O'Neill gives his backing for a United Ireland team

[Hibernian]

Who are your rivals then IFK? I mean, I assume you have some, and as we're nearby and of almost the same standard, surely we'd be ideal?

Cyprus

[ifk101]

Who are your rivals then IFK? I mean, I assume you have some, and as we're nearby and of almost the same standard, surely we'd be ideal?

Whoever we're drawn against. But rivalries are more "real" at club level for me. Landskrona BoIS for example - they're a right shower of mucks

[Pike B]

Close, Pike B, so close!

REPUBLIC... Smart a.se

[EalingGreen]

Don’t be worried, EG. Like the thousands of Ireland supporters in the ‘wee six’, we are quite content supporting our team, and are also content in the fact that our teams already represent all Parts of the island

Good for you. But you might want to change that "OneTeamInIreland" signature of yours. After all, we can't have people confusing it with http://www.oneteaminireland.co.uk/

Is it true that Maik Taylor qualified for the North because his great, great, great Granny once ate an Ulster fry while on a visit to Ireland from her home in Lower Saxony?

No, not true at all. Under a perfectly clear, though somewhat anomalous, clause in the FIFA Regulations governing eligibility in those days, British Citizen Taylor was entitled to chose which of the four British Associations he wished to represent. He chose NI, something which makes both him and us completely happy.
The Regulations have since been changed, however, so as to prevent any reoccurence. Essentially, a new Maik Taylor would have to demonstrate a connection (parent, grandparent or residence) to be eligible to represent any of the four Associations.
This new situation is something with which the IFA is entirely happy.

I would have presumed that the goal of any team is to be successful and qualify for the finals of major tournaments, but perhaps your lot have lower ambitions. I suppose playing in a glorified pigeon shed at home doesn’t help.

Of course the goal of any team is to be as successful as possible. But are you saying that teams should therefore do whatever it takes to gain success?Or that fans should withdraw their support for that team if they are not successful?

Wishing for "success" and demanding it are two different things. Indeed, it's what I use to distinguish true fans from glory-hunters. As for our "glorified pigeon shed", I'd have hoped the fact that we still turn up despite the facilities, rather than because of them, was to our credit.

But perhaps you demand Executive Lounges and Prawn Sandwiches, as well as Trophies. Sad.

[Block G Raptor]

A Song for Ireland would be the perfect anthem for me

[co. down green]

But you might want to change that "OneTeamInIreland" signature of yours..

If ‘One Team In Ireland’ is good enough Jennings, Dougan, Lennon, O’Neill & Best, its good enough for us

Of course the goal of any team is to be as successful as possible. But are you saying that teams should therefore do whatever it takes to gain success?Or that fans should withdraw their support for that team if they are not successful?

Eg?, you need to get out more.

Wishing for "success" and demanding it are two different things. Indeed, it's what I use to distinguish true fans from glory-hunters. As for our "glorified pigeon shed", I'd have hoped the fact that we still turn up despite the facilities, rather than because of them, was to our credit.

Glad to see the ‘good times’ have increased your attendances from 6,000 to 13,000. Glory hunters, ehh.

But perhaps you demand Executive Lounges and Prawn Sandwiches, as well as Trophies. Sad.

No, a few pints and an atmosphere free of sectarian chanting, does me fine.

I don't know how you and your fellow trolls can find the time to spend the whole day trolling around the internet.

[Gather round]

If ‘One Team In Ireland’ is good enough Jennings, Dougan, Lennon, O’Neill & Best, its good enough for us

But it's wrong, like. There are obviously two teams.

Glad to see the ‘good times’ have increased your attendances from 6,000 to 13,000. Glory hunters, ehh.

How much do you think Chelsea or Rangers average crowds will improve by if they win a European trophy this season? The maximum crowds at Windsor, like any other stadium, are obviously fixed.

No, a few pints and an atmosphere free of sectarian chanting, does me fine

You'll find that, generally, at Windsor. I'm not suggesting it's perfect, but the past problems have been largely eradicated.

I don't know how you and your fellow trolls can find the time to spend the whole day trolling around the internet.

Come on, fair's fair. Many on this thread are saying, effectively, 'let's abolish the NI team'. You can hardly be surprised that a couple of us argue the point. Which is not what 'trolling' means.

