Republic of Ireland V Gibraltar(A) 4th Sept & Georgia(H) 7th Sept 2015 - Euro 2016 Q

**Stuttgart88** · 08/09/2015, 5:28 PM

George Caulkin's match review in the UK Times was very good, but it's subscription only. He says we're the team that takes the fun out of functional, which is fair. Makes a good point about our momentum versus Scotland's and in all was very good to read the views of a neutral writer.

**pineapple stu** · 08/09/2015, 5:41 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Is that the correct use of the term pro-rata ? Just doesn't seem right to me but I know where you're coming from.

Possibly not - I was thinking about it but couldn't work out what the correct word is.

Also, whining possibly is incorrect as well - though I'd just seen Sadlier's comments about how the game disproved the "Self proclaimed best fans in the world" title. Even though that title seems to be given by the media, and then taken away by the media.

I think the All Ireland and Electric Picnic had an impact on the crowd. Also ticket prices and the fact the country is still screwed financially. And yet our attendances are still very solid.

**boysingreen** · 08/09/2015, 5:41 PM

We took a point off this German mob on their own patch. Should be no bother pumping them at Fortress Aviva. 😁

**tricky_colour** · 08/09/2015, 6:23 PM

Just realised we can top the group!!!

Win our last two matches and Georgia get anything in Germany we top the group!!!

**Stuttgart88** · 08/09/2015, 7:05 PM

I was just thinking about who'll replace McClean. I reckon it'll be Jack Grealish. The FAI should give him the gate money.

**Stuttgart88** · 08/09/2015, 7:51 PM

Just on the point of the crowd and Sadlier's comments, Pat Fenlon reckons - rightly in my opinion - that disillusionment with the FAI in general is a large part of the reason the fans are staying away.

**Stuttgart88** · 08/09/2015, 7:54 PM

We just interviewed an au pair. Her name was Georgia. I thought "6 points to us and you beat Scotland. You're hired".

**jbyrne** · 08/09/2015, 8:34 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Just on the point of the crowd and Sadlier's comments, Pat Fenlon reckons - rightly in my opinion - that disillusionment with the FAI in general is a large part of the reason the fans are staying away.

excuses excuses. support for the team should not be conditional on what the fai are up to. were the fai ever any better and yet we have filled the stadium countless times over the years.

did the fans only become disillushioned since the england and scotland matches sold out only a few months ago? truth is last nights game wasnt a big enough event for our sporting event junkies. watch their disillusion dissapear when germany are in town or we make the play offs.

**Stuttgart88** · 08/09/2015, 8:58 PM

True, but I think the public knows there is something rotten at the state of Irish football which prevents them from attaching to the national team in an " unconditional love" kind of way. I don't think the games you mentioned were sell outs - my recollection was all kinds of concerted efforts to sell tickets - and of course Mondays don't help, but I think Fenlon was on the money wrt the general point of the public failing to get fully behind the team not being fully down to lack of results, lack of style etc.

**Yard of Pace** · 08/09/2015, 8:59 PM

Plenty of people have just shelled out a fair amount of money on school fees and associated costs for the nippers who went back last week.

**DannyInvincible** · 08/09/2015, 9:54 PM

Originally Posted by jbyrne

excuses excuses. support for the team should not be conditional on what the fai are up to. were the fai ever any better and yet we have filled the stadium countless times over the years.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was an element of truth to it. It's not that the FAI have changed from better to worse; it's that the mood of Irish society and its degree of tolerance has shifted. In the good oul' days, that was perhaps "just the way things were". People put up with amateurism or even laughed it off, possibly with a slight degree of affection; in a "they're crooked, but they're our crooks" or "those guys... what'll they do next?" type of way. I don't think the public had professional-standard expectations or expectations as high as they might do now in corporate, post-Celtic Tiger Ireland. Nowadays, the FAI is just seen as closed, corrupt, self-serving and undemocratic; it's a dinosaur in the age of information, communication, transparency and professionalism. People see and know that and are probably happy enough not to feed it. Perhaps the dawn of the internet - a more democratic and public platform to offer and share critique - opened people's eyes somewhat or maybe Saipan was the start of it, I'm not sure; either way, people are put off by it and it is bound to be a factor.

