View Full Version : Celtic Cup thread
drummerboy
23/05/2011, 7:46 AM
Stokes will never be good enough to play for Ireland. No loss.
SwanVsDalton
23/05/2011, 9:15 AM
Bit of a squad update here. (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/lsquotiredrsquo-stokes-snubs-ireland-2654631.html)
Looks like Cox and Andrews will play, and Best could yet join up with the squad. Stoke contingent could miss out against NI since they don't arrive in Dublin tomorrow. If so, possible team?:
Given
Foley
Delaney
Dunne
Kelly/McShane
Lawrence
Andrews
McCarthy
Hunt
Cox
Keane
Total guess, especially since a few squad members (Fahey, Hunt, Foley, Ward, McCarthy) played a very heavy 90 minutes just yesterday. Wouldn't surprise me he left those guys out in favour of others.
tetsujin1979
23/05/2011, 9:21 AM
I'd say Treacy is more likely to start on the left, having been off for longer.
That squad is a LOT stronger than ours and anything other than a win by at least 3 clear goals will end up as a poor result for you.
ifk101
23/05/2011, 9:46 AM
That squad is a LOT stronger than ours and anything other than a win by at least 3 clear goals will end up as a poor result for you.
Couldn't agree less. Anything less than a double digit victory for us would be a poor result.
Sullivinho
23/05/2011, 10:00 AM
Bit of a squad update here. (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/lsquotiredrsquo-stokes-snubs-ireland-2654631.html)
Looks like Cox and Andrews will play, and Best could yet join up with the squad. Stoke contingent could miss out against NI since they don't arrive in Dublin tomorrow. If so, possible team?:
Given
Foley
Delaney
Dunne
Kelly/McShane
Lawrence
Andrews
McCarthy
Hunt
Cox
Keane
Total guess, especially since a few squad members (Fahey, Hunt, Foley, Ward, McCarthy) played a very heavy 90 minutes just yesterday. Wouldn't surprise me he left those guys out in favour of others.
I wouldn't mind seeing that team at all. Nothing hinging on this game so put Jimmy Mc in the engine room and forget this 'in the hole' witchcraft. Should Shay feature I'm sure I won't be the only one wincing at every stretch and dive.
Not Brazil
24/05/2011, 1:43 PM
The Welsh are going to outnumber the Northern Ireland supporters by a 2:1 ratio in the Aviva on Friday night.
We've sold 48 tickets, and Wales 100.
paul_oshea
24/05/2011, 2:16 PM
what about northern ireland supporters Shankhill brigade stutts?
Is that EGs banner, i have to say its a good one liner, give him credit where its due.
It does just show how silly he is though and that he needs to create these banners to massage his inferiority complex, or as he sees it superiority complex.
shakermaker1982
24/05/2011, 2:18 PM
I remember folk saying this tournament would be brilliant. Fans, atmosphere and games that matter because of the passion involved because your playing your rivals/neighbours. Instead it has been an absolute disaster. **** up after **** up.
48 Northern Ireland fans?!
ArdeeBhoy
24/05/2011, 2:25 PM
Be fair. It's reached the dizzy heights of c.200 for tonight.
And it is an :rolleyes: 'official boycott'.
DannyInvincible
24/05/2011, 3:03 PM
The Welsh are going to outnumber the Northern Ireland supporters by a 2:1 ratio in the Aviva on Friday night.
We've sold 48 tickets, and Wales 100.
That is kind of funny alright. What a shambles, this whole thing.
Lionel Ritchie
24/05/2011, 3:33 PM
Safe enough to say this whole thing/competition/tournament is going to be binned after this? Would a wholesale reformatting save it? Round robin ala rugby 6 nations?
Charlie Darwin
24/05/2011, 3:38 PM
It depends on how much money it makes. I'm guessing the big money is in the TV rights and Sky seem to be promoting it pretty well. In fact, with so many people staying home, the viewing figures will probably be better than expected.
