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The tricolour is not offensive to Brits, why the hell would it..the fact that a good proportion of people are decendants of irish immigrants helps also..there is always loads of people wearing soccer jerseys at GAA matches..utd, liverpool, celtic shirts its quite common...dont know why people get so offended...wh ofoockin cares
Wasn't there an ad for Sky Sports before with Fergie celebrating a goal at Old Trafford, and a fan wearing a Limerick GAA jersey can clearly be seen behind him?
Maybe Arsenal had the right idea when they banned National flags of any description from being flown at the Emirates. As far as I'm aware, only "Arsenal" flags are allowed.
if supporters started bringing flags to Arse games in support of their players like Man Utd do with Heinze etc then the Emirates would have as many flags as the UN!!!! It would be a logistics nightmare!Quote:
Originally Posted by Eoingull
I believe the Man United fans have been aligning themselves with Argentina for a long time before Heinze came inQuote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Did anyone else share my joy in Sunderland being well beaten on the weekend ?
Now - I'm no Sunderland hater by any means, and would usually be apathetic towards their results.
But there was something deeply satisfying in them losing to a shockingly unglamorous team from a town that most of the new-found Sunderland fans in Ireland probably weren't even aware had a football team (Colchester), let alone were in the same division as the mighty Black Cats, and who I would guarantee 99% of them would have no feckin idea where it is in England.
Champions league and Premier titles in 5 years ? Perhaps they should be a little more concerned with tackling the likes of Colchester first.... :o
dcfc I am with you all the way , I hope they don't make to the preimership and nothing will please me more than to see see they and their over rated Manager getting beat to Burnley on friday night , come on the CLARETS .
The above quote was taken from the official Sunderland website forum about the trip to Ireland for pre season friendlies and posted by some deluded fool from Ireland who thinks Sunderland have the fourth biggest fanbase over here:rolleyes: .Quote:
the english league is as big over here in ireland as it is in england so i suppose in fairness, it would be stupid not to capitalise on this, in terms of numbers supporting sunderland they would be fourth behind man u, liverpool and arsenal mainly because of keano and his legendary status
You'll see many tricolours at the Stadium of Light these days. The local 'symbolism' there is that it simply shows support and thanks for the strong irish influence just now - Niall, Roy, Drumaville, and several Irish players. There will be an occasional supporter who interprets the symbolism differently (e.g. as might be at a Rangers game), but generally they're rare.Quote:
Originally Posted by citizenerased
Similarly you will also see the odd Trinidad & Tobago flag if you look around - we have three Trini players in the squad just now.
Well the interests of the international team are best served by its players playing in the top league. Given there are a few at Sunderland, your joy conflicts with the best interests of success at international level.Quote:
Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
Still better that yourself & Claret Murph can feel superior to Sunderland supporteers than half a dozen Irish players get the chance to play at the top level.
If they're good enough to play at a higher level they'll get their chance with or without Sunderland :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia
Precisely.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lim till i die
And why should I be chastened into altering my views on this, dependent upon what's allegedly best for the ROI team ?
Bull-sh!t - I care more about Irish club footbal, than I do for it's International variety. You may wish to force a contraditction upon me, but I sure as hell don't accept that there is one myself.... :rolleyes:
For the most part in this forum we discuss the players who are in or around the national squads at all age levels.
I have mixed feelings, from sneering at the overblown hype and wishing the players get through to next level and then the dread of even more hype. I just can't listen to it. If the Sunderland shop sold Keane árse wipes I might order a few packs.
I'd be curious to see if Keane's public endorsement of the superiority of Connolly and Miller over other members of our team has even a grain of sincerity from Keane.
why are ye all so bitter towards Sunderland,?? The old Irish begrudgery is out in force again...If your so committed to your own EL club why would what Sunderland are up to even concern let alone offend you..I only care about the fortunes of the Irish National team, and Sunderland getting promoted is pivitol in this.
Im sick of all yer ****ing ****e about the Eircom League, its not Roy Keanes(greatest irish player ever) fault that its an absolute shambles of a setup...sickens my hole
How precisely is Sunderland's potential promotion "pivotal" to our future success , lets face it if and when they do get promoted I think you will find that Keane will be showing Connolly and Kavanagh the door or at least replacing them with players that are better , some of whom , shock horror , mightnt even be Irish.Quote:
Originally Posted by citizenerased
I agree 100% with this. The only concern I have with teams getting promoted from the Championship is the amount of Irish players who may benefit. People should get over themselves.Quote:
Originally Posted by citizenerased
I'm not bitter towards Sunderland. I used to do voluntary work in Sunderland, have been to see them play at home this season (I watch a lot of football), and have a number of Mackem friends.Quote:
Originally Posted by citizenerased
I just find it hilarious that they lost to lowly Colchester, as their legion of nouveau Oirish fans will be scratching their heads and wondering who the fcuk Colchester are and how teh hell they were alllwed to beat their new team ! I mean - losing to lowly unheard of Essex clubs wasn't on the packet when they bought the Sunderland hype....
