Supporting two teams.

[Cortezuma]

Nope, but even if football supporters want their team to play ball, they stick with the team in periods of bad football. I'm sorry, I just can't get my head around the fact that people support Ireland, the EPL, and 'look out for the Irish lads in England', but ignore their local teams. You can do both, surely?

As for not liking what you see, again, you're confusing the fact that EPL teams are 'better' (true) with the fact that they 'play better football' which they often do not. Believe it or not, you can often see a nice football match at your local five-a-side or junior pitch if you want to. You either like football or you don't. You don't just cherry-pick the top brands.

What people really mean when they say foreign teams are 'better' is that they are glamorous, play in big stadia and you can converse to the tax-driver about them. I like the buzz of the top teams on TV as much as anybody - what football fan wouldn't? - but you can't beat match night in your own city.

i agree on the sticking with a team, I have already said I would. I saw plenty of horrible Everton teams believe me. I don't have an LOI team as there was no team near me when I was growing up and it got very little coverage on TV or in the media. I am not going to start following a team now just because people believe it is the 'right' thing to do.

You are right that I would follow the Irish lads abroad, but I'm not supporting their clubs. I keep an eye on players and matches in the LOI too, but I have never been a supporter of any team here so why would I start now?

And please don't get me wrong, I am in no way holding up the EPL as a shining example of great football, and you may be right to suggest that some LOI games are better to watch than a game such as Wigan Vs Bolton that someone suggested (and no, I wouldnt watch that or the random local team) but overall there is far more quality games in that league.

I don't cherry pick any brands, I watch lots of football in many different leagues. La Liga is the one I most watch because almost every team in that league will try and play football the proper way even against the bigger teams. I find that other than the teams I support, the trend for proper passing attacking football passes from club to club so I will try catch those teams matches as much as possible.

[Cortezuma]

Boovidge - I support Ireland because I have since I was a kid. The football has been god awful for the majority of this time, but as I have said I won't change from a team I have always supported just because of the technical quality. Maybe you missed when I commented on this already.

Dodge - I think you are way out to say that a fans financial situation should have no bearing on whether they remain a supporter. To take an extreme example, would you no longer be a supporter if you became homeless and could only follow your team through newspaper reports.....

[boovidge]

I support Ireland because I have since I was a kid.

And why's that?

[Cortezuma]

And why's that?

em I am Irish and grew up around family friends who went to a lot of matches so I got into it too.

[boovidge]

em I am Irish

Yeah exactly, so why not give your own league a chance?

[bennocelt]

Did a little test in a pub during one of Ireland's internationals (home game against Cyprus) where I wore my French national shirt to the pub. When asked by a few at my table why I was wearing it I replied that I support France on the international stage, when they asked why I would do such a thing I said it's because their style of football is much more attractive than the Irish national side. After much slagging they asked who I supported at club level, I said Limerick, after much more slagging I asked who they supported, the answers varied between Liverpool and United, and I asked why they supported them when they are from Dublin, they said it was because the LoI is ****, to which I replied, 'but what's the difference between me supporting France cause I think they are better than Ireland and you supporting United/Liverpool cause they are better than Bohs/Rovers/whoever?'. I got a few mumbles about it being completly different, but it shut them up fairly lively.

In conclusion I find baiting Premiership supporters in bars to be one of the better aspects of being a League of Ireland football supporter

* I have a French jersey because a) I quite like them, and b) it was €20 in Lifestyle

Brilliant
i also have a soft spot for France

i actually nearly got lynched in a pub once for cheering when Argentina scored against Ireland, but then that was a big bet!!!

By the way I would love to have the balls to go around dublin some night when celtic are playing with a rangers jersey on
has anybody tried that???

[brianw82]

By the way I would love to have the balls to go around dublin some night when celtic are playing with a rangers jersey on
has anybody tried that???

People generally prefer waking up in their own beds rather than the hospital.

[SunderlandBohs]

As someone pointed out in an early post, want the difference in supporting another country? I was watching England's U21 play a fews weeks ago. I was cheering for England purely because Grant Leadbitter was in the squad. Someone Chelsea fan threaten to "kick my ****ing head in if I shouted for those British cnuts again". I pointed out to him that a Sunderland player was in the team and if I cheer him every other week when he plays for his club why not cheer him when he plays for his country, like I do for any country that has a Bohs or S.A.F.C player in their team, plus I've family from England. He stated that when he plays for England its a different kettle of fish. He wasn't to happy when I ask where abouts do Chelsea play in Dublin.

I support Sunderland since I was a boy cause my Dad & Grandad followed them and we've got family and friends over there and visited there alot growing. I support Bohs because when I was younger my Dad would bring me to see Bohs because he grew up around Cabra and it's was the the only way to see real live football week in week out.

