LOI fans: do you support the national team?

[adamd164]

With tonights #morethanjustafriendly #plasticpaddyinvasion in Wembley, I'm curious to know how many actual Irish football fans (i.e. LOI fans) support the national team? Not even just tonight but generally.

Personally, I used to as a kid but have long since become disillusioned with how removed the national team is from the reality of football in this country, not to mention how sickening the FAI blazers are with their big-day-out mentality.

Just to spite Delaney and co. I'd like England to give them a tonking.:clap:

(sorry, a bit off topic for this forum but I wanted to post it here to get feedback from LOI fans specifically)

[White Horse]

My cynicism has not yet spiralled enough to stop me supporting the national team.

However, it is nothing like supporting my club. That is serious business.

[Mr A]

I support the national side wholeheartedly. At games whether home or abroad there are always large numbers of LOI fans around as well.

If nothing else, the fortunes of the national team dictate the cash flows into Irish football.

Don't really get the logic of not supporting them because of people in the FAI. There have been plenty of people involved in our clubs that weren't too popular and it hasn't stopped us!

[dejadem]

My cynicism has not yet spiralled enough to stop me supporting the national team.

However, it is nothing like supporting my club. That is serious business.

Same, support the national team but club comes first.

[Charlie Darwin]

I support Irish football at all levels. Seeing the national team still gives me goosebumps no matter how unimportant the fixture or dispiriting the football.

[gufcfan]

I'm not saying I don't support Ireland, but I would probably sooner attend most European games of LOI clubs than Ireland games, 95% of the time. I would watch them on tv all right but wouldn't be bothered going to Dublin. I have no interest in going to an away game either.

Pretty much all of us here actually attend football matches, exiles excepted, so in that sense, I don't consider myself a "real supporter" of the national team. I've only bothered with one Ireland match since the move to the Aviva and it was as much to nose around the new digs than anything. FAI Cup finals are the only thing that will bring me there tbh.

[colonelwest]

Along with heading to LOI, I've been going to national team matches since before Delaney and I'll be going to them long after he's gone. Well, hopefully, once he doesn't do a Blatter! The gang I've been heading with since I was knee high are considering sacking off our ST's though and picking and choosing from August on. There's about 20/25 of us going back three generations, some of whom have been going 40/50 years. We're waiting to see how much they're looking for for the renewal but with only three competitive games and the fact they switched the ST's from a whole campaign to match the English season, coupled with a lot of other BS over the last few years (not even getting into the football on show on the pitch/ Trap) means a lot of rank and file are at breaking point at this stage.

[CuanaD]

No.

I used to be a typical armchair NT supporter decades ago - went to the odd game & shouted & cheered as if they were 'MY' team, but over time I realised that I was never going to see our LOI players picked regularly for the NT.

My opinion is that there are a good bunch of players here who are at the same level as the 'filler' players in the NT squad, but they are never picked. I'm still not sure of the reason - could be that the managers agree with the FAI blazers that players aren't worth looking at unless they play abroad, or it could be that they are dissuaded/discouraged from looking at them by the Blazers. I know for certain that the Blazers want the best players playing abroad (preferably in their own favourite team) so they can justify their own expenses in traveling to watch foreign matches all the time.


I shall stay away & continue to try to persuade others to do so also; until this situation changes & I can hope to see LOI players (who we all know are worth watching - we do it every week) regularly making up a reasonable number of the NT squad.

[Macy]

I don't actively hate it or anything, I just don't care anymore.

I used to go, and organised the Longford tickets when Rooney had that initiative, but I stopped going when Delaney stopped it (initially) and then spread everyone around the ground in the rubbish seats. That broke the connection with going. The greedy players over the player pool/ bonuses stopped me even being arsed (essentially the increase in money they got took away from the development of the sport in this country). I also find "the best fans in the world" thing pretty embarrassing to be honest, especially at the euro's. Players who don't seem to really care about the jersey, with fans that don't seem to care about results and perfomances - what's not to love?

[Closed Account 2]

Just to spite Delaney and co. I'd like England to give them a tonking.:clap:


That's a great attitute.

[Jofspring]

I support the national team but not actively. I haven't been to a game since Ireland vs France in 2007. I wouldn't spend good money to travel to dublin for a game and I think a lot outside of dublin would feel the same.

