added: "That game put him as a definite No.1 for England because he was so fantastic. I think he's going to have a great, great World Cup."

[Boony]

I get a little annoyed with some of the comments on various boards about JOH, the kid "just" wants to play football.. thats it. If it means dropping levels of team, or countries, he just wants to play, and he wants to play every game. I wish more footballers would follow their passion as opposed to the money. I dont think he will stay a Spurs player, but good luck to wherever you go, I hope it doesnt bite us on the bum.

I also doubt that he wants to go back to Spurs to see five other blokes who have been to his, now pregnant, mrs naughty place

[StuckinPoland]

two things.

1) in my eyes he's worth at least 6m due to his age, form and versatility.

b) he should go and play for ireland. i don't see him having too much of a chance for england in the future.

and i don't want him to leave spurs. but he most likely will. to villa most likely.

[mdharris]

do it

[jolsnogross]

O'Hara would be more than welcome in Trap's green army. We tend to get more out of the sum of our parts, so Jamie would benefit from joining up and be a welcome option for midfield.

Christ, I hope France have a miserable world cup.

[northampton_yid]

Can see him ending up at Fulham or maybe Everton. I think £6m is a fair price.

Ireland is the way forward for you JOH, the likely hood of you dislodging the undroppable Gerrard, Lampard and Barry....(sarcasm)

[Kendall]

Can see him ending up at Fulham or maybe Everton. I think £6m is a fair price.

Ireland is the way forward for you JOH, the likely hood of you dislodging the undroppable Gerrard, Lampard and Barry....(sarcasm)

All of whom aren't getting any younger.

[sligospur]

I dont think i would like him playing for Ireland we would much rather have players who want to play for the boys in green not players who are hanging on for England and useing us as a fall back.

[Pinto]

While I like O'hara I just can't see him at any major club. Bottom of the league is where he will end up if he wants to play every week, don't think he would have a chance in hell of getting into the first 11 of either Fulham or Everton. Cahill and Felliani or O'hara? which would you choose? Any club in the top 10 isn't going to need O'hara to fill in at central midfield.

As for England or Ireland he should go to Ireland if he can, much much better chance to play at the international level there than in England's national team.

[Locotoro]

I think he'd be a starter at fulham, possibly everton considering they play 5 in the middle. Eventually i think he'll end up at Birmingham or Newcastle

[yid-down-under]

We the new rule that premier league teams need to have 8 home grown players in a squad of 25 i think he'll be staying.

[Yidoinoz]

He mouthed off on Soccer Am about wanting spurs to lose the semi - this is worse than Ghaly in my book!!

Sell him for $6m, he is a good player but not at the standards we need.

Blackpool and Ireland International at best

[yid-down-under]

We the new rule that premier league teams need to have 8 home grown players in a squad of 25 i think he'll be staying.

Actually, i think i'm, wrong. Heres the official quote:-

A home-grown player will be defined as one who, irrespective of his nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday (or the end of the Season during which he turns 21).‬

Which in theory raises his price if sold to a premier league club!!

[haxman]

Yes please. Him and Stephen Ireland in the midfield would be quite useful. An upgrade on Whelan and Andrews anyway.

[StokeSpur]

Brum/Stoke/Wolves & Ireland is about his level, cant fault him for wanting to play but i can still hear him referring to Pompy as 'We' when we played them in the semi and it really anoyed me.

[deka_spur]

I never can understand this, Maybe someone there can explain to me. I am Australian with a Welsh Father. But I would not care how much money or what it would mean - there is no way I could play for another country or even consider it. If I was not good enough to make my own countries top team then so be it. Are you guys not proud of your country or please help me understand? (This is not meant to be a dig - I really cannot comprehend why someone would skip countrys just for a game)

[bigspurs]

I never can understand this, Maybe someone there can explain to me. I am Australian with a Welsh Father. But I would not care how much money or what it would mean - there is no way I could play for another country or even consider it. If I was not good enough to make my own countries top team then so be it. Are you guys not proud of your country or please help me understand? (This is not meant to be a dig - I really cannot comprehend why someone would skip countrys just for a game)

There is no set rule on how patriotic a player should be. Some have lied about their heritage just to play for an international team. They all have their reasons I guess. Most of them just want the chance to play in a World Cup. Others have gripes about not making their national team, so out of some form of spite they play for whoever else they can. Other types like Scholes and Shearer decide to abandon their national duties in order to prolong their club careers, where as others like Beckham are desperate to represent their country and do us proud.

I guess it just depends on a man's character and upbringing. Personally I'm with you on the whole issue. I can't understand the attitude of these players either. It should be an honor to play for your country and that country only. Jamie O'Hara says he is a Spurs fan, but roots for Pompey against us. He says that he is proud to be English, but might play for Ireland. The guy sounds like a self serving prick to me, but then that's my humble opinion!

[Declan]

I'd love to see him pull on the green jersey, yes he's english but then again so's half our team already...:whistle:

[jenko]

He's very welcome to play for Ireland, we could do with him. But if he does leave spurs we should put in a sell-on clause cos his value will rise.

[jenko]

I dont think i would like him playing for Ireland we would much rather have players who want to play for the boys in green not players who are hanging on for England and useing us as a fall back.

In the past we've had tons of players who held out for a while but when they did decide to play they've played they did so 100%. It would be no different with JO'H...

[jenko]

Thats a bit harsh. International football is a dream for all players, they listen to they're teammates telling stories about it all the time. Its the next step up professionally and it means you're at the top of you're career.

JO'H feels English, but like many others is out in the cold because the competition to get in that team is too great. Should he never experience international footy because of this? Or should he take the other option as half of his family seem to be Irish and FIFA rules allow him to as a result. If he's entitled to then he should, he's not being disloyal as it doesn't affect England in any way. Ray Houghton was Scottish but his greatest memories of his pro career are playing for Ireland, and as a result he still gets an income from it today as a pundit.

[TheBigMatch]

Yes please. Him and Stephen Ireland in the midfield would be quite useful. An upgrade on Whelan and Andrews anyway.

O'Hara should be given an Irish passport as soon as possible,

but Stephen Ireland should be dumped Iraq and his passport taken off him...... it will be a sad day if he's ever allowed to play for Ireland again.