Against fake countries!Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
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Against fake countries!Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
It was ridiculous playing all the games in the Aviva. If they were interested in having a few more editions of the competition, every team should have had at least one home game with each team getting two home games every second competition. It was always doomed for failure and low crowds in the Aviva only.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
A pick of Trap quotes: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/giov...ords-1.1523479
Quote:
“Ireland are not a second-rate team...They are supposed to be a first-rate team. Qualifying for the World Cup in 2010 will be hard, and playing against the Italian team will make me proud, but it should be possible for Ireland to come first.” - A statement released on his behalf when appointed Ireland manager
“It wasn’t up to Henry to say I touched it with my hand. It’s not his task to say he handles it.”
“He cannot say ‘Excuse me referee, I handled it’, the responsibility is with the referee.”
“The referee should have asked Henry did he handle it and let him answer.” – On a certain incident in Paris
“Sometimes football lets you down, but like life it gives you another opportunity every day . . . it’s football, it’s life.” – also on that incident
“The cat is in the sack, but the sack is not closed. The cat is in it, but it’s open – and it’s a wild cat.” – after beating Estonia during the Euro 2012 play-offs
“Many national teams are interested. They asked us ‘What are you doing, what aren’t you doing?’ But for now we’re remaining loyal to what we signed. But in life I always say, never say never.” – Committed to the Irish cause in 2010
“I always say that, in addition to being a coach, I’m also a priest. I go to each player’s room and say who is playing and who isn’t. I talk and explain. It’s a little like confession.” – As manager of Italy during Euro 2004
“I love [Kevin] Doyle. As a player, not a man. I love women … without doubt.” - Clearing up the matter of his love for a certain striker
“He jumps like a kangaroo.” – On Shane “Skippy” Long
“When I heard the crowd I thought Messi or Pele or Maradona was coming on.” - On the reception James McClean received on his debut
“I don’t expect, after this campaign, to go up again (with Ireland) in the future. But after five years I think we have achieved a good result.” - After the latest defeats
“Obviously I thought until yesterday that we could go to the World Cup. I still think that the last two games can be decisive, I don’t think that you can take for granted that Sweden will win in Kazakhstan, but maybe now third position would be a good position for us.” - On the team’s prospects now
“Football is like that. There is disappointment but there is also the opportunity to continue. Maybe I will have the opportunity to go with other teams, if not the Irish, maybe another. Why not?” - On opportunities post-Ireland
Funny how fickle fans are, oh so quick to forget the glory days.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grafter
Mind you we would struggle to win the same competition now even thought we could play pretty much field the same squad bar Duff and Given.
Who could remember? Was there anyone there?Quote:
Originally Posted by tricky_colour
That 'champagne' bottle is a Carling?
I suppose that fitted the occasion.
That was our 2nd ever trophy, it might well be our last.
Unless we compete for the Muratti Vase in the Island Games against Guernsey, Jersey, IoM, IoW, Sark, Aland etc.
Wasn't the "trophy" manufactured with recycled Carling tins?Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
While it's no glittering hall of fame trophy, I have no complex about our team winning it, even if it was made on the cheap.
Yes, except now stuck in a museum, never to be defended hopefully.
I enjoyed the tournament and attended all the games. The Scottish team was made up many players who play in the Scottish league where Celtic play. Is that a "non-existent" league ?Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
It showed that under Trap we were quite someway ahead of the UK teams and our draw in Wembley again on paper a much stronger English side also was a feather in our cap. The fact that some people couldn't be bothered going to the games because there wasn't enough hype for them, doesn't belittle the tournament for me.
I agree though that the concept of all the games in the Aviva was flawed. But it was nice to see us win something and you would swear we are world-beaters the way some people looked down their nose on it. Scotland should be stronger than us and Wales on a par and Norn Iron trailing behind (although in the past they have been better) so I have no problem with us winning that tournament. Certainly better than losing it.
Yeah, still a waste of time in the general scheme of things.
Friendlies should be v.better teams, especially at home.
Trap beat what was in front of him, but reckon most of our fans would have fancied their chances in charge given the paucity of the opposition.
A trophy is a trophy. What is the format? Is there a qualifying round??Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
It seems Guernsey is the team to avoid in the early stages.
It seems only Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney take part, so no risk of being embarrassed by a slip up in Rockall.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Containing recycled lager presumably.
On the basis of this MB, recycled 'jokes' are more likely...
;)
But what if those "better teams" decide that playing the likes of Ireland is beneath them (like you've decided playing the likes of NI, Wales and Scotland is beneath us)?Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Except they don't.
