:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy
As an Irishman, I thought I would like to contribute to a discusion about talks to merge the two Irish teams.
Apologies if that annoys you.
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:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy
As an Irishman, I thought I would like to contribute to a discusion about talks to merge the two Irish teams.
Apologies if that annoys you.
Exactly. We are all Irish (whether some people like to admit it or not). If we stopped arguing and fighting amongst ourselves we could long have taken over the world. Let's get it sorted, make up and all hold hands together and invade somewhere (preferrably someplace with oil and fit women though it's hard to satisfy both counts I admit).Quote:
Originally Posted by Not Brazil
I really don't see the point of an all Ireland side. It's not like we're missing out on any talent coming through in the North - anyone half-decent wants to play with us and if they're good enough they'll get their chance. Better that the North continues with its national team as those players that aren't good enough for us can get the chance to play international football with their second option.
Not guilty! :rolleyes: I think the plural (muppets as opposed to muppet) is a bit unwarranted. One poster comes on here and behaves with dignity while carrying no baggage from insulting us on other forums. The other is just taking the p*ss.Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
There is a place and it's called Norway.Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
Or the Borzas as you have so many chips on your shoulders......Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
"Borzas"? :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by Billsthoughts
"Borzas"Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
The tables turn.............
Touche! ;) So go on then, is one of yiz gonna let this poor Nordie in on the joke? Before we "return serve" with these particular tables:Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfie
http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statisti...n-2007,00.html
http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statisti....html?static=5
Meanwhile, back on the topic of political interference in Football, generally, and FIFA's view specifically, the following is interesting:
Poland and Kenya warned about governmental interference
Under the leadership of chairman Viacheslav Koloskov (Russia), the FIFA Associations Committee met today at the Home of FIFA in Zurich and issued a strong reprimand to governmental authorities who continue to interfere in affairs in the football communities of Poland and Kenya in clear contravention of the internationally accepted standards and statutes of FIFA.
Polish football could face dire consequences should Polish minister of sport Tomasz Lipiec not reverse his decision to appoint a commissioner to head the Polish Football Association (PZPN) - contrary to the roadmap jointly agreed upon during his visit to Zurich on 16 October 2006 - or allow the internationally recognised administration of the PZPN to organise elections by 31 March under the supervision of FIFA and UEFA observers. Such non-compliance with FIFA principles would prevent the PZPN from establishing an executive board in line with the new statutes ratified by its general assembly on 7 January, thus risking a suspension of the federation and all of its members (clubs, players, officials) from all international contact, participation in international competitions at all levels, the organisation of international matches and the appointment of officials for international duties, as well as freezing voting rights and access to Financial Assistance Programme payments.
Concerning Kenya, the committee lamented the fact that despite recent improvements in the relations with the football community in the East African nation, the problems were still far from being resolved due to the Ministry of Sport's systematic obstruction of progress and the National Sport Committee's interference with the federation and local clubs. The Associations Committee decided that unless a clear commitment was made by the Kenyan government and Ministry of Sport by 28 February 2007 to fully respect the FIFA Statutes and comply with the established roadmap for the normalisation of football in the country, the suspension of the federation would continue for the foreseeable future, without a likelihood of change.
The committee also reviewed the status of situations in the associations of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Macedonia, Peru, Senegal, Togo, Turkey and Tunisia, and noted with satisfaction that progress had been made in a number of cases, while agreeing to continue to monitor each of them closely.
(From: http://www.fifa.com/en/media/index/0...ticleid=130856 )
EalingGreen congratulations on being above us in the rankings for the first time ever. I do find it funny though as you are setting yourself up for a serious fall if you think you'll stay there with the players you have. How everyone so easily forgets Iceland 3-0 at home. A poorer result than Cyprus. Enjoy it while you can I imagine you'll be in hiding by the time the groups wind down at the end of the year and the true quality shines through (probably not us in fairness but definitely not NI).
Billsthoughts, will you do the honours on enlightening this particular Borza..............Salt / Vinegar?Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
Don't you mean "above us in the rankings for the first time since the tables were first compiled"?Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
You might not be old enough to remember, but when we were e.g. qualifying for World Cup Finals in 58, 82 and 86, or e.g. the ROI was going six whole years without a competitive home win, I dare say our stock was somewhat the higher!
