Crowds in Croker

[SuperDub]

I thought football in Croker woild be a great thing but it has been such a let down. The irish fans in in mainz created a terriffic atmosphere and there was was young and old fans amongst our numbers. I thought the atmosphere in Podgorica was'nt as good though. I prefer away games now and like many others can't wait to get back to landsdowne.

[SUB of the day]

The new Lansdowne will be covered on all four sides, occupy practically the same footprint as the old ground, no yawning gaps between touchline and fans,classic football ground with no running track.I still feel like a stranger in Croker,paying the rent but still not welcome.Really can't wait to go home.

[Hibernian]

I thought football in Croker woild be a great thing but it has been such a let down. The irish fans in in mainz created a terriffic atmosphere and there was was young and old fans amongst our numbers. I thought the atmosphere in Podgorica was'nt as good though. I prefer away games now and like many others can't wait to get back to landsdowne.

So did I taught having a 70,000 mplus crowd would make the place such great thing and make it a dream polace to play.

there was only half that crowd at Lansdowne but so much better.

Sooner Lansdowne is finished the better

[paul_oshea]

lads as Richardson said, nostalgia is fine so long as people are clear about the facts. Landsdowne wasn't that good either to be honest, I cant really remember a game with a good atsmophere there - unless it was rugger.

[elroy]

lads as Richardson said, nostalgia is fine so long as people are clear about the facts. Landsdowne wasn't that good either to be honest, I cant really remember a game with a good atsmophere there - unless it was rugger.

You must be joking!!!

To name but a few :
V Israel 2-2
V Yugoslavia 2-1
V Holland 1-0
V Portugal 1-1
V Czech Rep 1-1

And they are only the recent games. I have been in plenty of stadiums and without doubt the irish games in LR produced the best atmosphere, plus you were really close to the action and had a great view no matter where you were. Admittedly it was a kip but it had great character.

[paul_oshea]

Ya I wasn't at the holland or yougoslavia game...I should have said recent times. Holland was bloody 7 years ago!

[An Dun abu]

Went to Slovakia last year for the away game with 10 friends, had a brilliant time and the atmosphere in the square was awsome that day. Just dont know why we cant transcend such an atmosphere to home games.
I also cant understand the lack of creativity when it comes to singing, chanting etc. For a nation known for our wit, and literary creativity, its embarassing to hear 'stand up for the boys in green' 500 times a match. Croke Park is like a morgue when the soccer comes to town, I dont know if its because of the new breed of 'fan' who go to see the games, but something needs to change quickly before Landsowne is rocking to the Rugger, but not for Trap's green Army!!

[pineapple stu]

Slovakia at home in Croker was a good atmosphere too. I think people are engaging in a bit of historical revisionism about how good the atmosphere in Lansdowne was when making the comparisons on this thread. It was better alright, but it was quite often brutal.

[paul_oshea]

Slovakia at home in Croker was a good atmosphere too. I think people are engaging in a bit of historical revisionism about how good the atmosphere in Lansdowne was when making the comparisons on this thread. It was better alright, but it was quite often brutal.

Welcome to the board stu, i mean an dun. Stu I asserted this fact already, im sure there is a thread here for those nerds to root up(Dodge you about only messin) about saying how they couldn't wait(myself included) for croker as the atmosphere would be class compared to landsdowne with double the amount of people and given LR was so poor.

LR for the 3 years before croker was pretty much like a morgue. The one game where i can remember any continuos singing and chanting and this was only for about a half hour was the israel 2-2 draw.

[gspain]

The atmosphere was often poor at Lansdowne but frankly Croke Park is worse. I'm told it is fantastic for GAA games but then it is a GAA stadium and the fans are close to the pitch.

I've been to all the rugby matches there too and the atmosphere has been very poor apart from England and even that wasn't that special. Thre England game in 2001 for example was much better. I think the distance from the pitch makes a big difference. The atmosphere at the RDS in 1992 was awful as well.

When we moved to Lansdowne from Dalymount there was also a concern re lack of atmosphere. The famous Dalymount roar was supposedly lost. Now I didn't experience an International in Dalymount until the 1980's but there was a great atmosphere in Lansdowne in the mid to late 70's.