**Crosby87** · 08/09/2015, 10:32 PM

Brian Kerr says Ireland are too predictable
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/socc...able-1.2343723

**tricky_colour** · 09/09/2015, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by Crosby87

Brian Kerr says Ireland are too predictable
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/socc...able-1.2343723

I was not expecting him to say that!

**pineapple stu** · 09/09/2015, 6:48 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

True, but I think the public knows there is something rotten at the state of Irish football

I don't really buy that - this is the same public that, by and large, *is* the something rotten at the heart of irish football by neglecting it, particularly at LoI level.

Sounds like a convenient excuse to justify not going to watch a poor team any more.

**jbyrne** · 09/09/2015, 7:29 AM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

I wouldn't be surprised if there was an element of truth to it. It's not that the FAI have changed from better to worse; it's that the mood of Irish society and its degree of tolerance has shifted. In the good oul' days, that was perhaps "just the way things were". People put up with amateurism or even laughed it off, possibly with a slight degree of affection; in a "they're crooked, but they're our crooks" or "those guys... what'll they do next?" type of way. I don't think the public had professional-standard expectations or expectations as high as they might do now in corporate, post-Celtic Tiger Ireland. Nowadays, the FAI is just seen as closed, corrupt, self-serving and undemocratic; it's a dinosaur in the age of information, communication, transparency and professionalism. People see and know that and are probably happy enough not to feed it. Perhaps the dawn of the internet - a more democratic and public platform to offer and share critique - opened people's eyes somewhat or maybe Saipan was the start of it, I'm not sure; either way, people are put off by it and it is bound to be a factor.

but they are willing to set these views to one side when the bigger matches come to town? I don't buy that for one second.

Originally Posted by Yard of Pace

Plenty of people have just shelled out a fair amount of money on school fees and associated costs for the nippers who went back last week.

is there a special grant available to the 165,000 who attended Croke Park over the weekend and spent €80+ for the privilege?

**OwlsFan** · 09/09/2015, 9:19 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I don't really buy that - this is the same public that, by and large, *is* the something rotten at the heart of irish football by neglecting it, particularly at LoI level.

Sounds like a convenient excuse to justify not going to watch a poor team any more.

As I think I have said on numerous occasions, there is a hardcore following of 20k fans who will support the team come hell or high water. The other 20k also support the team, but conditionally (ie big game, big opponents, attractive football,Liverpool aren't on the box etc). The rest of the country will support the team if we get to a championship. C'est la guerre. Perceived FAI malfeasance might affect a few hundred at most I'd say.

**Yard of Pace** · 09/09/2015, 9:21 AM

Originally Posted by jbyrne

is there a special grant available to the 165,000 who attended Croke Park over the weekend and spent €80+ for the privilege?

No, but I'd beg, borrow or steal to see Limerick in a football semi-final or an AI senior hurling final. I wouldn't to see Ireland play Georgia..........as I need the few bob to travel to Thurles on Saturday to see Limerick in the U-21 AI final.

Can't do everything, though I wish I could. And it'd be rare I'd miss a home match.

**KK77** · 09/09/2015, 9:37 AM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

As I think I have said on numerous occasions, there is a hardcore following of 20k fans who will support the team come hell or high water. The other 20k also support the team, but conditionally (ie big game, big opponents, attractive football,Liverpool aren't on the box etc). The rest of the country will support the team if we get to a championship. C'est la guerre. Perceived FAI malfeasance might affect a few hundred at most I'd say.

Would Liverpool be on the box during an international match?

**tetsujin1979** · 09/09/2015, 9:38 AM

Originally Posted by jbyrne

is there a special grant available to the 165,000 who attended Croke Park over the weekend and spent €80+ for the privilege?

No, but if you'd spent €80+ on a ticket, plus travel, food + drink for yourself, and possibly one or two more, only 24 hours earlier, then you'd be less likely to spend the same again on Monday night.