As for the Iceland game, having been there, granted it was a shocking result, but the score didn't truly reflect the way the match went. And besides, at least we were playing the whole of Iceland...;)
Anyhow, I shall enjoy it while it lasts, just as I shall endure it if and when it changes. At the IFA, we've learned how to take the rough with the smooth for over 125 years now, which is why the (highly debateable) prospect of a "better" team were we to be merged with the ROI*, holds absolutely no appeal for us whatever. :)
* - Or worse still, "subsumed by"
Got a 'gem' of a magazine yesterday...called Football Digest... any way has an excellent article on Shamrock Rovers and this matter and effectively comes to the conclusion as posted by many here ie the IFA & FAI will never amalgamate due to the fear of loss of "jobs" by the blazers from both sides....
Did I mention that the magazine in question was published in Sept 1973 !!!! It was the follow up magazine that replaced Charles Buchan's Football monthly...and the article in question was on the back of the Rovers v Brazil game in the sumer of 1973.... meme ca change etc.
Many observers (from the Mexican end of the island, at least) point first to this "jobs for the boys" obstacle when assessing the chances of a single team.Quote:
Originally Posted by Calcio Jack
But whilst I agree it is undoubtedly true, it is imo merely yet another (the final?) hurdle which would have to be vaulted before there was any chance of change.
How can we get it across that the vast majority of NI fans don't want a single team under virtually any circumstance? Unless or until there is an 180 degree turn in attitudes generally North of the Border, a single team is a non-starter and won't even get as far as "the Blazers" for their approval, or otherwise.
Would you see members of parliament or the NI Assembly getting involved?Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
No I meant ever.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
Are you really saying that, until recently when the Northern Irish side went above the Republic's side in the rankings, there had never been a time before that when the North's side would have been considered superior?
Or are you confining it just to what the rankings say?
I'm saying that NI have never been ahead of us in the rankings before as stated in my original post. Ever.Quote:
Originally Posted by osarusan
eh borzas own a lot of chippers in juarez...i mean dublin.....
i dont really care how we do in relation to the north. good on them for the way they are playin the mo.
dont want an all ireland team either but do think players from the north who want to play for ireland should be allowed play for them.
As I said before it will happen in it's own good time, there is no need to rush it and it far too early yet to even spend time fretting about it.
Right now from a team perspective NI don't have any world class players - nobody eevn close to be honest, they have a few players who would strengthen our squad a little bit but NI can their recent success down to good management just as we can put down our recent decline to poor management.
Effective management is more important than the players really. We will always have decent players available to us, I wish I could say the same about our managers and the FAI.
Fair enough, Q, I wouldn't argue with too much of that. But it does serve to emphasise yet another difference between supporters of the ROI and NI.Quote:
Originally Posted by Qwerty
Reading this Board has told me that a significant section, at least, of ROI fans sees a single team not as some new entity, but merely as "the old 26", with "6 added on".
Your post now sheds futher light on why some ROI should want this, not merely what they want: a single team would be "better", since it would have access to a wider pool of players.
I daresay that would be the case; then again, if NI were to join up with the other 3 home countries to form a UK team that would be stronger still. Indeed, if one were to go the whole hog and have a British Isles team, like the rugby Lions, that would be strongest of all.
Except that neither of those prospects holds any more joy for me than would a single Irish team.
This is because, deep down, it is not about being the best, it is about being ourselves. We know we are never going to win the World Cup as part of a single team, though as it happens, we have come as close as NI as the ROI ever has - despite what Roy Keane might have thought in Saipan!
Which, when it boils down to it, demonstrates why we sing our favourite song with such gusto:
"We're not Brazil, we're Northern Ireland,
But it's all the same to me!" :cool:
go and post ya tripe on your own forums! all you do is constantly make disparaging comments about our team, im not on about this post in particular, im on about in general. why do you bother coming on here at all?Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
go and post ya tripe on your own forums! all you do is constantly make disparaging comments about our sport, im not on about this post in particular, im on about your signature. why do you bother coming on here at all?Quote:
Originally Posted by livehead1
P.S. If you really want to know why I'm posting on this subject, there's a wee clue in the title of the thread...;)
P.P.S. How are things back in Oireland? You know, I haven't been in O'Nottinghamshire since I was a wee babby, and the Mammy used to take me to watch the colleens dancing at the crossroads, through the long summer nights... :rolleyes:
Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
:D :D
What's the Orange marching season like in Ealing then? :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
Haven't the foggiest. Why don't you ask an Orangeman? There must be some to be had near where you come from in Ireland...:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by lopez
bit of a cheap shot.(if still funny..)Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
AFAIR he is from sligo just going to college in england...if he wants to play gealic football so whaT? most people I know play both and excel at both.
