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Having supported Sunderland and Shelbourne all my life I am now going to more sunderland games a season than shelbourne .. The standard of football in the eircom league is very poor and if people want to pay their hard earned cash to watch across the water much better football and atmospheres than why not .. Everyone has a right to choose and just cause some of us dont choose to watch el week in week out we should not be treated with contempt.
Sunderland, good football and an atmosphere in the stadium of light.....good one that :DQuote:
Originally Posted by zinedineontour
Some very interesting posts about the EL, standards and such. I'm involved with a club in the LSL who have 3 senior teams. These players, some who have played in the EL, all support Premiership teams. Of all those players, I only know 2 who regularly go to EL games. When we have a free weekend quite a few head off to England to watch their favourite teams. I myself occasionally bring my 8 year old to watch Shels, his choice not mine. He is football mad and plays for his local club. However now he is badgering me to bring him over to England to see a game. A lot of his mates have gone with their fathers to Premiership games, should I deprive him of this perceived treat on the grounds that it is being disloyal to the local game. The only thing that compares with the Premiership is international football and recently I have only managed to get tickets for friendlies.
Personally I think the EL has improved. The football is definitely better than say 10 years ago. Performances in Europe have improved. Unfortunately it is been blown out of the water by the Premiership.
When I was younger, along with the Town, I supported West Ham and
my Dad took me over to a good few games. I was taken in by all the hype,
merchandise, etc, and to be honest its hard not to be, one weekend in the
Staduim Of Tin with one man and his dog, the next on the packed terrace
in Upton Park.
When I was older I headed over to Parkhead aswell and the athmosphere
etc was great.
In the end I just found it all to be over hyped and got sick of it and I found
myself enjoying going to the Town games a lot more that heading over to
games in England/Scotland. Probably cos its easier to identify with the
players and also the standard because you actually get to know the
players/management etc and in some cases played underage football with
the players.
I still look out for West Ham and Celtic results but I'm more of a "follower"
than a supporter of them. Havent even bought a jersey in ages, except for
a Celtic away cos they we're selling them off in Roscommon for a tenner last
year - handy for training.
theres always the opposition to watch ! You must never have been if you think it lacks atmosphere then ..Quote:
Originally Posted by stickyjoe
Thats true. Just been really surprised this season at the stadium only been half full for most games. How come they couldnt shift more season tickets?Quote:
Originally Posted by zinedineontour
Have you? They've got 11 points all year, I've been impressed with the crowds they're getting myself.Quote:
Originally Posted by stickyjoe
season books are sold before a season starts. and the north east is the "hotbed of english football". copyright sky sportsQuote:
Originally Posted by Schumi
Doesn't mean you have to go though!Quote:
Originally Posted by stickyjoe
Nothing worse than a lapsed believer justifying or trying to justify their position :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by TheJamaicanP.M.
EL fans do not necessarily know more than the rest of you, but we got to a lot more football than the rest of you and are actual real football fans and not event junkies.
lets face it Ireland has a big event culture rather than any sort of loyal
weekly following for any team.
The GAA get 70 odd thousand into The Stadium of Greed for big games
In the league the Dubs get roughly 8 thousand at the home games every second week.If they were at home every week it would be less
Rugby Munster and Leinster are the same in the Heineken Cup
Huge crowds.For celtic league not half as much
In fairness most of the fans that go to Ireland games havent the first notion about football and if Ireland played every week theyd be lucky to get 15 thousand at the games
Those who go to English football rather than support there own league because its better quality or the atmosphere are living in Disneyland
Its the same rubbish or quality as you would see here just at a higher speed
With more numbskulls going to the games, the same fans who would say
Donkey racing was great if there was 30 thousand people at it.:eek:
Quote:
Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie
College,
I do not attend EL games regularily ( maybe 2/3 a year) but am involved with junior football and could attend 2/3 games each weekend including playing. Given a choice i would go and watch my local junior team than local EL team. I think thats more a question of affiliation, and the standard isn't that different to EL Div 1.
I'm sure their are many who attend Ireland games like me. Its a personal choice.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hoops1
Re event junkies, you're always goinfg to have them. Every sport, every time.
Agree fully on english football. Hopping on a plane every week to watch over paid mercenaries baffles me!
Two points 1) You play, or are involved in the game at junior level , which is obviously a lot different to the sort of people that we are talking about.Quote:
Originally Posted by nedder
2) At least you go to 2-3 EL games a year which is a start!
Well a lot of players in LSL and MSL and similar leagues might be Division 1 standard but they cannot be arsed to travel the length and breadth of Ireland in that League , so do not have the right attitude to be EL players whatever about their ability.
Spot on !;)Quote:
Originally Posted by hoops1
they have had great support this season averaging over 30000 ... they have the 9th best average in the premier league so it really isnt that bad at all for one of the worst sunderland sides I have gone to watch .Quote:
Originally Posted by stickyjoe
What qualifies you as "real football fans"Quote:
Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie
Does the person who trains a schoolkids team 2 nights a week and a match at the weekend BUT doesnt either have the time or inclination to go to an EL game qualify? In fairness that takes up a hell of a lot more time and committment that just going thru the turnstiles for a clubs home games, or maybe home and away games.
Off course most managers theese days also attend management meetings and fai coaching courses as well but I doubt if that counts either.
There again were would the EL get it's plavers from if there werent "event junkies" who trainbed the kids who are the players of tomorrow.
I rest my case.
Wow, there's a coincidence. Just proves Athlone fans follow quality - local and foreign - it's in our genes. LOL:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Ash
Same here Ash. In November 1980, I went to a Hammers v Swansea Town (as they were known then) on a Saturday, flew back Sunday morning and got back in plenty of time to see Athlone play Dundalk in Mels. Like you, I have a soft spot for the Irons but prefer local first. All the terraces at the Town game were well crowded - even behind the "far" goal.
There are (were maybe) a pair of brothers who used to go to Celtic on a Saturday and be back in time for a Town game on Sunday when I was involved. Bet you know whom I'm talking about.;) :D
And they still regulary do, get a bus to Tullamore at an unearthly time ofQuote:
Originally Posted by sirhamish
the morning and head off with the Midlands branch of the C.S.C. for the
odd midweek game, back in time to train local underage club and then in
Mels for the Town game!
I love supporting my country and plan many months in advance round the matches. However i love the feeling of watching my local club, and at a club like mine with little fans and money least you know the players are there for the shirt not the money, abit like internationals.
As has been stated before, We all love the game so lets not have this real fan over not real fan etc. Why does it bother people so much. As long as people are not stopping you getting tickets etc well then what is the problem. We live in a free society were people can do what they want. If I go to every Ireland game for 10 years I dont look down on a guy who goes only to the big ones. Thats his life and he is free to live it the way he wants. The same if I go to all Bohs games I would not look down on somone who only goes to Ireland games.