Safe enough to say this whole thing/competition/tournament is going to be binned after this? Would a wholesale reformatting save it? Round robin ala rugby 6 nations?
I think the 6 nations format would work better, yea.
ArdeeBhoy
24/05/2011, 8:03 PM
Hmm, 'Ingerland' & France, no thanks.
Italia would be a useful addition though.
And of course the Irish team in the 6 nations, has a more enlightened approach!
Hmm, 'Ingerland' & France, no thanks.
Italia would be a useful addition though.
And of course the Irish team in the 6 nations, has a more enlightened approach!
I think you've misunderstood.
tetsujin1979
24/05/2011, 10:12 PM
Safe enough to say this whole thing/competition/tournament is going to be binned after this? Would a wholesale reformatting save it? Round robin ala rugby 6 nations?There was rumours that England might host it in two years to coincide with their 150th anniversary
backstothewall
24/05/2011, 10:38 PM
Will it go to goal difference if we draw with Scotland?
There was rumours that England might host it in two years to coincide with their 150th anniversary
England are looking to restart the home nations tournament, which would mean it's essentially this tournament only it would be England instead of you guys in it.
gastric
25/05/2011, 12:51 AM
England are looking to restart the home nations tournament, which would mean it's essentially this tournament only it would be England instead of you guys in it.
How do you know this? Including us would bring a degree of competition to the tournament considering the crappy performances we have seen from Wales and Nursery Ireland so far.
Murfinator
25/05/2011, 12:56 AM
Theres no saving it however you dress it up. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are trashy undesirable teams that nobody wants to watch. Nobody cares if we win or lose against these teams, nobody wants to see them, its a gigantic failure and I don't know how they expected anything else.
We should be glad to see the back of it and lets never speak of it again.
Lionel Ritchie
25/05/2011, 8:07 AM
Hmm, 'Ingerland' & France, no thanks.
Italia would be a useful addition though.
And of course the Irish team in the 6 nations, has a more enlightened approach!
I think you've misunderstood. I'm certain of it. I meant the same four teams playing in a simple 3-round tournament played over the available international dates without the nonsense we're seeing this week.
Theres no saving it however you dress it up. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are trashy undesirable teams that nobody wants to watch. Nobody cares if we win or lose against these teams, nobody wants to see them, its a gigantic failure and I don't know how they expected anything else.
We should be glad to see the back of it and lets never speak of it again. Who's this "nobody" you refer to? Irish people? Neutrals? All three of those teams, with their first 11 available, are easier on the eye than us (Scotland v Czech notwithstanding) a lot of the time.
In attendance terms the CNC is a failure because the format is wrong -that is having a "host" venue where all six games would be played. It assumed supporters of all teams would turn up regardless of their teams material interest in the competition. I don't blame Welsh supporters for example who will apparently only be travelling in their low dozens and at great expence to watch Wales in a neutral venue with the odds stacked against them when theres a perfectly good stadium in the middle of Cardiff they could've used.
The format also illustrated that once you dent the participating teams first choice elevens the squads are too thin to absorb withdrawls, injuries and no-shows. This is exacerbated when they're made play two of the games in a week at the end of the season -in Wales case two games in 48 hours. That's plain daft.
Fixer82
25/05/2011, 9:43 AM
I think the Nations Cup has been a great way of looking at new guys coming through with a certain edge of competition to it.
Although there has been a serious gulf in class.
But if we got Stephen Ward, Simon Cox, Kevin Foley and Keith Treacy out of it then I'm pretty happy
Yard of Pace
25/05/2011, 10:06 AM
Would prefer more games like the Uruguay one recently. Good match, a good test and I think people would start showing up in bigger numbers if that was the case. The friendly circuit used to be great, a big deal.....how has it gone to the dogs to such an extent? More powerful club game? Saw some great games back in the 80s/90...West Germany, USSR, Yugoslavia....even those multitude of Wales games were decent....