I do find the whole irish fans sitting in pubs wearing Man U jerseys annoying but at this stage it is fighting a losing battle so it doesn't bother me much anymore.

Limerick FC for me is the be all and end all when it comes to football.

At the moment it is €10 into a state of the art stadium to watch live football and have a great laugh and no matter what anyone says that can't be beaten at the moment by anyone in my eyes.

[trevy]

Yes I do. I always used to watch the games on tv since I was a child and now I go to a few home games in last few years and was at all 3 in Euro 2012. There seems to be a good mixture of fans following the national team and some go just for the craic and the trip abroad but there are plenty of dedicated football fans too.

[Raheen]

Ahem, even us exiles regularly go to games..just not so many in Ireland. Personally, I prefer club football of any kind to international football.


I'm not saying I don't support Ireland, but I would probably sooner attend most European games of LOI clubs than Ireland games, 95% of the time. I would watch them on tv all right but wouldn't be bothered going to Dublin. I have no interest in going to an away game either.

Pretty much all of us here actually attend football matches, exiles excepted, so in that sense, I don't consider myself a "real supporter" of the national team. I've only bothered with one Ireland match since the move to the Aviva and it was as much to nose around the new digs than anything. FAI Cup finals are the only thing that will bring me there tbh.

[nigel-harps1954]

Nothing would please me more than to see Ireland do well.

But like a few others here, I just feel completely detached from the international team. It just doesn't feel like my own team. Despite numerous players actually coming through the League of Ireland, it sort of felt like England v England reserves last night.

Watched about 10 minutes of the game.

I wholeheartedly admire those who put heart and soul into supporting the national team however. I know many people who travel to every home game and get to a few away games too. Takes a lot of money and effort to do this in a crippled economy and I tip my hat to them.

Never been to an Ireland home game myself, and I just have no particular interest in doing so apart from a day out to Lansdowne Road.

I'll take a trip to Salthill, Mervue, Wexford, Cork, Tallaght or anywhere else supporting Harps over it.

[MariborKev]

I'm lucky enough to be able to follow both. Currently replying to this from Stansted, after last night's game, awaiting my flight back to Derry.

Then it's on the road to Blarney tomorrow, before leaving straight after the game to come back up on Saturday night so as to get to the Ulster Championship game on the Sunday. Ah sport you couldn't beat it.

If it came to it would be club before country, thought I have sacrificed a few Derry games for Ireland away trips when it has been impossible to get back for the club game.

[De Town]

Where were Northern Ireland playing last night Kev? Don't remember seeing their name mentioned in any fixture list yesterday.

[MariborKev]

No game, not an "official" international fixture date, which was the reason Keane had issues with Galaxy.

[SkStu]

why would people not support the Irish team? It makes no sense. You have to put your disagreements with the administration to one side for 90 minutes. With the number of ex-LOI players in the team, the excuses for not supporting the team are less and less.

[TonyD]

With tonights #morethanjustafriendly #plasticpaddyinvasion in Wembley, I'm curious to know how many actual Irish football fans (i.e. LOI fans) support the national team? Not even just tonight but generally.

Personally, I used to as a kid but have long since become disillusioned with how removed the national team is from the reality of football in this country, not to mention how sickening the FAI blazers are with their big-day-out mentality.

Just to spite Delaney and co. I'd like England to give them a tonking.:clap:

(sorry, a bit off topic for this forum but I wanted to post it here to get feedback from LOI fans specifically)

That's kind of my attitude too. I was a kid in the seventies and would have given anything to see Ireland qualify for a major tournament. I remember being gutted in 82 particularly, when a very good team went so close in an incredibly strong group. Strangely though, once it actually happened I started to care less and less. I enjoyed Euro 88 and Italia 90, but the disillusionment started around the mid point of the Charlton era, continued through the McCarthy era and the treatment of Brian Kerr was the final straw for me. I should mention too that I started supporting Pats regularly in 94/95 and this coincided with starting to lose interest. The more I started to care about Pats the less the national team meant. Now I can't stand Trappatoni, Delaney, (most of)the media, the FAI and a lot of the supporters, who all think that Irish football begins and ends with the national team. Shamrock Rovers achievement in reaching the group stages of the Europa League was a more laudable feat than anything the national team has ever done, and I say that as a Pats fan (who is now off to have a shower :D)

[A N Mouse]

why would people not support the Irish team? It makes no sense. You have to put your disagreements with the administration to one side for 90 minutes. With the number of ex-LOI players in the team, the excuses for not supporting the team are less and less.

