Friendly against England in June?

[DannyInvincible]

only thing is our side will be the only ones putting some pseudo-political, pseudo-historical context to it while simultaneously financially and emotionally supporting British football teams. Its all a bit immature really when you think about it. And im sure I and most others except for you, ArdeeBhoy and a couple of others didnt log on to foot.ie to be given a history lesson on the foundation of the state, history almost all of us are only too aware of already.

I'm not sure if all of those assumptions are directed at myself personally, although I was simply observing or describing what I view to be a reality, if you will. Indeed, maybe it is a bit immature of those you mention - I don't offer financial or emotional support to British clubs, for what it's worth - but then you could say that of any "petty rivalry" or even the whole idea of masses of grown men (and women, of course) channelling their hopes and dreams through groups of eleven other incomparably more talented men kicking a ball around field. It's not that difficult to discredit or degrade something of which you have little interest. Each to their own and all that.

As Eminence Grise points out, there will be those who see this game as a chance to "get one over the old enemy" - it wasn't by chance that the popular 'Joxer Goes to Stuttgart' happened to be written about a game against England - and there'll be those who'll see it as an opportunity to reach out in the seductive and prevailing spirit of forgiveness and political maturity so we can give ourselves a good pat on the back for being so progressive and forward-looking as a nation when we stand to observe 'God Save the Queen' with only the most impeccable of respect, or whatever it is cosmopolitan nations apparently do these days. There'll be others who'll have it marked down as just another football game; the same as any other.

I don't log on to receive or give history lessons. I sense that's a subtle reference to my posting habits. When I post at length on the eligibility issue, for example, as I admittedly do quite a bit - although it's not all I do here - my primary aim is not to engage in political discussion, but, rather, to give my take on matters from personal experience of the reality of the situation in the north and how the rules impact upon it or how it impacts upon the rules. I have a personal interest in the issue for obvious reasons. The discussion often takes on a political guise as the issue just happens to be a sensitive and inherently political one. It doesn't mean it ought not be discussed or the past be ignored just because some people have become tired of hearing about it or oversensitive to the mention of anything of a political nature seeing as we're all supposed to be looking exclusively to the future now or whatever. You have to recognise that FIFA's rules have political and social implications too; not merely footballing ones.

[SkStu]

nah, they werent all directed at you personally - just that you liked receiving history lessons from ArdeeBhoy. And the subtle reference you sensed was actually aimed at ArdeeBhoy who posts about very little else. Thats not necessarily a criticism - we're all allowed to comment on anything we like - its just a little one dimensional and gets a bit tedious. If youre in the same boat - i havent noticed - knock yourself out.

This isnt an eligibility thread so your last paragraph is largely irrelevant. I have learnt to stay away from those threads.

This is a thread about a possible friendly against England. Should be a cracker - they always are - i was at the last one in 95 and enjoyed it and the aftermath immensely. That said, im aware of the history of Ireland and the influence of England in that history. 99% of posters here will be aware of it. Do we really need to read it again? Cant we focus on the game, the build up, the players etc etc....

[DannyInvincible]

No worries, although you had taken issue with what you considered the side-tracking or politicisation of "every topic that is even semi-related to Ireland/Northern Ireland/England/UK", so forgive me for thinking you might have been referring to me given I take an interest in the eligibility issue. ;)

Now, where's AB? We're supposed to be covering the Battle of Widow McCormack's Cabbage Patch this lesson.

[ArdeeBhoy]

nah, they werent all directed at you personally - just that you liked receiving history lessons from ArdeeBhoy. And the subtle reference you sensed was actually aimed at ArdeeBhoy who posts about very little else. Thats not necessarily a criticism - we're all allowed to comment on anything we like - its just a little one dimensional and gets a bit tedious. If youre in the same boat - i havent noticed - knock yourself out.

That said, im aware of the history of Ireland and the influence of England in that history. 99% of posters here will be aware of it. Do we really need to read it again? Cant we focus on the game, the build up, the players etc etc....

Glad to hear the latter. And you'll be glad to know my posts have been on a much wider range of topics than you imply. Whilst DI has as ever identified a certain, er, 'inconsistency' above.
;)

My interjections have been merely to point out, that probably for the duration of our lifetimes, such a fixture will not just be 'another game', which some people seem to think it will be.
If you think I'm overstating this, please see the above reference to Scotland and be grateful you're not part of the Tartan Army!!

[Crosby87]

Don't you mean Retartan Army?

