Barstool facepalm

[A face]

There are teams who will have 16 home games, and others with only 14. It's a bit of injustice for those teams, but sure what can you do.

But at least the FAI dont schedule half the fixtures on a Monday night and clubs have regular home games at regular intervals throughout the seaso.... oh wait, sorry !!

[El-Pietro]

Not all teams in the premier have played their 15 games yet?

There are teams who will have 16 home games, and others with only 14. It's a bit of injustice for those teams, but sure what can you do.

This could also explain where my numbers went wrong and why they are so close to yours Nigel.

[SkStu]

said the dinosaur to Charles Darwin!

[Charlie Darwin]

This article rather sums up the barstooler paradox, except the author is actually aware of how ridiculous it is.

http://www.balls.ie/football/irrationality-is-a-major-part-of-being-a-football-supporter/#sthash.s0BHL0DR.g7JAC7Zv.dpbs

[Straightstory]

Interesting piece. I used to support Leeds as a child. But it was essentially a 'childish' decision to support them (because they were big and successful at the time, and Johnny Giles played for them). The problem is, most people don't grow out of their childishness and make the more mature (and ultimately) rewarding decision to support a team which comes from their own community (or, indeed, country).

[DannyInvincible]

This article rather sums up the barstooler paradox, except the author is actually aware of how ridiculous it is.

http://www.balls.ie/football/irratio....g7JAC7Zv.dpbs

Sometimes, magically, those men, hundreds of miles away, hear the needy howls roared through the televisions and they do something remarkable and that pre-teen is hooked.

I'm guessing that must be sarcasm. That perspective, along with half the piece, seems a tad incongruous with the other half considering the apparent self-awareness of the author. Then again, that's exactly what the author is getting at; human contradiction. Of which I'm probably guilty myself, as you'll see below...

Interesting piece. I used to support Leeds as a child. But it was essentially a 'childish' decision to support them (because they were big and successful at the time, and Johnny Giles played for them). The problem is, most people don't grow out of their childishness and make the more mature (and ultimately) rewarding decision to support a team which comes from their own community (or, indeed, country).

I was the same with Manchester United; they were the successful side when I first became properly conscious of club football, with Roy Keane and Denis Irwin playing pivotal roles in their triumphs of the time. In fact, I still have a bedroom mat and clock back at home in Ireland from those days of youth that I never really bothered getting rid of. They do look very childish, mind, and I can't believe the clock's still ticking away on that same Energizer battery; the hour hand is always one off when I visit home though!

Anyway, the League of Ireland never really entered my consciousness until a neighbour began taking me to Finn Harps games after the club's promotion to the Premier Division in the mid-90s. I lived just within the Donegal side of the border between Derry and Letterkenny, so the drive to games in Ballybofey took forty minutes and the facilities were remarkably quaint (to be polite), but I loved it; crowds were good and you just couldn't beat the atmosphere of live football. Later, going to school in Derry, I had Derry fans as classmates and the much-closer-to-home Brandywell fell under my radar. I think I'd always been aware of it during childhood - in fact, I might have associated it more with greyhound racing in my youthful semi-ignorance due to the fact I'd see the men out walking their dogs along the Letterkenny Road and my mother would often comment on it if we were driving past - but there was nothing to draw me towards the place until it became personally relevant in some way. I received torrents of good-natured sheep-shagging-related abuse from the Derry fans in school for admitting I supported Finn Harps whilst, from the other side of the fence, I received gentle ribbing from Finn Harps supporters for being a "city slicker" due to my going to school in Derry. In a way, I felt like a bit of an outsider on both sides. Over time, the neighbour stopped attending Finn Park and getting to Ballybofey proved a major obstacle. As a result, I developed a kind of schizophrenic sentimental attachment to both the north-west clubs. Maybe some would view it as "selling out", but Derry City became more of a relevance and I wanted to enjoy my experiences in the Brandywell whenever I attended rather than unnecessarily prolonging the role of outsider. I was still Donegal-born, but my social life revolved almost exclusively around Derry and there was live football five rather than forty minutes from me.

I can't say Manchester United's results mean anything to me any longer. I've lost any sentimental attachment I once had for them. Maybe that's odd considering what I've said in light of the fact I now live in Manchester... Perhaps, "I've grown out of it" would be a more appropriate way of describing it as it gradually dawned on me how harmful the trend of supporting foreign clubs is to Irish football.

I do, however, maintain that it can come across as a bit patronising to say things like: "The problem is, most people don't grow out of their childishness and make the more mature (and ultimately) rewarding decision to support a team which comes from their own community (or, indeed, country)."

If people wish to cherish childhood sentiment, that's their business. Humans are emotional beings, even if we like to think of ourselves as rational, and it would be patronising to think that we've never made a decision or upheld a personal tradition based on what you dismiss as "childishness". You perceive it as more mature and rewarding for you personally to support a team from your own community; others don't share your perspective. That is life. Whether you can get your head around it or not, they get their kicks out of other things that have value for them. If we want people to engage with the League of Ireland, it's about making it an attractive proposition and winning them over. No point getting haughty and accusing non-supporters of childish immaturity. That doesn't appeal to anyone outside of a clique.

[nigel-harps1954]

Gave it a thanks..even though you're a turncoat. Good piece.

[TheBoss]

Hypothetical but still......