Sure, why would you want to watch that shoite!! :p

[Gorm agus Bán]

I am more of an Irish national team 'follower' than a 'supporter'. I 'support' my local team, Finn Harps, by going to games the length and breadth of the country, buying club merchandise, programmes, club lottos, half-time draws, selling fundraising tickets, etc.

I have never invested the same energy into the national team.

[fionnsci]

Always been a huge Ireland fan and always will be. Was an Ireland fan before discovering the LOI.

[brendy_éire]

I'm lucky enough to be able to follow both. Currently replying to this from Stansted, after last night's game, awaiting my flight back to Derry......
If it came to it would be club before country, thought I have sacrificed a few Derry games for Ireland away trips when it has been impossible to get back for the club game.

I'm also posting from Stansted on the way to Blarney, and would pretty much echo what Kev is saying.
I'm lucky that I'm in the position financially and leave-wise that I can follow both my club and country.
Club matches do mean more to me, though I have missed Derry matches because I've been abroad at Ireland ones. I don't really feel that much of a detachment from the national side, as some have been saying on here, though some Ireland fans are dreadful to be around, who'll ridicule the LoI then suddenly demand James McClean be called up as soon as he signs for Sunderland.
What tends to happen at away matches, for me anyway, the LoI fans stick together. You'll always see plenty of LoI jerseys about, and it's a conversation starter.

The club will always be top though. Just means more as it's my home town.

[desaintsno.12]

Nope , i have pretty much zero interest.

[Spudulika]

I'm Irish, I support Ireland in all sports and pursuits. It's a curse at times but it's my country.

[Sheridan]

I'm Irish, I support Ireland in all sports and pursuits. It's a curse at times but it's my country.

That's what people in Nazi Germany said.

[Eminence Grise]

The people in Nazi Germany felt Irish?

Should probably invoke Godwin's Law here...

[bennocelt]

Nah no interest, much prefer to see a LOI team do well in Europe

[Rasputin]

No.
I feel no attachment or affinity for the national team.
Not because of the players as such, but the whole circus surrounding the national team.
The media who salivate over gash Irish performances and celebrate what should be lambasted such as the Euro performances. The very same media whose total disinterest in our National league is only set aside when they have an opportunity to ridicule our national league. The same media that is part and parcel of the very hypocrisy which churns out never ending column inch's to the English leagues.
The plastic paddy brigade which follow the national team, the self appointed 'best fans in the world', don't make me ****ing sick. Would they have the same commitment to the national team if they were genuine fans that followed their club teams? Its why the best club fans in the world have generally an abysmal national team following because in the end of the day the national team is a side show.
I don't want to be associated with those bandwagon clowns who are just there for the event, essentially a holiday, its not about football or the results, that was evident from their celebrating the embaressing performances the national team produced.
Trap and his dinosaur tactics don't help but in all honesty I could ignore all that if I felt an affinity and if I had more in common with the majority who follow the national team but I don't.
They are a joke, mimicking real football supporters because lets face it with all their chest puffing it is a bit hard to get that emotionally involved in a successful English club team which they have some transient excuse for supporting.
Give me a Sham I despise any day over those plastic paddy's, at least I respect other LOI fans, but the majority of the national team following I don't and never have.

[DannyInvincible]

No.
I feel no attachment or affinity for the national team.
Not because of the players as such, but the whole circus surrounding the national team.
The media who salivate over gash Irish performances and celebrate what should be lambasted such as the Euro performances. The very same media whose total disinterest in our National league is only set aside when they have an opportunity to ridicule our national league. The same media that is part and parcel of the very hypocrisy which churns out never ending column inch's to the English leagues.
The plastic paddy brigade which follow the national team, the self appointed 'best fans in the world', don't make me ****ing sick. Would they have the same commitment to the national team if they were genuine fans that followed their club teams? Its why the best club fans in the world have generally an abysmal national team following because in the end of the day the national team is a side show.
I don't want to be associated with those bandwagon clowns who are just there for the event, essentially a holiday, its not about football or the results, that was evident from their celebrating the embaressing performances the national team produced.
Trap and his dinosaur tactics don't help but in all honesty I could ignore all that if I felt an affinity and if I had more in common with the majority who follow the national team but I don't.
They are a joke, mimicking real football supporters because lets face it with all their chest puffing it is a bit hard to get that emotionally involved in a successful English club team which they have some transient excuse for supporting.
Give me a Sham I despise any day over those plastic paddy's, at least I respect other LOI fans, but the majority of the national team following I don't and never have.