[Hibernian]

Boovidge - I support Ireland because I have since I was a kid. The football has been god awful for the majority of this time, but as I have said I won't change from a team I have always supported just because of the technical quality. Maybe you missed when I commented on this already.

Dodge - I think you are way out to say that a fans financial situation should have no bearing on whether they remain a supporter. To take an extreme example, would you no longer be a supporter if you became homeless and could only follow your team through newspaper reports.....

100% agree with that

people in here saying that you have to go to all the games wtf.

My home team is some 250 miles away i get to go when I get back but does not make me less of a fan for not going to all there games.

The other crap from some posts on here is unreal. I love the teams I support and often go as many games as can but I have other things in life to do too.

The people on here saying that you have to go to football games to be real supporter are well basically well away with the tooth fairy what about the people how physically cant go or cant afford to pay for food on the table for there family does that make them less of a supporter.

People get with the times ffs

[Hibernian]

No it doesn't. I've never, ever heard anybody "slag off" the EPL while watching a game in Ireland (apart from a bit of good natured banter). In fact, you'll here most people discussing it before the game, at half time etc

As I've said, if somebody uses the excuse of being slagged for being a Liverpool or Man utd fan as a reason not to go to a game in ireland, they're either liars or fools.

If people don't want to go to games, fine but don't make up ridiculous excuses. It isn't the fault of LOI fans that people aren't coming to the games, and anyone who tries to imply it is doesn't even deserve this much of an answer...

and who says I or others dont go to games???

[belfastred]

100% agree with that

people in here saying that you have to go to all the games wtf.

My home team is some 250 miles away i get to go when I get back but does not make me less of a fan for not going to all there games.

The other crap from some posts on here is unreal. I love the teams I support and often go as many games as can but I have other things in life to do too.

The people on here saying that you have to go to football games to be real supporter are well basically well away with the tooth fairy what about the people how physically cant go or cant afford to pay for food on the table for there family does that make them less of a supporter.

People get with the times ffs

I think the point is that by supporting your local team you can take away the vast majoirty of reasons for not going.

[OneRedArmy]

The people on here saying that you have to go to football games to be real supporter are well basically well away with the tooth fairy

Well you can call me tinkerbell as thats exactly what I, and many others on here believe.

[Hibernian]

Well you can call me tinkerbell as thats exactly what I, and many others on here believe.

Ok then I will

[boovidge]

The people on here saying that you have to go to football games to be real supporter are well basically well away with the tooth fairy

Yeah I agree. All you have to do is buy a replica shirt and watch every other game on Sky Sports.

[Hibernian]

Yeah I agree. All you have to do is buy a replica shirt and watch every other game on Sky Sports.

You seemed to have missed the rest of that post...

I know now what I said earlier is more true then ever.

[OneRedArmy]

A lot of fans who regularly go to games look down on those who don't go regularly or watch from the sofa. Its not an EL phenomena, its the same in the Premiership and in the SPL.

How can you feel the highs and lows if you're aren't surrounded by hundreds or thousands of like-minded individuals?

Otherwise its all just like a big game of FIFA on the PS3.

[Dodge]

You seemed to have missed the rest of that post...

And you seem to have missed every post pointing out where you're wrong too.

As I've said, your loss. Enjoy the telly...

[boovidge]

You seemed to have missed the rest of that post...

I know now what I said earlier is more true then ever.

All you're doing is suggesting possible mitigating circumstances such as being an ex pat or economic problems.

The vast majority of football fans in Ireland have enough money to go and see a LOI match once every two weeks and have been born and bred in Ireland.

How can they be a proper fan of a foriegn club they never go and see live and have no connection to through location/family etc?

[Hibernian]

And you seem to have missed every post pointing out where you're wrong too.

As I've said, your loss. Enjoy the telly...

lol

where did I mention that I dont go to games and only watch football on the telly can you tell me.?????????

Please advise as I never seem to recall me saying anything like that??????

All I said is that you dont have to go to all games or any if you cant afford it basically that simple.

Dont be trying to put up stuff I said which I never have.

flipping heck least try and run along the same line anyway

[SunderlandBohs]

lol

All I said is that you dont have to go to all games or any if you cant afford it basically that simple.

I understand the point your making. I've recently became a father, moved house and changed job so I can't make it as many games as I use to but try to make it to the home games. I think its unfair to say to someone your not a real fan cause you only go to home matches or made to x amount of games last season. I know plenty of people who go to see Bohs play and just sit in the bar for the whole the game. Certain things will always pop up. But what really gets me is that people will pay e200 plus for a trip to Old Trafford but can't be bother to pay e20 into Dalymount Park on a Friday night.