Do you think a one city Dublin team could compete in the EPL?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056847539

[Charlie Darwin]

Haha 50-60,000 supporters indeed. As if Dublin people would even understand the concept of attending a football match more than twice a year.

[peadar1987]

1 million people, 19 games, so if each of them attended 2 games a year, 2 million people through the turnstiles, that's 105,263 a game. It would be the best supported team in the league and win everything because the Irish are the best fans in the world (TM)

I think they would have packed the stadium out for Manyoo, City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. Most of them probably cheering for the away team. Probably decent enough attendances for "flavour of the month" clubs, say if Spurs, Newcastle or Everton were having a decent run. Less than 10,000 home supporters for Wigan, Stoke, and Southampton. And of course you'd have needed instant success. You'd probably have had sub-LOI standard crowds for the days in League 1, maybe 10,000 for big Championship games. It would take a hell of a lot to tear barstoolers away from the success they've become addicted to.

[BonnieShels]

Wow, all those replies to a thread on boards... and I agreed with them.

I must be ill.

[Straightstory]

I'm guessing that must be sarcasm. That perspective, along with half the piece, seems a tad incongruous with the other half considering the apparent self-awareness of the author. Then again, that's exactly what the author is getting at; human contradiction. Of which I'm probably guilty myself, as you'll see below...



I was the same with Manchester United; they were the successful side when I first became properly conscious of club football, with Roy Keane and Denis Irwin playing pivotal roles in their triumphs of the time. In fact, I still have a bedroom mat and clock back at home in Ireland from those days of youth that I never really bothered getting rid of. They do look very childish, mind, and I can't believe the clock's still ticking away on that same Energizer battery; the hour hand is always one off when I visit home though!

Anyway, the League of Ireland never really entered my consciousness until a neighbour began taking me to Finn Harps games after the club's promotion to the Premier Division in the mid-90s. I lived just within the Donegal side of the border between Derry and Letterkenny, so the drive to games in Ballybofey took forty minutes and the facilities were remarkably quaint (to be polite), but I loved it; crowds were good and you just couldn't beat the atmosphere of live football. Later, going to school in Derry, I had Derry fans as classmates and the much-closer-to-home Brandywell fell under my radar. I think I'd always been aware of it during childhood - in fact, I might have associated it more with greyhound racing in my youthful semi-ignorance due to the fact I'd see the men out walking their dogs along the Letterkenny Road and my mother would often comment on it if we were driving past - but there was nothing to draw me towards the place until it became personally relevant in some way. I received torrents of good-natured sheep-shagging-related abuse from the Derry fans in school for admitting I supported Finn Harps whilst, from the other side of the fence, I received gentle ribbing from Finn Harps supporters for being a "city slicker" due to my going to school in Derry. In a way, I felt like a bit of an outsider on both sides. Over time, the neighbour stopped attending Finn Park and getting to Ballybofey proved a major obstacle. As a result, I developed a kind of schizophrenic sentimental attachment to both the north-west clubs. Maybe some would view it as "selling out", but Derry City became more of a relevance and I wanted to enjoy my experiences in the Brandywell whenever I attended rather than unnecessarily prolonging the role of outsider. I was still Donegal-born, but my social life revolved almost exclusively around Derry and there was live football five rather than forty minutes from me.

I can't say Manchester United's results mean anything to me any longer. I've lost any sentimental attachment I once had for them. Maybe that's odd considering what I've said in light of the fact I now live in Manchester... Perhaps, "I've grown out of it" would be a more appropriate way of describing it as it gradually dawned on me how harmful the trend of supporting foreign clubs is to Irish football.

I do, however, maintain that it can come across as a bit patronising to say things like: "The problem is, most people don't grow out of their childishness and make the more mature (and ultimately) rewarding decision to support a team which comes from their own community (or, indeed, country)."

If people wish to cherish childhood sentiment, that's their business. Humans are emotional beings, even if we like to think of ourselves as rational, and it would be patronising to think that we've never made a decision or upheld a personal tradition based on what you dismiss as "childishness". You perceive it as more mature and rewarding for you personally to support a team from your own community; others don't share your perspective. That is life. Whether you can get your head around it or not, they get their kicks out of other things that have value for them. If we want people to engage with the League of Ireland, it's about making it an attractive proposition and winning them over. No point getting haughty and accusing non-supporters of childish immaturity. That doesn't appeal to anyone outside of a clique.

Lots of good points. However, I was never 'haughty'. (And perhaps 'child-like' would be a better term to use rather than 'childish'). I was merely reflecting on my own experience and seeking out reasons for people 'supporting' teams outside their own country. I think it's a valid argument.
And frankly, as a League of Ireland supporter, I do actually fell like I'm part of a clique.

[DannyInvincible]

Cliques are founded and sustained on notions of exclusivity. It might cause a few people to feel a bit less unique or special, but an inclusive attitude is the way forward surely?

[BonnieShels]

Cliques are founded and sustained on notions of exclusivity. It might cause a few people to feel a bit less unique or special, but an inclusive attitude is the way forward surely?

I don't think it means we feel as part of a clique on purpose to feel unique or special. Maybe as a member of a minority it feels "special" for us lo(i)st souls? And not a good special, a kind of sacristy special...

Imagine how that black, Jewish, woman in a wheelchair feels at Drom...

[NeverFeltBetter]

I think a lot of LoI fandom appears cliquey to those who don't support Irish clubs, but isn't really, for the most part.