How do you know this? Including us would bring a degree of competition to the tournament considering the crappy performances we have seen from Wales and Nursery Ireland so far.
Because the ROI are not a home nation and didn't play in the last home nations cup (which we won :D ).
I'm certain of it. I meant the same four teams playing in a simple 3-round tournament played over the available international dates without the nonsense we're seeing this week.
Same, and the home team play at their own home stadium so all matches aren't in the same city.
Charlie Darwin
25/05/2011, 12:17 PM
Realistically, all the other teams would be way more up for a game with England than with us. England would organise the thing better too.
Realistically, all the other teams would be way more up for a game with England than with us. England would organise the thing better too.
It's Vauxhall that are pushing it. They are the new sponsors of all the home nations and they want the competition brought back.
I imagine Carling aren't too happy.
ifk101
25/05/2011, 12:20 PM
Because the ROI are not a home nation and didn't play in the last home nations cup (which we won :D ).
Was/is not the defined Home Nations England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland?
Was/is not the defined Home Nations England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Home_Championship
Out of interest, does anyone think we'll see another Nations Cup after this one? It's every 2 years right, so that would be 2013?
Stuttgart88
25/05/2011, 4:35 PM
There was rumours that England might host it in two years to coincide with their 150th anniversary
I thought England was older than that. Haven't we been complaining about them for at least 700?
BonnieShels
25/05/2011, 5:13 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Home_Championship
Out of interest, does anyone think we'll see another Nations Cup after this one? It's every 2 years right, so that would be 2013?
The next one is being hosted by FAW in Cardiff. It won't happen. The atrocious organisation of this one will see to that.
jbyrne
25/05/2011, 5:17 PM
The next one is being hosted by FAW in Cardiff. It won't happen. The atrocious organisation of this one will see to that.
overpriced tickets aside where is the atrocious organisation? serious question
rebelmusic
25/05/2011, 5:22 PM
I would say scheduling a match 2 days after the end of season games would be one. Whatever about players turning up, its absolutely not fair on them conisdering the end of season day is the one day they are very much entitled to go on the absolute slaughter afterwards!
Sullivinho
25/05/2011, 6:16 PM
Scotland vs Wales on S4C now (Sky Digital 134) if anyone wants to scout our next opponents and finds Welsh commentary as soothing as i do.
legendz
25/05/2011, 7:01 PM
Very poor attendance tonight. The organisers are going to have to has a look at the format of the competition. It'll be better in a home and away format like the 6 nations.
Can't believe we're winning this with the side we've got out.
Attendances have been very poor, perhaps because of the decision to have a 'host'. People can't be arsed travelling from one island to another one in midweek with work the next day. Make the games home and away, give them proper weekend dates and you'll see interest increase.
backstothewall
25/05/2011, 8:03 PM
I don't see the problem with having it all in one city. Good for a city to have an injection of tourists for 4-5 days, rather than in and out with an overnight stay. For me the problem is trying to play all the games in the national stadium. If tonights game had been in Tallaght the place would have been bouncing.
I think the competition can survive. But only if tickets are priced very cheapily for the games, the games are not all played at one location. Play on a home away basis. And schedule the timing of the matches better. I think all internationals should be on weekends, even competitive games.
legendz
25/05/2011, 9:35 PM
It's not practical to have all games on a weekend. Part of the idea of the tournament was to use friendly fixture dates and get more crowds due to the competitive edge to the games. That has not worked out for starters. A host city is not a good idea. I think more supporters might come for the one off games in a different city. Playing in a virtual empty stadium is no way to promote a game and it's not good for sponsors.
I think they should use the friendly dates of August, November and February every second season.