As for lopezs orange comment. :rolleyes: save it for your celtic forums...
Sorry, but you know something I don't?Quote:
Originally Posted by Billsthoughts
I asked the next best thing on matters of bigotry.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
You don't make sense. You seem to apparently have a dig at me for living in Nottingham, yet your name refers to an area of London? Nottingham is a very fine city, but that would be straying from the point. As for my signature? What exactly does that prove? I play for a Gaelic Football Club over here and actually had the pleasure of representing the County against Roscommon in an All-Ireland Junior semi-final recently....sorry im straying from the point once more. Let me come to it swiftly. Your posts are a waste of time. You are not a Republic of Ireland soccer fan, you come onto this forum, irritating people with your remarks about our national side. This is not your national side. I believe, from your posts that Northern Ireland is your national side, although from your name, i was led to believe your allegiences lie with England.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
Tuff by name and tuff by nature ha.Fair play to ya.
I have no problem whatever with Ireland or Irishness. Why should I? I am an Irishman myself, born and brought up in Ireland, to Irish parents who were themselves born to Irish parents - half of them from Southern Ireland, as it happens!Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy
My "problem" is that the likes of Livehead and Tuff Paddy either can't or won't recognise that. I presume this is because I am from the Northern end of the island and my politics are different from the majority of posters on this Board.
As for my "right" to post on this thread, I am genuinely astounded that any reasonable person could object to this! Fair enough if I abused people personally, or used outrageous or obscene terminology, but I am confident that this is not the case - even if some may be incapable of distinguishing that from the normal banter that goes on between fans.
Of course, I am not a fan of the ROI team, but I am unaware of any Rule prohibiting non-ROI fans from joining or contributing. Besides, this thread is specifically about the proposal by a senior Irish Government Minister that the ROI and NI teams be "merged" into one. Am I, as an NI fan not allowed an opinion on that? If not, then that merely serves to confirm my suspicion that some (many?) ROI fans are more interested in an effective takeover, than a union.
Which for me is highly ironic*. In football, as in life, if there is ever going to be a truly "united Ireland", then all of us on this island are going to have to get used to each other and find a way of understanding each other.
As I see it, with their mean-spirited and small-minded sniping, it is the likes of Livehead and Tuff Paddy who do most to confound the possibility of such an eventuality ever occurring. Do they want a United Ireland or not? If they do, they've got a funny way of showing it, but if they don't, I'd like to hear them say it.
* - In less politically-correct times, I might have said "Irish"!;)
Herein lies the problem. I and most other people on this board come on here to post about football, not politics. This thread would not have got so many replies or interest had you not simply made a very valiant attempt to attack anything that anyone has aid. Politics should stay where politics is, and football should stay where football is, however, should you wish to discuss politics then i would be more than willing to do so, but not on here.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
Then WHY BOTHER YOUR AR*E!!!! I don't go on the French football forum and start posting messages. Its not just this topic, you seem more than willing to comment on any topic that is up for debate, and consistantly slate OUR national side.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
The 'irony' for me, and many others, is someone who doesn't support us, spending hours of their time posting on our message board! Then, when questioned about their motives for doing so, feels it necessary to revert to childish insults regarding where somebody lives!Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
You really should not have got me started here. I previously expressed a desire to keep football away from politics, and whilst I fully intend to follow this ideal wherever possible, i feel it imperative, having been directly asked, to answer this question.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
As a nationalist, my heart craves for a United Ireland. However, this is only a dream at the moment, and i'm happy for it to stay that way.
In Ireland, we have an economy that is stronger than most in Europe. If we were to take the north in our wings, our GDP would be substantially lowered. This is because unemployment is high, and industry is low in the area.
In Ireland we are the recipients of some outstanding agricultural subsidies from the European Union. Now, if we had to spread these with the North we would have less for ourselves.
The European Union, has provided, and continues to provide, great levels of funding for our road improvement schemes. I took a trip to Derry on the bus recently and I noticed a distinct lack of funding had gone into the maintanance of the roads over the border. Maybe this is an isolated area, but a point nevertheless.