Surely you can see how this is amusing without a hint of bitterness involved ?!? I'm not bitter in any way about Posh Spice, for example, but it would make me titter if she found herself in some misfortune caused by her endless pursuit of fame without talent. Things like that are just funny.....
TBH I usually check their results to see what Irish players played & hope for a lose. Many may not agree with me but I do like to see Sunderland lose.Quote:
Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
I just don't know how else to react when Aer Arann start a Galway-Newcastle service & advertise as suitable for the Sunderland bandwagon.
Keane will do well to get them promoted but Mick McCarthy achieved that a few years ago with such a poor team they out of their depth in the Premiership.
So you'd rather a team run by English, managed by English and full of English players beat a team run, managed and with a playing staff full of your own countrymen? Good one.Quote:
Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
You're not by any chance a mate of EalingGreen are you?
Keane is a tit but I'll always support Irish players playing abroad above players of other nationalities particularly when their success can have a direct effect on the International team.
yip it's true. most of the irish players can expect to be release if sunderland did get promoted. the only ones that would prob be kept on would be murphy,stokes and miller. so it's hardly pivotal to the irish national team.Quote:
Originally Posted by gustavo
Also,there's been too many posts on this sunderland thing. people here will look out for their results becuase of the whole irish thing and i doubt there's much wrong with that. I hardly think people who go to the EL games are gonna stop and go to Sunderland. There'll always be those arm-chair supporters who jump on any bandwagon and those same people will never be EL supporters. Seems to be a fair degree of paranoia from some people on here for whatever reason. I'll always support the EL. Another thread title reads 'Irish UK Club Football Bangwagon Jumpers -Irish Footballs Number 1 enemy ' - From reading all the stuff about it on here then maybe Irish footballs number 1 enemy is Irish football itself.
Jaysus lads there some amount of "holier than thou" bullsh*t on this thread (even more so than usual). Get off yer high horses and give it a rest will yez....
When both the teams play in a foreign league surely its bloody irrelevant who wins?!Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
The "its good for international football" argument is also complete reverse justification crap.
Irish people will drag up any excuse they can lay their hands on to avoid acknowledging they choose football teams the way the rest of us choose a new car.
I don't support any English team but I like to see teams that contain a significant amount of Irish players doing well.Quote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
By your logic though I shouldn't be bothered as it's good to see teams full of Irish international (or potential International) players losing because when they are playing for s*it teams in the lower leagues it won't affect the International team in the slightest.
Are you on crack?
The portion of the EL brigade (not all but a portion) who are up their own ar*e and know nothing about football outside their own little world annoy me more than the jump on the bandwagon types. At least most of them realise they don't have a clue.
geez the knives are out for Keano and his boys..... so what if people want to go over and support the team? Yeah it would be nice if they all went to support their local football clubs but until Irish sides can start competing with English sides financially then they'll always go for the razmatazz of the PL. A bloody shame but the way of the world.
A successful Sunderland squad full of Irish players will hopefully have a knock on effect for 'OUR' national team. I hope they go on to bigger things personally.
great way of putting it. when asked "why do u support uk club x" ? you hardly if ever hear "cos i'm from there" .:D it's always some story of how the club relates back to them.Quote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
i think sunderland will give irish players a greater chance than other clubs, thats how i would see what citizen is saying has validity, other clubs dont have the same leniency to Ireland and Irish players, thats why if SUnderland are playing in the premiership it does benefit our International team.
I think people are getting lost and blinded by the fact Sunderland are doing well and looking like they will get promoted as oppossed to Sunderland full of Irish players, a coach and Irish owned. Just think a little more lads. :)
No, I have my hands full supporting my local team, quite frankly I don't get to enough games as it is. Football teams are like women, you're not doing it right if you have room in your life for more than one.Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
To address your specific point, the presence of Keane and Irwin never made me support United, O'Leary and Stapleton at Arsenal, Whelan, Beglin, Staunton at Liverpool the same. Looking further afield Brady never turned me into a Juvenista.
Tying it back to Sunderland, beyond Murphy I think I've seen enough of them over the years to know that they aren't the national teams future (or if they are, we are in for even more barren times).
A lot of the posts since this appeared have really proved the bloke wrong!!! :rolleyes:Quote:
'Wouldn't worry about that lot, truly they are the worst of Little Irelanders, but thankfully they're in an embarrassingly small minority. The furthest they've travelled from home is about .6 of a mile, and generally they regard Irish men who join English clubs and win Champions Leagues and such like as traitors - they'd prefer if they stayed at home working as part-time petrol pump attendants and part-time footballers, playing in a league that is so poor it's hard to know where to begin describing it. It's run and supported by people who wallow in mediocrity, because they know nothing else'
that in particular :)
I've a passing interest in Sunderlands results but am fairly indifferent to them. Actually wishing they lose to spite Keane is petty and small minded.
