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I'd say there will be very few who go against the boycott, I know my club won't.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Boycott or no boycott I wasn't attending and my reason for not attending was based purely on the cost and travel issue. It's just not worth it for what would be Northern Ireland B Team vs Republic of Ireland A team. Getting bused in and out to see us get beat and more Nigel Worthington crap, no thanks.
The latest figures are that we've sold 100 tickets total. :D
I can understand (& support it) for their game v.us, but in the case of the Welsh game it makes limited sense.
And given the issues that were always going to arise, shows how ill-conceived the whole 'competition' is.
On a serious note, if North fans hide their colours and keep quiet, I'm not sure anyone policing that game is going to know necessarily they're even in the stadium given the relative crossover of the fanbase(s).
Their names however would generally be more of a giveaway....
I think it's fair to say the Celtic Cup won't be renewed any time soon.......
...and the closeness of their eyes...
Anyway, as AB was saying, the conception of it was a disastrous. What harm would there gave been in treating it like the six nations and have each association play games home and away so that there would be some sense of an event locally. Otherwise it seems the way the thing has gone its just like an end of season quadrangular tournament.
think the problems are a bit more than just a sing song. just ask the residents adjacent to the northern end of the stadium who had to put up with all kinds of issues the night of the scotland game in february.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
The party line on that jbyrne is that there were "no arrests" and therefore any disturbances around the Scotland game were "minor". Nevertheless the forces that be deem the need to introduce a very restrictive control of NI fans for the remaining games as a repeat performance of these "minor" disturbances are likely to draw a reaction from certain quarters in our own support. When a fan game can't get played because of security concerns you'd wonder why the FAI sought to organise a tournament with NI included in the first place. After all a game with NI isn't a crowd puller - less than 15,000 turned up last time they played us in Dublin.
I was trying to be, er, euphemistic....Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
And the last game v.the North was a charity fund-raiser for the Omagh victims, badly scheduled on a wet day up against a Celtic-Rangers Cup Final.
All of which had an effect on the size of the crowd.
Exactly. It won't draw a crowd. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Seems the IFA have gotten their knickers in a bit oif a twist.
http://www.irishfa.com/news/item/646...-announcement/
You couldn't make it up.
:(
I also note that the original cut off date for bookings was this Friday - the squad is not announced to next Tuesday.
I suspect, once the squad is announced, many of those who have booked will feel a bit let down.
Approximately 8,000 Northern Ireland supporters were intending to attend this match - I can't see more than 800 going now.
It's sad when a football game has to have such restrictions around it but I trust the Gardai have their real concerns after the behaviour of some NI fans at the game against Scotland.Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
The FAI can't predict a year ahead how the tournament will go, it was worth a try after they got the sponsorship.
:DQuote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
We have all sorts in our supporters club, from O'Neil's and your Murphy's to your Aoife's and your Orlaith's.
The competition is dead in the water due to a lack of interest. Carling and Sky are apparently not happy.
Why should Northern Ireland fans "hide their colours and keep quiet"?Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Your assertion that names identify any particular affiliation is both misguided and presumptious, not to mention crude.
I was being sarcastic about the security operation. If they didn't identify themselves by name (Or by colours/flags & singing), who would even know they were there?
It took you long enough to be 'offended' anyway.
And the vast majority of fans of yours I've encountered have names very 'obviously' of a unionist tradition.
But don't worry it's not their fault, I blame the parents....
:rolleyes:
This is genuinely the wost idea for a tournament I've ever heard. I'm pleased its a horrible, horrible failure. I think I'd rather saw my nads off than watch Northern Ireland or Scotland play soccer.
Not "offended" in any way AB.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
You obviously haven't read (or understood) the entirety of the, IFA supported, "security operation".
Regarding names, you remind me of the poster on here who once claimed that David Healy was receiving sectarian abuse from Northern Ireland fans...because, quite "obviously", he is a Catholic with a name like that!:D
So what if Northern Ireland fans are largely from a "unionist tradition" anyway?
What has that got to do with anything?
I agree with you that this competition is proving to be not the greatest of ideas ever.Quote:
Originally Posted by Murfinator
However, as a Republic supporter, do you not go to watch and support the Republic, as oppossed to the opposition?
Would you not be a little bit pleased if the Republic won it?
Except it's a joke. If it was the other way round, it wouldn't stop me making my own way and getting in.Quote:
Originally Posted by Not Brazil
You obviously don't know his dad's name, 'Campbell' or 'Cameron' , is it? Obviously a product of a mixed marriage, who was then given a Scottish name. Hmm, fair enough.Quote:
Regarding names, you remind me of the poster on here who once claimed that David Healy was receiving sectarian abuse from Northern Ireland fans...because, quite "obviously", he is a Catholic with a name like that!
See the above points about how they could be identified? Their names generally are the giveaways, as you know fine well.Quote:
So what if Northern Ireland fans are largely from a "unionist tradition" anyway?
What has that got to do with anything?
Northern Ireland fans have no way of "getting in", unless they avail of the IFA monopoly on ticketing/travel arrangements.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
I suppose a Northern Ireland fan could drive down and try and pick up a spare for the Republic parts of the ground on match day though - Some might consider that if it was an important qualifier, but not for what will be effectively a "B" International.
What are you belthering on about with Healy's dad's name? I know the man - regular at Northern Ireland matches, home and away, with his wife. What point, exactly, are you trying (badly) to make?
By the way, I've never been asked my name on entering any Northern Ireland match at home or abroad - I give the guy on the gate my ticket, and go in.
Do Republic fans get asked their name before being granted admission to a match?
Names, in some sad little "themmuns and ussens" world might allow some people to jump to conclusions, but, in reality, they indicate jack **** with any certainty.
If you don't understand it now, then you never will....
Anyone can walk up to the ground (there will be loads of spares) buy a ticket at less than cost price and short of identifying themselves to the the local security by giving their name, will be able to watch the game in peace from the 'home' end, unless of course they wish to identify themselves by colours or vocally.
That is the point I am alluding to, as anyone raised in Belfast should be more than aware of.
It would be very hard to express your suppoort for your team without being vocal and/or displaying colours.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
What you supposed to do - sit there mute?
Plenty of my mates who go to Northern Ireland games have names that would not identify them one way or another.
To assert that a name always identifies your "background" is, quite simply, drivel.
Let's take an example - a guy called, say, Mark McAllister travels from Northern Ireland to the game - he purchases a spare for the Republic end. He, being in friendly mode, says to the security chaps, in a Northern Irish accent "Hello...my name in Mark McAllister, I'm looking forward to the match".
What happens next?