I'll try one more time to explain why I'm posting on this topic on this Board. I am an NI supporter. The Foreign Minister of our only land neighbour makes a proposal that would mean the end of the team I support. Naturally, I have an opinion on this. I could (indeed have) debate this solely with other NI fans, but since they are in unanimous agreement, that doesn't achieve a great deal.Quote:
Originally Posted by livehead1
Therefore, I am interested in debating this with the other party involved in this proposal. What is unreasonable about that? Objecting to my expressing an opinion on this is like telling e.g. women that they should have no opinion on marriage, and never raise the issue with men. :eek:
And in any case, the whole tenor of your posts is to "shoot the messenger, not the message". Regarding that message, if my posts are obscene or offensive etc, I'm sure the Mods will put me right on that score, but if you don't like what I think about my opinions on the ROI team, then you have every right to rebut those, point by point - bring it on!
If, on the other hand, you merely object to someone to have the temerity to engage in a bit of typical football banter, then I suggest you get out a bit more, since you're coming across as a very tender little flower. Bless. ;)
Banned already for one week last year for doing exactly that. (Granted my punishment was a month, but well worth it).Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
Tender little flower? Get out a bit more? Hmmm! That was the sort of reaction I had when I read you're response to me suggesting your 'hostility towards us is a political bigotry (tinged no doubt amongst some with religious bigotry) towards all things Irish nationalist or Republican.' :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
[QUOTE=EalingGreen;616411]I'll try one more time to explain why I'm posting on this topic on this Board. I am an NI supporter. The Foreign Minister of our only land neighbour
Like the way you think that your a country, what a joke. When i'm in Armagh or Down I always find myself thinking how much like Finchley or Eailing the place looks. I take it the way too prove that you where a country was to wage a vile campagn of discrimanation and hate against part of this so called countrys community.
And Surprise surprise some of your citizens from this so called country don't feel up for playing for your team and play for your only land neighbour, and your all shocked about it.
You may be above us in some list that some bunch of gob****es in geneva or god knows where have come up with but most of us couldn't care less about your little pub team. I never go and bother to try and find out how this great rival and so called land neighbour get on and never will.
This thread has gone way off track.
Looking at it on purely footballing grounds I don't think absorbing the North's playing resources into the Ireland team would improve the quality of our side. And isn't this where Dermot Ahern's comments come from. He's obviously a football fan that wants us to qualify for the Euros and the WC or a more regular basis. But as far as I see it bringing the North into the fold is not the solution .... as some posters here illustrate uniting will only serve to divide.
Rubbish. This is a thread about two national sides being merged together, and he is a supporter of one of those sides. His opinion is every bit as valid, and a lot more eloquent, than yours.Quote:
Originally Posted by livehead1
He has already stated that he is Irish, born in Ireland, of Irish parents. He seems to be very proud of his southern and northern Irish heritage. He is proud of what he is, and doesnt want to see one element of his identity, his national football team, to disappear.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy
There has never been any discussion about merging the Irish and French national teams, so the comparison is nonsense. But if such a suggestion were to start, I am sure many posters here would be looking for those French football forums.Quote:
Originally Posted by livehead1
Dermot Ahern mentions the idea of an All-Ireland side and it seems that some people on this site envisage an All-Ireland team as simply the Republic of Ireland side, with no real recongintion of the Northern element. This is, I think, where Ealing Green has problems eith the idea. He has stated that is is not about being good as much as it is about being "yourself" - feeling secure in your own identity. I have no problems with his opinions and his contributions.
...or your own version of truth maybe.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy
TP -this seems to be about the third post where you've asked or instructed people to leave the board on the basis they don't share your worldview. :confused:
This board is a richer, more interesting place for the fact we all get to see things from someone elses perspective every once in a while.
I've been asked to leave the OWC board on several occasions -without exception by individuals who couldn't debate the contents of a bus timetable and couldn't contemplate the idea that somewhere out there someone saw things differently.
No need to apologise for using Irish by the way... though we spell "Buala" -not like Nuala but rather "Boola" where I come from ...but that's Irish for you -it differs a fair bit from here to there.;)
Ah sure you're raising the bar for us all.
Way too many Commodores in our ranks so there is.:)
Lionel and anyone else this applies to. I love hearing other peoples opinion, however i do not enjoy it being thrust down my throat at every available option. Any thread EalingGreen posts on, is disparaging about our national side and not always related to his 'national' side.