Another sweeping generalisation.Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
Many of the fans I meet in the EL watch football all over the world and always incorporate into their travels (as I do).
Mostly because they are in it for the football, not for the razmataz and Sky-ification that has made Premiership football a largely sterile experience.
What about Elliot and Stokes? Far better players than Murphy.Quote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
Ehhh ? Have you been out in the sun too long YI ? As I clearly said - I care more for Irish club football than I do the international variety. That doesn't mean I don't give a **** about international football. I also care more about dogs thna I do cats -but that doesn't meazn I want to go out and skin alive the first feline I can find.Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
I actually go to alot of Ireland games, especially away. But it's just not as important to me as the domestic game is. So I will always look at things with more concern regarding their impact on the domestic game than the international one. So calm down - you'll give yourself high blood pressure blowing a fuse over inoccuous things like this.
And show me the club in Ireland that meets your nonsense criteria above anyway ? Conversely - I could name you long periods in which the Irish international team were managed by English, contained large numbers of British etc. Not that it really matters anyway - I'm into football, not ethnic cleansing....
I just don't care about Irish players abroad. I guess if pushed to declare an interest, I'd rather they did well than not, but I don't care. I don't feel that I should be all that artifically concerned for someone's welfare and progress just because they were born on the same island as me.Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
Forgot about Stokes. He certainly has the potential.Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
Include Elliot in the previously mentioned category. I've seen enough of him not to rate him, unless he has a road to Damascus type moment which turns him into a quality footballer.
Quite frankly, other than Stokes, none of the Irish at Sunderland is likely to progress to International regulars and the jury is still out on Stokes. However, Wolves, also with an Irish manager, have the potential of Keogh and Ward.
For those of you interested, there is an article on Keane and his wanting to keep players happy in today's Daily Telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mai...5/sfnsun25.xml
That is a very honest opinion given the fact that you live away from the island, and Irish people by nature ( force of habit, go with what you know etc ) stick together and become more proud to be Irish the further away they go....Quote:
I just don't care about Irish players abroad. I guess if pushed to declare an interest, I'd rather they did well than not, but I don't care. I don't feel that I should be all that artifically concerned for someone's welfare and progress just because they were born on the same island as me.
Here is where I am confused however, I mean to what degree to you prefer cats to Dogs? Its all relative really. It all depends on how much you REALLY care about club football in Ireland, how much you care about the Ireland national team and finally to what ratio do you care about Ireland as a national team to Irish - club - football?Quote:
I just don't care about Irish players abroad. I guess if pushed to declare an interest, I'd rather they did well than not, but I don't care.
I think most of us are more interested in what's going on at Sunderland since Keane got the job but does anyone seriously know a grown adult that only started supported Sunderland this season? I very much doubt it.Quote:
Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
You obviously gravitate towards what you know when you're away form home, and a lot of my friends in England would be Irish. But I'm friends with them because I like them, not because they're Irish. Some of them just happen to be Irish as well. Why should I have an interest in Seamus O'Flaherty at London United Rovers or whatever, just because he was born on the same island as me ? I'd never meet the guy, he's be from a different generation and part of the country than me, and our lives would be totally different ! I don't feel the need to treat everyone Irish as unduly worthy of my attentions and support, and think it is slavishly peculiar to do so.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
The priority list would look as folow :Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
1) Derry City FC
2) Eircom League
3) Dogs (may increase to a level 2 priority if I actually get one..)
4) Ireland international team
11) Cats
251) The Black Cts of Sunderland (Newcastle United would be higher)
P.S. - Are you still looking after that shirt of mine boyo ? :D I haven't pulled since I lost it....
Who do you think are filling those Aer Arann flights then ? School Trips ? The cast of Lord of the Flies ??Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
You can't be serious? You should have seen the parties in Spain when Fernando Alonso won the championship. Or the pubs in this country when Ken Doherty won the World Championships. I absolutely loved to see Damien Duff destroy players in the Champions league during his first couple of season at Chelsea. Nakamura has been all over the front pages of the Japanese papers over the last few days. It's just part of being patriotic. How is it peculiar?Quote:
Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
Anyone on for heading over to Sunderland for the match on Friday. I will arrange the charter plane for a laugh or maybe we can all book Aer Arann, who is up for it or maybe I will fly up to Derry on Friday evening
I saw about 50 of them in Dublin airport a few weeks ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
Although in fairness the emergence of the Irish cricket team as the next bandwagon has been making ridiculous demands on their time recently.....