I agree that these are unfortunate realities, but could the national team do anything about the above - with the exception of your aversion to Trap's tactics of choice - to bridge your sense of detachment? Perhaps you need to question your own commitment before judging others on theirs?

Don't you feel some sort of affinity with the likes of Seamus Coleman, for example?

[Rasputin]

I agree that these are unfortunate realities, but could the national team do anything about the above - with the exception of your aversion to Trap's tactics of choice - to bridge your sense of detachment? Perhaps you need to question your own commitment before judging others on theirs?

Don't you feel some sort of affinity with the likes of Seamus Coleman, for example?
Maybe it is my own commitment that needs to be questioned but I just can't associate with the majority of those who follow the National team, I don't have anything in common with them on a football level and don't respect them, in fact I think they are ridiculous. I couldn't actively par-take in their self congratulatory back slapping about how they are the best fans in the world as they fit in trips with the national team in-between their bi-annual visits to Old Trafford.
Its all just a bit too ridiculous for me and I don't want anything to do with it.
As for Seamus Coleman i'm delighted for him, but like I said its not really about the team or the tactics, all of that is secondary to the circus that surrounds it for me.

[citybone]

Only went to one senior game (a friendly in Thomond vs Australia) and a few u21 games but little interest in the national side, Club first country second.

[fionnsci]

LOI mascots did a dance-off at half time during the match today. Hooperman won. *****.

[colonelwest]

LOI mascots did a dance-off at half time during the match today. Hooperman won. *****.

Nice to see the bit of rivalry still going when as soon as the music kicked in and Hooperman went into the centre circle the Pats mascot did a runner straight for him and tried to spear him to the ground! :D Poor auld Hooperman had a bit of a mixed day, he got a bit of a kicking off the rest of the mascots down in the corner after he was announced the winner and during the first half as they were doing laps around the crowd this little fat kid a few rows down from me spent ages trying to have a scrap with him.
:D

Also, Dennis really should put some keks on if he's going to be going around high fiving kids, that's a quickfire way to be put on the register!

[Stuttgart88]

I've said repeatedly on foot.ie that the "best fans in the world" mantle is simply a stick for cranks to beat ROI fans with. I believe it even more now having read Rasputin's posts.

No ROI fan I know uses the term or even comes close to believing it to be true. If anything, those of us who support the national team with an almost religious fervour are pretty frustrated at how flimsy the support is.

It's frankly ridiculous to assume we're all EPL-loving part-timers who look down on the LOI. In fact the 20+ ROI regulars I associate with are all very positive towards the LOI and are very quick to criticise the commercial vulgarity of the EPL. I have an interest in how the EPL pans out, just as I do all the major European soccer leagues. I have had a lifelong affection for Arsenal and probably will do even if I struggle to relate to the English game anymore. I have also had a lifelong affection for Shamrock Rovers, and was quite simply thrilled to see Sligo win the league last year. I'd be equally delighted to see Pats win it this year. Great clubs.

Post #31 above by Rasputin betrays an absolutely enormous shoulder chip. I don't care if people support club over country, or no club at all. There is no one best way to be a football fan or to love the game. It's a broad church and everyone's welcome.

[Stuttgart88]

I agree that these are unfortunate realitiesYou agree that the media salivates over gash performances? You obviously read different media sources than I do. You believe there's a platic paddy brigade that follows the team? You believe that only a fan that follows his club team is a genuine fan? You have a different sense of reality to me Danny!

[ArdeeBhoy]

The LOI and the Irish national team are both valid sporting entities. There's room for both.

And know at least one poster's views are different in reality to what they've said here...
;)

[Señor Willy]

No, I dislike the the whole national side of things, I enjoy watching local football and getting some entertainment. I find our fans obnoxious with this "best fans in the world" stuff. Losing 4-0 to Spain wasn't it? Singing their hearts out when they were watching pure rubbish. It would make me sick to he associated with them. The whole circus that surrounds the Irish national team is easily disliked. This were rubbish but we don't care attitude of fans is depressing. That's why I couldn't give a hoot if Ireland lose 7-0 or win 7-0. Either way doesn't bother me.

