Finnan's Performance in Champions League Final

[Peadar]

I don't really think that Finnan did a whole lot wrong but he must be asking questions of himself after being part of the Liverpool side which lost the 1st half 3-0 and then when he was taken off, Liverpool won the 2nd half 0-3

A medal is a medal I suppose.
He's done better than Carr, that's for sure.

[tiktok]

Answer to that question is Didier Hamann, not Finnan.

Steven Gerard proved again that despite being able to hit the odd killer sixty yard ball or being able to pop up with the odd goal, he has neither the talent or the intellignce to dominate the midfield at a high level.
Liverpool played at their best when he was at right back. :D :D

Finnan played well, and on another thread it says he came off with a thogh strain.

[Peadar]

Liverpool played at their best when he was at right back.

I was going to lead into that next.
Gerrard did a better job at right-full than Finnan.
Liverpool fans will jump on this now in their typical unobjective style but save your keyboard the strain, I'm not trying to have a go at the lad.
I'm thinking about the two important Ireland games that we have coming up.

[beautifulrock]

Finnan was injured hence why he was taken off, although his postioning on a few occasions could be questioned he was not having a bad game. Gerrard did very well in the second half at right back but how much that was to the other tactical moves i.e. Hamann shoring up the midfield is difficult to gauge.

[eirebhoy]

Answer to that question is Didier Hamann, not Finnan.
And Hamann is a holding midfielder. As I always say, the most important player in a team. It has been proved so many times. :)

Finnan played well btw. He better be fit for the Israel game though. :(

[Peadar]

He better be fit for the Israel game though. :(

Yeah, fingers crossed, he's the best we've got at the moment.

[noby]

I don't think Finnan had a bad game, and even if he wasn't injured, when they went three at the back for the start of the second half, he was always likely to be the one sacrificed (cos you gotta leave Traore on :confused: ). He was just unlucky

When it went to 3-3, and Serghino came on, Gerrard filled in, but to say he did a better job than Finnan would have is a little unfair

[zinedineontour]

finnan had a solid game did nothing wrong ..hopefully his injury will heal in time for israel without carr .. better not have to play maybury

[Donal81]

For Milan's wonderful third goal, Finnan was nowhere, he stopped tracking Crespo altogether. Having said that, the Pool had no midfield to speak of in the first half and there was a huge hole letting Kaka in to run the show. When a defence has no midfield to protect it, you're always going to suffer so I don't think Finnan was particularly to blame. It was the empty midfield that let in the second two goals. Finnan did ok, good tactics from Benitez in the second half.

That was probably one of the best games of football I've ever seen and I don't even support Liverpool. That's what it's all about, really. Like a mate said, Roy of the Rovers wasn't too far from reality.

[Kingdom]

I don't think Finnan had a bad game, and even if he wasn't injured, when they went three at the back for the start of the second half, he was always likely to be the one sacrificed (cos you gotta leave Traore on :confused: ). He was just unlucky

When it went to 3-3, and Serghino came on, Gerrard filled in, but to say he did a better job than Finnan would have is a little unfair
Bingo, he had a thigh strain which was why he was substituted, but even if he wasn't injured he would have been taken off because of his inability to fill in at centre half when the Pool went to 3 at the back.
I don't think he played that badly in the first half, certainly there was 4/5 others who were defo worse.

[paul_oshea]

That was probably one of the best games of football I've ever seen and I don't even support Liverpool.


it wasn't a great game of football though in fairness, bar 10 mins in the second half it was pretty poor from then on.

[macdermesser]

something slightly pathetic seeing Irish guys in Liverpool jerseys celebrating like it was the best night of their lives. I know that we all want to belong to something bigger, and bask in reflected glory etc. and that is hardly possible with the Eircom league clubs in Europe ..

Then again .. I suppose its not only an irish thing in this global football marketplace.

Give me a 1-0 against Holland anytime above all that stuff.