[OneRedArmy]

I've only been impressed by the atmosphere in Croker:
1) When the Dubs are playing - the 7 or 8 other games I've been at have been gick atmosphere-wise (Gah-heads don't sing and save their loudest cheering for the last two lines of Amhrán na bhFiann....)
2) In the famous rugby match against England. All other rugby matches have been poor (I've been at them all).

But there is a lot of revisionism about Lansdowne going on. As Paul said, the atmosphere at qualifiers rarely approached that at rugby games. Rather than any demographic reason, I believe that was more due to the propensity of people who are standing to sing, and the fact there were lots of people standing at the rugby matches.

The new Lansdowne will be better than Croker for sure, but I wouldn't be getting my hopes up, particularly with an immediate 20% of seats being filled with people who will be render speechless by how much they have shelled out for so little (the taken adVantage Club). Such a shame the FAI/IRFU went for exactly the type of stadium that the Americans have been replacing over the past 10 years. Also boo to UEFA for not embracing Safe Standing more.

[Torn-Ado]

Hmmm. Bad atmosphere?

Maybe it is because we are ****.

[L37Ultra]

Hmmm. Bad atmosphere?

Maybe it is because we are ****.

Fans should get behind players when they are ****. Its when they are playing badly they need the support the most

[Torn-Ado]

Fans should get behind players when they are ****. Its when they are playing badly they need the support the most

Theoretically, yes. But the dross on the park more often than not, seaps into the stands. If we become exciting again, compete for qualification and win games, you'll no doubt see a massive change in atmosphere. Its just the way it goes. You will not get a full house, vibrant crowd when we struggle on the field.

[Beavis]

Theoretically, yes. But the dross on the park more often than not, seaps into the stands. If we become exciting again, compete for qualification and win games, you'll no doubt see a massive change in atmosphere. Its just the way it goes. You will not get a full house, vibrant crowd when we struggle on the field.

It is always going to be that way if our expectancy is unrealistic. We need to adopt an acceptance of our postition in world football - something akin to the Nordies (not Brazil etc) - and realise that qualification to every tournament is impossible for a country of our size and sporting preference (ie where Gaah is generally dominant).

The Nordies have embraced the reality of their position as a small nation and the fans are always behind the team, in constrast to ourselves who expect entertainment and constant success. This inevitably transmits around the ground and onto the pitch. The English have a more pronounced version of this problem - no need for emphasis on the negative impact it has on their team - but we are no longer far off.

[jbyrne]

It is always going to be that way if our expectancy is unrealistic. We need to adopt an acceptance of our postition in world football - something akin to the Nordies (not Brazil etc) - and realise that qualification to every tournament is impossible for a country of our size and sporting preference (ie where Gaah is generally dominant).

The Nordies have embraced the reality of their position as a small nation and the fans are always behind the team, in constrast to ourselves who expect entertainment and constant success. This inevitably transmits around the ground and onto the pitch. The English have a more pronounced version of this problem - no need for emphasis on the negative impact it has on their team - but we are no longer far off.

agree 100%. a great atmosphere in the ground can lift the players. unfortunately most of our "supporters" are there to be entertained and see their premiership heroes play live

[citizenerased]

i agree some absolutely dry ass knob jockeys go to the games in croker...very upsetting i must say

[dublinred]

I can't wait to get back to lansdowne but was a bit dissapointed when i seen the drawings of if in the premium ticket pack , one end behind the goals is a lot smaller than the other end and only has 1 level of seats.

[jbyrne]

I can't wait to get back to lansdowne but was a bit dissapointed when i seen the drawings of if in the premium ticket pack , one end behind the goals is a lot smaller than the other end and only has 1 level of seats.

taking shape nicely though...


http://www.lrsdc.ie/gallery/singlecategory.asp?PCID=93

[dublinred]

taking shape nicely though...


http://www.lrsdc.ie/gallery/singlecategory.asp?PCID=93

Its coming along well I was surprised that it was going to be another horseshoe stadium aka a mini croker with a few seats instead of the hill , its 3 levels for 3/4 of the ground then 1 level behind the north goal, weird design but assume they were influeenced by the infrastructure surrounding lansdowne.