[luiz]

I am brazilian, and the brazilian CBF is about the same or even worse than the FAI. For a start, our John Delaney is a former far-right politician that helped to arrest leftist activists for torture during our dictatorship years. Recently, he was caught pickpocketing medals in a cup final. Even though the irish green shirt is far from being the mythical thing that ours is, the way our federation uses our national team as a golden egg chicken made the matches so farcical, so stupid, that it's impossible to keep caring about them. Year by year, there's always one or two players that are in the squad for obviously other reasons than football (this time, it's Hulk. Lucas is one of the best players in the world but he cannot manage to be in the starting eleven because he doesn't have the necessary relations). That, plus the plastic support mentioned, tickets for the matches cost way more than what the brazilian working class can pay, this in the rare occasions where the game is in Brazil, because mostly they play in Switzerland, USA, Japan, Dubai or something like this, there's no real brazilian diehard football supporter attending those matches anymore, just a bunch of posh rich kids. Not to mention the awful standard of football, for a team that used to be the Harlem Globetrotters of football. I care so little about this team that several times I went to Aviva to see Ireland playing someone else instead of watching my own country.

Given my little rant about the biggest and most traditional national team of the world, I totally understand if some people lost their patience with a much less attractive product like the Irish team.

[DannyInvincible]

My statement was probably too broad. I should have been more careful and ought to clarify.


You agree that the media salivates over gash performances?

The media devote much more coverage, especially positive, to the national side - or the EPL, even - than to the League of Ireland, perhaps to the detriment of the game in Ireland. Not that there is some obligation to cover the "domestic" game; I just think it would be nice to see Irish clubs and their players on the back pages for positive reasons rather than tucked a few pages in for more-often-than-not negative reasons.


You believe there's a platic paddy brigade that follows the team?

I suppose I believe there's a "brigade" of Irish people who claim to take an interest in Irish football but don't seem troubled by the disconnect that exists between the national side and the "domestic" game whilst happy to pump money into Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea, of all teams. Despite their claimed interest, they appear unable to equate national indifference for the game in Ireland, or the League of Ireland, with the national team's happy-go-lucky ambitions, where our fortunes are largely dependent on chance or dependent upon living off the scraps of English academies rather than relying on or benefiting from any serious developmental framework or footballing pyramid of our own. I think that's unfortunate, yes. Think of the potential and the pride a strong and healthy league could bring.


You believe that only a fan that follows his club team is a genuine fan?

Not at all. People can follow whoever they like. I just think it's unfortunate when certain people claim to support one thing but it doesn't appear to dawn on them that their conduct may actually be proving detrimental to the entity they claim to support in the long run; an entity in which I also take an interest. I'd be reluctant to come across as condescending or as if I know it all - I don't - but surely no harm in highlighting a concern.

[ArdeeBhoy]

No, I dislike the the whole national side of things, I enjoy watching local football and getting some entertainment. I find our fans obnoxious with this "best fans in the world" stuff. Losing 4-0 to Spain wasn't it? Singing their hearts out when they were watching pure rubbish. It would make me sick to he associated with them. The whole circus that surrounds the Irish national team is easily disliked. This were rubbish but we don't care attitude of fans is depressing. That's why I couldn't give a hoot if Ireland lose 7-0 or win 7-0. Either way doesn't bother me.

Have you ever even been to an Ireland game? And presumably you feel the same way about LOI fans, of whom I've met many many at such games over the years...

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

No, I dislike the the whole national side of things, I enjoy watching local football and getting some entertainment. I find our fans obnoxious with this "best fans in the world" stuff. Losing 4-0 to Spain wasn't it? Singing their hearts out when they were watching pure rubbish. It would make me sick to he associated with them. The whole circus that surrounds the Irish national team is easily disliked. This were rubbish but we don't care attitude of fans is depressing. That's why I couldn't give a hoot if Ireland lose 7-0 or win 7-0. Either way doesn't bother me.

So you'd rather if the fans started ripping up the seats and rioting cause Ireland were losing?

[gufcfan]

So you'd rather if the fans started ripping up the seats and rioting cause Ireland were losing?
That's a ridiculous excuse for a counter-point and you know it.