[tetsujin1979]

in Finnan's defence, the 3 goals came down Liverpool's defence, where Traore was stretched between playing left wing back and left full, with noone covering in front of him. Nothing came down the right where Finnan had Alonso in front of him covering the right wing

[NeilMcD]

something slightly pathetic seeing Irish guys in Liverpool jerseys celebrating like it was the best night of their lives. I know that we all want to belong to something bigger, and bask in reflected glory etc. and that is hardly possible with the Eircom league clubs in Europe ..

Then again .. I suppose its not only an irish thing in this global football marketplace.

Give me a 1-0 against Holland anytime above all that stuff.

I could not agree more. It made me sick when I saw the tricolour in the crowd last night. Unless it was there for Stephen Finnan or something.

[beautifulrock]

Why does it make you sick?

[zinedineontour]

I could not agree more. It made me sick when I saw the tricolour in the crowd last night. Unless it was there for Stephen Finnan or something.

why the **** cant irish people support liverpool if they want ? irish interest has always been there with liverpool and thought it was great seeing the irish flags in the ground ... though we should all just go to league of ireland games shouldnt we ...

[Dotsy]

What's to say that an Irish person who was in Istanbul supporting Liverpool doesn't also support an EL club just as passionately. And if they don't whose business is it anyway. It certainly isn't pathetic.

[NeilMcD]

I am irish I suport Ireland, simple as that, Dont see what an Irish flag shoudl be waved for an English team. It woudl be like waving an Ireland flag at a Juventus game. Pointless.

[NeilMcD]

RESPECT to Samuel L. Jackson. The screen legend was recently
>interviewed by Kate Thornton on British T.V. about working with
>Colin Farrell in S.W.A.T. when the following conversation took place:

>
>Kate: What's it like working with Colin, 'cos he is just so hot in the

>U.K. right now.
>
>Samuel: He's pretty hot in the U.S. too
>
>Kate: Yea! but he's one of our own!
>
>Samuel: Isn't he from Ireland
>
>Kate: Yeah, but we claim him 'cos Ireland is beside us.
>
>Samuel: You see that's your problem right there. You British keep
>claiming people that don't belong to you. We had that problem in
>America too - it was called slavery.

[Kingdom]

Seeing an Irish flag in the crowd makes you sick can't understand why. But that's your opinion. How it is pathetic I don't know.

[barglee]

something slightly pathetic seeing Irish guys in Liverpool jerseys celebrating like it was the best night of their lives.

go on the pool

[NeilMcD]

Now the personal abuse starts. No need for that.

[geysir]

Finnan was injured hence why he was taken off, although his postioning on a few occasions could be questioned he was not having a bad game. Gerrard did very well in the second half at right back but how much that was to the other tactical moves i.e. Hamann shoring up the midfield is difficult to gauge.

I am glad in a way that he was injured because where would it leave him in the pecking order, being taken off instead of Traore who had a dreadful first half (though sound enough in the 2nd half).

[Karlos]

An irish flag seen at an english club's game in Europe making someone sick - amazing!

Hope these Irish fans stand by their convictions and boycott the irish games where players who play for english clubs are playing - couldn't be seen to support an irishman who earns a living and pays taxes in the Queens Country!

Seeing all those Irish players playing for English clubs must really infuriate too. I mean they go over there to earn a living, play in one of the best leagues of the world, win some major trophies and then come home to represent the country they love to fans who don't want them to have any support from their fellow country men while their playing in a major final for one of those 'english' clubs who have a history of developing talented Irish footballers to a world class level over many many years. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Everything that I hate about Irish football supporters displayed in 1 post - pathetic.

[Kingdom]

An irish flag seen at an english club's game in Europe making someone sick - amazing!

Hope these Irish fans stand by their convictions and boycott the irish games where players who play for english clubs are playing - couldn't be seen to support an irishman who earns a living and pays taxes in the Queens Country!

