State of the Irish Game

**an_ceannaire** · 16/04/2009, 3:02 PM

Originally Posted by Gaz

Look at Portugal - they're a country that has around the same population as Ireland, with just half our economy.
Why is it then that they are capable of developing the game in their country THAT much better than we can here?

Obviously, the FAI has to be held accountable, but does anyone ever see the LOI developing to the level that we'll have teams here that can rival the likes of Porto or Benfica? Until we have a solid grassroots system in place in the country - starting young, and running all the way through to a competitive professional league, we'll ALWAYS be nearly men. I'm sick of the old "we can't do it here because all the players feck off to England" excuse - isn't Spain or Italy tempting at all to the Portugese players?

Maybe the answer would be to scrap the LOI and start again. Start with a half dozen teams from around the country that the FAI can concentrate on building. Once those 6 teams are established professionally, then add one or two more teams the same way they do in America? Thoughts?

Portugals population is 10.7 million.......

**dcfcsteve** · 16/04/2009, 6:09 PM

Originally Posted by CMcC

Latvia : Ice Hockey

Ahh yes - the mighty Latvian republic.

How could I forget.......

**sonofstan** · 16/04/2009, 7:14 PM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Ahh yes - the mighty Latvian republic.

How could I forget.......

And we're in a position to patronise?

**dcfcsteve** · 16/04/2009, 7:52 PM

Originally Posted by sonofstan

And we're in a position to patronise?

Hell yeah....!!

Ireland whips Latvia hands down for name recognition, even in the Baltics.....

**Dodge** · 16/04/2009, 9:58 PM

In football, Latvia have qualified for a majour tournament since the last time Ireland did...

**dcfcsteve** · 16/04/2009, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

In football, Latvia have qualified for a majour tournament since the last time Ireland did...

And....?

Their national sport is still 'obscurity'......

**superfrank** · 16/04/2009, 11:03 PM

Tangentially, Latvia's sqaud for the 2004 Euros had 11 domestic-based players in it's squad of 23.

**Dodge** · 16/04/2009, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

And....?

Their national sport is still 'obscurity'......

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with you? Do you literally not have any sense of comedy?

**the-blue-harp** · 17/04/2009, 12:16 AM

Originally Posted by ShnaeGuevara715

Look can we please just shut this thread and ban anyone who tries to start something similar?

are you, or have you ever been a member of the KGB or Communist Party?

**Boh_So_Good** · 17/04/2009, 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

And....?

Their national sport is still 'obscurity'......

Nothing is more obscure on the world sporting stage as GAA in all it's forms. There are several LOI clubs which are far more famous around Europe than GAA will ever be.

**dcfcsteve** · 17/04/2009, 2:00 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with you? Do you literally not have any sense of comedy?

Maybe when you come up with some we'll get to find out, eh Dodge....

**dcfcsteve** · 17/04/2009, 2:01 AM

Originally Posted by Boh_So_Good

Nothing is more obscure on the world sporting stage as GAA in all it's forms. There are several LOI clubs which are far more famous around Europe than GAA will ever be.

Meanwhile, Latvia remains an obscure country......

**brianw82** · 17/04/2009, 5:05 AM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Meanwhile, Latvia remains an obscure country......

I'll bet Roberts Mezeckis could take you in a fight.

Not so obscure then, eh?

**Mr A** · 17/04/2009, 7:51 AM

Look, it's not often I agree with dcfcsteve, but Latvia is a no mark country and is essentially just South Estonia. Much in the same way that Luxembourg and Belgium are clearly just North France.

**sonofstan** · 17/04/2009, 8:05 AM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Look, it's not often I agree with dcfcsteve, but Latvia is a no mark country and is essentially just South Estonia. Much in the same way that Luxembourg and Belgium are clearly just North France.

And Ireland is West Britain?

**Mr A** · 17/04/2009, 8:24 AM

No. Most of Ireland is just Southeast Donegal.

**CMcC** · 17/04/2009, 8:44 AM

Thought this was about football, but hey! Yeah Latvia, that obscure country where one of its sides had little difficulty disposing of the run away champions of our great nation in Europe last season.