Celtic Cup announced

[backstothewall]

Ha ha. I'm sure England are just dying to play in what they see as a half-hearted revival of the Home Internationals. They probably don't fancy the risk of the game being abandoned either. Ditto the Garda.

After the World Cup they might fancy entering a tournament they have a chance of winning! : )

[Lionel Ritchie]

After the World Cup they might fancy entering a tournament they have a chance of winning! : )

After initial suspicion regarding this tournament (friendly tournament let's not forget) I've come 'round to it's merit for the teams participating. But for England -while it probably would ultimately benefit their team to participate - if I was their manager or any candidate beeing wooed for the managers job I'd want it written into my contract that I could not be sacked, relieved of my duties or otherwise moved on until AFTER the next competetive game AFTER the game in this friendly competition that I'd not fulfilled expectations in. No profit in this for an England coach. Every game in it would be a tabloid plebicit on his mandate.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Just like their neighbors then, albeit for different reasons. Maybe you've been spoiled by regular friendlies with Argentina and Brazil and think other small teams are beneath you? It reminds me a bit of the last full international between us, when thousands of Dubs stayed away because there was a British club game on TV.

Neighbours surely??

Not so much other 'small' teams being beneath us, but besides none of the other three actually being a real country (Maybe it would have made more sense v. a GB XI !!!), it's perpetuating mediocrity for no good reason.
There's limited point really in any of the teams playing each other. Especially in these times of economic hardship.

The last game got zilch publicity from the FAI despite being for a good cause and was nothing to do with the FAC Final, but sh*t weather on the the day. Had you known, or even been there. Which you weren't.

Indeed, it's just fans (a lot of them, admittedly) saying they won't turn up. They might not have thronged anyway- any two of NI, Scotland and Wales playing in a near-empty Lansdowne isn't exactly going to kick start the Celtic tiger.

For once the North's fans may just have got it right....don't expect the Scots'll be too impressed by prices in the Pale either!

I'm sure England are just dying to play in what they see as a half-hearted revival of the Home Internationals.

Except they're not. Or never could be, thankfully!

[boovidge]

none of the other three actually being a real country

It's absolute garbage to try and suggest Wales and Scotland (and England) aren't real countries.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Are they? Members of the UN or EU?
Part of one larger state, but two hundred years or so since any of them existed independently.

It's only a historical quirk that Britain is allowed 4 separate teams, not on any current logic.

[Gather round]

besides none of the other three actually being a real country

The Faroes Islands aren't an independent country, Andorra's basically a ski resort cum duty free shopping centre jointly run by France and Spain, Liechtenstein and San Marino little different. You're quite happy to take points off all of them, and I don't recall you withdrawing from the tournament when drawn with Wales in Euro 2008?

it's perpetuating mediocrity for no good reason...there's limited point really in any of the teams playing each other. Especially in these times of economic hardship

Most international football's pretty mediocre- almost inevitably, as it's played by scratch sides most of whom get together only seven or eight times a year. A game against Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland has at least as much point as one against Algeria or Paraguay. And will likely cost a fraction of a trip to Yerevan or similar.

The last game got zilch publicity from the FAI despite being for a good cause and was nothing to do with the FAC Final, but sh*t weather on the the day. Had you known, or even been there. Which you weren't

If the FAI don't want to publicise their games, that's their problem. I knew all about it despite living 300 miles away. And I saw highlights on TV, somehow missing the torrential rain, freak cyclone over Sandymount and Hurricane Danny Griffin blowing in over the Pigeon Rock lighthouse.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Actually 3 of them are legitimate countries. As in more so than 'England', despite its size and power on the economic/political stage.
It's not a question of withdrawing anyway, just minimising games against pointless teams. Though on the competitive stage would give them all equal respect.

Personally would rather see us play away friendlies than tedious home ones, which are as mediocre generally as the Celtic Cup will be.

Maybe the FAI/IFA were embarrassed by the reason for the last game. And given you weren't even in Ireland at the time you'd have been hard pressed then to see the 'highlights'! Lol.

Where there even any? Gary Spain may know? Maybe since though, on You Tube??