Seeing all those Irish players playing for English clubs must really infuriate too. I mean they go over there to earn a living, play in one of the best leagues of the world, win some major trophies and then come home to represent the country they love to fans who don't want them to have any support from their fellow country men while their playing in a major final for one of those 'english' clubs who have a history of developing talented Irish footballers to a world class level over many many years. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Everything that I hate about Irish football supporters displayed in 1 post - pathetic.

I have to be honest. I don't like the persona you have on this board and you annoy me (you're a gooner no?) but you hit the nail on the head there. Well done.

[Tired&Emotional]

Quote:
Originally Posted by macdermesser
something slightly pathetic seeing Irish guys in Liverpool jerseys celebrating like it was the best night of their lives. ....



I could not agree more. It made me sick when I saw the tricolour in the crowd last night. Unless it was there for Stephen Finnan or something.




What kind of pointless, mindless statements! You are pretty much guaranteed to see an Irish Flag at most Prem games (and one or two at Celtic games :) ) What makes last nite different from that point of view. So can we take it that you don't support a British team for political reasons??? :D :confused:

[Karlos]

I have to be honest. I don't like the persona you have on this board and you annoy me (you're a gooner no?) but you hit the nail on the head there. Well done.


Well yes, I am a Gooner, comes in second after being a proud Irish man. I'm sure your not the first I have annoyed but I make no excuses for telling it as I see it, be that right or wrong. If i was on foot.ie and saying nice things and agreeing with everyone all the time I wouldn't be being true to myself. I'd like to think I keep at at 'healthy debate' level rather than personal attacks.

Anyways, I'll savour this moment as I time when I didn't annoy you! :)

[macdermesser]

I did actually soften my remark by saying that in a global football scene that its not only peculiar to Ireland for grown men to spend huge amounts of money on buying English/Italian/Scottish whatever merchandising or travelling to games.

Anyway, obviously everyone is free to support whoever they want. My own personal viewpoint, shared by some like NeilMcD, is that I am amazed at how some people can relate so passionately to an English/scottish/german/italian football club. I can understand children supporting English teams because its on the tv and its so glamourous etc and they have little fragile personalities that need to be associated with things like successful football teams .. but how can a grown man identify and spend so much money on watching Liverpool.

I can understand having an interest in a team, or even wanting a certain team to win .. but I thought passionately supporting a team was based on a tangible attachment to the team in question ... e.g. do people down in Cork support the Dublin gaelic football team?

This fanaticism of some Liverpool fans is not always translated over to the national team .. I wonder how many of the lads who went out to Istanbul make the same effort to go Ireland away matches. And while there are always exceptions, I can't imagine too many EL fans travelling to see Liverpool play as well. I love watching English football too, but I certainly would not break down in tears after watching Liverpool win the European cup. I certainly don't expect to be verbally abused by an Irish lad in a Liverpool jersey for clapping Crespo's sublime finish for the third goal last night.

[Stuttgart88]

I was at the game and it was fantastic. I'm an Arsenal fan (behind being an Irish fan obviously) and I screamed myself hoarse for Liverpool last night. Their fans are fantastic.

Finnan was unlucky as Traore was playing far worse. Neither full back got forward much in the first half and it was noticeable that there was a huge gap between the Liverpool attack & their defence.

I think they were under orders last night not to commit too many bodies forward for fear of Milan's counter attacking. Obviously going 3-0 down changed that! We didn't hear anything about injuries, so I had just assumed Finnan was sacrificed because he wanted to bring Hamann on.

Is he definitely injured?

[macdermesser]

An irish flag seen at an english club's game in Europe making someone sick - amazing!

Hope these Irish fans stand by their convictions and boycott the irish games where players who play for english clubs are playing - couldn't be seen to support an irishman who earns a living and pays taxes in the Queens Country!