[geysir]

I'm not saying that is the sole reason why Spain have underachieved but I wouldn't be surprised if it is at least part of the reason.

I don't know what the reasons are but the Spanish FA after a lengthy investigation blamed the (wordless) Anthem

The FIFA statute is interesting but I fail to see what it has to do with our current debate

It was claimed here that FIFA would not allow an All Ireland team therefore it was a waste to even be talking about it.
Should there be a situation where both federations are amenable then there are no objections in the FIFA statutes to applying for membership of FIFA.

[youngirish]

"Always", "generally"? Amusing (even if unintentionally so )

How can one man get so much amusement out of a typo? I have work to do EG unlike you so I have little time to read over my posts 3 or 4 times before sending them. I notice the way you pick out such errors (typos, spelling mistakes etc) to try to pick fault in other people posts while generally ignoring the more difficult issues that these posts address. I shall now devote my life from this point onwards to pointing out to all and sundry EG's grammatical mistakes on foot.ie.

Note to EG this is an internet forum not a university English examination.

[Pike B]

Here here.... I'm fed up of taking ten mins to read his posts...

[EalingGreen]

I notice the way you pick out such errors (typos, spelling mistakes etc) to try to pick fault in other people posts while generally ignoring the more difficult issues that these posts address.

OK, accept my humblest apologies for sniggering at what was, as you say, a trivial point.

And now that's sorted, would you like to practice what you preach and address any of the several "difficult issues" which I put to you in the rest of that post?

I don't know what the reasons are but the Spanish FA after a lengthy investigation blamed the (wordless) Anthem

Presumably anything to avoid the conclusion that it might be down to their own inadequacies?

It was claimed here that FIFA would not allow an All Ireland team therefore it was a waste to even be talking about it.
Should there be a situation where both federations are amenable then there are no objections in the FIFA statutes to applying for membership of FIFA.

Apples and Pears, Geysir. What FIFA are alluding to is the situation where a region which is not independent, but has its own Association, may apply to have its own international football team, so long as the Association of the "parent" nation does not object.

This cannot be applied to the Irish situation in any way, since NI already has its own international team and the Irish Republic is already independent.

I imagine it is what was used to allow the Faroe Islands FA to set up its own team, separately from Denmark, whose own FA presumably gave their consent. In fact, it is even possible that this Provision was introduced specifically for the Faroes, since there aren't many other analogous situations.

Off the top of my head, I can only think of Hong Kong, where they were allowed to keep their separate international team, even after they reverted to P R China.

Which, if you think about it, means that far from being a harbinger for some sort of United Ireland team, actually leaves it open for the IFA to retain a separate NI international team, even after any political union on the island!

[geysir]

Which, if you think about it, means that far from being a harbinger for some sort of United Ireland team, actually leaves it open for the IFA to retain a separate NI international team, even after any political union on the island!

That's its intention, in the event of the end of partition, the Unionists would have a solid case to carry on with their representative team.

FIFA statutes for membership are clear and direct, cases are decided on merits.
The main merit being spelt out, that both (or more) federations involved are agreeable.
Then UEFA would be the first to accept the case for further consideration.
Further consideration would go into the vagaries of the application.
It is nonsense to declare that FIFA or UEFA would oppose such an application if they were satisfied as to its merits.

[kingdomkerry]

One country. Two states. One foreign occupied and existing due to a manufactured majority one independent.

Would love to see an All Ireland team, but for now am happy to have all of nationalist Ireland only. Anyway not long now until unionists are outnumbered in "their own country"

Can it really work having a United Ireland team?

No

Why?

Well because we are two seperate countries simple really.

Next Brazil and the Argentina will want to join together.

We are still well behind this idea or dream of united ireland football team.

Let me take your mind back to Feb 2006 and the Dublin riots where these so called irishmen singing there anthem till hearts content while at same time burning cars belonged to irish people. Fair play lads that made sense.

and why have I brought this up?

well basically these are same fools who would want to disrupt this process going through in the first place and at end of day nobody wants to see that crap (thats being very nice) happening again.

[GavinZac]

One country. Two states. One foreign occupied and existing due to a manufactured majority one independent.

Would love to see an All Ireland team, but for now am happy to have all of nationalist Ireland only. Anyway not long now until unionists are outnumbered in "their own country"

IRA! IRA! **** the Queen, and the UDA! etc etc
Its 1972 all over again.

