Friendlies Summer 2009

**Mr A** · 22/05/2009, 3:15 PM

I've always said Roy Keane was a great man.

**Dodge** · 22/05/2009, 3:19 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

I'm glad people are actually copping on now what I've been saying all along, the interest in Sunderland was purely down to Roy Keane. Many LOI fans tried to make it out like tons of people are going around wearing Sunderland jerseys and claiming to support them. That was never the case

I think you'll find that that was a media driven thing, and the vast majority of LOI fans were completely on point in saying that once keane goes, the fad will be over. The media, of course, were wined and dined by Sunderland. Apparently Ray Treacy lost a ton of money as he block booked trips to Sunderland and hardly anybody went

**Sam_Heggy** · 22/05/2009, 5:08 PM

Originally Posted by McDee

HA!

The same Roy keane who kicked up such a stink in a certain far flung corner of Asia about the state of training facilities is going to play a full match on the quarry that is Finn Park. Good man Roy.

I'd say there'll be plenty of interest amongst the agriculturally-minded in this one, the tractor boys and the sheep, er... fanciers ...

Hope it goes well for Harps though, by all accounts they need the monies quite badly, would hate to see them go under.

Yeah but when given the choice of Derry and Harps, Keano said "what ya talkin' about ya langer? It's no question which I would prefer. I walk through enough dog sh!te at home without having to do it with work too."

**eirebhoy** · 23/05/2009, 2:02 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

I think you'll find that that was a media driven thing, and the vast majority of LOI fans were completely on point in saying that once keane goes, the fad will be over. The media, of course, were wined and dined by Sunderland. Apparently Ray Treacy lost a ton of money as he block booked trips to Sunderland and hardly anybody went

I don't know. A lot of LOI supporters thought people were following Sunderland because of their Irish links (Quinn and the lads, the 10 or so Irish players). It was always to do with Roy Keane and nothing more, as we have seen since he left. It was definitely media driven but I don't think the majority of people that gave out about it realised the interest we had was just a fascination with Keane.

Ipswich actually would have been a team I had a close eye on with Garvan, Norris, Bruce, Quinn and Walters all first teamers there (almost half the team Irish). Keane joining has boosted my interest.

**SunderlandBohs** · 25/05/2009, 9:30 AM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

I don't know. A lot of LOI supporters thought people were following Sunderland because of their Irish links (Quinn and the lads, the 10 or so Irish players). It was always to do with Roy Keane and nothing more, as we have seen since he left. It was definitely media driven but I don't think the majority of people that gave out about it realised the interest we had was just a fascination with Keane.

Ipswich actually would have been a team I had a close eye on with Garvan, Norris, Bruce, Quinn and Walters all first teamers there (almost half the team Irish). Keane joining has boosted my interest.

What about people like me?

Anyway, this thread is called Friendlies Summer 2009 not The failed manager from Mayfield who wasted �80m on sh1t players left the club in a mess and ran away like a big girl ,like he did in Saipan, cause someone stood up to him thread.

Well let me get us back on track with this thread. With a large eastern European base here in Ireland why aren't clubs trying to get over Polish and Russian clubs for friendlies? Just look at the crowd at Ireland v Poland and when are clubs meet them in Europe.

**holidaysong** · 26/05/2009, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by SunderlandBohs

Well let me get us back on track with this thread. With a large eastern European base here in Ireland why aren't clubs trying to get over Polish and Russian clubs for friendlies? Just look at the crowd at Ireland v Poland and when are clubs meet them in Europe.

St. Pat's played a Polish club last year as far as I remember..

**Dodge** · 26/05/2009, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

St. Pat's played a Polish club last year as far as I remember..

We played Wisla Krakow at the end of the 2007 season. Decent crowd at it.

One or two Poles support Pats regularly (at least one of them did before the friendly)

**Ezeikial** · 27/05/2009, 6:33 PM

From an interview with Gerry Matthews, Owner and CEO of Dundalk FC in this weeks Dundalk Democrat:

One valid source of generating income is by hosting high profile friendlies against English and Scottish clubs in the summer. Celtic are believed to be returning to Oriel Park in July while Roy Keane's Ipswich have also been mentioned this week, a rumour that Matthews appeared to give credence to.
"It's very hard to come out and say things before they are confirmed. However we would like to think that getting Ipswich Town to Oriel Park is possible. With Roy Keane in charge it would be a great draw for the supporters"

**Dunny** · 27/05/2009, 6:38 PM

They don't have to come if they lend us a few players.......

**Ezeikial** · 27/05/2009, 7:16 PM

Originally Posted by Dunny

They don't have to come if they lend us a few players.......

Ipswich used to have a tall Cork lad in midfield. I wonder where he is now?

**Sam_Heggy** · 27/05/2009, 8:42 PM

Originally Posted by Ezeikial

Ipswich used to have a tall Cork lad in midfield. I wonder where he is now?

Garvan? He's still there, quality player.

**Lux Interior** · 27/05/2009, 10:18 PM

Oh well, Thailand tour NEXT summer for the Glens.

**SunderlandBohs** · 28/05/2009, 8:18 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

We played Wisla Krakow at the end of the 2007 season. Decent crowd at it.

One or two Poles support Pats regularly (at least one of them did before the friendly)

I can remember that game. I wasn't sure if there was a good crowd or not.

We've a few eastern Europeans following us and i think a lot of clubs are the same.

Just thinking with so many of them living here and not getting the chance to see there local team play in the flesh that it would generate bigger crowds and more money in the gate than playing an average Championship side.

By the way, can any Limerick fans comfirm if it's true that friendly with Sunderland in Thomond Park is a tournment? I heard two other teams will take part.

**Larry 'da' Wyse** · 28/05/2009, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by Ezeikial

Ipswich used to have a tall Cork lad in midfield. I wonder where he is now?

Dundalk! GO'C

**Mark** · 28/05/2009, 11:17 AM

the PA guy at the u17 final in tolka on sunday - who was wearing a shels top - told a reporter in the press box that 'millwall are here in two weeks'
i've not seen anything official

**Hairy Bowsie** · 28/05/2009, 8:53 PM

Well they've finished for the season so i'd say he meant 2 months possibly but i've already said they'd be playing Shels earlier in the thread, just don't know the dates.