Seeing all those Irish players playing for English clubs must really infuriate too. I mean they go over there to earn a living, play in one of the best leagues of the world, win some major trophies and then come home to represent the country they love to fans who don't want them to have any support from their fellow country men while their playing in a major final for one of those 'english' clubs who have a history of developing talented Irish footballers to a world class level over many many years. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Everything that I hate about Irish football supporters displayed in 1 post - pathetic.


Don't turn it into a nationalist thing... :rolleyes: .. I was talking about identity and questioning how people can get so worked up about a team that they watch on TV. Most Irish Liverpool fans have hardly set foot in Anfield and the others spend huge mindless amounts of money on going to see them. Supporting your team is about being there week in an week out, identifiying with them etc etc (History of producing Irish players .. like Ritchie Partrdige :( and Darren Potter in recent times?)

Maybe next time you could respond to a post by debating (e.g why you are an Arsenal fan for example, and hwo you identify with them still) and not trying to score cheap points on lumping people who question other people's mindset into being a red hot republican.

[Karlos]

I did actually soften my remark by saying that in a global football scene that its not only peculiar to Ireland for grown men to spend huge amounts of money on buying English/Italian/Scottish whatever merchandising or travelling to games.

Anyway, obviously everyone is free to support whoever they want. My own personal viewpoint, shared by some like NeilMcD, is that I am amazed at how some people can relate so passionately to an English/scottish/german/italian football club. I can understand children supporting English teams because its on the tv and its so glamourous etc and they have little fragile personalities that need to be associated with things like successful football teams .. but how can a grown man identify and spend so much money on watching Liverpool.
.

A well made argument mate and I take your points.

Can't speak about Liverpool fans but I can tell you why I have a fanatical support for Arsenal. My Auntie emigrated to London in the 60's and lived in Islington,which contained a strong Irish Community. My first vist to Highbury was in the summer of 1979 - i didn't know it at the time though, i wasn't born until December 1979!

As a family we made regular trips to London to visit my Auntie and always incorporated a trip to Arsenal or the buying of a club banner into the visit. I never attended Eircom League soccer, or gaelic or Rugby. I played them all but never went. I went to Ireland matches thanks to my uncle who used to do the catering at Lansdowne back in the day. The only time other than that i got to see a football ground was seeing the outside of Highbury on trips to London. I've been passionate about them since that age and my brother for even more years. We have a stronger family tie to Arsenal than any of the existing eircom clubs and now being members of the club along with my brother and newly joined niece and nephew, that family tie continues.

It all started with my aunt, was strengthend by O'Leary, Brady and Stapleton with my Brother and has continued long past my aunt's death....

I belive it when people say you can't choose your club, it chooses you. So many things conspired for me to become an Arsenal fan. Maybe it's not the same for others but that's how it was for us. I'm proud to be Irish and proud to follow Arsenal. :)

[NeilMcD]

I agree a player should be able to play for whatever team he wants to and fair play to any player for been employed by English Scottish or Italian Clubs or whatever it may be. But I dont see why Irish people get so worked up about Foreign clubs, whether that is Man Utd, Celtic, Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool or Sheff Wed or Wimbledon or who ever it is. I dont see why the Irish flag should have been at the ground last night. It was Liverpool who were there representing the club and their country which is Britain. Last night I reckon all the pubs in Ireland were packed with people supporting a foreign team and these people would be crying last night and probably hungover this moring and saying things like the greatest momemtn in my life etc. I watch football whether it be Spanish, Italian English etc. as a dispassionate oberver. I would never get worked up by a foreign team to such a state where it would effect my mood. However when Ireland play my mood alters, in relation to whether they win or lose. The same people who were crying last night or cheering on Liverpool etc are the similar people who boo Ronaldo, or Baros or a Rangers player. It is that mentality that makes me sick. Letting Foreign club loyalties effect their watching of a international match.

I believe in the EU and I belive that transfer of labour etc is healthy and that people should be able to earn a living in whatever country they want to. If people find my views offensive so be it however a guy at work today did not turn in as he was beaten up last night by football fans with red shirts on. What sort of mentality would make an Irish person get so worked up about a foreign club winning a football match.