For 2012/2013 go something like:
August 2012
Wales v Ireland, Cardiff
Scotland v N. Ireland, Edinburgh
November 2012
N. Ireland v Wales, Belfast
Ireland v Scotland, Dublin
February 2013
N. Ireland v Ireland, Belfast
Wales v Scotland, Cardiff
For 2014/2015 then:
August 2014
Wales v N. Ireland, Cardiff
Scotland v Ireland, Edinburgh
November 2014
Ireland v N. Ireland, Dublin
Scotland v Wales, Edinburgh
February 2015
Ireland v Wales, Dublin
N. Ireland v Scotland, Belfast
This is more or less what happens in the 6 nations. It would seem to be the best way to avoid empty stadiums. Personally I'd like to see it played in this format every season but I'm not sure if that's practical? It would be the best way to build up the rivaly amongst the 4 nations. Each season one of the four will have the bragging rights. It's part of what the game is about in some respects. Under the above system, supporters would only have to travel across the Irish Sea once that season, the other two games will either be at home or at least on the same island.
I don't see the problem with having it all in one city. Good for a city to have an injection of tourists for 4-5 days, rather than in and out with an overnight stay. For me the problem is trying to play all the games in the national stadium. If tonights game had been in Tallaght the place would have been bouncing.
What LOI grounds would be "safe" to bring NI fans to? I used to drive through Tallaght every day on my way to work and it certainly ain't a place I'd fancy dandering around with my NI top and scarf on! :D
BonnieShels
25/05/2011, 10:17 PM
It's not practical to have all games on a weekend. Part of the idea of the tournament was to use friendly fixture dates and get more crowds due to the competitive edge to the games. That has not worked out for starters. A host city is not a good idea. I think more supporters might come for the one off games in a different city. Playing in a virtual empty stadium is no way to promote a game and it's not good for sponsors.
I think they should use the friendly dates of August, November and February every second season.
For 2012/2013 go something like:
August 2012
Wales v Ireland, Cardiff
Scotland v N. Ireland, Edinburgh
November 2012
N. Ireland v Wales, Belfast
Ireland v Scotland, Dublin
February 2013
N. Ireland v Ireland, Belfast
Wales v Scotland, Cardiff
For 2014/2015 then:
August 2014
Wales v N. Ireland, Cardiff
Scotland v Ireland, Edinburgh
November 2014
Ireland v N. Ireland, Dublin
Scotland v Wales, Edinburgh
February 2015
Ireland v Wales, Dublin
N. Ireland v Scotland, Belfast
This is more or less what happens in the 6 nations. It would seem to be the best way to avoid empty stadiums. Personally I'd like to see it played in this format every season but I'm not sure if that's practical? It would be the best way to build up the rivaly amongst the 4 nations. Each season one of the four will have the bragging rights. It's part of what the game is about in some respects. Under the above system, supporters would only have to travel across the Irish Sea once that season, the other two games will either be at home or at least on the same island.
I'm sure the SFA will clear it with the SRU to use Murrayfield?
On a serious note though I like what you're doing with the format there and I would be completely in favour of it. But how about going one further and timing the games to clash with the same weekend of a Six Nations game so that you get the crowds over.
Obviously the soccer would be played in Glasgow in this case but there would be no harm in it really.
Provisional fixtures for Six Nations 2013:
23 February 2013
14:00 Scotland v Ireland Murrayfield, Edinburgh
9 March 2013
14:30 Scotland v Wales Murrayfield, Edinburgh
BonnieShels
25/05/2011, 10:28 PM
What LOI grounds would be "safe" to bring NI fans to? I used to drive through Tallaght every day on my way to work and it certainly ain't a place I'd fancy dandering around with my NI top and scarf on! :D
Well I most certainly wouldn't dander in Tallaght in any case no matter my garb!
backstothewall
25/05/2011, 10:34 PM
What LOI grounds would be "safe" to bring NI fans to? I used to drive through Tallaght every day on my way to work and it certainly ain't a place I'd fancy dandering around with my NI top and scarf on! :D
Ah come on now. If we can get The Queen of England and the President of America in and out in the same week, we can get a couple of thousand football fans the 200 yards from the Luas station to the stadium and back again on a bright summers evening. I've never been down that direction, but it looks a nice enough area on streetview.