They're all suckers to play us...
Must be the hospitality thing.
Probably the money they get to show up and give 50% for 90 minutes. I'd much rather the lads play against an NI or Scotland side who are up for the game than an Argentina one who are going to phone it in (and probably still beat us).Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
You mean like the last time?
If it must be 'local' teams, then Wales, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Iceland.
At least then, there's a few decent reciprocal away trips hopefully?
And how often do we play Argentina/Brazil?
Once a decade?
The last time was a shambles because some muppet in the FAI decided on the stupidest format known to man. Did they really expect more than a few thousand to turn up to watch Wales against Scotland in Dublin?Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
It should always have been run on a "six nations" style format, over several weekends, in teams' actual stadia. I'd have been in favour of inviting a guest team to spice things up each time, be that Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Iceland or whoever. I think that format would have stood a chance, and teams would have actually been interested and wanted to win it. Any idiot could have told you that the idiotic format they chose was never going to work.
Yeah, seems fair enough.
But unless you want a gentle pre-season workout, playing teams worse than you in friendlies is largely futile. Even if they are more 'hungry'...
I disagree. Teams of the same standard as you or worse still have to be beaten, and it's an area where Ireland have historically slipped up. More practice in such games against someone really going for it can only be a benefit.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Clearly you've never been to many Ireland friendlies in recent times...
Mediocre opposition? Thanks, but no thanks...
None of those teams are all that much worse than us really. With good management they are all capable of doing something decent. NI regularly get excellent results against good sides, Scotland seem to be turning a corner big time under Strachan, wins in Croatia and Macedonia recently and Wales looked to be very much on the right track before being rocked by Gary Speed's death. I certainly wouldn't regard friendlies against their full strength sides as "futile" even if we do appear a bit stronger.
The primary point of international friendlies should be to improve the side, not to give fans a big day out to look at all the shiny footballers who play for Real United. In a perfect world, we'd play against a full-strength, highly motivated Spain, Brazil or Italy three or four times a year. That's simply not going to happen, so in my opinion, we'd be better off playing teams similar to our own ability in a tournament setting, where there's more chance they'll give their all and give Ireland better experience of playing as a team in a competitive game.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Nah, unless you want a cure for insomnia.
Anyway,
http://www.talkingsport.org/#!ybigfootballshow/cfvg
For another view of Trap et al.
Latest blog on Trap era and possible successors. Bit of a long piece, was a ******* to finish!
http://afalsefirstxi.blogspot.ie/201...ts-sprung.html
The rugger bugg*rs turn up each year in vast numbers to watch Ireland play Scotland and Wales. Alas for them, that is the height of their excitement except occasionally they might get to play New Zealand or Australia. Because football is such an international sport, some Irish fans thought playing our neighbours was the epitome of boredom. I enjoyed the games and took pleasure in winning the tournament. Easily pleased perhaps but I still think it wasn't a bad achievement to beat all three. The rugby people go mad when they win a triple crown. Throw England in instead of the Nordies and there would have been no difference - I think we would have had a good chance of beating them as well but the tournament would still have been discounted by some. What's good enough for rugby, not good enough for us.Quote:
Originally Posted by peadar1987
I was merely being frivolous. In fact, I'd go as far as admitting I enjoyed the tournament and the overall winning of it myself. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Ha, it was so good, they repeated it. Not.
For somebody who dislikes Northern Ireland so much, you're taking surprisingly little pleasure in having comfortably beaten them, picking up a trophy in the process!Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Inferior 'angloistic' ways of talking are infiltrating your day to day expression.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
The next stage is that your R's will be disappearing into W's
or heaven help us, you'll be using that word 'pants'.
So Anglo-Icelandic is yer excuse? :rolleyes:
And peadar, see what Danny said at the top of this page...
I think you're being a bit unfair on AB there. He doesn't hate. Sure how could you hate something you don't acknowledge in the first place? :pQuote:
Originally Posted by peadar1987
Exactly, DI.
Used to live there and may even have been eligible to play for them, not that I would. So no loss either way...
;)
They didn't try to poach you too, did they?!Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Ha ha.
;)
Only because the event junkies stayed away and the FAI didn't make money on it. Not as exciting as Celtic playing Liverpool apparently in "the decider" which gets a full house.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Saw this on Sky recently.
World's Greatest Managers: Giovanni Trapattoni
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pAt...e_gdata_player
In the 1985 ECF, the penalty that Juve got was indeed a foul but it just happened outside the box? Hard to tell in that video @9.45.
That Juve team was some team.
Definitely looks outside, although I can barely make out the line. Some ball over the top though.