[Tired&Emotional]

Macdermesser, I understand your point re grown men etc. but I think that's just football...why do so many grown men in general follow football so passionately? Plenty of psychologists have asked the same question (as well as untold number of girlfriends/wifes!) and why we "bond " with a particular club's identity. The fact that there are Irish Flags in a crowd of British club just shows a strong national identity of those fans and their support for players of their national team, given that they have a strong club identity already.

Why can an Irishman can be so passsionate about a foreign team? The question is why can anyone be passionate about any team?

"It's a funny ole game......" :)

[Karlos]

Maybe next time you could respond to a post by debating (e.g why you are an Arsenal fan for example, and hwo you identify with them still) and not trying to score cheap points on lumping people who question other people's mindset into being a red hot republican.

To be honest, I repsonded to a sensationlist line that said something like 'seeing irish flags makes me sick'. There was no debate offered with that. i offered a reply based on what I read. Had 'other people's' mindsets being explored in that post then I'll openly debate it as I've done on my last post.
:)

[Karlos]

:)
If people find my views offensive so be it however a guy at work today did not turn in as he was beaten up last night by football fans with red shirts on. What sort of mentality would make an Irish person get so worked up about a foreign club winning a football match.

Maybe they were Shels fans!!! ;)

I'm joking, I'm joking.

[stickyjoe]

i havent got a problem with people who support english/scottish teams, once they go to games regularly enough. Whoever people support is up to them

one thing that I do have a problem with though is alot of the idiots out celebrating liverpools great win last night. I know people who have never even been to Anfield in their life or who have only been once or twice yet they were telling me this morning that last night was the greatest night of their lives :eek: :eek:

[Donal81]

There have been some ridiculous debates on this website but this really takes the medal. A guy supports Liverpool. They get to the Champions' League final. He saves up the cash and goes to Istanbul. He brings his tricolour to show that he's Irish and to get it onto tele so maybe his mates will recognise him at home. Or maybe because he likes the flag and being Irish or whatever and likes waving it. Big deal. That is that.

I'm all for discussion about identity, politics, etc, but this 'debate' is a waste of time.

[NeilMcD]

Quote:
Originally Posted by macdermesser
something slightly pathetic seeing Irish guys in Liverpool jerseys celebrating like it was the best night of their lives. ....







What kind of pointless, mindless statements! You are pretty much guaranteed to see an Irish Flag at most Prem games (and one or two at Celtic games :) ) What makes last nite different from that point of view. So can we take it that you don't support a British team for political reasons??? :D :confused:


Last night was no different, I dont like to see the irish flag flown at foreign club games. Whether that be Celtic or Liverpool or anybody. I dont support any foreign team. I have a soft spot for Spurs at the moment as they have a few Irish lads there and Chris Hughton has conntected to the club. However I would not save money or travel to see them play in Europe as any money I had woudl be kept for the Irish national team. I would definately not bring my tricolour to an English league game or a match where an Irish team is not playing.

[macdermesser]

A well made argument mate and I take your points.

Can't speak about Liverpool fans but I can tell you why I have a fanatical support for Arsenal. My Auntie emigrated to London in the 60's and lived in Islington,which contained a strong Irish Community. My first vist to Highbury was in the summer of 1979 - i didn't know it at the time though, i wasn't born until December 1979!

As a family we made regular trips to London to visit my Auntie and always incorporated a trip to Arsenal or the buying of a club banner into the visit. I never attended Eircom League soccer, or gaelic or Rugby. I played them all but never went. I went to Ireland matches thanks to my uncle who used to do the catering at Lansdowne back in the day. The only time other than that i got to see a football ground was seeing the outside of Highbury on trips to London. I've been passionate about them since that age and my brother for even more years. We have a stronger family tie to Arsenal than any of the existing eircom clubs and now being members of the club along with my brother and newly joined niece and nephew, that family tie continues.