[Macy]

So you'd rather if the fans started ripping up the seats and rioting cause Ireland were losing?
I hadn't realised it was an either or situation.

[SkStu]

What Nah Nah's post does unintentionally acknowledge is that singing the fields of athenry when losing 4-0 is as extreme one way as ripping up seats and rioting is extreme the other way!

[Stuttgart88]

Senor Willy: any comment on my post #35 above wrt "best fans in the world"?

Danny, I think there's a large degree of fabrication when it comes to putting down the locak game by following the more glamorous, more popularly supported version of the game. I think people read too much into disconcern for the LOI when the world's biggest league is only a 60 minute budget flight away. We are saturated by UK TV coverage in all aspects of our life, it's hardly a crime against football to be seduced by the world's most watched league (and only 150 or so miles from home - less than the distance traveled by some teams within their own countries).

I stayed up all night watching the Obama vs. Romney presidential election, yet I'd stugggle to tell you who my local counsellor is. Am I acting to the detriment of local politics? Am I any less interested in politics? Am I generally less entitrled to a political view? I'm confused by some of the funddamentalism on show here.

I've posted my LOI and junior football "credentials" here before, although it's largely irrelevant. LOI (only) fans can have your beef, but ROI (mainly) fans are not your problem.

[Stuttgart88]

What Nah Nah's post does unintentionally acknowledge is that singing the fields of athenry when losing 4-0 is as extreme one way as ripping up seats and rioting is extreme the other way!

Do you recall Keith Andrews' comment? He said the players were hugely grateful that the fans realised that being totally put to the sword by the world's best team was not the time to turn on them, but that the players also understood that had an abject performance against a peer been delivered that dissent would have been understood. I agree with him on that.

I was at White Hart Lane when Rovers got beaten 3-1 by Spurs, and the fans showed their love for their team by singing therir hearts out. There were more Rovers fans at WHL than any time I've been to Tallaght. Funny how the fans only ever got accolades from all quarters that night.

Get the chip off your shoulder. Every - I mean every - ROI ran I know is supportive of the LOI. NONE I know looks down on it in anyway. I live in London so some may well be not very informed, but trust me, there is no prejudice wathsover and in most cases there is a degree of affectionate pride. I suppose now I'll be told that's patronising...

[SkStu]

Do you recall Keith Andrews' comment? He said the players were hugely grateful that the fans realised that being totally put to the sword by the world's best team was not the time to turn on them, but that the players also understood that had an abject performance against a peer been delivered that dissent would have been understood. I agree with him on that.

I was at White Hart Lane when Rovers got beaten 3-1 by Spurs, and the fans showed their love for their team by singing therir hearts out. There were more Rovers fans at WHL than any time I've been to Tallaght. Funny how the fans only ever got accolades from all quarters that night.

Get the chip off your shoulder. Every - I mean every - ROI ran I know is supportive of the LOI. NONE I know looks down on it in anyway. I live in London so some may well be not very informed, but trust me, there is no prejudice wathsover and in most cases there is a degree of affectionate pride. I suppose now I'll be told that's patronising...

What chip on my shoulder? Perhaps try reading my earlier post on this thread FFS.

The singing while being destroyed is not something well ever agree on I suppose but it's totally different to being a fan of the Irish team.

[Charlie Darwin]

Danny, I think there's a large degree of fabrication when it comes to putting down the locak game by following the more glamorous, more popularly supported version of the game. I think people read too much into disconcern for the LOI when the world's biggest league is only a 60 minute budget flight away. We are saturated by UK TV coverage in all aspects of our life, it's hardly a crime against football to be seduced by the world's most watched league (and only 150 or so miles from home - less than the distance traveled by some teams within their own countries).
I don't think anybody is criticising EPL fans for being seduced by the league. It's when those EPL fans take an interest in the national team and criticise it, despite taking no interest in the league that produces an increasing number of its players. If you're only interested in the successful league, that's absolutely fine, but you can't then turn around and criticise the national team for not being successful when you've shown a clear lack of interest in its development.


I stayed up all night watching the Obama vs. Romney presidential election, yet I'd stugggle to tell you who my local counsellor is. Am I acting to the detriment of local politics? Am I any less interested in politics? Am I generally less entitrled to a political view? I'm confused by some of the funddamentalism on show here.
It's not really a valid comparison. Obama doesn't gain his legitimacy from Europeans showing an interest, whereas the strength of Irish football is directly affected by the amount of support given to it.


