Hutch to play for Malta

[David Votoupal]

Surely he'd be above the level of most players in the Malta side? That being said, Malta's results have improved in recent qualifying campaigns, they even won a game in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. Heck, even Luxembourg have improved. Then again, those two countries seem to have invested in development programs to raise their level of football :-\

 

[Wombat]

Great opportunity that he should grab.  He will be an excellent player for Malta and would never get the change to play for Oz...he would actually come back a much better player after sampling international Football in Europe.
BTW...I've NEVER met a Maltese person that I didn't like.  A bit like the Scousers of Europe without wanting to steal your belongings..i.e Great sense of humour, like a drink, can scrap a bit.

 

[Paolo]

BTW...I've NEVER met a Maltese person that I didn't like. 

Ever met sean lacy??

 

[BrisRecky]

Hutcho plays for Malta cause his nanna & pop were from there.....ummmm sounds like the Rugby League world cups most interesting rule has taken root worldwide

 

[Sacko]

Plenty of the smaller nations have been doing this for years, Mick McCarthy was in the Rep Ireland team that played in the USA and he was born and breed in Yorkshire, in the same squad was Ray Houghton who was known as Scotie when he played in the West Ham reserve team becasue of his accent!

It'll be interesting to see if Hutch has the mentality to play for a bloodly minded  nation like Malta, the whole island was award the Victora Cross after keeping the Germans at bay during WWII.   

 

[Ursus]

George Cross

 

[dibo]

Hence 'Sunshine Georgies', etc.

 

[Sean]

or St George who fought in the Seige of Malta

 

[clarence]

BTW...I've NEVER met a Maltese person that I didn't like. 

Ever met sean lacy??

Funny bugger, Paolo, lol.

Hutcho plays for Malta cause his nanna & pop were from there.....ummmm sounds like the Rugby League world cups most interesting rule has taken root worldwide

Croatia farken rort this law with our home grown but Croatian heritage players a fair bit Recky. Hate 'em for it too, particularly if a player gets as far as the AIS then suddenly finds some strange sentimental fondness for their grandparents' homeland, one they have hardly ever been to.

 

[mariners4ever]

Hutcho plays for Malta cause his nanna & pop were from there.....ummmm sounds like the Rugby League world cups most interesting rule has taken root worldwide

but this is different, other countries in rugby league poach players who have already played for australia/new zealand before, with football overseas, there is a rule saying that you cannot play for another country after you play under 21's for your current country, hutch hasnt played for australia at this level.

anyways, looks like malta arent only looking at hutcho,
http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/a-league/trainon-socceroo-poached-by-malta/2009/04/07/1238869961451.html
(look on page 2 of the website) The sights of the Maltese authorities have already been trained on Wellington Phoenix defender Manny Muscat, while enquiries have also been made to see if Aboriginal midfielder Fred Agius, who recently signed with North Queensland Fury, has the Maltese heritage his name suggests.

Other players potentially on Malta's radar include Melbourne Victory's Steven Pace, Wellington's Vince Lia, Altona Magic's Ryan Baldacchino [who played in the Scottish Premier League with Gretna] and Perth Glory youngster James Sammut.

it also states that he will be picked in malta's squad for their friendly against Czech Republic on the June the 5th

 

[David Votoupal]

Malta have actually exported a couple of decent players- Carmel Busuttil was the best-known and he played for and even captained Genk in Belgium. And Michael Misfud currently plays for Barnsley.

 

[BrisRecky]

Hutcho playing for Malta hey?....who's for chipping in for a one way plane ticket for him??

 

[FFC Mariner]

Squadron might chip in with a few coins to get things started?

 

[Sean]

think of it this way, he gets to play in both WC and Euro qualifiers. ALOT more football for Hutch.

Well done Hutch, I will be getting your name on my NT jersey!

 

[thomas477]

Good on him.

 

[fruitbat]

Go for it Hutch.  Once and for all removes the possibility of you ever representing Australia.  ;D

I hope it means he will never again represent the Central Coast. He is out of his depth in the A league. I just dont understand how he doesnt get dumped. I'd have Gumps as the attacking mid over him any day.

 

[serious14]

Are Malta really that shit/desperate that they want him in the team??  Honestly??

The thought of him man-marking Ronaldo makes me cringe, laugh, and fear the final scoreline all at once.  Oh my.

 

[Sym]

Malta 3 Portugal 0 ?

 

[serious14]

Yeah.............. no.

 

[David Votoupal]

Pffft it's just a ploy to make Gerrard look passable among international midfielders