It all started with my aunt, was strengthend by O'Leary, Brady and Stapleton with my Brother and has continued long past my aunt's death....

I belive it when people say you can't choose your club, it chooses you. So many things conspired for me to become an Arsenal fan. Maybe it's not the same for others but that's how it was for us. I'm proud to be Irish and proud to follow Arsenal. :)


Cheers Karlos for the reply enjoyed reading it and I can understand you affinity with Arsenal and I understand you reasons for supporting Arsenal.. but I don't understand the passion. Maybe I am getting too old! :o

Tired_and_emotional .. it's a good question .. "The question is why can anyone be passionate about any team? "

Could this need of men and some women to be tribal, don colours, vent frustration, have the feeling of going into battle, supporting something bigger and more glorious than themselves, sharing the highs and lows be not channelled into something more worthwhile? And all the money associated with it?

I guess its a good control mechanism for the masses... get people in whatever country all worked up about stuff that is not important, and have them apathetic and ignorant about the things that matter. A dangerous generalisation again .. as there are numerous exceptions.

[Kingdom]

I agree a player should be able to play for whatever team he wants to and fair play to any player for been employed by English Scottish or Italian Clubs or whatever it may be. But I dont see why Irish people get so worked up about Foreign clubs, whether that is Man Utd, Celtic, Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool or Sheff Wed or Wimbledon or who ever it is. I dont see why the Irish flag should have been at the ground last night. It was Liverpool who were there representing the club and their country which is Britain. Last night I reckon all the pubs in Ireland were packed with people supporting a foreign team and these people would be crying last night and probably hungover this moring and saying things like the greatest momemtn in my life etc. I watch football whether it be Spanish, Italian English etc. as a dispassionate oberver. I would never get worked up by a foreign team to such a state where it would effect my mood. However when Ireland play my mood alters, in relation to whether they win or lose. The same people who were crying last night or cheering on Liverpool etc are the similar people who boo Ronaldo, or Baros or a Rangers player. It is that mentality that makes me sick. Letting Foreign club loyalties effect their watching of a international match.

I believe in the EU and I belive that transfer of labour etc is healthy and that people should be able to earn a living in whatever country they want to. If people find my views offensive so be it however a guy at work today did not turn in as he was beaten up last night by football fans with red shirts on. What sort of mentality would make an Irish person get so worked up about a foreign club winning a football match.

I'm sorry you feel that way. Say that lad N'do from Shels was playing against Depor in the final qualifying match for the CL and the Cameroon community were in the crowd watching him play and they had a Cameroon flag at the ground would you be laughing at them too? Because that would amount to the same thing no?

Remember that up until recently the League of Ireland was a joke and that discouraged people from supporting their local club. Why should men of 30 stop supporting a club they have supported for the guts of 20 years just because the eL is getting its act together now.

I don't understand YOUR mentality. It's as if just because there happens to be a soccer club in your area , that you must support them (eg Limerick). There are literally thousands of people who support the Junior game down there but won't support Limerick fc because the "pro" club hasn't deserved it.

I'm not saying that you do it necessarily, but there are many people in this city/country/forum who have this holier-than-thou attitude just because they support an eL team. And that sickens me.

[NeilMcD]

I dont support a league of Ireland team as like you I grew up in Clare for a large part of my life so you can choose a club a club chooses you as Karlos said earlier and I agree him. However I wonder why so many people in Ireland happened to be chosen by Man utd and Liverpool, very strange that they are the two clubs that dominated English football for the last 25 years. I support Ireland, I go to EL games now and again but I dont feel any great affinity with any one club. I would look out for Bohs results and go to the odd game. However I do not understand the mentality of someone saving up so much money to go to support a foreign team and bringing their irish flag with them. This happens with teams that have no Irish players too. The point about Cameroon is slightly different. I would reckon they would be a group of fans that would be supporting the player more than the club i.e. if he moved clubs they would be unlikely to stay supporting Shels. However Steven Finnan could move in the morning and people woudl still supoort Liverpool and fly the irish flag.

