Kevin Kilbane has a bee in his bonnet.
Declan Rice has declared for England and the world is still moving but Kevin Kilbane isn’t finished with him yet.
Shortly after Rice’s well-worded statement that signalled his intention to play for England, Kilbane was right on his case.
— Declan Rice (@_DeclanRice) February 13, 2019
“If you’re a “proud Englishman” then why play for us in the first place?” Tweeted Kilbane in response.
Wednesday night in the Virgin Sport studios and the Republic of Ireland international of 14 years was talking about the West Ham midfielder again.
“It’s something that I’ve said all the way along. I can’t understand his decision to play for us in the first place…the line that jumps out at me first of all is, ‘I’m a proud English-man…’ If you’re a proud English man, don’t make yourself available. It’s been dragged on for five or six months since he declined the call up for the Nations League. It was done then, it was clear cut in my mind…”
Declan Rice has made his decision pic.twitter.com/eKrpId13q2
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) February 13, 2019
Kilbane found that by now infamous line, difficult to swallow.
“I would have taken that line out (I’m a proud Englishman) if he doesn’t want to antagonise people with that line alone…”
"If you're a proud Englishman, don't come and play for us."
"I would've taken that line out of the statement."
"It makes a mockery of our system."
"He's felt at 16 that he wouldn't get called up for England."@kdkilbane77 has strong opinions on the Declan Rice saga.#VMSport pic.twitter.com/S33Uiw1Zl8
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 13, 2019
Basically, the 42-year-old isn’t angry, he’s just disappointed.
“Good luck to him, fair enough, but the suggestion that Mick McCarthy should go and chase him, I don’t buy that for one minute…”
Brian Kerr has a more lenient view than Kilbane on the subject, the Drimnagh man understanding that Rice’s connection to Ireland wouldn’t have been as strong as someone like Kevin Kilbane, who’s parents were from this country.
None the less, both men were in agreement that the rule allowing a player like Rice to declare for England, despite the fact that he has already represented the Irish senior team, isn’t one bit fair.
“I don’t think a player who plays a friendly international at senior level should be able to go back to play for somebody else because after three games, he gets an offer…I think that’s a ridiculous rule,” said Kerr.
“I wouldn’t be as strong as how Kevin feels about it….I can understand Declan Rice’s position, brought up in England, surrounded by English people, yes there would have been some Irish there from his grandparents, but not to the same sense of people who’s parents are Irish,” he added.
The former Irish manager doesn’t agree with Kilbane’s notion that Mick McCarthy blotted his copybook by chasing after Rice.
“Mick’s responsibility as a manager is to put out the best team to represent Ireland and to try and win football matches,” said Kerr.
“I was trying to pick the Irish team for the next match, we only have two or three definites, at the moment, we have a heap of players who were in contention – who have been very poor for the last two or three years,” he added.
We’ll take everyone we can get.
Graeme Souness meanwhile, feels Rice’s head has been swayed by those above his station
“It’s the statement) been drafted by a lawyer or a pr consulatant..it just oozes that they’re telling him that you’re more valuable to them (advertisers) if you’re wearing an English shirt than an Irish shirt…I don’t see those words being drafted by the player himself….”
But he doesn’t see Rice fitting into the England National team.
“No not a chance, where? centre back or centre midfield? If he keeps progressing…(maybe)”
Oh yeah, forgot they’ve Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson…