And even at that, the next one will be Wales if I'm not mistaken. 2 of the north, Scotland and could easily play in Llanelli on a Wednesday or Thursday. Wales could play the other the previous night in Cardiff City or Swansea's new stadium, then play the other 2 games together on the Saturday/Sunday in the Millennium Stadium. I'm sure the Welsh tourist board would be delighted with the thousands of visitors, and hothousing the tournament into a few days would give it festival feel. Especially with the visiting fans doing the tourist thing in the off days. the craic on the open top buses would be mighty!
I don't think the extended gap between the first round of games and now helped much.
legendz
25/05/2011, 10:38 PM
I'm sure the SFA will clear it with the SRU to use Murrayfield?
On a serious note though I like what you're doing with the format there and I would be completely in favour of it. But how about going one further and timing the games to clash with the same weekend of a Six Nations game so that you get the crowds over.
Obviously the soccer would be played in Glasgow in this case but there would be no harm in it really.
Provisional fixtures for Six Nations 2013:
23 February 2013
14:00 Scotland v Ireland Murrayfield, Edinburgh
9 March 2013
14:30 Scotland v Wales Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Yeah, I'm sure Murrayfield can be used!!! ;) Glasgow of course...
I don't think the tournament needs to align it's time with other sports. Just alternate the home and away fixtures, and the people will come. This Scot's - Welsh game tonight should've been in Cardiff or Edinb... ahem Glasgow. It was a crazy system playing all the games in one city.
Ah come on now. If we can get The Queen of England and the President of America in and out in the same week, we can get a couple of thousand football fans the 200 yards from the Luas station to the stadium and back again on a bright summers evening. I've never been down that direction, but it looks a nice enough area on streetview.
And even at that, the next one will be Wales if I'm not mistaken. 2 of the north, Scotland and could easily play in Llanelli on a Wednesday or Thursday. Wales could play the other the previous night in Cardiff City or Swansea's new stadium, then play the other 2 games together on the Saturday/Sunday in the Millennium Stadium. I'm sure the Welsh tourist board would be delighted with the thousands of visitors, and hothousing the tournament into a few days would give it festival feel. Especially with the visiting fans doing the tourist thing in the off days. the craic on the open top buses would be mighty!
I don't think the extended gap between the first round of games and now helped much.
Nice enough area? The main road through it (a dual carriageway) looks grand. Once you stray off that it starts to get hairy.
Jobstown is just around the corner from it too. Driving through jobstown made me feel like I was driving through some part of Baghdad that had just been blitzed. Unbelievable place, looks like it has suffered from a severe lack of investment.
Charlie Darwin
25/05/2011, 10:54 PM
There are rough parts of Tallaght like anywhere else. The area around the stadium isn't one of them.
There are rough parts of Tallaght like anywhere else. The area around the stadium isn't one of them.
Are there bars around the stadium? I drove past the stadium daily and could never see any.
Charlie Darwin
25/05/2011, 11:05 PM
Yeah, there are a few between the shopping centre and the stadium, and I think some restaurants that have bars too. There are a few hotels within walking distance too.
BonnieShels
25/05/2011, 11:16 PM
Yeah, there are a few between the shopping centre and the stadium, and I think some restaurants that have bars too. There are a few hotels within walking distance too.
Walking distance? Sure the Maldron is barely even rock throwing distance :P Where the stadium is in Tallaght is not going to be an issue whether the games are gonna ever be played there or not. I imagine that if we were ever to host this thing again it will be on rotation so Wales are next in 2013, maybe Nireland in 2015, Scotland in 2017 and then us again in 2019... Tis a while yet. The council might build the far ends onto the Tallaght Stadium by then.
Also teh idea of a load of tanked up OWC heads and some Scots on the Luas does not fill me with joy at all.
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