Call me old fashioned but I believe if you are Irish you support ireland and if you have a local team you support them too. Its ok to look at foreign football and even go sometimes to the games but this idea that they are "your" club and you would get worked about the game and be nervous all day yesterday, and be the greatest night ofyour life etc etc., It is crazy and I dont understand the passion for a foreign club. I could maybe understand an affinity but passion and love etc etc seems mad to me.

The scottish lads in my house cant understand why in Ireland so many people in their work support English teams. They find it laughable and its one time I cant come back with a response

[Tired&Emotional]

I dont support a league of Ireland team as like you I grew up in Clare for a large part of my life so you can choose a club a club chooses you as Karlos said earlier and I agree him. However I wonder why so many people in Ireland happened to be chosen by Man utd and Liverpool, very strange that they are the two clubs that dominated English football for the last 25 years. I support Ireland, I go to EL games now and again but I dont feel any great affinity with any one club. I would look out for Bohs results and go to the odd game. However I do not understand the mentality of someone saving up so much money to go to support a foreign team and bringing their irish flag with them. This happens with teams that have no Irish players too. The point about Cameroon is slightly different. I would reckon they would be a group of fans that would be supporting the player more than the club i.e. if he moved clubs they would be unlikely to stay supporting Shels. However Steven Finnan could move in the morning and people woudl still supoort Liverpool and fly the irish flag.

Call me old fashioned but I believe if you are Irish you support ireland and if you have a local team you support them too. Its ok to look at foreign football and even go sometimes to the games but this idea that they are "your" club and you would get worked about the game and be nervous all day yesterday, and be the greatest night ofyour life etc etc., It is crazy and I dont understand the passion for a foreign club. I could maybe understand an affinity but passion and love etc etc seems mad to me.

The scottish lads in my house cant understand why in Ireland so many people in their work support English teams. They find it laughable and its one time I cant come back with a response


I reckon you need to expand you mind....read some books on planet Earth, travel the world, explore new cultures & religions and stuff & maybe meet a nice Brazilan lass :D - sounds like you haven't even left home yet never mind your parish :D

[macdermesser]

There have been some ridiculous debates on this website but this really takes the medal. A guy supports Liverpool. They get to the Champions' League final. He saves up the cash and goes to Istanbul. He brings his tricolour to show that he's Irish and to get it onto tele so maybe his mates will recognise him at home. Or maybe because he likes the flag and being Irish or whatever and likes waving it. Big deal. That is that.

I'm all for discussion about identity, politics, etc, but this 'debate' is a waste of time.

"I'm all for debating but I'd rather paint a simplistic picture of a big dopey guy spending loads of his money supporting his childhood team, waving an Irish flag to his mates at a match, just to right in his mind that there is no contradiction."

[NeilMcD]

I reckon you need to expand you mind....read some books on planet Earth, travel the world, explore new cultures & religions and stuff & maybe meet a nice Brazilan lass :D - sounds like you haven't even left home yet never mind your parish :D


Can you not put across a point of view without a persoal insult to me. Even though i should not defend myself. BUt you have made a comment about me without ever meeting me or talking to me. I have indeed travelled the world and I would reckon I have a broad view of different cultures and been to more countries than most of the "enlightened people" who support Liverpool and Man Utd etc in Ireland. I left home when i was 18 and have not returned and have lived in a few foreign countries and gone to many matches there etc. I will not make personal comments about you, I will just express my views in a civilaised manner without going down the road of personal insults.