I was at White Hart Lane when Rovers got beaten 3-1 by Spurs, and the fans showed their love for their team by singing therir hearts out. There were more Rovers fans at WHL than any time I've been to Tallaght. Funny how the fans only ever got accolades from all quarters that night.
I'm not sure when you were last in Tallaght but any home game no matter how insignificant the opposition has more home fans than were at WHL. And that's including all the exiled fans in London.


Get the chip off your shoulder. Every - I mean every - ROI ran I know is supportive of the LOI. NONE I know looks down on it in anyway. I live in London so some may well be not very informed, but trust me, there is no prejudice wathsover and in most cases there is a degree of affectionate pride. I suppose now I'll be told that's patronising...
I'm sure the ROI fans in London are more supportive of the LOI, perhaps because they live in a city where supporting a local side is the norm rather than the exception. I'm sure a lot of London-based ROI fans would think nothing of attending a game in Tallaght the way they would at Crystal Palace. But they have the tradition, Irish-based football fans generally don't have a tradition of going to football games and supporting their local side. They watch their team on TV.

[nigel-harps1954]

Danny, I think there's a large degree of fabrication when it comes to putting down the locak game by following the more glamorous, more popularly supported version of the game. I think people read too much into disconcern for the LOI when the world's biggest league is only a 60 minute budget flight away. We are saturated by UK TV coverage in all aspects of our life, it's hardly a crime against football to be seduced by the world's most watched league (and only 150 or so miles from home - less than the distance traveled by some teams within their own countries).

I don't think there's any fabrication at all. Try walking into a pub, or a bookies, anywhere in Ireland, and talk about League of Ireland football with 10 people.
3 of those people will ask "How is the team doing? Always meant to go watch a game, but just never got around to it".
3 of them will have been to a game, but felt no connection to it and never went again, preferring to watch Man Utd v Liverpool on a Saturday in a pub.
2 of them go when the team is doing really well, but as soon as there's a few losses, are nowhere to be seen.
2 of them will never have been to a game. They will ridicule the League, your team, and everything to do with Irish football. Support Man Utd. Hate England.

There is bigotry up and down this country. It's tough being told you're an idiot for going to Longford to watch Harps beat the league leaders in a 'crap league with crap teams', when that very same person shells out 400 quid the next week to go over to England just to say a teary goodbye to a Scottish football manager in charge of an English team.


LOI (only) fans can have your beef, but ROI (mainly) fans are not your problem.

I don't think anyone is tarring all ROI fans with the same brush. I know a few ROI fans who travel to each and every home game, and have travelled away to countries I'd only ever dream of going to. I have huge respect for the real ROI fans, who put their heart and soul into supporting their country.
It's the plastic paddies. The Euro 2012 glory-hunters, the herd of sheep that followed Ireland to Poland and Ukraine, who got labelled the best fans in the world, who received such high praise from the Mayor of Poznan or whatever that guy was. These same people who ONLY went because of a session. I know a few of them too, and they sure as hell knew I didn't like it too.
It p*sses me off, that these are the same people who won't travel 10 minutes up the road to watch a League of Ireland match, for absolutely no decent excuse other than 'it's crap'.


Do you recall Keith Andrews' comment? He said the players were hugely grateful that the fans realised that being totally put to the sword by the world's best team was not the time to turn on them, but that the players also understood that had an abject performance against a peer been delivered that dissent would have been understood. I agree with him on that.

I've heard players say similar things at every level. I've always been an advocate of a big atmosphere, love big noise, big chants. But this whole 'doing the poznan' and Fields of Athenry when getting hammered was embarrassing to watch. Like for fu*k sake, Fields of Athenry is a song about depression and the famine. At least if you're trying to lift someones spirits, sing a decent, lively, song.


Get the chip off your shoulder. Every - I mean every - ROI ran I know is supportive of the LOI. NONE I know looks down on it in anyway. I live in London so some may well be not very informed, but trust me, there is no prejudice wathsover and in most cases there is a degree of affectionate pride. I suppose now I'll be told that's patronising...[/QUOTE]

Nothing patronising at all. But I would say it's naive to think that.