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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.