[Gather round]

One country. Two states. One foreign occupied and existing due to a manufactured majority one independent...anyway not long now until unionists are outnumbered in "their own country"

Heh. It's obviously two separate countries- there's an international border separating them. And the two countries are just as clearly, two states.

Even Sinn Fein have largely dropped that foreign occupation nonsense. Northern Ireland is populated almost entirely by Irish people, the vast majority of whom can trace their Irish ancestry back for centuries. Their majority is manufactured only in the sense that they're both numerous (unionists have been ca 20% of the population of Ireland since the 19th century) and localised (in the area that's now NI). If the border was drawn differently- down the river Foyle say, with only Waterside in NI) the nationalist minority would be smaller than now.

Let's see your evidence for nationalists increasing to 51% and beyond. In the 2007 NIA election, it was 41.4% (SF 26.2%, SDLP 15.2%). To force the end of partition you'd need pretty much all the Alliance and Green voters, plus health campaigners and even a few unionists, to change sides. It isn't going to happen.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2.../html/main.stm

[paul_oshea]

How can one man get so much amusement out of a typo? I have work to do EG unlike you so I have little time to read over my posts 3 or 4 times before sending them. I notice the way you pick out such errors (typos, spelling mistakes etc) to try to pick fault in other people posts while generally ignoring the more difficult issues that these posts address. I shall now devote my life from this point onwards to pointing out to all and sundry EG's grammatical mistakes on foot.ie.

Note to EG this is an internet forum not a university English examination.

I think he was more pointing out the use of the words, generally and always, in the same sentence, I am unsure of the word to describe what you did here, but basically its a negative ( of some sort ).

[Drumcondra 69er]

Heh. It's obviously two separate countries- there's an international border separating them. And the two countries are just as clearly, two states.

Even Sinn Fein have largely dropped that foreign occupation nonsense. Northern Ireland is populated almost entirely by Irish people, the vast majority of whom can trace their Irish ancestry back for centuries. Their majority is manufactured only in the sense that they're both numerous (unionists have been ca 20% of the population of Ireland since the 19th century) and localised (in the area that's now NI). If the border was drawn differently- down the river Foyle say, with only Waterside in NI) the nationalist minority would be smaller than now.

Let's see your evidence for nationalists increasing to 51% and beyond. In the 2007 NIA election, it was 41.4% (SF 26.2%, SDLP 15.2%). To force the end of partition you'd need pretty much all the Alliance and Green voters, plus health campaigners and even a few unionists, to change sides. It isn't going to happen.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2.../html/main.stm

Don't get you point here? He's obviously refering to the fact that there was no unionist majority on the island of Ireland prior to partition and it was only the manufacture of the 6 county state (which was initially not intended to be a permenant border, see boundry commission etc) that gave the unionist majority in the North 'legitimacy'. As for your point about the broder being redrawn (as was originally agreed would happen on an ongoing basis) down the Foyle, well obviously the nationalist minority would be smaller (you could say the same about South Armagh, Newry etc) but the NI state would also be smaller, I'd happilly take it back peice by piece. You'd end up with a state so small as to be possibly unviable. It's more an arguement for Politics.ie rather then Foot.ie though.....

[Pike B]

This discussion belongs in the Dail.... No longer a football matter..

[janeymac]

Let's see your evidence for nationalists increasing to 51% and beyond. In the 2007 NIA election, it was 41.4% (SF 26.2%, SDLP 15.2%). To force the end of partition you'd need pretty much all the Alliance and Green voters, plus health campaigners and even a few unionists, to change sides. It isn't going to happen.

With what one would presume 50%+ of the population at least who in theory should support the NI football team, I don't get how you are so unambitious with the size of your new stadium (25,000?) that the supporters think they can fill it. When Ulster Rugby played in the HCup final in Lansdowne Road (48K+ capcity), it was filled. Surely if a minority sport like rugby can get 30,000+ to travel to Dublin, NI football should be able to attract a lot more. Its only a couple of games a year.

I should mention here that the Tyrone & Armagh gaelic teams don't have a problem filling Croke Park when they get there.

So, with a population of 1m+ (potential market), how come you are not more ambitious with your new stadium?

[paul_oshea]

Thats a nice backdoor question janeymac......