well you have a number of Irish players at some english clubs- i presume that is a big factor!Quote:
Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
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well you have a number of Irish players at some english clubs- i presume that is a big factor!Quote:
Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
Ehhhhh ????? :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by ollie
Aren't there "a number of Irish players" at Irish clubs too.....? :confused:
If someone born in Ireland played for England, would the Irish suddenly start supporting the English international team ???
Supporting an English teamn over Irish ones is effectively no different than supporting THE England team over THE Irish one. Course, you'll never get an English/Scottish club supporter to admit to that.....
Nonsense. Being born in a country makes you most likely to be a supporter of that country, and, by and large, precludes you from supporting other countries. When supporting a club side, there is an element of free and open choice of which club to support (no matter what eL elitists may say) which is absent at international level.Quote:
Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
You forgot the bit that said "in Ireland..." ......Quote:
Originally Posted by osarusan
Name me another country in Europe where the overwhelming majority of football supporters reject their own club game in favour of a foreign one ? True - in places like Scotland and England, people are increasingly gravitating towards bigger teams over their loval ones. But at least they're choosing one Scottish/English team over another - not foreign over domestic.
The nearest example I can think of is Norway - but they still support their own game as well (or at least, aren't scathingly dismissive of it). Wales is another possible example, but a strange one in that it's main clubs play in a forign league, and they've only had their own league for 15 years. So I can't think of any clear parallel with Ireland anywhere in Europe. Doesn't that say something.....? :o
I'm sure the Irish would find an excuse to stop supporting the ROI and start chasing after Brazil if they felt it worthwhile. Such is the shameless two-faced muppetry of our national psyche.....
I dont see how any of this equates to your claim that supporting an English club side is the same as supporting the English national side.Quote:
Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
As a point of fact, I don't think that's true - I've never seen any evidence of it at Sunderland so far. We've always had quite a few Scandinavian fans, for example, some of whom get to the games when they can, and most fans are just delighted to have support over there and fascinated to meet and talk with them. Even better, our new Trinidad & Tobago fans brought a steel band and scantily-clad 'carnival dancers' - most local lads seemed highly supportive of such cultural diversity ;) .Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocky
The Scandinavians love the premiersh1t BUT they support their own clubs. I couldnt give a toss if the whole nation flew over to see sunderland every week if they supported EL clubs to be honest.Quote:
Originally Posted by stampp
KOH
well p1ss off and support Norn Iron if you feel that strongly then ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
What you mean that supporting the national side that play the dullest football in Europe, having the most tactically inept man in football in charge of the side, having the most tactically inept footballing authorities in charge of selecting the second most tactically inept man in football to succeed our current most tactically inept man in football, coupled with the high cost of supporting the national team isn't enough of an excuse? It's not "two-faced muppetry" to stop supporting the national team, it's just common senseQuote:
Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
A while back the French international team had no, or very few, first XI players actually playing their domestic football in France.
The French didn't automatically rush to drop PSG, Lyon and whatever their local team was in favour of supporting Chelsea, Juventus and Real Madrid.
That doesn't equate to this situation, as most Irish football fans are brought up to support Man Utd, Liverpool, Celtic etc., so they wouldn't have to rush to drop anyone from our leaguesQuote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
The point was in relation to the justification of supporting a foreign club by the fact most of our international players play in that country's League.Quote:
Originally Posted by jebus
Any of the Scandanavian countries. I have met umpteen of them who take 2 weeks holidays mid season to travel to the uk and see their team playing. Outside europe, most of Asia supports PL football (i.e. a few billion people do so). Its massive over there.Quote:
Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
A lot of South Americans support La Liga teams, some over their own teams I hear (not sure, have never been to S.America)Quote:
Originally Posted by reder
I cant believe you typed that! You live in NI, judging by your umpteen other posts you support Rep. of Ireland. By your logic you should support NI, surely?Quote:
Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
Firstly - as is clear from the top right-hand corner of every post I've ever made on foot.ie, I live in London.Quote:
Originally Posted by reder
Secondly - yes I am from NI. But I'm a Catholic nationalist form a city who's team plays it's football in the Republic. For those reasons I support the Republic.
You know full well that there are hundreds of thousands of people who think the same way, so ease up on the poor/cheap shots....
But as I pointed out, the Scandis also support their own leagues. Or at the very least don't snear at it dismissively.Quote:
Originally Posted by reder
The Asians are the biggest muppets of world football, so the less said about them the better. I clearly referred to Europe when I posed the question.
Like these guys?Quote:
Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
Bit like Derry City?Quote:
Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
The fact of the matter is, people have the freedom of choice to support what ever football team they want.
Unfortunately most people prefare the bright lights of first class football rather than the standard that our teams play at, which would be league 2 at best.(4th teer in the English game)
And unfortunately Northern Ireland and the Republic suffer from being so close to an exceptional standard that exists in England and with cheap air fares etc, we are fighting a losing battle.
All we can do is try and keep the supporters we have and attract the odd one or two back to our grounds.
Spouting off about people supporting English football or what ever league is not going to entice people back, it is more than likely going to keep them away as they will not feel welcome as a casual supporter.
I'm a Linfield man first and foremost, but I am also a Man Utd man, A Northern Ireland supporters and England supporter who also has a wee look at Scotlands and Wales results.
Democracy and freedom of thought/speech is a great thing and I would never condemn anyone who wishes to support teams of a different league.
Thats it in a nutshell for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Bruce
Lads not all of us equate your 'Irishness' with who you support in football. Some people just look at football as a sport, a hobby/pasttime, and so choose to follow who they get the most enjoyment out of, be it Liverpool, Celtic, St.Pats or Real Madrid, you can call them barstoolers all you want, but I'm pretty sure it won't change their minds as to whether football is community