[Fixer82]

No need to play England in a friendly. It would attract inevitable and unwanted trouble from morons on both sides. English morons, naturally, and a few Irish looking for revenge for '95 etc etc. No need for the grief unless we happen to get drawn in a group with them (it used to happen all the time...them and the North).
I would relish a game with England and really look forward to it but I think it's probably gonna be something that will attract too much negative press post-game and in footballing terms the players wouldn't learn much either

[Deckydee]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/fai-target-england-friendly-ahead-of-euro-finals-2933320.html

[mypost]

No need to play England in a friendly. It would attract inevitable and unwanted trouble from morons on both sides. English morons, naturally, and a few Irish looking for revenge for '95 etc etc. No need for the grief unless we happen to get drawn in a group with them (it used to happen all the time...them and the North).

So what's the alternative? Let the yobbos win? That's what happened the last time.

If properly policed, the game should pass off without incident. If.....

[Lionel Ritchie]

Would rather meet them at the finals. They're entirely beatable.

[tetsujin1979]

They did just beat Spain, but they won't have Rooney in the group stages

[TrapAPony]

They did just beat Spain, but they won't have Rooney in the group stages

They wouldn't touch Spain in a tournament where the result actually matters.

[nigel-harps1954]

I'd love it if we got England in the finals. Wouldn't care for a friendly against them whatsoever.

[SkStu]

They did just beat Spain,

meh - as I said yesterday, its probably a blessing in disguise as they will consider themselves nailed on to win the next 2 Euros and World Cups as a result!!

"It's comin home, it's comin home, it's comin, football's coming home"

[DannyInvincible]

I'd love it if we got England in the finals. Wouldn't care for a friendly against them whatsoever.

Feel pretty much the same about it.

Out of interest, when was the last time England actually managed to beat us?

[boovidge]

a friendly at Wembley in 1985 according to the internet. 2-1. Brady scored for us.

[Scooby Doo]

Not in favour of this at all. From a preparation point of view it makes much more sense to play an opponent similar to our group stage opponents where we will actually learn something.

Also, my big fear would be that our lads would bust themselves against England in a poxy friendly and pick up an injury before the tournament.

[elroy]

Not in favour of this at all. From a preparation point of view it makes much more sense to play an opponent similar to our group stage opponents where we will actually learn something.

Also, my big fear would be that our lads would bust themselves against England in a poxy friendly and pick up an injury before the tournament.

Wasnt it rumoured before that this friendly would be in Feb/March?

[cullenswood]

Also, my big fear would be that our lads would bust themselves against England in a poxy friendly and pick up an injury before the tournament.

The players will be playing for a spot in the squad for the Euros. I dont think it will matter who they are playing against, they are not going to be taking it easy against anyone.

[SwanVsDalton]

Not in favour of this at all. From a preparation point of view it makes much more sense to play an opponent similar to our group stage opponents where we will actually learn something.

Also, my big fear would be that our lads would bust themselves against England in a poxy friendly and pick up an injury before the tournament.

We should play against tough opposition - we'll be up against it against three fairly tough teams at the tourney, so no taking it easy. England are a good test no matter the result.

[ArdeeBhoy]

They won't decide till after the Finals draw, as if they get put together, no chance of this happening for another 2 years or so.

[Dodge]

Its already decided, with only being drawn together stopping it

The need to fill lansdowne for friendlies being the main reason for it

[jbyrne]

Wasnt it rumoured before that this friendly would be in Feb/March?

was supposed to be feb if it was to happen at all. the cancelled eng v holland friendly from August just gone is now re-arranged for feb

[jbyrne]

They did just beat Spain, but they won't have Rooney in the group stages

didnt see much more than brief highlights but the possession was 29% england 71% spain! also 22 shots from spain but only 2 from england. id say spain would eat them in a competitive match

[pineapple stu]

didnt see much more than brief highlights but the possession was 29% england 71% spain! also 22 shots from spain but only 2 from england. id say spain would eat them in a competitive match
I was keeping half an eye on it in the pub; Spain destroyed England on a technical level but in fairness, England defended superbly and the Spanish Achilles Heel of an occasional lack of cutting edge came to haunt them (they had 8 shots in the first half, with only one on target). England scored from a set-piece; Spain hit the post and missed a sitter in the second half. It reminded me a lot of the Inter-Barca Champions' League game a couple of years back, where Inter sat deep, defended and utterly frustrated Spain.


a friendly at Wembley in 1985 according to the internet. 2-1. Brady scored for us.
Gary Lineker's first goal for England, just to show how far back that was!


They did just beat Spain, but they won't have Rooney in the group stages
Rooney was left out of the team against Spain as well; I presume to practice not having him.

[geysir]

I watched the England game against Spain and they did fine with parking the bus. Conceded all the territory, couldn't play with the ball, but held their ground admirably in the same way Andorra do against most other teams. Spain missed 2 absolute nailed on sitters.

England in a friendly is great as competitive friendlies go and plenty of €€€€. But there is another value which has to be seen in the context of building up to the Euros, I'm not sure about that one.