James McClean refuses to wear poppy

[Russ Atmosphere]

He could change the word queen to pope.

[Jairzinho]

Why is he a nob? Or a tit? I think he is doing what he feels is the right thing to do by his beliefs regardless of the uproar and bad publicity. I wish more people were like that. Particularly when ignoring an unelected fucking head of state.

 

No, no. He's been a naughty boy and he shouldn't make any statements against our brave Royal Family. Nobody should. Everyone should just shut up and and allow a gang of unelected, inbred, parasitical nonces to lord it over us peasants forever. 

 

I think it's fucking ace that a footballer has proven he's an actual human.

[milky]

[Russ Atmosphere]

Even in a comedy song, I can't get my head around James McLean's tricks being glorious.

[Anubis]

Even in a comedy song, I can't get my head around James McLean's tricks being glorious.

 

I think they're singing about him turning tricks off the field in his second job.

[Mook]

I can honestly say I could not give a flying fuck about this.

 

Having said that, they should get Alan Rickman to do the commentary next time he does something 'controversial'.

[The Golden Eel]

I'm not arsed about him not singing the anthem and it's not something I find offensive, I just think the guy's a bit of a nob. I've not time for the royal family and I've never sung the national anthem at any event but all that requires is to keep your mouth shut for 2 minutes.

 

Turning your back and making an obvious gesture smacks of someone seeking attention and trying too hard to make a point. Regardless of his views on the country and the establishment it's still a pretty childish thing to do really. Same with the whole poppy thing.

 

Exactly, plus why is a professional footballer making such an immature, confused and pointless political statement in public anyway while, let's not forget, representing his employer? The guy has a right to believe what he wants and I'm sure he's got his reasons for his beliefs (even though he was 9 when the Good Friday Agreement was signed) but this just makes him look like a tit.

[Bjornebye]

Exactly, plus why is a professional footballer making such an immature, confused and pointless political statement in public anyway while, let's not forget, representing his employer? The guy has a right to believe what he wants and I'm sure he's got his reasons for his beliefs (even though he was 9 when the Good Friday Agreement was signed) but this just makes him look like a tit  EDIT: I asked your age but I may as well just make the point. 

 

I was 5 in 1989. I would never read the s*n. 

[The Golden Eel]

How old are you Dim? 

 

Genuine question. 

 

34, what's the significance?

[Spy Bee]

Exactly, plus why is a professional footballer making such an immature, confused and pointless political statement in public anyway while, let's not forget, representing his employer? The guy has a right to believe what he wants and I'm sure he's got his reasons for his beliefs (even though he was 9 when the Good Friday Agreement was signed) but this just makes him look like a tit.

So because he's representing his employer he has to respect that national anthem, whatever the fuck that means?

 

A company I used to work for used to buy poppies for all the staff. I refused to wear mine because that didn't represent my personal views.

[Bjornebye]

34, what's the significance?

 

Sorry mate I edited it to make my point.

 

I was going to say ask would you buy the s*n. Just pointing out that it doesn't matter how old he as when the good friday agreement was made at all. What matters is he believes strongly in an injustice and as a result won't get on board with singing the national anthem because he doesn't believe in it. If work told me to read that newspaper I would walk out the door before id even pick it up. Its relative. 

[Bjornebye]

So because he's representing his employer he has to respect that national anthem, whatever the fuck that means?

 

A company I used to work for used to buy poppies for all the staff. I refused to wear mine because that didn't represent my personal views.

 

Exactly. 

[The Golden Eel]

Sorry lads, I had some stuff typed out there but in all honesty, I don't like talking about Northern Irish politics. I shouldn't have got involved. I take the points you're making, though I think it's different but I'll have to cop out

[Bjornebye]

Sorry lads, I had some stuff typed out there but in all honesty, I don't like talking about Northern Irish politics. I shouldn't have got involved. I take the points you're making, though I think it's different but I'll have to cop out

 

Fair play mate. You live there so I don't expect for a second I know as much as you. 

[Dr Nowt]

Have not one solitary fuck to give on this one.

[Section_31]

Well within his rights. Who cares?

[Tony Moanero]

Never heard of the cunt.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

Seems a bit silly to "protest" the national anthem if you're happy to live, work and get paid in England.

 

If you're so republican, why not go home? And I would consider myself Irish.

"God Save the Queen" is the anthem of the United Kingdom.  Which bit of the UK he lives and works in is completely irrelevant.

 

Much more relevant is the fact that he comes from a part of the UK in which grovelling to the Crown is pissing on the graves of innocent people who were murdered by agents of the Crown.

 

As has been mentioned, he didn't exactly piss on the ground when it was played.  He just chose not to go through the hypocritical and (to him and his community) tasteless pretence of showing respect for the Crown.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

He didn't need to turn his back, he could of just stood there like everyone else it's not like he's being forced to do anything just stand there and listen to something.

 

If it was an English player turning his back on the Argie/German or Irish national anthem for similar reasons I'm sure there would be a lot more outrage.

That would be disrespecting another country's anthem (which, of course, no Englishman would ever do!) so not the same thing at all.

[Bjornebye]

That would be disrespecting another country's anthem (which, of course, no Englishman would ever do!) so not the same thing at all.

The same cunts outraged by this probably boo every other nations national anthem and will happily sing ten german bombers at passing families followed with nazi salutes, completely unaware of their own hypocrisy.

[njackets]

He was representing West Brom football club and being paid very good money to do so, if I went out my way at work to make a political statment whilst offending a shit load of people who paid my wage as well as others I'd be sat with HR and out of a job the next day.

[Strontium]

Even in a comedy song, I can't get my head around James McLean's tricks being glorious.

Probably not a word he'd use either, might bring glorious revolutions to mind.

[Moo]

He was representing West Brom football club and being paid very good money to do so, if I went out my way at work to make a political statment whilst offending a shit load of people who paid my wage as well as others I'd be sat with HR and out of a job the next day.

What? I know workers rights in this country are being eroded but I didn't know things had got this bad.

So if the British Legion come into my work selling poppies and paraphernalia and I refuse to buy anything, but then have to justify myself with reasons which some of my colleagues and bosses just happen to take "offense" to then I should expect to lose my job? Really?

[jimmycase]

Man's got to stand up for what he believes in.

[xerxes]

And bowed his head to remember his murdered comrades

Was he in the IRA up till the age of 7?