[Tired&Emotional]

Can you not put across a point of view without a persoal insult to me. Even though i should not defend myself. BUt you have made a comment about me without ever meeting me or talking to me. I have indeed travelled the world and I would reckon I have a broad view of different cultures and been to more countries than most of the "enlightened people" who support Liverpool and Man Utd etc in Ireland. I left home when i was 18 and have not returned and have lived in a few foreign countries and gone to many matches there etc. I will not make personal comments about you, I will just express my views in a civilaised manner without going down the road of personal insults.

Apologies then if this is too personal but you don't seem to see your insult to others who are proud to passionately support their team, regardless of who that team is, and take an Irish flag as Irish people to support them?!

I'm Irish, support a British club team (and the Green Army) and I will take my national flag wherever I wish without feeling the need to explain it...


This "debate" is over....finally!

[NeilMcD]

Name one place were I have personally insulted anybody on this board. If you are going to make allegations like that, Back them up please. I

[Donal81]

"I'm all for debating but I'd rather paint a simplistic picture of a big dopey guy spending loads of his money supporting his childhood team, waving an Irish flag to his mates at a match, just to right in his mind that there is no contradiction."

Just when I thought it couldn't get any more ridiculous, you step it up a gear with that post. I've too much work to do for this hackneyed rubbish.

[Ozymandias]

:eek: yawn...............

[TheOwl]

NeilMcD you are saying “I can’t understand this" and “I can’t understand that.”

Truth is: you have just never fallen in love with a football club! However, by the looks of things plenty of people on here have.

When a club gets under your skin (let’s say Liverpool), you don’t consider yourself to be supporting a “foreign team”, geography doesn’t even enter your head, instead they become YOUR team, not the city of Liverpool’s team, not England’s team, but YOUR team.

Over time you continue to invest time, money, emotion, EVERYTHING into this club, and the passion simply grows and grows.

I know plenty of extremely passionate Liverpool fans who barely, if ever, go over to Anfield.

But their days are spent thinking about Liverpool. About what team will Benitez put out next week? About who they should sign next season? About what formation they should play against Milan etc. etc.

It’s the only soap opera they’re interested and they spend more time thinking about Liverpool than they do about their jobs, their families, or even their girlfriends.

Does it make sense? To every passionate club football fan yes, but to someone like you who has never experienced such a bond with a club then understandably no!

My mate has been going out with this girl for two years, she is annoying, demanding, has no personality, and isn’t particulary good looking. I can’t understand how he puts up with her, but he does, because he loves her, and you got to respect that, because you can’t choose who you fall in love with. Same thing applies to football clubs

I have no doubt that when Liverpool fans say that last night was the greatest day of their lives, that they really mean it. It must have been a stunning payoff for someone who has cared about the club for an extended period of time.

However, having said all that, I’m always trying to encourage people to follow an Eircom League side too, because your passion for a club only increases when you get to see them in the flesh on a regular basis.

Same goes for international football too - I’m sure your passion for the Irish team increased when you first saw them play? And then further still when you saw them play away for the first time?

But basically Neil, when it comes to the crunch, there is no real rhyme or reason towards supporting one football team over another, and certainly there are no geographical ‘rules’ that should have to be obeyed.

You say you can’t understand why so many people go ga ga over a win for an English team - well for them it is not a victory for England but a victory for themselves, and I say let them enjoy it!

Well done Liverpool fans – I’m fuming with jealousy!

[Neish]

RESPECT to Samuel L. Jackson. The screen legend was recently
>interviewed by Kate Thornton on British T.V. about working with
>Colin Farrell in S.W.A.T. when the following conversation took place:

>
>Kate: What's it like working with Colin, 'cos he is just so hot in the

>U.K. right now.
>
>Samuel: He's pretty hot in the U.S. too
>
>Kate: Yea! but he's one of our own!
>
>Samuel: Isn't he from Ireland
>
>Kate: Yeah, but we claim him 'cos Ireland is beside us.
>
>Samuel: You see that's your problem right there. You British keep
>claiming people that don't belong to you. We had that problem in
>America too - it was called slavery.

:D :D